Here's a Thought About the Band...

[fred_journeyman]

I think the old band should get back together (with either Cain or Rolie; but Rolie won't do it, so go with Cain), with Smith on drums, Perry on vox, then they should do a limited engagement tour. Maybe record either a new live CD, DVD or both during the process. After that? I think Journey should call it QUITS!

No matter what they produce from now on (and some would include ARRIVAL, GENERATIONS and RED 13), it isn't Journey.

I seriously doubt that Journey can convince me that they are still Journey. They can try and if they DO produce a new CD, I'll give it a listen, but the oneness is on them to prove me wrong.

[NealIsGod]

I think the old band should get back together (with either Cain or Rolie; but Rolie won't do it, so go with Cain), with Smith on drums, Perry on vox, then they should do a limited engagement tour. Maybe record either a new live CD, DVD or both during the process. After that? I think Journey should call it QUITS!

No matter what they produce from now on (and some would include ARRIVAL, GENERATIONS and RED 13), it isn't Journey.

I seriously doubt that Journey can convince me that they are still Journey. They can try and if they DO produce a new CD, I'll give it a listen, but the oneness is on them to prove me wrong.

The onus is on them to make you like them? I doubt they care about one person. No offense.

[Lula]

Oh my..... how many times have we heard that the 'old band' should reunite to do a final tour, etc... How many times will anything post-Perry be considered many things, but never Journey by some? Steve Perry was certainly an integral part of the Journey sound and success, but to minimize the rest is absurd. I am as big a fan of Steve Perry than anyone here. I'm also a Journey fan. Ultimately I am a Neal Schon fan. To have all of the music being kept alive is a good thing. In all honesty, as I've said before, I would much rather be seeing Soul SirkUS on tour than a Journey greatest hits tour. Now that there have been some personnel changes we might be treated to a variety of songs on any given night/tour. I am all for seeing what JSS brings to the Schon/Cain writing table, his stage presence and talent are already apparent. I love World Play and it is clear Neal has a vocalist to play to/with in JSS. I have seen a new Journey on stage full of energy and excitement in the music. Bring on Journey with JSS at the helm! Screw the 'old' shit!

[Shadowsong]

Dream on but some like Rollie just don;t want to live life on the road.
Life is not static
It is ever evolving
just as the world goes round.
One can;t live in a box or in the past
Life means change
accept it or not
the world still turns

[Saint John]

I mentioned this a few weeks back. I'd like to see Perry, Rolie (with Cain)and Smitty come back for a stadium tour. You team Journey up with Bon Jovi and do a 30 city summer tour. Major outdoor stadiums only. You play 2 or 3 shows per week. Your SMALLEST crowd would probably be 30,000. You crank up the ticket prices to $100-$200 range. Plenty of money for all, not to mention rest in between gigs. Promoters would be fighting over these guys. One million fans times one to two hundred dollar ticket prices= a shitload of cash. Fuck, if Perry IS going to do something...why go down to triple A...Go right to the Major League. Wishful thinking.

[cubby69]

I think the old band should get back together (with either Cain or Rolie; but Rolie won't do it, so go with Cain), with Smith on drums, Perry on vox, then they should do a limited engagement tour. Maybe record either a new live CD, DVD or both during the process. After that? I think Journey should call it QUITS!

No matter what they produce from now on (and some would include ARRIVAL, GENERATIONS and RED 13), it isn't Journey.

I seriously doubt that Journey can convince me that they are still Journey. They can try and if they DO produce a new CD, I'll give it a listen, but the oneness is on them to prove me wrong.

You know I found it amazing that after all these years and all the albums they have released, there are these handful of these people who want to limit the 'Journey sound' to the only three albums they like, Escape, Frontiers and ROR. Journey is so much more than those three albums its unreal. I just can't figure out why you seem to have the right to tell this band what limits of making music they have to follow when its so blatantly obvious that after more than 30 years they are capable of doing whatever the fuck they feel like at any given moment and thats ok.

[Vladan]

I think the old band should get back together (with either Cain or Rolie; but Rolie won't do it, so go with Cain), with Smith on drums, Perry on vox, then they should do a limited engagement tour. Maybe record either a new live CD, DVD or both during the process. After that? I think Journey should call it QUITS!

