Fan says he talked to Neal and the band seems very happy.

[JrnySuxBalls]

SS had no melody? Ridiculous.

Agreed.
I think the SS record is a stronger record overall than Generations.
Generations has a few high points, but a few clunkers, as well.
Every track on SS, on the other hand, is solid.

Absolutely.

[Monker]

Cain and oddly enough Valory's continued presence in the band will never have been more crucial than the next album if in fact JSS is fronting Journey for it.

Why is Valory's presence important? Not to diss Ross, just wondering what you're thinking is.

Well because Ross by default and Cain on merit would be the gatekeepers of the Journey-only sound. You got the Jrny faction of the band in Cain/Valory the bridges with Neal and Deen and the SS faction in JSS. So in my mind it's critical to have the longtime journey-only guys still there.

None of this matters anyway. Following Arrival, Jonathan lost his inspiration to write. As long as Jonathan takes a backseat, Journey will not sound the same. I really don't think Jonathan will give a damn if Neal and JSS are the main writing team...Just give him one or two songs and a paycheck for the tour...and I'm sure he'll be happy. The same goes for Ross.

How are their mere presence within the band going to amount to any influence? Won't happen.

[Lula]

What makes you say Jon has lost his inspiration to write, Monker?

[Abitaman]

I don't care who had my back, Liz. I know what happened, and those who choose to agree, agree, and those who didn't don't.
.

Been reading from Abitaville again =ERIC

[Abitaman]

SS had no melody? Ridiculous.

Agreed.
I think the SS record is a stronger record overall than Generations.
Generations has a few high points, but a few clunkers, as well.
Every track on SS, on the other hand, is solid.

Absolutely.

Agreed, solid SS, but that does not make solid Journey

[Rockindeano]

What makes you say Jon has lost his inspiration to write, Monker?

He has, trust me. Dude is shot, in the ass. seeya friga.

Get the fuck outta here.

[Rockindeano]

Cain and oddly enough Valory's continued presence in the band will never have been more crucial than the next album if in fact JSS is fronting Journey for it.

Why is Valory's presence important? Not to diss Ross, just wondering what you're thinking is.

Well because Ross by default and Cain on merit would be the gatekeepers of the Journey-only sound. You got the Jrny faction of the band in Cain/Valory the bridges with Neal and Deen and the SS faction in JSS. So in my mind it's critical to have the longtime journey-only guys still there.

None of this matters anyway. Following Arrival, Jonathan lost his inspiration to write. As long as Jonathan takes a backseat, Journey will not sound the same. I really don't think Jonathan will give a damn if Neal and JSS are the main writing team...Just give him one or two songs and a paycheck for the tour...and I'm sure he'll be happy. The same goes for Ross.

How are their mere presence within the band going to amount to any influence? Won't happen.

Nice post, Monker.

Finally, you are back!

Thank God.

[fred_journeyman]

...Just give him one or two songs and a paycheck for the tour...and I'm sure he'll be happy. The same goes for Ross...

Yeah, but Ross sure seems happier...

[JrnySuxBalls]

SS had no melody? Ridiculous.

Agreed.
I think the SS record is a stronger record overall than Generations.
Generations has a few high points, but a few clunkers, as well.
Every track on SS, on the other hand, is solid.

Absolutely.

Agreed, solid SS, but that does not make solid Journey

Generations certainly wasn't. Time for something new.

[cetera]

What makes you say Jon has lost his inspiration to write, Monker?

He has, trust me. Dude is shot, in the ass. seeya friga.

Get the fuck outta here.

Deano, do you reckon Cain is gonna leave? I've just got a feeling he is.....

[Rockindeano]

What makes you say Jon has lost his inspiration to write, Monker?

He has, trust me. Dude is shot, in the ass. seeya friga.

Get the fuck outta here.

Deano, do you reckon Cain is gonna leave? I've just got a feeling he is.....

Yes, I do think he is leaving.

[Tarzanboy]

What makes you say Jon has lost his inspiration to write, Monker?

He has, trust me. Dude is shot, in the ass. seeya friga.

Get the fuck outta here.

Deano, do you reckon Cain is gonna leave? I've just got a feeling he is.....

Yes, I do think he is leaving.

If he leaves...close the book...Journey over. He was the main force in the writing. Don't think so? check Perrys lyrics on FTLOSM...not quite up to par...ditto for all the stuff Journey has put out sans Perry...

Last great lyric album was Trial by Fire...Perry/Cain...nuff said

[Citygirl]

Why do you all think he's leaving?

Like I said he's been there since 1980 and is one of the main songwriters.

