questions for JSS history buffs

[ArnelRox]

I'm still listening to these boots & just wondering why JSS was kept "under the radar" for me until SS. I was wondering if u buffs out there could fill me in.

I know Jeff was with Yngwie Malmsteen & some of u saw him then. I never heard of Yngwie before u all started talking about him. Did he have any charting hits in the US? Did he get airplay on the radio?

Did any or JSS's work either solo or w/Talisman ever chart in the US? Did it get airplay on the radio?

Thanks.

[yulog]

JSS never made it in the states yngvie was all about guitars(himself) not singers dont know that JSS has any gold cds in europe i think the standards are different in europe compared to the US i think you dont need as many sales in europe to go gold(not positive on this but i think i read this somewhere)

[larryfromnextdoor]

it happened to me as well,, AND ive been reading andrews reviews for years,,i just missed him ,, ive been griping about music in the 90's etc,, and jss was there all the time,, anyway, im having a blast catching up ,, this part is not about journey,, jss has some amazing tunes,, right now im stuck on essential ballads,, hes been on a ton of stuff,, hes just as good a writer as he is singer,, for my taste anyway......

[Ms_M]

I think this goes along with what I (and others) have said... If the music industry doesn't want you to have exposure and therefore a hit, you won't. Unfortunately, I think we miss out on a lot because of the promotional machinations of record labels. I am glad we are getting to enjoy JSS now!!

[SunshineTwilight]

Among the many bands and projects that JSS has been involved in was on called 'EYES' in the
early 90's that produced a video for the "Calling All Girls" song, off of their self-titled album/CD.
The video had some rotation on MTV, but I don't think it got much radio air play, if any at all.

[FormerJrnyFan]

it happened to me as well,, AND ive been reading andrews reviews for years,,i just missed him ,, ive been griping about music in the 90's etc,, and jss was there all the time,, anyway, im having a blast catching up ,, this part is not about journey,, jss has some amazing tunes,, right now im stuck on essential ballads,, hes been on a ton of stuff,, hes just as good a writer as he is singer,, for my taste anyway......

Me too, Lar! How did we miss him? I think I'm all caught up now

[yulog]

what is the best hot dog journeygal? please do tell

[FormerJrnyFan]

what is the best hot dog journeygal? please do tell

Seems you like following me around yul

[Clasicrockldy]

what is the best hot dog journeygal? please do tell

I will answer this one, journeygal.

yulog, the best hot dog I ever had was from Casper's, which is only in the SF Bay area or the East SF Bay area. ( As far as I know).

[yulog]

never tasted anything better than a sabbret(dont know if this is spelled correctly)

[ArnelRox]

what is the best hot dog journeygal? please do tell

Nice u turn my serious thread into a discussion on hot dogs. I guess I have to go back to creating smutty threads. When I'm serious people talk about food! Dammit.

[JSS]

I must be really bored tonight, I keep popping in here to kill a little time (ok, truth be told, been bedridden with a hellhole of a flu the past 5 days!) so I'll round it up for ya...

Yea, part of my 'under the radar status' in the US had a lot to do with the stereo-type of singing with Yngwie as the start of my career, not too many guys make a name for themselves singing for guitarists that are the main marquee names....so aside of the style of music & the horrible hair/fashion I considered cool then, another problem I ran into throughout the demise of the hair metal era was race. Not too many Puerto Rican or hispanic singers were fronting popular hard rock bands that played predominantly 'white music to white audiences' back then. Sure you can argue, Stephen Pearcy of Ratt is hispanic, Vince Neil of Crue is half Mexican, etc., made it but they didn't have the features I did that showed my ethnic side as prominently. Bands I was in after Yngwie not only did I have to muscle my way out of the stigma people thought of me as a 'heavy metal screamer' but also heard it all too often, 'he doesn't look the part' as in blond hair & blue eyes. I lost many an opportunity because of it & with that was completely overlooked in talent because I didn't 'look the part'. I got lucky in TWO ways from all that....the 1st being I'm not some washed up has been trying to make a comeback after selling millions of albums that sound like comedy albums these days & 2, in Europe they looked past the color/race thing & only cared about the talent which brings me to Talisman.

