MR

One of the bands that I play in was playing at a festival today. Steve Augeri and his band are there playing tomorrow night. They were sound checking today about 150 yards from where my show was. Steve's voice sounded decent, fine.

After my show there was a place for the bands to eat. This place was RIGHT in front of Steve's trailer. So his trailer was about 15 feet from me and it was just me and my band and nobody else. I whispered to the security guard "is there anyway I could say hello to Steve, big fan". Security guard is very cool. She sticks her head into his trailer and has her head in there for about two minutes. She turned around to me and walks over and says "Steve said 'don't stop believing.'" I said really loud "I'd rather hear something from Arrival or Generations actually"- so he knew I wasn't just yer normal fan that doesn't know squat about him.

Are you kidding me?! There was no one else around all he had to do was say hello. I guess I get it but you would think that Steve who had such "fall from grace" would be a bit more friendly to someone that is a big fan. I guess I understand it but damn, what a let down. He certainly doesn't owe me anything, but it's not like there were a million fans around it was just me and the security gal. This gig was at a big campground. So it wasn't like a big concert stadium or anything like that. Basically camping in the woods. Really laid back.

Kind of funny over the loudspeaker they kept saying that "Journey" was playing tomorrow. oops. I did hear them sound check with Higher Place. Unfortunately their sound check was at the same time ours was so I couldn't listen very long. I guess if I was some screaming chick that I would understand it but I was pretty discrete and pretty low-key so just kind of bums me out I like the guy but man. Yeah I know I sound like a junior high kid that didn't get invited to the dance but Like the guy will ever get back to Washington state. Almost makes me bummed I stuck up for him during TapeGate.

I guess I stopped believing.

Maybe just a simple case of him resting his voice, being half-naked, being on the phone? Maybe catching the movie Rockstar? Could be a number of reasons not to come out.

Bry... you said if you were a screaming chick, you could understand SA's snub. My take is if you were a gal, he would probably come out (absent the conditions Mem said above, of course). Remember, all Journey's frontmen were(are) considered sex symbols to the ladies. So, there's a certain protocol each of them have to uphold...

annie89509 wrote:Bry... you said if you were a screaming chick, you could understand SA's snub. My take is if you were a gal, he would probably come out (absent the conditions Mem said above, of course). Remember, all Journey's frontmen were(are) considered sex symbols to the ladies. So, there's a certain protocol each of them have to uphold...

I KNEW I shoulda wore a wig! Yeah I get he was "off". Just seemed it woulda been pretty effortless. Basically a matter of him walking maybe 5 ft. To the door and sticking his hand out. I was probably 1 of about 20 people that didn't expect STEVE PERRY to walk out of the trailer, as most casual peeps are just not that up on all things Journey. Oh well.

I can kinda see both sides of the fence here.

On one hand, this was just one very short moment out of Steve's day ... for all anyone knows, he could have been on the phone with his family, on a business call, reviewing something for the show, or fighting horrible diarrhea cramps. So for that one brief moment that he wasn't available, I'd give the guy a pass - not knowing what the circumstances were. He could have been sitting in the trailer surfing Facebook, in which case, c'mon dude, just poke your head out and say hello. But we don't really know.

On the other hand, a brush off like "Steve says, 'don't stop believin'" is kind of patronizing. Really? Is that the "go to" brush off cultivated after many years of sitting in civic center dressing rooms or getting recognized by a local crew guy at the mess tent? Really kind of a "Yeah, thanks kid, whatever ..." statement. Something like "Steve says hi and he appreciates your support, but he's on the phone right now." Anything to add a bit more of a personal empathy for a fan who wants to voice their appreciation.

Jeremey wrote:I can kinda see both sides of the fence here.

On one hand, this was just one very short moment out of Steve's day ... for all anyone knows, he could have been on the phone with his family, on a business call, reviewing something for the show, or fighting horrible diarrhea cramps. So for that one brief moment that he wasn't available, I'd give the guy a pass - not knowing what the circumstances were. He could have been sitting in the trailer surfing Facebook, in which case, c'mon dude, just poke your head out and say hello. But we don't really know.

On the other hand, a brush off like "Steve says, 'don't stop believin'" is kind of patronizing. Really? Is that the "go to" brush off cultivated after many years of sitting in civic center dressing rooms or getting recognized by a local crew guy at the mess tent? Really kind of a "Yeah, thanks kid, whatever ..." statement. Something like "Steve says hi and he appreciates your support, but he's on the phone right now." Anything to add a bit more of a personal empathy for a fan who wants to voice their appreciation.

RIGHT. THAT is why it annoyed me so much- Way to use Perry and Cain's tune as your slogan to brush people off. I don't think that was the intent of the original lyric. I DO get that he was probably busy, but I also get that he's had a pretty long fall from the top and there were camps that supported him and camps that wanted to crucify him. I was in the former, so it just blows that he couldn't take a SECOND. Had it been a swamped area where tons of folks would start pulling at him, I wouldn't have even asked. Seeing as it was my band guys (5) sitting at a table 15 feet from his door (who really don't know di** about Steve Augeri) and nobody else around for at least 25 yards, I'd think I'd maybe have a shot.
I should've just known better than to ask I guess. And that, was my near brush with greatness...

Funny, my wife goes "You never know, he may have been experiencing exploding diarrhea at that very moment." hey.... waitaminute!!!! Jeremey are you my wife?????

You sure that wasn't a Journey joke made by the security guard? Steve probably was taking a shit and simply just said, "no." SA is very fan friendly and approachable.

