Radio station announcements and comments......

[Foolish Heart]

So I was taken by surprise this morning when, as I was listening to the radio, Faithfully came on. After playing a couple of verses, the two radio announcers and the weatherman started laughing while talking about the fact that Journey had gotten a new lead singer and how they got him off of YouTube. They went on to say that Neil called Arnel after finding him and that he had left him a voicemail which went unanswered for a couple of weeks because Arnel didnt believe it was him and he ignored it until someone told him that maybe it was him and that he should probably return his call, which he did and, of course, the rest is history. The announcers were pretty much having a field day making fun of the whole scenario. Although one of them said Arnel sounded pretty decent. Well they continued this conversation for several minutes making comments that Journey should ride into the sunset and that they should stick to doing county fairs --- no one can replace Steve Perry, etc. etc. A fourth person, the woman who does the traffic, ended the conversation by saying that they should just live off the residuals from DSB from the Sopranos and that she put up her own version of that song on YouTube and no one ever called her to offer her a lead singer opportunity.

While I know this isnt surprising, the one point that is..... is that this radio station is a 24 hour talk show format - these aren't disc jockeys.

I know the announcement is very new but has anyone else heard anything on their radio stations?????

[separate_wayz]

A co-worker told me that while driving into work he heard about Journey replacing their lead singer. His perspective was that, after playing the MP3's from YouTube, the radio DJ's thought he sounded amazingly like Steve Perry, as did my co-worker. This co-worker is an enormous smart-ass (and a good guy), so if he thought Arnel didn't sound like Steve Perry, he wouldn't have hesitated to say so.

[jrnyman28]

The last thing Journey could want is mp3 clips from YouTube video to be the representation of Arnel. They better move quick.

Sadly I think you will hear a LOT of jokes pointed at Journey until there is something of substance todiscuss: NEW MUSIC!!

[Saint John]

Azoff is one of the giants in the business and I'm sure we'll see him flex his muscles a bit when the touring season gets closer. I'm sure his people gave the story to the major media outlets.

[texafana]

All this is great media attention for the band. Everyone likes to see an unkown either fail or succeed. They couldn't ask for better "free" publicity. Wow...Journey has to be pumped they're getting free word of mouth advertising. Wow, Journey might have a 2nd wind after all.

[wildone]

All this is great media attention for the band. Everyone likes to see an unkown either fail or succeed. They couldn't ask for better "free" publicity. Wow...Journey has to be pumped they're getting free word of mouth advertising. Wow, Journey might have a 2nd wind after all.

2nd wind LMAO yah ok sure they do...if that was the case they would have rode the big waves DSB was making when the Soparnos actually did air it ...at the time there was a lot of buzz going on....then.....well you all know the rest of the story.

[dcvader]

Azoff is one of the giants in the business and I'm sure we'll see him flex his muscles a bit when the touring season gets closer. I'm sure his people gave the story to the major media outlets.

Azoff sure has flexed his muscle for Journey in the past 8 years. Yeah right.

Maybe it will be different this time around. Let me know how it turns out.

[Escape Artist]

Same old Journey... another press release and casual fans who might be interested look them up and find a one page press release and nothing else on the official website. No pictures of the "new guy" no decent clips of him... nothin'

It's gonna be hard enough to sell this as it is but no promotion at all after a major press release?? Come on!

[Saint John]

Azoff is one of the giants in the business and I'm sure we'll see him flex his muscles a bit when the touring season gets closer. I'm sure his people gave the story to the major media outlets.

Azoff sure has flexed his muscle for Journey in the past 8 years. Yeah right.

Maybe it will be different this time around. Let me know how it turns out.

Azoff kept Journey a viable touring machine over the last 8 years. I can't think of too many artists/acts that began in the 70's that have played in front of more people than Journey has in that same time frame. Personnel decisions aside, he has kept the $$$$$ flowing in. And that's his job.

