Why never JSS??

[Jeremey]

I still think the Wal-mart deal was coming down, and JSS just could not do the rerecords as well as they had hoped...So, they started looking for somebody who could do those songs much closer to the original version. I think it was a combination of that, chemistry with the band, and the fans mixed reaction to JSS.

Wal Mart was 100% down with JSS on the re-records. Had nothing to do with WM, not that I know what it may have had anything to do with, but I do know that there were no issues with moving forward on the rerecords.

[Andrew]

I still think the Wal-mart deal was coming down, and JSS just could not do the rerecords as well as they had hoped...So, they started looking for somebody who could do those songs much closer to the original version. I think it was a combination of that, chemistry with the band, and the fans mixed reaction to JSS.

100% false. JSS sounds awesome recreating the hits. I've heard 4 tracks that were tested out. And what I saw, JSS was warmly embraced by fans. It all had to do with personal issues.

[LazzMan]

My guess is that Jeff wanted to be considered more of a "full member" of the band and contribute his own songs/thoughts/ideas. This likely rubbed Neal and Jon the wrong way. They wanted an "employee" who knows his place. AP was a hired gun to come in and sing their songs...nothing more. "Just sing and keep your mouth shut and opinions to yourself." Oh, he's contributing a little bit now but, he's still just an employee. And, from what I can tell, I very grateful employee for having Journey give him a chance. JSS was successful in his own right before Journey and didn't need those guys to springboard his career. Jon and Neal are HUGE EGO guys so, I can see where they would feel threatened or violated by Jeff. As I mentioned earlier, I saw them with JSS in concert a couple of times and he was absolutely FANASTIC!! Easily better than what they are doing now....way better with Jeff.

My 2-cents...

[Pelata]

My guess is that Jeff wanted to be considered more of a "full member" of the band and contribute his own songs/thoughts/ideas. This likely rubbed Neal and Jon the wrong way. They wanted an "employee" who knows his place. AP was a hired gun to come in and sing their songs...nothing more. "Just sing and keep your mouth shut and opinions to yourself." Oh, he's contributing a little bit now but, he's still just an employee. And, from what I can tell, I very grateful employee for having Journey give him a chance. JSS was successful in his own right before Journey and didn't need those guys to springboard his career. Jon and Neal are HUGE EGO guys so, I can see where they would feel threatened or violated by Jeff. As I mentioned earlier, I saw them with JSS in concert a couple of times and he was absolutely FANASTIC!! Easily better than what they are doing now....way better with Jeff.

My 2-cents...

That doesn't jive with the little video blog Neal did at the time about the killer material he & JSS were writing for Journey. I'm thinking some feathers got ruffled withing personalities once things started settling in...things pop up that you don't expect, ya know?

[brandonx76]

My guess is that Jeff wanted to be considered more of a "full member" of the band and contribute his own songs/thoughts/ideas. This likely rubbed Neal and Jon the wrong way. They wanted an "employee" who knows his place. AP was a hired gun to come in and sing their songs...nothing more. "Just sing and keep your mouth shut and opinions to yourself." Oh, he's contributing a little bit now but, he's still just an employee. And, from what I can tell, I very grateful employee for having Journey give him a chance. JSS was successful in his own right before Journey and didn't need those guys to springboard his career. Jon and Neal are HUGE EGO guys so, I can see where they would feel threatened or violated by Jeff. As I mentioned earlier, I saw them with JSS in concert a couple of times and he was absolutely FANASTIC!! Easily better than what they are doing now....way better with Jeff.

My 2-cents...

That doesn't jive with the little video blog Neal did at the time about the killer material he & JSS were writing for Journey. I'm thinking some feathers got ruffled withing personalities once things started settling in...things pop up that you don't expect, ya know?

All this reminds of why bands are alot like relationships and 'marriage'

[FormerJrnyFan]

Does anyone know why they never, ever say anything about Jeff being in the band? He was in the band for a year and the "official" lead singer from Dec. '06 through June of '07 (or something close to that). Yet, in band bio's and interviews they always go from Fleishman to Perry to Augeri to AP.