Is it possible that Steve was not in his trailer at the time, seems to me the security guard shot you down. I'd give the guy a pass.

If he was busy talking to family or something like that yeah I can see him not wanting to talk at that point, but he could've just said "I'm busy is the person available to speak a little bit later on?"

Yeah I know musicians, celebs, and sport figures don't want to be bothered by fans 24/7/365. My issue is that if you're famous it's not hard to take a few moments out of your day to at least come out and meet one of "your" fans instead of trying to hob knob with the wannabe fans who are just looking for an autograph that will be on ebay.

The_Noble_Cause wrote:You sure that wasn't a Journey joke made by the security guard? Steve probably was taking a shit and simply just said, "no." SA is very fan friendly and approachable.

This was my intial thought when I read the OP's post. I thought...did SA really say that or is that what the security person told you.

And Jeremy is spot on, Steve really could have been on the shitter, with diaherria, talking with his family, talking to a business associate etc. or he could have been surfing the web, without knowing which if any of these things it was......I'd give him a pass.

I think your mistake was calling yourself a "fan." Backstage, all musicians seem to have some weird mutual "i'm a celebrity, so you're a celebrity, so let's talk" thing going. he probably heard "fan" and thought... no thanks.

I have been around pre and post show enough times over the last 2 plus years to see Steve and his band's attention, courtesy and appreciation of the fans. Even the fans that don't let up. I can also say, with absolute certainty, that the phrase "don't stop believin'" was just the security guard being a jerk. In fact, if you didn't see Steve enter or exit the trailer, I'll bet that he wasn't even there.

Steve is probably the most fan friendly guy I've met in the business. Sometimes things happen.

I've had different experiences with several artist where they were friendly and then the next time they were in a rush.

Personally I just want to get to the bar post show and a photo op is nice when available. Just remember that they are doing their job and nobody's perfect.

I try to sign autographs and hang out with my fans when I can but sometimes other things get in the way.

Steve is one of the most accessible individuals I have ever met. Fan friendly, absolutely!! As others have stated, the "guard" may have just made that comment! It is possible that Steve was not in the trailer, or he may have actually been busy! It does happen. I have provided security for a few "celebrities" in business and social functions, including Steve. I have personally seen him go out of his way for his "fans!"

No big deal. Just woulda been nice. Dude was probably busy.

Who cares? He's washed up now.

Voyager wrote:Who cares? He's washed up now.

So is Journey. Got a point? At least Steve isn't afraid to play new songs.

The_Noble_Cause wrote:

Voyager wrote:Who cares? He's washed up now.

So is Journey. Got a point? At least Steve isn't afraid to play new songs.

what new songs?? All I heard was Journey stuff.

brywool wrote:

The_Noble_Cause wrote:

Voyager wrote:Who cares? He's washed up now.

So is Journey. Got a point? At least Steve isn't afraid to play new songs.

what new songs?? All I heard was Journey stuff.

can't speak for your show, but he had been playing a couple of new ones recently.

The_Noble_Cause wrote:

Voyager wrote:Who cares? He's washed up now.

So is Journey. Got a point? At least Steve isn't afraid to play new songs.

It's a good thing he can play new songs because he sure as hell doesn't play many songs that features him as a vocalist originally. 4/16 songs are songs that Augeri was the vocalist for.

A Change Is Gonna Come
Chain Reaction
Stone In Love
Hours In The Day
Lights
Higher Place
Kiss Me Softly
Open Arms
Send Her My Love
Wheel In The Sky
Faithfully
Don’t Stop Believin’
Lovin Touchin Squeezin
Any Way You Want It
Encore
Be Good To Yourself
Separate Ways

A Change is Gonna Come .... isn't that a Sam Cooke song?

jestor92 wrote:

The_Noble_Cause wrote:

Voyager wrote:Who cares? He's washed up now.

So is Journey. Got a point? At least Steve isn't afraid to play new songs.

It's a good thing he can play new songs because he sure as hell doesn't play many songs that features him as a vocalist originally. 4/16 songs are songs that Augeri was the vocalist for.

A Change Is Gonna Come
Chain Reaction
Stone In Love
Hours In The Day
Lights
Higher Place
Kiss Me Softly
Open Arms
Send Her My Love
Wheel In The Sky
Faithfully
Don’t Stop Believin’
Lovin Touchin Squeezin
Any Way You Want It
Encore
Be Good To Yourself
Separate Ways

Kiss me Softly was his crown jewel with Journey.

Brywool, wish you had gone to the Mt. Airy, NC show tonight. Steve and the entire band came out right after the show and were willing to sign stuff, pose for pics, chat, etc. It was announced before the band took the stage, and again at the end of the encore. Pretty cool stuff...

kgdjpubs wrote:Brywool, wish you had gone to the Mt. Airy, NC show tonight. Steve and the entire band came out right after the show and were willing to sign stuff, pose for pics, chat, etc. It was announced before the band took the stage, and again at the end of the encore. Pretty cool stuff...

cool

sure doesn't sound like the Steve I just met Sunday (7/28...I missed my chance to meet him at sound check but saw him again after check was over...I walked up to him and told him that I had sent him a message on FB...He asked my name and said...yeahh I saw that.This was about 4:30 in the afternoon....He then acknowledged me numerous times during his show and during autograph session...he looked at me with a very sincere voice, "It was a pleasure meeting me and thank me for attending show"...he also called me by my name(first and last) which was quite impressive,since it was some 5.5 hours after I told him my name...I then got a private message from him on my way home...I'd give him a pass as well....