A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby Gideon » Sun Apr 14, 2013 8:02 am

Don wrote:Did Chalfant get any kind of mention in the BTM show? For a guy who has been recording for 30 years, he never did make much of a musical imprint. I never heard of him until I started reading here at MR.


I don't remember any mention of Chalfant in BTM or its director's cut.
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby slucero » Sun Apr 14, 2013 12:07 pm

Gideon wrote:
Don wrote:Did Chalfant get any kind of mention in the BTM show? For a guy who has been recording for 30 years, he never did make much of a musical imprint. I never heard of him until I started reading here at MR.


I don't remember any mention of Chalfant in BTM or its director's cut.



ya.. no mention that I can recall

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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby The_Noble_Cause » Sun Apr 14, 2013 1:12 pm

slucero wrote:
Gideon wrote:
Don wrote:Did Chalfant get any kind of mention in the BTM show? For a guy who has been recording for 30 years, he never did make much of a musical imprint. I never heard of him until I started reading here at MR.


I don't remember any mention of Chalfant in BTM or its director's cut.



ya.. no mention that I can recall



Considering that the entire BTM was selectively edited to put Perry in the best possible light, why is this surprising? Acknowledging that the band was getting ready to move on w/ another singer (Chalfant) prior to TBF, would fracture the fantasy that Journey dumped Perry only when he hurt his hip. An objective BTM would've made a point of mentioning that Perry had a history of cutting tours short (ROR, FTLOSM). Bailing on the TBF tour was just further evidence that he had to go.
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby The_Noble_Cause » Sun Apr 14, 2013 1:15 pm

STORY_TELLER wrote:The thing that made Perry standout has always been the physical talent from his vocal chords coupled with his R&B base and emotive abilities, but le Listen to the opening of LTS for an example of it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqNG8DW-Ohg

Can someone say try to hold the Jock strap?


Making raspberry/baby fart noises and saying "stick it in" demonstrates artistry? Are you fucking high? Perry sounds like an idiot here.
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby slucero » Sun Apr 14, 2013 1:31 pm

The_Noble_Cause wrote:Considering that the entire BTM was selectively edited to put Perry in the best possible light, why is this surprising? Acknowledging that the band was getting ready to move on w/ another singer (Chalfant) prior to TBF, would fracture the fantasy that Journey dumped Perry only when he hurt his hip. An objective BTM would've made a point of mentioning that Perry had a history of cutting tours short (ROR, FTLOSM). Bailing on the TBF tour was just further evidence that he had to go.



..don't think any of were "surprised" by it...we all know Perry drove the BTM editing..

....we were just answering Don.


(but you knew that, dint'cha)

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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby slucero » Sun Apr 14, 2013 1:32 pm

The_Noble_Cause wrote:
STORY_TELLER wrote:The thing that made Perry standout has always been the physical talent from his vocal chords coupled with his R&B base and emotive abilities, but le Listen to the opening of LTS for an example of it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqNG8DW-Ohg

Can someone say try to hold the Jock strap?


Making raspberry/baby fart noises and saying "stick it in" demonstrates artistry? Are you fucking high? Perry sounds like an idiot here.



Clearly you missed the singing part...

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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby The_Noble_Cause » Sun Apr 14, 2013 1:47 pm

slucero wrote:Clearly you missed the singing part...


How wonderful. Maybe I can post clips of Perry Como bringing the house down at The Chesterfield Supper Club? Let's face it: Perry is using his instrument about as much as Como these days.
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby Gideon » Sun Apr 14, 2013 1:48 pm

The_Noble_Cause wrote:
STORY_TELLER wrote:The thing that made Perry standout has always been the physical talent from his vocal chords coupled with his R&B base and emotive abilities, but le Listen to the opening of LTS for an example of it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqNG8DW-Ohg

Can someone say try to hold the Jock strap?


Making raspberry/baby fart noises and saying "stick it in" demonstrates artistry? Are you fucking high? Perry sounds like an idiot here.


:lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby slucero » Sun Apr 14, 2013 4:03 pm

The_Noble_Cause wrote:
slucero wrote:Clearly you missed the singing part...


