Open Letter to Neal Schon

[Voyager]

It seems as though Neal Schon is quite the Web surfer, having spent hours on YouTube trying to find a new Steve Perry impersonator. I doubt that Neal gets on this forum, but just in case he does, I wanted to write something to him to let him know how I feel. Here goes:

Neal,

I'm sorry Neal, but Steve Perry was Journey. You are as much Journey as Elvis' lead guitarist was Elvis. You are not an Eddie Van Halen, Neal. If you were, you would have found a Sammy Hagar by now and changed the course of Journey to a different sound. However, Journey was never popular before Steve Perry joined the band. We will never know if Journey could be popular without Steve Perry until you find someone to sing who is not trying to emulate Steve Perry. You had your chance to do that last year with JSS, but you blew it.

Now you have hired another Steve Perry impersonator. All the while you expect Journey fans to put Steve Perry out of their minds and allow the new singer to have his own identity. You have even stated publicly that Steve Perry is re-releasing old Journey material just so that people will remember him. WTF? Don't you think you are doing the same by hiring another Perry impersonator? Did you hire Arnel to emulate the Steve Perry material so that people can forget about Steve Perry?

What you are doing Neal is no different than if the lead guitarist for Elvis' band would have hired an Elvis impersonator and asked fans to forget about Elvis. No new albums are going to make people forget about Steve Perry, Neal. As long as you guys are touring as Journey with a Steve Perry impersonator, you are leading a Journey cover band at best. Until you do what Eddie Van Halen did and find a singer to give Journey a completely different sound, you guys are basically just a glorified mobile karaoke service.

Good luck Neal.

[Rick]

He does read this board and will read your post. And your post is so right.

Wake up Fro, your fans are speaking LOUDLY!

[Gibby]

This is getting ridiculous. The band has a right to do whatever they wish and hire who they wish. SP doesn't want to do it anymore. They are replacing one instrument for another. They sell tickets because of their hits and they should give the vast majority of Journey ticket buyers the sound they remember from their youth. Many of us hard core fans would love to see a different direction but it is not financially smart or responsible to do that at this point in their careers. Besides, Arnel might just blow you away. Everyone is crucifying the poor guy before they've even heard him through something other than a video camera microphone played through computer speakers.

[Phen]

I feel so sorry for Neal. He's the only member of Journey that's been in every line-up, and it's Perry that everyone wants. But your letter is true! I know that someone as stubborn as me won't settle for any other singer.

I do worship Schon though. Don't get me wrong about that.

[strangegrey]

You are as much Journey as Elvis' lead guitarist was Elvis.

I beg to disagree!!!

This would mean that Neal Schon = James Burton, which is laughably untrue.
Neal Schon is unfit to whipe the sweat from Burton's balls!

[Voyager]

Neal is undeniably one of the best guitarists alive, but his legacy is no more separate from Steve Perry than Joe Perry's legacy is separate from Steven Tyler.

[Rick]

Neal is undeniably one of the best guitarists alive, but his legacy is no more separate from Steve Perry than Joe Perry's legacy is separate from Steven Tyler.

Damn well said.

[mistiejourney]

You are as much Journey as Elvis' lead guitarist was Elvis.

I beg to disagree!!!

This would mean that Neal Schon = James Burton, which is laughably untrue.
Neal Schon is unfit to whipe the sweat from Burton's balls!

I can't stand what Neal has done this last year. But...put Perry back in Journey and take Neal out and you have Steve Perry with a back-up band. Take Neal out right now and substitute another lead guitar player and you don't have Journey.

Geeze I hate saying anything nice about Neal but I can't pretend the talent is not there. Good thing I have so much of it at home already because I'm not buying any more of it and I've been close enough and seen him in concert enough to hold me.

He and Jon have made a mess of Journey - but they can't mess up what they were.

What they are now is a joke.

It's sad.

