Early Eclipse interview from Deen

[Don]

The link was on MR's front page.

metalshrineblogg.blogspot.com/2011/07/intervju-med-deen-castronovo-i-journey.html#links







Deen: Hey Niclas, how are you buddy?

I´m good! How are you?

Deen: I´m sorry I was a little late. I was in the rest room and didn´t hear the damn phone!
Everything´s good!

Where are you? Are you in New York?

Deen: No, I´m in Salem, Oregon, my hometown and I´m actually driving right now, which is against the law, but I´m gonna do it anyway! Screw ém! (laughs)

Thanks for doing it! Ok, first of all, another great album! How long did it take to come up with the title “Eclipse” and what about the numbers one and three in the title?

Deen: The thing with “Eclipse” is that it was gonna be called “Resonate” and then before that, it was supposed to be called “Tantra”. Neal changed it every time and I like “Eclipse”and the logo on the record is an old throwback to the “Escape” logo and that´s where I think that came from. When Neal´s got his mind set on something he just goes for it! And he knows what feels good, so he goes for it!

Right! Sound wise I think it´s quite similar to “Revelation”. Was that the plan, to try and work it into that same kind of sound?

Deen: I don´t know about sound wise, maybe sonically it was, but I think we went into a musically different direction. Neal wanted it to be more guitar driven. Neal is not really a balladeer, but Jonathan is the balladeer writer. Jonathan kept coming up with some great rock songs, like “City of hope” and “Ritual”. Some of the harder rock songs on the record are Jonathan´s. He stepped up to the plate. No ballads and more rock, which is great!

Are you doing like another Wal-Mart deal, like you did with “Revelation”? Anything like that?

Deen: Yes we are! We have our deal with Wal-Mart.

Is that with bonus tracks or anything like that?

Deen: I think there´s a bonus track in Europe and a bonus track in Japan, but I´m not sure which one it´s gonna be. I was told that in Japan it might be “When you love a woman” in a live version, but we´re not sure yet. It kind of came down to the line where they asked us to do a bonus track and we were like “We´re on the road! We can´t do a bonus track while we´re on tour!”. (laughs)
It´s a great record! Do you like it, bro?

Yeah, there´s some good stuff on there. I love “City of hope”!

Deen: Dude, that´s a monster, isn´t it?

It is!

Deen: It´s about Arnel´s home town. It´s about Arnel´s experiences in Manila and it´s “City of hope”! It´s a very, very spiritual country. We went there and it was probably the best experience I´ve had in my life! Staying in Arnel´s home and seeing the park that he lived in, because he was a homeless kid for a while. My god, bro! Did he rise from the ashes like a phoenix! And now he gives money to the Arnel Manila Foundation, to feed the homeless in Manila.

“Revelation” was huge and you sold a lot of records with that one. Do you think of that with this new album, that you wanna do just as well or even better?

Deen: That was the whole title´s name, “Eclipse”. We wanted to eclipse the last record. We wanna move forward and that´s great with Neal and Jon´s vision of it. We have an idea of where we wanna go, but we can honestly go anywhere musically. I´ve never been in a band where we try different genres and try different styles. It´s really a great band musically. These guys are the best. Hopefully this record will eclipse the last one.

When did you start writing for it and was there any stuff left over from “Revelation” or was it just a clean slate and starting all over again?

Deen: Clean slate and started over. I think Jonathan started writing in January of ´09, I think it was. But I didn´t hear any of that stuff till I went down in May to record it. I listened to it brand new and “Son of a bitch, this sounds like a great record!”. We´re all very happy with it. Wait… Oh the cops are coming to get me! Oh my god! I´m gonna get busted! Oh my god! Anyway, hold on… keep going! (laughs) I swear to god, he saw me talking on the phone and pulled right off! I swear to god! It´s a $300 ticket. Can you hear me? Keep going! (Deen was on his cell phone and driving during the interview. Editor´s note)

Oh yeah! How do you all work on a song from the first idea of it to the finished product?

Deen: We take one song at a time. We listen to it a couple of times, we check a couple of things out and we try a few things… Oh he´s not going after me, he´s going after somebody else! That´s awesome! Go ahead! (laughs) We would take one song and listen to it in the studio and Kevin Shirley was our producer and we´d try a couple of things, like what drum sound I´d want and so on. We record it two or three times and we usually picked the first one.