No matter what they produce from now on (and some would include ARRIVAL, GENERATIONS and RED 13), it isn't Journey.

I seriously doubt that Journey can convince me that they are still Journey. They can try and if they DO produce a new CD, I'll give it a listen, but the oneness is on them to prove me wrong.

You know I found it amazing that after all these years and all the albums they have released, there are these handful of these people who want to limit the 'Journey sound' to the only three albums they like, Escape, Frontiers and ROR. Journey is so much more than those three albums its unreal. I just can't figure out why you seem to have the right to tell this band what limits of making music they have to follow when its so blatantly obvious that after more than 30 years they are capable of doing whatever the fuck they feel like at any given moment and thats ok.

Lets be honest, albums like Escape, Frontiers, ROR, Infinity, and the clascis albums are Journey at the their best, and they are their best records, no question. Sadly I have to agree with Journeyman Fred. Nobody will remember anything but Escape, Frontiers, ROR and maybe a few others in years to come, those are the albums that really count in the end, the ones that made an impact of people, and why the masses became fans in the first place. Arrival, Generations, Red 13 - although have the Journey name, but simply don't have the Journey quality and sound.... for a start, Perry wasn't a part of these albums, that's the problem.

[The Ghost Rider]

You know I found it amazing that after all these years and all the albums they have released, there are these handful of these people who want to limit the 'Journey sound' to the only three albums they like, Escape, Frontiers and ROR. Journey is so much more than those three albums its unreal. I just can't figure out why you seem to have the right to tell this band what limits of making music they have to follow when its so blatantly obvious that after more than 30 years they are capable of doing whatever the fuck they feel like at any given moment and thats ok.

Ha! That was the most right on the fucking money post I have seen here in...forever.

[Matthew]

I think the old band should get back together (with either Cain or Rolie; but Rolie won't do it, so go with Cain), with Smith on drums, Perry on vox, then they should do a limited engagement tour. Maybe record either a new live CD, DVD or both during the process. After that? I think Journey should call it QUITS!

No matter what they produce from now on (and some would include ARRIVAL, GENERATIONS and RED 13), it isn't Journey.

I seriously doubt that Journey can convince me that they are still Journey. They can try and if they DO produce a new CD, I'll give it a listen, but the oneness is on them to prove me wrong.

You know I found it amazing that after all these years and all the albums they have released, there are these handful of these people who want to limit the 'Journey sound' to the only three albums they like, Escape, Frontiers and ROR.

Unfortunately this "handful of people" include the band themselves...which is why they endlessly play the same songs from that era.

[ArmaniJeans]

Unfortunately this "handful of people" include the band themselves...which is why they endlessly play the same songs from that era.

In an 80 minute set, you have to give fans what they paid for: nostalgia. Maybe if they get a chance to do a longer set, they'll throw in a little diveristy.

[EightyRock]

Lula said: "Bring on Journey with JSS at the helm! Screw the 'old' shit!"

I was with you until this last part. If they agreed wtih "screw the old shit", they wouldn't have one person sitting in the audience or a promoter that would give them the time of day. Unfortunately, the old shit is the new shit to many teenagers and they like it better than anything recent that Journey has come up with so far. Soto has a good voice, is rockin' and beats Augeri hands down, but as far as them doing anything more visable than they've done in the past 8 years...I'm just not seeing how that is going to happen. Maybe they'll put out a CD that will make us all say that it is better than anything in 8 years. That's something worth hoping for. Beyond that, I think it is pretty much downhill for them.

[Lula]

Lula said: "Bring on Journey with JSS at the helm! Screw the 'old' shit!"

I was with you until this last part. If they agreed wtih "screw the old shit", they wouldn't have one person sitting in the audience or a promoter that would give them the time of day. Unfortunately, the old shit is the new shit to many teenagers and they like it better than anything recent that Journey has come up with so far. Soto has a good voice, is rockin' and beats Augeri hands down, but as far as them doing anything more visable than they've done in the past 8 years...I'm just not seeing how that is going to happen. Maybe they'll put out a CD that will make us all say that it is better than anything in 8 years. That's something worth hoping for. Beyond that, I think it is pretty much downhill for them.

