Gregg Rolie

[atthistime]

I've been playing old L.P.albums this morning and admire Gregg's work on the 69 Santana. To me it's more Rolie's than Carlos. Greggs vocals,organ and piano are the best part of that first(I think?) Santana album, imo.

[Liz22562]

Gregg Rolie is playing in St. Petersburg in November at a venue called Rib Fest. I've seen some amazing bands over the the last 10 years there (one of which was Journey).

I'm looking forward to hearing him. It will be a first!

[Playitloudforme]

Gregg's new CD is fabulous, definitely pick it up if you haven't already. Back to his Santana roots, and it is divine!

[atthistime]

How great for Gregg! I heard "Anytime" used for an auto commercial the other day.
Journey should try to get Gregg back to write some music for them. He did a lot for Santana that he didn't get enough credit for. I wish that the d.j.s would include his name when "Black Magic Women" is played. It's always just Santana, and likewise, it's just Journey, when we all know that it's a whole lot more.

[The_Noble_Cause]

How great for Gregg! I heard "Anytime" used for an auto commercial the other day.
Journey should try to get Gregg back to write some music for them.

Gregg was possibly going to be back in Journey (bringing along fellow Storm-man Kevin Chalfant) before Perry re-entered the fold for TBF. As to why Gregg then lost interest or was ostracized from taking part in the reunion I don't know. One can only speculate. We know he can be even more venemous than Neal in regards to Perry. Rolie, Chalfant and the guys even went so far as to do some writing together before Perry re-entered and started fresh for TBF. Man, how i'd love to get my hands on those songs.

Anyways, in regards to why Rolie didn't re-join the band for Arrival, Ross said in a radio interview that Sony was more interested in having a 5 person lineup, not 6. They wanted a lineup that bore more of a resemblance to that of Journey's most popular and recognizable-era, that, of course, being the Escape lineup.

I'd like Gregg to write with the guys again someday too.

[atthistime]

I feel that Rolie was the first to let Journey down. I felt that Journey needed a vocalist more suited to Journey's sound and Rolie was more suited to the Santana sound. His keyboards and the influence of his backup vocals was a big loss to Journey and the band lost a lot of their high spirit. Putting their egos aside and working together may have been better for the band in the long run. I feel that Rolie and Perry would have taken the band in a great direction with their songwriting talents as did Cain and Perry, but in a way more acceptable to all the Journey fans, not just the classic rock, romantic, female fan. jmho.
Journey always needed Perry, past, present and future. Rolie should have accepted this ,imo, and should not have left when he knew they were well on their way. It seemed like his dream and he let his feelings get in the way, imo.

[Eric]

Rolie's songs on Infinity are the songs that give Journey the most credibility even today...

[Monker]

As to why Gregg then lost interest or was ostracized from taking part in the reunion I don't know.

In an interview from that time, Neal answered that very question by saying, "Some of us get along better then others." He didn't say who didn't get along with who.

We know he can be even more venemous than Neal in regards to Perry. Rolie, Chalfant and the guys even went so far as to do some writing together before Perry re-entered and started fresh for TBF. Man, how i'd love to get my hands on those songs.

Chalfant has mentioned in the past that he plans on recording them for his next solo album. But, his next one is supposed to be a Christmas album, so I guess it's not on that one.

Anyways, in regards to why Rolie didn't re-join the band for Arrival, Ross said in a radio interview that Sony was more interested in having a 5 person lineup, not 6. They wanted a lineup that bore more of a resemblance to that of Journey's most popular and recognizable-era, that, of course, being the Escape lineup.

I also think Gregg was pissed at how the entire 'reunion' thing went....getting so far into the process and suddenly he and Kevin are dumped for Perry. In addition to that, Neal dumped Abraxas Pool in favor of reuniting Journey. So, Journey seemed to show no loyalty to him so he completely axed himself from the band and even recording new music in that sound. I doubt you will ever see Gregg back in Journey.

