MR

Neal posted the following yesterday along with a pic of 2 drum kits:

Ok… Double trouble Chicago
@NaradaMWalden @DeenTheDrummer
Narada Michael Walden and the return of Deen Castronovo on Drums

I know the ballroom show is going to have an extended set. Maybe Narada on new stuff and the dozen? Then Deen will do Journey Through Time early era cuts? Deen has a few dates lined up with his new band "Generation Radio." Will he be in both bands? Soo many questions....

Neal also confirmed that Marco Mendoza will be on bass as "Randy had previously booked other engagements."

The Lollapalooza show is being streamed live. The ballroom show is being shot for a documentary. For a band down to one original member, it was important to have a bassist, like Randy, with some connective tissue to the past. No knock on Marco - but alot of us were excited to see Randy back in the fold. For a band trying to have a grand relaunch for the umpteenth time, it was also important to have all the primary members be there.

Randy had been promoting the Lolla show on social media until recently - so what the hell happened?

After the Perry split, the band used to be contractually obligated to list their members on all promotional materials. Since the Valory/Smith lawsuit, I don't see that anymore. So it's really a guessing game who will show up.

The double drum sets are a good move for the Lollapalooza show. It'll spark more of a stage presence for the audience that is there for the younger, more alternative acts. This will make for more than just a classic rock act on the bill playing their greatest hits. Should be fun to see.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is a bit of a re-audition and re-test of sorts for Deen. See how he jives with the band, how egos interact, how the crowd reacts, how necessary he is as connective tissue and additional vocal firepower. They already have a backing keyboardist, so now we're at, what... 7 members?

Deen says on FB that he's playing "two shows with Journey," which suggests it's not (yet) permanent.

I'm with you about Marco. A gifted bassist and musician and a decent backing singer himself, but Randy has a history with Journey that's relevant and a level of celebrity notoriety that would beef up Journey's profile... especially with the younger generation. Very disappointed he won't be there.

That said, I'm excited as fuck for both shows. I'll be at both Aragon and Lollapalooza. QPrime has kicked ass so far.

Gideon wrote:
That said, I'm excited as fuck for both shows. I'll be at both Aragon and Lollapalooza. QPrime has kicked ass so far.

Really glad to hear this. Please keep us in the loop (set list etc).

I have tickets for one of the casino shows coming up.

Wow, thanks for the heads up! Deen will provide some continuity and beef up the vocals. Very curious to see what songs they roll out.

No Randy is a bit of a disappointment. His star power/celebrity presence will be missed by some, although musically, I don’t think it will be much of a set-back. Neal, Jonathan, Arnel, and Deen/Narada is a solid core.

Two drummers, two keyboard players, potentially two lead singers (if Deen sings)...this is going to be interesting.

Moonglow wrote:Two drummers, two keyboard players, potentially two lead singers (if Deen sings)...this is going to be interesting.

3 singers. There's no way Jason won't have a lead or 2.

Definitely interesting...why two drummers? Also one is playing a Roland Vdrum kit? (I assume Deen) That's kinda silly.

On Facebook Neal has stated that "Deen is back. We are double (2) drummers now with Narada"

Love seeing double drummers with Deen and Narada. I’m really curious about Randy though and if this absence turns into something permanent.

At one time 38 Special had two drummers in the band.

I wonder if Randy Jackson signed a contract to do another season of Name That Tune. Maybe that is why he cannot perform at the shows this year. He better make sure they can record another season of Name That Tune in 2022 around the Journey Tour somehow so he doesn't miss it, too.

Randy's out for back surgery, according to Jonathan Cain.

https://1430wcmy.com/2021/07/29/journey ... n-chicago/

It sounds like Jon wants the band to improvise during these concerts. This is exciting.

brandonx76 wrote:Definitely interesting...why two drummers? Also one is playing a Roland Vdrum kit? (I assume Deen) That's kinda silly.

Roland makes acoustic drums, which Narada plays.

JourneyHard wrote:It sounds like Jon wants the band to improvise during these concerts. This is exciting.

I would never expect it to be Jon that wants to improv.

Is it possible with Randy being out, the band was able to afford to bring back Deen? Randy may have cost twice as much as Marco. Who knows?

The_Noble_Cause wrote:Is it possible with Randy being out, the band was able to afford to bring back Deen? Randy may have cost twice as much as Marco. Who knows?

They would be nuts to pay twice as much for Randy. Marco is a far superior bass player, and he seems to be bringing an awesome stage presence.