What has Arnel brought to this album? Does he come up with song ideas as well?

Deen: Yeah, actually “To whom it may concern” is Arnel´s song with Neal and he wrote the lyrics for “She´s a mystery” and a few other things. Arnel is a… I mean, the kid can write music man! I wish I could! (laughs) I´m a drummer. I bash on shit, that´s what I do!

What´s the plan for the setlist? Are you thinking about digging out some old stuff that hasn´t been played for a while?

Deen: Well, we always stay with what we call the dirty dozen.´, which are the 12 biggest Journey hits, all that stuff! Usually we have over a 100 songs that we can choose from, so we might try some new stuff. If Arnel has a rough time singing or something like that, we usually throw in “Rubicon” or something like that, that is not too demanding on him. But it´s great! We have all these songs that we can choose from and it´s fantastic.

Any plans for you singing any special songs on this tour?

Deen: Well, usually do “Mother, father” because everybody likes that one and hopefully “Keep on runnin´” as well, but the last couple of night they let me do “Who´s crying now”. We´ll see! It´s Arnel really, if he feels a little rougher or tired, we´ll throw in just a couple of extra songs just to give him a break. That´s great! I´m like the quarter back. (laughs)

That´s something I´m really amazed of, playing drums and singing with that strong voice you have! That´s gotta be really exhausting?

Deen: The funny thing is, since I´ve done these songs for so long, I know exactly when to breathe, I know exactly how much air I need to get to get those songs out. Usually the drumming is like autopilot. I´m concentrating on singing the best I can and if you don´t, the fans will crucify you! I´m not even close to Steve Perry, nobody is! He´s a god and always will be, but I do my best and I try to bring the songs out as close as I can to the original, but of course I´ll never be Steve Perry, but I wish I was! He was an icon and still is an icon. One of my big influences. It´s just where you place your breathing and the drums take the backseat.

Have you heard about this Journey book that´s out?

Deen: No, what Journey book?

It´s an English writer and he´s written a lot of books and he´s got this book out.

Deen: Have you seen any of it yet?

Nah, I´ve just seen the cover and it´s supposedly good, but there´s no interviews with any of the current band members and not Steve Perry. He´s just talked to a lot of people around the band, but he usually writes really cool books.

Deen: Let me know where I can get theta when I´m over in Europe! I wanna snag that!

Have you stayed in touch with Steve Augeri or Jeff Scott Soto?

Deen: Steve Augeri once in a while. He´s really busy now and he´s got his own thing. Once in a while we call him and chat. I love Steve! Jeff Scott Soto we really don´t talk to at all. We were told he was gonna write a book and spilling the dirt on Journey and I was like “Dude, c´mon!”. We don´t talk to the guy. He sued us after he left the band and you do not sue Irving Azoff! He´s the god of managers on this planet, and he did, which wasn´t smart. It wasn´t smart. Needless to say I don´t talk to him at all. I wish I could talk to Steve Perry. I´ve only met him once and he was very cordial, but oh my god if I could just sit there. Steve Smith I talk to all the time. He lives about 200 miles from here in Oregon and hopefully I get to see him sometime and let him beat the crap out of me on drums, because he´s a god as well! My favorite drummer of all time! (laughs)

What if Steve Perry would knock on the door and say “I wanna do a song with you guys! We could do a duet with Arnel!”. Would you guys do it?

Deen: Oh I would do it, but I don´t think he would do it! He´s not interested and he doesn´t like us very much and I understand why, you know. What happened with the band him and basically he started this legacy and I´m just lucky to be riding it.

Ok. Are there any plans for coming back to Sweden and do additional dates after Peace and Love?

Deen: I´m not sure! Right after the European tour, we get home on July 15th I think, we have seven days off and then we start the American tour. We probably won´t be back until next year, if everything goes well.

With the last tour you did really, really well and it´s kind of funny because everywhere you read that it´s a tough climate for touring and a lot of bands not making it and have a hard time selling out places, but apparently Journey is doing big business these days.

Deen: Na, it´s been good bro! It´s been very, very good! We´re very fortunate.

What kind of inspirations and influences do you have? What kind of drummers did you grow up listening to?