How wonderful. Maybe I can post clips of Perry Como bringing the house down at The Chesterfield Supper Club? Let's face it: Perry is using his instrument about as much as Como these days.



while true... that wasn't the point of the video Story Teller posted.. which you've quite obviously missed, choosing instead to focus on a portion that has nothing to do with singing..

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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby The_Noble_Cause » Mon Apr 15, 2013 12:06 am

slucero wrote:while true... that wasn't the point of the video Story Teller posted.. which you've quite obviously missed, choosing instead to focus on a portion that has nothing to do with singing..



There is no point. For all the long winded verbiage, you and ST are just disgruntled Perry fans demeaning the extraordinary talents of others (like Chalfant), even tho Perry remains in self-imposed exile. On many nights, Augeri did not hold a candle, jockstrap, or even Kevin Cronin brand buttplug to Perry's singing prowess. That said, the band is out there Perry-less, through no fault of their own. They gave the guy alot of breaks. He's a reclusive fuck up. Chalfant, Thomas, Geoff Tate, or even Michael Bolton should've been handed the tuxedo tails sometime after Frontiers.
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby The_Noble_Cause » Mon Apr 15, 2013 12:24 am

Classic. What self-respecting Journey fan doesn't love Chalfant and The Storm?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdbiCRSJQYM
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby slucero » Mon Apr 15, 2013 4:15 am

The_Noble_Cause wrote:
slucero wrote:while true... that wasn't the point of the video Story Teller posted.. which you've quite obviously missed, choosing instead to focus on a portion that has nothing to do with singing..



There is no point. For all the long winded verbiage, you and ST are just disgruntled Perry fans demeaning the extraordinary talents of others (like Chalfant), even tho Perry remains in self-imposed exile. On many nights, Augeri did not hold a candle, jockstrap, or even Kevin Cronin brand buttplug to Perry's singing prowess. That said, the band is out there Perry-less, through no fault of their own. They gave the guy alot of breaks. He's a reclusive fuck up. Chalfant, Thomas, Geoff Tate, or even Michael Bolton should've been handed the tuxedo tails sometime after Frontiers.


Revisionist historian, selective reader and video watcher... you've somehow managed to become all three in one post.. that's gotta be a world (or at least an MR) record. Well done.



It's kinda hard for me to be a "disgruntled Perry fan" since I've been on the "Perry is done" bandwagon for years now. Even Gid can attest to that. I'm no Loon.

I've also never demeaned Chalfant.. I think he's a fantastic singer.. as I do all the other singers you mention.. but there's also a vast, vast difference between those other singers and Perry. This appears to be where your point of contention, and more importantly confusion, lies.

Singing rock is entirely different than singing R&B, rock is more straight-forward, meter, phrasing and timing wise, R&B is different in that it varies "off the beat", and cadence and phrasing are less precise (when compared to rock singing) yet more colorful. It is also why few rock singers can sing R&B well, but many R&B singers do fine singing rock.

Sinatra was a great singer, because of the way he melded cadence, melody and phrasing in a way that was very stylish and original. Ty Taylor from Vintage Trouble is a black singer in a rock band, singing rock songs from an R&B styled perspective. Perry does(did) both, and could do so effortlessly. Freddie Mercury and Eric Martin are other good examples of this. With the exception of Mickey Thomas, for the most part the singers you mention are "one-trick ponies", in that they do not have the ability to sing creatively in that way. It's not demeaning to them, it's just that they do not possess that ability.

This video is of Journey doing the song "Roadrunner".. and along the very same lines of what ST' was pointing out (which you overlooked). It's a Motown era Holland–Dozier–Holland tune (they wrote many Motown hits), and an example of Perry doing something that many of those "other" singers could not do, because (with the exception of Mickey Thomas) none of those other singers could do this song, without sounding like a "rock singer trying to sing R&B".

This is the difference between Perry and them, and what ST was trying to articulate.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0c_IdWii5c
Last edited by slucero on Mon Apr 15, 2013 4:27 am, edited 6 times in total.

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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby slucero » Mon Apr 15, 2013 4:17 am

The_Noble_Cause wrote:Classic. What self-respecting Journey fan doesn't love Chalfant and The Storm?

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



agreed,, great song and vocal performance.

