MR

Despite enjoying his work, I've wondered how many others were considered and turned away. Not to say he was the wrong choice but Chalfant was a more obvious one.

I've heard he was offered and turned it down. Hard to believe but the only thing that makes sense.

How did Augie slip in there?

(spinning RM and Arrival right now)

He just happen to be the correct choice for the singer AFTER PERRY... he had to be a thick skin dude to take that job...which he had; think back to all the naysayers at that time... WOW... Plus his voice had a good combination of blues, pop and rock that was Journey. REMEMBER ME... loved that song.

StoneCold wrote:Despite enjoying his work, I've wondered how many others were considered and turned away. Not to say he was the wrong choice but Chalfant was a more obvious one.

I've heard he was offered and turned it down. Hard to believe but the only thing that makes sense.

If it's true, you'll never get anyone to admit it, but considering he was in, then passed over once already when Perry came back for TBF, you couldn't blame him if he didn't want that to happen again.

StoneCold wrote:How did Augie slip in there?

(spinning RM and Arrival right now)

the official word is that Neal liked Tall Stories. Besides Augeri, the only ones that were ever mentioned officially were John West (good fit vocally, but apparently not the best fit personality wise), Geoff Tate (good chemistry, but the wrong type of voice to sing the Perry material), and Hugo (too close to Perry). I don't know how many others were considered. There are certainly a few others who could have done it--Terry Brock of Strangeways comes to mind.

lights1961 wrote:He just happen to be the correct choice for the singer AFTER PERRY... he had to be a thick skin dude to take that job...which he had; think back to all the naysayers at that time... WOW... Plus his voice had a good combination of blues, pop and rock that was Journey. REMEMBER ME... loved that song.

Agreed. It seems many people only remember Augeri's difficulties in his later years with the band. At the time he joined the band, he had a beautiful voice. He just toured way too much for a man in his 40s who hadn't been singing consistently for several years previously.

kgdjpubs wrote:the official word is that Neal liked Tall Stories. Besides Augeri, the only ones that were ever mentioned officially were John West (good fit vocally, but apparently not the best fit personality wise), Geoff Tate (good chemistry, but the wrong type of voice to sing the Perry material), and Hugo (too close to Perry). I don't know how many others were considered. There are certainly a few others who could have done it--Terry Brock of Strangeways comes to mind.

I've read that story 'bout Friga's wife having the TS cd and them talking about Augie. As to Hugo, seems they never actually auditioned him. More like they laughed and called the resemblance "creepy" and went on to the next.

Didn't know about some of the others.

My point is, Augeri's voice was no better and no worse than Chalfant's. Seems he fit as a marketable replacement rather than being the best voice available.

At one point, a rumor circulated in Journey fandom that Perry prevented the band from choosing Chalfant.
The logic went that Perry was sooo intimidated by KC's talent that part of the quid-pro-quo contract dealings to let the band go on stipulated NO Chalfant.
I find this hard to believe.
It's similar to the Perry fanatics who blame Perry's musical inactivity on Journey having some sort of 10 year legal gag on him.
Monker may remember more.

I used to laugh at posters like Perryfaithful who said Augeri was picked due to his go-along-to-get-along, no drama demeanor.
However, after JSS was fired for Arnel, I def. think there's some truth to that.
That's my guess anyway.

The_Noble_Cause wrote:At one point, a rumor circulated in Journey fandom that Perry prevented the band from choosing Chalfant.
The logic went that Perry was sooo intimidated by KC's talent that part of the quid-pro-quo contract dealings to let the band go on stipulated NO Chalfant.
I find this hard to believe.
It's similar to the Perry fanatics who blame Perry's musical inactivity on Journey having some sort of 10 year legal gag on him.
Monker may remember more.

I used to laugh at posters like Perryfaithful who said Augeri was picked due to his go-along-to-get-along, no drama demeanor.
However, after JSS was fired for Arnel, I def. think there's some truth to that.
That's my guess anyway.

