John West on his audition for Journey

[Andrew]

I asked singer John West about hsi audition for Journey in 1998, when the guys were looking for a replacement for Steve Perry.

He replied and gave me the ok to print this here. I think it is a very interesting insight with some parallels to today:

"I did try out for Journey in 1998.
I made some recordings in NY of me doing Journey covers and sent it to the guys.
They invited me to Jonathan Cain's home studio in California to meet and do some more recordings. Neal and Jonathan were there and we got along good and the recordings came out excellent.

Neal really dug it, but Jonathan thought it didn't sound enough like Steve Perry. Neal said This is the new sound of Journey....with John West singing it's more powerful, and soulful!

I was one of the top candidates for the gig, but eventually they went with Steve Augeri. He was a dead ringer for Perry in voice, looks, and even name!
Although at the time, he was having problems with losing his voice, they decided to go with him and hope his voice would get stronger with time. Apparently he had been working a day job and not doing much singing at that point.

Steve Perry is not an easy guy to cover based on his range and style. Now that Jeff has the gig, they're back to a more powerful and soulful singer like they would have had in me. He was the natural choice being that he can do it great and he had been playing with Neal.

I love Journey and would jump at the chance to play with them again..."

[Blueskies]

Thats interesting, Andrew...I think they made a mistake going with Augeri...it made me lose interest...they should have stayed with a more soulful, powerful singer...but it's all water under the bridge now....they have one now.

[larryfromnextdoor]

john west!!
http://www.royalhunt.com/files/Royal%20 ... ive_Up.wmv

i love it , sounds like jeff,, if this doesnt make you want to pick
up a sword and slay a dragon NOTHING will!! right on!!

[Clasicrockldy]

That article is really interesting, Andrew. Back then Augeri was having trouble with his voice? Hmmmmmmm I am thinking that something is going to hit something very soon.

[Blueskies]

john west!!
http://www.royalhunt.com/files/Royal%20 ... ive_Up.wmv

i love it , sounds like jeff,, if this doesnt make you want to pick
up a sword and slay a dragon NOTHING will!! right on!!

They definitely should have went with him!...He's got some power....and he's way better looking then Augeri....dont know where they got that SA looked anything like Perry.

[Granny]

john west!!
http://www.royalhunt.com/files/Royal%20 ... ive_Up.wmv

i love it , sounds like jeff,, if this doesnt make you want to pick
up a sword and slay a dragon NOTHING will!! right on!!

They definitely should have went with him!...He's got some power....and he's way better looking then Augeri....dont know where they got that SA looked anything like Perry.

They were not only deaf but blind also!!!!!
and what's with he was already losing his voice in 1998!!!! WHAT WERE THEY THINKING...John West was a much better choice...but oh, well, what the hell, we now have JSS...

[L~L~L]

Wow, this is unreal. He had no voice yet they went with him. Well Perry Fans we have been degraded enough and for nothing. Good God all the abuse we endured on this board from people defending Augeri whom wasn't even worth it!

[dcvader]

No voice - but he had a tape player!

[Clasicrockldy]

Andrew, when was this article done? What year?

[Andrew]

Andrew, when was this article done? What year?

Last week. I asked John about it again last week.

As for Augeri having vocal problems back in 1998 - that is no secret and has been covered previously in my interviews with him.

[Clasicrockldy]

From what I read again in this article, it seems like Jon got what he wanted (Augeri), not Neal( West) !

[Blueskies]

Andrew, when was this article done? What year?

Last week. I asked John about it again last week.

As for Augeri having vocal problems back in 1998 - that is no secret and has been covered previously in my interviews with him.

I really dont get why Neal and Jon went with Augeri when there were so many others out there that would have jumped at the chance. Never understood that choice.

[larryfromnextdoor]

Andrew, when was this article done? What year?

Last week. I asked John about it again last week.

As for Augeri having vocal problems back in 1998 - that is no secret and has been covered previously in my interviews with him.

I really dont get why Neal and Jon went with Augeri when there were so many others out there that would have jumped at the chance. Never understood that choice.

steve a. was easy to get along with ,, brought no ego to the table.. had the look ,, but no baggage,, that goes along way in a rock band,, unfortanetly..........

[Clasicrockldy]

Andrew, when was this article done? What year?

Last week. I asked John about it again last week.

As for Augeri having vocal problems back in 1998 - that is no secret and has been covered previously in my interviews with him.

I really dont get why Neal and Jon went with Augeri when there were so many others out there that would have jumped at the chance. Never understood that choice.

From what I gathered from this, TVL, Neal wanted West, which Jon said he didn't sound enough like Perry. And Augeri did sound alot like Perry. I am wondering how Jon got Neal to go with Augeri............. Things that make you scratch your head !

