An Open Letter To All MR Journey Fans

[The Ghost Rider]

I have been a MelodicRock "fan" for several years. I have nothing but praise for Andrew and what he has done here. Thank you, sir. I have only come to the Message Board in the last several months. I do a lot of reading...but, not a lot of posting.

I am a Journey fan, obviously. First and formost, though, I am a MUSIC fan. I am not a "hardcore" Journey fan, like I consider most of you here to be. That is probably why I don't "jump in" more often. But trust me, I am a "hardcore" MUSIC fan. I DO like Journey, though. I was a fan of Journey before Perry, with Perry, and even after Perry. The only Journey I don't consider Journey is that whole Raised On Radio thing. WTF was that all about? I would have to say, though, without a doubt that my favorite line-up was with Perry and Rolie. I can't help but wonder what might have been if Rolie had stayed a little longer? Guess we'll never know. Anyway...

Just a few observations here:

-I find it disturbing that so many people have turned on Steve Augeri. The guy did an admirable job filling some shoes that were damn near impossible to fill. Whatever happened in the past few months...happened. Personally, I have no doubt that whatever DID happen is not just Augeri's fault. It had to be ALL of them in on it...which is disappointing. Whatever happened to a little honesty? We (people in general) are a forgiving kind...if given the chance. You know, I'd rather have someone look me in the eye and say "I made a mistake" or "Hey, this is what happened..." than to have someone look away and not say anything at all. At any rate, I think Augeri did an admirable job given the task at hand. He gave us some good music...and I thank him for that.

-JSS is kick ass. I've been a fan for some time....from Malmsteen to solo to Talismen. I was hoping for more with Soul Sirkus (just being honest), but World Play is very good....just falls short of excellent, imo. I wish only the best for Jeff, whatever it may be. I can't think of one "rocker" out there who deserves good things to come his way more. I am just hoping that if Journey is the future of JSS, it won't spell the end of everything else for him.

-Shame on you Journey for not "coming clean" with your fans. We are the ones who will buy your albums and come to your shows. I feel like I've been told "fuck you" by a band that I've supported for 30 years.

-Journey will never be a big as they once were. Even if the next album they put out is their best EVER. Even if Perry came back. It wouldn't matter. Their best days are gone. The music scene is much different these days. Period.


And one final thought. I have NEVER encountered a group of people that are more passionate about a particular band in all my years....even with all the bickering, name-calling, and disagreement. It gives me hope....and I thank you all.


That's just my thoughts on it, anyway.

[fred_journeyman]

-Journey will never be a big as they once were. Even if the next album they put out is their best EVER. Even if Perry came back. It wouldn't matter. Their best days are gone...

I agree with the above statement wholeheartedly. Journey's best days are in the past and thank God, they were recorded. Even Perry's presence with the band, in my opinion, would make no measureable difference over the long haul. It's over, and Journey may as well face the fact that they are purely a band of nostalgia, that makes fans of yesteryear happy for a few hours each night they play live.

[ProgRocker53]

While I realize Journey will never again reach their peak in popularity, I'd still love for them to keep on going and recording albums.

I've noticed a recent resurgence in popularity when it comes to Journey in my age group (I'm a college freshman), and I'm pleased. Recently I burnt a friend mixes of pre-Perry and post-Perry Journey, and a mix of album cuts, to show him how much more incredible the band is beyond the hits. I'm beginning to slowly help spread the gospel of Journey through my dorm hallway, and to anyone who walks by my open window! I'm always cranking out the Journey (and Van Halen, and Boston, and Tom Petty.... but mainly Journey!).

[Shadowsong]

I do feel sorry for SA as a person.
He did the best job he could
Perhaps the constant trying to up his voice did damage
That is so distressing.
Guess it's just the biz
You got to get the product across and if you can't they will find another who can
Afterall it's just a job...

