Here is what happened.
We all know Jeff and the band performed in Virginia on May 12th. Jeff then flies to Europe to perform with Talisman, the farewell tour of Talisman, the band that he was putting to bed so he could go on with Journey. A few days after his arrival in Holland, word starts spreading back here in the U.S. that while at a Washington DC Airport Neal told another person that Jeff has played his last show with the band. We hear word has gotten to Jeff through his webmaster in England. Throughout the next 3 and a half weeks of Jeff's tour he hears more and more rumours of his fate. It is rampant among Journey fans. From my own personal interactions with the band it becomes very clear who's doing the talking...Can you imagine having to perform with thoughts of Journey cutting you on your mind? Not only that, but, Jeff hearing the dirty laundry of the bands inner problems are being aired everywhere. Heartless!
Jeff tells his webmaster to respond to all emails with the response that management deny rumours and he is not giving them any weight.....
Through very reliable sources we hear that Kevin Chalfant was approached in May, and asked to do the Virginia gig. He declines because it is too close to prepare for. He is told by Mgt that Jeff is leaving the band because he doesn't want to be part of a nostalgia act. Kevin, assumably was excited. The Journey gig is one he would love to have. He never asked Jeff if this were true, and honestly, why would he? So he turns down the Virginia May gig, but Journey Mgt are also seeking out other possibilities; like tribute band singers. So to sum this up, Journey members and their Mgt both turned off their collective communication to their lead singer, lie to other prospective singers and actively seek out singers to hire behind Soto's back, as he is in Europe, closing the book on his former band, in order to open another book with Journey. Meanwhile, the night before Jeff flies back to the States, at the Sweden Rock Festival, he runs into an artist also represented by Azoff Management, they shoot the shit & it's mentioned to Jeff he knows he's out of the band. How would that feel to be Jeff that night?
Jeff get's back to LA on Saturday, apparently to no word from any band member or management. Then on Monday gets the word from management, "We are letting you go." So, he found out Monday, they released their bullshit statement Tuesday.
Then comes word that two weeks ago today, Ross Valory was on the phone to Kevin Chalfant saying he would go to bat for him. So, Ross is the only one who returns Jeff's call from JFK Monday, and says he was on vacation and didn't know what going on, yet sources confirm he contacted Kevin. Meanwhile Chalfant has been heard to say something to the liking of, "They fucked me over again." I congratulated Jeremey, lead singer of the tribute band Frontiers, and he said to me, "Thank You. I hope you and others will give this lineup a chance." Now, I don't know what you call that, but to me it says, Jeremey is your new Journey lead vocalist.
There's your fucking facts.
115 comments:
It actually sounds like KC got screwed over again for daring to release a Journey covers album. It would have been awesome to have him step in. Regardless the way JSS was handled was bad management and downright disrespectful.
I am a little confused that you mention Jon told JSS at the airport that it was his last gig but he didn't find out until officially until later?
Just great. They're an oldies band now, the new Drifters.
Buh bye you drama queens. Take your dirty dozen and choke on 'em.
Well, that does it! If this is true, i'll never buy a Journey album again... ever!
Ok. But the big question still is why? What happened to deteriorate what seemed to be a great situation with Jeff based on the giddy smiles on their faces during the summer tour?
So, you're saying Neal told Jeff at Washington Airport? If he knew then that it was his last gig then why did he not ask more questions before heading off to Europe?
Thanks for the info Deano. What a Joke this band is now. Who is gonna book this band into an arena with a tribute band singer. Geta grip. It will be the joke of the Industry. Talk about confusing all around.
Much resepct to you JSS for putting up with this garbage.
Candian Fan
Jeez- just terrible.
Still, what about this supposed "telling Jeff at the airport this is his last gig" stuff?
Was this a rumor spread by someone else to make it seem as though Jeff knew and didn't say? 'Cause I don't believe for 1 minute that Jeff is other than totally blindsided by the news. Who's spreading all these "rumors"? Neal, Friga? Shit- this is one big mess from start to finish. And poor Jeff in the middle trying to clean it up!
So that means even BEFORE the Virginia gig the band wanted him out. So what the hell went wrong in the few weeks between the European tour in March and early May? I was about 10 feet from the stage in March and there is no way they were faking the camaradarie and joy of performing together.
Thanks Dean for keeping us up to date with whats been going on.
I have become a big fan of JSS since he joined Journey, he always comes across as a really down to earth, sincere guy and i think the way he's been treated is despicable.
I am disgusted with Jon and Neil and hope you give them sleepless nights!!
JSS, you were way too good for them.
I think the band was pissed about him doing the Talisman tour. They wanted him to be exclusively Journey and no other project. Jeff was asked by some on a board whether he would be still doing his solo stuff as well and he said sorry, right now it's only going to be Journey.
Ann said...
So that means even BEFORE the Virginia gig the band wanted him out.
My guess is they knew they weren't going to keep him on when they announced him as the new lead singer in January. This situation just gets more fucked up by the minute. My heart really breaks for Jeff. :-(
Friga and Fro can eat shit!!!
Thanks Dean.
Great stuff, Dean...
But it leaves alot of unanswered questions.
Did Chalfant get 'early' info that this was coming and was his Fly2Freedom album a way to not only show the band what he could bring but a way to get even more fans behind the idea of him fronting the band?
