The Band had a chance to gain Credibility but did not

[kcroyaljosh]

To me Journey is Steve Perry. I never went to one of his concerts, I just have the Perry CD's and DVD's. All of the bands sucess has been under Perry and more than likely they will not has as much sucess with thier new record without Perry. I have seen JSS and he was ok. I could not hear him most of the concert. I don't know if that was by design or not. I just get very upset with bands how just can't get along. Do they not get it!!! Styx and Chicago are other examples of this. No matter who is at fault the sucess was made with thier lead singers. Let's face it all of thier sucess was made with thier frontman and now they are gone. Now I look at the new frontman for Journey and I say to myself he pretty good but not the original. It is like getting the Wal-Mart brand or something. It might taste the same it it is not the same. The other issue is what kind of station are they going to play thier music on? The major labels push the corprate music on the stations, I just don't see much sucess with Journey with JSS. I would see some sucess with Steve Perry, just because of the name. Yea Steve Perry may not be as good now and some of the songs he may not be able to sing, but they band would have a better following at concerts and more than likely have more sucess with a album.

[NealIsGod]

To me Journey is Steve Perry.

No need to continue reading this post.

[Melissa]

To me Journey is Steve Perry.

No need to continue reading this post.

Yep, my first response was lol

[ohsherrie]

Can you believe I'm agreeing with you NIG? My how things have changed with the frontman.

[Saint John]

To me Journey is Steve Perry. I never went to one of his concerts, I just have the Perry CD's and DVD's. All of the bands sucess has been under Perry and more than likely they will not has as much sucess with thier new record without Perry. I have seen JSS and he was ok. I could not hear him most of the concert. I don't know if that was by design or not. I just get very upset with bands how just can't get along. Do they not get it!!! Styx and Chicago are other examples of this. No matter who is at fault the sucess was made with thier lead singers. Let's face it all of thier sucess was made with thier frontman and now they are gone. Now I look at the new frontman for Journey and I say to myself he pretty good but not the original. It is like getting the Wal-Mart brand or something. It might taste the same it it is not the same. The other issue is what kind of station are they going to play thier music on? The major labels push the corprate music on the stations, I just don't see much sucess with Journey with JSS. I would see some sucess with Steve Perry, just because of the name. Yea Steve Perry may not be as good now and some of the songs he may not be able to sing, but they band would have a better following at concerts and more than likely have more sucess with a album.

Several problems with your post. First, "sucess" is spelled success. Second, Perry is not in Journey by HIS choice, not the other way around. He had an "open invitation" for quite a long time. His choice not to accept. Third, Wal-Mart is a great store. Your analogy is perfect. With JSS they get the cheaper cost (no baggage, drama, threat of mid-tour crisis, etc.) but essentially the same product. I'm very confident Perry will once again perform with Journey as a "one-off" deal. But I can safely say that his touring days with Journey have been over for quite some time.


"Yea Steve Perry may not be as good now and some of the songs he may not be able to sing, but they band would have a better following at concerts and more than likely have more sucess with a album."[/quote]

The risk is just NOT worth the reward.

[Clasicrockldy]

Hey ! Now wait a minute here ! I shop at Wal-Mart ! Did you know that stores will buy products from the big name brand labels and put the store label on?.......... but I digress...............

I have been a fan of Journey before Perry was there. Was a fan when Perry was there. Augeri, eh, his voice didn't capture me. Now JSS is a different kettle of fish. He is not a store brand singer. He is the real deal here. Much better than Augeri in my opinion, and has been in the biz for 20 years or more. He is established.

Why don't you go spin some of his solo work? Find some Journey boots with JSS on them. Give them a good listen. Go to Andrew's interviews where he has some good soundcheck vids.

We all know that Perry will not sing with Journey. It is time to get a move on and enjoy the Journey we have now. As was said in the Amageddon movie................ This is one kickass ride !

[Jeremey]

I just get very upset with bands how just can't get along. Do they not get it!!! Styx and Chicago are other examples of this. No matter who is at fault the sucess was made with thier lead singers. Let's face it all of thier sucess was made with thier frontman and now they are gone.

