OT: Serious question for all you JSS followers

[texafana]

Ok, I've done my research the past few months. Granted, I still stand by my views that he was not a good fit with Journey, however....

The guy can sing his ass off.
Eyes of Love, Stand Up And Shout, etc, are KILLER tunes.

You would think someone with that caliber of talent would have already "made it" years ago. But I don't know if it was bad marketing, bad p&r, etc, etc, something has stalled the man from becoming a mega star.

Question: Why isn't Jeff Scott Soto a mega superstar and a household name?

[Lula]

good question. if i had the answer, things would be different.

[venomnation]

Question: Why isn't Jeff Scott Soto a mega superstar and a household name?

I'm not sure he "wants" to be....he's been out there with the "mega bands" and toured the globe, but he makes damn good money doing what he does. Touring with a queen tribute....touring with jimi jamison....talisman...solo...and he's got friends in this business. I will always feel a little miffed about the whole JSS /Journey thing...but part of me thinks it was for his better good...NOT to be in that band....

[txfirefighter]

We all wish we had the answer to that question.

[Perrydise]

Good topic.

I can only tell you that he is a mega star and a household name in my home, and I guess to me thats all that counts. There are alot of people I enjoy listening to that really havent got their status lifted. One is Amanda Marshall. Incredible voice, but no real p/r behind her. To me Amanda and JSS are huge talents, much better than alot out there today.

IMO.

[larryfromnextdoor]

Ok, I've done my research the past few months. Granted, I still stand by my views that he was not a good fit with Journey, however....

The guy can sing his ass off.
Eyes of Love, Stand Up And Shout, etc, are KILLER tunes.

You would think someone with that caliber of talent would have already "made it" years ago. But I don't know if it was bad marketing, bad p&r, etc, etc, something has stalled the man from becoming a mega star.

Question: Why isn't Jeff Scott Soto a mega superstar and a household name?

... mega stars are the worst artisits period.. who wins those arwards.. ,, the talant???no... jeff had nothing .. but bad TIMING!!!! that cat blossomed when rock n roll died... yet he is still creating groovy tunes..

[Ms_M]

Ok, I've done my research the past few months. Granted, I still stand by my views that he was not a good fit with Journey, however....

The guy can sing his ass off.
Eyes of Love, Stand Up And Shout, etc, are KILLER tunes.

You would think someone with that caliber of talent would have already "made it" years ago. But I don't know if it was bad marketing, bad p&r, etc, etc, something has stalled the man from becoming a mega star.

Question: Why isn't Jeff Scott Soto a mega superstar and a household name?

Very interesting question. I think timing has had something to do with it. Also, as Stevek said, does he WANT to be? If he is happy in his work, that is probably all that matters.

[Deb]

Good topic.

I can only tell you that he is a mega star and a household name in my home, and I guess to me thats all that counts. There are alot of people I enjoy listening to that really havent got their status lifted. One is Amanda Marshall. Incredible voice, but no real p/r behind her. To me Amanda and JSS are huge talents, much better than alot out there today.

IMO.

Exactly! Couldn't agree with you more regarding JSS and Amanda Marshall (another singer with tons of soul). Holy hannah, would that be a smokin' duet, eh? Got great taste in singers there Perrydise. I think he just hasn't gotten the mega exposure he definitely deserves.............YET!

[Perrydise]

Good topic.

I can only tell you that he is a mega star and a household name in my home, and I guess to me thats all that counts. There are alot of people I enjoy listening to that really havent got their status lifted. One is Amanda Marshall. Incredible voice, but no real p/r behind her. To me Amanda and JSS are huge talents, much better than alot out there today.

IMO.

Exactly! Couldn't agree with you more regarding JSS and Amanda Marshall (another singer with tons of soul). Holy hannah, would that be a smokin' duet, eh? Got great taste in singers there Perrydise. I think he just hasn't gotten the mega exposure he definitely deserves.............YET!

Thinking about it, they would sound great together!

[squirt1]

This would be a great question to ask 85% of the American Idol "stars". It is hard even with Jeff being a real musician. Simon is a joke,but he makes tones with his faux talent show.

[kgdjpubs]

Question: Why isn't Jeff Scott Soto a mega superstar and a household name?

as good of an answer as any....timing. JSS started with Yngwie, who was never going to be huge in the US, then Eyes never got the promotion or anything else, then grunge hit. Basically, through no fault of his own, he was doing the wrong thing with the wrong people at the wrong time. Talent doesn't mean nearly as much in this industry as it should.

[WalrusOct9]

Exactly. If he'd done Talisman or his solo records 20 years earlier, I'm sure he would've been huge.

[squirt1]

On above post -Oops-Simon makes tons of money. Sorry past by bedtime.