Deen: Like I said, Steve Smith, but my very first influence was Neil Peart, Peter Criss, Steve Smith, Terry Bozzio and all those guys. Just incredible! Then I listen to a lot of metal drummers. My favorite guys now are like Gene Hoglan, Joey Jordison who´s a freaking animal and a lot of those guys! Dave Lombardo I listen to a lot.

A guy like Peter Criss, he´s gotten a lot of flak and especially since he did the reunion tour with KISS. Would you consider him being a good drummer?

Deen: He was good for KISS! Ringo Starr wasn´t the best drummer in the world, but he was right for The Beatles. It was perfect for KISS. I was seven years old when I was introduced to KISS and it fucked me up, man! “Holy shit, that´s what I wanna do when I´m older! That´s it!”. I knew I was gonna be a drummer as soon as I saw that. Then I saw Rush open up for KISS and it was like “Who´s that guy? Oh my god!”. Neil Peart, scary drummer! For me when I was a little kid, “Wow, he´s got all these drums and he plays them!”. (laughs)

Are you still living in Oregon?

Deen: Yes sir! Been here all my life and will not leave. I´ve got kids here and my mother and father and my whole family lives here. I wouldn´t wanna live anywhere else!

And the rest of the guys, are they in LA?

Deen: Jonathan is in Nashville now, Neal lives in San Francisco, Ross is close to San Francisco and Arnel´s in the Philippines.

Man, it can´t be easy to just get together and jam?

Deen: Well, when it´s time we get down to the rehearsal place and we go tear it up days on end. It´s really no problem. Thank god we´re successful enough that we can all live in different places and do what we need to do.

Is it true that Journey is playing Italy for the first time?

Deen: Yeah dude! You know, I spent ten months in Italy back in 1996 with Vadco Rossi. You ever heard of him?

I believe I have, yeah!

Deen: Dude, we played five sold out nights in San Siro, Milan. It was the most incredible, freaking thing! 100.000 seats every night. I spent ten months over there and I met cousins I´d never met before, family members and my father was there. Heavy man! I can´t wait to go to freaking Milan! It´ll be awesome! I´m gonna propose to my girlfriend there and they´re gonna fix something really cool with the show. She´s gonna be weeping! (laughs)

Awesome! Well, I thank you so much Deen! It was great talking to you and of course, drive safely man!

Deen: (laughs) Dude, you know it! As soon as we´re done, the phone is going down! Thanks brother!

[The_Noble_Cause]

Some interesting stuff here. When the track listing for the album was leaked, I wondered if "Tantra" or "Ritual" were gonna be the title. Now it turns out that "Resonate" was in the running as well. Neat to know that SA and Deen still chat.

[WykkedSensation]

Great interview.

Thanks for posting.

[Archetype]

Didn't realize that JSS and Journey had such a nasty falling out.

[RumTumJM]

I'm not gonna lie. I've lost a little bit of respect for Deen from that one.

I don't give a shit who Azoff is. Ff JSS was screwed over, like we all have concluded he was, JOURNEY SHOULD BE SUED. Either Deen is scared of old Irv or he's become just as cocky as Irv is, himself. No matter how cocky they may be that they can avoid a lawsuit, all accounts suggest that it was warranted. JSS saved their ass when they were in dire straits: we know it; JSS knows it; JOURNEY & IRV KNOW IT!

JSS writing a book? Well, isn't that his right? This is America! (I'd buy it.) Sounds like they all got really cocky/nasty because (God forbid) someone threatened to uncover their asses. That PROVES that there is stuff they KNOW could hurt them, if the information gets out!

[RumTumJM]

This is interesting too. Take it with a grain of salt, since it is from Wikipedia. BUT, it seems there was a LAWSUIT between Axl Rose & ole Irv. And guess what it related to?

POOR ALBUM PROMOTIONS!

MAKES YOU WONDER!



"In May 2010, Guns N' Roses-singer Axl Rose filed a $5 million lawsuit against former manager Azoff, saying that Azoff sabotaged sales of Guns N' Roses’ comeback album and lied about a potential “super tour” with Van Halen (which Azoff manages) as part of a scheme to force Rose to reunite with his former band members. Rose said in his suit that Azoff failed to promote his 2008 album, “Chinese Democracy,” and deliberately mishandled concert dates, “forcing Rose into a position where he would have no choice but to reunite with the original members of Guns N’ Roses for a reunion tour."

