The end of the Journey?

[StyxCollector]

Great yes but what happens when all those fans go to a show and expect it to sound like Journey and it no longer does? This could be very interesting. I can't wait to see the reviews.

Well, reviews have been positive proving to me yet again 80 - 95% of the people who buy tickets a) know nothing of what goes on; we here who post on these boards make up such a small % of the fanbase and b) just want to hear the hits. They could in most cases care less who is singing them. Did they hear "Don't Stop Believin'"? "Faithfully"? "Separate Ways"? If so, they went home with a smile and don't dwell on the minutiae we do.

[Greg]

Nothing against JSS but I don't think it's a good fit. I will however give him a chance to prove me wrong. If they don't bring Steve back or hire a replacement that at least sounds like "Journey" I think this could be the end of the road for many fans myself included. No one will ever quite be what Perry once was but Augeri sounded like Journey. It was a perfect fit. Chalfant sounds like Journey, heck even Hugo would be a better choice as creepy as it would be (Perry Clone) but Soto is more of a metal guy (Yes I have listened to him sing "Send her my love") who is indeed a great talent. It's just not a good fit!! He sounds NOTHING like Journey.

I hope they prove me wrong. I thought Augeri was perfect from the start. But I think this is a HUGE MISTAKE!!!
Just my opinion.

I agree completely. Saying he "doesn't sound like Journey" is the perfect description. It has nothing to do with sounding like Perry...it has to do with making Journey sound like Journey. I just don't see how anybody could listen to him and think, "Yeah, that guy could sing for Journey". Doesn't make sense to me.

Makes perfect sense to me when you look at the whole picture. JSS is a better song writer and performing than Augeri in my opinion. Now certainly, between the two, Augeri has more of a "Journey" voice than JSS, but that's about it. I haven't really cared too much for his songs from Generations. I believe if JSS is the permanent guy, there is going to be a better chemistry in song writing, which equals a better quality product. It isn't just about singing.

[NoMoreTails]

I'd have no problem with Neal retiring Journey and doing Soul SirkUS full time if Augeri can't return.

[McNeil]

Well...ive heard a boot of 4 tracks from the second gig.... poorish quality... but certainly listenable.. but it just doesnt sound like.."Journey" it sounds ok... I mean...if you had never heard Perry...or Augeri(b4 tapegate) sing em...you wld be well pleased...but of course..we all have...please dont ask for links to the boot..or copies.. I have been told not to make em available.. besides..I reckon they will be up from another source very soon !!!

Well... my view...after reading here and "that other place" that shall remain unmentionable... is that it seems JSS is a great singer...lots of energy.... whose doin an ok job...

.... but , and Im reading between the lines here... I think the majority..who make up Jrny audiences in the States.. will be dissapointed... I think JSS is a great "utility" singer... who could prob fill in anywhere...from pop to rock to metal..and do a good job... but its not the Journey sound anymore. I think if JSS is gonna stay... kick in a name change.... maybe play a handful of Journey songs...but start afresh with JSS.. n I dont mean turn it into SS.... thats a different animal.

Long term future for them doesnt look good if they are gonna continue to pound out the dirty dozen..as JSS just doesnt fit the classis Journey sound... but if they are gonna move on... and change it round.... they will gain new fans... but lose most of the existing fan base... I think they are in a no win situ really.... Im sure they will be carried thru at the moment by sheer curiosity factor.. most people wanna see the new guy!! but after the rush... its gon be hard for them

[A Fire Inside]

I'd have no problem with Neal retiring Journey and doing Soul SirkUS full time if Augeri can't return.

Neither would I.

[ohsherrie]

Well...ive heard a boot of 4 tracks from the second gig.... poorish quality... but certainly listenable.. but it just doesnt sound like.."Journey" it sounds ok... I mean...if you had never heard Perry...or Augeri(b4 tapegate) sing em...you wld be well pleased...but of course..we all have...please dont ask for links to the boot..or copies.. I have been told not to make em available.. besides..I reckon they will be up from another source very soon !!!

Well... my view...after reading here and "that other place" that shall remain unmentionable... is that it seems JSS is a great singer...lots of energy.... whose doin an ok job...

.... but , and Im reading between the lines here... I think the majority..who make up Jrny audiences in the States.. will be dissapointed... I think JSS is a great "utility" singer... who could prob fill in anywhere...from pop to rock to metal..and do a good job... but its not the Journey sound anymore. I think if JSS is gonna stay... kick in a name change.... maybe play a handful of Journey songs...but start afresh with JSS.. n I dont mean turn it into SS.... thats a different animal.

Long term future for them doesnt look good if they are gonna continue to pound out the dirty dozen..as JSS just doesnt fit the classis Journey sound... but if they are gonna move on... and change it round.... they will gain new fans... but lose most of the existing fan base... I think they are in a no win situ really.... Im sure they will be carried thru at the moment by sheer curiosity factor.. most people wanna see the new guy!! but after the rush... its gon be hard for them

Good post, thanks for your evaluation. I'm with you 100% on the name change, and I think they need a new direction in music, but I also realize they need a connection to the Journey name to sell enough tickets to get their new sound out there.

