Why Perry Will Never Re-Join Journey

[NoMoreTails]

Hmmmm... maybe a reformed Journey that focuses more on the older tunes. Lead singer, either Augeri or Chalfant, Neal, Ross, Gregg replacing Jon, and Smitty back on the skins.

Interesing thought, but I think Gregg returning at this point is barely more likely than Smitty returning.

[NealIsGod]

You know what would get me pumped is another HSAS CD. Neal, call Sammy ASAP!!!!!! Are Aaronson and Shrieve still around?

[Red13JoePa]

What are the reasons that we are speculating on a lineup change

[OpeningAct]

Augeri departing would again divide the hardcore fan base as he also has built a loyal following.

Not if he is supplanted by someone already well-received and revered by the harcore Journey community.
Paging Kevin Chalfant......

Some would be agreeable no doubt, but how would this discussion go over at Backtalk.
Would Chalfant be in the kind of shape it would take for a Journey tour at this point? The last I saw of him (photograph) he didn't look to be in great shape, not as bad as Perry, but not as lean and althletic as Augeri.
At any rate, I think we'll see Jonathan leave before Augeri. And it'll probably end at that point.

Hmmmm... maybe a reformed Journey that focuses more on the older tunes. Lead singer, either Augeri or Chalfant, Neal, Ross, Gregg replacing Jon, and Smitty back on the skins.

Nig, that's the first I've heard of Jon or Smitty being replaced....Just wondering...what would be the upside of bringing Smitty back when you have a young, rock solid drummer like Deen on the skins? It doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense to me...IMO.

[Red13JoePa]

I don't get it either, OA. Something is blowing in the wind and no one can tell what.

[NoMoreTails]

You know what would get me pumped is another HSAS CD. Neal, call Sammy ASAP!!!!!! Are Aaronson and Shrieve still around?

I felt the same before Soul Sirkus. Marco and Virgil or Deen blow those guys away. I love Sammy but prefer Jeff at this point for working with Neal, though Sammy would bring more attention. I seem to have taken more of a liking to SS than most. It does have some of the HSAS vibe.

[NealIsGod]

You know what would get me pumped is another HSAS CD. Neal, call Sammy ASAP!!!!!! Are Aaronson and Shrieve still around?

I felt the same before Soul Sirkus. Marco and Virgil or Deen blow those guys away. I love Sammy but prefer Jeff at this point for working with Neal, though Sammy would bring more attention. I seem to have taken more of a liking to SS than most. It does have some of the HSAS vibe.

Not to me. I can't stand Soul SirkUS. JSS does nothing for me, and the songs are crap. JMHO, of course.

[OpeningAct]

I don't get it either, OA. Something is blowing in the wind and no one can tell what.

It does sound a little ominous Red, I agree....

[perryfaithful]

Well, the comment came from somone I thought should know better.

In that case, I believe the comment came from either OhSherrie or Perryfaithful.

Not me Cause! I have not emailed Andrew in ages. If you remember a few days ago, I WAS CRITICAL of a Perry fan who would take Andrew to task privately but won't show the confidence of conviction by stating the same publicly! If I have ever given him a hard time, it is been right out here openly (a PM as back up perhaps?)

Actually, I wish him luck if he goes for the interview! Any time Steve Perry speaks publicly, it is a good day for me, for us all!

[NoMoreTails]

Not to me. I can't stand Soul SirkUS. JSS does nothing for me, and the songs are crap. JMHO, of course.

Guess we're getting off topic here, you don't feel Neal's playing is incredible on that album?

[NealIsGod]

Just wondering...what would be the upside of bringing Smitty back when you have a young, rock solid drummer like Deen on the skins? It doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense to me...IMO.

I was just messing around. I guess I was thinking that Deen wouldn't want to be part of that dinosaur act!

[OpeningAct]

Just wondering...what would be the upside of bringing Smitty back when you have a young, rock solid drummer like Deen on the skins? It doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense to me...IMO.