[Tracker]

Sounds like Neal wants the Soul Sirkus sound but use the Journey name...Jon's musical style is different...the stone not only cracked - it's been split wide open. And Neal is more stupid than I thought. But then again...I never cared for Neal anyway - dumbass.

[jrnyjetster]

He has, trust me. Dude is shot, in the ass. seeya friga.

Get the fuck outta here.

You are CRUEL Deano!

[NealIsGod]

Sounds like Neal wants the Soul Sirkus sound but use the Journey name...Jon's musical style is different...the stone not only cracked - it's been split wide open. And Neal is more stupid than I thought. But then again...I never cared for Neal anyway - dumbass.

You can't be a Journey fan and not care for Neal. He IS Journey. Dumbass.

[EightyRock]

What spin do you think Cain will put on his exit? The family? Don't you think he was embarrassed when everybody found out about tape-gate? Any musician of their stature and worth a damn would have crawled in a hole and pulled the hole in with him after that. Not Neal...he just acts like it didn't happen, or at least he has rid himself of the problem.(Augeri) I don't think he should have called it Journey when Perry left, but he did. I don't think he should call it Journey if Cain leaves, but he will. He has no common sense. One hell of a guitar player and overall musician, but a real tool.

[NealIsGod]

What spin do you think Cain will put on his exit? The family? Don't you think he was embarrassed when everybody found out about tape-gate? Any musician of their stature and worth a damn would have crawled in a hole and pulled the hole in with him after that. Not Neal...he just acts like it didn't happen, or at least he has rid himself of the problem.(Augeri) I don't think he should have called it Journey when Perry left, but he did. I don't think he should call it Journey if Cain leaves, but he will. He has no common sense. One hell of a guitar player and overall musician, but a real tool.

Tool? The man is a workaholic. Nothing slows him down. He doesn't let one man hold the band hostage. Perry's the tool, dude. Neal is the glue that holds Journey together.

[EightyRock]

NIG says; "You can't be a Journey fan and not care for Neal. He IS Journey."

Let's not play the "who is a fan" card here. I think we're all Journey fans or we would be hangin' on the Toto board. (Although Lukather IS my second fav guitar player)
If Neal is "Journey", then why isn't Rolie? Neal and Rolie were the players taken from Santana by Herbie to start a new band. Rolie is then as much "Journey" as Neal is, dumbass. "Journey" is Neal, Cain, Rolie and Perry, IMO, if you want to get technical. They were the main writers of anything that has sold in their catalog or that imprinted the "Journey sound" into the minds of fans and consumers. That's my story and I'm stickin' with it!

[EightyRock]

NIG says; "Neal is the glue that holds Journey together."

Or the person who piece by piece ends up ripping it apart. So if Cain leaves too, you think he should STILL call it Journey? Two of the main songwriters for Journey, Cain and Perry are gone and he should still keep adding players, with only TWO original ones, play the hits and call it Journey? Dude, have another cup of java and expand your mind!

[SuiteMadameBlue]

NIG says; "Neal is the glue that holds Journey together."

Or the person who piece by piece ends up ripping it apart. So if Cain leaves too, you think he should STILL call it Journey? Two of the main songwriters for Journey, Cain and Perry are gone and he should still keep adding players, with only TWO original ones, play the hits and call it Journey? Dude, have another cup of java and expand your mind!

Journey is a business just like EVERY band that makes it to the big time. The name can and will probably carry on without any of the "key" players. That's how it is.

Look at Molly Hatchet, that name carries on and I don't think there's ANY original members in that band.

[EightyRock]

Suite says' "The name can and will probably carry on without any of the "key" players. That's how it is. "

Sure it happens. Doesn't make it any less of a rip off than bands that roll tape. It's perception vs. reality. I'd rather pay for reality, not the perception. I just think real musicians with creativity and talent don't need tapes, don't need to live totally on their past glory, and don't need to use deceptive tactics to get people to their concerts and to buy their music. Is that idealistic? Maybe, but I think the band will need a new name because they will be mostly NEW musicians to the band, unless they don't have enough faith in their talent that they have to continue to rely on the Journey name to get a decent gig.

[NoMoreTails]

They could be a 4 piecer very easily. JSS can play the keys some and Deen-o can sing some

Cain out? No way.

Uh uh.

