Why I Think Augieri Should Stay in Journey

[Monker]

I don't get Monker at all, JourneyRox. He has always expressed a GREAT dislike for Perry, and I think that "dislike for Perry" CLOUDS his hearing and judgement to the point he CAN'T EVEN BE TRUTHFUL about Perry's AMAZING singing abilities.

If you want to talk about Perry's abilities prior to ROR, then we can talk about how 'amazing' his vocals were. If you want to talk about ROR and after, we can talk about how much he changed, how much more raspy he became, how he had to lower the keys.

Hey JourneyRox, IF we are the ones that are brain washed & need shrinks, OR are needing a ENT specialist, then I'll believe I'll KEEP my health problems, because I DON'T NEED NO CURE FOR Steve Perry!!!!!

Lori

That's irrelevant to me. Doesn't change the fact that I think the ROR version of Journey songs, and Journey itself, sucks.

[ArnelRox]

He DID lose it in 86. Monker is right. he lost it according to his standards.

Dean, I love u man, but tell me please, where in that Long Beach boot, the last one of the ROR tour I've got, does Perry lose it? Point it out to me. Because I can't hear it.

Oh he does...there are places where he rushes and cracks a bit here and there...don't get me wrong, he still sounds good, but you can definitely tell he was tiring at this point in the Tour. I was there live that night and it was the best Journey show I have ever seen.

If it was the best Journey show u have ever seen, how can u say Perry lost it? I don't understand u.

[Monker]

Vocals are muddled? Not on any of the sound systems I've listened to those albums on. Augeri is loud and clear in the mixes on all of those. I think you're reaching there....

Many people have complained about this for years.
The lead vox on "Arrival" has always sounded muffled to me.
Strangely, WGW always sounded more upfront than the rest of the cd (perhaps because it was recorded at a later date?)
"Generations" varies dependent on what system I listen to it on.

I think Arrival's mix is very good for lead vocals, Generations is a wierd mix full stop, drum sound on Arrival is a hell of a lot better than on Generations for example. I always felt Augeri's performance on Arrival was very strong and had to be considering he was following Mr Perry.

Augeri's vocals on Generations are also incredible...they are just recorded and mixed VERY badly.

[Mandi]

He went into the studio with the band and recorded one of the best Journey albums ever (Arrival).

Sorry Mandi. Arrival was decent. But put it up against Infinity, Evolution, Departure & most especially Escape. The vocals fall way short.

Steve Augeri gave Journey eight years of his life, and he gave them happily because he lived out a dream.

No. Steve Augeri took on a job that paid him very well. More than he ever made before. He didn't volunteer to be Journey's frontman. He didn't do it for minimum wage. Get real.

He brought Journey a ton of new fans.

Hardly. & the ones he brought could never make up for the multitude lost b/c Perry wasn't w/them. It wasn't Augeri's fault that Perry-only fans left. But NO Augeri brought the band a FEW new fans, not tons.

He brought Journey some much needed class, too.

What? Hardly. Perry had/has more class in his little finger than Augeri. What? B/c Augeri was married & a family man means he had more class than Perry? Is that what ur saying? Or was it the red leather pants?

People began to see what a great person SA is, and his reputation for caring about the fans spread to the rest of the band.

Oh so u think all the hours the rest of the band spent signing autographs, MORE hours btw, back when Perry was w/them were not done b/c they cared about the band? Get real.

They ALL benefited from having SA in the band.

Not the past yr they didn't.

He is real person with a real family and very real bills to pay and a real life to live. He deserves to be compensated for not being able to continue.

Oh I see. So Neal, Ross, Jon & Deen aren't "real" people w/real families & they don't have real bills to pay & a real life to live? Go tell them that. See how they like it. WTF.

People will always blame him for the tapegate scandal, and now they will all blame him for the hold-up to "big News". The blame for all of this should fall on all five shoulders, not just one.

Yeah & who's holding up the news?

Remember when we all said that eight years ago?

Maybe u said that. I didn't.

Once again you have made some very fair and valid points, JR. I appreciate you pointing out to me the areas where I was mistaken, however, my post was only a reflection of my own personal opinion and my own personal feelings, much the same as yours was.

I must comment on a couple of things you brought up.

''Oh I see. So Neal, Ross, Jon & Deen aren't "real" people w/real families & they don't have real bills to pay & a real life to live? Go tell them that. See how they like it. WTF.''

