MR

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 4:38 am**

I realize this decision is ultimately up to the band members themselves, but bands do care about what their fans think. What is your opinion on this? Should Journey continue to hire new singers to try to recreate the "legacy sound" from the 70's and 80's, or should they just retire?

Here's a post from Tomulator that I believe provides a very good argument for this topic:

Tomulator wrote:There are "middle of the road" bands...you know...like Survivor, Bad Co., Styx, DL, etc. that attained pretty lofty status but...just not LEGENDARY. Then there are the "upper tier" bands from Journey's era...you know...Journey, Aerosmith, Boston, Queen, Van Halen, etc. These bands were like "bolts of lightning" sent from the heavens...once in a lifetime type bands. Most of them don't last long...they aren't supposed to!

Journey honestly needed to retire the band around 10-12 years ago...after TBF (or maybe even PRIOR to it).

It's alot like a legendary boxer (e.g., Muhammed Ali or Sugar Ray Leonard) who keeps trying to come back one too many times...and is simply a "shell" of their former greatness. Journey's last "bout" should have been TBF...even at that, they were pushing it.

This shuffling in and out of singers, most of whom quite frankly aren't of the calibre of the rest of the band, is sad to me. There is but ONE singer for this band and he had the sense to quit with his dignity and legendary status intact. It's a question of knowing "when to say when".

The pics from the gig yesterday show a bunch of "pudgy gutted", gray haired, wrinkly faced, old men trying to play like it was 1980 with a young, talented but WAY OUT OF HIS LEAGUE singer. Neal in particular shocked me with his aged appearance.

They should do other musical things...apart and not as "Journey"...that shipped sailed a LONG TIME AGO.

JMO

Maybe they should have stopped in 1996 when Perry had had enough, and came back 11 years later in 2008 for one big reunion tour? The Police did this, and they've grossed over $212 million so far and climbing.

So what do you think? Are you happy to see Journey continue touring with singers like Steve Augeri, Jeff Scott Soto, and Arnel Pineda - or should they have thrown in the towel on Journey and gone in different musical directions?

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 4:47 am**

I don't care If Clay Aiken is in front. Keep going.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 4:58 am**

I'll put myself in Neal's shoes. Am I going to let 1 guy dictate whether I can earn maximum bucks playing my guitar or should I just start playing the local bar circuit. Uh, let's see. That's an easy one.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 5:07 am**

StoneCold wrote:I'll put myself in Neal's shoes. Am I going to let 1 guy dictate whether I can earn maximum bucks playing my guitar or should I just start playing the local bar circuit. Uh, let's see. That's an easy one.

While I agree with you that Neal should be able to do whatever he wants to musically, think about this analogy: When Sting left The Police, should Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers have sought out a Sting-soundalike and continued touring as The Police? Instead of "playing the local bar circuit", they both found other ways to continue their musical careers:

Wikipedia wrote:Andy Summers' musical credits include film scores, most famously Down and Out in Beverly Hills and Weekend at Bernie's. He also dabbled in late night television as the band leader and composer for actor/comic Dennis Miller's brief-lived first talk show. Summers guest-starred in an episode of TV's The Hitchhiker and had a bit part in the comedy Another You, starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. Summers also was briefly a member in 1987 of the group Rush Hour, which became Animal Logic with ex-Police drummer Stewart Copeland.

Summers has released numerous recordings as a leader or in collaboration with other musicians, including John Etheridge, Vinnie Colaiuta, Robert Fripp, Herbie Hancock, Brian Auger, Eliane Elias, Tony Levin, Ginger Baker, Deborah Harry, Q-Tip, and Sting, among others. Summers also taped a two-part guitar instructional video for Hot Licks.

Wikipedia wrote:After The Police stopped touring in 1984, Stewart Copeland established a career composing soundtracks for movies (Talk Radio, Wall Street, 'Riff Raff, 'Raining Stones, Surviving the Game, See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Highlander II: The Quickening, The Leopard Son, She's Having a Baby, Taking Care of Business, West Beirut, I am David), television (The Equalizer, Dead Like Me, Star Wars: Droids, the original pilot for Babylon 5, The Life and Times of Juniper Lee), and video games (Spyro the Dragon and The Agents), along with operas (Holy Blood and Crescent Moon, commissioned by Cleveland Opera,) and ballets.

In 1985, Copeland released a solo album, The Rhythmatist. Featuring drums and percussion, the record was the result of a pilgrimage to Africa. In 1988 he followed up with The Equalizer & Other Cliff Hangers, an album collecting some of his soundtrack efforts.

In 1989, Copeland formed Animal Logic with jazz bassist Stanley Clarke and singer songwriter Deborah Holland. The trio had success with their first album and world tour but the followup recording sold poorly, and the band did not continue.

