Arnel needs a rest I think.

[Liquid_Drummer]

Just heard the Oprah stuff and it sounds like he needs a vocal rest. He has a rasp even in his lower range that was not there a few months ago. I have heard it on boots and thought it was a cold, last night on a 2-3 nights in a row etc.. Even playing a half step down he is working hard for every note. I take my hat off to him for his efforts but I fear that another vocal casualty is right around the corner. The signs are there. I am willing to bet that this is why no tour in 2010 which is very surprising considering they could milk the marketing cow because it is the 35th anniversary. Arnels voice may be why. We will see. Got my fingers crossed for him.

[fightingilliniJRNY]

Just heard the Oprah stuff and it sounds like he needs a vocal rest. He has a rasp even in his lower range that was not there a few months ago. I have heard it on boots and thought it was a cold, last night on a 2-3 nights in a row etc.. Even playing a half step down he is working hard for every note. I take my hat off to him for his efforts but I fear that another vocal casualty is right around the corner. The signs are there. I am willing to bet that this is why no tour in 2010 which is very surprising considering they could milk the marketing cow because it is the 35th anniversary. Arnels voice may be why. We will see. Got my fingers crossed for him.

Then I hope he doesn't go around singing the Journey catalog on any Filipino television show that will have him again this off-season. That was ridiculous last year.

I will say this - he held up much better throughout the 2009 leg of the Revelation Tour than he did in 2008. The tuning down, the more off days and every other precaution really paid off.

And I still think they release an album and tour next summer. But I bet they'll just do the U.S. for 40 shows and not do Europe and Asia for 25-30 more.

[Ehwmatt]

I thought the rasp was even there in spades on the Manila DVD where it wasn't on the Vegas DVD. This catalogue is just murder.

[Don]

Just heard the Oprah stuff and it sounds like he needs a vocal rest. He has a rasp even in his lower range that was not there a few months ago. I have heard it on boots and thought it was a cold, last night on a 2-3 nights in a row etc.. Even playing a half step down he is working hard for every note. I take my hat off to him for his efforts but I fear that another vocal casualty is right around the corner. The signs are there. I am willing to bet that this is why no tour in 2010 which is very surprising considering they could milk the marketing cow because it is the 35th anniversary. Arnels voice may be why. We will see. Got my fingers crossed for him.

Then I hope he doesn't go around singing the Journey catalog on any Filipino television show that will have him again this off-season. That was ridiculous last year.

I will say this - he held up much better throughout the 2009 leg of the Revelation Tour than he did in 2008. The tuning down, the more off days and every other precaution really paid off.

And I still think they release an album and tour next summer. But I bet they'll just do the U.S. for 40 shows and not do Europe and Asia for 25-30 more.

Now someone will chime in and say that Arnel singing at a few gigs in the Philippines isn't going to hurt him. I just didn't think that stepping down was going to help an awful lot at this point. He still yells a lot when he sings, which I would think has to go against what detuning is supposed to be protecting. I bet if he does sing during the downtime, he doesn't sing a step lower, he just goes back to what he knows, especially if he does covers.

As I advocated before, I still think less shows is a better alternative to saving his voice than stepping down for 50 or 60 concerts.

[Ehwmatt]

Just heard the Oprah stuff and it sounds like he needs a vocal rest. He has a rasp even in his lower range that was not there a few months ago. I have heard it on boots and thought it was a cold, last night on a 2-3 nights in a row etc.. Even playing a half step down he is working hard for every note. I take my hat off to him for his efforts but I fear that another vocal casualty is right around the corner. The signs are there. I am willing to bet that this is why no tour in 2010 which is very surprising considering they could milk the marketing cow because it is the 35th anniversary. Arnels voice may be why. We will see. Got my fingers crossed for him.

Then I hope he doesn't go around singing the Journey catalog on any Filipino television show that will have him again this off-season. That was ridiculous last year.

I will say this - he held up much better throughout the 2009 leg of the Revelation Tour than he did in 2008. The tuning down, the more off days and every other precaution really paid off.

And I still think they release an album and tour next summer. But I bet they'll just do the U.S. for 40 shows and not do Europe and Asia for 25-30 more.