I didn't mean to imply the rest of the band weren't "real" people who don't have families. Of course they are, but I was making the reference to SA and the fact that he is treated very inhumanly and unfairly, and he is human and deserves to be thought of as such. The other band members don't take the bashing that SA takes, so I was just trying to make a point.

He brought Journey some much needed class, too. [/quote]
[quote="Mandi"]
What? Hardly. Perry had/has more class in his little finger than Augeri. What? B/c Augeri was married & a family man means he had more class than Perry? Is that what ur saying? Or was it the red leather pants?

I don't dispute for one second the amount of class Mr. Perry does or does not have. Neither do I equate any such class with the fact that one man has a family and one does not. That is definately NOT what I was saying. In fact, my entire post has nothing at all to do with Mr. Perry. I am a fan of his, and I would never put down anything he has ever done. I just don't see why my being a fan of Steve Augeri automatically makes me the enemy here. I can be a fan of both SA and SP. I understand your love and devotion to Steve Perry and I respect that. What I don't understand is why my devotion to Steve Augeri and the eight years he spent as frontman makes me any different than you or the rest of the fans here who admire a certain band member. Also just because I love Arrival doesn't mean I don't love all the other stuff. I am capable of being flexible. And it has nothing to do with red leather pants.

Hope this clears up a few of the misconceptions you had regarding my post.

Regards
Mandi

[*Laura]

On a final note...I know I've mentioned it before, but if the boot of "Take Me Back To Ohio" intro to Faithfully Perry sang on the ROR tour could be uploaded again I think that would lay matters to rest about whether Perry could still cut it in 1986.

http://download.yousendit.com/F1ECD61D423670EF

Ur wish is my command master

I've never heard "Take Me Back To Ohio" before and now it's on repeat. This live performance confirms what was already so shiningly obvious on the ROR album.....that the utter brilliance of Perry was at its peak in '86....

I've been checking this thread and suddenly I see... "Take Me Back To Ohio".God,I forgot about this one...
I just HAD to listen to that again.And then again.
Those angelic notes,the way his voice flows efortlessly...I don't think I have heard anything more beautiful in my life done by a voice just like that...An intro to a song.

And,yea...He had an amazing range and power-voice during ROR.Whoever says no, is deaf.

[Monker]

My point is that you were comparing Steve Perry from 1978-1983 (31-35), at the peak of his career, to Augeri when he was 39-41.

Wrong. U were the one who brought it up & comparied Perry at age 37-45 (ROR & FTLOSM) to Augeri at age 39-41 saying Augeri was better. He wasn't. Now shut up.

YOU are wrong...Go back and read my original post. I was replying to YOUR post where YOU were comparing Perry 1978 - 1983 to Augeri on the 2001 DVD. That is where I made that comment...not some comparison between ROR/FTLOSM and 2001. Quite frankly, IMO anyway, Augeri blows Perry away for that comparison...at least he is singing Journey as it was meant to be sung.

So, now YOU shut the fuck up.

[Monker]

But Monker tells me Perry couldn't sing & had lost it by 86.

That is NOT what I said. I said his voice is lowered and there is a lot more rasp. He lost 'it', meaning whatever edge he had over every other singer in the world. He became very average during the ROR tour...and the sped up, tuned down, raspy versions of the songs sucked.

Let me quote u Monker: "IMO, he could no longer do those songs justice by the ROR tour...and I prefer Augeri a LOT more then Perry's ROR/FTLOSM years. WitS was AMAZING back in 1978...but Perry's voice had changed so much that it seemed like a completely different song.

I can't stand LTS from ANY of the ROR concerts. The entire rendition of that songs sucks. Perry's rusty vocals, the song is obviously tuned down...and sped WAY up. I would take ANY Journey version of LTS over the ROR tour. The same goes for Lights and WitS...They are just VERY sub-par compared to previous Perry tours, or even Augeri, IMO."

Ok, now show me in that quote where I said Perry couldn't sing. That is NOT what I said. I was commenting on how his voice change, and how the songs changed because of that, in fact how Journey itself changed. It SUCKED, and I would take ANY version of Journey over that era.

That doesn't mean he 'couldn't sing'. It means that I didn't like anything about how he DID sing, or how Journey sounded with him singing.

