saying Augeri couldn't do the Classics easily, wrt a legacy voice versus one's own voice
(Yes, I'm paraphrasing. Sue me.)...{SNIP}
EDIT: I re-read what I earlier posted, and yeah... I come off pretty bitchy, so let me apologize.
I guess I'm just sensitive to anything that approaches criticism against Augeri, and I got edgy ...without basis.
Ryan is a very nice guy, and hey: Arnel clearly likes him and trusts him. That says a lot.
Here's the transcript (condensed & translated) of the chat earlier today:
Had to move stuff around so that questions would correspond to Arnel's answers.
As usual, any objections ... slam me here, not somewhere I can't respond.

Knellsky Chat : 7 Aug 2008
-=-=-=-=-
Knellsky: hello everyone
(chorus of hello's)
so hows everybody?
Ngarag: How are you?
Espiritu14: how are you bro?
A LITTLE SICK, AND (I'VE A) HEADACHE TOO
Lamichelona: take care of yourself
I (DO)
BUT THEN AGAIN YOU CAN ONLY TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF TO A CERTAIN EXTENT
(some fidiot dumbass): Try a silicone mouthpiece --helps with teeth-gnashing (=headache)
REALLY
Esigh: yes, i used it for my tmj
Booyah!: AP just so you know some one came here using the same id you have ••
REALLY?
SAME ID HUH? SO HE'S FAKE
OR HE'S TRYING TO FOOL SOMEONE HERE
HappyHearts: Yeah, fake Knellsky several times
Yuri59: SO ARE YOU THE REAL ONE ARNEL???
SO AM I THE REAL ONE, YURI? WHAT DO YOU THINK? HEHEHEHEE
Ryancoyle: Hi Arnel
HEY RYAN. HOW YOU DOIN?
Ryancoyle: how is everything?
STRESSFUL. THIS IS A FUN, BUT NOT AN EASY JOB
I BLAME NEAL FOR THIS. BWAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA
Jonimitch: tsup tsup Nel!!
(Note: Arnel mis-reads this as a *kiss kiss Neal*)
OH NO, I WONT KISS NEAL.
HE MIGHT THINK I'M GAY
Stargzr210: kiss deen 4 me
I TOLD YOU GUYS, I'M NOT GONNA KISS THE BIG BOYS
Ryancoyle: ... Singers have it rough. Performing everynight is really tough
and i give You MAJOR kudos for doing so well so quickly1
THANKS RYAN FOR THE KUDOS
I WANT TO CUT MY HAIR. ITS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO MANAGE IT.
(JUST WITH MY HAIR ALONE), IT TAKES ALMOST AN HOUR TO MANAGE IT.
I FEEL LIKE A GIRL
(a chorus of No!!! Some fidiot dumbass says, "go ahead and cut it then")
Ryancoyle: ...I know how hot it gets on stage, my band and I
argue over image all teh time too, comfort versus looks
I AGREE WITH YOU RYAN ... ITS GETTING REALLY REALLY HARD
Anon2238: mr arnel i am asking if u remeber tita susan soriano?????????????/
OF COURSE ANON. SHE IS MY GOOD FRIEND? WHY, DO YOU KNOW HER?
Ryancoyle: Arnel, can you tell Jack to give me your email address?
EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS MY EMAIL ADDRESS RYAN. HAHAHAAHAHAHA
Espiritu14: arnel do you remember ***???
OH YEAH ** ***, WHAT ABOUT HIM?
YOU KNOW, ** **** **** ** *****.
WELL, ** ***** ** *** *** * ***** **** ***** *****
Espiritu14: *** **** *** *****??
***. *** ****. * ***** ** ** ***
* **** ** **** **** ** ********
Ryancoyle: Arnel, aside from "hair problems" whats teh stress about?
KEEPING THE LEGACY SOUNDING ALIVE EVERY NIGHT RYAN
HEHEHEHE
Ryancoyle: Arnel, what I really liek about you is you honor teh classic while being yourself.
Augeri had a hard time doing that you bring your persona to teh music that really stands out
WELL, I RESPECT THE COURAGE AUGERI HAS (SHOWN) FOR JOURNEY.
IM SURE HE HAD A TOUGH TIME DOING THEM, SO HE WILL FIND HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE.
GOD IS FAIR
Ryancoyle: Yes, I stated in one of my later reviews that if not for Augeri,
Journey woul probably have faded and you would not be here now
Jrnymori: HAVE YOU MET STEVE AUGERI, ARNEL?
NOT YET
Jrnyval: He's an amazing man
RipRokken: I saw Steve just 2 weeks ago
Ryancoyle: he had big obstacles to overcome and he did so well and I respect all that he had to put up with
Stingfan: ARNEL DID YOU GET MY OTHER LETTERS? WHAT DO THINK OF IT?
WOW, IM GETTING LOADS OF LETTERS. I AM NOT EVEN SURE (FROM) WHOM EVERYONE'S LETTERS (ARE)
HAHAHAHA. IM REALLY SORRY. BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE. IM SO GRATEFUL FOR (YOUR) SENDING ME
ALL OF THOSE LETTERS OF YOURS. THEYRE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH
MY TOUGHEST TIMES
RipRokken: That reminds of of a great picture I did -- Nel might get a kick out of it!