I'd like Gregg to write with the guys again someday too.

I don't think it will ever happen.

But, even with all of those negative things that happened between him and Journey, he still shows up at events that honor the band....and I bet he will show up at any for the future too...Unlike certain other former members of the band.

[Monker]

I feel that Rolie was the first to let Journey down. I felt that Journey needed a vocalist more suited to Journey's sound and Rolie was more suited to the Santana sound.

This is just complete nonsense. He vocal style fit perfectly on the first three albums. The back and forth with Perry on the next three albums also added a lot of depth to the band. The two Storm albums give a glimpse of what Journey could have been with Gregg still in the band. He fit in just fine.

Journey always needed Perry, past, present and future. Rolie should have accepted this ,imo, and should not have left when he knew they were well on their way. It seemed like his dream and he let his feelings get in the way, imo.

Please quote any credible source that says that Rolie quit because of ego clashes. I don't think even Herbie claimed that. It seems to me that you are just making stuff up.

[atthistime]

I did state, in that quote, twice, that it was IMO. It was the way that I saw it! It was my point of view., and you know what my point of view is worth here, so don't let it snarl you.

[fred_journeyman]

Gregg's new CD is fabulous, definitely pick it up if you haven't already. Back to his Santana roots, and it is divine!

I like it too!

[knox]

Monker, thanks for that information.

That all makes sense.

I always liked Gregg. I especially like the fact that he didn't want to put up with Perry's crap so he said "So Long", knowing that Journey was a Cash Machine.

You gotta love a guy who sticks to his guns.

Man, I wish things would have worked out differently - Perry not being such an egomaniac and Rollie staying with the group.

[Matthew]

Monker, thanks for that information.

That all makes sense.

I always liked Gregg. I especially like the fact that he didn't want to put up with Perry's crap so he said "So Long", knowing that Journey was a Cash Machine.

You gotta love a guy who sticks to his guns.

Man, I wish things would have worked out differently - Perry not being such an egomaniac and Rollie staying with the group.

Sorry...I just don't get this Rollie thing. Sure, he played an importrant role in the early days of the band but let's be honest - Journey badly needed to make a change in 1980. "Infinity", "Evolution" and "Departure" were such similar albums and it's so obvious that Journey needed a new creative energy to move them forward and take the music to the next level. Had Rollie stayed in Journey I reckon the group would have stagnated...and I suspect Perry was fully and rightly aware of this.

[knox]

Matthew, I won't argue any of your points. You might be right.

I guess I am just nostalgic for the "old days". My favorite album is Departure, and I love that line-up.

I just wish that Perry, Rollie, and Neal could have worked together and put out some great stuff.

I often wonder what Escape, Frontiers, and Freedom would have sounded like had none of the drama taken place. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Don't Stop Believin and Mother Father. Cain definitely brought some great stuff to the table.

I am just a Rollie fan.

[knox]

My oops... I, of course, mean ROLIE

[Matthew]

Matthew, I won't argue any of your points. You might be right.

I guess I am just nostalgic for the "old days". My favorite album is Departure, and I love that line-up.

I just wish that Perry, Rollie, and Neal could have worked together and put out some great stuff.

I often wonder what Escape, Frontiers, and Freedom would have sounded like had none of the drama taken place. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Don't Stop Believin and Mother Father. Cain definitely brought some great stuff to the table.

I am just a Rollie fan.

Oh...I totally understand...I'm like that about "ROR"...and nostalgia plays a big part in my appreciation of that album in particular.

What direction do you think the Rolie line-up would have taken? I wonder whether Journey would have adapted to the 1980s with Rolie in the band. The bluesy influence might well have spelled commercial death for the group by, say, 1983 - and I can't imagine Rollie would have been happy to lay down the big, cheesy synths required at that time.

What were his solo albums like in the 1980s?

[ArnelRox]

Matthew, I won't argue any of your points. You might be right.

I guess I am just nostalgic for the "old days". My favorite album is Departure, and I love that line-up.

