re: Souls SirkUS/$300,000

[jrnyman28]

Found this on the Noticeboard. It is part of an interview with JSS concerning Neal's comments. Seems to really not bode well for Soul SirkUS to continue...

I had heard some rumors about Neal talking to Sammy while I was touring Europe...

I confronted Neal & instead of answering 'no' or 'that's ridiculous', he just said 'Sammy's pretty much retired now..' which didn't really deny he had approached Sam about reforming Planet US
now reading this interview, it shows he indeed did go after Sam again, probably out of frustration of the lackluster interest for SS...
we had the talk about the debt & if SS were to continue, there would have to be exterior financing involved....
but I didn't think he would make it so public, ESPECIALLY telling the world what our debt amount is....
1 thing Neal fails to mention is he bankrolled SS but every advance, every guarantee we earned on tour, every album sold goes to him for recouping...

so the amount that he's put into it isn't necessarily what's still remaining....
but if he's gonna be public about things, I guess I have no problem doing the same... I won't make excuses, I'll just air it as it is, no bullshit excuses like most bands hire a PR person for.

I really had HUGE intentions for SS, & yes it is a shame it's come to this....
but Neal is right, without proper backing, this band cannot continue....
strange thing how ALL the avenues that were being touted for SS are all but quiet now....

Herbie's out of the loop, XM have been quiet, no management, no US deal....it's all gone quiet & I feel the hidden agenda/coincidence behind a new Journey album released mere months after us has a LOT to do with it
we were sabotaged by the same people who made sure SS didn't take off, possibly even within his band.
I think i've said more than I should but there you have it.

[ohsherrie]

it's all gone quiet & I feel the hidden agenda/coincidence behind a new Journey album released mere months after us has a LOT to do with it
we were sabotaged by the same people who made sure SS didn't take off, possibly even within his band.[/b]

Wow, some bitterness there. Who do you think he was talking about?

[jrnyman28]

it's all gone quiet & I feel the hidden agenda/coincidence behind a new Journey album released mere months after us has a LOT to do with it
we were sabotaged by the same people who made sure SS didn't take off, possibly even within his band.[/b]

Wow, some bitterness there. Who do you think he was talking about?

It's starnge, I read something about the release of "Generations" playing into the theory but I cannot find that quote now...

[ohsherrie]

But do you think he means Neal himself or someone else in the band? Surely Neal wouldn't sabotage one of his own projects, but how could anyone else in the band do that without Neal knowing? It doesn't really make a lot of sense. Maybe it's just this guys disgruntled disappointment that's speaking here.

[jrnyman28]

I don't think he means Neal. If anything, maybe someone like Jon or Steve feel Neal is spreading himself too thin. I know I do. Maybe Jon and/or Steve want Neal to focus on Journey. I know I do. But that is just a guess. Really, I don't think it IS someone in the band, but I can understand management. They were 'sabotaging' SS when management wasthe same, maybe once SS changed management they found another way to interfere. But I am surprised HH is quiet. You would think that if HH was willing to come out of retirement, that he must feel some passion for the project.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I'm sorry it's came down to this.
I fail to see the connection between HH and Journey's current management. What possible leverage would Azoff mngt have over Herbie to dissuade him from supporting SS?
I also don't see how members of Neal's own band could possibly sabotage SS from taking off. Who has that sort of power? Ross? Jon? I just don't see it. But hey, JSS was there, he lived it, and so I take him at his word.

On the bright side, maybe Neal can now focus on writing music with the band Journey from here on.

[NealIsGod]

R.I.P. Shit SirkUS... hello Planet US????

[Argus]

Found this on the Noticeboard. It is part of an interview with JSS concerning Neal's comments. Seems to really not bode well for Soul SirkUS to continue...

I had heard some rumors about Neal talking to Sammy while I was touring Europe...

