Neal Schon lied to me about tapegate

[AR]

Hotel room in Boston 2006. Deano and I there slamming beers with most of the band.

Neal claimed he had not had Steve A in his monitor for years and had no idea what was going on.

Also threw Augeri under the bus (wrongly) big time and said he hated
Arrival. I will testify in court to everything Schon said under oath.

Discuss.

[AR]

Dean this one is for you big guy. I am imagining you smiling about this post.

[scarab]

Sad what they did to Augeri, seems like a great guy, saw him 3x with Journey.
I wish they would have let him heal..

Arrival is a good album, the ballads are terrible, especially all the way, but the Jack Blades songs were great.

[FormerJrnyFan]

Augeri got thrown under the bus big time. Nobody in the band had any idea what was going on. If that's not the lamest excuse... I actually witnessed it at the Jones Beach (Wantagh, NY) show that summer when it all came down.

At the end of the day. this is how it played out: Jeff came in, saved the day, breathed new life into the band, and they began to rock once again.. Fast forward........... Neal resented having a true frontman in the band; a confident man who the fans could connect with, someone with a personality. He was for some reason threatened by Jeff and he was out. The band is just happy now with having a puppet who they can control.

[Rick]

I don't doubt that he doesn't have the singer in his monitors because he's constantly struggling to hear his own playing. But to say he didn't know about the lip synching is really hard to believe.

[scarab]

Was so back into this band when Jeff came in,
still disappointing an album with JSS never happened,

those songs would have been great.

[FormerJrnyFan]

I don't doubt that he doesn't have the singer in his monitors because he's constantly struggling to hear his own playing. But to say he didn't know about the lip synching is really hard to believe.

Of course he knew. To say that he didn't is just a joke.. and not a funny one. Augeri was just doing what he was doing because the band thought it was a good idea until Deano exposed them.

[FormerJrnyFan]

Was so back into this band when Jeff came in,
still disappointing an album with JSS never happened,

those songs would have been great.

Agreed, that music would have been awesome, but Jeff, being the consummate professional, has moved on.

[steveo777]

Hotel room in Boston 2006. Deano and I there slamming beers with most of the band.

Neal claimed he had not had Steve A in his monitor for years and had no idea what was going on.

Also threw Augeri under the bus (wrongly) big time and said he hated
Arrival. I will testify in court to everything Schon said under oath.

Discuss.

Is there any possibility of any of you have distorted reality? It gets worse later when you slam beers and try and remember what happened way back in 2006.

Cheers Dean, wherever you are!

[bionic]

Dean Castronovo some years back had to put a post on the offical Journey website regarding Neal Schon is rumoured to be leaving Journey!!
By all accounts Neal was so worried about the whole tape gate affair ruining his and the band's reputation that he threatened to leave. The following rumour was he in fact intended to form a band with Gregg Rolie Steve Perry and Steve Smith and to attempt to obain the Journey name, unless his demands were met.
These were ! in that Jeff Scott Soto was rehearsed and on stand by for when Augeri was as some say thrown to the wolves,Steve Augeri final show was to have him sing live therefore giving the impression of him suddenly losing his voice in public display and Jeff coming in to help the band out.

[FamilyMan]

Tapegate is so old and tired.... let's move on...

[AR]

Tapegate is so old and tired.... let's move on...

Tapegate is what brought us all together. We should celebrate it.

[JrnyScarab]

Tapegate is so old and tired.... let's move on...

Tapegate is what brought us all together. We should celebrate it.

Amen brother, Amen. Tapegate rules! One of the best bulletin board clusterfucks ever!

[Liam]

Still feel bad for Augeri, but TG was fun as hell.

[scarygirl]

Still feel bad for Augeri, but TG was fun as hell.

I hate what happened to Augeri, but Tapegate totally ruled.