Now someone will chime in and say that Arnel singing at a few gigs in the Philippines isn't going to hurt him. I just didn't think that stepping down was going to help an awful lot at this point. He still yells a lot when he sings, which I would think has to go against what detuning is supposed to be protecting. I bet if he does sing during the downtime, he doesn't sing a step lower, he just goes back to what he knows, especially if he does covers.

He should be fine doing stuff here and there so long as he rests up for an adequate amount of time immediately after this tour. What that would be, I don't know, I'm not a singer, but I can imagine it would be longer than a couple of weeks after this long and extensive of a tour... certainly at least a month off is in order. Then I say he can do some singing here or there... "use it or lose it," after all.

Agree with you on the screaming too, he needs a coach to help him reel that in as much as he can without hurting his style.

[fightingilliniJRNY]

As I advocated before, I still think less shows is a better alternative to saving his voice than stepping down for 50 or 60 concerts.

That's obviously the answer for them at this point in their careers. Tour the U.S. amphitheaters from from mid-July - mid-September, doing 35-40 shows and call it a tour. Nothing wrong with that. No need to kill themselves for 70 shows a year.

[Don]

Maybe he can get a good vocal coach to really bare down on him. This long of an layoff really lends itself to bringing his diction issues back in force if he doesn't stay on top of it.

He can prepare himself by watching the FTLOSM boots and see what happened to a 45 year old Perry's voice once time caught up with it.

[strangegrey]

The screaming he does is a bad habbit. He's not going to shed it without significant work....
and this is assuming he'd be able to shed it and still sing the material. Much too often, a singer will resort to a screamed note, when he/she can't sing the note in earnest.

There's alot of masked inability with him. masked diction, masked range, masked timbre.

[Ehwmatt]

The screaming he does is a bad habbit. He's not going to shed it without significant work....
and this is assuming he'd be able to shed it and still sing the material. Much too often, a singer will resort to a screamed note, when he/she can't sing the note in earnest.

There's alot of masked inability with him. masked diction, masked range, masked timbre.

I'm sorry to say I agree with you on most of this where I would have disagreed before watching the Manila DVD.

[strangegrey]

The screaming he does is a bad habbit. He's not going to shed it without significant work....
and this is assuming he'd be able to shed it and still sing the material. Much too often, a singer will resort to a screamed note, when he/she can't sing the note in earnest.

There's alot of masked inability with him. masked diction, masked range, masked timbre.

I'm sorry to say I agree with you on most of this where I would have disagreed before watching the Manila DVD.

Im therefore glad I don't own it.

[Carla777]

and I think he sound just great

[steveo777]

I know there are a lot of people spectulating and saying he should do this or shouldn't do that. Maybe now that they have toured for a solid 2 seasons and gotten back on the map, so to speak, they are gonna finally use some good quality time to fine tune the machine. If Journey is really serious about making it another 10 years and holding on to Arnel, it makes sense to invest something in him.

[strangegrey]

I know there are a lot of people spectulating and saying he should do this or shouldn't do that. Maybe now that they have toured for a solid 2 seasons and gotten back on the map, so to speak, they are gonna finally use some good quality time to fine tune the machine. If Journey is really serious about making it another 10 years and holding on to Arnel, it makes sense to invest something in him.

Isn't his contract up in another year?

[steveo777]

I know there are a lot of people spectulating and saying he should do this or shouldn't do that. Maybe now that they have toured for a solid 2 seasons and gotten back on the map, so to speak, they are gonna finally use some good quality time to fine tune the machine. If Journey is really serious about making it another 10 years and holding on to Arnel, it makes sense to invest something in him.

Isn't his contract up in another year?

Yes. A contract on a newbie shouldn't be longer than that. I'll bet they renew it. Another lead singer change this late in the game and they might as well become a night club act.

[strangegrey]

Yes. A contract on a newbie shouldn't be longer than that. I'll bet they renew it. Another lead singer change this late in the game and they might as well become a night club act.

Funny, I was thinking that 4 years ago....

[RocknRoll]

I know there are a lot of people spectulating and saying he should do this or shouldn't do that. Maybe now that they have toured for a solid 2 seasons and gotten back on the map, so to speak, they are gonna finally use some good quality time to fine tune the machine. If Journey is really serious about making it another 10 years and holding on to Arnel, it makes sense to invest something in him.

