Replacing Augeri Mid-Tour IS NOT COOL

[Badcotune]

I've seen a lot of JSS cheerleaders here and elsewhere, but not a lot of people pointing out the glaring injustice being done to Augeri, so I'll lend my thoughts to what's happened.

I've been admittedly out of the loop with Journey for a while. Taking entirely too long to release a new album (Generations) and then having everyone but the drum tech sing on it was a sledgehammer to my interest level. Every year on tour with the exact same show I've already dutifully showed up for repeatedly, was another. But I was at one point their biggest fan. I had the signed Arcade game in my office, and a platinum Escape album on my wall. My obsessive compulsive knowledge of the band, and every nugget of information around the Perry split, is on par with Monker, whose been on these forums since their inception. I've disagreed with him in the past, but the man knows his facts about Journey history.

From what I gather, Augeri faces some vocal difficulties the last two years due to being the workhorse for the last 8 years. Perry would not have been able to fulfill half the dates of the first Journey reunion tour in 1998. FTLOSM proved that. Argue that all you want. Journey made an informed decision to select Augeri, and they sold us on him. He was never a phenomenal vocalist, but he was a very good singer for the gruel and burn that was required of him -- and night after night, year after year, his passion, commitment, humility, grace and charm gave an otherwise defunct Journey a vocal outlet to plug into, which then allowed them to become a viable touring entity again for almost another decade.

And when this man runs into problems -- do they stand behind their singer -- their informed choice -- the workhorse who until only recently, very much withstood the intensity and burn of such an intensive touring schedule? No. They replace him. Mid-tour.

On a Youtube.com JSS Journey Medley clip, Jonathan says
"Due to unknown health reasons, Steve Augeri will not be performing tonight". They know exactly why, so it isn't unknown, is it? They lie to their fans, and replace their lead singer mid-tour instead of choosing to stand behind the man who made touring minus Perry possible for the last 8 years. Who does that? Journey does. Neal Schon and Journey have become the new Van Halen, adrift and without vocal indentity. Instead of cancelling shows if their singer is ill, they make him sing to pre-recorded tracks, and then put him out to pasture when they get busted for it. Neal and Jon have shown thier true colors, and that's why I'm done with them. I just can't pump my fist to a third generation singer on "Don't Stop Believin'". Sorry.

Mr. Augeri, if you read this, not all of us wear the rose colored glasses and can read between the pasturized PR nonsense. You were wronged, and I'll look forward to buying your new release, not so much with an "everything but the kitchen sink" vocals on a new Journey album.

Journey has become now what I always championed that they were not -- lame. Thanks Neal and Jon! True Class! Augeri, you now have the opportunity to fullfill what post-Perry-Journey could have become, and be confident, and emboldened by that -- speak the truth, don't sign anything that says you can't, and soldier on!

[A Fire Inside]

And when this man runs into problems -- do they stand behind their singer -- their informed choice -- the workhorse who until only recently, very much withstood the intensity and burn of such an intensive touring schedule? No. They replace him. Mid-tour.

They lie to their fans, and replace their lead singer mid-tour instead of choosing to stand behind the man who made touring minus Perry possible for the last 8 years. Who does that? Journey does. Neal Schon and Journey have become the new Van Halen, adrift and without vocal indentity. Instead of cancelling shows if their singer is ill, they make him sing to pre-recorded tracks, and then put him out to pasture when they get busted for it. Neal and Jon have shown thier true colors, and that's why I'm done with them. I just can't pump my fist to a third generation singer on "Don't Stop Believin'". Sorry.

Mr. Augeri, if you read this, not all of us wear the rose colored glasses and can read between the pasturized PR nonsense. You were wronged, and I'll look forward to buying your new release, not so much with an "everything but the kitchen sink" vocals on a new Journey album.

I agree with this post. Although I think Augeri is just as guilty as the rest of them, the way the rest of the band got off scot-free makes me feel for him.