The part about Augeri being happy-go-lucky sounds incredibly plausible. Even with the KC angle, there you have a guy who has at least glimpsed some bigtime success with a few Storm songs, a far better financial situation than Augeri (GAP anyone?), and he won't be quite as intimidated/affable as Augeri was.

I have a feeling Augeri's looks as frontman played a big part in choosing him along with the fact that he had a good voice and was talented. His demeanor definitely suited getting along with the band, but I'm sure so did Chalfant's as they were all friendly.

I dont question why...I just give thanks!!
Steve kept JOURNEY alive!!!!

Jana wrote:His demeanor definitely suited getting along with the band, ...

I don't doubt Steve's affability but already by 2001 dvd it was obvious the band could take or leave him.

Augeri was doing all he could to interact (slidin' onto the piano at one point ) and being ignored. Sure didn't look like 'brothers' to me.

With brothers like that, who needs family?

Because his name was so similar. Lucky for him Steve Berry and Steve Murray weren't available

The_Noble_Cause wrote:At one point, a rumor circulated in Journey fandom that Perry prevented the band from choosing Chalfant.
The logic went that Perry was sooo intimidated by KC's talent that part of the quid-pro-quo contract dealings to let the band go on stipulated NO Chalfant.
I find this hard to believe.

If that's true, boy that would be a juicy one. Hard to believe but not completely out of the question considering the Storm/Rolie/TBF debacle.

The_Noble_Cause wrote:It's similar to the Perry fanatics who blame Perry's musical inactivity on Journey having some sort of 10 year legal gag on him.
Monker may remember more.

Perry would never go with that. He was in charge and knew it. He pimped that band, cashed those checks and smiled every time they played. Being gagged wasn't even a consideration.

StoneCold wrote:My point is, Augeri's voice was no better and no worse than Chalfant's.

According to Schon, there was the difference of night and day and I have to agree. KC has a much better and stronger voice, but- you need to deal with the fact that a mirror image of Jimmy Page is fronting your band. KC is one ugly motherfucker.

Rockindeano wrote:

StoneCold wrote:My point is, Augeri's voice was no better and no worse than Chalfant's.

According to Schon, there was the difference of night and day and I have to agree. KC has a much better and stronger voice, but- you need to deal with the fact that a mirror image of Jimmy Page is fronting your band. KC is one ugly motherfucker.

Chalfant could look like limped dick bowl of ass puss for all I care - he has a much stronger voice than Augeri. But what's done is done. Arnel is a much better choice anyway - when it comes to PR at least.

parfait wrote:

Rockindeano wrote:

StoneCold wrote:My point is, Augeri's voice was no better and no worse than Chalfant's.

According to Schon, there was the difference of night and day and I have to agree. KC has a much better and stronger voice, but- you need to deal with the fact that a mirror image of Jimmy Page is fronting your band. KC is one ugly motherfucker.

Chalfant could look like limped dick bowl of ass puss for all I care - he has a much stronger voice than Augeri. But what's done is done. Arnel is a much better choice anyway - when it comes to PR at least.

Good points, but you put KC and AP on the same stage and I will say Chalfant wipes the floor with Pinny Boy. Oh and KC can actually write music, unlike Pineda. Pineda just sings covers and whatever Friga writes for him.

Rockindeano wrote:

StoneCold wrote:My point is, Augeri's voice was no better and no worse than Chalfant's.

According to Schon, there was the difference of night and day and I have to agree. KC has a much better and stronger voice, but- you need to deal with the fact that a mirror image of Jimmy Page is fronting your band. KC is one ugly motherfucker.

Ok, you got me. I was trying to not enrage and disengage the Augeri faction from voicing how Augie slipped past KC in the race.

Matt's point is a valid one. KC wouldn't have taken a back seat to them.

Rockindeano wrote:

parfait wrote:

Rockindeano wrote:

StoneCold wrote:My point is, Augeri's voice was no better and no worse than Chalfant's.

According to Schon, there was the difference of night and day and I have to agree. KC has a much better and stronger voice, but- you need to deal with the fact that a mirror image of Jimmy Page is fronting your band. KC is one ugly motherfucker.