Isn't his contract up in another year?

Does he still have a contract since he is officially a band member? Of couse, that doesn't really mean much.

[Don]

I know there are a lot of people spectulating and saying he should do this or shouldn't do that. Maybe now that they have toured for a solid 2 seasons and gotten back on the map, so to speak, they are gonna finally use some good quality time to fine tune the machine. If Journey is really serious about making it another 10 years and holding on to Arnel, it makes sense to invest something in him.

Isn't his contract up in another year?

Does he still have a contract since he is officially a band member? Of couse, that doesn't really mean much.

I think the band would have to petition to change his status. Seeing as he has repeatedly said he has no plans of living here, I don't know how fast he would be given a green card or a permanent right to work in the US.

[YoungJRNY]

I want every one of you, nightly, to go outside and completely scream on the top of your lungs for 2 hours a night, and see how your lungs adjust to that. Of course Arnel is tired, that's the life of any on stage performer. Arnel just happens to be singing the most daunting catalog that's currently out there. (This catalog isn't tapered to his vocal style or his voice to begin with ) What he has giving nightly on this tour, and the past tours, I think he sounds great and people are over looking the fact of how demanding this job is. I appreciate what Arnel brings to the table, as I did when talking about Steve Augeri. He needs his rest and hopefully this band takes the year off, produce their best record in a LONG time as far as quality and integrity is concerned, then hit the road again in the next year. It won't happen, but saving Arnel's voice will add more years to Journey's resume and an overall better sound.

[Rip Rokken]

and I think he sound just great

I know! But I keep forgetting we live in the American Idol / YouTube critic generation. I need to quit enjoying the performances and pay more attention, cause I'm missing a ton!

[Rip Rokken]

I want every one of you, nightly, to go outside and completely scream on the top of your lungs for 2 hours a night, and see how your lungs adjust to that. Of course Arnel is tired, that's the life of any on stage performer. Arnel just happens to be singing the most daunting catalog that's currently out there. (This catalog isn't tapered to his vocal style or his voice to begin with ) What he has giving nightly on this tour, and the past tours, I think he sounds great and people are over looking the fact of how demanding this job is. I appreciate what Arnel brings to the table, as I did when talking about Steve Augeri. He needs his rest and hopefully this band takes the year off, produce their best record in a LONG time as far as quality and integrity is concerned, then hit the road again in the next year. It won't happen, but saving Arnel's voice will add more years to Journey's resume and an overall better sound.

I can always count on Superman to save the day!

[Gibby]

Much too often, a singer will resort to a screamed note, when he/she can't sing the note

Very true - just ask JSS. There were some brutal moments during that 2006 tour. Tough catalog on any singer.

[Blueskies]

I want every one of you, nightly, to go outside and completely scream on the top of your lungs for 2 hours a night, and see how your lungs adjust to that. Of course Arnel is tired, that's the life of any on stage performer. Arnel just happens to be singing the most daunting catalog that's currently out there. (This catalog isn't tapered to his vocal style or his voice to begin with ) What he has giving nightly on this tour, and the past tours, I think he sounds great and people are over looking the fact of how demanding this job is. I appreciate what Arnel brings to the table, as I did when talking about Steve Augeri. He needs his rest and hopefully this band takes the year off, produce their best record in a LONG time as far as quality and integrity is concerned, then hit the road again in the next year. It won't happen, but saving Arnel's voice will add more years to Journey's resume and an overall better sound.

[Voyager]

The oldest quarterback in the NFL quit at age 36. Some things in the body don't work as well past that age, and being the frontman to walk in Steve Perry's shoes is probably as physical as being an NFL quarterback without the tackles. That's why you won't see Perry coming out of retirement to front Journey anytime soon.

[Carlitto H@kk]

I know there are a lot of people spectulating and saying he should do this or shouldn't do that. Maybe now that they have toured for a solid 2 seasons and gotten back on the map, so to speak, they are gonna finally use some good quality time to fine tune the machine. If Journey is really serious about making it another 10 years and holding on to Arnel, it makes sense to invest something in him.

Gee, back in 05-06', we all thought the same about Mr Augeri...
Ask him how that worked out.

