AP got invitations from other american bands before Journey?

[journeypower]

a colleague of mine told me this morning that AP got several offers before the Journey break. though she didn't specify which bands they were (probably unknown or probably not). wonderin if this rumor has any truth to it. I dunno if I read it correctly but didn't AP wanted to go to the U.S. long before Neal contacted him? maybe some guys here could shed some light. this would be a good story if it were true.

[oakley_reef]

dude i need some proof

[mdaemon]

a colleague of mine told me this morning that AP got several offers before the Journey break. though she didn't specify which bands they were (probably unknown or probably not). wonderin if this rumor has any truth to it. I dunno if I read it correctly but didn't AP wanted to go to the U.S. long before Neil contacted him? maybe some guys here could shed some light. this would be a good story if it were true.

The only clue that I can think of is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HjcCzgCCX0 . Around 0:35, Arnel was speaking to somebody from the audience and he did say "don't worry, pag-na-approve ang visa ko sa America" (don't worry, when my American visa gets approved...). Bearing in mind that this video was taken before Neil saw Arnel in youtube and that I can't think of a reason why Arnel would apply for an American visa. I don't believe that the Zoo band has a significant following in the Pinoy-American community in the states so no, I don't think he applied for a visa so The Zoo band can perform there. Pure speculation, I know, but hey, I won't be the first to speculate in this forum

[oakley_reef]

a colleague of mine told me this morning that AP got several offers before the Journey break. though she didn't specify which bands they were (probably unknown or probably not). wonderin if this rumor has any truth to it. I dunno if I read it correctly but didn't AP wanted to go to the U.S. long before Neil contacted him? maybe some guys here could shed some light. this would be a good story if it were true.

The only clue that I can think of is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HjcCzgCCX0 . Around 0:35, Arnel was speaking to somebody from the audience and he did say "don't worry, pag-na-approve ang visa ko sa America" (don't worry, when my American visa gets approved...). Bearing in mind that this video was taken before Neil saw Arnel in youtube and that I can't think of a reason why Arnel would apply for an American visa. I don't believe that the Zoo band has a significant following in the Pinoy-American community in the states so no, I don't think he applied for a visa so The Zoo band can perform there. Pure speculation, I know, but hey, I won't be the first to speculate in this forum

how would you know that time he made an statement (dont worry, when my american visa gets approved)it was before neil saw arnel...can you state here when that video taken and when neil discover arnel...what you think? by then we can analyze if that statement it was before or after neil saw arnel....

[journeypower]

a colleague of mine told me this morning that AP got several offers before the Journey break. though she didn't specify which bands they were (probably unknown or probably not). wonderin if this rumor has any truth to it. I dunno if I read it correctly but didn't AP wanted to go to the U.S. long before Neil contacted him? maybe some guys here could shed some light. this would be a good story if it were true.

The only clue that I can think of is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HjcCzgCCX0 . Around 0:35, Arnel was speaking to somebody from the audience and he did say "don't worry, pag-na-approve ang visa ko sa America" (don't worry, when my American visa gets approved...). Bearing in mind that this video was taken before Neil saw Arnel in youtube and that I can't think of a reason why Arnel would apply for an American visa. I don't believe that the Zoo band has a significant following in the Pinoy-American community in the states so no, I don't think he applied for a visa so The Zoo band can perform there. Pure speculation, I know, but hey, I won't be the first to speculate in this forum

ahm, actually my inquiry was not about AP applying for a visa so that his ZOO band could perform in the U.S. my inquiry is about AP getting offers from other american bands, not ZOO band getting offers to perform in the U.S., ok? again, it was only about AP being with other american bands in the U.S., not THE ZOO in the U.S. when I said other american bands, I meant not Journey. I hope I cleared it up.

I was quite confused coz my colleague further reiterated that it was that Gomez guy or somethin spoke of it.

[strangegrey]

It's spelled Neal, not Neil. Other acceptable monikers include Fro, Schlong or Midget....

