One thing that struck me from the Herbie Herbert interview

[fightingilliniJRNY]

I just re-read the interview. One thing that struck me this time, as it applies to current Journey, is what Herbie says about how important the "image" of the band is:

"And when I saw them I just thought wow, here's a band that hits the stage and it looks, you know, I wanna see my stars, my heroes descend from Olympus as Gods. Inaccessible, almost unattainable, you know, just out of reach. I wanna love everything about 'em, their wardrobe, their look, their everything and these guys came out in a t-shirt and jeans and they just looked like the monsters from the black lagoon. I mean really just like the roadies, very pedestrian, very pedestrian. Where they were capable of performing at a pretty good level, much better than the headliner that night, Def Leppard, but Leppard came on stage looking like stars and entrance and exit and look and image is hey, hello, it's a big fuckin' deal."

That's one thing that I have never really understood. On the last couple of tours the show has literally started with the band strolling out on stage (with guitars in hand), and counting off the first song. Hell, the Def Leppard / Journey tour started with "Won't Get Fooled Again" finishing, and Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain walking out on the stage, Neal waving to the crowd and starting the Star Spangled Banner.

You have to hand it to bands like Leppard - they know how to start a rock show. You see them on stage for the first time, and you know it's going to be a good night. I would like to see Journey take advantage of headlining this tour with Cheap Trick and Heart. It's going to be dark at amphitheatre shows - take advantage of it.

Start off with a video entrance of some sort, lights off, get the crowd going. And then make people sit up, take notice and realize "oh shit, here's Journey. Here we go. THIS is the show. They are READY to go tonight." Forget Cheap Trick, forget Heart - this is Journey's show. Make the crowd realize that.

Their playing always makes people take notice, but as a headliner I'd like to see more production. Make it seem like they are the headliner based on the show they put on. Herbie knows the importance of this.

Well, that got long. Anybody have any thoughts on what Herbie says on this?

[mikemarrs]

let the music do the talking,i think journey lets it be known the notes are the important thing not the wardrobe.i love KISS to death but they are definitely known for theatrics and colorful atire.personally i couldn't imagine journey all sparkling,glowing and the stage clouded with smoke.journey come out ready to rock and let the songs be the statement.

for years and years journey had the best singer,guitarist and drummer in the business and that spoke for itself.

[fightingilliniJRNY]

let the music do the talking,i think journey lets it be known the notes are the important thing not the wardrobe.i love KISS to death but they are definitely known for theatrics and colorful atire.personally i couldn't imagine journey all sparkling,glowing and the stage clouded with smoke.journey come out ready to rock and let the songs be the statement.

for years and years journey had the best singer,guitarist and drummer in the business and that spoke for itself.

I'm definitely not saying go the KISS route and get all done up in makeup and shit. I'm strictly talking stage production. From what I've seen and heard Journey had pretty solid production in the 80s. Let's get back to something like that.

[Arkansas]

Always been a huge advocate of dressing to the level of music's sophistication.
Never liked for one second the jeans & tshirt thing that Soto did. I don't care how expensive the clothes were, the look was awful. This made the whole band look like your local skateboard crew. Journey was a on a big time tour playing arenas, not your neighbor's garage.

I'm glad HH said what he did. I totally agree.


later~

[mikemarrs]

they could throw a few things in there to make it more interesting but of all the tour footage i've watched of journey they seem to be pretty basic most times in regards to a stage show.thats one thing i noticed is they don't spend too much emphasis on image and never have.

[fightingilliniJRNY]

they could throw a few things in there to make it more interesting but of all the tour footage i've watched of journey they seem to be pretty basic most times in regards to a stage show.thats one thing i noticed is they don't spend too much emphasis on image and never have.

Yeah, you're right about the music needing to be the focus. I want people to know on this tour that Journey is the headliner. Like on the Def Leppard tour in 2006 - even though it was billed as "co-headlining", you KNEW that Def Leppard was the "headliner" just by looking at their stage show and production. Journey had a freaking Windows Media Player screen saver playing over the video boards it seemed. For this tour, Journey is billed as the headliner. Make everybody know it.

[Journey/Survivor]

Things like what style of clothing their wearing doesn't matter to me.

Plus, it's not like they were very fashionable in the 1980's either.

[SteveForever]

Yeah, you're right about the music needing to be the focus. I want people to know on this tour that Journey is the headliner. Like on the Def Leppard tour in 2006 - even though it was billed as "co-headlining", you KNEW that Def Leppard was the "headliner" just by looking at their stage show and production. Journey had a freaking Windows Media Player screen saver playing over the video boards it seemed. For this tour, Journey is billed as the headliner. Make everybody know it.

They probably want to appear humble because they are nice guys, but they were hanging out to the right of
the stage as people filed in the arena before the show. I didn't get that... Then Jon and others coming out
on stage with the opening act. That's gotta be revised. It doesn't kick off the show with a spark, but then again
most of the audience was drunk.

As far as the power point going on, HEART's concert was the same way, very minimum set up and really unspectacular.

