Should Journey Have Changed Their Name?

[Voyager]

Someone recently posted something saying that they could not understand why some of us are "so confused" as to think that Steve Perry was/is Journey. Since that issue gets raised around here often, I felt like it deserved its own thread.

Some of us may also be confused enough to think that Elton John is Elton John. Can Elton John's guitarist or drummer carry on with business-as-usual without Elton John? If Elton John leaves the band or decides to stop touring, is it okay for the remaining band members to find an Elton John soundalike and keep touring? If you take away the lead singer, you take away the main ingredient. The only difference between Journey and Elton John is that one bears the singer's name and one does not.

I don't think there's any confusion involved. I don't feel confused at all. When I hear Journey, I hear Steve Perry. Journey may have recorded an album with Steve Augeri, but it could have just as well been called the Steve Augeri Band as far as I am concerned. It's not the same Journey. Perry even asked them not to call it Journey, but they didn't listen. They wanted to keep banking on the name, and on Steve Perry's fame. If that was not the case, they would not be hiring a Steve Perry soundalike to sing the songs like Perry made famous.

I realize that Van Halen didn't change their name, but they did change their sound. Sammy Hagar did not try to re-record the David Lee Roth era songs, nor did he even sing but two or three of them in concert. Van Halen did not try to live on the successes of the David Lee Roth. In contrast, Journey has lived on the successes of the Steve Perry era. They haven't made any hits before or after Steve Perry's involvement.

I realize that nobody's ever going to win this debate, but it keeps the forum going.

[Saint John]

Should Journey have changed their name? Absolutely fucking not!!!

[mikemarrs]

its all about the money.neal,jon,ross,etc. put all that blood and sweat building the name all those years.sure perry wants them to change the name but these guys are not going to start over from scratch because it would be too much work and they'd have to start over.all they are basically doing now is reaping the rewards of all those great albums they made.thats guaranteed money for life so they would be crazy to change the name now regardless if perry wanted them to or not.it would be a dumb decision on their parts if they did but they aren't that ignorant.


i voted no.journey is not steve perry.

[Voyager]

its all about the money.

I agree.

[Andrew]

No no....of course not.

[Vladan]

The fact of the matter is, Journey is Steve Perry, and Steve Perry is Journey.

Oh and yes, I do support the current band that call themselves Journey too

[*Laura]

Was this ever done before in the history of rock?Did any of the famous bands changed their name after the lead singer was replaced?
I can't remember any legendary band doing that.

Of course,Perry was the trademark voice of the band,but not the name of the band,so Journey remains Journey - a rock band that went through personnel changes.

The exceptions would be Bon Jovi,Van Halen,Daughtry,Winger or any other band named after a member.

[finalfight]

Ridiculous. As for the Elton John analogy - Elton is a solo artist and his band simply hired hands.

Journey was Journey before Perry and should remain so after. Like it or don't, its only music after all.

[Vladan]

Ridiculous. As for the Elton John analogy - Elton is a solo artist and his band simply hired hands.

Journey was Journey before Perry and should remain so after. Like it or don't, its only music after all.

Good post, though with regards to the topic at hand.





Need we say anymore - as I strongly believe this case has been closed since 1996, and here is the proof. Anything before and after Steve Perry is literately and completely irrelevant to the music industry and society as well.

[mikemarrs]

1978-1998 all the perry stuff and basically the peak years where they had the most commercial leverage.the first three albums didn't have a proper vocalist and had no radio hits.the albums after greatest hits live were ushering in the augeri era and by then the bands time on radio and on the charts was history and they were less relevant beginning in 2001 with arrival and a new vocalist.all the gold and platinum stuff was 78-98 perry era.basically you could say perry was journey but the show goes on especially on the concert trail....

[Perrydise]

Today they should be called Zookeeper feat. Journey.

Perry was the voice that brought them to fame and fortune, that is a FACT. Perry's voice was what brought the listener to the fold, that is a FACT. I believe it would have happened again with JSS. Now they are grasping at straws. That is a FACT.

[Tomulator]

Steve Perry was, is, and will ALWAYS BE an indespensible part of JOURNEY to the VAST MAJORITY of people.

That the band carries on using the "Journey" name is quite simply...a JOKE.

Give it up already.

Continue to play, whatever...just do it using another approach...it's not that hard you know!

[ohsherrie]

Steve Perry was, is, and will ALWAYS BE an indespensible part of JOURNEY to the VAST MAJORITY of people.

That the band carries on using the "Journey" name is quite simply...a JOKE.

Give it up already.

Continue to play, whatever...just do it using another approach...it's not that hard you know!

[finalfight]

Steve Perry was, is, and will ALWAYS BE an indespensible part of JOURNEY to the VAST MAJORITY of people.

That the band carries on using the "Journey" name is quite simply...a JOKE.

Give it up already.

Continue to play, whatever...just do it using another approach...it's not that hard you know!