[journeypower]

It's spelled Neal, not Neil. Other acceptable monikers include Fro, Schlong or Midget....

thanks Frank. Fro Schon !!! cool !

[CatEyes]

It's spelled Neal, not Neil. Other acceptable monikers include Fro, Schlong or Midget....

Sock-boy.

[Red13JoePa]

AJM weighed in one time that Survivor should've looked at him instead of McDubrow.

[Saint John]

[Bearing in mind that this video was taken before Neil saw Arnel in youtube and that I can't think of a reason why Arnel would apply for an American visa.

Perhaps because the youtube story is bullshit???

[Don]

It's spelled Neal, not Neil. Other acceptable monikers include Fro, Schlong or Midget....

thanks Frank. Fro Schon !!! cool !

Friganese is obviously contagious, someone will probably be calling Neal Bob next time.

[stevew2]

It's spelled Neal, not Neil. Other acceptable monikers include Fro, Schlong or Midget....

thanks Frank. Fro Schon !!! cool !

Friganese is obviously contagious, someone will probably be calling Neal Bob next time.

boob not bob

[Don]

a colleague of mine told me this morning that AP got several offers before the Journey break. though she didn't specify which bands they were (probably unknown or probably not). wonderin if this rumor has any truth to it. I dunno if I read it correctly but didn't AP wanted to go to the U.S. long before Neil contacted him? maybe some guys here could shed some light. this would be a good story if it were true.

The only clue that I can think of is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HjcCzgCCX0 . Around 0:35, Arnel was speaking to somebody from the audience and he did say "don't worry, pag-na-approve ang visa ko sa America" (don't worry, when my American visa gets approved...). Bearing in mind that this video was taken before Neil saw Arnel in youtube and that I can't think of a reason why Arnel would apply for an American visa. I don't believe that the Zoo band has a significant following in the Pinoy-American community in the states so no, I don't think he applied for a visa so The Zoo band can perform there. Pure speculation, I know, but hey, I won't be the first to speculate in this forum

The same reason all the other hundreds of people are in line outside the U.S. Embassy every day, to get a job that actually pays a living wage. I mean when you need a college degree to even be considered for a job at Pizza Hut, wouldn't you, as a entertainer, be applying for any overseas postion that could use your talent, even if it's just being on a chorus line at the casino or delivering singing telegrams, just something to get yourself a little bit higher above the poverty line? I'm sure his gig with the ZOO was keeping him afloat but he had to want something better.

[journeypower]

[Bearing in mind that this video was taken before Neil saw Arnel in youtube and that I can't think of a reason why Arnel would apply for an American visa.

Perhaps because the youtube story is bullshit???

the video was uploaded on March of last year. does it fit the time frame (latter part of June) when Neal was looking for a new lead singer or did Journey already considered hiring AP even before the videos were uploaded and before JSS officially got axed? nice conspiracy theory, ey?

lemme do the math here. AP did the audition on August which meant that he could had applied and received his visa around July. though I'm not sure as to how long would it take for someone to receive a visa there in the Philippines. it could be only for a day. but I remember AP mentioning that it was difficult to acquire a U.S. visa. it could take for weeks or even months if I remember correctly. but in anycase, I remember that embassy story. I guess AP made an impression on that particular consul and considered AP's case an urgent one. it's not that far-fetched it seems.

could it be some other bands knew about AP even before the youtube videos showed up or some other american bands noticed AP on youtube as early as March, April or May?

again, I'm not sure about this since it was only mentioned to me by an AP fan. I dunno who is that Gomez guy btw or what does he know about AP's business. it seems to me that he knew some things that we don't or could he be just spreading tall tales. though it is difficult to ignore the comments that people (not the Filipinos) leave on AP's videos, considering his talent. then it is not hard to imagine that music people will notice him at all. I do believe that AP is one of those rare find on Youtube. about 1% of them, 14% would be those good but not great enough, 35% would be the mediocres and the remaining 50% would be those cat on a toilet type.

[mdaemon]

It's spelled Neal, not Neil. Other acceptable monikers include Fro, Schlong or Midget....

