Journey - A Self Caricature

[GollyWally]

Greetings Everyone. I'm a long-time Journey fan, though, admittedly, I consider myself one of the fans fractured by the advent of the Perry-less Journey (pun intended) that began in 98.

I've continued to listen to the old stuff, as the music was such a formative part of my life for so many years, and continues to be.
Besides a immense vocal presence, something else was lost to me with Perry's departure-a key ingredient in the songwriting.
I bought Arrival but the music was void of the majestic quality that was so ubiquitious during Perry's tenure. The new stuff just didn't do it for me, and I wanted to give it a chance. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to impugn on the work of SA. I must say--it took guts for that guy to step in and try to fills Perry's shoes.

Anyway, though I wasn't a fan of the new material, I continued to listen to the classics and even occassionally lurked on BT to keep up with news about the band--ever hopeful that one day old wounds would heal and I might read that Perry was returning. After all, hadn't everyone given up on hopes of a reunion after ROR? Then they did come back together for TBF.

I'd never heard of JSS, but when I read the annoucement about him stepping for SA last summer, I studied up on the guy. (I only recently learned about Tapegate--what a pathetic decision from a once-great band). At first, I just didn't think JSS looked like a fit for the Journey that I know (albeit the Journey I know is 25 years old!). But I still respected the band for moving forward and trying some DIFFERENT, not just throwing some Perry clone up stage and becoming their own nostalgia act. Many may argue that is exactly what they were during the Augeri-era.

Then I start reading threads about this Jeremey guy who appears to be a frontrunner for the vocalist chair and discover that he's the singer of some Journey tribute band. He may be a capable, talented singer, don't get me wrong, but if Journey stoops to hiring a guy from one of their own tribute bands, they REALLY will have become a self caricature. What a pathetic, sad ending this would be for a once great band.

One thread I read posed the question: Would you buy a new Perry-fronted Journey CD? I ABSOLUTELY would.
Do I want SP to rejoin the band? I'm torn. The selfish part of me would love to see this. Another part of me hopes Mr. Perry has enough integrity to stay a million miles away from this train wreck.

BTW, I agree with most of the posts, Neal and Jon must be the biggest jerks in the world to treat JSS the way they have. I've read some of Jeff's statements about being in the band, and he geninuely seems like a great guy and he's gained a fan with me. I'll buy his music and support him wherever he ventures.

Pardon the pun, but at this point, perhaps the party really should be over.

[ohsherrie]

That's a very well thought out and written post GollyWally. I agree with most of what you say. Including that Journey was a caricature of itself with Augeri. Whether or not they become one with Jeremey remains to be seen but it could happen if they don't do something a lot more interesting with him than they did with Augeri.

I personally think Jeremey is the better singer of the two, but it'll be the new material, if there is any, that will make the difference.

[JeremyP]

I agree with most of what you say. Including that Journey was a caricature of itself with Augeri.

Must respectfully disagree.

Hi, Sherrie! *waves*

[Eric]

That's a very well thought out and written post GollyWally. I agree with most of what you say. Including that Journey was a caricature of itself with Augeri. Whether or not they become one with Jeremey remains to be seen but it could happen if they don't do something a lot more interesting with him than they did with Augeri.

I personally think Jeremey is the better singer of the two, but it'll be the new material, if there is any, that will make the difference.

You know, if the band and Management are lurking as Dean-O indicated......then they should tell us if they plan on any new music ever again. From the press release, that answer can easily be constued as a big fat NO. If they do - I will continue to blindly support this band, hopefully with folks like Ohsherrie at my side...but if not, just put this dog out of its misery ASAP.

[ohsherrie]

You know, if the band and Management are lurking as Dean-O indicated......then they should tell us if they plan on any new music ever again. From the press release, that answer can easily be constued as a big fat NO. If they do - I will continue to blindly support this band, hopefully with folks like Ohsherrie at my side...but if not, just put this dog out of its misery ASAP.

I'll give Jeremey a chance Eric because he deserves it. If they tour and come within a couple hours drive of here I'll go see Jeremey living his dream and I know it'll be a good show because he's damned good at what he does. If they put out something new I'll give it a listen and hope to be impressed. Beyond that it's up to Journey.

[slucero]

All hate for Schon and Cain aside... As much as folks might view the possibility of Jeremey joining Journey as "stooping", IMO it really is no different than Ripper Owens joining Priest or Jason Newsted joining Metallica.... everyone starts somewhere...

Collectively they (band and mgmt) want a perry-esque voice to sing the songs... I tend to think that the results song-wise would be pretty amazing, given Jeremey and Deens singing abilities... and its not a stretch to think JC and NS would be fairly excited about the possibilities of writing for that voice too..

It all starts with the music... and what their vision for their music is... and as fucked up as these circumstances are... I can't fault them for trying to do right by it... even if they've gone about it in a completely idiotic fashion...

[conversationpc]

All hate for Schon and Cain aside... As much as folks might view the possibility of Jeremey joining Journey as "stooping", IMO it really is no different than Ripper Owens joining Priest or Jason Newsted joining Metallica.... everyone starts somewhere...