That's just not true. If that were the case, people would know Steve Perry as Steve Perry, and not the lead singer of Journey, or Dennis DeYoung as the same, rather than the primary voice of Styx. You are confusing these two guys - who both had moderately succesful solo records - and putting them in the same catagory as a Billy Idol, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, Ozzy Osbourne, Gwen Stefani, Peter Gabriel, Sting, and many others. The thing that all of those people had in common was that their solo careers' success far eclipsed their time as frontmen for the various bands they spent time in. Had Steve Perry proven himself as a successful solo artist outside of Journey, and outsold their records, and continued to be thought of as a solo performer, then yes, you could make the argument that all of Journey's success was made with their lead singers. Only as a group did that band reach the heights they did, and you would never hear Steve Perry say any differently.

Now I look at the new frontman for Journey and I say to myself he pretty good but not the original. It is like getting the Wal-Mart brand or something.

JSS is not Steve Perry, nor was Steve Augeri. Both guys went out and carried on the music for the fans with the bulk of the original band behind them, and never claimed to be the same. You will see that Soto brings more of a new sound to the band than Augeri did, and he's just a stronger performer. True, I find it hard to take some of the reviews that give the edge to Jeff over Perry seriously, but he's up there as Jeff Scott Soto, he's not "filling the shoes" of Perry. It's a big part of the difference as to why this incarnation of Journey will be a more viable springboard for continued success.

It might taste the same it it is not the same.

Eww..

The other issue is what kind of station are they going to play thier music on? The major labels push the corprate music on the stations, I just don't see much sucess with Journey with JSS.

Journey, nor any other band their age, will not have the kind of commercial top 40 success you are comparing them with. These days, success in the music industry can mean a tremendous amount of things. You do not have to have a song in the top 40 to be financially successful in the music business in 2007 - In many cases, those slaves to the corporate machine are still eating ramen noodles at home because they owe hundreds of thousands to a record label (excuse me - multinational corporate entity that just happens to manufacture and market CDs as well as beer, cookies, and toothpaste) that they will never break even on.

[fred_journeyman]

...I just get very upset with bands how just can't get along. Do they not get it!!!...

Plain and simply, we're talking about artists and it's difficult to put four or five people together in one band and think that everything will be perfect...forever. I do not know of one situation where that has occurred. If you've never been in a band, you might not understand (and I'm not trying to be condescending here). Take five guys from different walks of life, throw them together to create music and stuff happens. It's inevitable. One person has this vision for the band, another person has another vision, a third person agrees more with the first person, etc. As time goes on, things change even more. Artists have egos (and I don't mean that in a necessarily bad sense) and their egos generally guide the way they think the music should sound. It's a very fragile thing.

With respect to Perry, those golden Perry days of Journey are really over and have been for a while. Be thankful that you have the CDs and DVDs and keep an open mind for what Journey may produce in the future. You might like it. If not, then you at least have the CDs and DVDs with Perry. There's nothing wrong with that.

Since the interview and announcement have been published, I'm more willing to see what happens, now that Neal has stated that he wants to produce a new CD and follow that with a tour to support it. They needed to do that five or six years ago, but gave up way too easily. This is their second chance and I truly hope they don't blow it.

There is NO way that any band can do what they do year after year without experiencing difficulties, ego clashes, down times, up times and parting of ways. It happens. I don't really think it can be avoided.

[ohsherrie]

Great post Sallee. I buy the Walmart brands too, but I know good quality when I see it and Jeff is top of the line.

[ArnelRox]

Can you believe I'm agreeing with you NIG? My how things have changed with the frontman.

I'm agreeing w/him too. All anyone has to do is look at my sig to know how I feel about Perry.

[NealIsGod]

Can you believe I'm agreeing with you NIG? My how things have changed with the frontman.

I'm agreeing w/him too. All anyone has to do is look at my sig to know how I feel about Perry.

JSS is bringing the Perry diehards back to the group. And he satisfies the fans who want Journey to rock. He is the perfect choice for singer.

[ohsherrie]

Can you believe I'm agreeing with you NIG? My how things have changed with the frontman.

I'm agreeing w/him too. All anyone has to do is look at my sig to know how I feel about Perry.

JSS is bringing the Perry diehards back to the group. And he satisfies the fans who want Journey to rock. He is the perfect choice for singer.

