Neal is putting together his own solo band

[Art Vandelay]

Wasn't this the idea of Hardline?

[A. M. Scott]

I said yes (yes Jana me) I wonder who he will have for the lead singer gig????

damn it!!!! I had one missed call on my mobile phone today and when I called back that number I found out it was Neal's voicemail!! I left a message "what the hell are you looking for man?? Stop bugging me!!!"

this guy is incredible!!! Once again Neal if you Are reading this: I'M NOT QUITTING Cold Heart! AND NO..G.I.Jim HE ISN'T JOINING YOUR BAND EITHER!!!!

Is that clear?

:-):-):-)

Alex Mark Scott

[SherriBerry]

Has anyone else noticed that Neal is the one member who has consistently amazing solo work? I love SP's Street Talk, but SP, Jon, Gregg, and Smitty (I know Smitty is awesome, but I could not sit through drum solos with no other instrument) do their best work when they collaborate with others, whereas Neal can just play and bring it on his own. Working with him seems to bring out the best in the others' music and talent.

[Abitaman]

Has anyone else noticed that Neal is the one member who has consistently amazing solo work? I love SP's Street Talk, but SP, Jon, Gregg, and Smitty (I know Smitty is awesome, but I could not sit through drum solos with no other instrument) do their best work when they collaborate with others, whereas Neal can just play and bring it on his own. Working with him seems to bring out the best in the others' music and talent.

Well said...

[jrnyman28]

I am all for this!!!

[yak]

No Open Arms in the setlist? I'll go see that!

Damn straight. I am there.

[JrnySuxBalls]

Advice to Neal's band members: Get Paid up Front!

[slucero]

Has anyone else noticed that Neal is the one member who has consistently amazing solo work? I love SP's Street Talk, but SP, Jon, Gregg, and Smitty (I know Smitty is awesome, but I could not sit through drum solos with no other instrument) do their best work when they collaborate with others, whereas Neal can just play and bring it on his own. Working with him seems to bring out the best in the others' music and talent.

"sit through drum solos with no other instrument"??

You must be talking about Smitty's drum clinics, which are usually for drummers. Now as far as Smitty with other musicians... he's been consistently putting out great jazz with Vital Information ever since he left Journey...

Smitty is widely regarded and respected as one of the best drummers alive, and in 2001 Modern Drummer magazine named Smith as one of the Top 25 Drummers of All Time.

Neal is neither regarded, respected or ranked as Smitty is... and I agree that's a cryin' shame.

Smitty may not have Neal's notoriety... but to say that Neal is the "one member who has consistently amazing solo work" is simply not true.

Smitty is every bit a musical drummer as Neal is a musical guitarist. He invented that drum rythym for DSB, which essentially made the song.. imagine DSB with a regular drumbeat...

Smitty with a band...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpJh46j0cSY

Smitty's tribute to Max Roach... friggin amazing..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDoIyGIR ... re=related

[Jana]

Has anyone else noticed that Neal is the one member who has consistently amazing solo work? I love SP's Street Talk, but SP, Jon, Gregg, and Smitty (I know Smitty is awesome, but I could not sit through drum solos with no other instrument) do their best work when they collaborate with others, whereas Neal can just play and bring it on his own. Working with him seems to bring out the best in the others' music and talent.

"sit through drum solos with no other instrument"??

You must be talking about Smitty's drum clinics, which are usually for drummers. Now as far as Smitty with other musicians... he's been consistently putting out great jazz with Vital Information ever since he left Journey...

Smitty is widely regarded and respected as one of the best drummers alive, and in 2001 Modern Drummer magazine named Smith as one of the Top 25 Drummers of All Time.

Neal is neither regarded, respected or ranked as Smitty is... and I agree that's a cryin' shame.

Smitty may not have Neal's notoriety... but to say that Neal is the "one member who has consistently amazing solo work" is simply not true.

Smitty is every bit a musical drummer as Neal is a musical guitarist. He invented that drum rythym for DSB, which essentially made the song.. imagine DSB with a regular drumbeat...