I was lucky enough to reteam with my bud & bass player of Yngwie's band Marcel Jacob, who at the time was recording a solo album with an indy label in Sweden. When he released it, he called the album Talisman & used a photo of the 2 of us on it...we thought of it as a fun project & paycheck, nothing more, to our surprise, the thiing shot like a rocket throughout Europe & Asia forcing to form a band & tour on it. It became a pet project & band for us which continues today with our 7th studio album coming out this month. Yngwie & Talisman opened me up to audiences worldwide except here at home, where no one wanted to know which was ok with me, but I always had a dream to become a household name in my own country....something that seems to be occuring this year finally, 22 years after I started my (damn it, please excuse me!!) journey as an 18 year old nobody singing songs about a 'viking'!

That's the bottom line, there's more that goes into it but now I'm even bored reading this Goodnight all>>>>

I'm still listening to these boots & just wondering why JSS was kept "under the radar" for me until SS. I was wondering if u buffs out there could fill me in.

I know Jeff was with Yngwie Malmsteen & some of u saw him then. I never heard of Yngwie before u all started talking about him. Did he have any charting hits in the US? Did he get airplay on the radio?

Did any or JSS's work either solo or w/Talisman ever chart in the US? Did it get airplay on the radio?

Thanks.

[Clasicrockldy]

Thanks for the post, Jeff. I love to hear your history in the music business from you. It gives me insight on what you went thru. Thanks again !

[FormerJrnyFan]

I must be really bored tonight, I keep popping in here to kill a little time (ok, truth be told, been bedridden with a hellhole of a flu the past 5 days!) so I'll round it up for ya...

Yea, part of my 'under the radar status' in the US had a lot to do with the stereo-type of singing with Yngwie as the start of my career, not too many guys make a name for themselves singing for guitarists that are the main marquee names....so aside of the style of music & the horrible hair/fashion I considered cool then, another problem I ran into throughout the demise of the hair metal era was race. Not too many Puerto Rican or hispanic singers were fronting popular hard rock bands that played predominantly 'white music to white audiences' back then. Sure you can argue, Stephen Pearcy of Ratt is hispanic, Vince Neil of Crue is half Mexican, etc., made it but they didn't have the features I did that showed my ethnic side as prominently. Bands I was in after Yngwie not only did I have to muscle my way out of the stigma people thought of me as a 'heavy metal screamer' but also heard it all too often, 'he doesn't look the part' as in blond hair & blue eyes. I lost many an opportunity because of it & with that was completely overlooked in talent because I didn't 'look the part'. I got lucky in TWO ways from all that....the 1st being I'm not some washed up has been trying to make a comeback after selling millions of albums that sound like comedy albums these days & 2, in Europe they looked past the color/race thing & only cared about the talent which brings me to Talisman.

I was lucky enough to reteam with my bud & bass player of Yngwie's band Marcel Jacob, who at the time was recording a solo album with an indy label in Sweden. When he released it, he called the album Talisman & used a photo of the 2 of us on it...we thought of it as a fun project & paycheck, nothing more, to our surprise, the thiing shot like a rocket throughout Europe & Asia forcing to form a band & tour on it. It became a pet project & band for us which continues today with our 7th studio album coming out this month. Yngwie & Talisman opened me up to audiences worldwide except here at home, where no one wanted to know which was ok with me, but I always had a dream to become a household name in my own country....something that seems to be occuring this year finally, 22 years after I started my (damn it, please excuse me!!) journey as an 18 year old nobody singing songs about a 'viking'!

That's the bottom line, there's more that goes into it but now I'm even bored reading this Goodnight all>>>>

I'm still listening to these boots & just wondering why JSS was kept "under the radar" for me until SS. I was wondering if u buffs out there could fill me in.

I know Jeff was with Yngwie Malmsteen & some of u saw him then. I never heard of Yngwie before u all started talking about him. Did he have any charting hits in the US? Did he get airplay on the radio?