[Since 78]

they could throw a few things in there to make it more interesting but of all the tour footage i've watched of journey they seem to be pretty basic most times in regards to a stage show.thats one thing i noticed is they don't spend too much emphasis on image and never have.

Yeah, you're right about the music needing to be the focus. I want people to know on this tour that Journey is the headliner. Like on the Def Leppard tour in 2006 - even though it was billed as "co-headlining", you KNEW that Def Leppard was the "headliner" just by looking at their stage show and production. Journey had a freaking Windows Media Player screen saver playing over the video boards it seemed. For this tour, Journey is billed as the headliner. Make everybody know it.

Come on guys! This is Rock and Roll, This is Journey not circus soleil or whatever its called.

[larryfromnextdoor]

Jeff Scott Soto CARRIED this band in 2006 through the early part of 2007.. AND looked like a cool Rock
Star the entire time.. thats what he is and that cat shows it .. JSS re-exposed this bands talent..

deen and neal are the ones that came off dressed down most of the time..

it was the bands stage and riggings that looked high school .. they had NO stage and
terrible screen graphics.... Co/headline??? no way..

[SteveForever]

Jeff Scott Soto CARRIED this band in 2006 through the early part of 2007.. AND looked like a cool Rock
Star the entire time.. thats what he is and that cat shows it .. JSS re-exposed this bands talent..

deen and neal are the ones that came off dressed down most of the time..

it was the bands stage and riggings that looked high school .. they had NO stage and
terrible screen graphics.... Co/headline??? no way..

I wish Jeff would really open his mouth up to sing though....

[larryfromnextdoor]

I wish Jeff would really open his mouth up to sing though....

yea,, no kidding ...

[StoneCold]

Since when was red sneakers and suspenders NOT dressing up?

[larryfromnextdoor]

Since when was red sneakers and suspenders NOT dressing up?

steve smith !!

[StoneCold]

Since when was red sneakers and suspenders NOT dressing up?

steve smith !!

I know, I know, he's just now realizing what the Wombat swiped from him.

[Saint John]

I have said this, posted it and cried about it. Journey needs a wardrobe designer. Half the time they look like fucking homeless people. Neal looks like he's ready to change your oil, Friga looks like someone had an abortion on his shirt, Ross looks like he's trapped in the 70's, Deen looks like he's in a fucking grunge band, and only recently (Arnel) do they look they have a frontman with a hint of a trend. Augeri looked like he was in fucking Wham. Get a clue, guys!!!

[mistiejourney]

Since when was red sneakers and suspenders NOT dressing up?

steve smith !!

What the heck is Smitty doing? They all look like they are freezing cold - perhaps a bit of "shrinkage" was in progress.......

[mistiejourney]

I have said this, posted it and cried about it. Journey needs a wardrobe designer. Half the time they look like fucking homeless people. Neal looks like he's ready to change your oil, Friga looks like someone had an abortion on his shirt, Ross looks like he's trapped in the 70's, Deen looks like he's in a fucking grunge band, and only recently (Arnel) do they look they have a frontman with a hint of a trend. Augeri looked like he was in fucking Wham. Get a clue, guys!!!

You didn't say it so I'll say it for you - those leopard print shirts in the 80s did nada for me!

But SA doesn't look a thing like George Michael or Andrew Ridgely! Sheesh! What some people will say!

[Voyager]

I think the baggy jeans and t-shirts came from the JSS era. Journey used to be styling back in the day:

[NealIsGod]

Things like what style of clothing their wearing doesn't matter to me.

Plus, it's not like they were very fashionable in the 1980's either.

Yeah, and when they did become slaves to "fashion" on the ROR tour is when they lost me. Be your fuckin' selves.

[SteveForever]

Things like what style of clothing their wearing doesn't matter to me.

Plus, it's not like they were very fashionable in the 1980's either.

Yeah, and when they did become slaves to "fashion" on the ROR tour is when they lost me. Be your fuckin' selves.

They dressed perfectly for the 80's, as a teenager back then I can tell you that they looked attainable which
made their attraction that much more appealing.

[mikemarrs]

[X factor]

I have said this, posted it and cried about it. Journey needs a wardrobe designer. Half the time they look like fucking homeless people. Neal looks like he's ready to change your oil, Friga looks like someone had an abortion on his shirt, Ross looks like he's trapped in the 70's, Deen looks like he's in a fucking grunge band, and only recently (Arnel) do they look they have a frontman with a hint of a trend. Augeri looked like he was in fucking Wham. Get a clue, guys!!!

Don't you mean Ross looks like he trapped IN HIS 70's???

And I rather thought the leather pants made Steve A look like a member of the ROMANTICS...

[mistiejourney]

I think the baggy jeans and t-shirts came from the JSS era. Journey used to be styling back in the day:

Is it just me or does Neal bear a striking resemblance to Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters here?



And Ross may have been the only guy to catch the baby-blue-silk-suit craze that lasted, what, ONE DAY?

Perry looks stunning, but then that shirt and pants combo has always been a favorite!

[Sarah]

FIXED

[Rip Rokken]

FIXED

I love those old pictures of Geddy Lee... they bring back memories.