Does Ross Valeroy Have No Say In Journey?

[Final Frontiers]

Ross Valeroy is one of the founding members of Journey and has been in it basically for the long haul. He knows all the stories and has seen it all (almost). What I want to know is why does Ross not have any power inside Journey? I don't know, maybe I live in sun shiny, rainbow bunny land, where members of a rock band vote democratically and all have an equal share/say in the band's dealings. Where seniority means something. Someone please enlighten me. I know since Jonathan Cain wrote a LOT of hit songs and has his name on all the royalty checks he has an enormous say in what goes on. The same went for Steve Perry plus he was the frontman/lead singer. But shouldn't Ross' tenure mean anything. He should have more of a say than Augeri or Dean or Arnel. Okay, seriously, I know that Ross' wife Diane has more writing credits than he does and they do say "money talks". Still.

Rumor had it that Ross was on vacation when the firing of JSS went down and he didn't know. As in they didn't consult him and his opinion didn't matter or they just didn't want to deal with his objections. Allegedly, Ross suggested Chalfant again, while Jonathan wanted Jeremy, and Neal wanted Arnel and we all know who won that one.

It's not like Ross is ambition less he did start both The Vu and The Storm- but nobody cares about the bass player. And we can't forget how he was fired from Journey. Anybody have any ideas?

[tater1977]

Ross Valeroy is one of the founding members of Journey and has been in it basically for the long haul. He knows all the stories and has seen it all (almost). What I want to know is why does Ross not have any power inside Journey? I don't know, maybe I live in sun shiny, rainbow bunny land, where members of a rock band vote democratically and all have an equal share/say in the band's dealings. Where seniority means something. Someone please enlighten me. I know since Jonathan Cain wrote a LOT of hit songs and has his name on all the royalty checks he has an enormous say in what goes on. The same went for Steve Perry plus he was the frontman/lead singer. But shouldn't Ross' tenure mean anything. He should have more of a say than Augeri or Dean or Arnel. Okay, seriously, I know that Ross' wife Diane has more writing credits than he does and they do say "money talks". Still.

Rumor had it that Ross was on vacation when the firing of JSS went down and he didn't know. As in they didn't consult him and his opinion didn't matter or they just didn't want to deal with his objections. Allegedly, Ross suggested Chalfant again, while Jonathan wanted Jeremy, and Neal wanted Arnel and we all know who won that one.

It's not like Ross is ambition less he did start both The Vu and The Storm- but nobody cares about the bass player. And we can't forget how he was fired from Journey. Anybody have any ideas?

JOURNEY'S JONATHAN CAIN
NEVER STOPPED BELIEVIN'

http://bammagazine.com/index.php/the-news/117

... 'When we went out on tour that year, ’86 or I think it was ’87, there was a drummer that went out on the road with us. Steve Smith didn’t want to come back, he was still angry with us and Ross was in rehab somewhere'...

Jon Cain 2011

[Final Frontiers]

It's not like Ross is ambition less he did start both The Vu and The Storm- but nobody cares about the bass player. And we can't forget how he was fired from Journey. Anybody have any ideas?


JOURNEY'S JONATHAN CAIN
NEVER STOPPED BELIEVIN'

http://bammagazine.com/index.php/the-news/117

... 'When we went out on tour that year, ’86 or I think it was ’87, there was a drummer that went out on the road with us. Steve Smith didn’t want to come back, he was still angry with us and Ross was in rehab somewhere'...

Jon Cain 2011

Wow, I don't recall this during Behind The Music . This just got a whole lot more interesting. I know I read one interview where part of the problem with Ross during the Raised On Radio tour was that he was having financial troubles and mortage issues and wanted to travel back and forth from home and be a part time bass player. Steve Perry wasn't hearing that. Has Ross ever talked about a drug or alcohol problem? Jeez, Deen, Ross, Gregg, and Neal have all had "issues". Well, if Ross was unreliable at that point no wonder Steve Perry and everyone else had to let him go. Why does he get so much grief over it if Ross wasn't capable of doing the job?

Still if he's been clean & sober for "X" many years, why doesn't he have a say in the decision making process?

[slucero]

because in a band, the songwriters have the power..

[Rick]

Ross is an equal partner and has the same amount of leverage the rest of the band members do. Ross is a terrific musician, a great bass player and not a bad singer.

[FamilyMan]

From my brief exposure to the band, Neal and Jon run the show.

[verslibre]

Ross is smart. He likes getting paid, and he avoids the drama. He isn't Geddy Lee. It beats selling car insurance, too.*


*NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT!!!!

[yulog]

Ross Valeroy has absolutely no say in the band journey....Why would he ? he's not even in the band Journey


Ross Valory on the other hand..................

[scarab]

early on, he had some writing credits. is Natural Thing his last for Journey? (good song by the way)

[Aaron]

Natural Thing is one of my favorite Journey songs!

early on, he had some writing credits. is Natural Thing his last for Journey? (good song by the way)

[tater1977]

early on, he had some writing credits. is Natural Thing his last for Journey? (good song by the way)

Ross' Journey songwriting credits...

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ross-val ... 18/credits


In the Morning Day

Gregg Rolie / Ross Valory


In My Lonely Feeling/Conversations

Gregg Rolie / Ross Valory


Look into the Future

Gregg Rolie / Neal Schon / Ross Valory


Nickel and Dime

Gregg Rolie / Neal Schon / George Tickner / Ross Valory


Anytime

Robert Fleischman / Gregg Rolie / Neal Schon / Ross Valory


Wheel in the Sky

Robert Fleischman / Neal Schon / Dianne Valory / Ross Valory


Can Do

Steve Perry / Ross Valory


Just the Same Way

Gregg Rolie / Neal Schon / Ross Valory


Daydream

Steve Perry / Gregg Rolie / Neal Schon / Ross Valory


Lady Luck

Steve Perry / Neal Schon / Ross Valory


People and Places

Steve Perry / Neal Schon / George Tickner / Ross Valory

[Final Frontiers]

So Ross hasn't written anything since the Perry era? Nothing with Augeri or Pineda? What did he write with Steve Miller, The Vu, or The Storm? If he hasn't written any songs in 20 years, no wonder he has no say.

The various old interviews I've read with the band mention Jonathan, Neal, and Smitty specifcally having chemistry with Steve Perry. Gregg Rolie doesn't mention it outright, but in a roundabout way. I've never seen it referenced that Ross had any chemistry with SP. Has either one of them ever said it? Does anybody here think they did?

[scarab]

Tickner had a credit for People and Places?

I forgot about Dream after Dream, Ross co wrote three songs, and this one is all his, great song.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1Tm6--XyXQ&feature=kp

[Pelata]

No band that has been around as long as Journey is any sort of democracy...bands require leaders...people that stay in bands as long as Ross has know that. They know/enjoy their role. He's obviously free to suggest, but I doubt he has any sort of actual business vote.

Of course, I could be totally wrong...

[ebake02]

It seems like Ross is simply in cruise control at this point, doing his job and not rocking the boat.

[Monker]

Ross has something to say in Journey.

He says, "Yes", to anything Neal and Jonathan want.

[DracIsBack]

It's not like Ross is ambition less he did start both The Vu and The Storm- but nobody cares about the bass player.

Depends on the band and what else they do. If you're Sting, or Geddy Lee, or Peter Cetera or Paul McCartney and happen to be a singing bassist with a distinctive voice and happen to write songs, it's a little different.