[Clasicrockldy]

Andrew, what band did John West sing with?

[Andrew]

Neal has always wanted to experiment - hence the invitation to Geoff Tate to audition and also why Neal eventually went for Planet Us and Soul Sirkus.

Jon knows they need someone to cover the back catalogue (which is their touring income drawer), but in the eyes of some Steve Augeri was too close to Perry, therefore it was seen by those faithful to Perry that the band was trying to replacing HIM, rather than move on without him. (hope that makes sense...)

Now I think one of the reason some of the old fans are more comfortable with Jeff is that he isn't a clone (and I've seen that said here before...)

That said, if they didn't move on with someone very close to Perry (as they did), then they might not have built up the touring base they have over the last several years. The change might have been too great for some.

Many "what if's" for sure....

[Barb]

That article is really interesting, Andrew. Back then Augeri was having trouble with his voice? Hmmmmmmm I am thinking that something is going to hit something very soon.

I read it as Steve had "lost" his voice because he had a day job and had not been using his voice for a long time.

[Abitaman]

Wow, this is unreal. He had no voice yet they went with him. Well Perry Fans we have been degraded enough and for nothing. Good God all the abuse we endured on this board from people defending Augeri whom wasn't even worth it!

I have not degraded Perry or his fans, and yes Augeri was worth the defending-ERIC

[Andrew]

Andrew, what band did John West sing with?

Royal Hunt currently - full biog at http://ww.johnwestmusic.com

[Andrew]

That article is really interesting, Andrew. Back then Augeri was having trouble with his voice? Hmmmmmmm I am thinking that something is going to hit something very soon.

I read it as Steve had "lost" his voice because he had a day job and had not been using his voice for a long time.

Correct.

[Carlitto H@kk]

That article is really interesting, Andrew. Back then Augeri was having trouble with his voice? Hmmmmmmm I am thinking that something is going to hit something very soon.

I read it as Steve had "lost" his voice because he had a day job and had not been using his voice for a long time.

I actually remember reading about this issue when he was brought in.
It wasn't "vocal trouble" in the sense that his voice was damaged.
It was the fact that he had been out of the biz for awhile and
his voice was "out of shape". He needed to get back into an exercise regimen
and get it back in shape to perform. That's all.

[ohsherrie]

Now I think one of the reason some of the old fans are more comfortable with Jeff is that he isn't a clone (and I've seen that said here before...)

...

Exactly! I was one of the fans who was insulted by the "Perry with a perm" nonsense. Jeff does justice to the catalog but doesn't sound like he's trying to BE Perry.

I don't get the thing about Augeri looking like Perry either. There's no resemblance whatsoever.

I'm glad Neal has made the decision about the singer this time. Jon's idea didn't work out too well.

[Andrew]

Jon's idea didn't work out too well.

I think it worked very well for a number of years. It just went on longer than it perhaps should have and therefore ended badly.

[ohsherrie]

Jon's idea didn't work out too well.

I think it worked very well for a number of years. It just went on longer than it perhaps should have and therefore ended badly.

Ok, gotcha. I would still rather have had someone who sounds like Jeff. But we've got him now so it's all good.

[jrnyjetster]

John West's vocal style kind of reminds me of a cross between Joe Lynn Turner and Don Dokken. Royal Hunt sounds very MALMSTEENish...

[PROPERRY]

So Augeri was having vocal problems in 98, and Neal & Jon BOTH KNEW THAT and hired HIM ANYWAY!!

Lori

[Carlitto H@kk]

So Augeri was having vocal problems in 98, and Neal & Jon BOTH KNEW THAT and hired HIM ANYWAY!!

Lori

Again, It wasn't "vocal trouble" in the sense that his voice was damaged.
It was the fact that he had been out of the biz for awhile and
his voice was "out of shape". He needed to get back on an exercise regimen
and get it back in shape to perform. That's all.

[Clasicrockldy]

That article is really interesting, Andrew. Back then Augeri was having trouble with his voice? Hmmmmmmm I am thinking that something is going to hit something very soon.

I read it as Steve had "lost" his voice because he had a day job and had not been using his voice for a long time.

I read it more carefully, and you are right Barb. Thanks for pointing that out. I guess he really did give up singing.... until Journey came knocking on his door.

[squirt1]

He sounds like the singer for Europe . He has the power to sing Journey and I am not sure JSS has that strong of voice by comparison.

[larryfromnextdoor]

He sounds like the singer for Europe . He has the power to sing Journey and I am not sure JSS has that strong of voice by comparison.

i think that jeff has the pipes AND APPEARS easy to get along with ,, he has an amazing personality,, john west really comes accross with that point as well ,west went out of his way to mention that, he seems pretty cool too.. were you speaking of joey tempest?