He is absolutely perfect and I think he'll bring in many of the Augeriloons as soon as they get over their initial angst. At least he'll get the ones who were fans before Augeri and some of the newer ones.

[ArnelRox]

Great post Sallee. I buy the Walmart brands too, but I know good quality when I see it and Jeff is top of the line.

If anyone was a generic brand, that would be Augeri. No one knew him before his time in Journey. Ok Augeri had 2 albums as lead singer of 2 different groups, but they were basically unheard of. During his tenure, many thought Perry was still w/the band & since Augeri's vox were often turned down so low, that illusion continued. Augeri didn't make any impact during his time in Journey except w/a few fans. That's pretty generic to me. Jeff, on the other hand, was an established musician with a long & kickass discography behind him that included fronting a very successful European band (Talisman), soundtracks for movies & fronting for a world class guitarist on big stages in a world tour (Yngwie) & that doesn't cover even half of what he did. While we might not have heard of him in the US, he was not an unknown in Europe. Jeff's vocals are turned WAY up as Perry's were. & in just a few short months w/Journey, Jeff has made quite an impact. I'd say he's another name brand.

[ArnelRox]

Can you believe I'm agreeing with you NIG? My how things have changed with the frontman.

I'm agreeing w/him too. All anyone has to do is look at my sig to know how I feel about Perry.

JSS is bringing the Perry diehards back to the group. And he satisfies the fans who want Journey to rock. He is the perfect choice for singer.

Love ur new sig Niggy baby Never thought of that before. U have such a devious mind there.

[Greg]

I used to also believe the Journey was truly Journey WITH Steve Perry. With that said, I supported Journey with Augeri for the last 8 years, but I believe JSS is a better fit for this band than Perry now, and Augeri anytime.

Steve Perry was a big part of Journey's commerical success, but Steve Perry isn't Journey. You're discrediting the other top notch, great talent of the band. How does one discredit Neal Schon? Jonathan Cain? Gregg Rollie? Steve Smith? Deen Castronovo? Ross Valory?

Jeff brings to Journey that special something that Augeri didn't have, but what I believe Perry did have. I loved Steve Augeri and have enjoyed the Journey with him, but I believe Jeff makes this band a super group!

[Deb]

Can you believe I'm agreeing with you NIG? My how things have changed with the frontman.

I'm agreeing w/him too. All anyone has to do is look at my sig to know how I feel about Perry.

JSS is bringing the Perry diehards back to the group. And he satisfies the fans who want Journey to rock. He is the perfect choice for singer.

Agreed NIG! Just cuz I am a major Perry fan, doesn't mean I can't be a big-time JSS/Journey fan too.

[ohsherrie]

Great post Sallee. I buy the Walmart brands too, but I know good quality when I see it and Jeff is top of the line.

If anyone was a generic brand, that would be Augeri. No one knew him before his time in Journey. Ok Augeri had 2 albums as lead singer of 2 different groups, but they were basically unheard of. During his tenure, many thought Perry was still w/the band & since Augeri's vox were often turned down so low, that illusion continued. Augeri didn't make any impact during his time in Journey except w/a few fans. That's pretty generic to me. Jeff, on the other hand, was an established musician with a long & kickass discography behind him that included fronting a very successful European band (Talisman), soundtracks for movies & fronting for a world class guitarist on big stages in a world tour (Yngwie) & that doesn't cover even half of what he did. While we might not have heard of him in the US, he was not an unknown in Europe. Jeff's vocals are turned WAY up as Perry's were. & in just a few short months w/Journey, Jeff has made quite an impact. I'd say he's another name brand.

Very well put Lil' Sis.

[PROPERRY]

Can you believe I'm agreeing with you NIG? My how things have changed with the frontman.

I'm agreeing w/him too. All anyone has to do is look at my sig to know how I feel about Perry.

JSS is bringing the Perry diehards back to the group. And he satisfies the fans who want Journey to rock. He is the perfect choice for singer.

NOT this diehard Perry Fan!! I'm sticking with Steve Perry! HE is the ONLY singer that CAN give me GREAT satisfaction, when it comes to SINGING Journey's music... NO MATTER WHO NEAL get's to sing for Journey, NO ONE is better than Perry, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE.... So I'll GLADLY KEEP on listening to ALL my CD's & DVD's of the BEST FRONTMAN of Journey ever..... Steve Perry!!!