I confronted Neal & instead of answering 'no' or 'that's ridiculous', he just said 'Sammy's pretty much retired now..' which didn't really deny he had approached Sam about reforming Planet US
now reading this interview, it shows he indeed did go after Sam again, probably out of frustration of the lackluster interest for SS...
we had the talk about the debt & if SS were to continue, there would have to be exterior financing involved....
but I didn't think he would make it so public, ESPECIALLY telling the world what our debt amount is....
1 thing Neal fails to mention is he bankrolled SS but every advance, every guarantee we earned on tour, every album sold goes to him for recouping...

so the amount that he's put into it isn't necessarily what's still remaining....
but if he's gonna be public about things, I guess I have no problem doing the same... I won't make excuses, I'll just air it as it is, no bullshit excuses like most bands hire a PR person for.

I really had HUGE intentions for SS, & yes it is a shame it's come to this....
but Neal is right, without proper backing, this band cannot continue....
strange thing how ALL the avenues that were being touted for SS are all but quiet now....

Herbie's out of the loop, XM have been quiet, no management, no US deal....it's all gone quiet & I feel the hidden agenda/coincidence behind a new Journey album released mere months after us has a LOT to do with it
we were sabotaged by the same people who made sure SS didn't take off, possibly even within his band.
I think i've said more than I should but there you have it.

I don't think HH ever planned on being the SS manager and I don't think anyone in the band can tell Neal what to do, nor would they want to. If you think about it, SS was sort of like the "new girlfriend" who was great in every way except got a tad too expensive

[ohsherrie]

I agree TNC, nobody in the band could have had the power to sabotage one of Neal's side projects. HH couldn't even dissuade him in the early days.

I think this JSS guy is just pissed off, blaming whoever he can think of. I know nothing about SS or Planet Us, but I can't see either of them being more important to Neal than Journey. He may have his problems with the constrictions, but he knows where the money is.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I think this JSS guy is just pissed off.

C'mon, give Jeff a little more respect than that. He's got a good voice and is actually open and receptive to his fans (more then I can say about the meet n' greet eschewing Neal Schon).

[jrnyman28]

I know nothing about SS or Planet Us, but I can't see either of them being more important to Neal than Journey. He may have his problems with the constrictions, but he knows where the money is.

Actually, to hear Neal talk about SS a couple months ago, you would have thought otherwise. Neal sonded like he had way more passion and concern for SS than he did for Journey. Maybe that is what the quote I lost was tlaking about. Maybe Generations re-ignited something in Neal...

[Abitaman]

Part of the cost could be, having to go back in and rerecord the drums-ERIC

[The_Noble_Cause]

I know nothing about SS or Planet Us, but I can't see either of them being more important to Neal than Journey. He may have his problems with the constrictions, but he knows where the money is.

Actually, to hear Neal talk about SS a couple months ago, you would have thought otherwise. Neal sonded like he had way more passion and concern for SS than he did for Journey. Maybe that is what the quote I lost was tlaking about. Maybe Generations re-ignited something in Neal...

Agreed. Neal was really ecstatic about SS and in interviews it really showed. He seemed pretty confidant that it was going to take off, too. He said that his Journey bandmates recognized this too and were happy for him. What a difference a few months makes. What the hell happened? Contrary to what JSS said, I doubt the release of "Generations" undermined SS at all. "Generations" was always scheduled to come out when it did. Maybe I misunderstand what JSS is getting at with that point.

[PROPERRY]

I think JSS has a right to be upset with Neal for going public about their money issues, that is a private matter, that's not something you announce publicly without informing ALL parties involved FIRST that you are going to do that.

Also while Neal may not like doing those meet & greets, he forgets that his fans DO like talking to him, so I think Neal needs a little PR help here, or let someone else in Journey do the talking for the band. Just my thoughts.

Lori

[jrnyman28]

Also while Neal may not like doing those meet & greets, he forgets that his fans DO like talking to him, so I think Neal needs a little PR help here, or let someone else in Journey do the talking for the band. Just my thoughts.

Lori

That is very true. Neal has PR issues.
Me and my best friend (and our wives) got to go backstage on the Arrival tour. My buddy really wanted to talk to Neal about something. Unfortunately, Neal and Jon were too busy talking to each other to actually listen to anything the fans wanted to say. I was a little put off by it as well, but for me Steve and Deen MORE than made up for it.