What really went on behind the scenes between Jeff and Neal, who by accounts had become 'true friends'? Could it be so petty as just Neal not liking Jeff getting so much recognition and adoration?
Could some of Management's and the Band's distaste for Jeff recently stem back to his friendships in these forums, specifically with you? Did they foresee this as a threat???
And finally, when are you gonna give the REAL juice on EVERYTHING surrounding TG, including how much involvement ALL members had?
C-H@kk-Dizzle
Dean, it sounds like Jeff knew he was out before he went to Europe and just did not want to believe it.
I know you were telling us a few weeks ago to "pray real hard because we were in for a bumpy ride," so it sounds like this wasn't a total surpirse. I think its really disgusting how they did it though, really low class.
I think they wanted to shock and awe him so that he would be too stunned to fight back or hire an attorney, just sucker punch him!
Rosebowl said:
Dean, it sounds like Jeff knew he was out before he went to Europe and just did not want to believe it.
Very astute.
Sure they did have smiles ear to ear when they were on stage with Jeff. It wasnt fake. Jeff has that effect on people. The energy he brought on stage, made the old guys feel alive again. What went wrong!?
Simple: Jeff wanted to write new material, they didnt. They were happy making money off of the old stuff, cause this means less work for them.
They thought that by gettin Jeff on board and finnish the tour, they gain the respect and attention they need from their fans. Then after he was done, they thought they dont need him, cause now that they have the respect and even new (JSS)-fans, they're gonna be ok on their own.
But theyre wrong! They will realize what big misstake they committed by giving up their last chance to keep the dying Journey machine running
Damn is all I can say. The guys in Journey lost the BEST thing that ever happened to them in the past zillion years. BIG MISTAKE
I was reading on Blabbermouth (which I know most of the comments made by people on there is total b.s) that Jeff got canned because he was telling people that Dean was in Rehab. I don't believe that to be true, and if he is in rehab, hope everything is ok, but maybe you could shed some light on it. My personal opinion as to why they gave Jeff the boot is because he totally outclassed and outshined both Schon and Cain and they couldn't handle not having all of the spotlight to themselves. It's a big jealousy issue. Just my personal opinion though.
Hey Dean, you said
"A few days after his arrival in Holland, word starts spreading back here in the U.S. that while at a Washington DC Airport Neal told Jeff it was his last show with the band"
Doesn't this mean that Neal told to his face that he was done, or is this in reference to Talisman?
Thanks for at least putting something out there that tries to shed some light on all of this stuff Deano.
I've never read any of your insights before, as I never make it much past the MR noticeboard, but apparently you've earned some credibility based on your past postings. So thank you for bringing this all out for us.
I've always been a JSS fan first and foremost and will always remain one. He earns his fans and treats them all like his friends - a rarity in the music industry.
Journey, on the other hand, have lost my support for good - I hope they lose a lot more.
Peace ~ Greg (a.k.a. Yasuru)
mateo1971 said...
I was reading on Blabbermouth (which I know most of the comments made by people on there is total b.s) that Jeff got canned because he was telling people that Dean was in Rehab. I don't believe that to be true, and if he is in rehab, hope everything is ok, but maybe you could shed some light on it. My personal opinion as to why they gave Jeff the boot is because he totally outclassed and outshined both Schon and Cain and they couldn't handle not having all of the spotlight to themselves. It's a big jealousy issue. Just my personal opinion though.
Totally False. Complete Bullshit.
JSS should wait to speak, he needs some good PR advice and not talk of this at all until the right time comes along. Right now Journey looks bad, really bad. He needs to be very very quiet. The right time will come along.
Unfuckingbelievable!!!
I have even less respect for the band and their management now. Jeff's too good to be in the company of those assholes.
Thanks again, Deano, for giving us the real story on what went down.
So did Jeremey already audition with them? I thought I read that he'd be flying this week to meet with F&F to do so.
Too bad. If anything, KC could have saved them a few more fans.
Tyler won't be singing with Aerosmith much due to his illness, Joe Perry and JSS need to get together and create some beautiful music together.
What are they, in freaking junior high school? If they were going to get rid of him anyway, whatever happened to being men and sitting him down and telling him to his face? I've seen the word "cowards" being thrown around, and it sure fits here.
People we all need to ignore Journey for the rest of our lives. Let them have the crap 2nd-hand singer, stop putting dollars in this band, cause that's all they want.
Schön and Friga are a bunch of backstabbers. You do not do this to people, specially if they saved your ass big time!
Another in a long line of poor judgement on Journeys part. They also have a history of treating people poorly. It started with Perry replacing Fleischman the they got rid of Ross and Smitty.... Pretty sad way to do business both personally and professionaly. Journey does not really care about the real devoted fans. Shit most people that say the love Journey and are fans still think Perry is in the band.
by the way Thanks Deano.
Smitty was never let go, he quit, trust me.
If your comments are accurate..JSS should not be pulling this whole "I didn't see this coming" act. He evidently knew he was out BEFORE he went to Europe. If he had issues with it, or needed clarification, he should have moved a mountain to make sure he knew what was or was not coming. I still believe what they did was awful, and how they went about it was even worse. But if we take your word as the gospel, we should all stop thinking about this as an end around given that JSS had notice..how he handled that notice is another issue.
