Was There Ever A Time When Journey Was Happy?

[Final Frontiers]

No band is ever without drama and personality conflicts. But there would never be any music from anybody if people didn't learn how to get a long. My question is "Was there ever a time in Journey where everybody was completely happy?"

Journey
Look Into The Future
Next

Neal Schon, Ross Valeroy, & Gregg Rolie form band, get a record contract, tour constantly, also gain and lose members constantly: George Tickner, Prairie Prince, Aynsley Dunbar, and Robert Flesichman. Was this the happiest time for Journey?

Infinity
Evolution
Departure

Steve Perry is in and Robert Flesichman's out. Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon wanted a rock & roll screamer, not a crooner. Aynsley didn't want to change the sound from a progressive rock jam band to one that focused more on AM radio airplay. The old members are afarid they'll lose their rock street cred and become teenybopper focused. Gregg is unhappy with the excessive touring (starts drinking too much), Neal gives Steve a hard time, Aynsley is fired, Steve Smith joins, Gregg Rolie quits. The band starts making more money and getting TV exposure.

Escape

Jonathan Cain joins. Steve Perry rises to the forefront. Creative differences still abound (especially over "Open Arms")Escape goes 9 times platinum. Is this when Journey was happiest?

Frontiers

Steve Perry starts travelling in a seperate bus, isolates himself from both the band and fans in order to protect his voice and brings along girlfriend Sherry. (How many tours did Steve travelling seperately from the rest of the band? Was it Frontiers and Raised On Radio? Or Escape, Frontiers, and Raised On Radio?) Neal and Steve start working on solo projects- causing more jealousy and possessiveness between them.

Raised On Radio

Steve Perry produces ROR, creative differences abound, Ross Valeroy and Steve Smith are fired. Randy Jackson, Larry Londin, and Mike Baird are on board as session players.

Trial By Fire

Gregg Rolie is ousted by Columbia Records, blink and you'll miss Kevin Chalfant being in the band, Steve Perry returns then falls ill and is unable to tour. Ross, Smitty, Neal, & Jonathan become impatient with waiting for Steve and fire him.

Arrival

Journey's back together again- with Steve.....Augeri and without Steve.....Smith but with Deen Castronovo. Is Journey happy at this point?

Generations

Everybody gets to sing lead, Steve Augeri starts to have vocal issues, Deen Castronovo starts singing 2-3 songs per concert, Augeri eventually has to quit, Jeff Scott Soto takes over.

Revelation
Eclipse

Arnel Pineda is found by Neal on You Tube and becomes a media sensation giving Journey more press than it's had in years. Arnel gets a documentary about himself "Don't Stop Believing". They go platnium for the first time in years (Revelation). Arnel wants to do his own music. Is Journey finally happy now?

Was there a point where everybody was happy at the same time? I can't tell it might've been during Escape or Revelation or Arrival or Journey, Look Into The Future, or Next. Was it pre-Perry or post-Perry or Perry?

[Archetype]

I'm guessing the 2008/2009 album release and tour. They were on fire then.

[marco17]

They are happy (most of them) everyday the mail comes with the royalty checks!

[FamilyMan]

My sense, from having interviewed them, is that Escape was their happiest, most creatively satisfying period.

[Final Frontiers]

My sense, from having interviewed them, is that Escape was their happiest, most creatively satisfying period.

I get the impression that Escape was their happiest time too. They might've been nervous or missed Gregg at first, but as soon as Jonathan started contributing songs it became all "Gregg Who??? ". Especially when they went 9 times platnium. Having to actually be visually creative with music videos also took them out of their comfort zone. But everybody's always teases them about Seperate Ways, but EVERYBODY also knows the video too, it's iconic. I didn't think it looked silly at the time. It looked like every other video on TV. I guess super success really does change people.

BTW, don't leave us hanging- when did you interview Journey and how many times?

[tater1977]

Was watching Midnight Special 1979...and it went poof....
Looked around a bit..SME and ...HFA ..whoever that is...is taking 'em down.
Friend said they took down lights and stay while from Japan 80...
haven't gotten that far yet..will look tomorrow..

[FamilyMan]

My sense, from having interviewed them, is that Escape was their happiest, most creatively satisfying period.

I get the impression that Escape was their happiest time too. They might've been nervous or missed Gregg at first, but as soon as Jonathan started contributing songs it became all "Gregg Who??? ". Especially when they went 9 times platnium. Having to actually be visually creative with music videos also took them out of their comfort zone. But everybody's always teases them about Seperate Ways, but EVERYBODY also knows the video too, it's iconic. I didn't think it looked silly at the time. It looked like every other video on TV. I guess super success really does change people.

BTW, don't leave us hanging- when did you interview Journey and how many times?

Twice -- both for CBS Sunday Morning for Revelation and Eclipse.

[Final Frontiers]

Who said they were happiest during Escape? Neal, Jon, and Ross? How did they feel about Revelation and Eclipse? Do you have any links that still work? What questions did you get to ask them? And how long did you have? Perhaps Deen is happiest for Revelation and Eclipse cause the pressure is off him to cover Augeri. It's up for debate if Arnel was happy at all or even if he's happy now.

[FamilyMan]

Who said they were happiest during Escape? Neal, Jon, and Ross? How did they feel about Revelation and Eclipse? Do you have any links that still work? What questions did you get to ask them? And how long did you have? Perhaps Deen is happiest for Revelation and Eclipse cause the pressure is off him to cover Augeri. It's up for debate if Arnel was happy at all or even if he's happy now.

2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89_2UivtEhs
2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqA-3CX56oQ

They never came out and said they were happiest then, it was just a feeling I got- mainly from Jon. I think he desperately misses the writing chemistry of those days. Deen is perennially happy. He truly feels blessed to be in Journey. And as for Augeri, Deen loves the guy.

[Final Frontiers]

Who said they were happiest during Escape? Neal, Jon, and Ross? How did they feel about Revelation and Eclipse? Do you have any links that still work? What questions did you get to ask them? And how long did you have? Perhaps Deen is happiest for Revelation and Eclipse cause the pressure is off him to cover Augeri. It's up for debate if Arnel was happy at all or even if he's happy now.

2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89_2UivtEhs
2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqA-3CX56oQ

They never came out and said they were happiest then, it was just a feeling I got- mainly from Jon. I think he desperately misses the writing chemistry of those days. Deen is perennially happy. He truly feels blessed to be in Journey. And as for Augeri, Deen loves the guy.

Thanks for the links . I think Steve Perry is a little bit of Jonathan's muse and while Augeri and Arnel can sound like him, no on else IS him. Augeri and Arnel can hit triples, Perry can always knock out grand slam home runs . Ouch that Augeri and JSS didn't even get name checked in the first story . Although, I'm getting a little bit confused about the timeline. I thought Gregg asked Jonathan to join Journey while they were still technically on the Journey/Babys tour and they basically bandnapped him out from under John Waite. Now, it seems like The Babys had already broken up when he got the call.