[STORY_TELLER]

I agree with everything said except the comparison of Neal to Elvis' guitar player. Neal is just as integral to the Journey sound as Perry is. It's their combined collaboration which formed that sound. His guitar has always been an extension of Perry's voice, which is what made them have such great chemistry. If this wasn't true, then Perry's solo albums would be just a strong as Journey albums, and I think most people agree they're not.

I'd say your comparison would be true if you were talking about Rod Stewart and Ron Wood. Stewart's (early) solo albums were just as good as when he was with the Small Faces, which is why fans continued to support him after he left. The same can't be said of Perry without Journey. Even FTLOSM, which was more of an AOR album than Street Talk, was missing that special indescribable something. I firmly believe that something is Neal.

That being said, the reverse is also true. Neal hasn't had a comparable collaborator since Perry. He needs to find that without it sounding like he's looking for another Steve Perry. There is only one Perry and he's happily retired.

[somethingtohide]

I think Neal is as responsible for the Journey sound as Perry. It was the 2 of them together that made Journey great.

Perry's solo music doesn't sound like Journey to me. Nor is ROR what I expected to hear from Journey and that was the result of Perry running the show.

Together they are greater than they are apart in my opinion.


I'm not happy that Journey has chosen another Perry sound alike instead of moving forward with JSS because it indicates to me that they have given up artistically and are ready to settle for what was instead of moving forward with what could be. Time will tell I suppose. I hope I'm proven wrong.

[Strange Medicine]

I disagree wholeheartedly, though this disagreement might be the product of my young age (ie: I was never fortunate enough to be part of the Steve Perry-led-Journey era), but I felt that JSS and Steve Augeri were just as much part of the band as Steve Perry himself was; I don't consider them "replacements" per se. While clearly neither can match him in vocal prowess, both of them were quite skilled and I enjoyed each concert I saw with both of them.

Likewise, to be completely truthful, if you removed Neal Schon out of the equation, there wouldn't have been a Journey in the first place. Which meant that Perry would have never managed to bring his magnificent pipes to the public eye and he'd be in the carpentry business... and music as we know it would never be the same.

[STORY_TELLER]

I disagree wholeheartedly, though this disagreement might be the product of my young age (ie: I was never fortunate enough to be part of the Steve Perry-led-Journey era), but I felt that JSS and Steve Augeri were just as much part of the band as Steve Perry himself was; I don't consider them "replacements" per se. While clearly neither can match him in vocal prowess, both of them were quite skilled and I enjoyed each concert I saw with both of them.

Likewise, to be completely truthful, if you removed Neal Schon out of the equation, there wouldn't have been a Journey in the first place. Which meant that Perry would have never managed to bring his magnificent pipes to the public eye and he'd be in the carpentry business... and music as we know it would never be the same.

Well, I disagree there. Perry would have been discovered at some point. A voice like that doesn't go unnoticed for long. Sure, he had given up, but I'm sure in time he would have tried again. Perry was responsible for all of Journey's hits and success. It wasn't just his voice, but his talent in song writing and originating melodies which makes him unique. Journey before Perry was going unnoticed. Even when they added another singer, their original music was not very memorable. It wasn't until Perry came in that they caught the public's eye. Even all the new music Journey's created since the Perry era is still trying to capture what Perry influenced in them.

[Gibby]

Schon, Perry, and Cain are a legacy and that can't be separated - this is true. SP is finished so are they just supposed to quit? SP's solo career was a blip on the radar as was Bad English. At least they all tried other things. But, none can escape what made them a great part of rock n roll history and what made them boat loads of money. I work in a very successful business with my father. He started the business and was the pioneer for sure. When he retires, am I not suppossed to continue making a living on that business? Or, am I suppossed to go in a completely different direction and make my living by doing something else because a very important cog in the wheel has stepped aside? No, I hire someone else and continue to do what I do because it is what I know, what I am good at, and what provides a living for me and my family. Journey is a business first folks. I look forward to hearing someone sing the songs that can hit the notes the way I remember, without struggling or screaming. Hopefully Arnel will be that guy.