Lori

[Enigma869]

Journey, nor any other band their age, will not have the kind of commercial top 40 success you are comparing them with. These days, success in the music industry can mean a tremendous amount of things. You do not have to have a song in the top 40 to be financially successful in the music business in 2007 - In many cases, those slaves to the corporate machine are still eating ramen noodles at home because they owe hundreds of thousands to a record label (excuse me - multinational corporate entity that just happens to manufacture and market CDs as well as beer, cookies, and toothpaste) that they will never break even on.

I'm not sure I agree with your premise, Jeremey, that age has much to do with this. I think the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith (and for the record, I'm not a huge fan of either band) have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that bands can continue having enormous commercial success, regardless of what year the calendar is reading! Now, I certainly agree with your point that Steve Perry was not Journey, alone. Journey to me was always an enormous chemistry between three guys...Perry, Cain, and Schon. I realize that will piss off the Smitty and Valory fans, but that's just how I've always seen it. I do think there is certainly some merit to the thought that Journey will not see success again with anyone not named Perry, fronting the band. That fact alone doesn't mean Perry is Journey. It simply means that Journey will forever be associated with Perry in the music industry and the name Journey will never be taken as the genuine article without the guy.

This might not be the best analogy but remember when Coca-Cola came out with "new Coke". Sure...they just called it Coke, but none of their "fans" ever bought into it. It was still a soda and still had the name "Coke" on the can, but this wasn't the Coke everyone had come to know and love, even though it was being packaged as the same exact product! Journey has been packaged as the same old "Journey" but most of their diehard fans realize that even though the name is still there, with the familiar packaging (i.e. Schon, Cain, Valory), something is not quite what it used to be.

As I've said before, it is my sincere hope that Journey can have some success, beyond touring, with Jeff fronting the band. I'm just not sure the music industry will ever take them seriously (i.e. playing their new music on mainstream radio and getting them onto tv to perform and promote their new music) without Steve Perry at the helm. As a fan of the music, I hope that I'm proven wrong about this point!

John from Boston

[Jeremey]

I'm not sure I agree with your premise, Jeremey, that age has much to do with this. I think the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith (and for the record, I'm not a huge fan of either band) have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that bands can continue having enormous commercial success, regardless of what year the calendar is reading!

I must disagree as I don't believe Rolling Stones nor Aerosmith would have much luck getting a top 40 commercial hit. Journey continues to have commercial success as a touring act, even 2 singers away from their most popular lineup. But you're not going to hear a new Stones or Aerosmith song being played on the radio next to the latest Nickleback or Evanescence song. But as I mentioned, there's many definitions of commercial success in the music business these days. Having a top 40 radio airplay success as defined in the original post isn't going to come to Journey at this point in the game, nor any of their contemporaries (which RS nor Aerosmith really weren't their contemporaries, actually)...

[lowdbrent]

To me Journey is Steve Perry. I never went to one of his concerts, I just have the Perry CD's and DVD's. All of the bands sucess has been under Perry and more than likely they will not has as much sucess with thier new record without Perry. I have seen JSS and he was ok. I could not hear him most of the concert. I don't know if that was by design or not. I just get very upset with bands how just can't get along. Do they not get it!!! Styx and Chicago are other examples of this. No matter who is at fault the sucess was made with thier lead singers. Let's face it all of thier sucess was made with thier frontman and now they are gone. Now I look at the new frontman for Journey and I say to myself he pretty good but not the original. It is like getting the Wal-Mart brand or something. It might taste the same it it is not the same. The other issue is what kind of station are they going to play thier music on? The major labels push the corprate music on the stations, I just don't see much sucess with Journey with JSS. I would see some sucess with Steve Perry, just because of the name. Yea Steve Perry may not be as good now and some of the songs he may not be able to sing, but they band would have a better following at concerts and more than likely have more sucess with a album.

I agree on a couple of points, but when it comes to radio....

Radio is dead. Due to the big corps not liking the governments stance on things, they are getting out (ClearChannel, etc, etc). There is no marketing of Journey-era/genre music from any major label to any radio station, because the music caters to a generation that typically does not buy new music on the scale of the teens and preteens.

