New Neal Interview

[MartyMoffatt]

Not sure if this has already been posted yet, but here's an interview from yesterday just published by excellent rock photographer Valerie Nerres, for All Access magazine...

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=164010477&blogID=392459587

Marty

[StyxCollector]

Can't wait for this comment to be sliced and diced

I looked for a long time, I found a couple of interesting guys, you know, Jeremy Hunsicker, who was in a tribute band for Journey, "Frontiers", we were considering him, he actually came out, he flew in and we auditioned him. He was very good, but, he was a bit scary, because he was almost too much like Perry, he was almost like a duplicate, like probably the closest of anyone out there and what was kind of strange was he also looked like him a bit, I don't know.

[Jeremey]

Not sure if this has already been posted yet, but here's an interview from yesterday just published by excellent rock photographer Valerie Nerres, for All Access magazine...

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=164010477&blogID=392459587

Marty

Wow...amazing that Neal didn't rail against me or demolish me in this interview, like some here had suggested/hoped for...

A public thank you to Neal here for a sincere compliment.

[stevew2]

Thats cool he mentioned Jeremey

[Red13JoePa]

Not sure if this has already been posted yet, but here's an interview from yesterday just published by excellent rock photographer Valerie Nerres, for All Access magazine...

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=164010477&blogID=392459587

Marty

Wow...amazing that Neal didn't rail against me or demolish me in this interview, like some here had suggested/hoped for...

A public thank you to Neal here for a sincere compliment.

Of course not.
Nea1 wants to work, doesn't have time for the horseshit.
Too much of it's been robbed from the fucker a1ready.

J, what other songs did you demo up from what has turned out to Reve1ation, if you're at 1iberty to say that is?

[StyxCollector]

Not sure if this has already been posted yet, but here's an interview from yesterday just published by excellent rock photographer Valerie Nerres, for All Access magazine...

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=164010477&blogID=392459587

Marty

Wow...amazing that Neal didn't rail against me or demolish me in this interview, like some here had suggested/hoped for...

A public thank you to Neal here for a sincere compliment.

Yeah ... that comment struck me as very complimentary in its own way. Either way, it's still cool that you got to jam and get a credit on the new album.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Any thoughts on this album being written with key members not present?
Shades of ROR anyone?

Still, I would imagine Jon and Neal normally write that way.

[Allied Forces]

So Boston hires a singer from Home Depot and Journey auditions tribute singers?

What's the world coming too? Actually I get it. We all will do anything we can to hold onto the music of our youth. These groups are now brand names. In a way that is fine. The New York Yankees no longer have Babe Ruth but have always been the Yankees. Just make no mistake, these are brands now, not bands.

Sorry about the eye roll. I'm sure all of these singers are very talented. I just wonder if the bands will discount their ticket prices since fans will be paying to see amateur hour. I went through the replacement deal with Triumph very briefly and it wasn't cool. At least these groups have thought it out a bit better than mine did at the time. Now, I get the real deal though for a brief moment this summer!

[Saint John]

Neal being classy doesn't surprise me a bit. I had this dude all wrong for a long time. Friga too. I will apologize to them personally this summer.

[STORY_TELLER]

Any thoughts on this album being written with key members not present?
Shades of ROR anyone?

Still, I would imagine Jon and Neal normally write that way.

I never really saw Deen having much of a creative voice in this band. Kind of shows in the drumming. Ross used to, to a degree. I'm sure he came up with his own bass lines, but these days I'm sure he's content to just go with the flow, enjoy performing and collect a check. The creative process in the 80's was largely between Perry, Neal and Jon so it doesn't surprise me that now it's just between Neal and Jon. They have great chemistry, but based on the clips I've heard (as compared with their other post perry works), it's clear they need to work with producers more. They need a 3rd unbiased ear to hone and refine.

I think technology has allowed this kind of "solitary collaboration" to take place. Neal can work from his home, Jon from his and they can email their material back and forth. In some ways its good, avoids conflict, in others its not (less chance of spontaneous "happy mistakes" during jam sessions).

Sounds to me like what they're trying to avoid is creative conflict. Keeping the peace seems more important to Neal at this point. With all the turmoil that went on during the Perry years, it doesn't surprise me. With touring being their life's blood, I think Neal just wants to be with as many guys he can get along with as possible. I mean he didn't pick Deen because he's the best possible drummer out there, he chose him because they're buds.

[mistiejourney]

Not sure if this has already been posted yet, but here's an interview from yesterday just published by excellent rock photographer Valerie Nerres, for All Access magazine...

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=164010477&blogID=392459587

Marty

Wow...amazing that Neal didn't rail against me or demolish me in this interview, like some here had suggested/hoped for...

A public thank you to Neal here for a sincere compliment.

Very cool, Jeremey!!!!!

[mistiejourney]

So Boston hires a singer from Home Depot and Journey auditions tribute singers?

What's the world coming too? Actually I get it. We all will do anything we can to hold onto the music of our youth. These groups are now brand names. In a way that is fine. The New York Yankees no longer have Babe Ruth but have always been the Yankees. Just make no mistake, these are brands now, not bands.