[Voyager]

I agree with everything said except the comparison of Neal to Elvis' guitar player. Neal is just as integral to the Journey sound as Perry is. It's their combined collaboration which formed that sound. His guitar has always been an extension of Perry's voice, which is what made them have such great chemistry. If this wasn't true, then Perry's solo albums would be just a strong as Journey albums, and I think most people agree they're not.

I have to agree with you. While Perry's solo efforts were much more well received than say David Lee Roth's solo efforts, Perry still sounded the best with Neal's bluesy, soulful guitar playing. They were definitely magic together. However, Perry has been much more successful without Schon than Schon has been without Perry.

[Strange Medicine]

I disagree wholeheartedly, though this disagreement might be the product of my young age (ie: I was never fortunate enough to be part of the Steve Perry-led-Journey era), but I felt that JSS and Steve Augeri were just as much part of the band as Steve Perry himself was; I don't consider them "replacements" per se. While clearly neither can match him in vocal prowess, both of them were quite skilled and I enjoyed each concert I saw with both of them.

Likewise, to be completely truthful, if you removed Neal Schon out of the equation, there wouldn't have been a Journey in the first place. Which meant that Perry would have never managed to bring his magnificent pipes to the public eye and he'd be in the carpentry business... and music as we know it would never be the same.

Well, I disagree there. Perry would have been discovered at some point. A voice like that doesn't go unnoticed for long. Sure, he had given up, but I'm sure in time he would have tried again. Perry was responsible for all of Journey's hits and success. It wasn't just his voice, but his talent in song writing and originating melodies which makes him unique. Journey before Perry was going unnoticed. Even when they added another singer, their original music was not very memorable. It wasn't until Perry came in that they caught the public's eye. Even all the new music Journey's created since the Perry era is still trying to capture what Perry influenced in them.

Perhaps, but that is just speculation. We know for a fact that Perry was ready to call it quits and hang up his "rock 'n roll shoes". Journey was -- like it or not -- the vehicle for his success. It's logical to assume that even if Perry were "discovered" which isn't guarenteed, that he wouldn't necessarily approach the success he had in Journey. Go from a Cadillac to a Pontiac as the case may be.

The concluding fact is that as much as I love Perry, he's clearly not the "only" reason for their success. Without Neal, there'd be no Journey in the first place, and one could argue that Jonathan Cain was also as important as either one since Journey only became a "megagroup" with his involvement in Escape. Facts don't lie.

[Voyager]

I disagree wholeheartedly, though this disagreement might be the product of my young age (ie: I was never fortunate enough to be part of the Steve Perry-led-Journey era), but I felt that JSS and Steve Augeri were just as much part of the band as Steve Perry himself was; I don't consider them "replacements" per se. While clearly neither can match him in vocal prowess, both of them were quite skilled and I enjoyed each concert I saw with both of them.

Okay, then answer this question: Would people have paid to come out to see Journey with Augeri or JSS singing IF Journey was not playing the Perry-era hits with the singer emulating Perry? If so, what hits would that have played?

[Strange Medicine]

I disagree wholeheartedly, though this disagreement might be the product of my young age (ie: I was never fortunate enough to be part of the Steve Perry-led-Journey era), but I felt that JSS and Steve Augeri were just as much part of the band as Steve Perry himself was; I don't consider them "replacements" per se. While clearly neither can match him in vocal prowess, both of them were quite skilled and I enjoyed each concert I saw with both of them.

Okay, then answer this question: Would people have paid to come out to see Journey with Augeri or JSS singing IF Journey was not playing the Perry-era hits with the singer emulating Perry?

I rest my case.

What case?

All you've made a case for is that Steve Perry was Journey's most commercially successful singer. I never argued otherwise. I simply said that JSS and Augeri were as legitimate frontman for Journey as he was, albeit not as talented.