[Argus]

Interesting Interview. Good to know that I like Rock songs by Jon [always loved Rubicon]. I watched the congressional hearings with Azoff about Monopoly..was very interesting not that anything came from it

[Arkansas]

I'm not gonna lie. I've lost a little bit of respect for Deen from that one.

I don't give a shit who Azoff is. Ff JSS was screwed over, like we all have concluded he was, JOURNEY SHOULD BE SUED. Either Deen is scared of old Irv or he's become just as cocky as Irv is, himself. No matter how cocky they may be that they can avoid a lawsuit, all accounts suggest that it was warranted. JSS saved their ass when they were in dire straits: we know it; JSS knows it; JOURNEY & IRV KNOW IT!

JSS writing a book? Well, isn't that his right? This is America! (I'd buy it.) Sounds like they all got really cocky/nasty because (God forbid) someone threatened to uncover their asses. That PROVES that there is stuff they KNOW could hurt them, if the information gets out!

Not a matter of whether or not they could or should be sued. I think the implication was that it's not a smart move. One, you probably won't win, and two, it could be very expensive for you (not only in cash). Just big business politics as usual. Nothing surprising. If anything, it sounds like JSS got cocky, and he got smacked-down. And that's no biggie either.

And what could be written in a book that the hardcore fans don't already know, or the casual fans even care about? Nothing.


later~

[george_g]

Whoa! didn't know JSS sued Journey management! This needs a thread on its own....at least

[Arkansas]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WqbTlUj ... re=related

Not DC on drums, but a great power-ballad rocker, somewhat Journey-esque.
The song picks up midway, and the guitar outro rips pretty good too.

This sounds pretty good too...a little dated, like some 80s song cover. (or a Coca Cola ad. Ha.)
But it rocks a little harder.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loRW8zwM ... re=related

Interesting stuff. Never heard of this guy before.


later~

[Archetype]

Would like to see JSS chime in here.

[Gideon]

Yeah, I don't see how Deen's cocky. He's the most humble motherfucker the band has ever seen, probably even more than Arnel and Augeri.

[Archetype]

Yeah, I don't see how Deen's cocky. He's the most humble motherfucker the band has ever seen, probably even more than Arnel and Augeri.

People might mistake his extreme hyperactivity for cockiness.

[Gideon]

Yeah, I don't see how Deen's cocky. He's the most humble motherfucker the band has ever seen, probably even more than Arnel and Augeri.

People might mistake his extreme hyperactivity for cockiness.

Seeing him face-to-face, it seems genuine.

[RumTumJM]

I'm not gonna lie. I've lost a little bit of respect for Deen from that one.

I don't give a shit who Azoff is. Ff JSS was screwed over, like we all have concluded he was, JOURNEY SHOULD BE SUED. Either Deen is scared of old Irv or he's become just as cocky as Irv is, himself. No matter how cocky they may be that they can avoid a lawsuit, all accounts suggest that it was warranted. JSS saved their ass when they were in dire straits: we know it; JSS knows it; JOURNEY & IRV KNOW IT!

JSS writing a book? Well, isn't that his right? This is America! (I'd buy it.) Sounds like they all got really cocky/nasty because (God forbid) someone threatened to uncover their asses. That PROVES that there is stuff they KNOW could hurt them, if the information gets out!

OK! Maybe cocky was not the best word, and I may have misinterpreted him from the text. Upon initially reading it, it seemed like he had the attitude of "Well Irving/us are so powerful that no one can possibly prove us wrong a la lawsuit." While it may have been a "stupid move", he seemed like he was almost putting down JSS for seeking restitution for them screwing him over! If it was strictly personal relations, it would be one thing. But this is JSS's career/livelihood.

YET, I will admit that, ultimately, I cannot really comment. NONE OF US know the true, documented and legal stipulations of JSS's contract, etc/the accusations in the lawsuit. As much as I hate IRVING & his cockiness, I doubt he did anything illegal. He probably just knew how to "manipulate" the rules.

[Don]

From what I understand, there was equitable settlement of the dispute which was VERY fair.

With all the non-disclosure agreements in effect, it's a bit odd to hear Deen being so open with that information.