Smitty with a band...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpJh46j0cSY

Smitty's tribute to Max Roach... friggin amazing..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDoIyGIR ... re=related

She's saying she can't sit through drum solos, and the majority of people wouldn't care about a drum solo career by Smitty. And his playing with other people can't be compared to Neal playing alone guitar solos on all of his albums. Neal's solo career as far as output is amazing to listen to. I agree with everything SherriBerry said. Smitty is absolutely amazing, no doubt about that. I just don't follow jazz. But I agree with SB that Neal elevates those he works with on projects, as well as having the ability to put out stunning solo work that stands the test of time.

[slucero]

Smitty's got a drum solo career... lmao...

[Michigan Girl]

Has anyone else noticed that Neal is the one member who has consistently amazing solo work? I love SP's Street Talk, but SP, Jon, Gregg, and Smitty (I know Smitty is awesome, but I could not sit through drum solos with no other instrument) do their best work when they collaborate with others, whereas Neal can just play and bring it on his own. Working with him seems to bring out the best in the others' music and talent.

"sit through drum solos with no other instrument"??

You must be talking about Smitty's drum clinics, which are usually for drummers. Now as far as Smitty with other musicians... he's been consistently putting out great jazz with Vital Information ever since he left Journey...

Smitty is widely regarded and respected as one of the best drummers alive, and in 2001 Modern Drummer magazine named Smith as one of the Top 25 Drummers of All Time.

Neal is neither regarded, respected or ranked as Smitty is... and I agree that's a cryin' shame.

Smitty may not have Neal's notoriety... but to say that Neal is the "one member who has consistently amazing solo work" is simply not true.

Smitty is every bit a musical drummer as Neal is a musical guitarist. He invented that drum rythym for DSB, which essentially made the song.. imagine DSB with a regular drumbeat...

Smitty with a band...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpJh46j0cSY

Smitty's tribute to Max Roach... friggin amazing..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDoIyGIR ... re=related

He is simply amazing~love, love, love Smitty!!

[marco17]

This gives Neal the chance to go out and play what he wants....a rocking set, which he knows and is finally admitting that he can't really do consistently with Journey. They have too many Cain ballads and the dirty dozen to play every night.

[Michigan Girl]

This gives Neal the chance to go out and play what he wants....a rocking set, which he knows and is finally admitting that he can't really do consistently with Journey. They have too many Cain ballads and the dirty dozen to play every night.

Indeed, this^^^has been holding him back, can't wait to see him spread those wings again!!

[steveo777]

Advice to Neal's band members: Get Paid up Front!

Nice handle. So wanna tell us your personal Neal / Journey hate story? Now ya got me curious. Ya mean he hasn't been paying all his band members all this time and they are still working for him? Now that's loyalty!

[Tomulator]

This gives Neal the chance to go out and play what he wants....a rocking set, which he knows and is finally admitting that he can't really do consistently with Journey. They have too many Cain ballads and the dirty dozen to play every night.

Indeed, this^^^has been holding him back, can't wait to see him spread those wings again!!

+1

[Duncan]

This is great music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=FR&hl=f ... re=related




----------------
Now playing: Frank Gambale - Stuart Hamm - Steve Smith - All In Your Head

[Peartree12249]

If Neal does put a solo band together, I'd really like it if he would work with an new, perhaps undiscovered singer. Why go back and work with Rollie or Sammy etc. ? Been there done that. I'd like to see Neal break some new ground take some risks do something different.

[Arkansas]

If Neal does put a solo band together, I'd really like it if he would work with an new, perhaps undiscovered singer. Why go back and work with Rollie or Sammy etc. ? Been there done that. I'd like to see Neal break some new ground take some risks do something different.

I just wanna see Rolie back in a band with NS. I don't really care who the lead singer is. In fact, I'd like to see several different lead singers. I just want another Neal guitar-driven album, not a totally vocals-driven album.