[ohsherrie]

I think this JSS guy is just pissed off.

C'mon, give Jeff a little more respect than that. He's got a good voice and is actually open and receptive to his fans (more then I can say about the meet n' greet eschewing Neal Schon).

Sorry, I don't know who this Jeff guy is so maybe I was being unfair to him. It just sounded like he had a axe to grind on this subject. There's defintitely something going on between he and Neal though. Maybe it's like Dave said.

Maybe Generations re-ignited something in Neal...

Maybe he opted for going with a moneymaker rather than take a chance.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I think JSS has a right to be upset with Neal for going public about their money issues, that is a private matter, that's not something you announce publicly without informing ALL parties involved FIRST that you are going to do that.

It's Neal's money and his issues. He can do as he pleases.

Also while Neal may not like doing those meet & greets, he forgets that his fans DO like talking to him, so I think Neal needs a little PR help here, or let someone else in Journey do the talking for the band.

On the one hand, I emphatically agree with you Lori. On the other hand, I have to respect Neal for continuing to say what he truly feels. If he hates the meet N' greets, then why lie about it? Isn't his candor part of what makes Neal uniquely Neal after all?
The meet N' greets are 99% comprised of kiss-up BackTalk goons anyhow. Upon further thought, I really can't blame him.

[ohsherrie]

The meet N' greets are 99% comprised of kiss-up BackTalk goons anyhow. Upon further thought, I really can't blame him.

I think you're right about that TNC. The meet N' greets are prearranged so that only the best kiss-ups, (or people the band wants to meet), are there. It's not as if just any fan in the audience can get to meet them. This isn't something that just started either. It's been going on since the '60s.

[jrnyman28]

The meet N' greets are 99% comprised of kiss-up BackTalk goons anyhow. Upon further thought, I really can't blame him.

I think you're right about that TNC. The meet N' greets are prearranged so that only the best kiss-ups, (or people the band wants to meet), are there. It's not as if just any fan in the audience can get to meet them. This isn't something that just started either. It's been going on since the '60s.

Hey, I got to go to a meet&greet! What are you tryig to say about ME?!?!

Actually, during the Arrival Tour, you could sign on and "win" the passes. My computer screwed up so I was not able. But at the show I met two people who both had a pair of passes, but came together. So they had 2 extra. I thank THEM for my opportunity to meet the band.

[jestor92]

Personally the more and more I read about Neal Schon the more I'm disliking him.

1st you don't go out in public about the SirkUS's money problems, that's the bands buisness, keep it internal.

2nd, for him to talk to Hagar about reuniting Planet US to me is total BS and a total knife stab in the back to JSS, and the rest of the SirkUS, Neal you make your bed, you sleep in it. When Hagar went back to VH you could've sat on that matierial for awhile or let Journey used some of it. God knows "Believe in Me", "Coming Home", and "Soul Goes on" blows away some of the stuff on Generations. I'm probably going to ruffle some feathers, but I think the SirkUS is a better cd than Generations.

3rd, I didn't read anything about Neal not liking the meet and greet's, but why agree to let your band do them if you don't like them?

[The_Noble_Cause]

Personally the more and more I read about Neal Schon the more I'm disliking him.

1st you don't go out in public about the SirkUS's money problems, that's the bands buisness, keep it internal.

Neal is the one who personally put up the money, not the band. It's Neal's personal investment, he can comment on it as he so pleases.

When Hagar went back to VH you could've sat on that matierial for awhile or let Journey used some of it. God knows "Believe in Me", "Coming Home", and "Soul Goes on" blows away some of the stuff on Generations.

Totally. Completely agree.

[A Fire Inside]

Sorry, I don't know who this Jeff guy is so maybe I was being unfair to him. It just sounded like he had a axe to grind on this subject. There's defintitely something going on between he and Neal though. Maybe it's like Dave said.

He's the lead singer of SS. Or was.

I'm really surprised to see this band go. And I can't imagine it being Journey's fault.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Unfortunately, Neal and Jon were too busy talking to each other to actually listen to anything the fans wanted to say. I was a little put off by it as well, but for me Steve and Deen MORE than made up for it.