I did not make myself clear with my last comment. Don't get me wrong- I love many of the old songs, most of them as a matter of fact. Of course as a die-hard I can do without Open Arms and the like, but with Deen singing that one it even sounds fresh. "Screw the old shit" was in reference to a reunion of the one requested. I love Journey's catalog, even pre-Perry, but I don't need Perry, Rolie, and Smitty in the band to give me the "Journey sound." Is that better?

[Marabelle]

Hey not sure if we're hearing the Journey sound of yesterday...seems like we're getting a bit of the JSS bitchin style and it's a much needed revived Journey.

[squirt1]

Fred- We are on the same page!!!! Perry should sing with them again. Anyway he wants it ! If he would , maybe a 10 city stadium tour would be good for him and finish out his legacy. Can you imagine the prices? If he doesn't do it soon, I will at some point give up.

[Andrew]

No matter what they produce from now on (and some would include ARRIVAL, GENERATIONS and RED 13), it isn't Journey.

Oh Good Lord!

Head over to the Styx forum...someone there you might like to meet. And while you are on your way, take a quick shot of reality juice and realize Perry ain't coming back.

[Rockindeano]

Fred- We are on the same page!!!! Perry should sing with them again. Anyway he wants it ! If he would , maybe a 10 city stadium tour would be good for him and finish out his legacy. Can you imagine the prices? If he doesn't do it soon, I will at some point give up.

Go ahead and start giving up dude. He aint doin it. Probably wouldn't be allowed in now...

[Rockindeano]

No matter what they produce from now on (and some would include ARRIVAL, GENERATIONS and RED 13), it isn't Journey.

Oh Good Lord!

Head over to the Styx forum...someone there you might like to meet.

Who? Monker? I heard she is on her menstrual cycle starting today. I can smell it from here, and I'm in California. For Christs sake Monker, douche already!

[squirt1]

You are probably right Deano. I don't think he would do it EVER. I just think it would be huge monitarily and after all he contributed ,he should do that for his soul. What are your thoughts on how big it would be financially? Do you think, if the bucks were enough, Neal would jump?

[Rockindeano]

What I think is Neal is so diggin this lineup...a real singer who GETS ALONG SO WELL WITH HIM, as great as Perry was, and as much bank that would bring in, I don't know..Have to ask Schon himself...I can't answer for him.

I can tell you about money. I don't think one Brinks truck would be able to carry it all. You might have to rent a fuckin train to haul the cash that a reunited Journey would bring in.

Let's be honest, tis is a fantasy for some, and I am wasting keystrokes, but if perry ever reurned, there wouldn't be a co headlining act or even a warmup.


Ain't happening.

I love this new lineup. IMO, possibly the best ever n overall scheme of things. Yeah Perry was the best, but Soto is right there...Neal is BETTER IMO than in the 80's, and Deen and his vocals? Fuck, make sure Ross has good buds to smoke, and Friga can get "Touched by an Angel" on each and every hotel they visit, and I seriously think you will see more than a blip on the radar from these guys next year, I honestly do.

[Rockindeano]

By the way, what I meant to say is, I am not so sure Neal would let him do Journey now. I really think Schon is a happy motherfucker.....

[fred_journeyman]

This was fun!

Now, let's dissect what I said, all right? First of all, I gave my opinion. I wasn't telling the band to do anything. I don't care if they do what I said, or continue playing the nostalgia-driven shows they play night after night. It makes absolutely NO difference to me at all. I was simply talking aloud. Obviously, the band makes their money by playing those shows, but umm...wait, are they actually moving ahead? If they are, then I've missed it.

My opinion? Personally, I don't think that Journey will actually move forward. Why? Because they've been stuck in a veritable RUT for the past HOW many years? They've produced two and a half CDs in that time and have hardly played any of it in concert. When ARRIVAL was released, they didn't push the tunes in concert because they said the label didn't promote the CD. They gave up on ARRIVAL, even though it had some decent music on it. They HAD their chance to move ahead then, but shrunk back from it when it looked to the band like the people in the audience weren't "getting" it. Red 13 came out and everyone went "Uh...what's that?!" Journey pretty much dropped the ball on that one as well. GENERATIONS has come out and how many songs from it do they play in concert? Beyond this, they've literally gone through one new singer and they are on their second.