Is it a legal thing or are they just a bunch of pricks? Maybe both. But, IMO, JSS was the best thing they had going after Perry. I saw them in concert with him twice and it was way better than anything I have seen/heard with AP. So...it wasn't the exact original sound. Who cares? It was fucking great!!! He covered the old stuff and I can only assume that anything new they might have written together would have been awesome.

Oh well...what might have been.

Ughhhh..... cuz they suck JSS deserves so much more.....

[FormerJrnyFan]

I still think the Wal-mart deal was coming down, and JSS just could not do the rerecords as well as they had hoped...So, they started looking for somebody who could do those songs much closer to the original version. I think it was a combination of that, chemistry with the band, and the fans mixed reaction to JSS.

100% false. JSS sounds awesome recreating the hits. I've heard 4 tracks that were tested out. And what I saw, JSS was warmly embraced by fans. It all had to do with personal issues.

Yep, Andrew... JSS had the personality... Arnel just has the voice -

[AR]

Neal always seemed to me to be more happy with Jeff when he was in the band than Cain was. Had a conversation with Friga after one of the last shows that lineup did in Orlando and he seemed dumbfounded at how much I enjoyed their set that night when I was asked.

[FormerJrnyFan]

Neal always seemed to me to be more happy with Jeff when he was in the band than Cain was. Had a conversation with Friga after one of the last shows that lineup did in Orlando and he seemed dumbfounded at how much I enjoyed their set that night when I was asked.

I know you were (are?) so much closer to the band than I was...

I really think that Jeff was too much personality for them to handle... sad...

Loved the video from your house, AR...

[conversationpc]

I think it is fair to say Arnel has improved tremedously since the early shows. He kinda got thrown into the deep end without a life preserver at first and I imagine it turned a bunch of people off from him.

Watching some of the recent clips though, I agree with Annie. He is trying hard and it shows.

I'm not sure the most recent clips would be the best examples - he's still recuperating from his fall, and can't jump or run around quite like he normally would.

The jumping and running around are a bit much for me. I don't mind a little but the clips I've seen are just too much.

[AR]

Loved the video from your house, AR...

That video is still up on my Facebook page. Lots of fun. I just supplied the house, others set it up. Hard to believe that was 5 years ago.

[FormerJrnyFan]

Loved the video from your house, AR...

That video is still up on my Facebook page. Lots of fun. I just supplied the house, others set it up. Hard to believe that was 5 years ago.

I know, I was in Baltimore at the time, just unfortunately missed that amazingness..............

[Arkansas]

I think it is fair to say Arnel has improved tremedously since the early shows. He kinda got thrown into the deep end without a life preserver at first and I imagine it turned a bunch of people off from him.

Watching some of the recent clips though, I agree with Annie. He is trying hard and it shows.

I'm not sure the most recent clips would be the best examples - he's still recuperating from his fall, and can't jump or run around quite like he normally would.

The jumping and running around are a bit much for me. I don't mind a little but the clips I've seen are just too much.

It's not just the jumping & running around. It's more of the clunkiness, or lack of grace, in all the jumping & running around. Look back at most major frontmen. They all do it to an extent, but it's smoother & controlled...more of a dance than an elementary recess.

Btw, JSS was better at it, but all those disco moves made him hard to stomach. Anyha...


later~

[Deb]

[I know, I was in Baltimore at the time, just unfortunately missed that amazingness..............

You missed this amazingness a few years back too....... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpFjKXLQwAQ Damn L, would have been cool to meet ya. Met a few other east coast MR gals that Mohegan Sun show....Mindy, Debbie, Maria, etc.

Jeff, Eric and Kip all on one stage...........lol the one time I wished I'd had 3 eyeballs, too much fun to keep track of.

[AR]

[I know, I was in Baltimore at the time, just unfortunately missed that amazingness..............

You missed this amazingness a few years back too....... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpFjKXLQwAQ Damn L, would have been cool to meet ya. Met a few other east coast MR gals that Mohegan Sun show....Mindy, Debbie, Maria, etc.

Jeff, Eric and Kip all on one stage...........lol the one time I wished I'd had 3 eyeballs, too much fun to keep track of.

I was there for that too.

[Deb]

[I know, I was in Baltimore at the time, just unfortunately missed that amazingness..............

You missed this amazingness a few years back too....... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpFjKXLQwAQ Damn L, would have been cool to meet ya. Met a few other east coast MR gals that Mohegan Sun show....Mindy, Debbie, Maria, etc.