Sorry about the eye roll. I'm sure all of these singers are very talented. I just wonder if the bands will discount their ticket prices since fans will be paying to see amateur hour. I went through the replacement deal with Triumph very briefly and it wasn't cool. At least these groups have thought it out a bit better than mine did at the time. Now, I get the real deal though for a brief moment this summer!

Hey, Steve Augeri worked at the Gap! LOL! I bet the next singer comes from Abercrombie and Fitch!

[stevew2]

Neal being classy doesn't surprise me a bit. I had this dude all wrong for a long time. Friga too. I will apologize to them personally this summer.

Ill tell Friga that you love him again

[Saint John]

Any thoughts on this album being written with key members not present?
Shades of ROR anyone?

Still, I would imagine Jon and Neal normally write that way.

I never really saw Deen having much of a creative voice in this band. Kind of shows in the drumming. Ross used to, to a degree. I'm sure he came up with his own bass lines, but these days I'm sure he's content to just go with the flow, enjoy performing and collect a check. The creative process in the 80's was largely between Perry, Neal and Jon so it doesn't surprise me that now it's just between Neal and Jon. They have great chemistry, but based on the clips I've heard (as compared with their other post perry works), it's clear they need to work with producers more. They need a 3rd unbiased ear to hone and refine.

I think technology has allowed this kind of "solitary collaboration" to take place. Neal can work from his home, Jon from his and they can email their material back and forth. In some ways its good, avoids conflict, in others its not (less chance of spontaneous "happy mistakes" during jam sessions).

Sounds to me like what they're trying to avoid is creative conflict. Keeping the peace seems more important to Neal at this point. With all the turmoil that went on during the Perry years, it doesn't surprise me. With touring being their life's blood, I think Neal just wants to be with as many guys he can get along with as possible. I mean he didn't pick Deen because he's the best possible drummer out there, he chose him because they're buds.

This is a great post.

[NealIsGod]

Frontiers sounds more like Journey than Journey does. If you want to hear live Perry-era Journey, Frontiers is as close to the real thing as there will ever be again.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Frontiers sounds more like Journey than Journey does. If you want to hear live Perry-era Journey, Frontiers is as close to the real thing as there will ever be again.

That was true throughout the Augeri-era, as well.
Hear for yourself.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7ATSkK20AVo

::shudder::

[Saint John]

Frontiers sounds more like Journey than Journey does. If you want to hear live Perry-era Journey, Frontiers is as close to the real thing as there will ever be again.

LOl...you can't be serious. On the vocal end Jeremey might have a slight edge in sounding more like Perry voice-wise, but he can't sustain the notes like Arnel, his range is inferior and most importantly, the music in Frontiers is lightyears behind Journey's. Your statement is simply that of a malcontent. Like others, you only now say stupid shit like this when just a year ago you were ecstatic that Soto didn't sound like Perry...but that was great!!! And even as recently as a few months ago you were in the "Arnel's a Perry puppet" crowd. Dude, get your fucking story straight. You have more positions than 15 fags playing naked Twister.

[Allied Forces]

So Boston hires a singer from Home Depot and Journey auditions tribute singers?

What's the world coming too? Actually I get it. We all will do anything we can to hold onto the music of our youth. These groups are now brand names. In a way that is fine. The New York Yankees no longer have Babe Ruth but have always been the Yankees. Just make no mistake, these are brands now, not bands.

Sorry about the eye roll. I'm sure all of these singers are very talented. I just wonder if the bands will discount their ticket prices since fans will be paying to see amateur hour. I went through the replacement deal with Triumph very briefly and it wasn't cool. At least these groups have thought it out a bit better than mine did at the time. Now, I get the real deal though for a brief moment this summer!

Hey gang. I just re-read this and I again apologize if I came off a bit too flippant. One of the reasons I was a long time lurker was because I am well aware of the wars that go on between members at times. I certainly am not one to contribute to anything like that and hope none of you took my previous post the wrong way. Thanks.

[DrFU]

I thought it was a good interview; the reporter did a nice job. Neal didn't come off sounding like an asshat the way he sometimes does. Graciously complimentary of Jeremey, enthusiastic about Arnel, committed to more rockers on the "next" album, explained why it really did look like they were making it up as they went along in Vegas... Nothing to bitch about here, imo.

[Andrew]

Frontiers sounds more like Journey than Journey does. If you want to hear live Perry-era Journey, Frontiers is as close to the real thing as there will ever be again.

LOl...you can't be serious. On the vocal end Jeremey might have a slight edge in sounding more like Perry voice-wise, but he can't sustain the notes like Arnel, his range is inferior and most importantly, the music in Frontiers is lightyears behind Journey's. Your statement is simply that of a malcontent. Like others, you only now say stupid shit like this when just a year ago you were ecstatic that Soto didn't sound like Perry...but that great!!! And even as recently as a few months ago you were in the "Arnel's a Perry puppet" crowd. Dude, get your fucking story straight.