...and I call myself a fan?


.... though I am not the only one as Classic Rock also misspelled Neal's name on page 107 of the August 2008 issue.

[Don]

It's spelled Neal, not Neil. Other acceptable monikers include Fro, Schlong or Midget....

thanks Frank. Fro Schon !!! cool !

Friganese is obviously contagious, someone will probably be calling Neal Bob next time.

boob not bob

My Andrew Dice Clay reference was missed I think. Or It just wasn't very funny.

[mdaemon]

a colleague of mine told me this morning that AP got several offers before the Journey break. though she didn't specify which bands they were (probably unknown or probably not). wonderin if this rumor has any truth to it. I dunno if I read it correctly but didn't AP wanted to go to the U.S. long before Neil contacted him? maybe some guys here could shed some light. this would be a good story if it were true.

The only clue that I can think of is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HjcCzgCCX0 . Around 0:35, Arnel was speaking to somebody from the audience and he did say "don't worry, pag-na-approve ang visa ko sa America" (don't worry, when my American visa gets approved...). Bearing in mind that this video was taken before Neil saw Arnel in youtube and that I can't think of a reason why Arnel would apply for an American visa. I don't believe that the Zoo band has a significant following in the Pinoy-American community in the states so no, I don't think he applied for a visa so The Zoo band can perform there. Pure speculation, I know, but hey, I won't be the first to speculate in this forum

how would you know that time he made an statement (dont worry, when my american visa gets approved)it was before neil saw arnel...can you state here when that video taken and when neil discover arnel...what you think? by then we can analyze if that statement it was before or after neil saw arnel....

you didn't check the link I gave did you? It was uploaded March 2007 and obviously taken March 2007 at the latest. This was before Neal/locknload/tragchick saw that video.

[mdaemon]

a colleague of mine told me this morning that AP got several offers before the Journey break. though she didn't specify which bands they were (probably unknown or probably not). wonderin if this rumor has any truth to it. I dunno if I read it correctly but didn't AP wanted to go to the U.S. long before Neil contacted him? maybe some guys here could shed some light. this would be a good story if it were true.

The only clue that I can think of is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HjcCzgCCX0 . Around 0:35, Arnel was speaking to somebody from the audience and he did say "don't worry, pag-na-approve ang visa ko sa America" (don't worry, when my American visa gets approved...). Bearing in mind that this video was taken before Neil saw Arnel in youtube and that I can't think of a reason why Arnel would apply for an American visa. I don't believe that the Zoo band has a significant following in the Pinoy-American community in the states so no, I don't think he applied for a visa so The Zoo band can perform there. Pure speculation, I know, but hey, I won't be the first to speculate in this forum

The same reason all the other hundreds of people are in line outside the U.S. Embassy every day, to get a job that actually pays a living wage. I mean when you need a college degree to even be considered for a job at Pizza Hut, wouldn't you, as a entertainer, be applying for any overseas postion that could use your talent, even if it's just being on a chorus line at the casino or delivering singing telegrams, just something to get yourself a little bit higher above the poverty line? I'm sure his gig with the ZOO was keeping him afloat but he had to want something better.

you have a point there but do bear in mind that Arnel has a regular gig in two of the better clubs in the Philippines and they've actually released a record. While those are not giving him oodles of cash, he is not doing bad either.

[mdaemon]

a colleague of mine told me this morning that AP got several offers before the Journey break. though she didn't specify which bands they were (probably unknown or probably not). wonderin if this rumor has any truth to it. I dunno if I read it correctly but didn't AP wanted to go to the U.S. long before Neil contacted him? maybe some guys here could shed some light. this would be a good story if it were true.