Nice to see you back, Mr Ohlrich.
Although my associations and passions for this band are very much a thing of the past,I wish you good luck with your endeavours to keep the fans and ex-fans up-to-date with the facts that will never surface through official channels.
No doubt there will be a serious amount of negative posts and s**t to put up with, but weighing it against the number the troops that will pop in just wanting to know the facts and the nonsense of this band over the last four years, it should be worthwhile.
I don't have the time nor probably the patience to host a Blog page or run a Myspace site but I may do yet, just to get more circulation for my recent 'Personal Journey' treatise that met with some sucees albeit to a small audience.
On the subject of which I added an addendum shortly after Neal and Ross' hilarious, and frankly sickening interviews with our own Classic Rock magazine (done just before their UK dates in 2007 with JSS) just to put it to bed, and allow me a 'right to reply'.
I'm not in the music business in any way but by (initially indirect) association have contacts (and indeed friends), and email addresses of people in (and previously of) the band but have simply got to the stage of simply running out of enthusiasm for making any further issue of it.
So good luck again with the Blog and giving people the other sides to all the stories, much as I and Charles 'Ted' Oliphant did to a lesser degree back in the Syngate days and via my article.
Ibeau12 wrote:
>>I thought they let Smitty and Ross go in the ROR era. <<
Perry was the power behind the throne at that point and made the command decision to drop them, running as a streamlined three piece with the idea of plugging in rythym sections for studio and tours - if the band had continued after the ROR Tour ended.
Ross however commented around that time he was never in at the 'ground floor' (as regards song direction) and Smitty wasn't overly phased as he was starting to really make waves with Vital Infomation (as he deservedly does to this day).
Journey did one thing for alot of us fans..they introduced us to Jeff..
Seems there is more than one reason they fired him..first, his great presence on stage detracted from Neal, second, I don't think they liked the rocker image, and they did not want to write new music just continue to tour with the dirty dozen and thats why they are hiring a Perry sound-alike.
I hope the world sees this blog and realizes what complete idiots they are and how unscupulous they are..no class, no tact no principles...We are the lucky ones to still be able to follow Jeff.
Journey will get no more of my money...I will have memories of the past to remind me of how great they once were.
"We wish Jeff the best of luck," Jonathan Cain said. "We just wanted to move in a different direction sonically. We're interested in our legacy right now. We want to sound like our records and we want to sound like the 65 million units that are out there."
LEGACY!?WHAT KIND OF LEGACY?GIVE ME A BREAK!
this is funny, this is a joke right? you even got grandmothers weighing in on the band, hilarious!
oh and legacy? yeah that would be Steve Perry, that's their legacy folks.
They're all tarred with the one brush. I hope Friga and Fro get mocked on every radio station around and become a joke publicly.
They used you as well. The fact that you knew what they were up to with the tapes was convenient for them when they wanted to make the change.
Looking forward to hearing more.
Sure, Jeff may have had an idea of what was coming. But...after numerous fruitless attempts to contact ANYONE who would talk to him, he was told by management that everything was 'fine'. What was he to think? He was on another continent, trying to focus on the music and the fans that he was saying 'goodbye' to in order to devote his full attention to Journey, all the while wondering what the hell was going on.
This is COMPLETE AND UTTER BULLSHIT, and Frig and Fro need to answer for it. NOW!!!!!!! (Don't anyone hold your breath for that, BTW)
Thanks Dean. It's a great story, as usual.
Donna
"Sure, Jeff may have had an idea of what was coming. But...after numerous fruitless attempts to contact ANYONE who would talk to him, he was told by management that everything was 'fine'."
Where do you get from the post that Jeff was told by management that everything was fine and that all of his attempts to find out otherwise was 'fruitless'"? I don't see that ANYWHERE in the post and that is what I am going off of...please provide info if you have it from a first hand source.
He was told everything was fine over in Europe. As mentioned, another Azoff band was in Europe and a manager bumped into Jeff and said "everything is fine."
It sucks when you see your ex-favorite band sink to a new low. GOD,they're just one collective Douchebag.
Jeff really got the shitty end of the stick on this. No concern, courtesy, or compassion..."Let's just let him go after he saved our asses". Fuckheads.
"He was told everything was fine over in Europe. As mentioned, another Azoff band was in Europe and a manager bumped into Jeff and said "everything is fine.""
Uhm...no offense..but re-read the post again...
"Meanwhile, the night before Jeff flies back to the States, at the Sweden Rock Festival, he runs into an artist also represented by Azoff Management, they shoot the shit & it's mentioned to Jeff he knows he's out of the band."
If you can't get your facts straight..don't bother to post. My original point of JSS not being as blindsided as it has been alluded to upon his return still stands. No where in Deano's post does it state that he was told by management or anyone else that he was fine.
Dennis Leary's "I'm an Asshole" come to mind.
Neal...you are an asshole.
Jon... you've BEEN and ALWAYS WILL BE an asshole.
Ross... asshole.
Deen... not an asshole...but then again, his part in this hasn't been enlightened to date.
Bottom line, JSS is lucky to be asshole free. Woof. Kevin, Jeremy, anyone else even remotely entertaining this idea to play with these guys, get a MRI scan of your brain, something must be broken. Don't. Just don't. They don't deserve you.