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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby Gideon » Mon Apr 15, 2013 5:06 am

I love reading the verbal carnage that ensues when you two slug it out; don't ever change. :D

For my take, slucero, much of the quality that you and ST ascribe to Perry is entirely subjective. You two cite the LTS ad lib as proof of this, but TNC finds it to be total garbage and I share that sentiment. You've mentioned before how Schon can shred in excess to the detriment of the song; how it comes off sloppy and incoherent? I agree, but I don't think it's just a fretwork phenomenon: Perry is guilty of it, too; of going on and on and on with ridiculous alterations to the song for the sake of "artistry." What you two find soulful and masterful, others might find soulless and mediocre.

As far as your alleged Loon status is concerned, I'm inclined to reject the idea that you are a Loon by virtue of the fact that you are clearly very intelligent, well informed, and can construct reasonable arguments, things that all Loons lack by definition. But I don't think there's any doubt which "camp" (Perry or Schon/Cain) holds your ultimate allegiance and which camp you're more likely to praise versus criticize (based on the nature of your posts, anyway). You're in Don's group of posters as far as I'm concerned, which is good company to keep, but you're certainly not even-handed.
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby AR » Mon Apr 15, 2013 6:22 am

LTS is the worst popular Journey song. Always was a beer break for me or head to the exits if it closed the show.
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby slucero » Mon Apr 15, 2013 7:12 am

Gideon wrote:I love reading the verbal carnage that ensues when you two slug it out; don't ever change. :D

For my take, slucero, much of the quality that you and ST ascribe to Perry is entirely subjective. You two cite the LTS ad lib as proof of this, but TNC finds it to be total garbage and I share that sentiment. You've mentioned before how Schon can shred in excess to the detriment of the song; how it comes off sloppy and incoherent? I agree, but I don't think it's just a fretwork phenomenon: Perry is guilty of it, too; of going on and on and on with ridiculous alterations to the song for the sake of "artistry." What you two find soulful and masterful, others might find soulless and mediocre.


The LTS was ST's citation.. and the singing portion of the intro to LTS in that video was what I believe he was pointing to... not the ad libbing that was pointed out.. I assume you are referring to he singing portion regarding y our subjective comment.. correct?

I do get that it is subjective.. and to be clear I'm talking about the singing portion again.. not the ad-libbing stuff..

And you are correct.. excess that does not serve the song in musicianship (vocal or instrument) is just that.. excessive .. and obvious.(it doesn't mean it is unnecessary though) And there's an obvious difference in context also.. (Van Halen doing it in VH songs vs. Schon in Journey tunes). It just depends on what the particular context is.. and if it is acceptable.

But I'm not talking about excess.. nor is it artistry.. from the singing perspective, its the ability to sing in those differing styles naturally.. as opposed to sounding like a "rock singer in a soul band", or the opposite. One only need look at whether any of those "other" singers have ever sang outside of their genre, which is rock, or if they have incorporated that styling into the genre they exist in, without it sounding forced or unnatural. For the most part it's pretty obvious they have done neither.

I hear Perry doing this in a very natural way.


Gideon wrote:As far as your alleged Loon status is concerned, I'm inclined to reject the idea that you are a Loon by virtue of the fact that you are clearly very intelligent, well informed, and can construct reasonable arguments, things that all Loons lack by definition. But I don't think there's any doubt which "camp" (Perry or Schon/Cain) holds your ultimate allegiance and which camp you're more likely to praise versus criticize (based on the nature of your posts, anyway). You're in Don's group of posters as far as I'm concerned, which is good company to keep, but you're certainly not even-handed.



IMHO it's more about understanding the triumvirate that was Cain/Perry/Schon

I totally admire Cain and Schon... actually more Cain than Schon, because Cain is a writer.. the thinking mans musician. Trained in composition. He knows the language of music and in Journey was the also the interpreter and go-between (between Perry and Schon).

Perry was quite literally the yin to Cains yang. Cain absolutely wrote his best lyrics with Perry, and Perry wrote his best lyrics with Cain. Having a singer who could sing from similar reference points was a huge plus for Cain (who shared those references). I doubt either of them will ever find success in the way they shared it, although JC will continue his writing success in Nashville.. I have no doubt. Perry obviously not.