Had Journey been producing AND playing their new music since they reformed with Augeri, it would be a whole lot easier for them to MOVE forward. Of course it would have been tough at the beginning, but had they fought on, they would have moved on THROUGH the perceived NEED from the fans to simply give them nostalgia. Journey played new music, the fans balked and Journey backtracked. They made - in my opinion - a fatal mistake then.

Did I say (in my first post in this thread) that Perry WOULD come back? No, I didn't say that. My opinion on that one has not changed. I do not believe he will EVER play with Journey again...even if they are inducted into the RRHOF.

When I said the onus was on THEM, what I meant was exactly that...they would have to prove to me (as a consumer) that they can and are able to move on. Will they look at my post and go, "Holy CRAP Batman, Fred needs us to prove it to him. Let's go, ROBIN!" Of course not. My initial statement was NOT motivated by ego. It was motivated by nothing more than "I'll wait and see what they do" attitude.

So, everyone needs to relax a bit. I am not telling the band to do ANYTHING...Cubby (or anyone else who wrongly thinks I am). I am simply talking aloud and if I happen to think that they need to stop playing the nostalgia circuit, then that's what I think. Who the hell is anyone else to tell me that I cannot think that way? I'm not foisting my opinion on the band or anyone. I'm simply sharing it and I'm not egotistical enough to think that they band will read it and immediately make plans to put it into action, nor am I egotistical enough to think that my opinion is the only opinion that matters. In spite of what some may think (and I've been accused of it many times), I simply share my OPINION and that's all it is.

Get this straight...I do NOT care what Journey does. I do not care if they continue touring themselves into the ground, singing one nostalgic hit after another. Afterall, this is what they've done since they've reformed. Why expect anything else from them now? They have a new lead singer, but what makes anyone think that if they DO produce a new CD, they'll all grow balls enough to play any of it LIVE? Shit, don't bag on my opinion as if I'm sitting here dictating to the band what they should do, yet it's obvious that the band is doing only what one type of fan wants them to do - the classics. That's what they do, that's what they WILL do, until they wear out another singer and then another singer and then another singer and pretty soon, to solve their problems, they'll hire a female whose voice won't tire out and they can continue to tour until Neal is in a wheelchair and Ross can't stand up any longer.

Am I the only one who sees it for what it is? The classics are the SAFETY NET for Journey. Irrespective of HOW much more music they might produce or how many new CDs they might release, does any one honestly believe at this juncture that they will incorporate 6 or 7 of those NEW songs (not old classics) into the mix like they used to do when the classic line-up was there?

They cannot afford to do that because touring is their bread and butter now and they cannot afford to lose their current concert-going fanbase. Economics.

So, in spite of the fact that JSS is now with them, and even IF they produce a new CD, I will be mightily surprised if they incorporate the new music into their live concert set list OR if their fanbase grows because of it.

That's why I said what I said in my first post. I would love to be proven wrong (which is why I said the onus is on them to prove me wrong by being successful at producing new music AND playing it live in concert AND increasing their fanbase because of it).

Short of that, if all they are going to do is play the CLASSIC tunes, then they should go back to the line-up that made those classic songs CLASSICS, tour for a bit and then call it a day.

This is ALL an opinion and regardless of the insults, the sarcasm and all the rest, it is an OPINION and NOTHING anyone can say to me will change my opinion.

[fred_journeyman]

...I just can't figure out why you seem to have the right to tell this band what limits of making music they have to follow when its so blatantly obvious that after more than 30 years they are capable of doing whatever the fuck they feel like at any given moment and thats ok.

And yet, in the other thread, you seem to agree with FYRE in his/her complaint about the type of music that Journey plays in concert and the fact that Jon has two piano solos...boring, right? But it's okay for YOU to make those statements because YOU'RE the one making them, yet if I make a statement, then all of a sudden mine is borne of ego? Apparently, some of what they do in concert is NOT okay with you and a few other people.

