Ross about Perry and Steve

[jrnyman28]

http://www.rocknworld.com/legends/journey/index.shtml


RV: It's not easy for any one person to fill and he's done a great job at that. He has, Perry has a commanding aura about him. He would demand that you listen to him. He would be right in your face. There you go. Augeri is sort of the other end of the spectrum. Not to say Perry wasn't humble with his audience, but Steve Augeri approaches it differently. "May I sing for you?" You know, he plays it that way. He takes it from the other approach in terms of stage presence and he's quite a good dancer. He moves well.

[sngrchk04]

RV: Perry has a commanding aura about him. He would demand that you listen to him. He would be right in your face.

Well, I prefer to be completely railroaded by someone's aura, presence, and vocal ability. That's what I expect out of any performer: To be completely blown away.

Steve Perry is superb at doing that.

[Monker]

RV: Perry has a commanding aura about him. He would demand that you listen to him. He would be right in your face.

Well, I prefer to be completely railroaded by someone's aura, presence, and vocal ability. That's what I expect out of any performer: To be completely blown away.

Steve Perry is superb at doing that.

I don't think that is what Ross was saying.

I think what he was saying is that if Perry wanted the bassline to be such and such, he would go to Ross and demand that he be listened to, and tell him how he felt he should perform...and be very forceful and arrogant to get what he wanted as often as he could.

Augeri would do a, "Hey Ross, that sounds OK, but if you played it this way, don't you think it would sound better?"

I onther words, to get what they want, Perry would use vinegar and Augeri uses honey.

[Rockindeano]

Well, I agree..Perry was indeed a leader, Augeri a follower..but that's ok. Nowadays, Augeri should be the follower of Schon and Cain..

So back in the day, You had a forceful lead singer(Perry), and a take control Manager. Now, we have a cool guitar player calling the shots, which s fine, but no one helping him out(managerless)..

I wonder if Perry would be happy with Azoff sitting on his ass all day? After all, it was perry's idea to hire him, and fire Herbie. Just more reasons the blame lays at perry's feet... Journey needs to clean house of everything perry..plain and simple.

[Monker]

Well, I agree..Perry was indeed a leader, Augeri a follower...

Well, you don't have to act like Captain Bligh to be a leader.

[Rockindeano]

Well, I agree..Perry was indeed a leader, Augeri a follower...

Well, you don't have to act like Captain Bligh to be a leader.

I don't even know why I replied to this thread..Anytime I see Perry in the the thread title, I know where it's headed...down the toilet..
My own stupidity.

Hey Andrew, where are the interviews, dude?

[Jeremey]

RV: Perry has a commanding aura about him. He would demand that you listen to him. He would be right in your face.

Well, I prefer to be completely railroaded by someone's aura, presence, and vocal ability. That's what I expect out of any performer: To be completely blown away.

Steve Perry is superb at doing that.

I don't think that is what Ross was saying.

I think what he was saying is that if Perry wanted the bassline to be such and such, he would go to Ross and demand that he be listened to, and tell him how he felt he should perform...and be very forceful and arrogant to get what he wanted as often as he could.

Augeri would do a, "Hey Ross, that sounds OK, but if you played it this way, don't you think it would sound better?"

I onther words, to get what they want, Perry would use vinegar and Augeri uses honey.

do you think steve augeri even mentions what he thinks about ross' bass line, or do you think he just shows up to do his job? not to stir the pot here, but i think ross probably was talking about the performing aspect of it. he made a distinct reference to what he said, qualifying it by saying "not to say he wasn't humble with his audience," which i have to believe means he was "in your face" with his audience as well...

[NoMoreTails]

RV: Perry has a commanding aura about him. He would demand that you listen to him. He would be right in your face.

Well, I prefer to be completely railroaded by someone's aura, presence, and vocal ability. That's what I expect out of any performer: To be completely blown away.

Steve Perry is superb at doing that.

I don't think that is what Ross was saying.

I think what he was saying is that if Perry wanted the bassline to be such and such, he would go to Ross and demand that he be listened to, and tell him how he felt he should perform...and be very forceful and arrogant to get what he wanted as often as he could.

Augeri would do a, "Hey Ross, that sounds OK, but if you played it this way, don't you think it would sound better?"

I onther words, to get what they want, Perry would use vinegar and Augeri uses honey.

Whether Ross was referring to Perry's interaction with the audience or
the band, what he is saying is that Perry thought he was the show,
Augeri is part of the band.

[NealIsGod]

RV: Perry has a commanding aura about him. He would demand that you listen to him. He would be right in your face.

Well, I prefer to be completely railroaded by someone's aura, presence, and vocal ability. That's what I expect out of any performer: To be completely blown away.