Neal is the musical savant. That's his gift. He's a thoroughbred built for one thing. He needs a supporting cast to do what he does best, and like a thoroughbred, he needs to be directed to deliver focused output. It was that way in Santana and early Journey, although for Schon I'm sure he felt "freer" in those circumstances vs. the later, more commercial version of Journey.

In the bigger, Journey picture, what it means is they have not had that magical creative synergy, that only the 3 of those guys can have together, since those 3 guys stopped writing together.

That is why I've said before that any comparisons of any post-Perry singers/output to Cain/Perry/Schon-era Journey are simply unfair, until there is a body of co-written work to compare to the Cain/Perry/Schon-era. Given the writing credits on all of the post Cain/Perry/Schon-era output its quite obvious that the writing team hasn't been a threesome since Perry quit/left/retired.

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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby Don » Mon Apr 15, 2013 7:27 am

I don't think a lot of people realize how many times Schon was sent "to the corner" while Cain and Perry were working on songs. For all intents and purposes, it was pretty much the Jon and Steve show from 1981 through 1986.
Regardless of what Jonathan said, Neal never truly started the process of getting his band back until he pulled rank during the hiring of Pineda. Eclipse was just the final transformation of that effort.
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby slucero » Mon Apr 15, 2013 8:44 am

Don wrote:I don't think a lot of people realize how many times Schon was sent "to the corner" while Cain and Perry were working on songs. For all intents and purposes, it was pretty much the Jon and Steve show from 1981 through 1986.
Regardless of what Jonathan said, Neal never truly started the process of getting his band back until he pulled rank during the hiring of Pineda. Eclipse was just the final transformation of that effort.



ya.. Neal never stuck me as a large percentage, contribution wise, of the Cain/Perry/Schon writing team.. and that's no slagging on Neal's contributions.

I recall in a past interview JC even alluding to having to keep Schon's ideas in the mix when he would write with Perry..

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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby Yoda » Tue Apr 16, 2013 5:41 am

Gideon wrote:Was your post meant to convey something other than an affirmation of Perry's "magic"?


Yes.

Gideon wrote: No one here has claimed or suggested that Perry wasn't a remarkable singer. That some of us ascribe similar praise for Chalfant takes nothing away from Perry unless you're a Loon.


What, exactly, is it about Kevin Chalfant that makes you think he is every bit the singer/artist that Steve Perry was in his prime? Other than the initial, "Wow, he sounds like Steve Perry" tone in his voice? Don't get me wrong, I love Kevin Chalfant and have a bunch of his work from various projects and bands. I'd still fully support him in Journey, but to say he's on the same level in every way as what Steve Perry was during his heyday with Journey is ridiculous.

I consider his best work with the Storm - first album. As much as I love that album, nothing on there comes close to any of the hits Perry did with Journey.
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby kgdjpubs » Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:04 am

Yoda wrote:
Gideon wrote: No one here has claimed or suggested that Perry wasn't a remarkable singer. That some of us ascribe similar praise for Chalfant takes nothing away from Perry unless you're a Loon.


What, exactly, is it about Kevin Chalfant that makes you think he is every bit the singer/artist that Steve Perry was in his prime? Other than the initial, "Wow, he sounds like Steve Perry" tone in his voice? Don't get me wrong, I love Kevin Chalfant and have a bunch of his work from various projects and bands. I'd still fully support him in Journey, but to say he's on the same level in every way as what Steve Perry was during his heyday with Journey is ridiculous.


technically, I'd say he is fairly close. Both were/are very, very good. Perry had a fuller voice, and certainly much more accomplished at using that falsetto in backing vocals--which is something I've never heard Chalfant use. That said, technically doesn't mean much to me. Perry has much more control over his voice than almost anyone out there. He had soul, for lack of a better term.



Yoda wrote:I consider his best work with the Storm - first album. As much as I love that album, nothing on there comes close to any of the hits Perry did with Journey.


I think the first Storm album is ok. The 2nd Storm album, I'd put as one of the 2 best Journey albums. There was some really good stuff on there, if it was ever given a chance in the right climate. At the time, it never had a chance, regardless of who was releasing it.
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby Gideon » Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:12 am

Yoda wrote:What, exactly, is it about Kevin Chalfant that makes you think he is every bit the singer/artist that Steve Perry was in his prime?