[Rockindeano]

My point is that you were comparing Steve Perry from 1978-1983 (31-35), at the peak of his career, to Augeri when he was 39-41.

Wrong. U were the one who brought it up & comparied Perry at age 37-45 (ROR & FTLOSM) to Augeri at age 39-41 saying Augeri was better. He wasn't. Now shut up.

YOU are wrong...Go back and read my original post. I was replying to YOUR post where YOU were comparing Perry 1978 - 1983 to Augeri on the 2001 DVD. That is where I made that comment...not some comparison between ROR/FTLOSM and 2001. Quite frankly, IMO anyway, Augeri blows Perry away for that comparison...at least he is singing Journey as it was meant to be sung.

Singing Journey the way it was supposed to be sung? Oh ok Monker. You do know he sucked so bad that night in Vegas they re recorded his vocals in studio for that right? Yea, that is how Journey should be sung.

I do agree with you that the speed up in 86 was not a great idea and I would like a singers input...is it weasier to sing sped up songs? Less time to hod notes? The words run together more thus you don't have to be clear?

[Matthew]

He DID lose it in 86. Monker is right. he lost it according to his standards.

I'm sorry but that is total crap.

[Rockindeano]

He DID lose it in 86. Monker is right. he lost it according to his standards.

I'm sorry but that is total crap.

It is? Perry himself said he was "Toast." I didn't mind the way he sounded, but I am just saying He himself set standards so high, they couldn't be met by himself.

[Matthew]

If you want to talk about Perry's abilities prior to ROR, then we can talk about how 'amazing' his vocals were. If you want to talk about ROR and after, we can talk about how much he changed, how much more raspy he became, how he had to lower the keys.

He had to lower the keys? So what? Is 'range' the sole criteria here?

[ArnelRox]

I was making the reference to SA and the fact that he is treated very inhumanly and unfairly, and he is human and deserves to be thought of as such. The other band members don't take the bashing that SA takes, so I was just trying to make a point.

I see people here & on BT all the time trashing Neal & trashing the band in general. I've seen the band called JourneySirkUS or Neal's backup band by Augeri fans. That's despicable. Neal & Gregg started the band along w/Herbie. Neal is the ONLY member who has consistently been w/this band throughout its entire existence. If it's anyone's band, it's Neal's. Since Perry was the singer who had fame w/the band & all Augeri did was tour singing his songs, if it's any lead singer's band, it's Perry's. Augeri was just his replacement. Sorry. Perry gets shit on all the time that he can't sing anymore, that he lost it in 86, that he lied about his hip. Jeff has also gotten a LOT of shit. Wigglers have called him a caveman, said he doesn't have the Journey "sound", can't hit the notes, "overdoes" it on stage & so much more. Trust me, ur precious Augeri isn't the only one who gets trashed on these boards.

I don't dispute for one second the amount of class Mr. Perry does or does not have.

WHY did u say Augeri brought the band "some much needed class". Doesn't that clearly imply that they had no class until he got there? Doesn't that therefore suggest that Perry, Neal, Ross, Jon, Gregg, Aynsley, Prairie, Smitty, Randy & Mike had no class? If Augeri was the only one to bring class, then no one had any till he got there. That is a completely unfair statement to make about a band that has existed for 30+ yrs w/incredible success internationally.

I just don't see why my being a fan of Steve Augeri automatically makes me the enemy here.

It doesn't make u an enemy. But when u make statements that Augeri brought the band some much needed class which implies they had none before him, it gets under my skin big time.

What I don't understand is why my devotion to Steve Augeri and the eight years he spent as frontman makes me any different than you or the rest of the fans here who admire a certain band member.

It doesn't. But making Augeri out to be the only "real" human being member of the band w/a "real" family & the only one that brought "much needed" class to the band is just plain wrong. It's the way u worded that which pissed me off. It's the same kind of unrealistic idol worship the wigglers show on BT. Augeri isn't God.

[Matthew]

He DID lose it in 86. Monker is right. he lost it according to his standards.

I'm sorry but that is total crap.

It is? Perry himself said he was "Toast." I didn't mind the way he sounded, but I am just saying He himself set standards so high, they couldn't be met by himself.

Deano - I've always understood that to mean he was "toast" emotionally and psychologically...that he was exhausted and burnt out. I've never taken that statement to mean that his voice was toast.