I'm sorry to hear that. When I met the guys it was fairly obvious that Neal didn't really want to be there. He was just sort of going through the motions. Had a "lets get this over with" feeling.
Jon was really attentive and thoughtful and I can't say enough about Steve's affability.
I even got to knuckle punch the dude!

[NealIsGod]

God knows "Believe in Me", "Coming Home", and "Soul Goes on" blows away some of the stuff on Generations. I'm probably going to ruffle some feathers, but I think the SirkUS is a better cd than Generations.

I want some of what he's smokin'!

[NealIsGod]

Jon was really attentive and thoughtful and I can't say enough about Steve's affability. I even got to knuckle punch the dude!

Good thing that wasn't Perry, or else you may have broken his shoulder!

[Abitaman]

Jon was really attentive and thoughtful and I can't say enough about Steve's affability. I even got to knuckle punch the dude!

Good thing that wasn't Perry, or else you may have broken his shoulder!

Or be cussed out for touching him, thrown in jail, and thrown out of the event-ERIC

[Eric]

Vally interesting...

1) "Believe in me" was incredible. Nothing on the SS album even came close to touching it. NOW, this is a Journey fan saying this, so maybe people with other tastes disagree....but that had the Journey magic spread all over it. It should have been on a Journey album IMO....even with JSS singing it. Everyone else sang anyway!

2) If it was Neal's money...why shouldn't he be able to talk about it? It was more like a status on SS then anything else.

3) Make no mistake about it....JSS is a talented mofo

4) I don't see anything wrong with keeping Sammy in the back of your mind...I mean, its SAMMY!

5) There is nothing wrong about changing your mind after a summer like Journey had. To be perfectly honest, many of us were spinning Journey's success the last couple of years....but the attendance this summer was pretty damn staggering..I mean SPAC was jammed...jammed with KIDS.

6) It sounds kinda dopey to say SS was sabotaged......although, I can see Cain having influence over Schon as a long-time friend and partner. Hey what if they really did fire Schon...remember that rumour..JUST KIDDING...JUST KIDDING.

7) Ohsherrie...it is just great to see you so active in all kinds of posts. It really seems to me you have kinda seen that you can be involved with the New Journey without being unfaithful to Mr. P

[Red13JoePa]

I think it goes w/out saying that Neal recoups the initial investment with every ticket sold and record unit shifted. Did anyone think that wasn't the case, JSS? It's HIS coin he forked out of his own wallet he can talk about it. Interesting that JSS is a little in Augeri's (Journey's) position now of about 6 months ago and HE does not like the Sammy embers being fanned. Back then he had no problems using Cain's Wild Horse studio, JRNY's own website to post and promote SS and his solo stuff and then made the remark that "Journey stands on it's legacy" while SS is an active creative outfit.
Neal didn't offhandedly say, "NO, BLEEP Sammy I'm NOT working with him, Journey's a legacy only band and my day job is SS, period" so the guy gets mad? Love JSS' voice and musical passion but what's good for the goose also's gotta be good for the gander in this instance.

[NealIsGod]

I think it goes w/out saying that Neal recoups the initial investment with every ticket sold and record unit shifted. Did anyone think that wasn't the case, JSS? It's HIS coin he forked out of his own wallet he can talk about it. Interesting that JSS is a little in Augeri's (Journey's) position now of about 6 months ago and HE does not like the Sammy embers being fanned. Back then he had no problems using Cain's Wild Horse studio, JRNY's own website to post and promote SS and his solo stuff and then made the remark that "Journey stands on it's legacy" while SS is an active creative outfit.
Neal didn't offhandedly say, "NO, BLEEP Sammy I'm NOT working with him, Journey's a legacy only band and my day job is SS, period" so the guy gets mad? Love JSS' voice and musical passion but what's good for the goose also's gotta be good for the gander in this instance.

Great post, Red. I am sure everyone in SS is frustrated at the lack of interest and JSS is just lashing out.

[Red13JoePa]

And NOBODY in Journey lashed out like that even when he accused Journey's management and their conflict of interest as SS' reason for limited success.