Have I suggested 'Piranha Blues II' lately?
Maybe cover some SRV, and bring back Szabo with a different flavour.


later~

[SherriBerry]

Has anyone else noticed that Neal is the one member who has consistently amazing solo work? I love SP's Street Talk, but SP, Jon, Gregg, and Smitty (I know Smitty is awesome, but I could not sit through drum solos with no other instrument) do their best work when they collaborate with others, whereas Neal can just play and bring it on his own. Working with him seems to bring out the best in the others' music and talent.

"sit through drum solos with no other instrument"??

You must be talking about Smitty's drum clinics, which are usually for drummers. Now as far as Smitty with other musicians... he's been consistently putting out great jazz with Vital Information ever since he left Journey...

Smitty is widely regarded and respected as one of the best drummers alive, and in 2001 Modern Drummer magazine named Smith as one of the Top 25 Drummers of All Time.

Neal is neither regarded, respected or ranked as Smitty is... and I agree that's a cryin' shame.

Smitty may not have Neal's notoriety... but to say that Neal is the "one member who has consistently amazing solo work" is simply not true.

Smitty is every bit a musical drummer as Neal is a musical guitarist. He invented that drum rythym for DSB, which essentially made the song.. imagine DSB with a regular drumbeat...

Smitty with a band...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpJh46j0cSY

Smitty's tribute to Max Roach... friggin amazing..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDoIyGIR ... re=related

I said Smitty is awesome and I recognize what a phenomenal drummer he is, but I was discussing solo work and as you noted, Smitty's great jazz music is the result of being part of a band, and that is collaborating with others, not as a solo artist. If he put out a CD featuring himself playing the drums with minimal or no accompaniment by other musicians, I'm sure it would appeal greatly to other drummers, but I could not sit through it no matter how good it is and it simply would not appeal to most. Neal can just play guitar solo and his best music is when he has minimal accompaniment and less to distract from the sound of his guitar. Neal can create, write, and play his own incredible songs without anyone else - and that is pretty amazing. That does not detract from the talents the others bring to the band - it merely says Neal has his own special talent.

[SherriBerry]

Has anyone else noticed that Neal is the one member who has consistently amazing solo work? I love SP's Street Talk, but SP, Jon, Gregg, and Smitty (I know Smitty is awesome, but I could not sit through drum solos with no other instrument) do their best work when they collaborate with others, whereas Neal can just play and bring it on his own. Working with him seems to bring out the best in the others' music and talent.

"sit through drum solos with no other instrument"??

You must be talking about Smitty's drum clinics, which are usually for drummers. Now as far as Smitty with other musicians... he's been consistently putting out great jazz with Vital Information ever since he left Journey...

Smitty is widely regarded and respected as one of the best drummers alive, and in 2001 Modern Drummer magazine named Smith as one of the Top 25 Drummers of All Time.

Neal is neither regarded, respected or ranked as Smitty is... and I agree that's a cryin' shame.

Smitty may not have Neal's notoriety... but to say that Neal is the "one member who has consistently amazing solo work" is simply not true.

Smitty is every bit a musical drummer as Neal is a musical guitarist. He invented that drum rythym for DSB, which essentially made the song.. imagine DSB with a regular drumbeat...

Smitty with a band...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpJh46j0cSY

Smitty's tribute to Max Roach... friggin amazing..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDoIyGIR ... re=related

She's saying she can't sit through drum solos, and the majority of people wouldn't care about a drum solo career by Smitty. And his playing with other people can't be compared to Neal playing alone guitar solos on all of his albums. Neal's solo career as far as output is amazing to listen to. I agree with everything SherriBerry said. Smitty is absolutely amazing, no doubt about that. I just don't follow jazz. But I agree with SB that Neal elevates those he works with on projects, as well as having the ability to put out stunning solo work that stands the test of time.

+1 And I cannot wait for Neal's next album! I was so disappointed when I heard he didn't have time to produce a new one before the last Journey tour, so I am glad they are taking enough time off to work on solo projects. What kind of album are you hoping for, Jana?

[JrnySuxBalls]

Advice to Neal's band members: Get Paid up Front!