His voice is as pleasant to my ears as Perry's is. Their technical capabilities are comparable; but more, in my opinion: Chalfant emotes/connects with me as much as Perry. And while Chalfant's sharp tenor never plumbed the depths of pitch Perry's did (there's no "Captured By the Moment" in Chalfant's catalog that I'm familiar with), he was able to inject his vocals with raw grit at whim as demonstrated by "Touch And Go" off the Storm's debut album.

Yoda wrote:I'd still fully support him in Journey, but to say he's on the same level in every way as what Steve Perry was during his heyday with Journey is ridiculous.


As a vocalist, it's not at all ridiculous. Technically, they're comparable. This mysterious X-factor you ascribe to Perry and not to Chalfant is simply the product of your own personal, subjective opinion. ST can pretend all he likes that it's some proven fact that Perry's delivery exudes emotion and Chalfant's is soulless, but it isn't.

Yoda wrote:I consider his best work with the Storm - first album. As much as I love that album, nothing on there comes close to any of the hits Perry did with Journey.


Yeah, neither do any of Perry's works on Street Talk or FTLOSM despite the fact that it's the same guy who sang on Escape or Frontiers. The Storm is a stellar album vocally, but (in my opinion, anyway) hardly extraordinary. But something was once said of Perry that I believe applies to music artists in general: it takes more than a great voice to produce a great album.
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby Don » Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:15 am

I'm still looking for something, anything that can be attributed to the main decision makers in the band Schon and Cain, saying they ever considered giving this guy the gig. I don't give a shit what Rolie, Smitty or Valory thought.
Anyone have anything online that would show the kingmakers leading this guy into believing that Journey might be his next career stop?
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby kgdjpubs » Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:47 am

Don wrote:I'm still looking for something, anything that can be attributed to the main decision makers in the band Schon and Cain, saying they ever considered giving this guy the gig. I don't give a shit what Rolie, Smitty or Valory thought.
Anyone have anything online that would show the kingmakers leading this guy into believing that Journey might be his next career stop?



here's one of the few things I have found from Chalfant....
http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/k ... ant00.html
Ok, tough question...we all know you almost had the job as vox in Journey...what really went wrong?
Man, Andrew, you like to dig don't you? I am going to buy you a tractor with a back hoe on it one of these days!
Journey...they are my musical family. I have gotten so much from being associated with their incredible legacy. First of all, I harbor no bitterness of anger for the decision they have made. Many people ask me this question and I have to say that I am just very blessed and fortunate to be able to say that they are my friends. I had been writing with Neal, Jonathan, and Gregg when the rumors were flying.
Steve Perry came back to make another record and Ross told me that they (Steve & Ross) had discussed me. He told Ross that he thought that I was a great singer, the feelings are mutual. After that record was released, the feelings about my involvement changed. I can't put my finger on any one thing. It doesn't really matter though.

The facts that are known is that Chalfant DID perform with Journey at the roast for Herbie Herbert in 1993 (which is right around the time that Eye of the Storm was recorded and all this was going down). There is also supposedly some interview from Perry around the FTLOSM record where he made mention of Journey working with another singer at the time.

I'd say all that's fairly definitive...
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby Don » Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:57 am

kgdjpubs wrote:
Don wrote:I'm still looking for something, anything that can be attributed to the main decision makers in the band Schon and Cain, saying they ever considered giving this guy the gig. I don't give a shit what Rolie, Smitty or Valory thought.
Anyone have anything online that would show the kingmakers leading this guy into believing that Journey might be his next career stop?



here's one of the few things I have found from Chalfant....
http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/k ... ant00.html
Ok, tough question...we all know you almost had the job as vox in Journey...what really went wrong?
Man, Andrew, you like to dig don't you? I am going to buy you a tractor with a back hoe on it one of these days!
Journey...they are my musical family. I have gotten so much from being associated with their incredible legacy. First of all, I harbor no bitterness of anger for the decision they have made. Many people ask me this question and I have to say that I am just very blessed and fortunate to be able to say that they are my friends. I had been writing with Neal, Jonathan, and Gregg when the rumors were flying.
Steve Perry came back to make another record and Ross told me that they (Steve & Ross) had discussed me. He told Ross that he thought that I was a great singer, the feelings are mutual. After that record was released, the feelings about my involvement changed. I can't put my finger on any one thing. It doesn't really matter though.