I have been arguing all this for a while, good luck getting it through to your audience here.

[yogi]

I dont agree with everything that you wrote but its a pretty damn good post!!!

What I find ironic is that they are now touring with Def Leppard. This the band who STOPPED everything and waited when their drummer was in a tragic car wreck.

The boys in Def Leppard could of sold out their drummer and they didnt.

Did the boys in Journey sell out their hand picked Steve Perry replacement????????


Its ALLL about money, isnt it?????????????????????????

[Red13JoePa]

[quote="yogi"]I The boys in Def Leppard could of sold out their drummer and they didnt.

Different time and place.

Did the boys in Journey sell out their hand picked Steve Perry replacement????????
quote]



No.

[aorgeneral]

Well said! 100% on the money! The only sad fact is Steve is the fall guy for this entire mess after affording neal & co. the chance to make $$$ touring since 1998. There is no loyalty in this business.

[yogi]

Different Time...... Absolutely!!!!!

At the time Def Leppard choose not to go on and wait for their drummer to heal it was probably at the most crucial point of their young careers. They were at their make or break point.

They REALLY showed me something.

Journey now, well I dont know????????????????????????????????????

[whocares]

blah blah blah, we'll never know if Perry would have made it through one tour with the rest of the guys, will we? What we do know is Journey woulnd't have toured practically non-stop (year after year) with Perry at the helm. Take that info anyway you want. Just take it as fact, because they wouldn't have had to tour as often. Sure the seemingly non-stop touring HELPED to ruin Augeri's voice, but everyone involved withthe band from management on down to the roadies made money off of the deception that they guys brought forth night after night.

Did Journey sell out their vocalist? nope, the whole band sold out the fans.

[squirt1]

Augeri got disgusting treatment.but the fans got worse. What were you people paying to see the last 2 yrs?

[Red13JoePa]

Different Time...... Absolutely!!!!!

At the time Def Leppard choose not to go on and wait for their drummer to heal it was probably at the most crucial point of their young careers. They were at their make or break point.

They REALLY showed me something.

Journey now, well I dont know????????????????????????????????????

Our society was nowhere NEAR as litigious when Allen lost his arm. Was DL part of a co-headlining tour then? Cancel this tour and they'da been served w/ papers so fast their heads woulda spun.

[nolippin]

Sorry, but, IMO, the idea that Augeri is some innocent sacrificial lamb forced to deceive his adoring fans is a load of horse manure.

No one in the band or it's management could have forced Augeri to pick up a mic and fake it night after night...No one.

It was Augeri's decision to walk out on that stage and fake it. He could have refused, and no legal agreement in the world could have forced him to do it.

[Citygirl]

I still say there was no miming going on in Edinburgh.

But my words on the subject are: Journey is a joke.

[Red13JoePa]

I still say there was no miming going on in Edinburgh.

Not in Holland, either. 4 listens to that show. WTF?

[lights1961]

I dont agree with the post... but thats okay... JSS is the main man now, 2006....

we get to hear the music and I dont feel cheated...However, I would feel cheated more if Cain or Schon were replaced... and Journey continued..... -)

Rick

[Citygirl]

Not in Holland, either. 4 listens to that show. WTF?

Did you actually listen to the Holland gig or is that just a sarcastic comment?

[Barb]

I agree with this, but put yourself in his shoes... if he walks, the whole band is screwed. We don't know what was discussed between them or how they rationalized doing this, but my opinion is that they were afraid another new singer would not be accepted and they would be finished. I can think of NO other reason why neal and jonathan would go along with this sham unless they felt it was their only choice to continue.

I blame them all equally, but I feel for Augeri. He destroyed his voice for them and he sits at home humiliated and the show just goes on for the rest of them.

Sorry, but, IMO, the idea that Augeri is some innocent sacrificial lamb forced to deceive his adoring fans is a load of horse manure.

No one in the band or it's management could have forced Augeri to pick up a mic and fake it night after night...No one.

