My Take On Things

[Saint John]

I posted this earlier in another thread. I received several PM's requesting it be repeated. I want to be PERFECTLY clear that this is EXACTLY how I feel. If you've read it already, I'm sorry to have wasted your time.



As the truth begins to really surface and we find out who the real villians have been for the better part of 11 years (I can see why Perry bailed on these Judas's) one thing has become very clear to me. Schon is a man stuck with a 16 year old boy's mentality. The guy really never went to school. He never had neighborhood friends. The type of guys you sat with in your teenage years and drank beer with. The guys that had your back in a fight. The guys that you now meet up with a couple times a year and reminisce with. Rather, he grew up on the road, more specifically in and out of motels. He was exposed to a cut throat business. It's all he knows. His life has been comprised of "the next gig" artificial friends, shallow relationships, "hot chicks" at bars, and back to "the next gig." He's missing something. He doesn't know what being a friend means. I'm not real sure he's ever had one.

Enter Friga...the smart one. He realizes this. He sees right through Schon. He sees that he's weak (and pretty much stupid). Perry exits. Friga pounces. He talks Neal into letting him "have the keys to the car." Friga and Schon set off together. One's a dumbass still seeking out those "hot chicks" and the other one just cares about $$$$. And as long as there's enough $$$ and "the next gig" Neal has no problem letting Friga "drive the car." Enter Jeff. Mentally and physically young. Enthusiastic, artistic and motivated. Emotionally sound, secure and loyal. Passionate. Red Flags everywhere for Friga. Especially considering Neal digs this guy. Neal feels 16 again, which is now in tandem with the way he acts. Friga lures Jeff in. He PRETENDS to be warming up to him. What's the old saying: "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." He works Neal. He convinces Fro that Jeff doesn't belong. That with him, there might not be "the next gig." Fro, who has no sense of allegiance, of loyalty or decency bites. They whack Jeff. The act is SO cowardly that neither have the decency to face him. They sever all ties and plot "the next gig." Scumbags.

[Red13JoePa]

If Jeff Scott Soto can get out the rut of despair that he might (rightfully) be languishing in, swallow some pride, use that irresistability and magnetism he has AND FORCE THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION BACK OPEN this is not lost. If he can get a personal audience with the 2-headed power structure we might be back in biz. The rest of the year is already off. Plenty of time to negotiate and iron out differences but he should make himself be seen and heard by them.

[stevew2]

Thats a pretty could take on the situation.I never thought that far into it. Makes alot of sense. Frigas going wreck the car if he keeps fucking people. Good insight, makes alot of sense Thanks

[stevew2]

Why would he want to come back? What would he say "Im sorry Neil and Friga,Ill try to sound more like Stevie I promise" They didnt want him in the band, there s nothing to negotiate. Fuck Them {in my opion}

[larryfromnextdoor]

I posted this earlier in another thread.

it was a good read then and now.. very well thought out,, sounds exactly right ,, and to think,, i thought you were just the cuss word king... right on with this..

[ohsherrie]

The only place I would change about what you said Dan is here:

Enter Friga...the smart one.

I would say "Enter Friga...the sly, manipulative one." He sells himself as smart, but if you listen past the presentation there's not a great deal of substantive intelligence there. Neal just isn't equipped to know the difference because of all the things you described about him so perfectly.

[nutz4Neal]

APPLAUSE! to you SJ!
Seems to me you have great insight into these personalities & that you've hit the nail right on the head.

[X factor]

I posted this earlier in another thread. I received several PM's requesting it be repeated. I want to be PERFECTLY clear that this is EXACTLY how I feel. If you've read it already, I'm sorry to have wasted your time.



As the truth begins to really surface and we find out who the real villians have been for the better part of 11 years (I can see why Perry bailed on these Judas's) one thing has become very clear to me. Schon is a man stuck with a 16 year old boy's mentality. The guy really never went to school. He never had neighborhood friends. The type of guys you sat with in your teenage years and drank beer with. The guys that had your back in a fight. The guys that you now meet up with a couple times a year and reminisce with. Rather, he grew up on the road, more specifically in and out of motels. He was exposed to a cut throat business. It's all he knows. His life has been comprised of "the next gig" artificial friends, shallow relationships, "hot chicks" at bars, and back to "the next gig." He's missing something. He doesn't know what being a friend means. I'm not real sure he's ever had one.

Enter Friga...the smart one. He realizes this. He sees right through Schon. He sees that he's weak (and pretty much stupid). Perry exits. Friga pounces. He talks Neal into letting him "have the keys to the car." Friga and Schon set off together. One's a dumbass still seeking out those "hot chicks" and the other one just cares about $$$$. And as long as there's enough $$$ and "the next gig" Neal has no problem letting Friga "drive the car." Enter Jeff. Mentally and physically young. Enthusiastic, artistic and motivated. Emotionally sound, secure and loyal. Passionate. Red Flags everywhere for Friga. Especially considering Neal digs this guy. Neal feels 16 again, which is now in tandem with the way he acts. Friga lures Jeff in. He PRETENDS to be warming up to him. What's the old saying: "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." He works Neal. He convinces Fro that Jeff doesn't belong. That with him, there might not be "the next gig." Fro, who has no sense of allegiance, of loyalty or decency bites. They whack Jeff. The act is SO cowardly that neither have the decency to face him. They sever all ties and plot "the next gig." Scumbags.