[STORY_TELLER]

Schon, Perry, and Cain are a legacy and that can't be separated - this is true. SP is finished so are they just supposed to quit? SP's solo career was a blip on the radar as was Bad English. At least they all tried other things. But, none can escape what made them a great part of rock n roll history and what made them boat loads of money. I work in a very successful business with my father. He started the business and was the pioneer for sure. When he retires, am I not suppossed to continue making a living on that business? Or, am I suppossed to go in a completely different direction and make my living by doing something else because a very important cog in the wheel has stepped aside? No, I hire someone else and continue to do what I do because it is what I know, what I am good at, and what provides a living for me and my family. Journey is a business first folks. I look forward to hearing someone sing the songs that can hit the notes the way I remember, without struggling or screaming. Hopefully Arnel will be that guy.

Everything you just said makes sense, except, the business you run and the product you produce isn't art. Music is art and while music is also a business, in this business, the consumers are the fans of the art created and art is subjective. If the fans as the consumer base aren't happy with the choices of the businessmen in charge (in this case, the band) then they will lose their support and be unable to sell their product. Time will tell which way this will go, but I think Neal and Jon have an uphill battle on their hands.

I don't think Journey should retire. Why shouldn't they be allowed to continue to live off all their hard work in establishing their brand? The issue at hand in this thread is Journey's choices for lead singer since Perry left. A majority of fans and critics were publicly supportive of JSS on vocals. Someone who sounded nothing like Perry, but had quality vocal chords and sang with a comparable amount of heart and soul (yet still different). If fans were supporting the change, the criticism towards the band is how they have decided to stay in the past rather than taking a shot at moving forward in a different direction. A direction which would have allowed the band to remain legitimate in the fans eyes, rather than turning into a parody of themselves.

[Voyager]

I look forward to hearing someone sing the songs that can hit the notes the way I remember, without struggling or screaming. Hopefully Arnel will be that guy.

While I cannot say that I disagree, where the controversy lies is when the band members and/or fans expect people to separate Arnel from Steve Perry and allow him to have his "own identity". Why not just say, "Since Steve Perry is not willing to tour any longer, we want to preserve his legacy with a sound-alike singer." Why must they try to bury the Steve Perry legacy and try to get people to forget about him, all the while hiring an impersonator to emulate him?

I have to laugh when I read the comments on Arnel's YouTube videos that say things like, "Steve Perry paved the way for Arnel. Arnel is better than Steve Perry." These are the type of comments that rub salt into wounds. People are not looking for Arnel to be better than Steve Perry. They just want to hear Journey the way they remember them. If Arnel can do that, more power to him. But enough of the "Perry paved the way for Arnel" jokes already. The dude is a Perry impersonator - period.

[finalfight]

I think Neal is as responsible for the Journey sound as Perry. It was the 2 of them together that made Journey great.

Perry's solo music doesn't sound like Journey to me. Nor is ROR what I expected to hear from Journey and that was the result of Perry running the show.

Together they are greater than they are apart in my opinion.


I'm not happy that Journey has chosen another Perry sound alike instead of moving forward with JSS because it indicates to me that they have given up artistically and are ready to settle for what was instead of moving forward with what could be. Time will tell I suppose. I hope I'm proven wrong.

Perhaps it just wasn't working artistically with JSS? Maybe his vocal sound was too far removed from that which Schon & Cain want to write for at this time. After being identified for so long with Steve Perry perhaps part of the writing process for Journey is to automatically write with his vocals in mind, even unconsciously. This may have become less easy with Jeff, a truly wonderful vocalist in his own right and might have caused some discomfort - like an artist used to a certain set of tools having to learn to use, trust and become comfortable with new completely ones.

The ever honest Kevin Shirley stated recently that the new material and new line up put him in mind of the Journey of the early 80's and even though he was hyped went on to mention that with there was still some refining to be done as much of the material was raw. It is quite possible that now Journey have a new (albeit familiar sounding) voice in Arnel they are learning to once again write the way they did when Perry was in the band minus his input of course. This could well be a turning point of sorts.

It appears that a genuine effort is being put into moving the band forward. It's time to give Journey the benefit of the doubt, a small thing given all of the wonderful music and memories that they have given to us over the years.