I was just messing around. I guess I was thinking that Deen wouldn't want to be part of that dinosaur act!

Ah! Ok...well that's a relief...

[The_Noble_Cause]

What are the reasons that we are speculating on a lineup change

Why don't you tell us, man?
You are the one that asked Andrew (and I quote):

Andrew, reading between the lines, as perhaps maybe I shouldn't I cannot help but wonder if we can get you to comment on the future of Steve Augeri with the band.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Well, the comment came from somone I thought should know better.

In that case, I believe the comment came from either OhSherrie or Perryfaithful.

Not me Cause! I have not emailed Andrew in ages. If you remember a few days ago, I WAS CRITICAL of a Perry fan who would take Andrew to task privately but won't show the confidence of conviction by stating the same publicly! If I have ever given him a hard time, it is been right out here openly (a PM as back up perhaps?)

Actually, I wish him luck if he goes for the interview! Any time Steve Perry speaks publicly, it is a good day for me, for us all!

Yeah, I was wrong there. Sorry for accusing you.

[Greg]

I think Andrew is playing with us...at least I hope he is! I don't want Journey to go away.....I've finally gotten used to Augeri and I've finally gotten used to having the band "around." My other favorites, Kansas and Boston, don't put albums out enough to keep me satisfied.

If Augeri's out....I'm afraid the Journey's over. I just hope we're worried over nothing.

[Red13JoePa]

What are the reasons that we are speculating on a lineup change

Why don't you tell us, man?
You are the one that asked Andrew (and I quote):

Andrew, reading between the lines, as perhaps maybe I shouldn't I cannot help but wonder if we can get you to comment on the future of Steve Augeri with the band.

If I knew, TheCause, then I wouldn't be asking worriedly....Andrew's silence on the matter's becoming deafening.
Anyone know the status of Augie's voice?

[NoMoreTails]

Anyone know the status of Augie's voice?

I don't think there's any reason for concern here, I'll know first hand in a couple of weeks.

[jrnyman28]

1. I firmly believe that if Steve left Journey that Journey would end. (I remember Jon and Neal both making comments that this is the LAST line-up for Journey.)

2. I agree that it is quite possible Jon would quit first.

3. I see NO REASON why Steve cannot do a solo venture, AND toy around with Tall Stories, AND STILL remain in Journey. Unless, of course, a solo CD breaks through and hits big....but then that could be a HUGE advantage for Journey as well. So I would think it would simply be a win-win for Steve and Journey. Maybe Steve could be like Phil Collins was...but this is all a dream.

4. Journey will not be around forever. But I think they will still be around for a few more years. Ross recently stated that the "are not going anywhere". He even said Journey has already surpassed their original goals. So something must be going right.

5. Everything could change on a dime. If Journey were to get a hit off of Generations then I think you would see an entirely different future unfold. Jon might be rejuvenated, Neal could be excited and Steve should be recognized. HOWEVER, at the very same time Jon could "retire" from rock music (as he has mentioned before), Neal could find other avenues to focus his energies n and Steve could REALLY go solo. So who know's?

6. C'mon Andrew, it is obvious there is something fueling a couple of your "vague" statements. Is it suspicion? Is it fact? Is it something you know will be revealed soon? If it is not a story you are going to break on MR.com, then you could easily share your "suspicions" with us here. You have entered into the forum with a thread you KNEEW was going to create conversation. Why not drop the bomb and get this place ROCKIN'?! State it as pure speculation, feeling, instinct, opinion, guess, whatever...but STATE IT! (Please)

[Greg]

Quote from Metallica: "Master of Puppets are pulling your strings, twisting your minds and smashing your dreams..."

[Eric]

1) What is the fascination with Chalfant? Augeri blows him away...Deen blows him away. He is nice, but not Journey grade IMO.

2) Soul Sirkus bores the crap out of me and anyone else I showed them to.

3) If Mr. P said he wanted to come back....he'd be back....in a split second.

