New Steve Augeri interview

[leftovertu]

Probably the closest we’ll get to an answer regarding “tapegate”…..

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/musi ... 58450/amp/

[Archetype]

“I can’t legally answer that”

Translates to “yes we lip-synced but I signed an NDA about it.”

[Journey/Survivor]

“I can’t legally answer that”

Translates to “yes we lip-synced but I signed an NDA about it.”

But I think that he's also saying that he was actually singing at those shows, but that he had the tapes to assist him?

[Journey/Survivor]

How many solo albums or singles does Augeri have out already?

[Archetype]

“I can’t legally answer that”

Translates to “yes we lip-synced but I signed an NDA about it.”

But I think that he's also saying that he was actually singing at those shows, but that he had the tapes to assist him?

Maybe, maybe not. But still rotten.

[Monker]

“I can’t legally answer that”

Translates to “yes we lip-synced but I signed an NDA about it.”

But I think that he's also saying that he was actually singing at those shows, but that he had the tapes to assist him?

Maybe, maybe not. But still rotten.

That is exactly what the Swedish guy said. That he was listening in the control room, or whatever and was hearing Augeri struggling but when he went out and listened to it live, he was perfect. What he said is he did not understand why if what was heard by the audience was on tape, why was Augeri singing in full voice. IMO, he probably did not know when the tape was turned up, and wgeb he was turned down...Or, he was in a bit of denial and was singing the songs anyway.

So, it's not a "maybe, maybe not". That is exactly what was described...well over a decade ago.

And, if it is "rotten", it was the entire band...not just Augeri...and that is probably why he can't legally talk about it.

[Monker]

“I can’t legally answer that”

Translates to “yes we lip-synced but I signed an NDA about it.”

But I think that he's also saying that he was actually singing at those shows, but that he had the tapes to assist him?

That's exactly what I have been thinking for a very long time. The 'tapes' were meant for backup. But, someone was making a decision to turn Augeri's mic down, and turn those tapes up.

[Archetype]

Imagine ripping off your fans so badly that you have to make your employees sign NDAs about it

[kgdjpubs]

But I think that he's also saying that he was actually singing at those shows, but that he had the tapes to assist him?

Maybe, maybe not. But still rotten.

That is exactly what the Swedish guy said. That he was listening in the control room, or whatever and was hearing Augeri struggling but when he went out and listened to it live, he was perfect. What he said is he did not understand why if what was heard by the audience was on tape, why was Augeri singing in full voice. IMO, he probably did not know when the tape was turned up, and wgeb he was turned down...Or, he was in a bit of denial and was singing the songs anyway.

So, it's not a "maybe, maybe not". That is exactly what was described...well over a decade ago.

And, if it is "rotten", it was the entire band...not just Augeri...and that is probably why he can't legally talk about it.

What killed Augeri's voice was the setup and design of the Generations show. Let him warm up, then he stands around doing very little while the band plays the first half of the set, then he's expected to come in and sing the end of the first set with a cold voice. It's literally asking for problems, and singing Perry was never effortless for Augeri even on the best of days.

I saw them in 2003 with one of the festival shows, and it was great. Lots of rare stuff like Patiently and La Raza del Sol, and Augeri was 100% live and in very good voice. One of the best times I saw him vocally. The next time was a big festival during Generations with a "normal" set, and it was back and forth. Some live, some not. It seemed to vary by the song, or even switch mid-song. The last time was the Raleigh show, which was 100% live. He could barely talk, much less sing at the start. He would try, then go offstage and spray stuff, then try again and go back offstage. About the midway point, his voice finally started coming on a little bit. It was up to passable by the end of the show, although far from perfect. It was very cool to hear Deen sing about 2/3 of the set, but very sad at the same time. I can't imagine being in that situation.

I think the whole thing makes perfect sense if you look at it from a business perspective. #1, you get a better sounding vocal for the audience in case your singer has problems that night (allergies, pitch issues, etc). Living in NC, allergies get to everyone, and I've been to a number of shows where the singer just wasn't doing well. It happens. #2...with him singing live all the time, you have a failsafe backup if the tapes fail. No technology is 100%. Look at the young girl (drawing a blank on her name) who was doing the late night show around the same time, and it was obviously pre-recorded vocals as you'd expect for primetime tv, and the tapes didn't work. Everyone knew immediately what had happened and it killed her career on the spot.