The only clue that I can think of is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HjcCzgCCX0 . Around 0:35, Arnel was speaking to somebody from the audience and he did say "don't worry, pag-na-approve ang visa ko sa America" (don't worry, when my American visa gets approved...). Bearing in mind that this video was taken before Neil saw Arnel in youtube and that I can't think of a reason why Arnel would apply for an American visa. I don't believe that the Zoo band has a significant following in the Pinoy-American community in the states so no, I don't think he applied for a visa so The Zoo band can perform there. Pure speculation, I know, but hey, I won't be the first to speculate in this forum

ahm, actually my inquiry was not about AP applying for a visa so that his ZOO band could perform in the U.S. my inquiry is about AP getting offers from other american bands, not ZOO band getting offers to perform in the U.S., ok? again, it was only about AP being with other american bands in the U.S., not THE ZOO in the U.S. when I said other american bands, I meant not Journey. I hope I cleared it up.

I was quite confused coz my colleague further reiterated that it was that Gomez guy or somethin spoke of it.

dude, I was kinda agreeing with you on my first post. I also supplied a little evidence to give your story a little credibility. my points were:

1. The video was shot around March 2007 at the latest and he was already applying for a visa. The reason wouldn't be to audition for Journey as no one has spotted him yet when that video was taken.

2. I think that Arnel applied for a US visa not for his band to perform there but for some other reason as well (it could be that he will audition for another band HINT: this is the bit where I am thinking that what you were saying was actually true). Also, he did say
pag-na-approve ang visa KO or when "MY US visa gets approved". He didn't say pag-na-approve ang visa NAMIN translated as "when OUR US visas get approved; which could mean that THEY (the band) are applying for a US visa to perform in the States.

[mdaemon]

[Bearing in mind that this video was taken before Neil saw Arnel in youtube and that I can't think of a reason why Arnel would apply for an American visa.

Perhaps because the youtube story is bullshit???

The youtube link I gave was the Zoo's cover of Faithfully, not the visa story.

[Don]

a colleague of mine told me this morning that AP got several offers before the Journey break. though she didn't specify which bands they were (probably unknown or probably not). wonderin if this rumor has any truth to it. I dunno if I read it correctly but didn't AP wanted to go to the U.S. long before Neil contacted him? maybe some guys here could shed some light. this would be a good story if it were true.

The only clue that I can think of is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HjcCzgCCX0 . Around 0:35, Arnel was speaking to somebody from the audience and he did say "don't worry, pag-na-approve ang visa ko sa America" (don't worry, when my American visa gets approved...). Bearing in mind that this video was taken before Neil saw Arnel in youtube and that I can't think of a reason why Arnel would apply for an American visa. I don't believe that the Zoo band has a significant following in the Pinoy-American community in the states so no, I don't think he applied for a visa so The Zoo band can perform there. Pure speculation, I know, but hey, I won't be the first to speculate in this forum

The same reason all the other hundreds of people are in line outside the U.S. Embassy every day, to get a job that actually pays a living wage. I mean when you need a college degree to even be considered for a job at Pizza Hut, wouldn't you, as a entertainer, be applying for any overseas postion that could use your talent, even if it's just being on a chorus line at the casino or delivering singing telegrams, just something to get yourself a little bit higher above the poverty line? I'm sure his gig with the ZOO was keeping him afloat but he had to want something better.

you have a point there but do bear in mind that Arnel has a regular gig in two of the better clubs in the Philippines and they've actually released a record. While those are not giving him oodles of cash, he is not doing bad either.

I've seen some Filipino bands in Japan working the hotels and what not. Has the Zoo ever gone there or have they just played Hong Kong?

[mdaemon]

a colleague of mine told me this morning that AP got several offers before the Journey break. though she didn't specify which bands they were (probably unknown or probably not). wonderin if this rumor has any truth to it. I dunno if I read it correctly but didn't AP wanted to go to the U.S. long before Neil contacted him? maybe some guys here could shed some light. this would be a good story if it were true.

