JSS and Journey

[Monker]

Well, this really sucks. I have no desire to see JSS in Journey. He just doesn't bring the right attitude towards Journey songs for me. At least not from the bits that I have heard. Again, there is the VH comparison. Gary Cherone is a fine singer...but he didn't fit the VH image, so he bombed. He's fine in Extreme, III Sides is an awesome album, but VH couldn't make it work for the fans. I see the same thing happening here...JSS is a hard rocker but Journey isn't a hard rock band. He may as well join Air Supply, it would work about as well.

If this is a permanent change, if Augeri does not come back at some point in this tour, if JSS is THE replacement, then I see this as the begining of the end of Journey...at least for me.

If I didn't have a small hope that Augeri could come back, I WOULD sell my tickets. But, if I did that, and he came back by the Ames date, I would really, really regret it.

[Eric]

Believe in Me is great, but nothing on the Soul Sirkus album is. We'll see

[Red13JoePa]

Don't be that pessimistic. Let's give JSS a chance...I say that with most people knowing full well my admiration of Augeri and the Augeri lineup being my favorite.


I think this guy is going to smoke.

[NealIsGod]

Good points, Monker. But I would think you would still want to go just out of curiosity. I am not a fan of Soul SirkUS, but JSS can sing. It will at least be interesting.

[cetera]

..... and perhaps most importantly - JSS is a HUGE Journey fan who has the utmost respect for the band and their legacy.

I see him turning things around for the better....

[JrnySuxBalls]

Believe in Me is great, but nothing on the Soul Sirkus album is. We'll see

Coming Home.

[amaron]

I'm really not sure how to react to all of this.

[NealIsGod]

Is anyone going to the show Friday night? Will be a history-maker.

[Aaron]

Monker,

I'm with you. I love JSS but his voice is not a good fit for Journey. I'm trying to get my money back right now on the $275 per ticket I spent for 5 star VIP's I promised my kid. I'm pretty pissed right now. The only way Journey can recover from this one is to bring in Hugo to cover the material. I bet I'm screwed out of $1100 for this concert. I've been a huge fan of Journey since I was a kid but this is about it for me. I'd be much better off spending the money to go to the east coast and see Hugo. Man I'm pissed right now.

L8r bro,

Aaron

[Abitaman]

Good points, Monker. But I would think you would still want to go just out of curiosity. I am not a fan of Soul SirkUS, but JSS can sing. It will at least be interesting.

I have never said JSS can't sing, just don't like his voice-ERIC

[Monker]

I have never said JSS can't sing, just don't like his voice-ERIC

Exactly. It's not even a matter of not liking his voice. I just don't think his voice fits in Journey.

It's like taking Tommy shaw and putting him in Journey. Yeah, I love his voice, but it doesn't fit in Journey.

[conversationpc]

Gary Cherone is a fine singer...but he didn't fit the VH image, so he bombed. He's fine in Extreme, III Sides is an awesome album...

I heard a lot of great things about that album. Then I bought it and thought it was about the biggest waste of money I'd ever spent. Of course, then I bought "Waiting for the Punchline" and kicked myself again.

I see the same thing happening here...JSS is a hard rocker but Journey isn't a hard rock band.

I can see him doing just fine on the rock stuff and that's probably what Neal wants to do anyway. He does have a great voice but I agree that at least the ballads and more pop-oriented stuff probably just isn't going to sound the same.

The only way Journey can recover from this one is to bring in Hugo to cover the material.

Journey may go slightly downhill using Soto but the sure way to put the final nail in the coffin would be to hire someone who looks almost exactly like Perry and sounds exactly like him.

[Liz22562]

The LAST thing I want to see at a Journey concert is someone who acts and looks like Perry. Don't think I would spend my hard earned money.

[StyxCollector]

I have never said JSS can't sing, just don't like his voice-ERIC

Exactly. It's not even a matter of not liking his voice. I just don't think his voice fits in Journey.

It's like taking Tommy shaw and putting him in Journey. Yeah, I love his voice, but it doesn't fit in Journey.

I can see him doing just fine on the rock stuff and that's probably what Neal wants to do anyway. He does have a great voice but I agree that at least the ballads and more pop-oriented stuff probably just isn't going to sound the same.

The only way Journey can recover from this one is to bring in Hugo to cover the material.

Journey may go slightly downhill using Soto but the sure way to put the final nail in the coffin would be to hire someone who looks almost exactly like Perry and sounds exactly like him.