I just wish that Perry, Rollie, and Neal could have worked together and put out some great stuff.

I often wonder what Escape, Frontiers, and Freedom would have sounded like had none of the drama taken place. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Don't Stop Believin and Mother Father. Cain definitely brought some great stuff to the table.

I am just a Rollie fan.

I'm with you Knox. I loved the organ sound Gregg brought to the band. Departure is my favorite album too. I also loved the way Gregg & Steve harmonized vocally. That was just special. Cain's songwriting brought the hits the band needed & maybe they never would of been such a commercial success w/out him. Somehow I would of loved to hear Gregg play the organ on those hits tho. Altho admittedly I prefer some of the songs the band did pre-Cain. I like the big hits don't get me wrong but I loved the older songs. Altho Mother Father & After The Fall are 2 of my favorite post-Gregg songs.

I don't think Gregg left bcoz he didn't get along w/Steve. At least not entirely. From what he has said to people, he really wanted to concentrate on his family life at the time. He was tired of the road. And unlike the others, he saved his Santana money.

FWIW I'd love to hear Steve P. and Gregg do some harmonies together again. Wow.

[junky]

Matthew, I won't argue any of your points. You might be right.

I guess I am just nostalgic for the "old days". My favorite album is Departure, and I love that line-up.

I just wish that Perry, Rollie, and Neal could have worked together and put out some great stuff.

I often wonder what Escape, Frontiers, and Freedom would have sounded like had none of the drama taken place. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Don't Stop Believin and Mother Father. Cain definitely brought some great stuff to the table.

I am just a Rollie fan.

I feel the same way. Loved Rolie in Santana, pre-Perry Journey and with Steve. Though Infinity is my all time favorite album.

Oh...I totally understand...I'm like that about "ROR"...and nostalgia plays a big part in my appreciation of that album in particular.

What direction do you think the Rolie line-up would have taken? I wonder whether Journey would have adapted to the 1980s with Rolie in the band. The bluesy influence might well have spelled commercial death for the group by, say, 1983 - and I can't imagine Rollie would have been happy to lay down the big, cheesy synths required at that time.

What were his solo albums like in the 1980s?

You'd be surprised Greg's album Gringo had more synths and drum machines than ROR ever did.

[Rock Fn]

Who is the only member of Journey to make it into the R&R hall?..Gregg is great live. Hell, his band is the true Santana sound today. Roots is a great cd.

Carlos has sold out to the pop bullshit..IMO, he has lost the fire .

[fred_journeyman]

Sorry...I just don't get this Rollie thing. Sure, he played an importrant role in the early days of the band but let's be honest - Journey badly needed to make a change in 1980. "Infinity", "Evolution" and "Departure" were such similar albums and it's so obvious that Journey needed a new creative energy to move them forward and take the music to the next level. Had Rollie stayed in Journey I reckon the group would have stagnated...and I suspect Perry was fully and rightly aware of this.

I think Cain was a better fit. I really like Rolie's solo stuff though. It's great!

[knox]

I am not sure what direction Journey with Rolie would have taken. I do know that Steve loved changing the sound - hence Frontiers and ROR.

I like to think Escape would have been a more sophisticated Departure. More 80's, less 70's. It is impossible to speculate, but the way things were going (I think Departure was a more mature album than either Infinity or Evolution) I think it would have been something special.

I, too, love the harmonies Gregg and Steve could pull off.

I am VERY thankful for Escape - don't get me wrong. I know Cain had a LOT to do with that album.

[Aaron]

Gregg significantly contributed to Journey. The first seven records really kick ass. I think Journey missed a lot when Gregg left the band. In 96 I think Gregg took it in the ass. I'm not sure of the details when Perry came back but Gregg was clear that he thought Perry was a dickhead. Greg didn't have the influence he had before. Perry comes in in 96 and Gregg goes out. It seems obvious to me.