Steve Perry is superb at doing that.

I don't think that is what Ross was saying.

I think what he was saying is that if Perry wanted the bassline to be such and such, he would go to Ross and demand that he be listened to, and tell him how he felt he should perform...and be very forceful and arrogant to get what he wanted as often as he could.

Augeri would do a, "Hey Ross, that sounds OK, but if you played it this way, don't you think it would sound better?"

I onther words, to get what they want, Perry would use vinegar and Augeri uses honey.

do you think steve augeri even mentions what he thinks about ross' bass line, or do you think he just shows up to do his job? not to stir the pot here, but i think ross probably was talking about the performing aspect of it. he made a distinct reference to what he said, qualifying it by saying "not to say he wasn't humble with his audience," which i have to believe means he was "in your face" with his audience as well...

I took Ross' comment about Perry demanding to be heard as his performance style, not working with him. He compares that to Augeri's performance style, like he is asking, "May I sing for you?"

It would be kind of nice if Augeri was more dynamic on stage, but you have to be who you are. If you are faking it, the fans can tell.

[jrnyman28]

Monker, I disagree with you. I think Ross was talking specifically about performing. And I do not think the comments were meant to be negative towards Perry at all. The fact is that Perry was a performer commanding attention. Steve is subtle and sucks you in. Perry may certainly have overshadowed the band with his stage performance and Steve is more complimentary to the "group". But in the years of building and maintaining Journey's fanbase, I think a commanding frontperson was important.

[yak]

What's the saying? You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. Which means, Perry likely was caustic, demanding, and uncaring about anybody but himself, and just needed to get what he wanted. Augeri, on the other hand, can get what he wants, but goes about it in a much kinder way. Same result in the end, but one makes friends; the other alienates them.

[NealIsGod]

Now, it seems Ross is very satisfied with the success level that Journey is enjoying, although most of us in here think they should be enjoying much more success. I wonder if Neal and Jon feel that same way ar Ross does in his answer to this quesiton:

DS: Right, it's a celebration that three generations now are enjoying. Did you ever think that you would be here 30 years later seeing an 18 year old rockin out and getting emotional over your songs from the 70s and 80s?

RV: Its really amazing and I consider it quite a blessing. The band went away, for one thing, and to be able to come back with new members and succeed at what we are doing is, I think, pretty amazing. For the band to succeed in its transition from progressive to popular music and the advent of Steve Perry and the success that that band enjoyed from 78' to 85' or so, that was a blessing. To have built this organization from as long ago as 1972 and you've slowly but surely developed an audience, that's one blessing. And then to reunite and at least accomplish what we did in the recording of "Trial By Fire" to me, as I even make note of in the liner notes, that is the second blessing.

[Red13JoePa]

Wanna see a strange guy do something REALLY strange?

Throw the 2001 dvd in and at one point (I forget the song dammit) Augie goes right up to Valory and jams with him, sings a real high note from right next to Ross.
Augie moves on and Valory clearly mouths to the crowd, "I hate him."

I know he's a clown and kiddign around but for some reason that rubs me the wrong way.

[NealIsGod]

Wanna see a strange guy do something REALLY strange?

Throw the 2001 dvd in and at one point (I forget the song dammit) Augie goes right up to Valory and jams with him, sings a real high note from right next to Ross.
Augie moves on and Valory clearly mouths to the crowd, "I hate him."

I know he's a clown and kiddign around but for some reason that rubs me the wrong way.

Never noticed that. Maybe he had a Perry flashback?

[Red13JoePa]

Forget which song, but I KNOW it's definately the first time he interacts w/ valory during the concert....
The weirdest part is I KNOW he's not serious but it gets on my nerves to the point where every time I see it I like scream "FUCK YOU, Ross!@!!!!"

[sngrchk04]

RV: Perry has a commanding aura about him. He would demand that you listen to him. He would be right in your face.

Well, I prefer to be completely railroaded by someone's aura, presence, and vocal ability. That's what I expect out of any performer: To be completely blown away.

Steve Perry is superb at doing that.

I don't think that is what Ross was saying.

Oh.... I thought it was, considering that the following sentence talked about how Steve A. asks(?!) the audience, "May I sing for you?"

Dude, THAT'S YOUR JOB!!

[sngrchk04]

The fact is that Perry was a performer commanding attention...Steve is subtle and sucks you in...Perry may certainly have overshadowed the band with his stage performance

I remember a journalist calling Steve Perry the "scenery-chewing Jack Nicholson of Rock".

That pretty much sums it up! LOL

[perryfaithful]

Perry would use vinegar and Augeri uses honey.