I still get the feeling the Frig was the one who started and was behind all of this. It is too bad that Soul Sirkus did not get more attention. I don't think there would even be a Journey to talk about right now.
And I don't know Jeremey other than from the boards at MR, but I really think they should have gone with a known name in the business. Kevin Chalfant, though not that well known, at least has been in the business for awhile now.
Well I still haven't sorted through the feelings I have for my future support or not for this band. All I know is I have been a Neal Schon fan all my life. I love the way the man plays the guitar. Just wish he had better business sense and a stronger back-bone. I think he has blundered in placing his loyalties with Jon "The Frig" Cain.
All opinion, so please only take it as such.
Dano
"If your comments are accurate..JSS should not be pulling this whole "I didn't see this coming" act. He evidently knew he was out BEFORE he went to Europe."
Deano NEVER said that. Read it again. What Deano said was:
"A few days after his arrival in Holland, word starts spreading back here in the U.S. that while at a Washington DC Airport Neal told another person that Jeff has played his last show with the band. We hear word has gotten to Jeff through his webmaster in England."
A. It was a rumor spreading in the US.
B. Jeff was ALREADY in Europe when it was spreading.
C. Jeff heard about the rumor from his webmaster.
HOW does that add up to him knowing BEFORE he went to Europe?
Read on to where Jeff actually OFFICIALLY found out:
"Jeff get's back to LA on Saturday, apparently to no word from any band member or management. Then on Monday gets the word from management, "We are letting you go." So, he found out Monday, they released their bullshit statement Tuesday."
If ur going to talk about this, at least get ur facts straight PLEASE.
Dean,
You've met Perry a couple of times. I know Jeff has met Perry as well. Has there been any communication to date from Mr. P at all? Just curious. Also, will Jeff be back on the board to defend himself or is there already a gag order?
"If ur going to talk about this, at least get ur facts straight PLEASE."
My bad..I completely misread the post..after re-reading it makes sense what was posted. My apologies.
Dean has no connection with Steve Perry other than he speaks a little bit with the Fan Asylum employees. They aren't going to break any confidences.
Thanks Deano for editing your post to say Neal told 'another person'.
It makes sense now....
Re-read the blog is says,
"A few days after his arrival in Holland, word starts spreading back here in the U.S. that while at a Washington DC Airport Neal told another person that Jeff has played his last show with the band."
Translation? Another person was told it was Jeff's last show. Jeff was not told.
I would love to say me and Espee are baseball pals but no...Just met the guy.
I can say he is not coming back.
Sorry for the typo re: the Airport. My mistake.
The management and core of the band know, for certain, that no matter what happens the armchair fan will always want to hear the hits. No matter what.
They won't care what happens to what singer, they won't care that Neal is second only to Cain in the 'Rock Star Prick' stakes. Jesus...they may not even know it isn't Perry singing now. I saw them with Steve A in 2001 and fans [yes....fans] of Journey thought he was Perry.
But those same fans were whooping and screaming to Open Arms and Faithfully. They don't care about anything else. The band and their people know this...so they are safe. Safe to do what they wish, to whom they choose without fear of their "legacy" being tainted.
The only people up in arms about this are the die hards and, from what it seems, the band are prepared to lose some [or all] of us without a second glance.
Journey is not relevent in today's music and the initial idea behind a new sound with Jeff, not matter how much the fans wanted it, is not going to sell records or even get air play, none of the new Augeri albums did either. They have been touring for 10 years playing basicly the same songs over and over, with a few added when Jeff joined. Journey is dead, they should have retired the name and re-grouped with a new name and album, then toured and thrown in a few Journey covers for the old fans. I know, I get it Perry is NOT coming back, but that is the only thing that can save the Journey franchise. I do not belive that any other band from that era (Sytx, Def, REO) will want to tour with Journey now with this baggage. I wish Jeff the best of luck and times, he will do well. To the rest of the band, you will never have a 32" waist or the classic sound again, get over it!
Arrival, as a Journey album, is excellent....and it went Gold very quickly. Had Sony continued to promote the album fully [indeed...at all] then it would have done very well.
Sony canned the promotion on the album and with that went the albums chances.
Blame the record company, not the band or new singer.
I agree it is all the record companies doing, it was the same with Trial by Fire, even with a Grammy nod. Record sales are a completly different monster these days with the internet and Ipods, so for Journey the rode is where it is at and the only way the will sell tickets is by playing the "Classic" sound, because no one but the hard core fans will even know the new stuff, they will not have heard it. What I can not get is they had to have known this for a long time, why bring Jeff in and give all the crap talk about the future and did Jeff really belive this? or was he hoping for one good album a little road exposer to a larger fan base then break away, that would have been a good move on his part if he was able to pull it off, he could have used them for his own gain. Jeff can be relevent in todays music, he is still young and has a great stage presence and look. Cain thinks that all you have to do is play the music, anyone can sing, his release of faithfully makes him belive this....
Journey as a band releasing new music is done. The best thing they could've done was keep JSS and if they were interested in making new music push ahead with him. The releasing of JSS shows that they're more than happy to play the Dirty Dozen every night and milk money from the fans which is a damn shame. I always thought that the idea for a music band is to get be an artist and get your new matierial out there as much as possible to show where you're at in life. Instead Journey perfers running out the same damn 12 pieces of work everynight.