[Journey69]

Azoff is one of the giants in the business and I'm sure we'll see him flex his muscles a bit when the touring season gets closer. I'm sure his people gave the story to the major media outlets.

Azoff sure has flexed his muscle for Journey in the past 8 years. Yeah right.

Maybe it will be different this time around. Let me know how it turns out.

Azoff kept Journey a viable touring machine over the last 8 years. I can't think of too many artists/acts that began in the 70's that have played in front of more people than Journey has in that same time frame. Personnel decisions aside, he has kept the $$$$$ flowing in. And that's his job.

I saw Journey twice with Augeri..Both times were awesome! I also agree with St John.. Everytime I saw them it was packed.. Sold out in target center..

[slucero]

The success of the new lineup in the States really depends on them putting out a kick ass album.... it has to be WAY better than Arrival... I'm talking along the lines of Evolution.. soaring vocals... BUT ROCKIN' TUNES... it has to really bring peeps back to that era when Journey was a ROCK band that played a few ballads.... NOT the Escape era... when they got the "ballad-band" label.... A "rockin" Journey sounds new, young and fresh.... a "ballad" Journey will just sound old and tired.... Arnel has the pipes for them to pull off that type of music again.... all will be forgiven if they can do this.

THe obvious concerned with Arnel, is the ability to market him to the American audience... which is why (I think) Jeremey was a safer choice.... and it makes sense that the band thought it too... they offered him the job first, remember??

Ironically, Jeremey declining the offer (and the hiring of Arnel) may actually be a BETTER scenario. With Arnel they have instant credibility in Asia.. which is a HUGE market... it actually dwarfs the US market now... so they don't have to tour the US... which means they can avoid all the "Perry-impersonator" crap they'd get from US fans...

Now, I would be TOTALLY surprised if they toured the US in the next 2 years.... it all depends on the material... if it kicks ass, the demand will eventually be here in the US anyways... they can return on the "upswing"..... and to a unified fanbase...

[journeyrock]

Azoff is one of the giants in the business and I'm sure we'll see him flex his muscles a bit when the touring season gets closer. I'm sure his people gave the story to the major media outlets.

Azoff sure has flexed his muscle for Journey in the past 8 years. Yeah right.

Maybe it will be different this time around. Let me know how it turns out.

Azoff kept Journey a viable touring machine over the last 8 years. I can't think of too many artists/acts that began in the 70's that have played in front of more people than Journey has in that same time frame. Personnel decisions aside, he has kept the $$$$$ flowing in. And that's his job.

That is true, but the biggest majority of those numbers were accumulated in the 80's, not the last 8 years, and that was all Herbie's doing.

[jrnyman28]

Azoff kept Journey a viable touring machine over the last 8 years. I can't think of too many artists/acts that began in the 70's that have played in front of more people than Journey has in that same time frame. Personnel decisions aside, he has kept the $$$$$ flowing in. And that's his job.

Azoff MANAGEMENT kept Joureny viable, but I don't think Irving did anything himself. No strong-arming, no pressure, no connections. I think his true personal involvement began withWalmart.

[fightingilliniJRNY]

Now, I would be TOTALLY surprised if they toured the US in the next 2 years.

Then prepared to be surprised. NO WAY does the band NOT tour the United States.

[slucero]

Now, I would be TOTALLY surprised if they toured the US in the next 2 years.

Then prepared to be surprised. NO WAY does the band NOT tour the United States.

Care to explain why you think this?

[Saint John]

Now, I would be TOTALLY surprised if they toured the US in the next 2 years.

Then prepared to be surprised. NO WAY does the band NOT tour the United States.

Care to explain why you think this?

Why would they hop in bed with Wal Mart to tour outside of the U.S.? This is a no brainer. Of course they'll tour the U.S.....this year. They already have venues lined up...just haven't released the official dates because they're looking for opening acts.