[Voyager]

I work in a very successful business with my father. He started the business and was the pioneer for sure. When he retires, am I not suppossed to continue making a living on that business? Or, am I suppossed to go in a completely different direction and make my living by doing something else because a very important cog in the wheel has stepped aside?

That choice is up to you. You could stay safe and keep the business going in the same way your father did. Or, you could add on some products and services that you have created to see if they can fly apart from your father's involvement. This has been done very successfully on many occasions. Likewise, Neal could have found a Sammy Hagar and steered Journey in a new and different direction - but he chose not to. Therefore, he is still running his business based on Steve Perry's legacy. The two cannot be separated, and shouldn't be.

[STORY_TELLER]

Perhaps, but that is just speculation. We know for a fact that Perry was ready to call it quits and hang up his "rock 'n roll shoes". Journey was -- like it or not -- the vehicle for his success. It's logical to assume that even if Perry were "discovered" which isn't guarenteed, that he wouldn't necessarily approach the success he had in Journey. Go from a Cadillac to a Pontiac as the case may be.

The concluding fact is that as much as I love Perry, he's clearly not the "only" reason for their success. Without Neal, there'd be no Journey in the first place, and one could argue that Jonathan Cain was also as important as either one since Journey only became a "megagroup" with his involvement in Escape. Facts don't lie.

Well, I think your youth is showing brother.

You could call it speculation, sure, but it's more insight than speculation. Perry was/is an artist. Being an artist is something you are, not something you do. Sure, he was disappointed. He had lost his base player, a friend in a horrible accident. He may have considered himself quit at that point, but time heals wounds and the artist fire wasn't extinguished (not until years later after he burnt out). I know this because I'm an artist and I've been through very similar experiences.

All that aside, you're forgetting how Perry was discovered in the first place. His demo was floating around amongst music industry people. That's how it came into Herbie's hands. Herbie happened to be the first guy to make the call to Perry, but do you really think he was going to be the only one? I don't think so.

And I'm sorry, but Perry is the only reason for Journey's success. Neal said so himself in the VH1 behind the music documentary: "What Perry brought to Journey was the success which is why they let him steer the ship and they all just let the reigns go". I'm paraphrasing of course, but that is the gist of what Neal himself said (and this is after he hired Augeri).

So by your logic kiddo, Neal's wrong and you're right?

...ahem... sorry, couldn't resist throwing that in.

[WickedGail]

The problem with people like Neal is they think they are so right and are so far up their own ass they can't see daylight. So nothing will change. Please stop trying to put a square peg in a round hole!!

Gail

[Brigadier]

Long live Neal Schon!

Steve Perry was great in Journey, but Journey was around long before Perry joined. Some say he made the band. Commercially, yes. Musically- no. The band is called Journey, NOT the Steve Perry Band featuring Schon, Cain, etc.....

Besides, I doubt Perry's voice could survive the touring schedule. It is already evident that his voice is not fairing well.

I would have liked to have seen Journey take a new direction with JSS. I think it could have been great. But, being and outsider, not living in the band like the other guys, I can't start to speculate why they made that decision. Until you have all the facts, your just spitting into the wind.

It is sad to see all this venom aimed at arguably one of the greatest guitarist of all times. I would not want to have to make these decisions.

Journey was formed around Neal, and he is trying to keep it going. Unfortunately, Perry has said he will NOT rejoin the band. Get over it. It ain't gonna happen. Slamming Neal all the time won't make things any better.

Long live Neal Schon. Long live Journey in whatever form it takes.

[Voyager]

It is sad to see all this venom aimed at arguably one of the greatest guitarist of all times.

I don't see any venom being spit at Neal here. He's just trying to get fans to separate Journey from Steve Perry, and he's not doing a very good job of it by hiring another Steve Perry impersonator. Therefore, his fans are just telling him to get real and level with them and himself. Go out and do Steve proud Neal... tell people you are trying to preserve his legacy... be honest about it. Don't say, "Forget about Steve Perry" and then hire another Perry impersonator.