The band is gonna milk this cow until Arnel's teets fall off

[stevew2]

I know there are a lot of people spectulating and saying he should do this or shouldn't do that. Maybe now that they have toured for a solid 2 seasons and gotten back on the map, so to speak, they are gonna finally use some good quality time to fine tune the machine. If Journey is really serious about making it another 10 years and holding on to Arnel, it makes sense to invest something in him.

Gee, back in 05-06', we all thought the same about Mr Augeri...
Ask him how that worked out.

The band is gonna milk this cow until Arnel's teets fall off

Oh yeh, Augeri wasnt even singin that last part of 2005.His lasted longer than any singer

[brywool]

I know there are a lot of people spectulating and saying he should do this or shouldn't do that. Maybe now that they have toured for a solid 2 seasons and gotten back on the map, so to speak, they are gonna finally use some good quality time to fine tune the machine. If Journey is really serious about making it another 10 years and holding on to Arnel, it makes sense to invest something in him.

Many people said he wouldn't last 3 months on a tour. Many here swore up and down that'd be the case (many hoped that'd be the case). Even Kevin Shirley worried about it. Every singer needs rest and Journey's schedule is rough. Having said that (yeah I know what yer all sayin'...) he's doing a hell of a job and is a great singer. The guy has paid his vocal dues singing in clubs his whole life. By the way, that doesn't make him a Karaoke singer. That makes him a seasoned pro. I'm sure the guy knows how to take care of himself vocally. If he didn't, he'd have been done a year ago. Sure, he could use a coach. Many singers could. Perry at 45 DEFINITELY should've had one. Augeri had many and it still didn't help him in the end. So what? The guy's getting the job done. Listen to his speaking voice. I hear no rasp there and I don't hear it significantly on the Oprah stuff. I'm in Kauai at the moment and haven't picked up the Manila dvd- but it's ONE show and if he's rough on it, he could've well been fine on the next show (or not).

Perry said "Playing live means never having to say you're sorry". It's a great quote and I think of it on nights I have vocal difficulties. It's singing. It's physical. It's subject to the body, age, environment, stress and a bazillion other things. For my money, Arnel is doing great. Sure, he probably does need a break. Seems like they've been on a straight tour since 98...

[YoungJRNY]

I want every one of you, nightly, to go outside and completely scream on the top of your lungs for 2 hours a night, and see how your lungs adjust to that. Of course Arnel is tired, that's the life of any on stage performer. Arnel just happens to be singing the most daunting catalog that's currently out there. (This catalog isn't tapered to his vocal style or his voice to begin with ) What he has giving nightly on this tour, and the past tours, I think he sounds great and people are over looking the fact of how demanding this job is. I appreciate what Arnel brings to the table, as I did when talking about Steve Augeri. He needs his rest and hopefully this band takes the year off, produce their best record in a LONG time as far as quality and integrity is concerned, then hit the road again in the next year. It won't happen, but saving Arnel's voice will add more years to Journey's resume and an overall better sound.

I can always count on Superman to save the day!

It's a second to second basis. Sometimes it gets old, but saving airlines from crashing or exploding into a small town, or having to use my cool breath over a lake and fly across sea just to put out a raging volcano are my favorite. Such is the life of a super hero.

[stevew2]

I know there are a lot of people spectulating and saying he should do this or shouldn't do that. Maybe now that they have toured for a solid 2 seasons and gotten back on the map, so to speak, they are gonna finally use some good quality time to fine tune the machine. If Journey is really serious about making it another 10 years and holding on to Arnel, it makes sense to invest something in him.

Many people said he wouldn't last 3 months on a tour. Many here swore up and down that'd be the case (many hoped that'd be the case). Even Kevin Shirley worried about it. Every singer needs rest and Journey's schedule is rough. Having said that (yeah I know what yer all sayin'...) he's doing a hell of a job and is a great singer. The guy has paid his vocal dues singing in clubs his whole life. By the way, that doesn't make him a Karaoke singer. That makes him a seasoned pro. I'm sure the guy knows how to take care of himself vocally. If he didn't, he'd have been done a year ago. Sure, he could use a coach. Many singers could. Perry at 45 DEFINITELY should've had one. Augeri had many and it still didn't help him in the end. So what? The guy's getting the job done. Listen to his speaking voice. I hear no rasp there and I don't hear it significantly on the Oprah stuff. I'm in Kauai at the moment and haven't picked up the Manila dvd- but it's ONE show and if he's rough on it, he could've well been fine on the next show (or not).

