Your thoughts...

[livin2do]

I posted the below in the Back Talk Creator thread. What do you think?

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The Internet was coming into mainstream popularity. In 1995, when I first had a dial-up connection, there was really only one place to get Journey updates - the Steven Lake Journey Tribute Page. I'm sure others will remember it, too. Somewhere along the way I also discovered the Journey forum. I went to these sites regularly, and that is where I first heard that Journey was regrouping, and recording their reunion album. I could not have been more excited about that.

When Trial By Fire came out, these sites gave fans a place to speak with other fans about the rebirth of Journey. The album was extremely well-received, and Journey exploded back onto the music scene. The band had left in 1987 with scarcely a word about their future plans, so to have them back and about to tour was a long-overdue surprise.

This is where the problem started. The tour that was promised was put on hold, and the band did not so much as address the delay. It came out months later that Steve Perry had hurt himself just after the album came out, but there was no clear communication about what the band had planned next. Much of the information I got at that time were rumors off of the forums and other sites (like MelodicRock.com). Weeks and months passed with no word, and I, for one, became discontented with the lack of information - especially since it would've been easier than ever to get the information out by doing it online.

I do not believe I was the only one. There were plenty of pissed-off people at that point, as I recall. And then, a year and a half later when they finally said what was going on, the word was that Journey had replaced Steve Perry and Steve Smith, and were moving on without them. This pissed people off all the more. It is a wonder that the entire fan base was not alienated by now. The multitude of ways that the band had taken its fans for granted, I thought, was more than Journey would possibly be able to overcome.

But, I gave it a shot - as did many. Early on, I had some pretty harsh feelings about how Steve Augeri did on some of the classics. I used to cringe when he sang the "...in the night..." bit. But, what Augeri might have lacked compared to Perry, he more than made up for in the way he dealt with Journey's fans. He was approachable. He honored the legacy created by Perry, and thanked the crowds for letting him sing for them. Perry wooed his fans with his legendary talent; Augeri did so by being humble and respectful while following in his shoes. When fans would be ardently opposed to even the notion of replacing Steve Perry, I had to voice my support because I appreciated the newfound value the band now seemed to be placing on me as a fan. I was starting to feel connected to Journey again, and a lot of this was all Augeri's doing. I was ready for whatever the band had for me next.

After three years at the helm, Augeri had shown a lot of improvement vocally. Then came Arrival. While it was not a perfect record, I felt it was a much more solid Journey release than either Raised on Radio or Trial by Fire. It sounded like a logical follow-up to Frontiers to me, and Journey was BACK. It was not long after that I published the Castles Burning interview with Herbie Herbert. This answered for me - and for so many fans - many of the questions about what had happened to Journey, and why they were forced to replace Steve Perry.

The Internet was key in this tumultuous time for Journey. I used to take part in so many of the long debates about the change. I was emotionally invested in the success of the band again. When posting on the forums, and later on Back Talk, I used to say I was "fighting the Journey wars."

The band always had a way of getting its fans to love them. The passion in the music stirred powerful feelings for anyone they touched. If you loved Neal Schon's or Steve Smith's playing, fans would defend them when critics wouldn't give them their due. While Steve Perry was reviled by writers, fans worshipped his vocal talents and hung on his every syllable. And, any time Rolling Stone lambasted "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'", Journey fans would respond in unison: "Na na na na na na, na na na na na na!" With the internet, fans were able to respond with a passion that reflected what they had gotten from Journey's music throughout the years.

[Jeremey]

Hey man, what are your thoughts on doing a follow up interview with Herbie, now that it seems a lot of what went down over the past couple of years is behind the band?

[*Laura]

I was asking livin2do the same Q...It sure would be interesting to find out what the big guy has to say about the changes in Journey,or to give his opinion on the future of the band.
Regardless the issues he's been having with the Journeymen,HH is a very smart manager and has a special sixth sense for the music biz.

Would love to read a sequel of Castles Burning.

[conversationpc]

Hey man, what are your thoughts on doing a follow up interview with Herbie, now that it seems a lot of what went down over the past couple of years is behind the band?

Reading that one interview with Herbie was like watching a train run over a bunch of homeless bums sleeping on the railroad tracks. The dude ran just about everyone down but himself. From what I remember, the only one he didn't slam was Gregg Rolie. That being said, it was interesting reading.

[ohsherrie]

Hey man, what are your thoughts on doing a follow up interview with Herbie, now that it seems a lot of what went down over the past couple of years is behind the band?

Reading that one interview with Herbie was like watching a train run over a bunch of homeless bums sleeping on the railroad tracks. The dude ran just about everyone down but himself. From what I remember, the only one he didn't slam was Gregg Rolie. That being said, it was interesting reading.

Interesting is about the best thing I can say about it. It was seething with Herbie's anger and personal bitterness. The content had to be taken with a grain of salt, or maybe a shaker full.

[Jeremey]

Yeah, it was clearly a one sided interview that had more than it's share of half truths, but no one can deny that Herbie's direct style would give an interesting spin to the details of the past 24 months of this band...Of course, Herbie hasn't been involved in the band in some time, so it'd all be conjecture and opinion on his part, but still an interesting read.

[Enigma869]

Nobody can deny that Herbie Herbert was as instrumental as anyone, in the success of Journey. Heck, be brought Perry in, so he can't be completely stupid. That said, I read that interview and came away thinking what a bitter man he sounded like. Nothing more than a windbag, spewing off at the mouth! Also, who really cares what Herbie thinks about Journey, at this point. To my knowledge, he really hasn't had any involvement with Journey, in a very long time, so I'm not sure he could really offer anything substantive to the conversation! Heck, there are probably some fans on these boards who have more knowledge and information about Journey, as constituted today, than Herbie would have!


John from Boston

[ohsherrie]

Yeah, it was clearly a one sided interview that had more than it's share of half truths, but no one can deny that Herbie's direct style would give an interesting spin to the details of the past 24 months of this band...Of course, Herbie hasn't been involved in the band in some time, so it'd all be conjecture and opinion on his part, but still an interesting read.

It would probably be fun to read. He's colorful.

[livin2do]

I'll say the same thing I said to Shania when she asked...

Herbie's involvement with the band has not changed significantly in the five years since Castles Burning. During that first interview, he really left no question unanswered, no stone unturned. Herbie is a guy who has moved past Journey. He looks on from a distance, from what he told me. I don't see him as someone who has anything more to say about the way things ended with Journey.

[tammy]

What do you want our thoughts on? Everything is a matter of opinion & taste anyway - to me ROR & TBF is more Journey than Arrival (too many words for one & SA's voice sounds drowned except for LBY & KMS, which I think are pretty). Times & circumstances are different...if you felt SA was making you feel connected to Journey than that is fine...others feel SP connects them more to Journey (I'm one). SP was the front man of a hugely popular band at its height - everybody wanted a piece of him...way different than when SA was fronting.

I'll admit that HH had a lot to do with the success of Journey - he really had a vision & brought his genius to the band and knew talent when he heard it. But, he grew bitter & that interview left a bad taste in the mouth. I sense he wanted to be the "daddy" and be loved - Neal did that, but not all of them, and I'm with them...better to keep business as business. It would've been great to read about the history of Journey & all that from him, but for whatever reason he wants to stew in resentment. Maybe, he'll change - people do.