Did any or JSS's work either solo or w/Talisman ever chart in the US? Did it get airplay on the radio?

Thanks.

Thanks, Jeff! Hope you're feeling better soon!!!!

[ArnelRox]

I must be really bored tonight, I keep popping in here to kill a little time (ok, truth be told, been bedridden with a hellhole of a flu the past 5 days!) so I'll round it up for ya...

Thanks so much Jeff. Altho it's a sorry thought that people would be so darn superficial. I always thought that happened in recent yrs & not so much back when u started out, but I hadn't factored in the racial aspect. I'm glad u are finally getting at least some of the respect u deserve after such a long time.

Rest up & feel better.

[Rockindeano]

Oh shit, don't baby him..he is a tough guy. If I see one fucking prayer thread here for "JSS to heal and get back to his fans" I am going postal.

Right Jeff? No pussy shit. JSS is a singer with a dick, something the two previous ones lacked.

[Deb]

I must be really bored tonight, I keep popping in here to kill a little time (ok, truth be told, been bedridden with a hellhole of a flu the past 5 days!) so I'll round it up for ya...

Yea, part of my 'under the radar status' in the US had a lot to do with the stereo-type of singing with Yngwie as the start of my career, not too many guys make a name for themselves singing for guitarists that are the main marquee names....so aside of the style of music & the horrible hair/fashion I considered cool then, another problem I ran into throughout the demise of the hair metal era was race. Not too many Puerto Rican or hispanic singers were fronting popular hard rock bands that played predominantly 'white music to white audiences' back then. Sure you can argue, Stephen Pearcy of Ratt is hispanic, Vince Neil of Crue is half Mexican, etc., made it but they didn't have the features I did that showed my ethnic side as prominently. Bands I was in after Yngwie not only did I have to muscle my way out of the stigma people thought of me as a 'heavy metal screamer' but also heard it all too often, 'he doesn't look the part' as in blond hair & blue eyes. I lost many an opportunity because of it & with that was completely overlooked in talent because I didn't 'look the part'. I got lucky in TWO ways from all that....the 1st being I'm not some washed up has been trying to make a comeback after selling millions of albums that sound like comedy albums these days & 2, in Europe they looked past the color/race thing & only cared about the talent which brings me to Talisman.

I was lucky enough to reteam with my bud & bass player of Yngwie's band Marcel Jacob, who at the time was recording a solo album with an indy label in Sweden. When he released it, he called the album Talisman & used a photo of the 2 of us on it...we thought of it as a fun project & paycheck, nothing more, to our surprise, the thiing shot like a rocket throughout Europe & Asia forcing to form a band & tour on it. It became a pet project & band for us which continues today with our 7th studio album coming out this month. Yngwie & Talisman opened me up to audiences worldwide except here at home, where no one wanted to know which was ok with me, but I always had a dream to become a household name in my own country....something that seems to be occuring this year finally, 22 years after I started my (damn it, please excuse me!!) journey as an 18 year old nobody singing songs about a 'viking'!

That's the bottom line, there's more that goes into it but now I'm even bored reading this Goodnight all>>>>

Thanks for that bit of insight into your career Jeff. Very, very cool of you to post.

[SunshineTwilight]

I must be really bored tonight, I keep popping in here to kill a little time (ok, truth be told, been bedridden with a hellhole of a flu the past 5 days!)

Jeff,

Feel better sweetie!

[ArnelRox]

Oh shit, don't baby him..he is a tough guy. If I see one fucking prayer thread here for "JSS to heal and get beack to his fans" I am going postal.

Right Jeff? No pussy shit. JSS is a singer with a dick, something the two previous ones lacked.

Oh damn. I was just gonna start one...NOT.

Um...While we're on the subject...do u have dimensions on that part of his anatomy Dean (J/K).

[Rockindeano]

Oh shit, don't baby him..he is a tough guy. If I see one fucking prayer thread here for "JSS to heal and get beack to his fans" I am going postal.

Right Jeff? No pussy shit. JSS is a singer with a dick, something the two previous ones lacked.