[scarygirl]

Dean Castronovo some years back had to put a post on the offical Journey website regarding Neal Schon is rumoured to be leaving Journey!!
By all accounts Neal was so worried about the whole tape gate affair ruining his and the band's reputation that he threatened to leave. The following rumour was he in fact intended to form a band with Gregg Rolie Steve Perry and Steve Smith and to attempt to obain the Journey name, unless his demands were met.
These were ! in that Jeff Scott Soto was rehearsed and on stand by for when Augeri was as some say thrown to the wolves,Steve Augeri final show was to have him sing live therefore giving the impression of him suddenly losing his voice in public display and Jeff coming in to help the band out.

Concerning the rumor of Neal leaving Journey and reforming a new/old Journey with Steve as the front man? Where did you hear that? Was there any solid plans for doing so? I just can't see Steve EVER agreeing to come back, especially under such shady circumstances. But then again, if I know my Journey history, Steve was also brought in under less than ideal circumstances...

[knox]

I, too, was extremely excited about Journey again when Jeff was in the band. Man, there was a TON of energy. The live songs were great, and an album would have been spectacular.

[JrnyScarab]

I, too, was extremely excited about Journey again when Jeff was in the band. Man, there was a TON of energy. The live songs were great, and an album would have been spectacular.

I saw that tour with JSS and your right. The energy level was off the charts. They played a lot more of the rockin material and JSS had the crowd eating out of his hand. A damn shame this didn't work out. Could have been a new, exciting chapter instead of the legacy man. (No offence to Arnel, he's doing a fine job with the legacy sound).

[AR]

I, too, was extremely excited about Journey again when Jeff was in the band. Man, there was a TON of energy. The live songs were great, and an album would have been spectacular.

I saw that tour with JSS and your right. The energy level was off the charts. They played a lot more of the rockin material and JSS had the crowd eating out of his hand. A damn shame this didn't work out. Could have been a new, exciting chapter instead of the legacy man. (No offence to Arnel, he's doing a fine job with the legacy sound).

This is kind of funny looking back. I loved Steve A in Journey and he came back last year and erased it all and put on a great solo show in Bensalem, PA. I really hate how the band treated him but hey - is what it is.

Jeff joining the band was weird at first to me. Deano took me to Atlantic City and I saw one of JSS's early shows and he rocked the house. I had seen Jeff with Yngwie many years before and didn't think it was a fit. I was wrong. It worked. Probably would have with Jeremey as well and Arnel is doing a nice job. Kind of done with them at this point, but will never forget the fun times in 2006/7.

[JrnyScarab]

I, too, was extremely excited about Journey again when Jeff was in the band. Man, there was a TON of energy. The live songs were great, and an album would have been spectacular.

I saw that tour with JSS and your right. The energy level was off the charts. They played a lot more of the rockin material and JSS had the crowd eating out of his hand. A damn shame this didn't work out. Could have been a new, exciting chapter instead of the legacy man. (No offence to Arnel, he's doing a fine job with the legacy sound).

This is kind of funny looking back. I loved Steve A in Journey and he came back last year and erased it all and put on a great solo show in Bensalem, PA. I really hate how the band treated him but hey - is what it is.

Jeff joining the band was weird at first to me. Deano took me to Atlantic City and I saw one of JSS's early shows and he rocked the house. I had seen Jeff with Yngwie many years before and didn't think it was a fit. I was wrong. It worked. Probably would have with Jeremey as well and Arnel is doing a nice job. Kind of done with them at this point, but will never forget the fun times in 2006/7.

Well, it WAS a very strange fit. At first JSS sounded real rough with no rehearsal. But after a few shows he got better and better. New material would have been great. I gotta tell you though, I like Arrival better than anything they've done since then. Augeri sounded great on that CD. Very soulful compared to the new stuff with Arnel.

I'm pretty done with them as well, but might have to check out this years tour with Pat Benatar and Loverboy. Worth checking those two out. Never seen them live before.

