Good article in the Vancouver Sun

[Archetype]

Well, written/researched. Even mentions Jeff Scott Soto (sad that it has to be a selling point for an article), as well as Neal's recruitment of Omar Hakim.

http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainme ... story.html

Schon, 61, said he hasn’t felt this good since he was young. Not only is he clean and sober, he’s also happily married and ready to put his focus back on the multimillion-dollar business that is Journey.

[Majestic]

Your link was broken but I think you meant this:

http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainme ... story.html

[Archetype]

Your link was broken but I think you meant this:

http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainme ... story.html

That's the one

[perryfan61]

Your link was broken but I think you meant this:

http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainme ... story.html

That's the one

So he's going to put his focus back on Journey. Wonder if that means new music?

[steveo777]

There's a lot of good in that article, particularly for me, Neal's 8 years of sobriety. I love that JSS and Steve Augeri are rightfully mentioned. Hopefully, with the events regarding Deen, well those will further cement Neal in his commitment to remain sober. Neal falling off the wagon and getting into a domestic violence issue would spell the end and I'm sure he knows it. Choices? With all the criticism that has been leveled at Neal for hiring the Filipino, seems things have worked out very well for the band and respect for Arnel and his talent have matured over time. At this point, I can't imagine Journey without Arnel. That's how full circle they have come More love than hate, but that is not how it started out.

[annie89509]

Neal gets all the credit for discovering AP. But let’s set the record straight. Neal only found Arnel from reading this forum. Someone, I think it was Nora, started a thread posting clips of AP singing Journey songs on yt. It’s always been common here having members share their “finds” … all things relating to Journey. Nora, being a singer herself, had an ear for talent, I guess. I remember people remarked on Arnel’s diminutive stature, the foreign nightclub setting, the fact that he seems to be able to cover a variety of pop hits, professional karaoke at its finest … yada yada.

Timing couldn’t have been more perfect for Neal. He was looking to get out from hiring Jeremey. Boy, must have jumped on yt right away. The next thing we know, Arnel’s name & face were back on more threads. Then, TheSushiHunter, started posting about knowing AP in The Zoo days during his time in the Orient.

Wow, maybe someone can find that very 1st thread started here on AP. I’m pretty sure it was Nora…geez …can’t remember her Avatar Name…she’s not here anymore. Neal owes her a big fat Finders Fee, not to mention she’s really the original discoverer of AP.

[Archetype]

Your link was broken but I think you meant this:

http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainme ... story.html

That's the one

So he's going to put his focus back on Journey. Wonder if that means new music?

I think it's time for a Trial By Fire type album again.

[FamilyMan]

Neal's sobriety is undoubtedly a big reason why he's clearly lost patience with Deen. He's on fire creatively and no longer has time for anyone falling off the wagon and dragging the band down. The next article I'll be interested to read is one featuring Jonathan. With all of Neal's zealousness, it will be interesting to get a sense of where Jonathan's head is at.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I think it's time for a Trial By Fire type album again.

What does that mean exactly? An album with all ballads and maybe two rockers and a Rastafarian bonus track?

[Eric]

I think it's time for a Trial By Fire type album again.

What does that mean exactly? An album with all ballads and maybe two rockers and a Rastafarian bonus track?

HOOOH! Agreed. That album should never have existed.

Gimme a time machine and I'll go back to '84, scoop Arnel off the streets in the Philippines and right now Journey would be known as the greatest band ever.

Luckily, instead of dwelling on the wasted years of '84 - '98 Neal is bound and determined to make up for it.

Now..I need to listen to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOVzXYEU3Bk

[The_Noble_Cause]

I think it's time for a Trial By Fire type album again.

What does that mean exactly? An album with all ballads and maybe two rockers and a Rastafarian bonus track?

HOOOH! Agreed. That album should never have existed.

Gimme a time machine and I'll go back to '84, scoop Arnel off the streets in the Philippines and right now Journey would be known as the greatest band ever.

Luckily, instead of dwelling on the wasted years of '84 - '98 Neal is bound and determined to make up for it.