They could even take a hint from Queen, but since JSS isn't as well known as Paul Rodgers maybe they could just call themselves JSS Journey, you know, like USS Enterprise. They could do some of the classics like they did in SS, but make it more about the new sound. Once they finish this tour, and with the right kind of promotion, JSS will be more of a known quantity. I'm really pulling for him to make a success of this. I really think their management should focus on getting the JSS name out there so people will be interested in him instead of just wanting to hear the classics.

[bionic]

Nothing against JSS but I don't think it's a good fit. I will however give him a chance to prove me wrong. If they don't bring Steve back or hire a replacement that at least sounds like "Journey" I think this could be the end of the road for many fans myself included. No one will ever quite be what Perry once was but Augeri sounded like Journey. It was a perfect fit. Chalfant sounds like Journey, heck even Hugo would be a better choice as creepy as it would be (Perry Clone) but Soto is more of a metal guy (Yes I have listened to him sing "Send her my love") who is indeed a great talent. It's just not a good fit!! He sounds NOTHING like Journey.

I hope they prove me wrong. I thought Augeri was perfect from the start. But I think this is a HUGE MISTAKE!!!
Just my opinion.

Jeff i would say has a better writing ability than Augeri so this could refresh the band,yet it could lose a lot of fans as Journey has to have a certain sound and he could take them to far wide of the mark.I dont think the music would be bad just to diffrent for some fans to take.Pleased he is steering the band along well after all the crap that has been going on recently with regards to the live shows.

[lights1961]

Hi,
I'm new to the board.I can see where you're coming from,and I bet a lot of fans will be dissapointed.But in my opinion,I think that Jeff will bring some edge to the band and Deen won't have to sing as much.The man can sing,but it just looks wierd to see a drummer sing.

remember Phil Collins...

[lights1961]

a new beginning with a better future ahead of them, that is my take..

[Journeynut]

Hi,
I'm new to the board.I can see where you're coming from,and I bet a lot of fans will be dissapointed.But in my opinion,I think that Jeff will bring some edge to the band and Deen won't have to sing as much.The man can sing,but it just looks wierd to see a drummer sing.

remember Phil Collins...

how bout don henley?

[Dyzzi]

Well Hello Guy's i'm new here and this is my first posting.. I'm afraid i agree totally with the guy who started this thread off.. Yes JSS is a good singer but his NOT for journey in my opinion.. There is only one voice for journey and that is Steve Perry Journey has never been the same without him although Steve Augeri is also a good singer.. I've also heard through the grape vine that Steve Perry is actually in the recording studio's recording his solo album.. How true this is i'm not quite sure i've just heard it through a good source... I say bring Steve Perry Back, but one can only dream i suppose..
Cheers

[Andrew]

Hi Dyzzi,
Welcome aboard, you wll nto be shot for having a different opinion hyere, but I do hope Jeff gets to change your mind.

Sadly it seems Steve Perry will never return, but we have plenty of classic stuff to remember him by.

I know Steve was in the studio, but that was - as far as I am informed/aware - only to oversee the remastering of the Jorney re-issues due August 1. Not for any new solo material.

I could sure as hell use a new Street Talk or Strange Medicine though.

[whocares]

Ditto Wombat...

"Against the wall" rocks my socks

[Sundet]

Nothing against JSS but I don't think it's a good fit. I will however give him a chance to prove me wrong. If they don't bring Steve back or hire a replacement that at least sounds like "Journey" I think this could be the end of the road for many fans myself included. No one will ever quite be what Perry once was but Augeri sounded like Journey. It was a perfect fit. Chalfant sounds like Journey, heck even Hugo would be a better choice as creepy as it would be (Perry Clone) but Soto is more of a metal guy (Yes I have listened to him sing "Send her my love") who is indeed a great talent. It's just not a good fit!! He sounds NOTHING like Journey.

I hope they prove me wrong. I thought Augeri was perfect from the start. But I think this is a HUGE MISTAKE!!!
Just my opinion.

I'd say Journey could do well with some fresh blood instead of belting out all these samey-sounding songs for the most part around a Perry clone. Schon and Soto has a terrific writing relationship, and I am certain Soto would bring something uniquely new to Journey in the vocal departement. As much as I like and respect Augeri, I would much prefer having JSS in Journey!

[Dano]

Hi,
I'm new to the board.I can see where you're coming from,and I bet a lot of fans will be dissapointed.But in my opinion,I think that Jeff will bring some edge to the band and Deen won't have to sing as much.The man can sing,but it just looks wierd to see a drummer sing.

remember Phil Collins...

...And Roger Taylor of Queen, Gil Moore of Triumph...

[styxman]

As fans we always hang on to how they where back then in the 80's and we always make comparrisons. I'm an all out Perry fan (Fan not fanatic!) but being honest here his solo material was always more appealing to me and hopefully if he embarks on a new crooner type album in the future that'll be fine by me - what I'm getting at here is change v's stagnation....Journey need a new direction to keep afloat or they'll sink just below the surface and remain there for ever and a day...yes they'll still have a following but it won't grow...it'll be us lot just getting our fix now and again.