Copeland has occasionally played drums for other artists including Peter Gabriel. In 2000, he joined with Les Claypool of Primus (with whom he produced a track on the Primus album Antipop) and Trey Anastasio of Phish to create the band Oysterhead. In 2002, Copeland was hired by Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of The Doors to play on a new album and tour, but after an injury sidelined Copeland, the arrangement ended in mutual lawsuits. In 2005, Copeland started Gizmo, a new project with avant-garde guitarist David Fiuczynski. The band made their U.S debut on September 16, 2006 at the Modern Drummer Drum Festival.

In January 2006, Copeland premiered his film about the Police called Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out at the Sundance Film Festival. In February and March, he appeared as one of the judges on the BBC television show 'Just the Two of Us' (A role he later reprised for a second series in January 2007).

At the 2007 Grammy Awards, Copeland, Andy Summers and Sting performed the song "Roxanne" together again as The Police. This marked the band's first public performance since 1986 (they had previously reunited only for an improvised set at Sting's wedding party in 1992 and for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003). One day later, the band announced that in celebration of The Police's 30th anniversary, they would be embarking on worldwide The Police Reunion Tour on May 23, 2007.

In March 2008, Copeland will premier a new composition at "An Evening with Stewart Copeland", at the Savannah Music Festival. The appearance will also feature a screening of his documentary and special guest artists.

Instead of fracturing the band name "The Police" after Sting left the band, the three members were able to get together and do a reunion tour in 2007-2008 that has grossed over $212 million and climbing. By doing this they kept their legacy intact, and it paid off in the long run.

It's obviously too late for Journey to go this route now.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 5:11 am**

If in 1998 i new more about Journey (i was 10 years old) then i would most definitly want them to retire, but then that would of meant we would of never got to hear some of the gems on Arrival, Generations or R13. And i can feel there are more gems to come. Dont retire, keep it going

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 5:19 am**

LOL these posts are funny. Really, just keep playing the music for Christ sake. Whatever gets me off my ass on a weekend and go to a place I enjoy and hear good music is all I need. Noone at that given time is thinking about if it will be #1 on the charts or if they are in a shell from what they once were. Just go to their concert, enjoy yourself, and soak it in.

Some people over dramatize things :roll:

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 5:29 am**

Voyager wrote:Instead of fracturing the band name "The Police" after Sting left the band, the three members were able to get together and do a reunion tour in 2007-2008 that has grossed over $212 million and climbing. By doing this they kept their legacy intact, and it paid off in the long run.

It's obviously too late for Journey to go this route now.

The Police were lucky none of them got hit by a car waiting 20 years to regroup. Yep, Perry was a major factor in the success of this band but so was Schon. I don't fault Schon for continuing.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 5:51 am**

YoungJRNY wrote:LOL these posts are funny. Really, just keep playing the music for Christ sake. Whatever gets me off my ass on a weekend and go to a place I enjoy and hear good music is all I need. Noone at that given time is thinking about if it will be #1 on the charts or if they are in a shell from what they once were. Just go to their concert, enjoy yourself, and soak it in.

Some people over dramatize things

Welcome to Club Drama!

:lol:

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:18 am**

Journey is how these guys earn a living. No-one has a right to take that away from them.

Steve walked away twice.

I never thought Augieri should have replaced Perry - Chalfant or Hugo were the only legitimate choices at the time.

Jeremey was the only choice after the JSS debacle, although Jeff was the best thing that happened to them in 30 years. I think the Pineda footage proves he doesn't have the chops to handle the gig, and he has ZERO stage presence.

So, they screwed up twice. But it's their livelihood. You think they should just "hang it up" and struggle through the remainder of their lives (financially speaking) because the fans want to "preserve their memories"? Give it a rest.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:23 am**

7 Wishes wrote:Journey is how these guys earn a living. No-one has a right to take that away from them.

Thatsts kinda the bottom line a lot of us forget....

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:26 am**

Eric wrote:
7 Wishes wrote:Journey is how these guys earn a living. No-one has a right to take that away from them.

Thats kinda the bottom line a lot of us forget....

Yep. If they didn't need the money, I'm sure they'd be living it up with Sammy down in Cabo.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:27 am**

Rick wrote:Yep. If they didn't need the money, I'm sure they'd be living it up with Sammy down in Cabo.

Which is EXACTLY where I would be all the time if I could afford it!

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:28 am**

Rick wrote:
Eric wrote:
7 Wishes wrote:Journey is how these guys earn a living. No-one has a right to take that away from them.

Thats kinda the bottom line a lot of us forget....

Yep. If they didn't need the money, I'm sure they'd be living it up with Sammy down in Cabo.

Speakin of Sammy, any idea how much he's worth? I heard 200 million after sale of that Tequila company.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:32 am**

A Farewell tour with Perry then hang it up.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:33 am**

StoneCold wrote:
Rick wrote:
Eric wrote:
7 Wishes wrote:Journey is how these guys earn a living. No-one has a right to take that away from them.

Thats kinda the bottom line a lot of us forget....

Yep. If they didn't need the money, I'm sure they'd be living it up with Sammy down in Cabo.

Speakin of Sammy, any idea how much he's worth? I heard 200 million after sale of that Tequila company.