And even if it was in early '87...it certainly wasn't when he was recording the ROR album.

[YoungJRNYfan]

I occasionly switch From Perry's studio version to Augeri's LIVE DVD. She likes S.A better because she thinks Steve Perry has a "Squeeky" voice. I tried explaining to her who Steve Perry is but she won't bother to listen to me as she says, "I like the guy in the red leather pants, love his voice, lower and easier on the ears."

I can see where she is comming from, but that's just a person listening for a sound. People who know music know that S.P's voice is really legendary and both singers certainly have their own taste.

Well unfortunately Augeri's live DVD isn't LIVE. It's pro-tooled. That means all the off-notes are corrected. Nice, huh? Tell ur mom that.

No offense to ur mom but is she a wiggler?

No,Like I said, she knows nothing about Journey at all. The only song she heard and likes is Seperate Ways and likes hearing Augeri, that's about it. She's more into Patsy Cline and things like that, not into Rock Pop kind of thing.

[*Laura]

He DID lose it in 86. Monker is right. he lost it according to his standards.

I'm sorry but that is total crap.

It is? Perry himself said he was "Toast." I didn't mind the way he sounded, but I am just saying He himself set standards so high, they couldn't be met by himself.

During ROR Perry was "Toast" emotionally and physically,NOT vocally.

[*Laura]

He DID lose it in 86. Monker is right. he lost it according to his standards.

I'm sorry but that is total crap.

It is? Perry himself said he was "Toast." I didn't mind the way he sounded, but I am just saying He himself set standards so high, they couldn't be met by himself.

Deano - I've always understood that to mean he was "toast" emotionally and psychologically...that he was exhausted and burnt out. I've never taken that statement to mean that his voice was toast.

And even if it was in early '87...it certainly wasn't when he was recording the ROR album.

What Matthew said,lol.
Slow night.

[Rockindeano]

During ROR Perry was "Toast" emotionally and physically,NOT vocally.

Ms Bookwriter. You are wrong. He was toast vocally. You just won't see that because you are blinded. Had you researched for your book more thoroughly like you should have, and by contacting sources in the know, you would have registered the same response: Perry was toasted, VOCALLY.

You have to remember a toasted Perry is still pretty damned good, but he was still toast. I saw over 15 shows on ROR from beginning, middle and end. He was definitely better at the start of the ROR tour.

[ArnelRox]

YOU are wrong...Go back and read my original post. I was replying to YOUR post where YOU were comparing Perry 1978 - 1983 to Augeri on the 2001 DVD. That is where I made that comment...not some comparison between ROR/FTLOSM and 2001. Quite frankly, IMO anyway, Augeri blows Perry away for that comparison...at least he is singing Journey as it was meant to be sung.

So, now YOU shut the fuck up.

Wrong again u dipshit. I wasn't comparing. Jeremy said he preferred Augeri's delivery to Perry's on certain songs & he excerpted just a bar or 2 of 1 chorus. I simply put up entire versions of those songs from different time periods in Perry's career to ask Jeremy if he STILL, after hearing them, would prefer Augeri's delivery. It had nothing to do w/age. It had to do w/delivery.

U brought up age, no one else. Get some fucking reading glasses, u miserable old man.

Augeri blew Perry away? Ha ha. NEVER. NOT ONCE. Not even w/all the protools money could buy. Perry co-wrote the fucking songs. I think he sung them as they were MEANT to be sung.

Maybe the changed the arrangements up over time. Shit, every band does that. I recently saw Hall & Oates, Foreigner, Styx, Blue Oyster Cult, & Toto. All of those bands changed up arrangements for some songs. U know why? B/c they have been playing them for 25-30 yrs & it gets BORING.

U really should get out of the house more & go see a band. U might even manage to crack a smile once in a while. Put moisturizer on tho or ur wizened old face might fall apart.

[ArnelRox]

Ok, now show me in that quote where I said Perry couldn't sing. That is NOT what I said. I was commenting on how his voice change, and how the songs changed because of that, in fact how Journey itself changed. It SUCKED, and I would take ANY version of Journey over that era.

That doesn't mean he 'couldn't sing'. It means that I didn't like anything about how he DID sing, or how Journey sounded with him singing.