The facts that are known is that Chalfant DID perform with Journey at the roast for Herbie Herbert in 1993 (which is right around the time that Eye of the Storm was recorded and all this was going down). There is also supposedly some interview from Perry around the FTLOSM record where he made mention of Journey working with another singer at the time.

I'd say all that's fairly definitive...


I was hoping for something even more definitive, like Neal or Jon actually mentioning writing or working with Chalfant.
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby kgdjpubs » Tue Apr 16, 2013 8:09 am

here's a little bit more....

http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/nealschon.html
Neal Schon - 1998 right after the Augeri hire

That's fair enough.
Tell me how many people and who you auditioned for the new singer position?
There were only really 2 that we had checked out.
We had played with Kevin Chalfant a long long time ago, and we kind of felt that since Kevin had done The Storm thing, that it wasn't the right thing to do.
We felt that The Storm was a mini Journey band.

Well it was close, with Gregg Rolie and Ross Valory there…
Yeah, and it had Smith at one point and then he quit. I just felt like I wanted to start on fresh grounds.


Doesn't say much, but then again, mentioning much of anything with Chalfant at the time kinda undermines the then-new version of the band.
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby Don » Tue Apr 16, 2013 8:16 am

kgdjpubs wrote:here's a little bit more....

http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/nealschon.html
Neal Schon - 1998 right after the Augeri hire

That's fair enough.
Tell me how many people and who you auditioned for the new singer position?
There were only really 2 that we had checked out.
We had played with Kevin Chalfant a long long time ago, and we kind of felt that since Kevin had done The Storm thing, that it wasn't the right thing to do.
We felt that The Storm was a mini Journey band.

Well it was close, with Gregg Rolie and Ross Valory there…
Yeah, and it had Smith at one point and then he quit. I just felt like I wanted to start on fresh grounds.


Doesn't say much, but then again, mentioning much of anything with Chalfant at the time kinda undermines the then-new version of the band.

Good enough. I was just looking for something to sell me on why this guy seemed to put all of his eggs into the Journey basket and still seems to not have quite gotten over it yet.
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby The_Noble_Cause » Tue Apr 16, 2013 8:50 am

Don wrote:Good enough. I was just looking for something to sell me on why this guy seemed to put all of his eggs into the Journey basket and still seems to not have quite gotten over it yet.


He is friends with Jim Peterik and always wanted to sing for Survivor, as well. I don't think Chalfant put all his eggs in the Journey basket. He's done alot of different projects, but unless you're an established name, it's hard to make a living. Kinda sad that he has to capitalize on his fleeting connection with Journey to get booked and to tour, but at least he's not alone. Augeri is out there singing Journey songs. If Jeremey didn't have his issue, he'd be singing Journey songs. Hugo is still doing it. And Neal & Jon are the original grifters of them all, clinging to the Journey cash cow, after failed attempts at solo or side project stardom.
"I think we should all sue this women for depriving us of our God given right to go down with a clear mind, and good thoughts." - Stu, Consumate Pussy Eater
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby kgdjpubs » Tue Apr 16, 2013 9:11 am

Don wrote:Good enough. I was just looking for something to sell me on why this guy seemed to put all of his eggs into the Journey basket and still seems to not have quite gotten over it yet.


Put yourself in his shoes for a moment. You front several bands that don't get anywhere, and one of them even records a cd that the record company decides not to release. Then, The Storm forms with half of Journey. Record an album, get some airplay, go on tour. Good enough reception that you get to record a 2nd album, then the music industry changes. Male tenors aren't in fashion anymore, and you're not getting any younger. Then, Herbie Herbert (who is managing The Storm) puts you in with Journey. Seems like a natural fit. You perform one show, and it works well enough to start writing.

Then, Perry returns, you are out, and the dream gig is gone.