[7 Wishes]

Jeff is a phenomenal songwriter and performer, and a hell of a guy, too. Everytime I think I'm over the Screw Job Neal and Jon gave him, I think about it again, and get pissed off all over again.

[ProgRocker53]

It amazes me that Talisman were never international chart-toppers. Amazing vocals, punchy/hooky/catchy melodies and riffs, groovy bass, and all kinds of heavy-hitting yet digestible songs.

[cyndy!]

jeff is making a living as a musician - no need for a day job. he's doing what he loves to do. i consider that a huge success!

[Playitloudforme]

Ok, I've done my research the past few months. Granted, I still stand by my views that he was not a good fit with Journey, however....

The guy can sing his ass off.
Eyes of Love, Stand Up And Shout, etc, are KILLER tunes.

You would think someone with that caliber of talent would have already "made it" years ago. But I don't know if it was bad marketing, bad p&r, etc, etc, something has stalled the man from becoming a mega star.

Question: Why isn't Jeff Scott Soto a mega superstar and a household name?

There's so MANY talented, unbelievably uber talented individuals out there. As Cyndy said, if you can make a living out of it, you are a success. There's truly only a small fraction of those wonderfully talented individuals who make a living out of it, and an even smaller fraction that become household names. My opinion is that it has a LOT to do with being at the right place, right time, right combo, right song, a marketing team and a manager who lives/breaths/eats/and dies for their client. Shoot, one week Perry was cleaning out turkey coops, the next... he was singing with a band that would propel him into that household name category.

Jeff is already hugely respected out there. I think it's going to be a reality for him, sooner than later. Seeing him live on the stage, this guy has it. No doubt. Matter of time.

[StoneCold]

... mega stars are the worst artisits period.. who wins those arwards.. ,, the talant???no... jeff had nothing .. but bad TIMING!!!! that cat blossomed when rock n roll died... yet he is still creating groovy tunes..

Excellent response. Grunge, boy bands, pop tarts bring us where we are today.

I think the question should be isolated a bit more though.

Why didn't Queen pick up Jeff instead of Rodgers? Everybody has this question. I'd love an answer.

[YoungJRNY]

There are a lot of stars of his quality out there. Tons of people and singers we don't know about, but someone else may know. To someone like me and you, we know of JSS who has the power stardom to be big, but, a lot of people don't know about him like we probably don't know about those other star singers with potential.

It might be just his genre of music that the whole % of the general public may not care for. Either that, or he was just never a household name. I know plenty of bands before my time. But, as for JSS, I only heard of him when Journey acquired him. It's all the way the business is handled, and management is handled by his part early career. Maybe he didn't have the luxery Steve Perry did back in those days. Look at Arnel for instance. No idea who he was until a household name takes him in. Now he could be on the verge of a mega star given his weak background before becoming lead singer for legends. That's what I think at least.

As for people being pissed over the ordeal with Journey.. I once heard a rumor going around that the band decided to part ways with him for two reasons. #1, was his sound. They didn't want to tarnish their own sound with his alto-ing voice. And #2, they simply didn't get a long with him on the road. They just didn't gel together behind closed doors..lots of egos in one room equals a nono. That and him trying to do what he wanted with going in a new direction. My source could be strong, but I don't think it would even matter, just rumors.

[YoungJRNY]

Ok, I've done my research the past few months. Granted, I still stand by my views that he was not a good fit with Journey, however....

The guy can sing his ass off.
Eyes of Love, Stand Up And Shout, etc, are KILLER tunes.

You would think someone with that caliber of talent would have already "made it" years ago. But I don't know if it was bad marketing, bad p&r, etc, etc, something has stalled the man from becoming a mega star.

Question: Why isn't Jeff Scott Soto a mega superstar and a household name?

There's so MANY talented, unbelievably uber talented individuals out there. As Cyndy said, if you can make a living out of it, you are a success. There's truly only a small fraction of those wonderfully talented individuals who make a living out of it, and an even smaller fraction that become household names. My opinion is that it has a LOT to do with being at the right place, right time, right combo, right song, a marketing team and a manager who lives/breaths/eats/and dies for their client. Shoot, one week Perry was cleaning out turkey coops, the next... he was singing with a band that would propel him into that household name category.

Jeff is already hugely respected out there. I think it's going to be a reality for him, sooner than later. Seeing him live on the stage, this guy has it. No doubt. Matter of time.

There's so MANY talented, unbelievably uber talented individuals out there. As Cyndy said, if you can make a living out of it, you are a success. There's truly only a small fraction of those wonderfully talented individuals who make a living out of it, and an even smaller fraction that become household names

holy shit thats exactly what I said, beat me to it. Great minds think alike haha

[treetopovskaya]

he has a bunch of people that love & respect him (fans & other musicians)... some people travel MILES to see him... even if it's just a hole in a wall type of venue. jss has touched many hearts... with his music & his kind spirit... that too is a success. }:C)

if i had a passport & time i could take off from work i would be on the next plane outta here... to see jss with tempestt next month. }:C))

jeff is making a living as a musician - no need for a day job. he's doing what he loves to do. i consider that a huge success!