Jeff, Eric and Kip all on one stage...........lol the one time I wished I'd had 3 eyeballs, too much fun to keep track of.

I was there for that too.

Yep.

[JohnH]

Sometimes I listen to stuff like This is the End (like I did last week) and think of what could of been.

[FormerJrnyFan]

[I know, I was in Baltimore at the time, just unfortunately missed that amazingness..............

You missed this amazingness a few years back too....... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpFjKXLQwAQ Damn L, would have been cool to meet ya. Met a few other east coast MR gals that Mohegan Sun show....Mindy, Debbie, Maria, etc.

Jeff, Eric and Kip all on one stage...........lol the one time I wished I'd had 3 eyeballs, too much fun to keep track of.

I know, I know... ((hanging head low... ))

[zino]

My guess is that Jeff wanted to be considered more of a "full member" of the band and contribute his own songs/thoughts/ideas. This likely rubbed Neal and Jon the wrong way. They wanted an "employee" who knows his place. AP was a hired gun to come in and sing their songs...nothing more. "Just sing and keep your mouth shut and opinions to yourself." Oh, he's contributing a little bit now but, he's still just an employee. And, from what I can tell, I very grateful employee for having Journey give him a chance. JSS was successful in his own right before Journey and didn't need those guys to springboard his career. Jon and Neal are HUGE EGO guys so, I can see where they would feel threatened or violated by Jeff. As I mentioned earlier, I saw them with JSS in concert a couple of times and he was absolutely FANASTIC!! Easily better than what they are doing now....way better with Jeff.

My 2-cents...

That doesn't jive with the little video blog Neal did at the time about the killer material he & JSS were writing for Journey. I'm thinking some feathers got ruffled withing personalities once things started settling in...things pop up that you don't expect, ya know?

JSS always seem more fluid on stage and othing seemed "Forced". Too me it would seem that JSS was the center of attention while on stage,,as he should be the lead singer.. NEal and Jon probably didnt like all the attention their singer was getting. The band seemed alot tighter with JSS on stage and like they were more together as one. When I saw them a few weeks ago it was Neal with the over the top begining and endings to almost every song.I wish they would have kept JSS. Im not into the live shows with AP.. The JSS show in Pompano was one of the best shows I seen and was close to the end of his run.. it seemed at the time that big things were on the way for Journey with JSS at the helm

[SunshineTwilight]

My guess is that Jeff wanted to be considered more of a "full member" of the band and contribute his own songs/thoughts/ideas. This likely rubbed Neal and Jon the wrong way. They wanted an "employee" who knows his place. AP was a hired gun to come in and sing their songs...nothing more. "Just sing and keep your mouth shut and opinions to yourself." Oh, he's contributing a little bit now but, he's still just an employee. And, from what I can tell, I very grateful employee for having Journey give him a chance. JSS was successful in his own right before Journey and didn't need those guys to springboard his career. Jon and Neal are HUGE EGO guys so, I can see where they would feel threatened or violated by Jeff. As I mentioned earlier, I saw them with JSS in concert a couple of times and he was absolutely FANASTIC!! Easily better than what they are doing now....way better with Jeff.

My 2-cents...

That doesn't jive with the little video blog Neal did at the time about the killer material he & JSS were writing for Journey. I'm thinking some feathers got ruffled withing personalities once things started settling in...things pop up that you don't expect, ya know?

JSS always seem more fluid on stage and othing seemed "Forced". Too me it would seem that JSS was the center of attention while on stage,,as he should be the lead singer.. NEal and Jon probably didnt like all the attention their singer was getting. The band seemed alot tighter with JSS on stage and like they were more together as one. When I saw them a few weeks ago it was Neal with the over the top begining and endings to almost every song.I wish they would have kept JSS. Im not into the live shows with AP.. The JSS show in Pompano was one of the best shows I seen and was close to the end of his run.. it seemed at the time that big things were on the way for Journey with JSS at the helm

Lazzman & Zino, you both nailed it!!

[Saint John]

I think it was a combination of the advice of the vocal coach he was sent to, instances of unprofessional behavior, too much boozing that was spinning Neal out of control and reviews from promoters. But Soto is thought of to be "better off" and I know Journey is, so I guess it was a win-win dismissal. Why can't we all just be happy about it?