"Just a job"
I guess we are all JUST A Product or a means to a end for the man with the $$$$

[Spike]

With the possible exception of Deano, I'm not sure that masses have "turned on" SA; but there is certainly a good deal of disappointment about the tape allegations from those who believe them (and I am one). I think my disappointment is with the entire band and their organization - a band that for years I promoted to friends and family as a benchmark in live performance. I've been reading this forum for some time and I think there are some clearly identifiable groups here (plus one or two individuals that I wouldn't dare categorise!):

Group 1: Journey should not have continued without SP anyway so anything since 1998 is moot.
Group 2: SA did a wonderful job in moving the journey forward and should be supported now.
Group 3: SA did a wonderful job in moving the journey forward but the alleged use of tapes has spoiled all that.
Group 4: SA did an OK job but Journey has just been marking time during his tenure
Group 5: SA was minor league from the outset and Journey should have dumped him long ago.

I'm sure there are more schools of thought than these, too.

Anyhow, it seems that any response to the current situation depends on where the commentator sits in the opinion spectrum. I confess, I have always been in Group 4 - I believed Journey had the right to continue on without Perry, but I have never been convinced by SA. His voice just never reached me as one I had to listen to. Not knocking the guy, just that we all experience a different emotional response to musical input. I wish him well, but I'd be perfectly happy to see Journey continue without him.

I think one big change recently is that those who were not 100% convinced by SA have found a friendlier climate in which to express these views without being shot down.

[bionic]

Steve being the one who mimed will always be the one people dislike, when you charge people money for a show and they dont get what they payed for they will bash the singer in this case. Its like he was the one holding the smoking gun,does not matter that he was put up to it,thats just how people react.
I like the guy he was great in the band,everything he achieved has been undermined by the use of tapes and the band sail on with Jeff and Steve is left with mud on his face.
I hope the guy can come honest and move on from this,people expect a explanation and the band should have done that if only for Augeri's sake.

[Rockindeano]

If Schon is to blame, it's for this reason most of all.

He hired Augeri.

Augeri was good for 2 years. Hell, who knows how long Elson was tinkering with his live shows?

We all know the Warfield wasn't released.
We all know the Vegas DVD wasn't "original."
We all know Dallas won't ever see a shelf in a store.


THAT should tell us something. Augeri was shit. I will always despise that fucker, and wherever he goes, I will follow.

[A Fire Inside]

We all know the Warfield wasn't released.
We all know the Vegas DVD wasn't "original."
We all know Dallas won't ever see a shelf in a store.

Hold the phone...

-They knew fans had ripped the 2001 audio onto CDs
-Augeri mimed to 2001 in Dallas
-Warfield wasn't released because Augeri also mimed

Yet they spent a load of money filming Dallas anyway. Can you explain this?

[treetopovskaya]

If Schon is to blame, it's for this reason most of all.

He hired Augeri.

Augeri was good for 2 years. Hell, who knows how long Elson was tinkering with his live shows?

We all know the Warfield wasn't released.
We all know the Vegas DVD wasn't "original."
We all know Dallas won't ever see a shelf in a store.


THAT should tell us something. Augeri was shit. I will always despise that fucker, and wherever he goes, I will follow.

isn't that a u2 song? };C))

[Rock Fn]

[quote="



-I find it disturbing that so many people have turned on Steve Augeri. The guy did an admirable job filling some shoes that were damn near impossible to fill. Whatever happened in the past few months...happened. Personally, I have no doubt that whatever DID happen is not just Augeri's fault. It had to be ALL of them in on it...which is

.[/quote]

I totally agree..If you're going to assign blame, It has to be with everyone. Kind of like blaming the accounts for the mess while the CEO says, "I didn't know what was going on" Bullshit, you can't have it both ways.

[treetopovskaya]

[quote="



-I find it disturbing that so many people have turned on Steve Augeri. The guy did an admirable job filling some shoes that were damn near impossible to fill. Whatever happened in the past few months...happened. Personally, I have no doubt that whatever DID happen is not just Augeri's fault. It had to be ALL of them in on it...which is

.