I don't want or see Cain leaving either, I think he'd be too concerned about the "integrity" of the Journey name to go even if he wanted to.
My remarks earlier in the thread about he and JSS were intended to imply my doubt about JSS staying with the band, or at least questioning whether Jon would be happy with it and chemistry, not about Jon leaving.
Believe In Me is better than Never Too Late imo, and the music fits in among the best of Journey's guitar only cuts but you'd have to have Cain's keyboards and writing contribution on the majority of songs to call yourself Journey. The elements of Journey are Neal and Jon's music and the voice of one of the Steve's. If you're going to have a singer with a different tone and no Jon you sure as hell are going to be Soul Sirkus and might as well call it that.
At this point, I'd be much happier with Soul Sirkus (the best show I've seen if I had to pick one) opening for Def Lep than Journey opening for them, and regardless of the co-headline thing, everyone's perception is that Journey is opening.

[EightyRock]

NoMoreTails says; "The elements of Journey are Neal and Jon's music and the voice of one of the Steve's"

Uh, you lost me completely on that one. Neal, Jon and only ONE of "the Steve's" wrote Journey's hits. There is no such thing as "Neal & Jon's music" if your context is Journey's most well known music. Did you think that Perry was handed finished sheets of music and asked to sing it? Where did you think all those melodies came from? Even Cain said Perry could write melodies over his piano parts or Neal's guitar parts in his sleep. I give Rolie his props, too. I wouldn't try rewriting Journey's history and leaving either Perry or Rolie out.

[*Laura]

Sure it happens. Doesn't make it any less of a rip off than bands that roll tape. It's perception vs. reality. I'd rather pay for reality, not the perception. I just think real musicians with creativity and talent don't need tapes, don't need to live totally on their past glory, and don't need to use deceptive tactics to get people to their concerts and to buy their music. Is that idealistic? Maybe, but I think the band will need a new name because they will be mostly NEW musicians to the band, unless they don't have enough faith in their talent that they have to continue to rely on the Journey name to get a decent gig.

It would be wonderful if things would be like you say,Eighty…Unfortunately,reality is cruel.
Bands want to survive and they’d use any means in order to get what they want.Money.
The world changed so much and people have also changed.So did the bands and the showbiz concepts.

I can say this about Journey…IMO,it’s very hard for them to give up what they once had,
and I am referring to the name “Journey” and those 3 F’s that come with it: Fame,Fortune and Fans.
Maybe not that much fame anymore,maybe not so many fans like before,but definitely a way to add to their fortune.
Money is such a powerful drug.
Sure,they are very talented,they love the music,but as Suite said,it IS a business.
The good ole times are gone.Sad but true.

[EightyRock]

Shania says; "Money is such a powerful drug.
Sure,they are very talented,they love the music,but as Suite said,it IS a business.
The good ole times are gone.Sad but true.

Yeah, long gone, unfortunately!

[NoMoreTails]

NoMoreTails says; "The elements of Journey are Neal and Jon's music and the voice of one of the Steve's"

Uh, you lost me completely on that one. Neal, Jon and only ONE of "the Steve's" wrote Journey's hits. There is no such thing as "Neal & Jon's music" if your context is Journey's most well known music. Did you think that Perry was handed finished sheets of music and asked to sing it? Where did you think all those melodies came from? Even Cain said Perry could write melodies over his piano parts or Neal's guitar parts in his sleep. I give Rolie his props, too. I wouldn't try rewriting Journey's history and leaving either Perry or Rolie out.

I'm talking about the music, of which Perry played not one note on record and I don't think he sat down and showed them what to play, I didn't intend to shortchange him as far as his writing contribution but it has remained the Journey sound without him on board.

[NealIsGod]

If Neal is "Journey", then why isn't Rolie?

Uh... because he hasn't been in the band since 1980?

[NealIsGod]

NIG says; "Neal is the glue that holds Journey together."

Or the person who piece by piece ends up ripping it apart. So if Cain leaves too, you think he should STILL call it Journey?

I seem to remember a Journey before Cain. And Perry.

Two of the main songwriters for Journey, Cain and Perry are gone and he should still keep adding players, with only TWO original ones, play the hits and call it Journey? Dude, have another cup of java and expand your mind!

What band out there still has all of its original members? U2. ZZ Top. That's about it.

I said Journey is Neal. But Journey is really the music. And Neal is the heart and soul of the band. Anyone who follows them knows that. If he ever decided to leave the band, that would be it. But he even stated in an interview that he would have no problem if the band continued without him someday.

[fred_journeyman]

...I don't think he should call it Journey if Cain leaves, but he will. He has no common sense. One hell of a guitar player and overall musician, but a real tool.

Oh, so now CAIN is the one who created Journey and if he leaves, the name should go with him? Journey was Journey AFTER Rolie left and Cain joined. It was Journey after Perry fired Smith and Valory AND insisted that Herbie take a walk, even though Journey was totally HERBIE'S idea.