[steveo777]

Interesting that JSS would attempt a lawsuit against Azoff. Deen's right. First off, there is no way JSS was a full member when he stepped in after Augeri. Secondly, he was most likely on a probationary period. Thirdly, there is no way he was on anything but an at will employment agreement. The band had the right to terminate him with or without cause and face no real legal ramifications. In the end they made the right decision even though the way it was handled sucked.

[Gideon]

From what I understand, there was equitable settlement of the dispute which was VERY fair.

With all the non-disclosure agreements in effect, it's a bit odd to hear Deen being so open with that information.

Who the hell is in your avatar? She's gorgeous.

[Andrew]

JSS writing a book?

This is a bit of BS too. JSS IS writing a book, but on his entire career and life story! And it has been planned for ages now. It is NOT a book on his Journey experience alone.

[JSS]

I have no idea where to start when I read stuff like this…1st of all, I took the high road and stayed away from the internet about my personal dealings with these guys and don't even care anymore about my time with them. I pop in here from time to time out of boredom mainly because it is so damned entertaining, even when Dan's giving me a hard time

But I will post here as this is the only place where you guys give a damn about this band and not some 30 year-old hit resurgence like Joe Public, you care about this band's history, for better or worse so its here I can vent a little while remaining within the 'gag order' that came with my letting go…funny, I thought the gag order was for both sides but this is not the 1st time I've heard of or read things that breach this agreement!

For starters Deen needs to get some facts straight, I am not writing a book, a book is being written about me…a chronicle of my entire career that details all the bands, sessions, albums, demos, etc., since I started singing at the age of 12 to current. I am involved only in making sure the facts are correct and in context with my career. OF COURSE there is a chapter of my time with Journey but it is not a tell-all, not a diary of day to day occurrences, not a bashing or beating up of anyone, just a chronicle of my musical life, PERIOD! I even asked some of my closest famous friends and colleagues (including the Wombat!) to contribute a little anecdote or recount of our time together…I wanted to ask Neal if he would contribute but wouldn't dare as I knew the answer already. However after asking a former Soul SirkUS member to be add even a sentence, he declined as Neal got wind of it thought the book was a tell-all...word is he opted out because of that...without reading the mail from the author stating EXACTLY what I described the book to be about. Once again, it's not a book like Sammy Hagar's or Keith Richard's, it's a cool book that makes for an interesting item to pick up on my tours and on my site for fans new and old that I hope to coincide with the next album sometime in 2012.

Secondly, I didn't sue Irving Azoff, that would be like putting a gun to my head, I'm not that stupid! I have the utmost respect for this industry mogul and he was nowhere near the suit I brought on. Irving and I parted on good terms with positive comments to one another. Without too much detail because it's obviously public knowledge now, I went after a tad more than the 'milk money' I was offered to leave the band. If you find the old info still available online, you'll see I was a "permanent member" which yes, meant I became a partner…the settlement was below anything one could consider a lawsuit and I'll leave it at that. Trust me, it was very little…but it was all based on principal and advice of others around me as I would have walked away with a sitdown explanation and a handshake.

Lastly, I could go on and on about what went down, what I know, what I saw, blah blah blah but of course I won't, its not in my agreement with them AND it's not me…and I honestly don't give a shit about any of this until my dignity and pride are continuously poked at, should I not then defend it? Sure, this is just a little messageboard with varied opinions about everything Journey but I'm not about to start doing interviews to talk about things like this in my past, it's my future I am interested in, moving forward and not looking back. I had an amazing time with these guys, we formed a brotherhood and one day it was like I woke from a dream, like it never happened and I never met these guys….but it did happen, for better or worse, and we've all moved forward from it…well some have as now I find myself 4 years later feeling like I have to say 'hey guys, I'm not this bad dude I'm being painted as', kinda sucks!

I have email after email, text after text to them all extending my hand in friendship and hope that we could be civil, during & after the firing…no one accepted so I remain an erased memory in their epilogue, someone who can't even be mentioned or brought up as having fronted them for 11 months but you know, it's all good…as long as they can avoid talking out of context about me to the media if they wont talk about me at all. I'm in a great place in my life and career, some things are blessings in disguise and this was one of them on both accounts…and to be public about what others have wondered, YES, i think Arnel is a tremendous singer, his voice fits them like a glove and then some and I happy to see him being accepted as the future of Journey…and I mean it!