Well pardon me for interpreting comments like "rusty voice" & "sucks" as u thinking he couldn't sing. I didn't realize those were supposed to be flattering remarks

[*Laura]

During ROR Perry was "Toast" emotionally and physically,NOT vocally.

Ms Bookwriter. You are wrong. He was toast vocally. You just won't see that because you are blinded. Had you researched for your book more thoroughly like you should have, and by contacting sources in the know, you would have registered the same response: Perry was toasted, VOCALLY.

You have to remember a toasted Perry is still pretty damned good, but he was still toast. I saw over 15 shows on ROR from beginning, middle and end. He was definitely better at the start of the ROR tour.

Oh,excuse me,Dick.I forgot you are 'in the know'.

Sure,Perry was toast vocally,you have your...sources,right?Don't forget to write about that in your book about Journey.

[ArnelRox]

He had to lower the keys? So what? Is 'range' the sole criteria here?

I don't hear any keys lowered in 86. In 91 for the Bill Graham Tribute, yes. But not before then. Someone show me where they were lowered on an ROR boot.

[ArnelRox]

she won't bother to listen to me as she says, "I like the guy in the red leather pants, love his voice, lower and easier on the ears."

No,Like I said, she knows nothing about Journey at all. The only song she heard and likes is Seperate Ways and likes hearing Augeri, that's about it. She's more into Patsy Cline and things like that, not into Rock Pop kind of thing.

Hmm interesting. How on earth did she know about the red leathers then?

U must think we're all stupid.

Btw, it's "separate". U might want to spend a little more time hitting those books & less time trying to BS people on a forum.

[Rockindeano]

Mandi,

You know I like you, but....

Brought the Band some much needed class?


Ok, let me ask you this.

Did he leave Journey with class? Lipping to the Perry songs, not taking his settlement, stalling the divorce, whatever.

Now you all know why I say this guy is anything BUT classy?

[Mandi]

""WHY did u say Augeri brought the band "some much needed class". Doesn't that clearly imply that they had no class until he got there? Doesn't that therefore suggest that Perry, Neal, Ross, Jon, Gregg, Aynsley, Prairie, Smitty, Randy & Mike had no class? If Augeri was the only one to bring class, then no one had any till he got there. That is a completely unfair statement to make about a band that has existed for 30+ yrs w/incredible success internationally''


JR, that was my mistake. I didn't make my point very clear on that one. I didn't mean to imply that Journey had NO class before SA joined them, but I did mean that they (mainly Neal, Jon and Ross) displayed very little class relating to what they did regarding Steve Perry and how that entire situation was handled with the fans. Mind you, I am far from an expert on the subject of the Perry-era Journey. I don't want to open up a can of worms here. Like I said, I am no expert. But getting rid of Mr. Perry the way they did, and the way very little information was given to the fans, in my world that translates into "very little class". Just because a band has exisited for 30+ years and has attained "incredible" success, does not automatically give them "class". There have been many stories circulated among fans where the band members treated some fans poorly on some occasions (translates into "no class"). I would defy anyone to find a fan of Journey's who has come into close contact with Steve Augeri and have them say they were treated badly by him. In my own personal opinion, he has class. I have read similar things about JSS and how he treats the fans he comes into contact with. The man has class (and talent).

I will try to word my posts more carefully next time. This can become a passionate and emotional discussion, and I guess I need to think a bit more before I hit submit. Thank you for the responses, you have given me some things to think about.

Regards
Mandi

[Mandi]

Hey Dean

I know what you are saying and I cannot say that what has happened with SA and TG and all rest of it displays a favorable picture of Mr. Augeri.

His actions are still largely unexplained and subject to much speculation at this point. ( I hate that word, speculation, by the way)

My comments about his bringing class to Journey are my own opinion and are in reference to his past with the band and not necessarily in reference to his present actions. In my own opinion, this entire situation could have been handled better, and could have reflected more favorably on the entire band, but that ship has sailed, and we are all committed to moving forward. Right?

I understand why you feel the way you do about him, and I am not trying to convince anyone to change their minds about him. It is what it is. I won't change my mind about his tenure with Journey, either. I enjoyed the concerts I went to, and I loved the music. I made some new friends, and had fun. Isn't that what its all about, in the end?

Regards
Mandi

[Rockindeano]

I understand why you feel the way you do about him,

You do? That's a start.


I won't change my mind about his tenure with Journey, either. I enjoyed the concerts I went to, and I loved the music.
Mandi

I loved the shows too until I found out.