[AR]

I, too, was extremely excited about Journey again when Jeff was in the band. Man, there was a TON of energy. The live songs were great, and an album would have been spectacular.

I saw that tour with JSS and your right. The energy level was off the charts. They played a lot more of the rockin material and JSS had the crowd eating out of his hand. A damn shame this didn't work out. Could have been a new, exciting chapter instead of the legacy man. (No offence to Arnel, he's doing a fine job with the legacy sound).

This is kind of funny looking back. I loved Steve A in Journey and he came back last year and erased it all and put on a great solo show in Bensalem, PA. I really hate how the band treated him but hey - is what it is.

Jeff joining the band was weird at first to me. Deano took me to Atlantic City and I saw one of JSS's early shows and he rocked the house. I had seen Jeff with Yngwie many years before and didn't think it was a fit. I was wrong. It worked. Probably would have with Jeremey as well and Arnel is doing a nice job. Kind of done with them at this point, but will never forget the fun times in 2006/7.

Well, it WAS a very strange fit. At first JSS sounded real rough with no rehearsal. But after a few shows he got better and better. New material would have been great. I gotta tell you though, I like Arrival better than anything they've done since then. Augeri sounded great on that CD. Very soulful compared to the new stuff with Arnel.

I'm pretty done with them as well, but might have to check out this years tour with Pat Benatar and Loverboy. Worth checking those two out. Never seen them live before.

He did that with almost no rehearsal. I have a bootleg video of Jeff's 2nd show with them from Bristow, VA.

[JrnyScarab]

I, too, was extremely excited about Journey again when Jeff was in the band. Man, there was a TON of energy. The live songs were great, and an album would have been spectacular.

I saw that tour with JSS and your right. The energy level was off the charts. They played a lot more of the rockin material and JSS had the crowd eating out of his hand. A damn shame this didn't work out. Could have been a new, exciting chapter instead of the legacy man. (No offence to Arnel, he's doing a fine job with the legacy sound).

This is kind of funny looking back. I loved Steve A in Journey and he came back last year and erased it all and put on a great solo show in Bensalem, PA. I really hate how the band treated him but hey - is what it is.

Jeff joining the band was weird at first to me. Deano took me to Atlantic City and I saw one of JSS's early shows and he rocked the house. I had seen Jeff with Yngwie many years before and didn't think it was a fit. I was wrong. It worked. Probably would have with Jeremey as well and Arnel is doing a nice job. Kind of done with them at this point, but will never forget the fun times in 2006/7.

Well, it WAS a very strange fit. At first JSS sounded real rough with no rehearsal. But after a few shows he got better and better. New material would have been great. I gotta tell you though, I like Arrival better than anything they've done since then. Augeri sounded great on that CD. Very soulful compared to the new stuff with Arnel.

I'm pretty done with them as well, but might have to check out this years tour with Pat Benatar and Loverboy. Worth checking those two out. Never seen them live before.

He did that with almost no rehearsal. I have a bootleg video of Jeff's 2nd show with them from Bristow, VA.

I remember some of those bootlegs. The first few were rough. Didn't you have a good bootleg from Baltimore that sounded great?

[AR]

I, too, was extremely excited about Journey again when Jeff was in the band. Man, there was a TON of energy. The live songs were great, and an album would have been spectacular.

I saw that tour with JSS and your right. The energy level was off the charts. They played a lot more of the rockin material and JSS had the crowd eating out of his hand. A damn shame this didn't work out. Could have been a new, exciting chapter instead of the legacy man. (No offence to Arnel, he's doing a fine job with the legacy sound).

This is kind of funny looking back. I loved Steve A in Journey and he came back last year and erased it all and put on a great solo show in Bensalem, PA. I really hate how the band treated him but hey - is what it is.