[Archetype]

I have no idea where to start when I read stuff like this…1st of all, I took the high road and stayed away from the internet about my personal dealings with these guys and don't even care anymore about my time with them. I pop in here from time to time out of boredom mainly because it is so damned entertaining, even when Dan's giving me a hard time

But I will post here as this is the only place where you guys give a damn about this band and not some 30 year-old hit resurgence like Joe Public, you care about this band's history, for better or worse so its here I can vent a little while remaining within the 'gag order' that came with my letting go…funny, I thought the gag order was for both sides but this is not the 1st time I've heard of or read things that breach this agreement!

For starters Deen needs to get some facts straight, I am not writing a book, a book is being written about me…a chronicle of my entire career that details all the bands, sessions, albums, demos, etc., since I started singing at the age of 12 to current. I am involved only in making sure the facts are correct and in context with my career. OF COURSE there is a chapter of my time with Journey but it is not a tell-all, not a diary of day to day occurrences, not a bashing or beating up of anyone, just a chronicle of my musical life, PERIOD! I even asked some of my closest famous friends and colleagues (including the Wombat!) to contribute a little anecdote or recount of our time together…I wanted to ask Neal if he would contribute but wouldn't dare as I knew the answer already. However after asking a former Soul SirkUS member to be add even a sentence, he declined as Neal got wind of it thought the book was a tell-all...word is he opted out because of that...without reading the mail from the author stating EXACTLY what I described the book to be about. Once again, it's not a book like Sammy Hagar's or Keith Richard's, it's a cool book that makes for an interesting item to pick up on my tours and on my site for fans new and old that I hope to coincide with the next album sometime in 2012.

Secondly, I didn't sue Irving Azoff, that would be like putting a gun to my head, I'm not that stupid! I have the utmost respect for this industry mogul and he was nowhere near the suit I brought on. Irving and I parted on good terms with positive comments to one another. Without too much detail because it's obviously public knowledge now, I went after a tad more than the 'milk money' I was offered to leave the band. If you find the old info still available online, you'll see I was a "permanent member" which yes, meant I became a partner…the settlement was below anything one could consider a lawsuit and I'll leave it at that. Trust me, it was very little…but it was all based on principal and advice of others around me as I would have walked away with a sitdown explanation and a handshake.

Lastly, I could go on and on about what went down, what I know, what I saw, blah blah blah but of course I won't, its not in my agreement with them AND it's not me…and I honestly don't give a shit about any of this until my dignity and pride are continuously poked at, should I not then defend it? Sure, this is just a little messageboard with varied opinions about everything Journey but I'm not about to start doing interviews to talk about things like this in my past, it's my future I am interested in, moving forward and not looking back. I had an amazing time with these guys, we formed a brotherhood and one day it was like I woke from a dream, like it never happened and I never met these guys….but it did happen, for better or worse, and we've all moved forward from it…well some have as now I find myself 4 years later feeling like I have to say 'hey guys, I'm not this bad dude I'm being painted as', kinda sucks!

I have email after email, text after text to them all extending my hand in friendship and hope that we could be civil, during & after the firing…no one accepted so I remain an erased memory in their epilogue, someone who can't even be mentioned or brought up as having fronted them for 11 months but you know, it's all good…as long as they can avoid talking out of context about me to the media if they wont talk about me at all. I'm in a great place in my life and career, some things are blessings in disguise and this was one of them on both accounts…and to be public about what others have wondered, YES, i think Arnel is a tremendous singer, his voice fits them like a glove and then some and I happy to see him being accepted as the future of Journey…and I mean it!

Total class here. I love W.E.T. by the way.

[perryswoman]

I have no idea where to start when I read stuff like this…1st of all, I took the high road and stayed away from the internet about my personal dealings with these guys and don't even care anymore about my time with them. I pop in here from time to time out of boredom mainly because it is so damned entertaining, even when Dan's giving me a hard time

But I will post here as this is the only place where you guys give a damn about this band and not some 30 year-old hit resurgence like Joe Public, you care about this band's history, for better or worse so its here I can vent a little while remaining within the 'gag order' that came with my letting go…funny, I thought the gag order was for both sides but this is not the 1st time I've heard of or read things that breach this agreement!