[conversationpc]

I thought it was a good interview; the reporter did a nice job. Neal didn't come off sounding like an asshat the way he sometimes does. Graciously complimentary of Jeremey, enthusiastic about Arnel, committed to more rockers on the "next" album, explained why it really did look like they were making it up as they went along in Vegas... Nothing to bitch about here, imo.

I find it comforting to know that they are already planning on doing more original music.

[conversationpc]

Frontiers sounds more like Journey than Journey does. If you want to hear live Perry-era Journey, Frontiers is as close to the real thing as there will ever be again.

LOl...you can't be serious. On the vocal end Jeremey might have a slight edge in sounding more like Perry voice-wise, but he can't sustain the notes like Arnel, his range is inferior and most importantly, the music in Frontiers is lightyears behind Journey's. Your statement is simply that of a malcontent. Like others, you only now say stupid shit like this when just a year ago you were ecstatic that Soto didn't sound like Perry...but that great!!! And even as recently as a few months ago you were in the "Arnel's a Perry puppet" crowd. Dude, get your fucking story straight. You have more positions than 15 fags playing naked Twister.

I don't know about his range being inferior but as far as Frontiers' music sounding more like Journey than Journey does, that IS a ridiculous statement, obviously.

[nutz4Neal]

Valerie's questions were great, they brought out Neal's personality..he's such an interesting guy.

Also could see his hopes and enthusiasm for this line up and Revelation. My wishes are that his dreams come true.

Awesome to read that he has a new side project by the name of *Guitar Men* where he will be collaborating with some awesome musicians as well as his girlfriend, Lori Carpenter, who is a great singer...this should be fun.

[Jeremey]

Of course not.
Nea1 wants to work, doesn't have time for the horseshit.
Too much of it's been robbed from the fucker a1ready.

J, what other songs did you demo up from what has turned out to Reve1ation, if you're at 1iberty to say that is?

We fully did "Where Did I Lose Your Love," which was written during Arrival sessions, and we worked up "Never Walk Away" in one afternoon...Those are the only two I had any time with, though "Turn Down The World Tonight" was an idea that Jonathan had, that he was trying to tease some lyrics and an idea for the song on. We talked about it a little, it was just a concept that he had...I told him the whole idea seemed a little nebulous, like, wouldn't he want to get more specific....In recent conversation with him, he told me he almost mentioned me in the liner notes for that song to say "ha ha, I DID write that song we talked about!" I think it's a pretty cool thing to just have a phrase like that and build an entire song around it. Jonathan is a songwriter through and through, like a carpenter makes chairs and a vintner makes wine, Jonathan makes songs - That's his craft.

[Saint John]

Of course not.
Nea1 wants to work, doesn't have time for the horseshit.
Too much of it's been robbed from the fucker a1ready.

J, what other songs did you demo up from what has turned out to Reve1ation, if you're at 1iberty to say that is?

We fully did "Where Did I Lose Your Love," which was written during Arrival sessions, and we worked up "Never Walk Away" in one afternoon...Those are the only two I had any time with, though "Turn Down The World Tonight" was an idea that Jonathan had, that he was trying to tease some lyrics and an idea for the song on. We talked about it a little, it was just a concept that he had...I told him the whole idea seemed a little nebulous, like, wouldn't he want to get more specific....In recent conversation with him, he told me he almost mentioned me in the liner notes for that song to say "ha ha, I DID write that song we talked about!" I think it's a pretty cool thing to just have a phrase like that and build an entire song around it. Jonathan is a songwriter through and through, like a carpenter makes chairs and a vintner makes wine, Jonathan makes songs - That's his craft.

Where Did I Lose Your Love sounds like a winner to me. Jeremey, which song did you think rocked the hardest and which song seemed to have Schon's best work on it...from the songs you heard/sang?

[DSHinMICH]

The only thing I could think was "Oh my god! Hes got a girlfriend already?" "Run Lisa! RUN!!"

[JH'sTXfan]

I looked for a long time, I found a couple of interesting guys, you know, Jeremy Hunsicker, who was in a tribute band for Journey, "Frontiers", we were considering him, he actually came out, he flew in and we auditioned him. He was very good, but, he was a bit scary, because he was almost too much like Perry, he was almost like a duplicate, like probably the closest of anyone out there and what was kind of strange was he also looked like him a bit, I don't know.

He's right on with that point.

[squirt1]

Mistiejourney- Think,think ! The next singer obviously is working for Wal-Mart at this time.

[tammy]

Thanks for posting the interview. I have to admit I'm anxious to get the new CD for the NEW songs...can't stop listening to the clips of "What I needed", "Like a sunshower", "Where did I lose your love" and "what it takes to win" and of course, "After all these years". I guess a great song is a great song and I like what I'm hearing...Arnel's amazing vocals within the Journey music....fits like a glove. I'll always be a Perry lover and will always listen to his voice on the past songs - to me those belong to him with Journey.

[Eric]

find it comforting to know that they are already planning on doing more original music.

Indeed!