Welcome to Styxville. Gowan is not Dennis DeYoung, but I have said from day one I respect Styx more for not replacing with a lookalike and/or soundalike. I think this is the smartest decision Journey has made since 1998. Getting another Perry soundalike would have been disastrous.

JSS will make the songs his own while being respectful to the original. Gowan has done that with the DDY songs he does. Do I like some of them in the way he does them? No, as his vocal range isn't the same. Some work, others do not. I suspect it will be the same, but I may actually go see Journey now ... this change intrigues me in a good way.

[The Fly]

Well, this really sucks. I have no desire to see JSS in Journey. He just doesn't bring the right attitude towards Journey songs for me. At least not from the bits that I have heard. Again, there is the VH comparison. Gary Cherone is a fine singer...but he didn't fit the VH image, so he bombed. He's fine in Extreme, III Sides is an awesome album, but VH couldn't make it work for the fans. I see the same thing happening here...JSS is a hard rocker but Journey isn't a hard rock band. He may as well join Air Supply, it would work about as well.

If this is a permanent change, if Augeri does not come back at some point in this tour, if JSS is THE replacement, then I see this as the begining of the end of Journey...at least for me.

If I didn't have a small hope that Augeri could come back, I WOULD sell my tickets. But, if I did that, and he came back by the Ames date, I would really, really regret it.

I completely agree with you. JSS sounds NOTHING like Journey. It's the beginning of the end for many of us I am sure. This SUCKS!!

[The Fly]

Sorry for the double post. Looks like there's a lot going on here today. LOL....

[Big J]

To me though, a guy's gotta sound a bit like Steve Perry to do this job.

JSS sounds more like Paul Stanley than Steve Perry. And I in no way mean that as a slam to Stanley, he's one of my music idols, but he couldn't do Journey and honestly, every sample of JSS singing Journey I've heard is tuned down from the original. That doesn't work for me.

[FormerJrnyFan]

I think JSS will give Journey the spark that's been missing since this tour began.

[NealIsGod]

To me though, a guy's gotta sound a bit like Steve Perry to do this job.

JSS sounds more like Paul Stanley than Steve Perry. And I in no way mean that as a slam to Stanley, he's one of my music idols, but he couldn't do Journey and honestly, every sample of JSS singing Journey I've heard is tuned down from the original. That doesn't work for me.

I'll admit a lot of Soto's work could lead you to that conclusion. But have you heard Coming Home from the SS CD? Very Perry-esque.

http://www.melodicrock.com/audio/SoulSi ... ngHome.mp3

[A Fire Inside]

I'm with (some of) you guys... I am not excited about seeing JSS at all. I'm sure he's a good singer etc. but I am being selfish and I want Augeri because that's who I bought tickets to see.

If he is out permanently, I'm done with this band.

But HUGO, are you serious? Ugh, I would never want to see that impersonator lead Journey.

[Marabelle]

he's hungry and he's got attitude and he's got fire...and thank goodness he's not Steve P or Steve A. it should be lots of fun; i think he'll bring back
a lot of energy to the band and a very positive and uplifting attitude they need. i think people should give him a chance. he might just blow the doors
open!!

[Liz22562]

Last time I saw Steve Augeri with Journey he had a lot of energy with the band. Had the crowd clapping and totally enjoying themselves. No doubt JSS will keep up the energy.

[Big J]

To me though, a guy's gotta sound a bit like Steve Perry to do this job.

JSS sounds more like Paul Stanley than Steve Perry. And I in no way mean that as a slam to Stanley, he's one of my music idols, but he couldn't do Journey and honestly, every sample of JSS singing Journey I've heard is tuned down from the original. That doesn't work for me.

I'll admit a lot of Soto's work could lead you to that conclusion. But have you heard Coming Home from the SS CD? Very Perry-esque.

http://www.melodicrock.com/audio/SoulSi ... ngHome.mp3

Not Perry-esque enough though, and I'm not even sure Perry-esque is what we want, other than in that a guy can pull off the vocals in the originally intended key.

I'm very curious to see how this all sounds Friday. JSS is great and I've been a big fan for years, but I'm being honest today, I don't see the fit being a good one.

Someone mentioned JSS being a better songwriter than Augeri...I'm sorry, I can't buy it. Yes, he's penned some great tunes, but so has Steve. And when Steve's bad, he's not as bad as JSS can be or has been from time to time. One thing about it though, now Soto will have a very good check and balance system with Schon and Cain.

Another point...is anyone else as shocked as I am that this happened, after seeing the hissy fit Soto threw when Schon ended Soul Sirkus?

I don't see any way possible that this can be a permanent arrangement. Augeri will be back.