Now, having Augeri sing live and sweetening or even outright replacing the vocals doesn't do much help to your singer for "saving" their voice, but it sounds better to the audience to cover up any issues that they are having that night, and regardless of what happens, the audience gets a vocal where it's supposed to be. I doubt Augeri even knew when he was live or not--my experience hearing the one show was that it seemed to be somewhat haphazard as to what vocal was coming out, or a mixture of the two. Same deal with the backing vocals--I'm sure the other guys were singing live. I'm also sure that there were additional layers of vocals trying to replicate the Perry wall of sound on the album. Most bands at least do that. Very few are 100% live with no sweeteners added.

Of course, what brought it down was a series of events where one person couldn't believe it was happening to his band and wouldn't let it go, booking the Def Leppard tour when Augeri desperately needed a break to heal, and then the Raleigh show where everything collapsed and Augeri couldn't sing period. There is a recording of a show in NY a few days before Raleigh, and it was obvious Augeri wasn't going to last an entire tour like that. He was very rough at that show. The end of the Raleigh show sounded roughly about like that NY show, but it was too little too late. The damage had been done.

[Marzdog]

Bob Lefsetz did a podcast with the great Robert Scovill. It's a very good interview where Robert explains how awards shows are done with the audio, where what is being broadcast over the air and what is being heard live are two different things.

Not excusing what happened in this situation and subsequently bringing in JSS to finish the tour...

[marco17]

Probably the closest we’ll get to an answer regarding “tapegate”…..

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/musi ... 58450/amp/

Reality is that I think we all know what was going on and why they were doing it. SA was likely singing, but what was coming out to the audience was different depending on various things. Obviously SA can't talk about it in depth or it's not for him to discuss legally.

That said, you can watch a couple Generations era videos out there, and when JC sings Every Generation, it's evident it's the album vocal track. No reason for that.

[Monker]

Probably the closest we’ll get to an answer regarding “tapegate”…..

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/musi ... 58450/amp/

Reality is that I think we all know what was going on and why they were doing it. SA was likely singing, but what was coming out to the audience was different depending on various things. Obviously SA can't talk about it in depth or it's not for him to discuss legally.

That said, you can watch a couple Generations era videos out there, and when JC sings Every Generation, it's evident it's the album vocal track. No reason for that.

What has always bugged me about this is that at that time Augeri was taking ALL of the blame for it. Neal was saying he had no clue about it...which I always felt was bullshit. If Jonathan was having the same thing done, then it is clear it was a band thing.

[Monker]

Bob Lefsetz did a podcast with the great Robert Scovill. It's a very good interview where Robert explains how awards shows are done with the audio, where what is being broadcast over the air and what is being heard live are two different things.

Not excusing what happened in this situation and subsequently bringing in JSS to finish the tour...

Not just awards shows...but shows like American Idol, all of those live singer competitions use auto tune for what is broadcast on TV. So, what you are hearing and voting on is NOT the same as what the live audience heard.

[marco17]

Probably the closest we’ll get to an answer regarding “tapegate”…..

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/musi ... 58450/amp/

Reality is that I think we all know what was going on and why they were doing it. SA was likely singing, but what was coming out to the audience was different depending on various things. Obviously SA can't talk about it in depth or it's not for him to discuss legally.

That said, you can watch a couple Generations era videos out there, and when JC sings Every Generation, it's evident it's the album vocal track. No reason for that.

What has always bugged me about this is that at that time Augeri was taking ALL of the blame for it. Neal was saying he had no clue about it...which I always felt was bullshit. If Jonathan was having the same thing done, then it is clear it was a band thing.

Exactly, and I'd guess it's easier to kick the guy while their down situation because he's going to be cut loose and put all the focus on him, but if it was public that it was done beyond just SA then people start asking more questions.

[Arkansas]

What a great interview! I knew I always liked that guy.
Thanks for the link.


later~