Why should they change their name and who are this vast majority, us? Journey concert attendance has been fine since Perry quit yet again and Neal and co have the right to earn a living from an entity that they have put so much into - past and present.

Regardless of what on the surface apear to be questionable business practices the band has done many people a service by bringing artists such as Steve Augeri and JSS to a wider audience and possibly by association also the likes of Kevin Chalfant, Ramos and Hugo etc.
am sure Jeff's fanbase in particular is stronger than ever before and he certainly benefited from the way he acted after being ousted whilst the band, the main focus of everyones attention beforehand now has everything to prove. That band however IS Journey and probably always will be.

Support the music and not the politics.

[sniper16]

bands are companies,
steve perry was not journey, just a part.
4 members wanted to continue, 1 did not LIVE WITH IT.
steve took the BAND JOURNEY to its highest levels, but just as many feel he destroyed
what he helped expand.
jon cain had just as much to do with escape/frontiers as steve,
if steve was still there,and jon wasnt, do you think they would have changed thier name.
its JOURNEY not STEVE PERRY on the ticket stubs and albums you love.

[Wally_Hatchet]

SP is not Journey, he is their former singer.

[youkeepmewaiting]

People want to hear to Journey songs, people pay to hear Journey songs.. so that what Schon etc did after Perry decided to piss about.

Whats the point in changing the name when people WANT to listen to Journey still, be it with Perry or not.

Arrival, Generations and Red 13 (sort of) all sounded like Journey to me.

Remember Me, To Be Alive Again, FITHL etc; what not Journey sounding about those songs? (apart from you dicks who will say "theres no Steve Perry)

[fightingilliniJRNY]

SP is not Journey, he is their former singer.

Yep.

[Rockindeano]

Retarded question and Vladan, take your dick out of your mouth when typing. I know it's Valentine's Day and all, and you are looking to get some, but check yourself.

Journey was Journey from 1973 until now. Oh, I am sorry, the REAL Journey is playing Charlotte this weekend Nevermind.

However, in all seriousness, Journey was a brand name, a piece of Americana, and it's sad that they have taken a classic and turned it into a fuckin Yugo. Perry helped create a beautiful machine. They should treat it with respect, and not piss in the gas tank.

On behalf of of Neal and Jon and a lot of the assface fans, I apologize to you Steve Perry.

[ohsherrie]

SP is not Journey, he is their former singer.

As well as their former and only relevance.

[mistiejourney]

Interesting....

I actually voted "no". There is a recognizable Journey "sound" before Perry joined, via Neal and Gregg. Perry blended so well into the sound and then he took it waaaaay into the stratosphere along with Jon Cain in the 80s. Perry didn't want to be a part of Journey any more. Period.

But...why should Perry's decision stop the other guys from trying to take that sound even farther without him.

The fact that they have failed to do so, and are resorting to sounding like their "legacy" (a "legacy" they were all a part of) doesn't make them less "Journey".

Perry had no right to even ask them to drop the name way back when, when HE was the one who wanted to retire at the ripe old age of 49 (or so).

And this is coming from a sometimes "loon" who has no intention of seeing the new incarnation, but can certainly understand why they have a right to exist as Journey.

I just wish they would have done it with JSS.

[Rockindeano]

SP is not Journey, he is their former singer.

As well as their former and only relevance.

Did it ever occur to you Perry had the right timing? He came in when Rock was king, and got out before it went down the shitter.

Sherrie sometimes I would like to put your ass over my knee.

[lights1961]

Rolie was journey... and Neal is Journey---smitty was journey... Ross is journey... Perry was Journey... Randy Jackson was also journey.. Steve Augeri was Journey
JSS was Journey... and on and on... so Perry was in a BAND CALLED JOURNEY which was named Journey before he came aboard.


Rick

[STORY_TELLER]

Here's the interesting thing about all you guys who are arguing about this topic:

Apparently, Neal and Jon feel Perry was Journey or:

1- They would have replaced him back in 1987 to ride the big cash cow they already created. Instead, they went and formed Bad English which briefly rode the hair band wave but ultimately went nowhere.

2- When they finally decided to replace Perry, they've consistently sought out someone who sounds as much like him as possible (Chalfant, Augeri, Jeremey and now Arnel). To drive that point home, they even fired a guy who was well received by fans and critics alike, simply because he didn't sound ENOUGH like Steve Perry for them.


Seems to me the band members themselves believe Perry was Journey and there has to be a reason for that.

[Journey69]

Ridiculous. As for the Elton John analogy - Elton is a solo artist and his band simply hired hands.

Journey was Journey before Perry and should remain so after. Like it or don't, its only music after all.

