Neal FB Interview with Joe Bonamassa (06/10)

[The_Noble_Cause]

Neal did an interview live today on Facebook and YouTube. I have tried to summarize any Journey related comments below:


- a music track has been sent to Arnel. He is going to add his vocals and they hope to have this new single out by the end of July.

- Neal and Jon "are really clicking." Neal says Jon is "a great friend."

- With the Ross/Smitty lineup, Neal wanted to do more than just a one-day rehearsal to brush things up. Neal thinks with the new lineup, the band can mix things up all the time, even without rehearsal. Neal also says that Randy Jackson is a great singer.

- Yesterday Neal and Walden wrote a new rocking track, that sounds like Journey. Neal says him and Walden work together like Steve Perry did.

- Neal mention that music is the universal healer, and the new material they are writing is very uplifting, or something like that.

[chynablue]

I'm pretty sure Neal was saying that he works with Narada the way he worked with Steve SMITH (writing a song around the drum parts).

Also, I don't think he was saying that he wanted to do more than a one day "brush-up rehearsal" with Ross & Steve. I think he was saying that this is how it was done, and they have to go into full on rehearsal mode now with the new lineup.

I was working on some things while this was playing, so if I got this wrong then my bad. I thought the story about how Neal first met Perry was very interesting - I had never heard that before.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I'm pretty sure Neal was saying that he works with Narada the way he worked with Steve SMITH (writing a song around the drum parts).

Also, I don't think he was saying that he wanted to do more than a one day "brush-up rehearsal" with Ross & Steve. I think he was saying that this is how it was done, and they have to go into full on rehearsal mode now with the new lineup.

I was working on some things while this was playing, so if I got this wrong then my bad. I thought the story about how Neal first met Perry was very interesting - I had never heard that before.

The video should be available. People can make up their own mind.

The comment about working with Narada was in the context of writing within the band. Neal mentioned that the other Journey members are in different places except Narada. It's possible he was comparing his chemistry with Narada to Smitty....... but I doubt it.

He did separately mention his solo albums and writing those around Smith's drumming.

Regarding the second comment.... you're totally wrong. Neal said he was ready to mix things up and spend more than a day rehearsing. He then said the new lineup will be able to mix things up at random. The obvious implication, to me at least, is that Ross/Smitty didn't want to put in the work.

[youkeepmewaiting]

Good interview. Neal seems happy and motivated. Looking good!

[jrnyman28]

The video should be available. People can make up their own mind.

The comment about working with Narada was in the context of writing within the band. Neal mentioned that the other Journey members are in different places except Narada. It's possible he was comparing his chemistry with Narada to Smitty....... but I doubt it.

Neal was definitely talking about how he worked with Smitty on his last couple solo albums building songs around guitars and drums.

Regarding the second comment.... you're totally wrong. Neal said he was ready to mix things up and spend more than a day rehearsing. He then said the new lineup will be able to mix things up at random. The obvious implication, to me at least, is that Ross/Smitty didn't want to put in the work.

Accurate.

I found two other things interesting. We've heard rumors for years that Gregg was having issues with Perry and that was the underlying reason for him quitting. Neal stuck with the official story.

And when Neal says Jon was his 1st choice to replace Gregg he says most everyone agreed. I wonder who didn't.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Neal was definitely talking about how he worked with Smitty on his last couple solo albums building songs around guitars and drums.

I haven't listened or watched it again, but I'll take your word for it. I stand corrected.

I found two other things interesting. We've heard rumors for years that Gregg was having issues with Perry and that was the underlying reason for him quitting. Neal stuck with the official story.

And when Neal says Jon was his 1st choice to replace Gregg he says most everyone agreed. I wonder who didn't.

I was hoping Joe would ask some more in-depth questions, and not just the usual "were you really invited to join Clapton???"

[Aaron]

thanks TNC