Arrival was an OK album, but wasn't anything special. To pop flavored for me and very much over produced. They need an album that like Escape and Frontiers would rock and have the 1 or 2 ballads in order to suceed.
Both Escape and Frontiers were pop rock albums. Both albums also had more than 1 or 2 ballads on them.
I'm not sure I follow your point.
I think if this is the way they want to go ...just put a cut-out of Perry on stage in different poses and play the music behind him. Thats what they've reduced themselves to. Nice going guys, you proved Perry right.
Scarab Pilot said:
"I think if this is the way they want to go ...just put a cut-out of Perry on stage in different poses and play the music behind him. Thats what they've reduced themselves to. Nice going guys, you proved Perry right."
dude, you know you stole my idea from MR :) :)
I say let these sorry fucks take it one step further...
The Disney Theme Park Gurus create a life-sized, completely animatronic Perry, dress it in the classic '81 Houston Concert clothes and have that fucker front-and-center while the band plays to tape!!! Throw in a cool laser-light show, free mullet wigs for the fans at the gates and we can ALL re-live 1982 all over again...
since that's what these sorry-assed, lazy bastards seem content to try and do, right?
C-H@kk-Dizzle
The Disney Theme Park Gurus create a life-sized, completely animatronic Perry, dress it in the classic '81 Houston Concert clothes and have that fucker front-and-center while the band plays to tape!!! Throw in a cool laser-light show, free mullet wigs for the fans at the gates and we can ALL re-live 1982 all over again...
That is absolutely brilliant. The funniest thing I have read in I don't know how long. Sad, but truer than you know.
Superb!
Way to go, Frack. Not being man enough to tell Jeff face to face that they were firing him. What a fucking coward. Frick is too.
Journey should just retire.
Sallee
C-H@kk-Dizzle There are so many threads going I missed it! Great minds think alike. I love the Disney idea. Hell for that matter make 'em all animatronics and call it done! Of course Neal would have to be live and on stage large enough to hold his ego.
What a maroon....
What a cluster-fuck.
Entirely believeable, unfortunately.
The really sad thing is, we represent only 20-30 fans per concert. Jeff's hard work this past year took them out of the shadow of disgrace they faced. The Sopranos finale gave them the spotlight again. The casual fan doesnt know who the singer is. Nor do they care. They will get asses in seats for at least one more tour.
Sadly.....to the big players in the band, Jeff served his purpose. His job was finished so :- thanks...and there's the door.
That's what it amounts to.
'Arrival' didn't go gold. Leave the facts to Deano please.
Perryville wrote:
>>If you can't get your facts straight..don't bother to post. My original point of JSS not being as blindsided as it has been alluded to upon his return still stands. No where in Deano's post does it state that he was told by management or anyone else that he was fine.<<
Actually, the other poster learned of this through a post on another board by Jeff's tour manager. He was the one that said that Jeff asked management about the rumors and was told everything is fine.
Many commenters here have been reading stuff from all different sources. That's why it seems a bit confusing.
To the best of my knowledge Arrival did go Gold.
Save your barbed comments for others, please.
Classic Kevin Chalfant stupidity! The guy always points the fingers at everyone else... let me see- JSS had how many days to practice before his first Journey show?!!!
Chalfant can't get it together in how many days...??!! Here's the reality of Chalfant- good singer, impossible to work with, whiner, and complainer.
You get a call like that- you make it happen!!
Journey didn't screw him over- he made yet another in a long line of bad career choices.
Anonymous said...
'Arrival' didn't go gold. Leave the facts to Deano please.
Oh Please! I'm sure Deano has his share of good info, however he is NOT the be all and end all of what has been going on. The first time you start relying on one source for something like a he said/she said story..you reduce the ability to rely on objective information. Get a clue and realize that just because someone says something on the Internet, doesn't make it true. And NO I am NOT doubting anything Deano has stated. Just that there may be others out there that are worth listening to as well.
the only thing left to say is that ITS ONLY ROCK AND ROLL---AND that this episode has left a sour taste in this VERY LOYAL FAN AND that it efected the most forth coming singer in a long time.. JSS was (is) the peoples singer....
That's showbusiness!!
Didn't they do the SAME THING to Augeri?
They had professional band pictures taken with JSS while he was "just filling in". JSS was bragging all over the message boards like he "took over the band".
Same shit different day, just the players change!
What comes around, goes around.
LAB
That's about it LAB.
I thought that this blog might be a revelation about what mischief might have gone down about how Augeri was railroaded. JSS and you had to know and now's the time to spill the beans.
So JSS is out and someone that they think will work better for them is in. That's what bands do. How is this blog accomplishing anything?
What kind of contract did JSS sign anyway? All the fans warned him to get a prenuptial, lol.
I see that fat weird fucker Rich is in with his SA buddies.
You do I can and probably will delete your posts. "LAB?" You think I can't see through your coded initials douche? Live and Breathe.
What a dick.
The guys have finally realized that the Classic Journey hits are what their only claim to fame is.
They want to, finally, respect the legacy that is Journey and that legacy is Steve Perry /Journey.