Now..I need to listen to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOVzXYEU3Bk

Trial by Fire is a good album, great at times even....but sometimes too much of a good thing becomes, well, boring.
Same rule applies to Arrival.
"Escape" has the ballad to rocker ratio correct.

[Jeremey]

Timing couldn’t have been more perfect for Neal. He was looking to get out from hiring Jeremey. Boy, must have jumped on yt right away. The next thing we know, Arnel’s name & face were back on more threads. Then, TheSushiHunter, started posting about knowing AP in The Zoo days during his time in the Orient.

Wow, maybe someone can find that very 1st thread started here on AP. I’m pretty sure it was Nora…geez …can’t remember her Avatar Name…she’s not here anymore. Neal owes her a big fat Finders Fee, not to mention she’s really the original discoverer of AP.

Good point Annie, to be 100% accurate, I guess you could say it was actually Neal's girlfriend at the time who brought Arnel to Neal's attention.

The Zoo videos – specifically the "Faithfully" video from the Hard Rock in Manilla – was posted as a response video to nearly EVERY Frontiers video once I was "outed" as the next singer of Journey. Someone within Arnel's inner circle (at one point there was a name, not sure who it was) made what looked like a pretty concentrated effort to get Arnel noticed when the lead singer chair opened. Every single YouTube response video said the same thing, "This singer is pretty good. Check out Arnel Pineda with The Zoo," and then the "Faithfully" video posted as a response.

The video was posted here in this forum but no one had to look far to actually find Pineda, his videos were posted on every single Frontiers YouTube video.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Timing couldn’t have been more perfect for Neal. He was looking to get out from hiring Jeremey. Boy, must have jumped on yt right away. The next thing we know, Arnel’s name & face were back on more threads. Then, TheSushiHunter, started posting about knowing AP in The Zoo days during his time in the Orient.

Wow, maybe someone can find that very 1st thread started here on AP. I’m pretty sure it was Nora…geez …can’t remember her Avatar Name…she’s not here anymore. Neal owes her a big fat Finders Fee, not to mention she’s really the original discoverer of AP.

Good point Annie, to be 100% accurate, I guess you could say it was actually Neal's girlfriend at the time who brought Arnel to Neal's attention.

The Zoo videos – specifically the "Faithfully" video from the Hard Rock in Manilla – was posted as a response video to nearly EVERY Frontiers video once I was "outed" as the next singer of Journey. Someone within Arnel's inner circle (at one point there was a name, not sure who it was) made what looked like a pretty concentrated effort to get Arnel noticed when the lead singer chair opened. Every single YouTube response video said the same thing, "This singer is pretty good. Check out Arnel Pineda with The Zoo," and then the "Faithfully" video posted as a response.

The video was posted here in this forum but no one had to look far to actually find Pineda, his videos were posted on every single Frontiers YouTube video.

Anybody remember when MR poster "LockNLoad" was on this forum seeking feedback on Arnel? There were rumors that LockNLoad was none other than Mr. Schon himself. I wouldn't doubt it....

[Jeremey]

Anybody remember when MR poster "LockNLoad" was on this forum seeking feedback on Arnel? There were rumors that LockNLoad was none other than Mr. Schon himself. I wouldn't doubt it....

LockNLoad and another account, RPGsomething were both either Neal or his girlfriend Lori (with Neal sitting next to her).

[The_Noble_Cause]

Anybody remember when MR poster "LockNLoad" was on this forum seeking feedback on Arnel? There were rumors that LockNLoad was none other than Mr. Schon himself. I wouldn't doubt it....

LockNLoad and another account, RPGsomething were both either Neal or his girlfriend Lori (with Neal sitting next to her).

Which begs the question....what sn is Neal using on here now? My guess is its Monker.

[Archetype]

I think it's time for a Trial By Fire type album again.

What does that mean exactly? An album with all ballads and maybe two rockers and a Rastafarian bonus track?

Yep. Nothing wrong with ballads, as long as they're good ballads. Let's hear some nice soulful clean electric guitar and good jazzy type piano parts ala "Still She Cries."