[fightingilliniJRNY]

Now, I would be TOTALLY surprised if they toured the US in the next 2 years.

Then prepared to be surprised. NO WAY does the band NOT tour the United States.

Care to explain why you think this?

I echo what St. John said, plus their bread and butter is in the US. There is too much money to be made in the States, versus the relative unknown of a tour of Asia or South America. I know that a lot of people here are predicting that there will be a giant drop-off in concert attendance. But I don't think so. I think the year off might have even helped them, just like whoever it was in the band saying "you have to go away for them to miss you." I don't see them releasing a new album in the US, especially through Wal-Mart, and then not touring behind it.

[slucero]

Now, I would be TOTALLY surprised if they toured the US in the next 2 years.

Then prepared to be surprised. NO WAY does the band NOT tour the United States.

Care to explain why you think this?

I echo what St. John said, plus their bread and butter is in the US. There is too much money to be made in the States, versus the relative unknown of a tour of Asia or South America. I know that a lot of people here are predicting that there will be a giant drop-off in concert attendance. But I don't think so. I think the year off might have even helped them, just like whoever it was in the band saying "you have to go away for them to miss you." I don't see them releasing a new album in the US, especially through Wal-Mart, and then not touring behind it.

Ahhh I found the post Jeremey made regarding the Walmart deal... had no idea that was in the works... I stand corrected...

[fightingilliniJRNY]

Now, I would be TOTALLY surprised if they toured the US in the next 2 years.

Then prepared to be surprised. NO WAY does the band NOT tour the United States.

Care to explain why you think this?

I echo what St. John said, plus their bread and butter is in the US. There is too much money to be made in the States, versus the relative unknown of a tour of Asia or South America. I know that a lot of people here are predicting that there will be a giant drop-off in concert attendance. But I don't think so. I think the year off might have even helped them, just like whoever it was in the band saying "you have to go away for them to miss you." I don't see them releasing a new album in the US, especially through Wal-Mart, and then not touring behind it.

Ahhh I found the post Jeremey made regarding the Walmart deal... had no idea that was in the works... I stand corrected...

I do agree with you that the market outside the US might be particularly strong for this incarnation of Journey. But I don't think the first tour with Arnel misses the States.

[AR]

Yeah he sounds like Perry but can't pronounce his consonants properly. Also he just stands there like a retarded midget and parrots the songs.

Nice to see this place has turned into Back Talk part II over a robot from the 3rd World Neal is paying in dead dogs instead of currency.

Led Zeppelin is rescheduling their upcoming tour. They found an Eskimo who sings Stairway to Heaven while ice fishing.

[treetopovskaya]

does AR now stand for arnel rocks? i knew it all along! }=C)

*slaps ed with a trout*

Yeah he sounds like Perry but can't pronounce his consonants properly. Also he just stands there like a retarded midget and parrots the songs.

Nice to see this place has turned into Back Talk part II over a robot from the 3rd World Neal is paying in dead dogs instead of currency.

Led Zeppelin is rescheduling their upcoming tour. They found an Eskimo who sings Stairway to Heaven while ice fishing.

[fightingilliniJRNY]

They already have venues lined up...just haven't released the official dates because they're looking for opening acts.

Amphitheatres?

[Saint John]

They already have venues lined up...just haven't released the official dates because they're looking for opening acts.

Amphitheatres?

Yes...Verizon Center being one of them I believe.

[dcvader]

Azoff is one of the giants in the business and I'm sure we'll see him flex his muscles a bit when the touring season gets closer. I'm sure his people gave the story to the major media outlets.

Azoff sure has flexed his muscle for Journey in the past 8 years. Yeah right.

Maybe it will be different this time around. Let me know how it turns out.

Azoff kept Journey a viable touring machine over the last 8 years. I can't think of too many artists/acts that began in the 70's that have played in front of more people than Journey has in that same time frame. Personnel decisions aside, he has kept the $$$$$ flowing in. And that's his job.