They will hire a vocalist who can impersonate Mr. Perry and for the rest of their days, they will pay tribute to Mr. Perry, because they finally realize that this is what the people want. The people who buy a ticket to a Journey concert, far outnumber a few score Journey fans who think that who they think should be the bands lead vocalist is important.
You're wasting your time with this.
My question is, what do you hope to accomplish?
I don't care myself what happens. It's all paying tribute to the voice that made the band and the voice should be proud. The band has finally realized that Perry is irreplacaeble so they must use a stand in.
You're right. I would really like to shut this thing down in a few days. I simply do not care and I am disgusted at the hardcores who will continue to support them. They have no backbone. I just want to close up shop, retire from all message boards and concentrate on something that's fun. Journey is garbage.
Oh my... Deano has been right all along. Journey is filled with a bunch of lying, backstabbing, money grubbing, riding on Perry's Coat Tails dick weeds.
I think I'll be following JSS.
I'll see Journey when Perry comes back... as far as I'm concerned... the party is completely over!!
Dean, you say you are disgusted by the band? does that mean you no longer want to write the book?
I am already writing a book. It's a book about JSS, for JSS and the fans of JSS; not Journey.
However, there might be a Journey book on the horizon, and it won't be about Scarabs and Great songs either.
Whatever Deano... you're sad... you said the same shit that you were gonna bail after 'tape gate' and then your pussy got wet when JSS joined.
It'll be the same thing... the new guy will start wailing like a woman and your knees will buckle.
This band has been a fucking joke for over a decade now and only now do you fucking see it.
Grow some balls dude...
Journey has sucked ever since Perry left. If Perry has any pride he will encourage them to call it a day and pack it in.
Steve Perry: please, please, please just do a few huge reunion shows with the guys, and then all can retire gracefully -- if there is any grace left to be had.
Of course, an anonymous person said,
"Whatever Deano... you're sad... you said the same shit that you were gonna bail after 'tape gate' and then your pussy got wet when JSS joined.
It'll be the same thing... the new guy will start wailing like a woman and your knees will buckle.
This band has been a fucking joke for over a decade now and only now do you fucking see it.
Grow some balls dude..."
I don't have balls? I don't see one other person standing up to Journey, yet I need balls?
Suck my dick.
If you were so close to Neal you would not acted so surprised.
Fucking disgusted at the way he's been treated. Saw Journey in Manchester back in March and he was on fire, can't believe they've done this to him. What the hell were Friga and Fro thinking? I can't see myself being a Journey fan after this. Coincidence that Back Talk is offline? Somehow I think management have fucked up on this and are scared of the reaction from the fans. Fucktards.
It is absolutely no coincidence the Back Talk has vanished. Take it from a one time long term member [no longer, I hasten to add] that negative comments are just plain not allowed, no matter how justified or what the subject matter.
They want it to be a Journey 'everything is rosy and the band are living Gods' love - in.
The forum was down before the news broke.....and that should tell you everything.
I don't expect it to return.
I don't even care about this crap but thought I would straighten out a tiny misconception that is on this page. Someone said why didn't Jeff ask more questions when Neal told him he played his last show in DC. Deano wrote: "Neal told another person" NOT JEFF, another person.
Whatever, I think this band is done, they seem like a bunch of posers anyway.
Rhonda M.
Deano dont give up on this. U are the only person giving the facts. Ur the only one w/big enough cojones to do it. This info needs to get out to Journey fans. I know it's a dirty job Dean, but someone's gotta do it & ur the man.
Yea, that's all well and good...but it doesn't say anything as to "why" he was let go. In a band with some many people involved, including management, who really knows what happened.
I will say...maybe Perry isn't the devil incarnte some people try to make him out to be, huh?
People, Deano does not have a book to write. He is nothing but talk.
What is his def. of facts? Are rumours facts? Wake up people.
I think we need another BEHIND THE MUSIC and FAST!
Deano dont give up on this. U are the only person giving the facts. Ur the only one w/big enough cojones to do it. This info needs to get out to Journey fans. I know it's a dirty job Dean, but someone's gotta do it & ur the man.
I agree with Susie, Keep up the good work. I wish everyone else had your balls.
He doesn't have any balls.
Don't you just love it when Anonymous people come in and say shit and not leave their name? What pussies they are.......
Anyway, after this fiasco, I am not supporting Journey anymore. Frick and Frack to me are has beens. And if they think that they will sound like the 65 million units out there, I have some beachfront property to sell them in the desert !
Sallee
Don't you just love it when people use foul language post after post and give their opinion on a band that they "don't" like anymore? Then go! already, geez.
Keep up the great work, and thanks for giving the truth to the public. Alot more than Journey has the decency to do. The only reason I got into Journey was because of JSS, now I could care less about Journey. I wish JSS all the luck in the future, he more than deserves it.
You find out a lot about human nature when something like this goes down. Anyone who continues to support the band regardless of knowing what kind of double-crossing scumbags they are is telling the world a whole lot about their own character.
And I gladly include Mr McNeice in that if he continues to cover the future Journey. I don't give a shit about "journalistic impartiality". Sometimes friendship has to come first.
Deano, I salute you. You were the biggest, most loyal fan of all. Yet you are prepared to turn your back on Journey because what they have done is simply not acceptable.