Jeff joining the band was weird at first to me. Deano took me to Atlantic City and I saw one of JSS's early shows and he rocked the house. I had seen Jeff with Yngwie many years before and didn't think it was a fit. I was wrong. It worked. Probably would have with Jeremey as well and Arnel is doing a nice job. Kind of done with them at this point, but will never forget the fun times in 2006/7.

Well, it WAS a very strange fit. At first JSS sounded real rough with no rehearsal. But after a few shows he got better and better. New material would have been great. I gotta tell you though, I like Arrival better than anything they've done since then. Augeri sounded great on that CD. Very soulful compared to the new stuff with Arnel.

I'm pretty done with them as well, but might have to check out this years tour with Pat Benatar and Loverboy. Worth checking those two out. Never seen them live before.

He did that with almost no rehearsal. I have a bootleg video of Jeff's 2nd show with them from Bristow, VA.

I remember some of those bootlegs. The first few were rough. Didn't you have a good bootleg from Baltimore that sounded great?

Yes - really great vid from that show!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELD-d-h_qfs

[AR]

Same show. Jeff knocked this one out of the park every time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDtHpo3I5vc

[donnaplease]

I just found my DVD recording from the Polo show with Neal's new love - Jeff's last performance with Journey. I need to pull it out and watch it again!

[stevew2]

I, too, was extremely excited about Journey again when Jeff was in the band. Man, there was a TON of energy. The live songs were great, and an album would have been spectacular.

I saw that tour with JSS and your right. The energy level was off the charts. They played a lot more of the rockin material and JSS had the crowd eating out of his hand. A damn shame this didn't work out. Could have been a new, exciting chapter instead of the legacy man. (No offence to Arnel, he's doing a fine job with the legacy sound).

This is kind of funny looking back. I loved Steve A in Journey and he came back last year and erased it all and put on a great solo show in Bensalem, PA. I really hate how the band treated him but hey - is what it is.

Jeff joining the band was weird at first to me. Deano took me to Atlantic City and I saw one of JSS's early shows and he rocked the house. I had seen Jeff with Yngwie many years before and didn't think it was a fit. I was wrong. It worked. Probably would have with Jeremey as well and Arnel is doing a nice job. Kind of done with them at this point, but will never forget the fun times in 2006/7.

Well, it WAS a very strange fit. At first JSS sounded real rough with no rehearsal. But after a few shows he got better and better. New material would have been great. I gotta tell you though, I like Arrival better than anything they've done since then. Augeri sounded great on that CD. Very soulful compared to the new stuff with Arnel.

I'm pretty done with them as well, but might have to check out this years tour with Pat Benatar and Loverboy. Worth checking those two out. Never seen them live before.

He did that with almost no rehearsal. I have a bootleg video of Jeff's 2nd show with them from Bristow, VA.

I was to freaked out after seeing Steve 2 nights before at Hershey.I was totally unprepared and I just couldnt get into to it. i saw Jeff later in Baltimore and it was okay> hell of a singer,just didnt do it for me in for Journey.Deano opened my eyes to something i didnt want to believe.least I know the truth and have moved on. Its not healthy to worship a a band or lead singer. they are just human like all of us.They do what they have to do to move on,bad decions and all doesnt mean i have to buy into it.There is alot of other good music out there. it was a blast there for awile,meeting really nice people and good memoeries will stay with me always . no spell check {as you can tell}

[bionic]

Dean Castronovo some years back had to put a post on the offical Journey website regarding Neal Schon is rumoured to be leaving Journey!!
By all accounts Neal was so worried about the whole tape gate affair ruining his and the band's reputation that he threatened to leave. The following rumour was he in fact intended to form a band with Gregg Rolie Steve Perry and Steve Smith and to attempt to obain the Journey name, unless his demands were met.
These were ! in that Jeff Scott Soto was rehearsed and on stand by for when Augeri was as some say thrown to the wolves,Steve Augeri final show was to have him sing live therefore giving the impression of him suddenly losing his voice in public display and Jeff coming in to help the band out.