[Vladan]

This was fun!

Now, let's dissect what I said, all right? First of all, I gave my opinion. I wasn't telling the band to do anything. I don't care if they do what I said, or continue playing the nostalgia-driven shows they play night after night. It makes absolutely NO difference to me at all. I was simply talking aloud. Obviously, the band makes their money by playing those shows, but umm...wait, are they actually moving ahead? If they are, then I've missed it.

My opinion? Personally, I don't think that Journey will actually move forward. Why? Because they've been stuck in a veritable RUT for the past HOW many years? They've produced two and a half CDs in that time and have hardly played any of it in concert. When ARRIVAL was released, they didn't push the tunes in concert because they said the label didn't promote the CD. They gave up on ARRIVAL, even though it had some decent music on it. They HAD their chance to move ahead then, but shrunk back from it when it looked to the band like the people in the audience weren't "getting" it. Red 13 came out and everyone went "Uh...what's that?!" Journey pretty much dropped the ball on that one as well. GENERATIONS has come out and how many songs from it do they play in concert? Beyond this, they've literally gone through one new singer and they are on their second.

Had Journey been producing AND playing their new music since they reformed with Augeri, it would be a whole lot easier for them to MOVE forward. Of course it would have been tough at the beginning, but had they fought on, they would have moved on THROUGH the perceived NEED from the fans to simply give them nostalgia. Journey played new music, the fans balked and Journey backtracked. They made - in my opinion - a fatal mistake then.

Did I say (in my first post in this thread) that Perry WOULD come back? No, I didn't say that. My opinion on that one has not changed. I do not believe he will EVER play with Journey again...even if they are inducted into the RRHOF.

When I said the onus was on THEM, what I meant was exactly that...they would have to prove to me (as a consumer) that they can and are able to move on. Will they look at my post and go, "Holy CRAP Batman, Fred needs us to prove it to him. Let's go, ROBIN!" Of course not. My initial statement was NOT motivated by ego. It was motivated by nothing more than "I'll wait and see what they do" attitude.

So, everyone needs to relax a bit. I am not telling the band to do ANYTHING...Cubby (or anyone else who wrongly thinks I am). I am simply talking aloud and if I happen to think that they need to stop playing the nostalgia circuit, then that's what I think. Who the hell is anyone else to tell me that I cannot think that way? I'm not foisting my opinion on the band or anyone. I'm simply sharing it and I'm not egotistical enough to think that they band will read it and immediately make plans to put it into action, nor am I egotistical enough to think that my opinion is the only opinion that matters. In spite of what some may think (and I've been accused of it many times), I simply share my OPINION and that's all it is.

Get this straight...I do NOT care what Journey does. I do not care if they continue touring themselves into the ground, singing one nostalgic hit after another. Afterall, this is what they've done since they've reformed. Why expect anything else from them now? They have a new lead singer, but what makes anyone think that if they DO produce a new CD, they'll all grow balls enough to play any of it LIVE? Shit, don't bag on my opinion as if I'm sitting here dictating to the band what they should do, yet it's obvious that the band is doing only what one type of fan wants them to do - the classics. That's what they do, that's what they WILL do, until they wear out another singer and then another singer and then another singer and pretty soon, to solve their problems, they'll hire a female whose voice won't tire out and they can continue to tour until Neal is in a wheelchair and Ross can't stand up any longer.

Am I the only one who sees it for what it is? The classics are the SAFETY NET for Journey. Irrespective of HOW much more music they might produce or how many new CDs they might release, does any one honestly believe at this juncture that they will incorporate 6 or 7 of those NEW songs (not old classics) into the mix like they used to do when the classic line-up was there?

They cannot afford to do that because touring is their bread and butter now and they cannot afford to lose their current concert-going fanbase. Economics.

So, in spite of the fact that JSS is now with them, and even IF they produce a new CD, I will be mightily surprised if they incorporate the new music into their live concert set list OR if their fanbase grows because of it.

That's why I said what I said in my first post. I would love to be proven wrong (which is why I said the onus is on them to prove me wrong by being successful at producing new music AND playing it live in concert AND increasing their fanbase because of it).