Oh damn. I was just gonna start one...NOT.

Um...While we're on the subject...do u have dimensions on that part of his anatomy Dean (J/K).

Fuck you S.....

[Deb]

Oh shit, don't baby him..he is a tough guy. If I see one fucking prayer thread here for "JSS to heal and get back to his fans" I am going postal.

Right Jeff? No pussy shit. JSS is a singer with a dick, something the two previous ones lacked.

Fuck you Deano, the first one had a dick too!

[ArnelRox]

Oh shit, don't baby him..he is a tough guy. If I see one fucking prayer thread here for "JSS to heal and get beack to his fans" I am going postal.

Right Jeff? No pussy shit. JSS is a singer with a dick, something the two previous ones lacked.

Oh damn. I was just gonna start one...NOT.

Um...While we're on the subject...do u have dimensions on that part of his anatomy Dean (J/K).

Fuck you S.....

Say that again & I'll start a dick appreciation thread!

[ArnelRox]

Damn it & I was trying to be nice & keep it clean. See what happens when I get around Dean for too long? Oh well TVL wanted the old JR out again. I'm reluctantly baaack.

[Natalie]

I must be really bored tonight, I keep popping in here to kill a little time (ok, truth be told, been bedridden with a hellhole of a flu the past 5 days!) so I'll round it up for ya...

[/quote]
Do you need a nurse honey????

[Rockindeano]

Oh shit, don't baby him..he is a tough guy. If I see one fucking prayer thread here for "JSS to heal and get back to his fans" I am going postal.

Right Jeff? No pussy shit. JSS is a singer with a dick, something the two previous ones lacked.

Fuck you Deano, the first one had a dick too!

He did? Ok....It was never hard I can tell you that.

[FormerJrnyFan]

Oh shit, don't baby him..he is a tough guy. If I see one fucking prayer thread here for "JSS to heal and get back to his fans" I am going postal.

Right Jeff? No pussy shit. JSS is a singer with a dick, something the two previous ones lacked.

Dont baby him...

[ArnelRox]

Oh shit, don't baby him..he is a tough guy. If I see one fucking prayer thread here for "JSS to heal and get back to his fans" I am going postal.

Right Jeff? No pussy shit. JSS is a singer with a dick, something the two previous ones lacked.

Fuck you Deano, the first one had a dick too!

He did? Ok....It was never hard I can tell you that.

Sure looked like it in some pix/vids I saw.

(For the record, I'm talking about Journey's 3rd lead singer, Steve Perry, not Fleischman or Rolie who were there b/f Perry.) Which 2 were u talking about Deano since Journey has had 5 singers (actually 9 if u count Neal, Jon, Ross & Deen who have all sung leads on vocals.)

[Deb]

Oh shit, don't baby him..he is a tough guy. If I see one fucking prayer thread here for "JSS to heal and get back to his fans" I am going postal.

Right Jeff? No pussy shit. JSS is a singer with a dick, something the two previous ones lacked.

Fuck you Deano, the first one had a dick too!

He did? Ok....It was never hard I can tell you that.

Sorry baby, you weren't his type.

[Just Mindy]

I must be really bored tonight, I keep popping in here to kill a little time (ok, truth be told, been bedridden with a hellhole of a flu the past 5 days!) so I'll round it up for ya...

Yea, part of my 'under the radar status' in the US had a lot to do with the stereo-type of singing with Yngwie as the start of my career, not too many guys make a name for themselves singing for guitarists that are the main marquee names....so aside of the style of music & the horrible hair/fashion I considered cool then, another problem I ran into throughout the demise of the hair metal era was race. Not too many Puerto Rican or hispanic singers were fronting popular hard rock bands that played predominantly 'white music to white audiences' back then. Sure you can argue, Stephen Pearcy of Ratt is hispanic, Vince Neil of Crue is half Mexican, etc., made it but they didn't have the features I did that showed my ethnic side as prominently. Bands I was in after Yngwie not only did I have to muscle my way out of the stigma people thought of me as a 'heavy metal screamer' but also heard it all too often, 'he doesn't look the part' as in blond hair & blue eyes. I lost many an opportunity because of it & with that was completely overlooked in talent because I didn't 'look the part'. I got lucky in TWO ways from all that....the 1st being I'm not some washed up has been trying to make a comeback after selling millions of albums that sound like comedy albums these days & 2, in Europe they looked past the color/race thing & only cared about the talent which brings me to Talisman.