I sure don't know, but God bless that dude, he's worked hard and smart for a long time.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:36 am**

Liam wrote:A Farewell tour with Perry then hang it up.

Never happen, but an apology to Perry for making the band he spearheaded to fame a pathetic nostalgia act and then hang it up would be good.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:46 am**

An apology by Perry to the band and the fans for signing on for a tour and screwing everyone over would be nice as a preamble.

THEN Neal and Jon should get on their hands and knees and grovel, repeating "We're Not Worthy" at Steve's feet.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:50 am**

7 Wishes wrote:An apology by Perry to the band and the fans for signing on for a tour and screwing everyone over would be nice as a preamble.

THEN Neal and Jon should get on their hands and knees and grovel, repeating "We're Not Worthy" at Steve's feet.

OhSherrie in da house! I like where this thread's heading!

Get yours ready!!!

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:54 am**

For the record, I'm sixteen-years-old, and have only had the pleasure of seeing them twice in concert; once with Mr. Augeri and once with Mr. Soto. For purely selfish reasons, I don't want them to retire at all. I demand, at least, five more years before I could even stomach the thought.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:56 am**

Oh come on - we don't actually want them to stop touring, do we??

I see no reason for them to stop. I mean you've still got Cain, Schon, and Valory on stage together - where else can you get that?

Would you want them to just do solo projects when they retire the band??

You're in good company, Strange Medicine. I'm 17 and I've only seen them once...I demand 20 years! :lol:

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:02 am**

weatherman90 wrote:Oh come on - we don't actually want them to stop touring, do we??

I see no reason for them to stop. I mean you've still got Cain, Schon, and Valory on stage together - where else can you get that?

Would you want them to just do solo projects when they retire the band??

That right there is reason enough for them to keep on going.

JC solo? Ross (I can't grow a ZZtop beard) Valory?

Those two would be playing the local lizard lounge if Neal decided to stop Journey.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:07 am**

Why should they stop touring? (Yes, at one point in time I called for them to retire. I didn't see the point.) Now I see the point, they're able to, it's what they love, and why not just do what you love?

Any and everyone of us would do what we love everyday if given the opportunity. Why degrade them for it? :idea:

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:14 am**

I don't know when the last time was that Cain looked like he "loved" what he was doing. They are going through the motions to keep their lifestyle. If they weren't, they wouldn't be so damn concerned about trolling youtube for the next Perry clone.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:17 am**

"Should Journey Retire or Keep Touring?"

Baited question to give the bashers a forum to post in.

If you could play as good as these guys and make some money in the process you would to. :roll:

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:22 am**

EightyRock wrote:I don't know when the last time was that Cain looked like he "loved" what he was doing. They are going through the motions to keep their lifestyle. If they weren't, they wouldn't be so damn concerned about trolling youtube for the next Perry clone.

I emailed this clip to some friends, and one of them replied asking if that was Bill Engvall playing second guitar on this song. :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQjEwlvamOU

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:28 am**

weatherman90 wrote:Oh come on - we don't actually want them to stop touring, do we??

Yep.

I mean you've still got Cain, Schon, and Valory on stage together - where else can you get that?

Wherever they play under whatever band name.

Would you want them to just do solo projects when they retire the band??

Yep.

You're in good company, Strange Medicine. I'm 17 and I've only seen them once...I demand 20 years!

Then you guys are too young to know any better and can therefore be forgiven.

Posted: **Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:56 am**

Then you guys are too young to know any better and can therefore be forgiven.

Perhaps.

Though if our mistakes can be forgiven on the basis of youth, what means do you have of reconciling your lackluster arguments and inability to support your opinions?

Senility?

Posted: **Mon Feb 25, 2008 6:51 am**

Wow - looks like the retirees are in the lead. I didn't expect that.

:shock:

Posted: **Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:12 am**

Strange Medicine wrote:
Then you guys are too young to know any better and can therefore be forgiven.

Perhaps.

Though if our mistakes can be forgiven on the basis of youth, what means do you have of reconciling your lackluster arguments and inability to support your opinions?

Senility?

If we have to use senility, then by god, we will! :lol:

Posted: **Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:25 am**

Strange Medicine wrote:
Perhaps.

Though if our mistakes can be forgiven on the basis of youth, what means do you have of reconciling your lackluster arguments and inability to support your opinions?

Senility?

You attempt to portray a pseudo-intellectual image of yourself, but you are the one who fails to ever provide anything other than an opinion. We have supported our assertions well when asked to, and you resort to name-calling. YOU have not provided any information to substantiate YOUR opinions; not the other way round. So shut the fuck up, little boy, until you have something compelling to say, or until you can do something other than ridicule people's valid opinions or simply revert to name-calling or geriatric references.

You'll be 37 soon, too, dude...it'll creep up on you and before you know it, you'll be middle-aged. And you know what? All of us are a HELL of a lot wiser than we were when we were your age. You may draw your own spurious conclusions from THAT statement.