Azoff did not get Journey out into the media. How many National morning shows did they do in the past 8 years? Exactly 1.

No late night shows (letterman etc). We all know those performances are lipped, should have been easy to pull that off.

Azoff has all the connections, he could have done a ton more than he did.

How hard was it to keep them touring when they ran countless radio ad's with SP singing. The casual fan will always show up. That's what they keep saying about Arnel.

He did manage to get Journey to play 2nd fiddle to Taylor Hicks at the Mardi Gras last year. That had to be fun for the boys. LMFAO!!!!!!!

[Saint John]

Azoff is one of the giants in the business and I'm sure we'll see him flex his muscles a bit when the touring season gets closer. I'm sure his people gave the story to the major media outlets.

Azoff sure has flexed his muscle for Journey in the past 8 years. Yeah right.

Maybe it will be different this time around. Let me know how it turns out.

Azoff kept Journey a viable touring machine over the last 8 years. I can't think of too many artists/acts that began in the 70's that have played in front of more people than Journey has in that same time frame. Personnel decisions aside, he has kept the $$$$$ flowing in. And that's his job.

Azoff did not get Journey out into the media. How many National morning shows did they do in the past 8 years? Exactly 1.

No late night shows (letterman etc). We all know those performances are lipped, should have been easy to pull that off.

Azoff has all the connections, he could have done a ton more than he did.

How hard was it to keep them touring when they ran countless radio ad's with SP singing. The casual fan will always show up. That's what they keep saying about Arnel.

He did manage to get Journey to play 2nd fiddle to Taylor Hicks at the Mardi Gras last year. That had to be fun for the boys. LMFAO!!!!!!!

All very valid points, Dave. I just think that aside from somehow having an album do unbelievably well, they realize that they don't have to do the shows you mentioned because they have such a built in fanbase. I think they realize that minus Perry or minus an album that's a huge hit (unlike Arrival) they'd merely be wasting time and money. I suspect that probably won't change much. Time will tell.

[fightingilliniJRNY]

They already have venues lined up...just haven't released the official dates because they're looking for opening acts.

Amphitheatres?

Yes...Verizon Center being one of them I believe.

Good stuff. I love Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville. Glad they decided not to sell it. Now let's hope it's the rest of the usual suspects, so I can make it up to Chicago and St. Louis, too.

[Perrydise]

The DJ's here are big Perry fans. When they play a Journey song they mostly introduce it by saying "Here's Steve Perry and the boys" or "Steve Perry and Journey". This afternoon they joked that they were putting something together for Youtube to see if they could become famous.

[fightingilliniJRNY]

The DJ's here are big Perry fans. When they play a Journey song they mostly introduce it by saying "Here's Steve Perry and the boys" or "Steve Perry and Journey". This afternoon they joked that they were putting something together for Youtube to see if they could become famous.

Free publicity. Maybe it translates to "hey, Journey's in town. I'm going to go check out that guy they found on YouTube."

[Perrydise]

The DJ's here are big Perry fans. When they play a Journey song they mostly introduce it by saying "Here's Steve Perry and the boys" or "Steve Perry and Journey". This afternoon they joked that they were putting something together for Youtube to see if they could become famous.

Free publicity. Maybe it translates to "hey, Journey's in town. I'm going to go check out that guy they found on YouTube."

Maybe free publicity but it didnt sound like it was too flattering.

[fightingilliniJRNY]

The DJ's here are big Perry fans. When they play a Journey song they mostly introduce it by saying "Here's Steve Perry and the boys" or "Steve Perry and Journey". This afternoon they joked that they were putting something together for Youtube to see if they could become famous.

Free publicity. Maybe it translates to "hey, Journey's in town. I'm going to go check out that guy they found on YouTube."

Maybe free publicity but it didnt sound like it was too flattering.

True. But when is Journey ever really talked about in a flattering light?