I totally agree..If you're going to assign blame, It has to be with everyone. Kind of like blaming the accounts for the mess while the CEO says, "I didn't know what was going on" Bullshit, you can't have it both ways.[/quote]

i agree! plus... it's neal's band right? so...

just saying!

[Matthew]

The only Journey I don't consider Journey is that whole Raised On Radio thing. WTF was that all about?

The awesome genius of Steve Perry. That's what it was about.

[brandonx76]

The only Journey I don't consider Journey is that whole Raised On Radio thing. WTF was that all about?

The awesome genius of Steve Perry. That's what it was about.

LOL...is that you Greg Rolie? Is that you Steve Smith? Is that you Ross?

On ROR...it definitely wasn't 'awesome', I think alot of us went "WTF". Especially with that sax solo "positive touch"

Anyway...good source post

[Matthew]

The only Journey I don't consider Journey is that whole Raised On Radio thing. WTF was that all about?

The awesome genius of Steve Perry. That's what it was about.

LOL...is that you Greg Rolie? Is that you Steve Smith? Is that you Ross?

On ROR...it definitely wasn't 'awesome', I think alot of us went "WTF". Especially with that sax solo "positive touch"

Anyway...good source post

Perry's vocals on ROR are undeniably awesome. In fact, it's possibly the greatest vocal performance ever...by any artist.

I'm sure many Journey fans did go "WTF". And what's wrong with that? The band took a risk...the sound of the band had evolved...they didn't want to churn out the same old album. Let's hope Journey try to emulate some of that adventurous spirit now that JSS is in the band...a spirit that has been almost entirely absent for twenty years.

By the way...that sax solo on "Positive Touch" is a timeless classic.

[The Ghost Rider]

The only Journey I don't consider Journey is that whole Raised On Radio thing. WTF was that all about?

The awesome genius of Steve Perry. That's what it was about.

You didn't include the "laugh" when you quoted me. It was a joke. I know a lot of people like ROR....I'm just not one of them. Just because I don't like something doesn't mean I think it's shit. It simply means that I didn't like it. Nothing more.

[Matthew]

The only Journey I don't consider Journey is that whole Raised On Radio thing. WTF was that all about?

The awesome genius of Steve Perry. That's what it was about.

You didn't include the "laugh" when you quoted me. It was a joke. I know a lot of people like ROR....I'm just not one of them. Just because I don't like something doesn't mean I think it's shit. It simply means that I didn't like it. Nothing more.

You're right. I accidentally cropped the laugh out and it changed the tone of your sentence.

I guess I feel the same way about "Arrival". I don't think it's shit - but I just don't like it. Actually...that's a lie...I do think it's shit.

[SteveForever]

The guys/band members in Journey created an unbelievable machine when they were super young that no one can ever recreate again. All machines get older though no matter how much tweaking you do to keep them alive. I admire them for keeping it together and keeping the people in our generation (the ones that heard the live in the 70's and 80's) motivated and feeling young. They work super hard and they don't OWE us anything except to give us a performace that we pay for. The argument about it being 100% live can be debated about anything you listen to or even what you see or think you see.

Listening to music isn't an ethical choice, one doesn't have to dissect every little thing about it to figure out if its worthy for "your ears." Just take it for what it is, Neal is never going to deny nor confirm what happened and Steve A. did the very very best he could. Certain people slam him on this board-they loved him too-read old posts if you find that hard to believe.... and the reason they are sad or angry now is because they are Disappointed and Depressed that he couldn't keep it going.

Journey is all good, move on and be positive!

[Matthew]

Journey is all good, move on and be positive!

I'd say Journey was all good...then it sank into a state of utter mediocrity which depressed the hell out of me...and now that JSS is in the band I agree with you all the way...it's time to move on and be positive.

[The Ghost Rider]

If Schon is to blame, it's for this reason most of all.