You are absolutely correct! The post isn't good ,its stupid..! Assinine,analogy! Steve Perry was added to Journey. Lou Gramm isn't in Foreigner anymore and he was with the band from day 1..Should they change their name? The Journey name was picked before SP joined.. Talk about a Perry homer! Also,Augeri was excellent! I loved how he sang,I loved Arrival,Journey doesn't need to change their music..Van Halen did not change their music,Sammy wrote the lyrics,and IMO they were better than Dave's..They had more hits with Sammy.. Does Dave sing Sammy's songs in concert? I'm curious..

[Journey69]

Here's the interesting thing about all you guys who are arguing about this topic:

Apparently, Neal and Jon feel Perry was Journey or:

1- They would have replaced him back in 1987 to ride the big cash cow they already created. Instead, they went and formed Bad English which briefly rode the hair band wave but ultimately went nowhere.

2- When they finally decided to replace Perry, they've consistently sought out someone who sounds as much like him as possible (Chalfant, Augeri, Jeremey and now Arnel). To drive that point home, they even fired a guy who was well received by fans and critics alike, simply because he didn't sound ENOUGH like Steve Perry for them.


Seems to me the band members themselves believe Perry was Journey and there has to be a reason for that.

You must be their manager.. They waited for him to come back..He was their lead singer for the love of god..Who know's what happened to Augeri for sure..Maybe something behind the scene's went down we don't know about.. Unless Perry can play all the instruments and sing,he is not the band,but part of the band..

[conversationpc]

Here's the interesting thing about all you guys who are arguing about this topic:

Apparently, Neal and Jon feel Perry was Journey or:

1- They would have replaced him back in 1987 to ride the big cash cow they already created. Instead, they went and formed Bad English which briefly rode the hair band wave but ultimately went nowhere.

2- When they finally decided to replace Perry, they've consistently sought out someone who sounds as much like him as possible (Chalfant, Augeri, Jeremey and now Arnel). To drive that point home, they even fired a guy who was well received by fans and critics alike, simply because he didn't sound ENOUGH like Steve Perry for them.


Seems to me the band members themselves believe Perry was Journey and there has to be a reason for that.

As for #1...They didn't know at the time that he was going to basically retire for 8 years or they may have actually gone ahead and replaced him. Heck, at the time Van Halen was enjoying huge success replacing David Lee Roth with Sammy Hagar, had their first #1 album, several top 40 hits, and a very successful tour. They could have followed suit. Would it have been as successful as VH? Maybe not but I think they might've seriously considered it if they had known they were going to be putting Journey to bed for several years.

[RossValoryRocks]

Perry was the voice that brought them to fame and fortune, that is a FACT.

Yes this is a fact, and true.

Perry's voice was what brought the listener to the fold, that is a FACT.

Also an fact and true...

I believe it would have happened again with JSS.

This is in opinion, YOU BELIEVE, makes it so. Jeff is great, however the marketplace for music is much different that it was even 12 years ago when TBF came out. Even that album didn't do as good as it's predecessors because the musical climate was changing.

Now they are grasping at straws. That is a FACT.

Again...that is an opinion. Journey in it's many incarnations since Perry has always made money as a touring band, as opposed to a recording band.

[ProgRocker53]

Ridiculous. As for the Elton John analogy - Elton is a solo artist and his band simply hired hands.

Journey was Journey before Perry and should remain so after. Like it or don't, its only music after all.

You are absolutely correct! The post isn't good ,its stupid..! Assinine,analogy! Steve Perry was added to Journey. Lou Gramm isn't in Foreigner anymore and he was with the band from day 1..Should they change their name? The Journey name was picked before SP joined.. Talk about a Perry homer! Also,Augeri was excellent! I loved how he sang,I loved Arrival,Journey doesn't need to change their music..Van Halen did not change their music,Sammy wrote the lyrics,and IMO they were better than Dave's..They had more hits with Sammy.. Does Dave sing Sammy's songs in concert? I'm curious..

Even if they didn't generate hit singles, and even if it's not in your personal taste of music, there were three albums of JOURNEY material before Prince Perry came riding in on his sparkling unicorn. There was a certain Journey "vibe" that was there from the very beginning and through all of the albums, even as they progressed from space rock through classic rock and pop and beyond. Perry was just another member of the crew, albeit one of the most talented of the bunch. I guess people miss the concept of a "Journey" when referring to the band?

C'mon Voyager. After Babe Ruth left the Yankees did they change their name? Drop it already.

[STORY_TELLER]

You must be their manager.. They waited for him to come back..He was their lead singer for the love of god..Who know's what happened to Augeri for sure..Maybe something behind the scene's went down we don't know about.. Unless Perry can play all the instruments and sing,he is not the band,but part of the band..

Neal waited for him to come back because, from his own mouth on the VH1 BTM special, he said: "What Perry brought to the band was the success".

That's why they waited for him. They didn't believe the fan base would support them without him, and for the most part, they're correct.

TBF sold a million copies without any tour support.

Arrival didn't sell even with tour support. The majority of Journey fans who purchased TBF to this day does not support a Perryless Journey.