If Steve Perry were still in the band, they would have softened way up, gone more R&B, etc. They would have gone where Steve Perry wanted them to go. To me the best music was before that, when it was laid out for him to sing in the beginning.

[tammy]

I look at this from many perspectives (like looking at a Picasso painting)...I am one of the Perry lovers (and always will be), but in his own words he is not ever returning to Journey. And, as much as I love HIS voice and that era of Journey the most, he did not do it ALONE...and, SP has told us that, too. The talents of the other musicians combined with Perry's voice brought that success. I cannot separate Perry's voice from Neal's guitar, cannot separate Perry's songwriting with Cain, etc. - they all go hand in hand...so, am I gonna dismiss all the other talents and their hard work because of my love for Perry? Plus, I know they have the respect for Perry - I suppose if I sensed they didn't then I wouldn't have even gotten on board...but, they do and in particular JSS & Deen, the two who are singing those songs now.

Admittingly, I was accepting of SA, I have nothing against him, but after a few concerts in 2005 I had decided that was enough...maybe, it is just my senses but he and the band seemed like they were playing at a Retirement Home...it seemed too polite - like they were winding down. I don't have energy on my own but, I CRAVE IT and I want it when I go to a Rock Concert, where I am expecting to get it. I know JSS has that energy to bring back to the band & still honoring the past legacy.
It will never again be the Journey at their height of fame, but that would be unrealistic anyway...so, for me I will be looking forward to another concert....this music is and will always be the best out there!

[heardonthestreet]

I'm not sure I agree with your premise, Jeremey, that age has much to do with this. I think the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith (and for the record, I'm not a huge fan of either band) have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that bands can continue having enormous commercial success, regardless of what year the calendar is reading!

I must disagree as I don't believe Rolling Stones nor Aerosmith would have much luck getting a top 40 commercial hit. Journey continues to have commercial success as a touring act, even 2 singers away from their most popular lineup. But you're not going to hear a new Stones or Aerosmith song being played on the radio next to the latest Nickleback or Evanescence song. But as I mentioned, there's many definitions of commercial success in the music business these days. Having a top 40 radio airplay success as defined in the original post isn't going to come to Journey at this point in the game, nor any of their contemporaries (which RS nor Aerosmith really weren't their contemporaries, actually)...

........................................

I agree with your take on this, Jeremey. Journey does continue to have success as a touring, Steve Perry tribute band. It will be a horse of a different color if and when they produce new material and if it is as good as or better than the dirty doz.
Only then will they be out from under the influence of Perry and be considered other than a greatest hits band, imo.

[lowdbrent]

Journey, nor any other band their age, will not have the kind of commercial top 40 success you are comparing them with. These days, success in the music industry can mean a tremendous amount of things. You do not have to have a song in the top 40 to be financially successful in the music business in 2007 - In many cases, those slaves to the corporate machine are still eating ramen noodles at home because they owe hundreds of thousands to a record label (excuse me - multinational corporate entity that just happens to manufacture and market CDs as well as beer, cookies, and toothpaste) that they will never break even on.

I'm not sure I agree with your premise, Jeremey, that age has much to do with this. I think the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith (and for the record, I'm not a huge fan of either band) have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that bands can continue having enormous commercial success, regardless of what year the calendar is reading! Now, I certainly agree with your point that Steve Perry was not Journey, alone. Journey to me was always an enormous chemistry between three guys...Perry, Cain, and Schon. I realize that will piss off the Smitty and Valory fans, but that's just how I've always seen it. I do think there is certainly some merit to the thought that Journey will not see success again with anyone not named Perry, fronting the band. That fact alone doesn't mean Perry is Journey. It simply means that Journey will forever be associated with Perry in the music industry and the name Journey will never be taken as the genuine article without the guy.

This might not be the best analogy but remember when Coca-Cola came out with "new Coke". Sure...they just called it Coke, but none of their "fans" ever bought into it. It was still a soda and still had the name "Coke" on the can, but this wasn't the Coke everyone had come to know and love, even though it was being packaged as the same exact product! Journey has been packaged as the same old "Journey" but most of their diehard fans realize that even though the name is still there, with the familiar packaging (i.e. Schon, Cain, Valory), something is not quite what it used to be.