Nice handle. So wanna tell us your personal Neal / Journey hate story? Now ya got me curious. Ya mean he hasn't been paying all his band members all this time and they are still working for him? Now that's loyalty!

The reference was to Soul Sirkus, Neal recouped and the band got paid nothing.
I don't hate, but Neal treats folks like shit.

[fightingilliniJRNY]

The reference was to Soul Sirkus, Neal recouped and the band got paid nothing.
I don't hate, but Neal treats folks like shit.

Pretty sure nobody got paid anything with Soul Sirkus. Hasn't it been said Neal fronted the money for the album/tour, and still didn't make his money back?

[Red13JoePa]

Neal sunk 300 Gs of his own coin into SS so nobody has a gripe.

[Jana]

Neal sunk 300 Gs of his own coin into SS so nobody has a gripe.

Apparently, JrnySuxBalls does.

[steveo777]

Neal sunk 300 Gs of his own coin into SS so nobody has a gripe.

Apparently, JrnySuxBalls does.

I still don't understand how what happened in SS makes Journey suck balls.

[Saint John]

The reference was to Soul Sirkus, Neal recouped and the band got paid nothing.
I don't hate, but Neal treats folks like shit.

Recouped? He said he lost 300k on that deal. Big deal...he got the CD sales going forward. If they made $5 per CD he made about $5,000 (can't imagine they sold more than a thousand CD's). That CD sucked and no one bought it. Nor should they have. Let me get this straight...you want Neal to front the entire project, pay for the tour bus, take a bath and pay the guys for a profitless project??? Neal doesn't treat folks like shit...you treat logic like shit.

[Michigan Girl]

I'm not even going to pretend to know anything about the SS debacle. However, I do
know that when you hire someone to do a job and the job has been completed...you
compensate the hired help for the completed job~even if you lose. As an employer
you take it in the rear and move on....it's the law!!! So the music biz is different, eh?!?!?

[Saint John]

I'm not going to even pretend to know anything about the SS debacle. However, I do
know that when you hire someone to do a job and the job has been completed...you
compensate the hired help for the completed job~even if you lose. As an employer
you take it in the rear and move on....it's the law!!! So the music biz is different, eh?!?!?

Great point(s), MG. However, if there were contracts they have all they need to recoup their money. Hire a lawyer and get your $$$. I just find it ironic that Soto didn't start flapping his gums about this until after he was terminated from Journey. It was all hunky dory until then. That, more than anything, makes it seem more like sour grapes than a legitimate beef. And I've never heard the other members say a word about not getting paid. But, like you, I have no idea what the legalities of the SS matter were. But they weren't enough for Soto to say no to the temporary Journey gig.

[JrnySuxBalls]

The reference was to Soul Sirkus, Neal recouped and the band got paid nothing.
I don't hate, but Neal treats folks like shit.

Pretty sure nobody got paid anything with Soul Sirkus. Hasn't it been said Neal fronted the money for the album/tour, and still didn't make his money back?

Neal recouped, and the band never got paid. And if he's out $300K for a two month
tour, who's fault is that? (Hint: Four Seasons Hotel, etc).

I explained my user name many moons ago, I changed it when they fired JSS by
proxy, and I stand by it.

[steveo777]

The reference was to Soul Sirkus, Neal recouped and the band got paid nothing.
I don't hate, but Neal treats folks like shit.

Pretty sure nobody got paid anything with Soul Sirkus. Hasn't it been said Neal fronted the money for the album/tour, and still didn't make his money back?

Neal recouped, and the band never got paid. And if he's out $300K for a two month
tour, who's fault is that? (Hint: Four Seasons Hotel, etc).

I explained my user name many moons ago, I changed it when they fired JSS by
proxy, and I stand by it.

Are you sure you get your rumors from the same place I do? My understanding is that he heard he was going to be fired thru a 3rd party but he was actually let go in person. BTW, while it may not have been handled in the best form, I agree with the decision. JSS is a great singer, but does not fit the Journey mold.