For starters Deen needs to get some facts straight, I am not writing a book, a book is being written about me…a chronicle of my entire career that details all the bands, sessions, albums, demos, etc., since I started singing at the age of 12 to current. I am involved only in making sure the facts are correct and in context with my career. OF COURSE there is a chapter of my time with Journey but it is not a tell-all, not a diary of day to day occurrences, not a bashing or beating up of anyone, just a chronicle of my musical life, PERIOD! I even asked some of my closest famous friends and colleagues (including the Wombat!) to contribute a little anecdote or recount of our time together…I wanted to ask Neal if he would contribute but wouldn't dare as I knew the answer already. However after asking a former Soul SirkUS member to be add even a sentence, he declined as Neal got wind of it thought the book was a tell-all...word is he opted out because of that...without reading the mail from the author stating EXACTLY what I described the book to be about. Once again, it's not a book like Sammy Hagar's or Keith Richard's, it's a cool book that makes for an interesting item to pick up on my tours and on my site for fans new and old that I hope to coincide with the next album sometime in 2012.

ue Irving Azoff, that would be like putting a gun to my head, I'm not that stupid! I have the utmost respect for this industry mogul and he was nowhere near the suit I brought on. Irving and I parted on good terms with positive comments to one another. Without too much detail because it's obviously public knowledge now, I went after a tad more than the 'milk money' I was offered to leave the band. If you find the old info still available online, you'll see I was a "permanent member" which yes, meant I became a partner…the settlement was below anything one could consider a lawsuit and I'll leave it at that. Trust me, it was very little…but it was all based on principal and advice of others around me as I would have walked away with a sitdown explanation and a handshake.

Lastly, I could go on and on about what went down, what I know, what I saw, blah blah blah but of course I won't, its not in my agreement with them AND it's not me…and I honestly don't give a shit about any of this until my dignity and pride are continuously poked at, should I not then defend it? Sure, this is just a little messageboard with varied opinions about everything Journey but I'm not about to start doing interviews to talk about things like this in my past, it's my future I am interested in, moving forward and not looking back. I had an amazing time with these guys, we formed a brotherhood and one day it was like I woke from a dream, like it never happened and I never met these guys….but it did happen, for better or worse, and we've all moved forward from it…well some have as now I find myself 4 years later feeling like I have to say 'hey guys, I'm not this bad dude I'm being painted as', kinda sucks!

I have email after email, text after text to them all extending my hand in friendship and hope that we could be civil, during & after the firing…no one accepted so I remain an erased memory in their epilogue, someone who can't even be mentioned or brought up as having fronted them for 11 months but you know, it's all good…as long as they can avoid talking out of context about me to the media if they wont talk about me at all. I'm in a great place in my life and career, some things are blessings in disguise and this was one of them on both accounts…and to be public about what others have wondered, YES, i think Arnel is a tremendous singer, his voice fits them like a glove and then some and I happy to see him being accepted as the future of Journey…and I mean it!

Awesome post and good for you being th bigger person and you are AWESOME!

[slucero]

yup.. Jeff is a bit too good of a person for Journey... integrity and all that stuff...


.. makes me worried for Arnel...

[perryswoman]

yup.. Jeff is a bit too good of a person for Journey... integrity and all that stuff...


.. makes me worried for Arnel...

Me too. When they are done with them or he gives out they will toss him to the curve like he was never there. Sad for sure.

[Andrew]

(including the Wombat!) it!

Yeah...er.....shit....I better get onto that...

[ebake02]

I know I'm kissing ass big time but that Journey/Def Leppard concert with JSS was hands down the best concert I've ever been to.

[Deb]

For starters Deen needs to get some facts straight, I am not writing a book, a book is being written about me…a chronicle of my entire career that details all the bands, sessions, albums, demos, etc., since I started singing at the age of 12 to current. I am involved only in making sure the facts are correct and in context with my career. OF COURSE there is a chapter of my time with Journey but it is not a tell-all, not a diary of day to day occurrences, not a bashing or beating up of anyone, just a chronicle of my musical life, PERIOD! I even asked some of my closest famous friends and colleagues (including the Wombat!) to contribute a little anecdote or recount of our time together…I wanted to ask Neal if he would contribute but wouldn't dare as I knew the answer already. However after asking a former Soul SirkUS member to add even a sentence, he declined as Neal got wind of it thought the book was a tell-all...word is he opted out because of that...without reading the mail from the author stating EXACTLY what I described the book to be about. Once again, it's not a book like Sammy Hagar's or Keith Richard's, it's a cool book that makes for an interesting item to pick up on my tours and on my site for fans new and old that I hope to coincide with the next album sometime in 2012.