Chalfant could look like limped dick bowl of ass puss for all I care - he has a much stronger voice than Augeri. But what's done is done. Arnel is a much better choice anyway - when it comes to PR at least.

Good points, but you put KC and AP on the same stage and I will say Chalfant wipes the floor with Pinny Boy. Oh and KC can actually write music, unlike Pineda. Pineda just sings covers and whatever Friga writes for him.

I agree with you, man. I said from a PR stand point, the whole rags to riches story even got them on almighty Oprah - that wouldn't have happened with Chalfant. I bet Journey with Chalfant would be a hell of a lot more fun to see in concert than Arnelito and the J-boyz, but that's not what the guys were looking for i guess.

StoneCold wrote:

Rockindeano wrote:

StoneCold wrote:My point is, Augeri's voice was no better and no worse than Chalfant's.

According to Schon, there was the difference of night and day and I have to agree. KC has a much better and stronger voice, but- you need to deal with the fact that a mirror image of Jimmy Page is fronting your band. KC is one ugly motherfucker.

Ok, you got me. I was trying to not enrage and disengage the Augeri faction from voicing how Augie slipped past KC in the race.

Matt's point is a valid one. KC wouldn't have taken a back seat to them.

i think deano's point is more on point. KC's looks lost him the gig to augeri.

Jana wrote:

StoneCold wrote:

Rockindeano wrote:

StoneCold wrote:My point is, Augeri's voice was no better and no worse than Chalfant's.

According to Schon, there was the difference of night and day and I have to agree. KC has a much better and stronger voice, but- you need to deal with the fact that a mirror image of Jimmy Page is fronting your band. KC is one ugly motherfucker.

Ok, you got me. I was trying to not enrage and disengage the Augeri faction from voicing how Augie slipped past KC in the race.

Matt's point is a valid one. KC wouldn't have taken a back seat to them.

i think deano's point is more on point. KC's looks lost him the gig to augeri.

So the age old question has been answered. You CAN be too ugly for rock and roll.

I think Herbie's immortal words concerning the band's ROR selection process is worth repeating here:

"We paraded forty of the greatest drummers in the world through their rehearsal hall, from Omar Hakim to Chad Wackerman...They disrespected virtually all of them, and then took the worst drummer of the bunch."

This is not to imply that Augeri was the worst of the candidates (that would have been Hugo, imo).
However, it is fair to say that had Herbie been in charge, SA would not have been on the short list.
Herbie expanded on his doubts about Augeri in Andrew's 2008 interview, but said he kept his feelings private out of respect for the band.
This is a view that was also shared by Sony's Kalodner, who also did not want Augeri.
Neal's monday morning regrets about Augeri have been overheard by fans, and, allegedly, the first stanza of SoulSirkus's "Higher Ground" refers to his frustrations.

"I'm sick of wasting time with u,
I dont understand how i let u in-in the 1st place
I feel i've been here once before
I shoulda remembered losing my way, no way."

Admittedly, this sounds a bit farfetched.
But when it comes to Journey, where questionable Hawaiian hip accidents and eerily perfect concert vocals are the norm, truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.

Sounds more like frustration with Perry than Augeri almost, doesn't it?

fredinator wrote:Sounds more like frustration with Perry than Augeri almost, doesn't it?

Thought the same thing, could go either way, but I lend toward the Perry way more on that.

Rockindeano wrote:Pineda just sings covers and whatever Friga writes for him.

We'll see how much he contributes on the next album....we shouldn't assume that Pineda doesn't have the ability to write good lyrics/music...who knows...he might surprise us!

jrnyjetster wrote:

Rockindeano wrote:Pineda just sings covers and whatever Friga writes for him.

We'll see how much he contributes on the next album....we shouldn't assume that Pineda doesn't have the ability to write good lyrics/music...who knows...he might surprise us!

I'd be more willing to bet Osama Bin Laden has a change of heart and becomes a US citizen

jrnyjetster wrote:We'll see how much he contributes on the next album....we shouldn't assume that Pineda doesn't have the ability to write good lyrics/music...who knows...he might surprise us!