Take a look at the Billboard 100, okay it reflects current buying trends but compared to the charts in the late 70's and 80's nothin' much grabs you - does it? So wouldn't it be great if NEW Journey tweaked things a little, came up with a great new studio album with contributions from JSS that fitted into this period of time, surprised us a little and moved things onto a different level and gave the youth of today someting to listen to other than rap, pop idol rubbish and sad depressing songs invading the US charts from of all places the UK!
Would I want Perry back in Journey, hell no......I think he's much more creative out of it, he just needs a kick up the arse to get started again. As for JSS, up until last week I'd never heard of him but what I hear I like, so I'm all for it.

By the way Andrew JSS has a slight aboriginal look in one photo - is there a connection with Australia or do I need glasses!

[McNeil]

Would I want Perry back in Journey, hell no......I think he's much more creative out of it, he just needs a kick up the arse to get started again.

With respect Styxman.... he needs more than a kick up the arse.... he's hardly done anything since leaving Journey... hes clocking up...erm...1 CD's worth of material every 10 yrs or so....

he needs to be kicked up the arse creatively I think

[styxman]

It's the quality of the CD content though, worth waiting 10 years I'd say!
Are you based in Liverpool?

[McNeil]

Hiya Styxman... yeah... The Wirral..Birkenhead... just across the River Mersey... bout a mile from the city centre

.... you have a point... it is quality..and prob worth waiting for

[styxman]

The reason I say that. is I use to work for a firm who had offices in North John Street some 20 odd years ago (great pub at the top of the street!) and we went one night to a place called the Grafton Rooms or something like that...what a night that was! Great City Liverpool and by the way you look more like Macca than he does...scary!

[NoMoreTails]

what I'm getting at here is change v's stagnation....Journey need a new direction to keep afloat

This is something many of us Augeri-era fans have been saying for years, but if they haven't been willing to take a chance and start to move away from greatest hits and push new material for the last 8 years, what are the chances they'll do it now with this much water under the bridge? Fans have already bitched unbelievably in my opinion about the new sounds they've experimented with on Red13 and Generations. While I'd like to have seen a more progressive, rocking direction, if you change it too much you might as well not call it Journey, at least the masses won't accept it as Journey.

[EightyRock]

If they are going to do another CD experiment, I definitely want them to do one with Soto, not another Augeri one. I just don't feel the chemistry at all. Plus, the guy's voice is shot, (honesty, not trashing the guy) so he probably couldn't sing it live anyway, so what's the point. I think they should try a CD with Soto, play the damn stuff and if it flies, great, if it doesn't, time to retire the Journey name and do something else.

[Eric]

THAT...is a damn fine idear ohsherrie....The JSS JOURNEY

Regarding soul sirkus....NO THANK YOU

[Liz22562]

I'm going to agree with NoMoreTails. The crowd last night in Tampa (at least the ones sitting around me) got up for their bathroom/beer run when Journey played Chain Reaction and Dead or Alive. As a matter of fact, the young man sitting next to me asked me if I had ever heard them before. He said he didn't know anything other than the popular songs from Journey.

[A Fire Inside]

I'm going to agree with NoMoreTails. The crowd last night in Tampa (at least the ones sitting around me) got up for their bathroom/beer run when Journey played Chain Reaction and Dead or Alive. As a matter of fact, the young man sitting next to me asked me if I had ever heard them before. He said he didn't know anything other than the popular songs from Journey.

I had the same experience last year when they played the first set of lesser knowns.

People have an idea that Journey is something you dance to at prom/weddings and get laid when you take women to their concerts because of their sap. It's far too late to change now.

[styxman]

The masses, I like that, we're talking Journey here not U2!
I agree with most of what's been said but look at Neil Diamond, his last CD has be appraised by almost every serious music critic going, he's regenerated himself once again...stripping away the glossy exterior and going back to basics, prehaps that's what JSS can bring to the group, get a bit of raw energy in there. Look also at Chicago, skip past the weak duets and you've got another band revitalised and kicking their way back into the present, even the Beach Boys would be proud of Caroline, if you haven't heard it, get it and play it loud - that's going to one hell of a concert track! (anyone heard it live yet?)
Only wish I could say the same about Survivor but that album ain't happening for me...can't remember a single tune after 10 plays.......so they're still know as the band that did the rocky track, it's can't be surpassed on what I'm hearing now! Journey just need that new killer track and surely a group of talented musicians as they are must be able to come up with the goods if they clear their heads, settle down and concentrate - we need another Don't stop, don't we?

[The Fly]

After hearing the boot I think I have my answer. I think most of you now agree with me too from what I have been reading.

I really was hoping it would sound like Journey. But it's not even close.

[styxman]

I know in my last thread I said we need another Don't Stop...but not like the one I've just heard...that ain't Journey, but like I said without catching up on all the other threads, give them time to come up with new material and let the JSS voice settle in and we might have something but no way will it be Journey as we know them! A little sad right now but we all know even good things come to an end!!