I made some new friends, and had fun. Isn't that what its all about, in the end?

Not for me it isn't. I consider Journey to be a top tier musicianship band, and nothing else. To be that status, I expect them to play LIVE. They know they fucked up, and they fixed the problem. Everything is good now.

So to answer your question, no, that's not what it is all about. I cannot listen to Arrival, 13 or gens anylonger. To me it's tainted Bullshit. it was done by a fake. I can't be around it. To me, it's about doing your job, kicking ass doing your job, and doing it right, all of which Journey can do without tapes.

[ArnelRox]

But getting rid of Mr. Perry the way they did, and the way very little information was given to the fans, in my world that translates into "very little class".

Does that situation remind u of the current one at all?

Very little info is being given to the fans right now. Where is Mr. Augeri? Why isn't he talking? Why aren't the band talking about it? Obviously, the answer is legal settlements. Lawyers tell people not to talk. If u have ever been involved w/lawyers in a legal deal, u would know this. I know it. I was involved in some legal issues where I was told not to talk. That's the way it is.

As for the guys treating the fans badly, I don't know all the circumstances. But I do know this. It's hard being famous like the guys were back in the day. Fans stalk u like crazy. I saw something on TV the other day about the incredible Fort Knox type security at Tom Cruise's house. He has to have that. Think about what happened to John Lennon when he didn't have security! Also things get spread & they're not always true. Do u remember Scottie Pippen of the championship Chicago Bulls? He was nicknamed "No Tippin' Pippen" all over Chicago at the time. I have no idea where that came from. I managed a restaurant he frequented & I saw him hand $100 dollar bills to the girls that waited on him & not just 1 $100 either. He was a perfect gentleman & a great tipper. Don't believe everything u hear.

[Matthew]

During ROR Perry was "Toast" emotionally and physically,NOT vocally.

Ms Bookwriter. You are wrong. He was toast vocally. You just won't see that because you are blinded. Had you researched for your book more thoroughly like you should have, and by contacting sources in the know, you would have registered the same response: Perry was toasted, VOCALLY.

You have to remember a toasted Perry is still pretty damned good, but he was still toast. I saw over 15 shows on ROR from beginning, middle and end. He was definitely better at the start of the ROR tour.

Well, I'm not claiming to know how well or badly Perry's voice held up in the final stages of the ROR tour - unlike you, Deano I wasn't able to see the shows and I haven't heard the bootlegs from late 86/early 87 shows which might confirm your take on this - but...when did he record the songs for Against the Wall?

Wasn't it in 1987/88? Take a track such as Melody....Perry sounds every bit as good as he did on ROR.

I guess my point is that although Perry's voice might have shown signs of wear and tear after months of touring it wasn't "toast" for long...

Also - I still haven't read anything which suggests that Pery left the ROR due to vocal problems - whereas I have read a number of accounts and interviews which reveal the emotional and psychological strain he was under.

Can you recommend any "sources" which might support your view?

Or maybe even put up a live track where Perry is struggling really badly?

[Mandi]

""Very little info is being given to the fans right now. Where is Mr. Augeri? Why isn't he talking? Why aren't the band talking about it? Obviously, the answer is legal settlements. Lawyers tell people not to talk.""



I ask myself these questions almost every day. Where IS Steve Augeri? I would love to know. I would love to know each and every little detail about this entire mess from start to finish. So would everyone else.

I hope someday, some one with the truth and all the explanations will come fcrward and give it all up. I also know that won't happen. Even if it did happen, there will be the ones who will say it just isn't true. It is so hard to separate what is fact and what is rumor and heresay. I put most of my trust these days into what I read here, from Andrew and from Dean. The rest is purely speculation.

I hope Mr. Augeri does give Andrew an interview someday. Until that day, I will be content to listen to the music of Journey past, present and future. I love all of it. I refuse to let myself get sidelined by the bashing, trashing and speculations.

Mandi

[Deb]

You have to remember a toasted Perry is still pretty damned good, but he was still toast. I saw over 15 shows on ROR from beginning, middle and end. He was definitely better at the start of the ROR tour.

You do have a point there, he does sound slightly better on the earlier ROR boots than he does on the later ones....less strained. I think that tour took a hell of a lot out of him. But vocally I think he came right back on FTLSM.