Part 1 of Journey Interview

[Abitaman]

If you haven't checked out the first of the five Journey Interviews, you need to do do on the front page. Awesome insight into drummer Deen. Shows how well this band gets along. Thanks Andrew!!!! Can't wait for the rest.-ERIC

[The_Noble_Cause]

One hell of an interview.

Some scandalous tid-bits......

On sounding eerily close to Steve Perry:

"I have ripped him off blind, just like I ripped off Steve Smith! Haha But I tell them that!
If you are going to steal, steal from the best!"

I had been saying for awhile that Deen was trying to sound like Perry and it wasn't natural like Augeri. Deen acknowledges this saying, "Steve Augeri has his own style and that is so cool about him, but I'm just a good chameleon."

On Steve Perry and the WOF Event: "I was praying he would be there.
I don't have any right to be there – I don't have anything to do with that legacy, but he needed to be there."

[NealIsGod]

It's refreshing to hear a guy who KNOWS how blessed he is. And a guy who is beating his demons. He gives hope to others who are addicted.

Sounds like Journey is firing on all cylinders. I hope soul SirkUS doesn't screw things up.

Deen sure loves and respects Neal. And Augeri sounds like a completely unselfish professional. I see why we are fans!

[jrnyman28]

Yeah, I would rather talk about all the ways Steve has helped Deen-o out. What a huge heart Steve has and the admiration between the two of them. Instead of those 'juicy" parts you are talking about NC.


"'A Better Life'…tell us a little more about that song.

That was one that Jonathan and Neal had written and they were demoing it up and I think first Neal was going to sing it and Jonathan ended up doing a demo of it vocally and they wanted me to do the choruses for Stevie as a reference…cause Stevie wasn't there. They said 'just do the chorus as a reference vocal so he knows what the melody goes like'. I put it in and everyone was saying wow that sounds really good.
And that's when Stevie said 'let him have It…I have enough songs' and that was really cool."

"You know what…you didn't write the song obviously. But when I listened to it, the emotion in your vocal just came right through to me immediately and you are singing with such conviction. You have just explained why I felt that emotion.

Let me tell you something…when we were doing the recording – when we were doing the song – not the vocal – just the basic tracking…when we got to the middle, I start tearing up. I'm like the biggest puss on the planet – I am what I am you know, I'm just real sensitive.
The song was real special to me and it really hit home - it showed me where I was.
And here I am doing this record clean and sober and I'm seeing where I am now.
It was very emotional for me.
We were singing the song…I was in there singing and we got to the lead solo and I started tearing up again.
And that's when Steven came up and said 'man, that's yours. It's very special to you; it's very dear to you, that's yours. You sing it'.
I'll never forget that man, that song is very emotional for me and I hear it now and think Wow, God has given me a big chance here…I'm alive.

[Eric]

You know, with it being my favorite song on Generations and it having an undeniable classic Journey sound - I have been surprised at how "Its Never Too Late" wasn't on the US version. Now after reading its message and the story behind it...Christ....it makes NO sense being just a bonus????? COME ON!

[yak]

I agree.....Facing your demons is the only way to get rid of them. Good for Deen taking the high road.

Another example of what a class act Steve is.

Wow and thanks Andrew! Waiting for Wednesday.........

[Red13JoePa]

It's a coin grab by the labels. And to get on a label internationally the band's just gotta go along with it.

With Arrival it worked out in favor of the US. We went from getting 13 to Japan's 14 to getting 15 to Japan's 14.

[heardonthestreet]

You do a good job, Andrew. It's an honest view of himself that Deen presented and you made it easy for him. I wish him lots of luck.

[The_Noble_Cause]

You know, with it being my favorite song on Generations and it having an undeniable classic Journey sound - I have been surprised at how "Its Never Too Late" wasn't on the US version. Now after reading its message and the story behind it...Christ....it makes NO sense being just a bonus????? COME ON!

Totally. Why couldn't one of the lesser tracks (i.e. Believe) had been relegated to "bonus status"?