Perry said "Playing live means never having to say you're sorry". It's a great quote and I think of it on nights I have vocal difficulties. It's singing. It's physical. It's subject to the body, age, environment, stress and a bazillion other things. For my money, Arnel is doing great. Sure, he probably does need a break. Seems like they've been on a straight tour since 98...

Blah Blah fuckin Blah I there wasnt nothin "straight" about there tour.they blew out the singer they hired in 1998 and lied about it, and ditched the other cause he didnt sound enough like Perry, than took a year off cause they fucked themselvles,then found Arnel whole could imatite Perry . Dont sound like a straight tour to me Get real

[Abitaman]

The oldest quarterback in the NFL quit at age 36. Some things in the body don't work as well past that age, and being the frontman to walk in Steve Perry's shoes is probably as physical as being an NFL quarterback without the tackles. That's why you won't see Perry coming out of retirement to front Journey anytime soon.

Actually the oldest quaterback in the NFL won a game against his old teammates last night. He has helped the Vikings come 4-0 right now. Brett is going to be 40 next week. Yea Brett can be compare to Perry in many ways. But Brett is still giving it his best, which so far is pretty good. He has had an off game here and there, heck an off sesaon sometimes. Brett loves the game and keeps going, and the older you get the harder it gets to keep going and to keep the high quality of work.
Perry had reached his peak and was starting to slide down hill a little. Nothing wrong with that, Perry would still be better than 90% of the singers out there even if he altered the songs a little for a lower register. But Perry is also, IMO, a perfectionist and glory hound. If it is not what he wants so that he can be reconized, then why do it. It is not for the fans it is for him, otherwise he would have done something years ago. He has been tired of the game, he is worn out. He could have done a cd and not toured, but touring gets you reconized. So his cd would not have done as well.
Now IF Perry has a new cd in the works, which has been said for years Perry has the perfect time to put one out, since his former band is riding high again. Less work for him, Journey is getting a lot of exposure, Journey songs are getting a lot of exposure on movies and tv. Again less work for him.
I am not taking away from Perry, it is pretty smart. Cause now is the time for him to make a comeback. Hopefully he can pull a Brett and break some records like Brett did last night, become the first quaterback to beat EVERY team in the NFL.

[Jana]

Just heard the Oprah stuff and it sounds like he needs a vocal rest. He has a rasp even in his lower range that was not there a few months ago. I have heard it on boots and thought it was a cold, last night on a 2-3 nights in a row etc.. Even playing a half step down he is working hard for every note. I take my hat off to him for his efforts but I fear that another vocal casualty is right around the corner. The signs are there. I am willing to bet that this is why no tour in 2010 which is very surprising considering they could milk the marketing cow because it is the 35th anniversary. Arnels voice may be why. We will see. Got my fingers crossed for him.

Then I hope he doesn't go around singing the Journey catalog on any Filipino television show that will have him again this off-season. That was ridiculous last year.

I will say this - he held up much better throughout the 2009 leg of the Revelation Tour than he did in 2008. The tuning down, the more off days and every other precaution really paid off.

And I still think they release an album and tour next summer. But I bet they'll just do the U.S. for 40 shows and not do Europe and Asia for 25-30 more.

I agree re doing anything in Manila on off time. He needs to rest his voice and energy and spend time with his family and focus on Journey only. They're not touring next year in Asia so don't need him doing the shows for promoting the upcoming tour like last year.

But I saw him only a few weeks ago and his voice was clear and he wasn't straining at all. I was really surprised since it was the end of the concert, and that' the way he sounded for several concerts b/f Orlando as I pulled up to listen to see how he was doing.

I think last year during his off time his diction problems did resurface when I would watch those Filipino shows and he obviously wasn't working with a speech therapist or coach. I blame Neal for letting that slide during the hiatus and not keeping up on it with him, as he should have been even better; whereas he had to get back up to speed for the second tour. But, to me, his diction problems were minimal as he got deeper into the tour and really nonexistent to my ear in the concert I saw him in. I still say this year that should be worked on during offtime so that he comes back even more improved for the third tour.