Then, Perry is out again, and you are screwed either way. If you take the job, breaking out of the Perry shadow will be extremely difficult, and you never know when he is going to get that itch and you are out again. If you refuse, you never know what could have been. Put anyone in that position, and neither option sounds all that good. A good case could be made for either decision.

Now, from here on out is basically guesswork. Chalfant's involvement in 1997-98 singer hiring process is unknown. Obviously, Journey knew what to expect with him after the pre-TBF sessions. I was told by someone who was fairly close in with Chalfant shortly after all this that he turned the Journey gig down the 2nd time. If that happened, there's no way it's ever going to be made public unless Chalfant comes out and admits it. Neither Schon nor Cain will ever admit that Augeri was #2 choice. So, fast forward several years, and the choice that felt correct in 1997-98 to him has to be weighing on Chalfant heavily. Maybe it would have worked, maybe not, but now you will never know.

I don't know 100% if it went down that way, but it's certainly plausible.
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby Don » Tue Apr 16, 2013 9:46 am

kgdjpubs wrote:
Don wrote:Good enough. I was just looking for something to sell me on why this guy seemed to put all of his eggs into the Journey basket and still seems to not have quite gotten over it yet.


Put yourself in his shoes for a moment. You front several bands that don't get anywhere, and one of them even records a cd that the record company decides not to release. Then, The Storm forms with half of Journey. Record an album, get some airplay, go on tour. Good enough reception that you get to record a 2nd album, then the music industry changes. Male tenors aren't in fashion anymore, and you're not getting any younger. Then, Herbie Herbert (who is managing The Storm) puts you in with Journey. Seems like a natural fit. You perform one show, and it works well enough to start writing.

Then, Perry returns, you are out, and the dream gig is gone.

Then, Perry is out again, and you are screwed either way. If you take the job, breaking out of the Perry shadow will be extremely difficult, and you never know when he is going to get that itch and you are out again. If you refuse, you never know what could have been. Put anyone in that position, and neither option sounds all that good. A good case could be made for either decision.

Now, from here on out is basically guesswork. Chalfant's involvement in 1997-98 singer hiring process is unknown. Obviously, Journey knew what to expect with him after the pre-TBF sessions. I was told by someone who was fairly close in with Chalfant shortly after all this that he turned the Journey gig down the 2nd time. If that happened, there's no way it's ever going to be made public unless Chalfant comes out and admits it. Neither Schon nor Cain will ever admit that Augeri was #2 choice. So, fast forward several years, and the choice that felt correct in 1997-98 to him has to be weighing on Chalfant heavily. Maybe it would have worked, maybe not, but now you will never know.

I don't know 100% if it went down that way, but it's certainly plausible.


That's what I 'm looking for. Somewhere, I thought I had heard that he had turned down the job after Perry's departure in 98. I wanted to see if there was any confirmation of this. No matter how pissed he may have been for the perceived slight by the band because of TBF, if they offered him the gig in 1998 and he refused then how could anyone feel sorry for him? Guy was in his 40s at that time I'm guessing. Vocals obviously ready for the downside of the hill. If yo say no, that's fine but don't paint it later that you were wronged. What happened up to TBF was irrelevant. There was no guarantee that SONY would have allowed Journey to record an album at that point any, regardless if Perry wanted back or not. Time3 had come out in 1992, the label wasn't just going to let Journey switch up without an effort at getting SP back.
Chalfant would have no cause to turn them down in 98 because of that, he wasn't in a position to be bitter at that point. Once in a life time opportunity ,you have to grab it.

Provided it really happened like that, which is what I'm trying to find out. Didn't he run off to do Christian music at that point?
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Re: A Conversation with Kevin Chalfant

Postby kgdjpubs » Tue Apr 16, 2013 11:26 am

Don wrote:Chalfant would have no cause to turn them down in 98 because of that, he wasn't in a position to be bitter at that point. Once in a life time opportunity ,you have to grab it.

Provided it really happened like that, which is what I'm trying to find out. Didn't he run off to do Christian music at that point?


No, the Christian cd was many years later. There was at least the 2 Two Fires cds and the Shadows Fade (aka Frontiers Records project) cd that he did between '98 and when the Christian cd came out. I think the Christian cd and the Christmas cd were just because he wanted to release them.
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