Concerning the rumor of Neal leaving Journey and reforming a new/old Journey with Steve as the front man? Where did you hear that? Was there any solid plans for doing so? I just can't see Steve EVER agreeing to come back, especially under such shady circumstances. But then again, if I know my Journey history, Steve was also brought in under less than ideal circumstances...

This was told to me by the same person that said Jeff was to replace Steve Augeri prior to the announcment, it may well have been not true or maybe Neal was asking around about a new band to scare Jon into doing something? one thing for sure is Neal threatened to leave unless Augeri was let go, and knowing Neal had issues with Augeri this does not surprise me really.

[bionic]

Same show. Jeff knocked this one out of the park every time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDtHpo3I5vc

This sold it for me with Jeff...pure class.

[bionic]

Hotel room in Boston 2006. Deano and I there slamming beers with most of the band.

Neal claimed he had not had Steve A in his monitor for years and had no idea what was going on.

Also threw Augeri under the bus (wrongly) big time and said he hated
Arrival. I will testify in court to everything Schon said under oath.

Discuss.

Liked Arrival but with so many co writes you realised is was not just Perry's voice that had left but his writing also !

[JSS]

First of all, my 1st gig was at Bristow, it was not my 2nd...I flew out to DC on July 5 where the guys had 2 days off....I didn't see or hear from a soul the 2nd day there, found out soon enough everyone keeps to themselves and do not hang together on days off. I woke the morning of the 7th to a greeting from Deen and him freaking that no one bothered sending me a set list or even discussed what we'd be playing that day. A setlist was faxed to my room but of course, I did my own homework days before by looking online as to what they'd played on previous dates before my arrival.

There was NO rehearsal, there was a 10 minute soundcheck which we did 3 songs and 2 monitor wedges were placed on the stage for me as everyone was on in-ears because of the not only the size of the stage but that everyone's volumes varied...with in-ears, everyone could have their own personal mixes in their ears....I didnt have this luxury as 1, I have always hated in-ears and didn't have any, but there was no time to arrange them for me outside of the generic headphones with a pack which I shot down within 30 seconds of trying it out at soundcheck.

Backing up a bit, the 'sounding rough' bit had a LOT to do with the months prior to me stepping in, I was working my ass off consistently singing up to that point, since Feb that year, I was doing 2 nights a week live with local gigs and in between those days I was singing the new Talisman album, from demos to final vocals. Naturally as one does when doing their 'own' thing, I would have drinks, hang out talking all day/night, blah blah, far from proper vocal rest one needs to prepare for singing the Journey catalog so yes, I came into the fold not just very rough but flat out spent, I honestly thought I wouldnt make it through the 1st week much less the next weeks before the 1st break of the tour.

I scraped by doing all I could to rest in between shows, I didn't drink so much as a beer on those tours and I didn't speak much either before and after shows. The 1st 2 weeks off, I took a week off vocally and did a 7 day sabbatical of silence. The 2nd week, I visited Perry's old vocal coach as he resides in LA and even if I got some warmups, it would have helped in which it actually did, he taught me how to work up to that 'pinch' that comes naturally in the voice by doing the right exercises.

From the 2nd leg onward is where I was able to step up finally. I got my customized in-ears but even then, it was a chore staying in pitch as if anyone knows direct pitch and relative pitch are 2 different things. When you hear an ambulance siren from a distance, the pitch changes as it gets near you because of the volume but then reverts back to the pitch it was once it passes. The same goes for direct signal into your ears verses hearing it from a distance, I found that wearing both ears had me singing chronically flat but once I pulled one ear off (and you'll see many in the industry do this), I could hear the pitch in one ear and what my voice was delivering directly into the exposed ear. This helped me stay on time and pitch with the band more fluently.

So there you go, my take on how it all started, I think that helps the topic here about my involvement...regarding those who didn't dig what I did or brought, can't help on that one, I do what I do and did what I did