To me, the people who brush it off by saying "it's just how it is in shown business" are the same kinds of people who'll stand and watch a crime being committed bleating "but what can I do about it".
No fucking moral backbone, some people.
http://alliedforce.blogspot.com/
>>Allied Force said... <<
For what its worth, I agree with your summation regarding it's a business and you do what's best for you and family finacially etc. Absolutely.
But in the case of Journey it's a story (and has been for about 3 years) because of how they handled that business and treated people in their inner circle and other staff and management.
Personally, I have never met Deano nor likely to, nor I have ever talked direct with him. But the reason why I personally give him creedence is that I through other contacts (and I'm willing to bet there is no overlap in our sources) I came to same conclusions, facts (yes, facts) and information particularly during syngate.
I was, and am still, in contact with people who worked with the band during the Augeri stint (staff/ crew) and associated with others still tied to the band in some way, and even one stone-cold reliable source with integrity from high level crew from back-in-the-day. So I will not reveal sources either, until it becomes no issue for these people at any rate. I do mention contacts in the article I wrote though, so its not all clandestine/ cloak and dagger.
Yes, Deano may have gone to town and sounded vindictive, harsh, even had the air of personal-grudge in the way a lot of his posts/ comments/ blogs were couched, but it doesnt detract from the fact that for me (via other corroboration) and many others who are not blinkered by scarab-tinted-glasses, a lot of what this band did, and are still doing, is shocking - particularly when you consider the history and pedigree of this band and what they meant to so many.
Deano has it pretty damned right. I was there at Sweden Rock and talked to Jeff on our return to the Hotel (where he 'bumped ' into a member of the Azoff management team who said 'not to worry').
At 2:30 am Saturday morning (and Jeff was about to depart at 3 am for Copenhagen) we had a long chat - Jeff was pretty much gutted but would only believe the rumours when he was told by management. Still to have a 12 hour + Atlantic crossing and time in airports in transit, isn't the best way to focus on your future.
Jeff is one of the real good guys in music, he deserved better - andf even a week later it smarts.
In conclusion to my own particular thread/ response, and in corroboration to some degree of Deano's breakdown of events, I would agree and acknowledge the official JSS departure statement is not fully accurate and there is an awful lot of wide-of-the-mark conjecture at Melodic Rock and the Blabbermouth forums, etc.
I can guarantee you this:
The handling of JSS was truly despicable, and I believe they did talk to Kevin Chalfant, but the biggest 'rumour' does seem to be driven by fact - as far as I
can ascertain they are keen to go with Jeremey H. as vocalist next year - denying any involvement at this time is not the same as confirming he is not going to be the vocalist in due course.
Now interestingly, a lot of the Frontiers songs on youtube have had any 'comments' blocked with no posts allowed.
JH has a voice of course, and the range - but its a pure, one dimensional range great for what he does, but with no strong definition or richness - if they
do go with him it will be very interesting to see if he can bring any more to the table, or cut long tours. Look what it did to Augeri after 4 years, and look what they had to do to compensate...
I readily admit to being no fan of this band in the last decade, which separates me from many on sites like these, but I do feel a form of vindication re. my own article, as my comments about
them being nothing more than the 'official tribute/ covers band ' in recent years may become absolutely true/ official if JH is announced as the vocalist.
One thing is for sure, with Schon HAVING to make this work financially through his own personal issues, and failure to give Journey a legitimate
future in 1998, their only chance of survival is live playing the hits - any chance of progression or self growth went out the door with JSS.
"their only chance of survival is live playing the hits - any chance of progression or self growth went out the door with JSS."
Yup, gone forever. It's just a job now.
Joybringer your analysis is dumb. Supporting a band is like watching a crime take place because they fired JSS? that's ridiculous.
Are you still buying leather goods? cows were slaughtered inhumanely for that purse and belt but you still buy them and what about your clothes-they may have been made in a sweat shop by 8 year olds in India, that car you drive uses gasoline that was pumped out of the ground under the ocean that polluted the breeding ground for dolphins, get over yourself people!
its a freaking rock band!
Deano,
During Journey's time with JSS you were posting how you love those guys, and how friendly you are with NS and JC and JSS.
However, during that time, there was the tapegate issue and the bashing of SA
You still remained friends with them regardless of them scaming us fans with tapes.
Remember you were the one carrying water for Neal, about him not knowing about the use of the canned vocals during live performances. Which would be technically impossible.
(if you knew anything about live sound reinforcment, you would know Neal's denial to be untrue)
Why are you so angry this time?
There is no different between last year and this year.
Replacing SA was a business decision and replacing JSS likewise. BOTH firings could have been handled differenlty.
Considering the nature of the music industry this is not out of the ordinary.
What's different this time?
Ms Curious
Re Ms Curios' comment,
I just want to second what this person has said.
Guess what? Shit happens. Who hasn't been stitched up in their job?
Who hasn't taken a course of action and on reflection thought that they could have handled things differently?
Why do fans feel they are owed a duty beyond the purchase of a CD or a concert ticket?
Why do some people feel they have to fight Soto's corner for him?