It was Augeri's decision to walk out on that stage and fake it. He could have refused, and no legal agreement in the world could have forced him to do it.

[The Ghost Rider]

And what should Journey have done? Cancel the tour and disappoint tens of thousands of fans? Continue on with Augeri singing (or not singing...as it were)? If YOU were faced with losing the best job you've had in a long time (touring with Lep)...what would YOU do? Just say "fuck it" and lose all that money? I doubt it. They did the best they could to go on. If you don't like it, then don't go see them play and don't buy the new CD. Simple as that.

[Red13JoePa]

Les, have the show and listened 4 times. Where the fuck are the tapes?

[Citygirl]

have the show and listened 4 times. Where the fuck are the tapes?

You tell me!

[Matthew]

his passion, commitment, humility, grace and charm

...and his brazen dishonesty to his own fans. No-one put a gun to his head. If he had any professional integrity he would have quit the band when they asked him to mime to the tapes. Yes, he has paid the price - unlike the other members - but he was still responsible for his own actions. So there's no need to portray the guy as a total victim.

[Red13JoePa]

have the show and listened 4 times. Where the fuck are the tapes?

What?




This thing was embellished so far beyond comprehension it is a travesty.

[Citygirl]

Exactly.

And even if it was true, he could have done a lot worse. Some guys belt their partners or make everyone around them miserable by constantly bullying them.

Call me an eejit if you want but I still don't believe it happened... at least not to the extent Deano etc make out it did. I go by what I saw and heard for myself, not what I see on here.

[Badcotune]

Sorry, but, IMO, the idea that Augeri is some innocent sacrificial lamb forced to deceive his adoring fans is a load of horse manure.

No one in the band or it's management could have forced Augeri to pick up a mic and fake it night after night...No one.

It was Augeri's decision to walk out on that stage and fake it. He could have refused, and no legal agreement in the world could have forced him to do it.

Not discounting any document Augeri may have signed at his hiring that in all intelligent probability probably said "you do as your told as long as you're employed by this institution", when you have an army of managers and lawyers, and the very band itself sitting in a room and telling you how it's going to be, and you don't have any real negotiation leverage, then you DO become the sacrificial lamb if a problem develops. As it clearly did.

The bottom line, regardless of opinion, is the simple truth that Augeri got sick, and the band could have stood behind him, but instead they replaced him mid-tour. That's not subjective. It's a fact, and I think it's INCREDIBLY lame.

[nolippin]

I don't see it as Augeri destroying his voice "for them". He did it for himself. He lived out his dream for 8 years. It's sad that it ended this way, and he will always be remembered as the guy who lipped Journey, but it was his choice to stay on the stage instead of walking away with some diginity.

I don't understand people who seem to prefer that Journey just end instead of replacing Augeri and fullfilling their contract with DL.

JSS has been accepted...and from most accunts...very widely accepted. The band has a new energy and a new voice.

I agree with this, but put yourself in his shoes... if he walks, the whole band is screwed. We don't know what was discussed between them or how they rationalized doing this, but my opinion is that they were afraid another new singer would not be accepted and they would be finished. I can think of NO other reason why neal and jonathan would go along with this sham unless they felt it was their only choice to continue.

I blame them all equally, but I feel for Augeri. He destroyed his voice for them and he sits at home humiliated and the show just goes on for the rest of them.

Sorry, but, IMO, the idea that Augeri is some innocent sacrificial lamb forced to deceive his adoring fans is a load of horse manure.

No one in the band or it's management could have forced Augeri to pick up a mic and fake it night after night...No one.

It was Augeri's decision to walk out on that stage and fake it. He could have refused, and no legal agreement in the world could have forced him to do it.

[nolippin]

NO legal document nor ANYone's army of management and lawyers can force someone to do something that amounts to fraud.

Sorry, but, IMO, the idea that Augeri is some innocent sacrificial lamb forced to deceive his adoring fans is a load of horse manure.