I was lucky enough to reteam with my bud & bass player of Yngwie's band Marcel Jacob, who at the time was recording a solo album with an indy label in Sweden. When he released it, he called the album Talisman & used a photo of the 2 of us on it...we thought of it as a fun project & paycheck, nothing more, to our surprise, the thiing shot like a rocket throughout Europe & Asia forcing to form a band & tour on it. It became a pet project & band for us which continues today with our 7th studio album coming out this month. Yngwie & Talisman opened me up to audiences worldwide except here at home, where no one wanted to know which was ok with me, but I always had a dream to become a household name in my own country....something that seems to be occuring this year finally, 22 years after I started my (damn it, please excuse me!!) journey as an 18 year old nobody singing songs about a 'viking'!

That's the bottom line, there's more that goes into it but now I'm even bored reading this Goodnight all>>>>

Thanks for that, Jeff. Makes me shake my head that the racial aspect comes into play in the music business....sad that the emphasis is on business, not the music. I remember my brother talking incessantly about Yngwie's music, and I believe he has an LP or two. Its a damn shame IMO, that someone with that much talent, meaning you, was not promoted, was not given the boost that they needed to get the exposure that they deserved in their own country.

Some story about Talisman as well...did the record label try to promote it here? Because I, and a growing number of new fans, have been digging back into your career, buying Talisman CD's, and your solo music, and its got it, you know? I would think that had they tried to promote you better it would have taken off here as well?

Right around that time you were singing about a viking we were the MTV generation...going into bars, watching MTV on them big TV's hanging from the ceilings, we paid attention to what we saw...that should have been used more for you...but that can't be changed now, eh? Time to look forward, things are looking great for you.

Sorry for rambling, I've had the flu too. Not fun

[conversationpc]

Yea, part of my 'under the radar status' in the US had a lot to do with the stereo-type of singing with Yngwie as the start of my career, not too many guys make a name for themselves singing for guitarists that are the main marquee names....so aside of the style of music & the horrible hair/fashion I considered cool then, another problem I ran into throughout the demise of the hair metal era was race. Not too many Puerto Rican or hispanic singers were fronting popular hard rock bands that played predominantly 'white music to white audiences' back then. Sure you can argue, Stephen Pearcy of Ratt is hispanic, Vince Neil of Crue is half Mexican, etc., made it but they didn't have the features I did that showed my ethnic side as prominently. Bands I was in after Yngwie not only did I have to muscle my way out of the stigma people thought of me as a 'heavy metal screamer' but also heard it all too often, 'he doesn't look the part' as in blond hair & blue eyes. I lost many an opportunity because of it & with that was completely overlooked in talent because I didn't 'look the part'. I got lucky in TWO ways from all that....the 1st being I'm not some washed up has been trying to make a comeback after selling millions of albums that sound like comedy albums these days & 2, in Europe they looked past the color/race thing & only cared about the talent which brings me to Talisman.

Considering the excessive emphasis on looks with the whole hair metal thing in the 80's and into the early 90s, that doesn't surprise me. Heck, even talented bands like Whitesnake fell trap to that. Coverdale changed his hair color from brown to blonde and fired most of the studio musicians that made the hugely successfull self-titled Whitesnake album in '87. I like to refer to that era of Whitesnake as the David Coverdale Revolving-Musician Circus Band.

Anyway, I even remember reading an interview with Don Dokken or George Lynch (can't remember which) where they stated that they would change their hairspray if they heard the guys in Motley Crue were using something different. It got THAT ridiculous. I still love a lot of the music from that era but I have to laugh my ass off at the way some of the guys looked and acted back then.