[NealIsGod]

Another point...is anyone else as shocked as I am that this happened, after seeing the hissy fit Soto threw when Schon ended Soul Sirkus?

Yeah, I guess Neal and JSS managed to stay on good terms. I think JSS was understandably upset and frustrated with how that went down.

[StyxCollector]

Another point...is anyone else as shocked as I am that this happened, after seeing the hissy fit Soto threw when Schon ended Soul Sirkus?

Yeah, I guess Neal and JSS managed to stay on good terms. I think JSS was understandably upset and frustrated with how that went down.

What happened with SS is more on Neal than anyone else. It did well in Europe, but nothing here in the US, and the tour was not extremely well attended. So my guess is NS said, "Fuck it, I'll just go back to Journey and whatever happens, happens." Journey is his cash cow. Much like when Tommy Shaw kinda messed up (IMHO) the Damn Yankees thing up a few years back. Neal and Tommy know who pays their bills.

[Andrew]

If this is a permanent change, if Augeri does not come back at some point in this tour, if JSS is THE replacement, then I see this as the begining of the end of Journey...at least for me.

Good.

Now, go back to the Styx board and stay there....I'm done with your constant whinning over the last 2 weeks.

[Magwheels]

Well, this really sucks. I have no desire to see JSS in Journey. He just doesn't bring the right attitude towards Journey songs for me. At least not from the bits that I have heard. Again, there is the VH comparison. Gary Cherone is a fine singer...but he didn't fit the VH image, so he bombed. He's fine in Extreme, III Sides is an awesome album, but VH couldn't make it work for the fans. I see the same thing happening here...JSS is a hard rocker but Journey isn't a hard rock band. He may as well join Air Supply, it would work about as well.

If this is a permanent change, if Augeri does not come back at some point in this tour, if JSS is THE replacement, then I see this as the begining of the end of Journey...at least for me.

If I didn't have a small hope that Augeri could come back, I WOULD sell my tickets. But, if I did that, and he came back by the Ames date, I would really, really regret it.

[WORLD CHANGER]

Jeff Scott Soto in Journey even if brief could be a new and interesting "journey" for them. I for one will pay to see JSS sing for Journey. Jeff deserves to be seen by a large audience, it's about time!

[AR]

JSS sounds more like Paul Stanley than Steve Perry.

Jeff Scott Soto's website had an incredible amount of audio and video goodies to listen to. I was amazed at the Queen covers especially. I had never heard his band Talisman before either so that was a nice surprise. He reminds me a little bit more of Gary Cherone than Paul Stanley if anyone.

He will do justice to the Journey material. It will be just a slightly different take. Sure it might take some getting used to, but that's ok.

If this is a permanent change, if Augeri does not come back at some point in this tour, if JSS is THE replacement, then I see this as the begining of the end of Journey...at least for me.

Hell, I am a huge fan of Steve Augeri, but the fact is he is not capable of touring right now if ever. Give JSS a chance. The man was very gracious about taking over and deserves a listen before you declare the end of Journey. A lot of people did not give Augeri a chance when he took over for SP. I was open minded and am glad I was. I plan on giving Jeff Scott Soto the same courtesy.

[Jeremey]

I personally sure wish I wasn't playing right down the road tomorrow night from Journey, because I would have definitely bought tickets to see the show. I think JSS has a great voice, and went to the Soul Sirkus show up in Alexandria, not sure what to expect. I hadn't heard any of the SS material at the time, but I love just about anything Neal has ever had a hand in writing. I enjoyed the show, and was really impressed with Jeff's voice and stage presence, but it wasn't what I expected. I've always heard a lot of comparisons to Perry and Sam Cooke as his influence, and he's about the only other musician (or person for that matter) that I've ever even heard mention Terrence Trent D'arby - "Introducing the Hardline" by TTD came out when I was around 16 and had a huge impact on me as a singer (this was before I even knew who Steve Perry was) - Come to find out later, Terrence was influenced by the same soul greats as Perry....So when I've seen JSS talk a lot about TTD, I did get real excited about hearing him live....But I did not hear that at all....I will agree that the Soul Sirkus material didn't lend itself to the TTD-style vocals, but I heard a lot of Hagar and Coverdale in his voice....Hagar is one of my all time favorite singers in the whole world, but I couldn't imagine him singing "Open Arms..." But I've heard a lot about Jeff's chameleon-like abilities, and I also know Deen is there to cover the softer stuff, so I think the show is going to be pretty exciting. I am hoping that the band allows the music to conform to Jeff's style rather than the other way around.