Only if the mob brothers let him. Can't imagine them wanting AP to get more than his foot in the door. When his usefulness is over, they'll move on to somebody new. You can count on it. All they want to do is rest their carcasses on past laurels.

Ehwmatt wrote:

jrnyjetster wrote:

Rockindeano wrote:Pineda just sings covers and whatever Friga writes for him.

We'll see how much he contributes on the next album....we shouldn't assume that Pineda doesn't have the ability to write good lyrics/music...who knows...he might surprise us!

I'd be more willing to bet Osama Bin Laden has a change of heart and becomes a US citizen

I almost thought you said "Obama has a change of heart and becomes a US citizen"!!!

jrnyjetster wrote:

Rockindeano wrote:Pineda just sings covers and whatever Friga writes for him.

We'll see how much he contributes on the next album....we shouldn't assume that Pineda doesn't have the ability to write good lyrics/music...who knows...he might surprise us!

To say Arnel just sings covers and no ability to write is not true. Below are his contributions to the Zoology album.

Track Listing:
4. "Paumanhin", words & music: Arnel Pineda
5. "So Wrong", words & music: Arnel Pineda, arranged by Monnette Cajipe
6. "Manhid", words & music: Arnel Pineda, arranged by Monnette Cajipe
7. "Soulmate", words & music: Arnel Pineda, arranged by Monnette Cajipe
8. "Too Satisfied", lyrics & vocal melody: Arnel Pineda, arranged & composed by Mark Valiente
9. "Hiling", words & music: Arnel Pineda, original arrangement: Mark Valiente/Arnel Pineda, alternative arrangement: Monnette Cajipe

Chubby321 wrote:

jrnyjetster wrote:

Rockindeano wrote:Pineda just sings covers and whatever Friga writes for him.

We'll see how much he contributes on the next album....we shouldn't assume that Pineda doesn't have the ability to write good lyrics/music...who knows...he might surprise us!

To say Arnel just sings covers and no ability to write is not true. Below is his contribution to the Zoology album.

Track Listing:
4. "Paumanhin", words & music: Arnel Pineda
5. "So Wrong", words & music: Arnel Pineda, arranged by Monnette Cajipe
6. "Manhid", words & music: Arnel Pineda, arranged by Monnette Cajipe
7. "Soulmate", words & music: Arnel Pineda, arranged by Monnette Cajipe
8. "Too Satisfied", lyrics & vocal melody: Arnel Pineda, arranged & composed by Mark Valiente
9. "Hiling", words & music: Arnel Pineda, original arrangement: Mark Valiente/Arnel Pineda, alternative arrangement: Monnette Cajipe

Any playable links to those?

StoneCold wrote:

Chubby321 wrote:

jrnyjetster wrote:

Rockindeano wrote:Pineda just sings covers and whatever Friga writes for him.

We'll see how much he contributes on the next album....we shouldn't assume that Pineda doesn't have the ability to write good lyrics/music...who knows...he might surprise us!

To say Arnel just sings covers and no ability to write is not true. Below is his contribution to the Zoology album.

Track Listing:
4. "Paumanhin", words & music: Arnel Pineda
5. "So Wrong", words & music: Arnel Pineda, arranged by Monnette Cajipe
6. "Manhid", words & music: Arnel Pineda, arranged by Monnette Cajipe
7. "Soulmate", words & music: Arnel Pineda, arranged by Monnette Cajipe
8. "Too Satisfied", lyrics & vocal melody: Arnel Pineda, arranged & composed by Mark Valiente
9. "Hiling", words & music: Arnel Pineda, original arrangement: Mark Valiente/Arnel Pineda, alternative arrangement: Monnette Cajipe

Any playable links to those?

some links

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFioizsgrlA - too satisfied

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjUQgkjiFV0 - so wrong

Rockindeano wrote: Good points, but you put KC and AP on the same stage and I will say Chalfant wipes the floor with Pinny Boy.

Ridiculous...absolutely ridiculous.