He hired Augeri.

Augeri was good for 2 years. Hell, who knows how long Elson was tinkering with his live shows?

We all know the Warfield wasn't released.
We all know the Vegas DVD wasn't "original."
We all know Dallas won't ever see a shelf in a store.


THAT should tell us something. Augeri was shit. I will always despise that fucker, and wherever he goes, I will follow.

Neal Schon IS to blame. At least as much as Augeri...and the rest of the people involved. You know it and I know it. The only difference is I'm not kissing their asses like you are.

"Augeri was shit."


No. He was human. If he was "shit", as you say, they would have got rid of him a long time ago.


"I will always despise that fucker, and wherever he goes, I will follow."


So you hate Steve Augeri, we get it...good for you. Why don't you get the hell over it already. Leave the man alone, and let him move on with his life. Jesus...nothing like kicking a man when he's down. Does that make you feel like a bigger man?

[The Ghost Rider]

The only Journey I don't consider Journey is that whole Raised On Radio thing. WTF was that all about?

The awesome genius of Steve Perry. That's what it was about.

You didn't include the "laugh" when you quoted me. It was a joke. I know a lot of people like ROR....I'm just not one of them. Just because I don't like something doesn't mean I think it's shit. It simply means that I didn't like it. Nothing more.

You're right. I accidentally cropped the laugh out and it changed the tone of your sentence.

I guess I feel the same way about "Arrival". I don't think it's shit - but I just don't like it. Actually...that's a lie...I do think it's shit.

It's cool. I didn't like Arrival that much, either. But hey, how boring would life be if we all liked the exact same thing?

[Matthew]

The only Journey I don't consider Journey is that whole Raised On Radio thing. WTF was that all about?

The awesome genius of Steve Perry. That's what it was about.

You didn't include the "laugh" when you quoted me. It was a joke. I know a lot of people like ROR....I'm just not one of them. Just because I don't like something doesn't mean I think it's shit. It simply means that I didn't like it. Nothing more.

You're right. I accidentally cropped the laugh out and it changed the tone of your sentence.

I guess I feel the same way about "Arrival". I don't think it's shit - but I just don't like it. Actually...that's a lie...I do think it's shit.

It's cool. I didn't like Arrival that much, either. But hey, how boring would life be if we all liked the exact same thing?

That's what I like about this site so much. There's such a wide cross-section of opinions...which just isn't tolerated elsewhere...

[Classic Rock]

While I realize Journey will never again reach their peak in popularity, I'd still love for them to keep on going and recording albums.

I've noticed a recent resurgence in popularity when it comes to Journey in my age group (I'm a college freshman), and I'm pleased. Recently I burnt a friend mixes of pre-Perry and post-Perry Journey, and a mix of album cuts, to show him how much more incredible the band is beyond the hits. I'm beginning to slowly help spread the gospel of Journey through my dorm hallway, and to anyone who walks by my open window! I'm always cranking out the Journey (and Van Halen, and Boston, and Tom Petty.... but mainly Journey!).

I'm a college sophomore and I agree with you. I am also working on trying to get friends beyond the Greatest Hits. I wear a lot of classic rock band t shirts so it starts conversation with a lot of people and the band I always talk about (right after The Beatles of course) is Journey. I don't mention tapegate but I say they got a new lead singer that kicks ass. Journey has a bigger younger fan base than they and a lot of older fans realize. I just hope there is more people our age trying to spread the word too.

[Wally_Hatchet]

I I can't help but wonder what might have been if Rolie had stayed a little longer? Guess we'll never know.

We would have never had "Escape" or "Frontiers".

[AR]

Warfield wasn't released because Augeri also mimed

Warfield was not mimed. I have it.

The vocal performance just wasn't any good.

[Matthew]

I I can't help but wonder what might have been if Rolie had stayed a little longer? Guess we'll never know.

We would have never had "Escape" or "Frontiers".