RipRokken: HAHA!
HOW YOU DOIN RIP
Jrnymori: DO YOU SPEAK WITH YOUR FAMILY OFTEN????
YEAH EVERYDAY. I CALL THEM LIKE 3 TIMES A DAY OR MORE, I GUESS
RipRokken: Hey, great, Arnel -- looking forward to Cleveland!
RipRokken: We are going to rock out with you big time during the show. great seats, too
(IN) CLEVELAND WE'LL BE RIP. HEHEHHE
Empereur1: ARNEL, HOW MANY GIRLS HAVE PROPOSED MARRIAGE TO YOU, SO FAR? HEHE
HEHE. NO ONE YET MY FRIEND. HEHEHH
Anon2238: ARNELLLLLLLLLLLLLLL DO U HAPPEN TO KNOW ANY CONTACT NUMBER OF TITA SUSAN?????//
I DONT HAVE IT WITH ME. IM SO SORRY. WHO ARE YOU ANON?
Anon2238: I AM HER FRIEND. WE LOST TOUCH WITH HER WHEN WE MOVED HERE TO THE USA
MY MUM IS HER BEST FRIEND SINCE HIGH SCHOOL. LAST TIME MY MUM WENT HOME TITA SUSAN
TOOK MY MOMMY TO YOUR GIG IN MAKATI. SO PLSSSSSSSSSSSSS, I JUST NEED AN EMAIL SO
MY MOM CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH HER. I SAW HER PIC WITH CHERI.
NEXT TIME ANON. DONT HAVE TIME TO DIG OUT MY ADRESS BOOK
...
IM SO SORRY. I AM SIGNING OUT IN A FEW MINUTES
ITS TRUE, AFTER ALL... READING YOUR POSTS IS DIZZYING!
HEHEHEHHEE, THE MORE I GET A HEADACHE...
HEHEHHEE
(getting back to the relentless anon2238, lol)
TRY THIS NUMBER (**********). THATS TITA SUSAN'S NUMBER
HEY BUDDY ARTHUR...
IF YOU HAPPEN TO TALK TO **** **** *** ****
* **** ** ************ **** *** **** ** **
(HEY) EVERYONE, GOT TO GO
BYE BYE
IM BEING CALLED FOR WORK
I LOVE YOU ALL
THANK YOU
KEEP YOURSELVES HEALTHY
BYE MR !
BYE JF !
MUAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !
(end)
-=-=-=-=-
Anyway, imagine all of that taking place within (and in spite of) a veritable shitstorm
of cross-posting by happy Journey fans... Over 170 folks online at one point, IIRC
posting like their lives depended on it. LOL.

-wech