As I've said before, it is my sincere hope that Journey can have some success, beyond touring, with Jeff fronting the band. I'm just not sure the music industry will ever take them seriously (i.e. playing their new music on mainstream radio and getting them onto tv to perform and promote their new music) without Steve Perry at the helm. As a fan of the music, I hope that I'm proven wrong about this point!

John from Boston

Aerosmith was about done until the rap version of "Walk this way" through more gas on the fire. They had some help with movie soundtrack deals which exposed them to a younger audience.
The Stones is a cult band. I think people mostly go to a Stones concert because it is a status symbol and a life experience to be cherished, and something that is cool to do. It can't be because of the musicianship. Holy cow they are horrid.

[ArnelRox]

NOT this diehard Perry Fan!! I'm sticking with Steve Perry! HE is the ONLY singer that CAN give me GREAT satisfaction, when it comes to SINGING Journey's music... NO MATTER WHO NEAL get's to sing for Journey, NO ONE is better than Perry, ABSOLUTELY NO ONE.... So I'll GLADLY KEEP on listening to ALL my CD's & DVD's of the BEST FRONTMAN of Journey ever..... Steve Perry!!!

Lori

Lori, u will miss out then & I'm sorry for u. I love Perry like anyone else. I play his music ALL day long. But Jeff is a talent worth seeing. I really think u should give him a try.

[Moon Beam]

Hey HOTS, it was never Steve Perry's band.
So how can it be a Steve Perry tribute band?

[heardonthestreet]

Hey HOTS, it was never Steve Perry's band.
So how can it be a Steve Perry tribute band?

.............................

It's all about accentuating the positive.

[Enigma869]

I'm not sure I agree with your premise, Jeremey, that age has much to do with this. I think the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith (and for the record, I'm not a huge fan of either band) have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that bands can continue having enormous commercial success, regardless of what year the calendar is reading!

I must disagree as I don't believe Rolling Stones nor Aerosmith would have much luck getting a top 40 commercial hit. Journey continues to have commercial success as a touring act, even 2 singers away from their most popular lineup. But you're not going to hear a new Stones or Aerosmith song being played on the radio next to the latest Nickleback or Evanescence song. But as I mentioned, there's many definitions of commercial success in the music business these days. Having a top 40 radio airplay success as defined in the original post isn't going to come to Journey at this point in the game, nor any of their contemporaries (which RS nor Aerosmith really weren't their contemporaries, actually)...

Jeremey...

I was really only making the point that the guys in Journey aren't much more than 5 years younger than the guys in Aerosmith or the Stones (for the record, I realize that Deen and Jeff are quite a bit younger).

I was really making the point that a band's age couldn't be less relevant when it comes to cd sales. The reality is that The Rolling Stones had the second highest selling cd in 2005 with "A Bigger Bang", and these guys are older than dirt! The only CD that outsold it in the entire year of 2005 was Kanye West's "Late Registration". I also know that Aerosmith's 2004 release of "Honkin' on Bobo" charted as high as number 5 on the US pop charts. That is one release for each band in the past two years that has had pretty impressive "commercial success" in the US. I define commercial success as the ability to sell CD's, as that is something tangible that isn't subjective!

I just don't think Journey not selling cd's has a thing to do with the year on any of their birth certificates. I think it has a lot more to do with an industry who is caught up in Steve Perry and Journey being one in the same. I certainly hope that the next new release is much better received by the music industry and the buying public. I just don't see Journey receiving mainstream radio play and even coming close to the US top 40 charts with anything they release, sans Perry. I would be ecstatic to see myself proven wrong with this theory. As always, time will tell, once Journey puts something new out there for us to listen to.

John from Boston

[TRAGChick]

Can you believe I'm agreeing with you NIG? My how things have changed with the frontman.

I'm agreeing w/him too. All anyone has to do is look at my sig to know how I feel about Perry.

JSS is bringing the Perry diehards back to the group. And he satisfies the fans who want Journey to rock. He is the perfect choice for singer.

....and I want NIG's response as MY sig now....because that's exactly what's happened for me.

[ArnelRox]

Hey HOTS, it was never Steve Perry's band.
So how can it be a Steve Perry tribute band?

Damn Moonie, that is an EXCELLENT point.