[jrnyman28]

You know, with it being my favorite song on Generations and it having an undeniable classic Journey sound - I have been surprised at how "Its Never Too Late" wasn't on the US version. Now after reading its message and the story behind it...Christ....it makes NO sense being just a bonus????? COME ON!

Totally. Why couldn't one of the lesser tracks (i.e. Believe) had been relegated to "bonus status"?

Just what kind of "bonus" would THAT be?

[The_Noble_Cause]

Just what kind of "bonus" would THAT be?

The same kind of bonus "Baby I'm a Leavin You" was.

[Fernando Ramirez]

What a great interview. Nice job, Andrew! Looking forward to the others!

[Andrew]

Thanks and thanks all - had fun doing them.

[Red13JoePa]

I just think he's being way too humble about his own drumming. The World Play with him on it stands up to any speed /power drumming out there today.

And his work on The Place In Your Heart just kicked my ass this morning on the way in to work. Especially his subtle but crazy fast little fills between the verses of that track.

[NealIsGod]

I love the Deen drum fill near the end of In Self Defense. It is different than the original and much cooler.

[Red13JoePa]

Never had the pleasure of hearing "Self Defense," NIG. What album's it on again, and is it better than "In Self Defense?" I could hardly beleive so.

The Deen fills at the end of the JRNY one ARE nuts. He's good some cool ending patterns and fills at the end of I Can Breathe too. It sounds sounds like cannons going off in rapid fire.

[JohnH]

One hell of an interview.

Some scandalous tid-bits......

On sounding eerily close to Steve Perry:

"I have ripped him off blind, just like I ripped off Steve Smith! Haha But I tell them that!
If you are going to steal, steal from the best!"

I had been saying for awhile that Deen was trying to sound like Perry and it wasn't natural like Augeri. Deen acknowledges this saying, "Steve Augeri has his own style and that is so cool about him, but I'm just a good chameleon."

On Steve Perry and the WOF Event: "I was praying he would be there.
I don't have any right to be there – I don't have anything to do with that legacy, but he needed to be there."

Yeah ripped off Steve Smith alright!!! Just go put on the first few measures of Higher Place.....I could swear Steve Smith was in the studio. The rest of that song too.

John

[NealIsGod]

Never had the pleasure of hearing "Self Defense," NIG. What album's it on again, and is it better than "In Self Defense?" I could hardly believe so.

It's on Schon & Hammer's Here to Stay.

[Rockindeano]

I think Deen sounds "heavier" than Smitty...But then again, maybe it's the memory I have of Smith drumming..He looked like the sticks were falling out of his hands! He is a jazz type drummer and the way he holds the stix..you know, to the side a little bit...

It's great to see those two guys get along so well...At the January 21st show, the WOF show, they really interacted well..Deen giving Smitty the sticks for a couple songs, and bowing down to him..and then even Ansley was great too.. they ALL got along great.

And I bet you, they all wish Perry would do that..If he were there, he would be treated with the utmost respect....

In Perry's defence though, His instrument was his God gifted voice..the best one I have heard(from a male)...Unfortunately, when it goes south, it's irreversable...I think his problem his he was the best at what he did during his prime, and now simply can't do it...I think he uses his need to be reclusive as an excuse....You just know Steve wanted to be there, to sing his songs to the appreciative audience, but I just think he knows he would fall short...and that is too bad..I mean think about it, how does Perry tell everyone, "look, I would love to sing with you guys, but I simply cannot anymore." He would never say that. And I feel bad for him. Makes me not hate him anymore...Doesn't excuse him for his bullshit he pulled, but maybe in order to save face, he had to go with the hip injury...Sorry to go down a long tangent

[Abitaman]

Good point!-ERIC

[jrnyman28]

Deen is closer to Aynsley in style, than of Smitty.
Smitty is more technically proficient while Aynsley and Deen POUND the skins!

[Red13JoePa]

Dude you're right he's way more like Dunbar. Neal even pointed out how Deen's picked up on smitty's subtleties though it's not his style (Power).
How about the liner notes to Infinity: "Ansley Dunbar uses (such and such) drum covers. 'Cause they're ONLY ones that can take it. Right, Count?!" So cool.