Short of that, if all they are going to do is play the CLASSIC tunes, then they should go back to the line-up that made those classic songs CLASSICS, tour for a bit and then call it a day.

This is ALL an opinion and regardless of the insults, the sarcasm and all the rest, it is an OPINION and NOTHING anyone can say to me will change my opinion.

Nicely put, well said mate. That was a good read, not only that I agree with you 100% - I think you are honest aswell.

[Shadowsong]

Fred makes some great points
& it does seem as if they have been standing on the laurels of SP's coattail's.
Perhaps that is really what the audience wants to hear.
In a way Jeff, has it alot easier than SA
The stone was already cracked
He had no part in it
He is only picking up the pieces.

Perhaps, now is the time when they \should try to make music for the sake of music
Hopefully it will be good original music worthy of them
Maybe now is the time to hone there own collective sound
Unless they do so soon they will be forever ostracised for trying to be something that just no longer is.
If they just want to milk a stone then they are not much better than any cover band or tribute band

Only they can decide which way they will go....
They have a great versatile powerful voice on board.
Common, lets put Jeff to good use...

[RedWingFan]

Nicely put, well said mate. That was a good read, not only that I agree with you 100% - I think you are honest aswell.

Ditto Fred, thanks for spending all that time typing that up so I wouldn't have to.

[squirt1]

So Deano- You are saying Neal has 9 lives and lands on both feet? He gets a DL/Journey ticket and unveils Soto. At least that is how I was ranting to myself when I 1st heard. I have to say I would go again to see Soto. I never thought Augeri had it,so I only went 1 time . You said dude, a few posts back,but it is just grandma rocker. By the way, Andrew should put you on his payroll. You are too much fun ! You have my 72 yr old sister-in law snickering with some of your antics and are probably causing Andrew to take Excedrin PM on occasion , I'll bet.

[Andrew]

Andrew should put you on his payroll. You are too much fun ! You have my 72 yr old sister-in law snickering with some of your antics and are probably causing Andrew to take Excedrin PM on occasion , I'll bet.

No argument there - but what bloody payroll...hahaha

I'm lucky to get paid myself....

[Liam]

No matter what they produce from now on (and some would include ARRIVAL, GENERATIONS and RED 13), it isn't Journey.

Oh Good Lord!

Head over to the Styx forum...someone there you might like to meet. And while you are on your way, take a quick shot of reality juice and realize Perry ain't coming back.

PERRY'S NOT COMING BACK????? Shit. I'm done with this band.

I really am an asshole aren't I? haha

[ddregs]

You know I found it amazing that after all these years and all the albums they have released, there are these handful of these people who want to limit the 'Journey sound' to the only three albums they like, Escape, Frontiers and ROR.

A simple question: I find it very weird lots of people (I'm not directing this at you, cubby 69 ) are referring to ROR as one of the classics Journey records and sound , while I find it very different from what they sounded before.
It is much more a mix of Perry solo sound and Journey's more pop oriented songs, with funky (Once You love somebody, The Eyes of a Woman) thrown in.
If I had to define what is the classic Journey sound, this record's not in at all.

Cheers!

[Enigma869]

I'm not sure I know of any band or solo artist who doesn't play their hits. I've always wondered why people are so shocked by this. The reality is that fans like us who visit internet sites to talk about the bands we love are a miniscule (less than 1%) group. Bands have to play the songs that made them famous to the masses.

It's always amused me when I see members over at BT talk about how Journey should be playing music from Generations. For what it's worth, I thought Generations sucked ass (Damn, it's so liberating to be able to say that here without listening to everyone whine about an honest opinion like at the other site). If Journey started playing music from Generations at one of their concert, I'd quickly head for the exits, and I've been a Journey fan since 1978!

As JSS said himself on this very forum...Most of the fans they encounter are shocked to learn that Perry isn't with Journey any longer! This is the casual fan who Journey and every other band has to appeal to. I'm quite sure if the average fan doesn't know Perry left Journey 10 years ago, they're certainly not going to know or want to hear music from new cd's they don't even know existed. It simply comes down to the new stuff not being music that most fans have any connection with.

John from Boston