...and it's the END product that matters, what sells. Most could care less about HOW you get there. This is not kindergarten

[perryfaithful]

But in the years of building and maintaining Journey's fanbase, I think a commanding frontperson was important.

Thank You.......YES!

[The_Noble_Cause]

Perry would use vinegar and Augeri uses honey.

...and it's the END product that matters, what sells.

Maybe for you.
For this Journey fan, personally, the end product that matters the most is the music.

[perryfaithful]

Perry would use vinegar and Augeri uses honey.

...and it's the END product that matters, what sells.

Maybe for you.
For this Journey fan, personally, the end product that matters the most is the music.

That's what I was saying.

That was delivered 10 fold during the time discussed.......

All of the tension to get there just made it better. Humble does not make the great stuff

[Rockindeano]

Perry would use vinegar and Augeri uses honey.

...and it's the END product that matters, what sells.

Maybe for you.
For this Journey fan, personally, the end product that matters the most is the music.

That's what I was saying.

That was delivered 10 fold during the time discussed.......

All of the tension to get there just made it better. Humble does not make the great stuff

\

Ok, if you say so deranged one... by humble I'm sure you mean committed right?

[The_Noble_Cause]

That was delivered 10 fold during the time discussed......

Which time exactly would that be?
From 1986-1996 we got one piddling Journey album.
I wouldn't call that ten fold.

All of the tension to get there just made it better. Humble does not make the great stuff

Oh please. You don't need animosity to be prolific.
I get the feeling that if it was revealed that Augeri was a prick you'd be holding that against him. Whatever his revealed attributes may be (nice guy, total prick) you would hold that against him and say, "See? To truly be succesful again they need someone the total opposite of THAT!"
Anything to be oppositional to the man who currently holds the microphone.

[Greg]

That was delivered 10 fold during the time discussed......

Which time exactly would that be?
From 1986-1996 we got one piddling Journey album.

ROR and TBF...not to mention a really great solo album from Perry. Schon and Cain doing Bad English during the middle of that time....I don't see much to complain about....

[fred_journeyman]

do you think steve augeri even mentions what he thinks about ross' bass line, or do you think he just shows up to do his job? ...

I think Steve Augeri probably shows up, listens to the other guys, adds his input when he feels it's warranted...and probably doesn't tell anyone else in the band how to play anything. At most, he probably ASKS if they think it might blend better with this or that, etc.

I like the way he sounds on GENERATIONS. I'm sure all the guys work as a unit these days. The cameraderie is apparent not only in the music, but on the stage.

- Fred

[Rockindeano]

I think Steve Augeri probably shows up, listens to the other guys, adds his input when he feels it's warranted...and probably doesn't tell anyone else in the band how to play anything. At most, he probably ASKS if they think it might blend better with this or that, etc.- Fred

Hey who would come into this band, with Neal freaking Schon and Jon Cain, and try "to take over?" Augeri is showing respect..perhaps a little too much?

[fred_journeyman]

Hey who would come into this band, with Neal freaking Schon and Jon Cain, and try "to take over?" Augeri is showing respect..perhaps a little too much?

I think all the guys give each other a great deal of leeway and freedom to create and I think there is a lot of respect for one another as well. Someone said earlier in this thread that Augeri uses "honey" as opposed to vinegar. It's probably true. I think Neal is probably a hell of a lot more willing to "give" nowadays, to someone who doesn't demand that he give. At the same time, I really don't think that Augeri is at all infatuated with having to be in control either, like Perry. We all know why Rolie left (or at least we seem to know by reading between the lines). He got tired of arguing and being in a constant tug-of-war with Perry. As talented as Perry might have been (or remains), when you run roughshod over people because of your particular vision, it gets really tiring for people.

I think Augeri is a team player and offers his opinion, but not in a demanding way. My opinion...

- Fred

[yak]

I think all the guys give each other a great deal of leeway and freedom to create and I think there is a lot of respect for one another as well. Someone said earlier in this thread that Augeri uses "honey" as opposed to vinegar. It's probably true. I think Neal is probably a hell of a lot more willing to "give" nowadays, to someone who doesn't demand that he give. At the same time, I really don't think that Augeri is at all infatuated with having to be in control either, like Perry. We all know why Rolie left (or at least we seem to know by reading between the lines). He got tired of arguing and being in a constant tug-of-war with Perry. As talented as Perry might have been (or remains), when you run roughshod over people because of your particular vision, it gets really tiring for people.

I think Augeri is a team player and offers his opinion, but not in a demanding way. My opinion...
- Fred

I agree! Great post! The working conditions for the guys these days must be a lot more pleasant than they were in the past. The days during touring are grinding enough, without having to deal with a dictator.