[mistiejourney]

The man is a household name in my house!

Seriously, if JSS is happy with what he is doing and has had the flexibility to make a living all these years with a prodigious amount of output, that is fantastic. Beholden to no one and available to those he chooses to be, sounds like the best of both worlds.

Don't get me started on Journey again.

I do okay and then think about Jeff and get pissed off all over again.

(And for what it is worth, Journey pissed me off over letting Jeff go, but Perry pissed me off for holding Journey back so long. Don't ask me how I reconcile this damn emotional attachment to a band whose members I'd like to kick in the cohones half the time.

Jeff excepted, of course )

[7 Wishes]

I just remember shit loads of people at the Charlotte show turning to each other and saying, "Holy crap! Who is this guy?"

He was absolutely mesmerizing. The epitome of a rock star. Up there with Perry, Mercury, Bach, Blades, and Diamond Dave...seriously. The dude can flat-out bring it. Stupid assed Cain and Schon. Dumb asses.

[Just Sara]

Very interesting question. I think timing has had something to do with it. Also, as Stevek said, does he WANT to be? If he is happy in his work, that is probably all that matters.

One of the things that really bugs me is when a musician I love is content with not being a megastar!
Seriously!
I mean, think of all the awesome things that would happen if Jeff Scott Soto were a household name!
We'd have more JSSB tours in more places.
JSS albums would be easier to come by and maybe even a little cheaper because everyone would want one and so making a profit would be a snap.
JSS music videos would be available on Itunes in great quantities.
We'd get to see Jeff on TV and tape it so we can watch it over and over again!
JSSB memorabilia would be a heckuva lot easier to come by (although my homemade JSS computer bag is pretty hot IMO )

If JSS is content with where he is now, that's awesome. More power too him! But for purely selfish reasons, I wish he were bigger!!!

[jrnychick]

I just remember shit loads of people at the Charlotte show turning to each other and saying, "Holy crap! Who is this guy?"

He was absolutely mesmerizing. The epitome of a rock star. Up there with Perry, Mercury, Bach, Blades, and Diamond Dave...seriously. The dude can flat-out bring it. Stupid assed Cain and Schon. Dumb asses.

I absolutely agree with you 100%! I saw him in July of '06 when he was about 2 weeks into the Journey gig. You would never have known that he wasn't in the band for years. His performance was very natural, and he's one of those performers who is very good at drawing the audience in. I agree that Cain and Schon are dumbasses for letting him go.

[Lady Luck]

he has a bunch of people that love & respect him (fans & other musicians)... some people travel MILES to see him... even if it's just a hole in a wall type of venue.

Like Paladino's What a dive.

[dcvader]

... even if it's just a hole in a wall type of venue.

LaPlata, MD

Great time had by all.

[MidNightTrain]

Question: Why isn't Jeff Scott Soto a mega superstar and a household name?

If this were the mid-70's, he would be! It's not about the music today.

[kgdjpubs]

Why didn't Queen pick up Jeff instead of Rodgers? Everybody has this question. I'd love an answer.

The somewhat substantiated rumor (possibly confirmed) for Queen is that Rodgers was NOT the first choice. John Farnham turned it down previous--which has more credibility if you consider Farnham's version of We Will Rock You from his Greatest Hits album with Queen backing him. This was also right at the time where Farnham had just retired from major tours, and joining Queen would mean a lot of live shows. Add to it that Farnham has been solo for the majority of his 40+ years of performing, exept for replacing the singer in Little River Band, which didn't go over that well--so he knew what he would be getting into. Now, Queen + JF probably would have gone over rather well as Farnham can basically sing anything except for one problem. In Australia, Queen would probably be OPENING for Farnham, but everywhere else, Farnham is nobody. Great singer, great stage presence, but totally unheard of in Europe and America, where Queen's audience is.

Once Farnham was out, Queen was stuck with picking someone up who didn't really sound like Freddy Mercury. Here is probably where JSS came into the picture, however briefly. Paul Rodgers is a name, JSS is not. It doesn't matter if you put a great singer and awesome frontman in the band--he is still unknown to your audience. Paul Rodgers is known however, and has fans, which brings money to Queen in US/UK. Basically, like everything else, it boils down to money.

[YoungJRNY]

... even if it's just a hole in a wall type of venue.

LaPlata, MD

Great time had by all.

dcvader,

that is one fantASSitc avatar.