4) Augeri's solo stuff wouldn't sell 5k. There would be no exit strategy built around this. He'd be doing it for himself, his family+friends and a few hundred of us.

5) If Cain retired and they COULD get Rolie it would be a musical improvement, improve the albums...but the tours wouldn't be the same.

[Greg]

I would love to have Rollie back in the band simply because I think he is miles ahead of Cain in the vocal department.

[artthou]

I love Gregg Rollie's voice. If he got back together with Journey I'd be in ecstasy! He and Augeri would compliment each other.

[Andrew]

Steve Augeri is the lead singer of Journey and has done himself proud since joining.
I hope it remains that way for a long time to come.

[NealIsGod]

Did I open a can of worms with the Rolie for Jon trade?

I love Jon, but Gregg in the band doing the duets with Augie would add another dimension...

Thanks for the comment about Augie, Andrew. Most of us feel this way, but we still think you may know something you're not letting on, not necessarily about Augeri, but about Journey's plans for 2006.

[Greg]

Did I open a can of worms with the Rolie for Jon trade?

I love Jon, but Gregg in the band doing the duets with Augie would add another dimension...

Thanks for the comment about Augie, Andrew. Most of us feel this way, but we still think you may know something you're not letting on, not necessarily about Augeri, but about Journey's plans for 2006.

I agree with you NIG about Rollie doing the duet thing with Augeri....that would be great! I'm thinking since Journey "went back in time" and decided to do the Pre-Perry stuff or the Gregg Rollie era stuff, that maybe that has sparked them to intice Rollie back with the band. As many problems as Journey supposedly had with Perry during ROR.....they still got back to together as one unit, so this makes me think that having Rollie back in the band would not be such a difficult task to make happen. It might scare off Journey fans from the early 80's and later, but I think it would be great for the band.

[jrnyman28]

This is why I would have loved the "original" re-formation of Journey before Perry got involved with the "reunion". Gregg AND Jon, Neal, Smitty, Ross and Kevin. Almost as good as it gets. But from all I have heard, Gregg would not be likely to return to the mix...

[swwskj]

Maybe someone could clarify what exactly Gregg's problem is with Journey. He seems to be on pretty good terms with the guys in the band, yet he was the only no-show at the walk of fame ceremony. Is he just resisting being part of a 'corporate' band or what?

Scott

[perryfaithful]

Maybe someone could clarify what exactly Gregg's problem is with Journey.

Scott

Yes, Please...

[The_Noble_Cause]

1) What is the fascination with Chalfant? Augeri blows him away...Deen blows him away. He is nice, but not Journey grade IMO.

I am a huge Augeri supporter, but Chalfant is easily the superior vocalist (or at least was back during The Storm days).

[Monker]

Maybe someone could clarify what exactly Gregg's problem is with Journey.

Scott

Yes, Please...

Well, it's very simple. Sony didn't want the Gregg/Jonathan/Chalfant lineup. They wanted the classic lineup. When the chips fell, Journey agreed and Sony got what they wanted. Not only did Journey turn their backs on both Gregg and Kevin, but at the same time they "replaced" Herbie and Abraxas Pool fell apart.

I think that left a very bad impression on Gregg...not just for Journey but also dealing with labels and being in rock bands as apposed to being solo. So he sort of had a "screw the politics...They can do what they want and I'll do what I want." Why would he want to get involved in all of the political goings on with Perry and Neal and Herbie and the fans...when he really doesn't have to?

As for Andrew's comment about 'weighing their options'. I don't know if this is why Andrew said it, but it's how I feel too. 2006 is a year where NOTHING Journey seems to be planned. So, they have to decide what their next step is...or is it over?

So, what is their best option? Continue doing solos and things like "Soul Sirkus" and let go of Journey? Wait for Perry? Record a new CD? Tour?

I doubt that ANYTHING for Journey's future has really been decided. In the end, IMO, when none of their outside projects make much money, they'll try to get back together and schedule another Journey tour. But, THEY need to decide.