The only clue that I can think of is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HjcCzgCCX0 . Around 0:35, Arnel was speaking to somebody from the audience and he did say "don't worry, pag-na-approve ang visa ko sa America" (don't worry, when my American visa gets approved...). Bearing in mind that this video was taken before Neil saw Arnel in youtube and that I can't think of a reason why Arnel would apply for an American visa. I don't believe that the Zoo band has a significant following in the Pinoy-American community in the states so no, I don't think he applied for a visa so The Zoo band can perform there. Pure speculation, I know, but hey, I won't be the first to speculate in this forum

The same reason all the other hundreds of people are in line outside the U.S. Embassy every day, to get a job that actually pays a living wage. I mean when you need a college degree to even be considered for a job at Pizza Hut, wouldn't you, as a entertainer, be applying for any overseas postion that could use your talent, even if it's just being on a chorus line at the casino or delivering singing telegrams, just something to get yourself a little bit higher above the poverty line? I'm sure his gig with the ZOO was keeping him afloat but he had to want something better.

you have a point there but do bear in mind that Arnel has a regular gig in two of the better clubs in the Philippines and they've actually released a record. While those are not giving him oodles of cash, he is not doing bad either.

I've seen some Filipino bands in Japan working the hotels and what not. Has the Zoo ever gone there or have they just played Hong Kong?

The Zoo never played in Hongkong, at least regularly. Arnel's band in HK was called New Age. AFAIK, he only went to Japan in 1990 to join the World Band Explosion. He won as best vocalist.

[janus65]

a colleague of mine told me this morning that AP got several offers before the Journey break. though she didn't specify which bands they were (probably unknown or probably not). wonderin if this rumor has any truth to it. I dunno if I read it correctly but didn't AP wanted to go to the U.S. long before Neil contacted him? maybe some guys here could shed some light. this would be a good story if it were true.

The only clue that I can think of is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HjcCzgCCX0 . Around 0:35, Arnel was speaking to somebody from the audience and he did say "don't worry, pag-na-approve ang visa ko sa America" (don't worry, when my American visa gets approved...). Bearing in mind that this video was taken before Neil saw Arnel in youtube and that I can't think of a reason why Arnel would apply for an American visa. I don't believe that the Zoo band has a significant following in the Pinoy-American community in the states so no, I don't think he applied for a visa so The Zoo band can perform there. Pure speculation, I know, but hey, I won't be the first to speculate in this forum

The same reason all the other hundreds of people are in line outside the U.S. Embassy every day, to get a job that actually pays a living wage. I mean when you need a college degree to even be considered for a job at Pizza Hut, wouldn't you, as a entertainer, be applying for any overseas postion that could use your talent, even if it's just being on a chorus line at the casino or delivering singing telegrams, just something to get yourself a little bit higher above the poverty line? I'm sure his gig with the ZOO was keeping him afloat but he had to want something better.

you have a point there but do bear in mind that Arnel has a regular gig in two of the better clubs in the Philippines and they've actually released a record. While those are not giving him oodles of cash, he is not doing bad either.

I've seen some Filipino bands in Japan working the hotels and what not. Has the Zoo ever gone there or have they just played Hong Kong?

The Zoo never played in Hongkong, at least regularly. Arnel's band in HK was called New Age. AFAIK, he only went to Japan in 1990 to join the World Band Explosion. He won as best vocalist.

He also mentioned "America"...

[stevew2]

This thread is retarded,no one heard of him till Journey
everything else is bullshit

[journeypower]

This thread is retarded,no one heard of him till Journey
everything else is bullshit

Stevew, who's your source?

[faithfullyjourney]

its all HEARSAY! no definite substantiation!
stevew2 is right! c",)

[wednesday's child]

The "American dream" is a standard Pinoy topic even outside the entertainment biz,
and Arnel was just joking around when he mentioned getting a US Visa while onstage,
in that YouTube clip.

Other Pinoy bands on the same circuit had at the time already gotten gigs on the US
West Coast. Some of these Pinoy bands with US gigs might have courted Arnel, but this
thread is about US-based bands, and none such expressed an interest in hiring
Arnel before Journey did.

-wech

[Babyblue]

It's spelled Neal, not Neil. Other acceptable monikers include Fro, Schlong or Midget....

Sock-boy.

Yep that is what some call him