[Majestic]

It is sad though. They were definitely having fun together for awhile and seemed like good friends too. I still think Soul Sirkus is great, and it's a pity they'll never make any more of that.

[YoungJRNY]

I think it was a combination of the advice of the vocal coach he was sent to, instances of unprofessional behavior, too much boozing that was spinning Neal out of control and reviews from promoters. But Soto is thought of to be "better off" and I know Journey is, so I guess it was a win-win dismissal. Why can't we all just be happy about it?

This is more accurate. We did Neal's "Afro Society" shirts for him and we've heard from the road crew that it was more of a personality issue with JSS more than anything. The band just didn't seem to be attracted to him personality wise and decided it was time to end the relationship since they never saw eye to eye or felt right with JSS when time went on, whatever the case could of been.

[YoungJRNY]

JSS, like Foreigner's Kelly Hansen, can sing and is a frontman that kicks the rest of the band into high gear. Arnel is a tremendous singer and little else.

You have to be KIDDING... You don't credit AP for having an energetic stage presence, or a solid connection with the band and audience during a show?

You're crazy. Arnel can barely speak english in-between songs. Awful frontman. Awesome singer tho.

I'd say Arnel's skills as a frontman are akin to his skills as a singer: Energetic, strong, raw, but they lack polish and refinement. I'd still consider him a good frontman, though.

I agree. Arnel gives off energy if nothing else. He kind of speaks for the band and breathed new life into the band and kind of forced them to take notice and be more in tune with what was going on because they are watching him as well. With Augeri on stage, who was smooth, the band seemed uninterested. With JSS, he was smooth as well but the band behind him was just as bland as ever as time went on. I really don't get how people say "what could of been" with JSS. At the moment, Journey's live concerts are as successful as ever and bring in quite a big boatload of money as well as huge audiences. Journey put out a successful record with Arnel and a different style album more rockier and edgier. JSS's style and voice would of shit the bed faster than any other singer before him. It was best for both camps to move on and they did. I love the new lineup for Journey and loved what JSS put out with W.E.T.

[jestor92]

I haven't seen the band and Arnel perform live (I've got both dvd's but don't have the time to watch), but he can't have any worse stage presense than Augeri. I loved Augeri's time in the band (I actually discovered JRNY through his time with the band and his fronted JRNY was my first concert), but the dude could put you asleep with how little he moved on stage. I think Ross dozes off more in concert than Augeri moved around. Sure he did the Augi-wiggle and all, but boring yes. His stage presense made a burial look exciting.

[Infinity Vocalist 2010]

I dunno... Augeri's sheer charisma and report with the audience kept my attention... but, I only have the 2001 DVD to back me up so I really have nothing to go by.

[donnaplease]

At the moment, Journey's live concerts are as successful as ever...

Yeah, riiiiiight.

[AR]

I haven't seen Journey live since the final U.S. Dates with Jeff in 2007. Since then I have seen Frontiers a zillion times, Steve Augeri once, and Jeff did do some Journey on a few of his solo shows.

No desire to see the band again. Too expensive for the whole musical chair lead singer thing that occurred. The second that Arnel leaves the geezers and goes out on his own I will go see him. Just done with it all and no offense whatsoever to those who still enjoy the band.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I haven't seen the band and Arnel perform live (I've got both dvd's but don't have the time to watch), but he can't have any worse stage presense than Augeri. I loved Augeri's time in the band (I actually discovered JRNY through his time with the band and his fronted JRNY was my first concert), but the dude could put you asleep with how little he moved on stage. I think Ross dozes off more in concert than Augeri moved around. Sure he did the Augi-wiggle and all, but boring yes. His stage presense made a burial look exciting.

Depended on the tour...in 2002, I thought SA was pretty dynamic. In 2004 and 2005, he sorta sleptwalk thru it.

[Journey/Survivor]

At the moment, Journey's live concerts are as successful as ever...

Yeah, riiiiiight.

He may have only meant that their the most successful that they have been post-Perry era?

Plus, he's a young guy. He wasn't around for 1980's Journey like a lot of us were.

But I would say that without a doubt Journey are currently enjoying the most success that they've ever had in the post-Perry era.