No one in the band or it's management could have forced Augeri to pick up a mic and fake it night after night...No one.

It was Augeri's decision to walk out on that stage and fake it. He could have refused, and no legal agreement in the world could have forced him to do it.

Not discounting any document Augeri may have signed at his hiring that in all intelligent probability probably said "you do as your told as long as you're employed by this institution", when you have an army of managers and lawyers, and the very band itself sitting in a room and telling you how it's going to be, and you don't have any real negotiation leverage, then you DO become the sacrificial lamb if a problem develops. As it clearly did.

The bottom line, regardless of opinion, is the simple truth that Augeri got sick, and the band could have stood behind him, but instead they replaced him mid-tour. That's not subjective. It's a fact, and I think it's INCREDIBLY lame.

[Matthew]

Sorry, but, IMO, the idea that Augeri is some innocent sacrificial lamb forced to deceive his adoring fans is a load of horse manure.

No one in the band or it's management could have forced Augeri to pick up a mic and fake it night after night...No one.

It was Augeri's decision to walk out on that stage and fake it. He could have refused, and no legal agreement in the world could have forced him to do it.

Not discounting any document Augeri may have signed at his hiring that in all intelligent probability probably said "you do as your told as long as you're employed by this institution", when you have an army of managers and lawyers, and the very band itself sitting in a room and telling you how it's going to be, and you don't have any real negotiation leverage, then you DO become the sacrificial lamb if a problem develops.

Unless you resign...

[Badcotune]

If you don't like it, then don't go see them play and don't buy the new CD. Simple as that.

It really is that simple, so I won't. Not everyone woships the almighty dollar, and integrity doesn't have a price tag. To some people, that matters, to some, it doesn't. Someone already made the excellent
point that in thier heyday, Def Leppard could have replaced their drummer and released another album
and toured before they did, but they chose the high road.

Replacing a lead singer mid-tour to maintian a money grab reeks more of desperation and insanity. Augeri was Journey's choice, not someone elses, and they abandoned him to feed the steamroller.

I don't want to fall guilty of stating the same point over and over, you guys know this former fan feels about it. I'm going to pass on a Journey 5.0, and think Augeri's treatment is despicable.

[bionic]

Augeri got disgusting treatment.but the fans got worse. What were you people paying to see the last 2 yrs?

I and my good friend Cetera travelled a 600 mile round trip to see them in Manchester,if i had known what i know now i would not have wasted my time and money...i got ripped off!
The band have thrown Augeri to the wolves by going live knowing that he could not do it and then lied about waiting for him to get better Not going to happen,he was out the minuite he left the mic and Jeff is in.
I said this in another post but if i knew about the tapes before evan hearing of Deano's blog is it not likely that Perry knew as well,no wonder he had no time for the band with Augeri.It upset him that they carried on without him(i did not have a problem with this) but to take the name and make it known as a band that uses tapes for the singer destroys everything Perry ,Rolie,Smith have done for this band.
A sad state of affairs indeed

[Citygirl]

You could argue that he would have been replaced anyway. It just happened sooner because of all this.

I'm not suggesting this was all planned. What I am saying is that it's hard to ignore the fact that Neal had taken a liking to JSS through Soul Sirkus etc and might well have wanted to replace Augeri with him at a later date.

[Badcotune]

[quote="nolippin"] but it was his choice to stay on the stage instead of walking away with some diginity.
[quote="Barb"]

Yes, he did it, but we just don't know that it was his personal choice, and not a management and band mandate. He may have had a contractual stipulation to do as he's told, and this SHOULD NOT be discounted, glossed over, or candy coated by an overpaid PR spin. Much like American Idol does with the unknown commodities they tap, -- contractually they basically OWN them. Anyone who thinks otherwise just isn't informed about how these things work.

[Wally_Hatchet]

It's not about anyone being a JSS cheerleader or not...

It's about being a Journey fan.