That's all kinds of f**ked up. Sorry to hear that, Jeff.

[perryswoman]

I know I'm kissing ass big time but that Journey/Def Leppard concert with JSS was hands down the best concert I've ever been to.

. It was absolutely my favorite too!

[Andrew]

I know I'm kissing ass big time but that Journey/Def Leppard concert with JSS was hands down the best concert I've ever been to.

Ditto. Classic.

[Saint John]

1st of all, I took the high road and stayed away from the internet about my personal dealings with these guys

This might be a new record for you! I couldn't get through the first two sentences without finding something that I find questionable. So, let me get this straight, you took "the high road" and "stayed away from the internet," huh? At face value, I find this to be generally true. However, it was pretty obvious that for some time you had other "couriers" post exactly what you wanted to be said right here ... and some things that you probably didn't. I'll keep names out of this, as I, too, use the "high road.":lol: Anyway, do you care to toss around any theories as to how exactly the story of a certain member's momentary lapse landed him in rehab, and just how that information found its way onto here (and elsewhere)? Seems to me that, ironically, that's pretty close to the time that the other members of Journey finally unplugged you, and you never really heard from them again.

For starters Deen needs to get some facts straight

Um, no he doesn't. He didn't purport anything as "fact." His exact quote states what they were "told." Here it is: "We were told he was gonna write a book and spilling the dirt on Journey ... "

there is a chapter of my time with Journey but it is not a tell-all, not a diary of day to day occurrences

Hell, we had that in "real time" while you were in the band! You can saunter from European bar gig to gig, and continue to think that there isn't a contingent that doesn't know about the escapades during your time in the band, and most may not say anything about them, but it doesn't mean that they didn't happen! Listen, no one in the band, including you, was/is a complete sinner or a complete saint, but there are more than a few eyewitness accounts and reliable stories that you cast you in a less than gleaming light. And to be fair, you're not the only one. I can't imagine the sea of temptations that a gig of this magnitude brings ... but I do know that I'd probably succumb to them!

However after asking a former Soul SirkUS member to be add even a sentence, he declined as Neal got wind of it thought the book was a tell-all...word is he opted out because of that

Man, you're 0 for Journey and 0 for Soul SirkUS. You seem to have a tough time keeping friends!

I was a "permanent member" which yes, meant I became a partner

I'll take this opportunity to say that I don't think you're a bad guy or any sort of indecent human, but I also think you made a shitload of mistakes in your time in Journey. And I think you know that, too. Let me ask you an honest question, and maybe you can answer it on here and maybe you can't ... but what, in your mind, is the primary reason that you think you were let go and never talked to again by the four remaining members in Journey?

I honestly don't give a shit about any of this until my dignity and pride are continuously poked at, should I not then defend it?

Perhaps now you should, but you shouldn't have while in Journey. That was a big mistake. It comes with the territory. "Thick skin," remember? You think Perry, Schon and Cain come here to fight online wars. Well, okay, maybe just Perry and Cain! From cussing out a faceless fan right on here to allowing far too many people to be privy to far too much information, you seemed to be a Double-AA player flailing in the Big Leagues. Live and learn. I hope you get a second chance that's just as big. You're a very decent guy, you were (too) great to the fans and you've worked your tail off for 25 years. Good luck.

now I find myself 4 years later feeling like I have to say 'hey guys, I'm not this bad dude I'm being painted as', kinda sucks!

I've never, until this interview, read/heard a word regarding you from the Journey guys. And while I tend to agree with you that Deen should have probably reined it in a bit, I can't help but think he needed to let that out, as he may subscribe to the "relapse" theory, too. But that's something that only you probably know.

I have email after email, text after text to them all extending my hand in friendship and hope that we could be civil, during & after the firing

Regardless of circumstance and blame, if there is any, this was a classy move. Kudos.