I reckon Journey would have stagnated for an album or two - and then Perry would have given him the elbow.

The band had to evolve - to take things to a whole new level - and given that the first three albums of their 'commercial' period were so similar I can't see how Journey could have achieved this with Rolie in the band.

Rolie definitely did the right thing by leaving when he did. And by all accounts...he has no regrets either.

[Rockindeano]

Warfield wasn't released because Augeri also mimed

Warfield was not mimed. I have it.

The vocal performance just wasn't any good.

Either way, Augeri sucks. Is that about right?

[AR]

Either way, Augeri sucks. Is that about right?

Remind me to hide the bootlegs from that era when you come over.

I just popped in a Tyketto live performance that I sometimes forget I have. Augeri sounds nothing like he did singing on Journey records. Really shows how he had to change his style (and destroy himself in the process)

[Rockindeano]

Ok you Motherfucker. You just picked the wrong fight.

Neal Schon IS to blame. At least as much as Augeri...and the rest of the people involved. You know it and I know it. The only difference is I'm not kissing their asses like you are.

Excuse me. Sure they are all wrong, but no one is more guilty than Augeri. HE could have himself stopped it. But HE knew if he stopped it, HE would no longer have a gravy train job. See, what you and other dumbfucks do not understand, is Augeri knew back in 2003 he could NOT do this job. HE needed tapes and HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM using them to save his own ass. HE was the weak link. Last time I checked, Schon plays the guitar pretty fucking well, Deen plays the drums pretty fucking well, The Frig plays the piano pretty fucking well, and Valory plays the bass pretty fucking well. Augeri could NOT sing a lick, at all. Some of the member DID NOT know just how much he was syncing. They play their instruments. Some of the members didn't even have him in their mix!

Kissing ass? I will tell Schon to his face they fucked up. If you remember anything from that whole episode, I DID say that when the band goes all live, this entire Tape Gate discussion will cease. They did, the Blog came down immediately, and they have moved on and so have I. Like I said, the 4 remaining members play well enough to NOT have to use tricks. That's like me going up on stage and playing a guitar to Neal's tape. Unacceptable.

No. He was human. If he was "shit", as you say, they would have got rid of him a long time ago.

Not that easy. Management would cut him off. Don't ask me why. THIS is wht Azoff needs to be booted off an airplane in mid flight.

So you hate Steve Augeri, we get it...good for you. Why don't you get the hell over it already. Leave the man alone, and let him move on with his life. Jesus...nothing like kicking a man when he's down. Does that make you feel like a bigger man?

I am a bigger man than Augeri. You don't see me up there on stage faking my way through songs. If I was perry, I would fly out to NY and throttle his ass for making a mockery of the songs I wrote and sang, and subsequently made great.

Kick a man when he is down? I wish I could interview him, face to face. See him squirm in those red leather pants. I am not the least shameful of what I did. However, Steve Augeri is sure as fuck shamed and should be. I would do the exact same thing to JSS if he pulled that shit. JSS would never do that, and if I did expose JSS, he would come over and try to kick my ass. JSS is a dude, Augeri is a bitch.

When they "officially" kick his ass out of Journey, I will not "kick him anylonger."

Go watch the Beacon NY show. Watch him show all his emotion, patting his chest, gripping his heart..It is sickening. He is looking right at Schon. Schon had no idea how much syncing was actually happening.

[AR]

Go watch the Beacon NY show. Watch him show all his emotion, patting his chest, gripping his heart..It is sickening. He is looking right at Schon. Schon had no idea how much syncing was actually happening.

That is the most disturbing part of it all. IMO

[Rockindeano]

Either way, Augeri sucks. Is that about right?

Remind me to hide the bootlegs from that era when you come over.

Good idea. I would heave those fucking Augeri era boots out the window in a heartbeat. Neal owes me 30 bucks for Arrival, Red 13, and Generations. They are nothing but coasters now.