Stick around this time Fred!

[cyclonus5150]

I think all the guys give each other a great deal of leeway and freedom to create and I think there is a lot of respect for one another as well. Someone said earlier in this thread that Augeri uses "honey" as opposed to vinegar. It's probably true. I think Neal is probably a hell of a lot more willing to "give" nowadays, to someone who doesn't demand that he give. At the same time, I really don't think that Augeri is at all infatuated with having to be in control either, like Perry. We all know why Rolie left (or at least we seem to know by reading between the lines). He got tired of arguing and being in a constant tug-of-war with Perry. As talented as Perry might have been (or remains), when you run roughshod over people because of your particular vision, it gets really tiring for people.

I think Augeri is a team player and offers his opinion, but not in a demanding way. My opinion...
- Fred

I agree! Great post! The working conditions for the guys these days must be a lot more pleasant than they were in the past. The days during touring are grinding enough, without having to deal with a dictator.

Stick around this time Fred!

In my opinion only, I tend to feel that some of the best work is born out of pressure-filled, tense situations when artists are feeling the demands of satisfying the greater vision. Not always the case, of course but some of those shit-hot Van Halen records were forged in pure piss and vinegar...epic ego clashes between a guitar God and a lunatic lead singer with an artistic vision and a more than forceful approach to the creative process. Metallica's "Black" album? Ever heard the stories there regarding the tension in the studio? The hard-driving producer that would force hundreds of takes of the same guitar line until it was perfect in his mind? The heavy-handed band leader that all but dictated to the lead guitarist and the bass player how they were to play their parts and fought the equally strong-willed drummer to the bone about creative direction? That album went gazillion-platinum...and then some. I can think of quite a few other examples but I'll spare you for now. My point here is that while I'm sure all of the guys are holly-jolly happy about the creative freedom that comes along with the absence of both a major label breathing down their necks and a superstar lead singer/producer driving them to perform to his standards, ultimately their art begins to lose an edge. I love the feeling I get when my boss is out of town too. Sometimes I do some good work during that time but for the most part my productivity definitely drops down a couple of notches.

While it's great that Journey carries on and all of these guys continue to share their immense talents with us on stage and on record, it can't go without notice that they aren't exactly setting the world on fire with their new compositions. They've written some good stuff and each has put forth some great performances but in my opinion there's always something that keeps the song from being great. I'm not saying that Steve Perry's missing vocals are what holds the band back...the new Steve is very capable. In fact, I felt the lack of ooompf on Trial By Fire. The songs were fantastic but they felt...cold, for a lack of better words. They just felt "okay"...half-baked...nothing truly exceptional (minus When You Love A Woman). It sounded as though the guys were all just having a good time writing music and attempting to be as laid back as possible, which works in alot of situations but doesn't seem to work here with these guys. I don't hear the hunger anymore and it seems to me that Journey always seemed to produce their best work when being pushed by major expectations of both record label and manager (Escape), massive success and the need to maintain it (Frontiers) or a lead singer/producer with a big solo success under his belt, solid creative vision and the will to move the band into an entirely new direction altogether (ROR).

What's cool and very good for Journey and their die-hard fans is that they have a legacy that enables them to continue to perform and record. They have some fantastic fans that seemingly enjoy everything they release AND they're having a great time playing for them and giving them new music. They are more accessable than ever before and can basically write at will so it's really a win-win situation for both them and the fans. However, it's that "dirty dozen" that makes it all possible and those are songs that were forged under exceptional circumstances. Superstardom, High-pressure, relentless touring schedules, new loves, marriage and divorce, hyper-inflated egos and struggles with some very personal demons, a manager that worked his ass off to pave the way for hit singles and a tempermental, perfectionist of a lead singer who pushed everyone involved to meet his standard...all of it contributed to the creation of some very special tunes.

[The_Noble_Cause]

While it's great that Journey carries on and all of these guys continue to share their immense talents with us on stage and on record, it can't go without notice that they aren't exactly setting the world on fire with their new compositions. They've written some good stuff and each has put forth some great performances but in my opinion there's always something that keeps the song from being great.....
I don't hear the hunger anymore and it seems to me that Journey always seemed to produce their best work when being pushed by major expectations of both record label and manager (Escape), massive success and the need to maintain it (Frontiers) or a lead singer/producer with a big solo success under his belt, solid creative vision and the will to move the band into an entirely new direction altogether (ROR).

While I admire the amount of thought put into ur post, I sadly can't agree. I think Generations is the best thing since Frontiers and ROR is by and large wholly disposable.