Nice post, dude- I think you're probably pretty damned close to the mark...can't believe they treated the guy that way. In my old neighborhood, that would've warrented a serious ass whoopin'!

[chad]

I posted this earlier in another thread. I received several PM's requesting it be repeated. I want to be PERFECTLY clear that this is EXACTLY how I feel. If you've read it already, I'm sorry to have wasted your time.



As the truth begins to really surface and we find out who the real villians have been for the better part of 11 years (I can see why Perry bailed on these Judas's) one thing has become very clear to me. Schon is a man stuck with a 16 year old boy's mentality. The guy really never went to school. He never had neighborhood friends. The type of guys you sat with in your teenage years and drank beer with. The guys that had your back in a fight. The guys that you now meet up with a couple times a year and reminisce with. Rather, he grew up on the road, more specifically in and out of motels. He was exposed to a cut throat business. It's all he knows. His life has been comprised of "the next gig" artificial friends, shallow relationships, "hot chicks" at bars, and back to "the next gig." He's missing something. He doesn't know what being a friend means. I'm not real sure he's ever had one.

Enter Friga...the smart one. He realizes this. He sees right through Schon. He sees that he's weak (and pretty much stupid). Perry exits. Friga pounces. He talks Neal into letting him "have the keys to the car." Friga and Schon set off together. One's a dumbass still seeking out those "hot chicks" and the other one just cares about $$$$. And as long as there's enough $$$ and "the next gig" Neal has no problem letting Friga "drive the car." Enter Jeff. Mentally and physically young. Enthusiastic, artistic and motivated. Emotionally sound, secure and loyal. Passionate. Red Flags everywhere for Friga. Especially considering Neal digs this guy. Neal feels 16 again, which is now in tandem with the way he acts. Friga lures Jeff in. He PRETENDS to be warming up to him. What's the old saying: "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." He works Neal. He convinces Fro that Jeff doesn't belong. That with him, there might not be "the next gig." Fro, who has no sense of allegiance, of loyalty or decency bites. They whack Jeff. The act is SO cowardly that neither have the decency to face him. They sever all ties and plot "the next gig." Scumbags.

With all the chaos going on as insiders have been dropping hints of possible scenarios leading up to Jeff's departure, this take above seems to me not only logical by far, but it's also complete and the most plausible.

The atttention lately has been focused on WHO will be the new singer (and to date, I can tell heads or tails), but I never quite understood WHY Journey would 86 JSS, since he would bring so much new blood, ideas, fan connections, etc...which is so desparately needed.

Great post!

[Saint John]

The only place I would change about what you said Dan is here:

Enter Friga...the smart one.

I would say "Enter Friga...the sly, manipulative one." He sells himself as smart, but if you listen past the presentation there's not a great deal of substantive intelligence there. Neal just isn't equipped to know the difference because of all the things you described about him so perfectly.

I meant of the two. It was a relative term. In the broad sense, your definition is far more accurate.

[ohsherrie]

The only place I would change about what you said Dan is here:

Enter Friga...the smart one.

I would say "Enter Friga...the sly, manipulative one." He sells himself as smart, but if you listen past the presentation there's not a great deal of substantive intelligence there. Neal just isn't equipped to know the difference because of all the things you described about him so perfectly.

I meant of the two. It was a relative term. In the broad sense, your definition is far more accurate.

OK, gotcha.

[nutz4Neal]

With all the chaos going on as insiders have been dropping hints of possible scenarios leading up to Jeff's departure, this take above seems to me not only logical by far, but it's also complete and the most plausible.

The atttention lately has been focused on WHO will be the new singer (and to date, I can tell heads or tails), but I never quite understood WHY Journey would 86 JSS, since he would bring so much new blood, ideas, fan connections, etc...which is so desparately needed.

Great post!

I can't for the life of me understand that either, Chad. After the high from the Sopranos & the new life that Jeff brought back to the band, they could have been on their way to the top again; but now they're screwed..it's really sad.

I suppose Jon had more influence over Neal and in making band decissions than I ever imagined he did.

[SusieP]

You guys have far more knowledge than me, so can you all answer a question about Talisman and the farewell, please?

Was Talisman going to continue until JSS got offered the PERMANENT gig as Journey lead singer?
If so, how do the band members feel about this? Do they think it serves JSS right for leaving them? Or are they as up in arms about his treatment as we are?
What I'm saying is was the Talisman split an amicable one?

And if it was amicable, is it possible that they will pick up where they left off and, hopefully go from strength to strength?

[ohsherrie]

With all the chaos going on as insiders have been dropping hints of possible scenarios leading up to Jeff's departure, this take above seems to me not only logical by far, but it's also complete and the most plausible.

The atttention lately has been focused on WHO will be the new singer (and to date, I can tell heads or tails), but I never quite understood WHY Journey would 86 JSS, since he would bring so much new blood, ideas, fan connections, etc...which is so desparately needed.

Great post!

I can't for the life of me understand that either, Chad. After the high from the Sopranos & the new life that Jeff brought back to the band, they could have been on their way to the top again; but now they're screwed..it's really sad.

I suppose Jon had more influence over Neal and in making band decissions than I ever imagined he did.

I would say it's because Jon doesn't want to be third banana in the band again like he was when Perry was at the helm(Perry the star, Neal's original band) and he could see the possibilty of that happening with Jeff. He's pretty much had creative control without Perry. He wasn't about to give that up.