[jrnyman28]

Sorry...I just don't get this Rollie thing. Sure, he played an importrant role in the early days of the band but let's be honest - Journey badly needed to make a change in 1980. "Infinity", "Evolution" and "Departure" were such similar albums

Are you KIDDING me? Each one of them had a different sound to them.

And you forgot the very different sounding "Dream After Dream".

and it's so obvious that Journey needed a new creative energy to move them forward and take the music to the next level. Had Rollie stayed in Journey I reckon the group would have stagnated...and I suspect Perry was fully and rightly aware of this.

Journey may not have hit the heigths they did with Jon, but I htink the band would have easily continued to evolve and be successful. And what Perry was aware of is irrelevant. The decision to leave was Gregg's so it is more accurate to say that it is what Gregg was aware of that made the difference. And he was aware of where things were headed with Perry.

[Rockindeano]

But, even with all of those negative things that happened between him and Journey, he still shows up at events that honor the band....and I bet he will show up at any for the future too...Unlike certain other former members of the band.

Huh?

Monker, Greg was the only one NOT to show up at Hollywood for the Star ceromony. Even Espee showed up for that one.

[jrnyman28]

But, even with all of those negative things that happened between him and Journey, he still shows up at events that honor the band....and I bet he will show up at any for the future too...Unlike certain other former members of the band.

Huh?

Monker, Greg was the only one NOT to show up at Hollywood for the Star ceromony. Even Espee showed up for that one.

But he DID show up at the SF WOF presentation...and that is about how old this thread is.

[ArnelRox]

Monker, Greg was the only one NOT to show up at Hollywood for the Star ceromony. Even Espee showed up for that one.

Deano: R&R Hall of Fame. Journey isn't there yet.

[Matthew]

Sorry...I just don't get this Rollie thing. Sure, he played an importrant role in the early days of the band but let's be honest - Journey badly needed to make a change in 1980. "Infinity", "Evolution" and "Departure" were such similar albums

Are you KIDDING me? Each one of them had a different sound to them.

And you forgot the very different sounding "Dream After Dream".

and it's so obvious that Journey needed a new creative energy to move them forward and take the music to the next level. Had Rollie stayed in Journey I reckon the group would have stagnated...and I suspect Perry was fully and rightly aware of this.

Journey may not have hit the heigths they did with Jon, but I htink the band would have easily continued to evolve and be successful. And what Perry was aware of is irrelevant. The decision to leave was Gregg's so it is more accurate to say that it is what Gregg was aware of that made the difference. And he was aware of where things were headed with Perry.

Yes, I know it was Rolie's decision to leave but it's a mystery why Rolie would object to the way things were headed with Perry - two hard-rocking albums and an AOR masterpiece all selling millions and millions of copies - so the reason must have been either ego or exhaustion.

Also - I wasn't saying "Infinity", "Evolution" and "Departure" are identical. I said they were possibly too similar - and that there was nothing on "Departure" which suggested that an exciting evolution/transformation was about to happen with Rolie in the band. Don't get me wrong -I think "Departure" is a great album - but to me it sounds like the end of a cycle rather than the start of a new one. Compare these three albums to the three that came afterward. "Escape" "Frontiers" and "ROR" each have a much stronger individual identity than any of the predecessors, I reckon.

[Todd H]

I may be the only person on the planet that prefers the Rollie-era Journey albums to the Cain stuff.

[Matthew]

I may be the only person on the planet that prefers the Rollie-era Journey albums to the Cain stuff.

It seems that the majority of Journey fans posting on the internet prefer the Rolie-era - even though the Cain albums are more popular amongst fans who just buy the records.

[cubby69]

I may be the only person on the planet that prefers the Rollie-era Journey albums to the Cain stuff.

Trust me, you're not. I can't stand most of the 'brilliance of Mr. Friga, versus what Rolie offered this band. I'd take the early Journey up to and including Departure versus any of the lovey dovey ballady shit that came after, but then again, maybe its just me...