Duncan
Maybe b/c Journey fooled us twice in the last yr. Maybe b/c we spent a LOT of money on tickets & were duped w/not quite live performances. Maybe b/c we gave them another chance ONLY b/c of Jeff. Maybe b/c for the 1st time in Journey's history, we had a member of the band who communicated w/us & joked w/us on a forum, answered our questions & we felt like he was one of us. Maybe b/c he took the abuse, answered it, drew in the naysayers who were diehard fans of Perry &/or Augeri. Maybe b/c they removed Jeff's bio, image & all information about him from their site bit by bit over the course of a day as if he never existed while we all sat around wondering what happened. Maybe b/c when they finally put out an announcement after removing Jeff from their site, they buried it under Soprano's stuff. Maybe b/c they shut down their own forum as this happened. All this after they hyped us up over their future w/Jeff just mths ago.
Why dont we have the right to voice our frustrations? We invested a lot of money in this band over many yrs. Dont we have a right to feel disgust to realize they never really cared about their fans & only wanted our $$$ all along? Meanwhile they screwed over a guy who actually does care about his fans.
AGREE Susie! You said it all. Journey is a band and a business, yes, but they are acting like shit. After the SA thing I lost a lot of respect for Journey and stopped following the boards for the most part till now. I totally agree w/ everything you said. I wish the shitheads in the band could hear it. I hope SA and JSS sue Journey for every penny.
Yippers, you must be a bitter and angry person if you reduce the relationship between a band and its fans to such a basic level. The band doesn't owe the fans anything? What about owing some dignity to JSS? I think a lot of the anger being expressed here is because a good man (who really saved Journey's reputation) has been thrown under the bus!
And whether you choose to acknowledge it or not, fans get passionately invested in a band--it's the reason they buy the music, the memorabilia, attend the concerts, join website forums, etc. That's, incidentally, why Journey has bulging wallets--because they're filled with the hard-earned dollars of the fans. And yet "they don't owe the fans ANYTHING."
Pretty cynical.
Yippers! said:
"As far as you apologizing to Augeri (as a side note) Augeri was not railroaded, Augeri was a Diva who quite honestly didn't WANT to stop being the frontman, even when he couldn't sing to save his life. The band was actually supporting him, he was the one wanting to have the backing tapes played. So, no need to apoligize to SA, he was right along with the rest of them and he DIDN'T want to step down. He was NOT mistreated."
Finally someone speaking the truth about the Augeri saga. He wasn't railroaded into it... he knew EXACTLY what he was doing.
Still, doesn't change the fact thay Frig & Fro have treated JSS despicably! They had a chance at a future that embraced the past while still looking forward. Instead they've blown it..... and will shortly blow another singers voice in the quest to pay Fro's paternity bills....
They really had a good turn going with Jeff Then they figured the County Fair route would be better??....They need to fucking grow up and become a fan of there fans!!and quit fuckin us over and the name of Journey!
Hello again, well just got some news. Jeff basically did this to himself, "cut his own throat" if you will, with his behavior. His unprofessional actions is what lead to this. He knows what he did, actually quite a few things, but quite honestly I have to side with the band. What they did was right, it is their band and he was doing things behind their backs for his own self promotion among other things he said and did that did not gell with ANYONE in the band. I'm sure the truth may never really come out and I can't really comment out of respect, but suffice it to say he got what he had coming. Sorry.
Yippers u are full of shit. Read Marcel's blog on the Talisman myspace page where this is addressed by Jeff's bandmate. Jeff did EVERYTHING to promote Journey & save their sorry asses from disgrace. Frig & Fro were just jealous as hell of all the attention he was getting.
PS: "gel" has only one "l". U might want to take some spelling lessons or use a spellchecker.
Yippers! said...
"Hello again, well just got some news. Jeff basically did this to himself, "cut his own throat" if you will, with his behavior. His unprofessional actions is what lead to this. He knows what he did, actually quite a few things, but quite honestly I have to side with the band. What they did was right, it is their band and he was doing things behind their backs for his own self promotion among other things he said and did that did not gell with ANYONE in the band. I'm sure the truth may never really come out and I can't really comment out of respect, but suffice it to say he got what he had coming. Sorry."
I've heard some new, interesting stories myself the last few days concerning Jeff's departure. Your story seems to be fitting what I'm being told, and Dean, why are you backing off of this? I thought we would get the truth out of YOU of all people. Now, your disappearing from the net. This blog was supposed to be about telling the truth about what really went on. I reserve no judgement on anyones actions, my plight for the truth only exsists so that I may conclude for myself if indeed I should support Journey as a band in the future. If the rumors I hear are right, then maybe there is some truth to what Yipers is saying. Please, Dean, clarify. I'm not calling anyone a liar here, I just want the truth.
If you want to believe the lies of Yippers, a BT transplant who I know, then do so.
Honestly, as awesome as JSS is, I didn't like him in Journey. I loved Soul Sirkus and still listen to it but when I listen to Journey I want to hear Steve Perry and if not him, someone that can at least come close to him. Don't get me wrong, I think this band has done Steve Perry wrong, Steve Augeri and JSS. However, if Jeremey is the new lead singer, I'll at least give them another chance. Too many memories go along with that music for me to abandon just because of politics within a band. Hey, I was pissed about Steve A. too for a while, but I got over it. Maybe we should enjoy the music and stop worrying so much about the band's personalities and politics.
No offense meant for anyone.
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