Wasn't Newsted in Suicidal Tendencies or something like that previous to Metallica? Those guys were writing and performing their own music. That's a little different than coming from a band who only performs music by another, particular artist.

Regardless, I don't see Jeremey's possible involvement as being stooping. If he has the chance, he should take it. That doesn't do anything for my disdain for the band, though.

[Rick]

So many people get down on Jeremey fronting Journey because is in a tribute band. Who gives a damn where he came from, he is a singer. Like SJ said, what if Steve Perry was in a tribute band before he hired on with Journey, would that have made the catalog any less brilliant? No. It doesn't matter where Jeremey hails from, or what his last band was. They aren't going to put him out front to imitate SP. He is going to go out there and sing Journey music, which as we all know, he does brilliantly. I want Jeremey to get hired on with Journey and live his dream. That is going to fulfill a huge on of his. He's going to make a wheel barrow full of money doing it too. Good for him. Go Jeremey!

[ohsherrie]

I agree with most of what you say. Including that Journey was a caricature of itself with Augeri.

Must respectfully disagree.

Hi, Sherrie! *waves*

Hi Jeremy, I know you disagree and that's OK.

[ohsherrie]

So many people get down on Jeremey fronting Journey because is in a tribute band. Who gives a damn where he came from, he is a singer. Like SJ said, what if Steve Perry was in a tribute band before he hired on with Journey, would that have made the catalog any less brilliant? No. It doesn't matter where Jeremey hails from, or what his last band was. They aren't going to put him out front to imitate SP. He is going to go out there and sing Journey music, which as we all know, he does brilliantly. I want Jeremey to get hired on with Journey and live his dream. That is going to fulfill a huge on of his. He's going to make a wheel barrow full of money doing it too. Good for him. Go Jeremey!

And there ya go.

[brywool]

Augeri didn't sound like Perry. He sounded enough like Perry to pull off the hits. Jeremy sounds LIKE Perry. That's the difference to me. Still, I am VERY curious to hear Jeremy live on some of this stuff.

correction: I want to hear him on live recordings. I don't see myself going to see them live. (NOT because of Jeremy)

[ohsherrie]

Augeri didn't sound like Perry. He sounded enough like Perry to pull off the hits. Jeremy sounds LIKE Perry. That's the difference to me. Still, I am VERY curious to hear Jeremy live on some of this stuff.

correction: I want to hear him on live recordings. I don't see myself going to see them live. (NOT because of Jeremy)

To me Jeremey doesn't sound like Perry anymore than Augeri did. He just sounds more like Perry doing the songs than Augeri did. I think that's because Augeri's voice was a lot thinner and he had to stretch more to do the songs than Jeremey does.

In fact, I think Hugo sounds more like Augeri than Perry. To me, there's no soulful resonance there with either.

[conversationpc]

In fact, I think Hugo sounds more like Augeri than Perry. To me, there's no soulful resonance there with either.

That's what I think as well, at least from the clips I've heard.

[bluejeangirl76]

One thread I read posed the question: Would you buy a new Perry-fronted Journey CD? I ABSOLUTELY would.
Do I want SP to rejoin the band? I'm torn. The selfish part of me would love to see this. Another part of me hopes Mr. Perry has enough integrity to stay a million miles away from this train wreck.

I agree. Sure I would love to see it. Honestly though, I really would hate to see SP back with these guys after everything that's gone down with Augeri and JSS, not to mention the whole TBF fracas. Between Perry, Neal and Cain, I think a lot went down and both sides were probably to blame to certain extents, but at this point in time, SP is above these two, and if he ever did choose to participate in any kind of band situation, I would certainly hope it wouldn't be this one.

[Matthew]

[Wasn't Newsted in Suicidal Tendencies or something like that previous to Metallica?

I think he was in Flotsam and Jetsam, Dave. The new bassist after Newsted was in ST.

This is the first I've heard that Newsted used to be in a Metallica covers band. And also he didn't try to copy Cliff Burton's style. Worth saying too that Ripper Owens was a total disaster in Judas Priest. I'm not saying Jeremy will be for Journey - in fact I've always been impressed by the clips I've heard - but it's safe to say that no band has ever hired a member of a tribute band and succeeded.

Who knows...maybe this will be the first? It'll certainly be low on credibility but Journey have never made money from being 'credible' even when Perry was with them.

[MROCKFAN]

Hmmm. I'm not thinking about Elvis anymore. Now I'm thinking about the movie
"Rock Star". Damn you people...

[Lora]

if Journey stoops to hiring a guy from one of their own tribute bands, they REALLY will have become a self caricature. What a pathetic, sad ending this would be for a once great band..

Agreed.

Welcome to the board, GollyWally. Well thought out first post.

[Granny]

Welcome Gollywally...liked your post. Have to agree.

[GollyWally]

Thanks, Lora! Glad to be here.

[Liz22562]

How interesting it is that some of you are willing to give Journey a chance if Jeremy should sing with them but slammed Augeri for just showing up. The only difference between he and Jeremy is that as far as we know....Augie didn't post on these message boards.

Go figure.....

[GollyWally]

Thanks to you too, Granny. I ove your signature!