[Strange Medicine]

And I'm sorry, but Perry is the only reason for Journey's success. Neal said so himself in the VH1 behind the music documentary: "What Perry brought to Journey was the success which is why they let him steer the ship and they all just let the reigns go". I'm paraphrasing of course, but that is the gist of what Neal himself said (and this is after he hired Augeri).

So by your logic kiddo, Neal's wrong and you're right?

...ahem... sorry, couldn't resist throwing that in.

Ah, yes, of course. "Paraphrasing" and "the gist" of what Neal Schon said in a documentary obviously constitute themselves as fact? Why don't you do us all a favor and post the actual statement. By the way, if Steve Perry "is the only reason" for Journey's success, explain to me why Journey's best selling albums didn't come until after he was in the band for, what? Four years? With an insane touring schedule? Explain to me how, only when Jonathan Cain entered the picture, did the world want to listen to Journey's music.

Sorry, dude. Facts don't lie. Facts say that Perry, Schon, and Cain were all three responsible for Journey's success. When you've got "facts" to support your argument, you just let me know.

[Voyager]

Explain to me how, only when Jonathan Cain entered the picture, did the world want to listen to Journey's music.

Errr.. it was because of Steve Perry's vocals - period. If it weren't, then show me the platinum-selling albums that Journey produced without Steve Perry's vocals on them.

[STORY_TELLER]

Long live Neal Schon!

Steve Perry was great in Journey, but Journey was around long before Perry joined. Some say he made the band. Commercially, yes. Musically- no. The band is called Journey, NOT the Steve Perry Band featuring Schon, Cain, etc.....

Besides, I doubt Perry's voice could survive the touring schedule. It is already evident that his voice is not fairing well.

I would have liked to have seen Journey take a new direction with JSS. I think it could have been great. But, being and outsider, not living in the band like the other guys, I can't start to speculate why they made that decision. Until you have all the facts, your just spitting into the wind.

It is sad to see all this venom aimed at arguably one of the greatest guitarist of all times. I would not want to have to make these decisions.

Journey was formed around Neal, and he is trying to keep it going. Unfortunately, Perry has said he will NOT rejoin the band. Get over it. It ain't gonna happen. Slamming Neal all the time won't make things any better.

Long live Neal Schon. Long live Journey in whatever form it takes.

Interesting. You say this as though you would have even heard of Journey had Perry never joined the band or created the music which he had such a huge part in originating. Journey was on the verge of being dropped by their record label when Perry came along. Without Perry there wouldn't be a Journey to debate about. Neal himself said all their songs are based around a singer, not the guitarist (like Van Halen). Cain said "they want to sound like the 65 million units they have out there". This is why they feel they need a vocalist in the tenor range who can sing their song catalogue in a way that reminds them of Perry's delivery. It's a business decision. Speculation? Where? The band members have publicly stated what they want from a lead singer. They just didn't say it to Jeff.

[Brigadier]

No argument from me that they handled JSS horribly. They should be ashamed.

[Journey69]

The Elvis comparison is ridiculous! That would be like trying to replace Rod Stewart in his own damn band.. It wasn't the Steve Perry band.. He was hired.. The only reason People like Carrie Underwood or Daughtry are so popular is because they were on a national tv show and they had people rooting for them..Like a pro sports team.. Its totally different.. Your instant following is going to buy your albums.. The reason why Bon Jovi is successful at this point is because they do things out of the box thinking wise..Like duet with Allison Krause.. Get with the most popular country singer and do each others songs.. Get involved in the most successful tv show on right now.. American Idol.. Journey doesn't do things like that.. Your not going to have success sitting on the sidelines just making music and touring.. You have to do things outside the box and get involved in other things to really get your name out there today.. Getting on the Soprano's was a good start..I know it wasn't their choice and it was luck..But the have to do alot more to get their name out there.. Even with Steve Perry in the band..They would have to bust their asses to get their names back out there.. Do something off the wall that people can identify with..