I saw Randy play with the band on their ROR tour (Champagne, IL), and while I wasn’t critically analyzing bass, and that obviously was some time ago, from what I saw at the Aragon Ballroom show, Marco fits in with the band like a f’in glove. Brings a driving rock musical style/presence, which I really dig.

Archetype wrote:

The_Noble_Cause wrote:Is it possible with Randy being out, the band was able to afford to bring back Deen? Randy may have cost twice as much as Marco. Who knows?

They would be nuts to pay twice as much for Randy. Marco is a far superior bass player, and he seems to be bringing an awesome stage presence.

It depends on what style of music they're playing. If I was in a band that was playing Jazz or Progressive Rock, I'd rather have Randy as the bass player. If I was in a Hard Rock or Heavy Metal band, I'd rather have Marco in the band.

Randy also will gain the band more attention with the media.

From Deen's Twitter. Glad to see he is doing more than the initial two shows.

Will Tison @WillTison
2h
Replying to @DeenTheDrummer
@DeenTheDrummer now that you’re back in Journey what is going to happen to @genradioband ?

Deen Castronovo @DeenTheDrummer
1h
Replying to @WillTison @genradioband
Still going to do shows in Sept,Oct,Nov, Dec. and “Hopefully” book around Journeys schedule.

In a perfect world, Journey would have a studio band with Perry, Neal, Jon, Randy, and Narada. And then have a touring band with Arnel, Neal, Jon, Marco, Jason, and Deen. I know none of this will happen, but I am just saying in a perfect world. If Perry and Randy don't want to tour, they can be the studio band.

Perry is completely done with this band musically other than the corporate catalog side. . Like wishing for Sykes back w Coverdale or Ritchie back in DP. Gone forever.

Some Deen fan club members are implying that Narada is just fulfilling his one tour contract and then out. I hope not. The guy co-wrote and produced the new album.

The_Noble_Cause wrote:Some Deen fan club members are implying that Narada is just fulfilling his one tour contract and then out. I hope not. The guy co-wrote and produced the new album.

I suspected this would be the case. Narada and Randy have other, easier, more lucrative things to do.

Archetype wrote:

The_Noble_Cause wrote:Some Deen fan club members are implying that Narada is just fulfilling his one tour contract and then out. I hope not. The guy co-wrote and produced the new album.

I suspected this would be the case. Narada and Randy have other, easier, more lucrative things to do.

I'm not sure about any of this. The music industry has changed so much, that touring is really where it's at for many. I think the shutdowns during covid hurt many - I'm even seeing rockstars selling their shit. Granted, Randy has the Fox TV show thing.

The_Noble_Cause wrote:

Archetype wrote:

The_Noble_Cause wrote:Some Deen fan club members are implying that Narada is just fulfilling his one tour contract and then out. I hope not. The guy co-wrote and produced the new album.

I suspected this would be the case. Narada and Randy have other, easier, more lucrative things to do.

I'm not sure about any of this. The music industry has changed so much, that touring is really where it's at for many. I think the shutdowns during covid hurt many - I'm even seeing rockstars selling their shit. Granted, Randy has the Fox TV show thing.

I am confused, too. You'd think Randy would mention he is in Journey on Name That Tune, but perhaps he knows he isn't in the band for long. I don't know!

The_Noble_Cause wrote:

Archetype wrote:

The_Noble_Cause wrote:Some Deen fan club members are implying that Narada is just fulfilling his one tour contract and then out. I hope not. The guy co-wrote and produced the new album.

I suspected this would be the case. Narada and Randy have other, easier, more lucrative things to do.

I'm not sure about any of this. The music industry has changed so much, that touring is really where it's at for many. I think the shutdowns during covid hurt many - I'm even seeing rockstars selling their shit. Granted, Randy has the Fox TV show thing.

Randy has his TV show, he’s a big-name producer, and I’m sure American Idol set him up extremely well financially. Narada also always seems to have a dozen or so studio type things going on. They aren’t with Journey for the long haul, guaranteed.

Archetype wrote:Randy has his TV show, he’s a big-name producer, and I’m sure American Idol set him up extremely well financially. Narada also always seems to have a dozen or so studio type things going on. They aren’t with Journey for the long haul, guaranteed.

Idol was almost a decade ago. Does Randy get residuals for reruns? Probably. Whether he's set financially, who knows? As for Narada's studio projects....as already stated, the music biz ain't what it used to be. This may seem counterintuitive, but the easy payday is actually for these guys to tour with a reliable cash cow like Journey.

The_Noble_Cause wrote:

Archetype wrote:Randy has his TV show, he’s a big-name producer, and I’m sure American Idol set him up extremely well financially. Narada also always seems to have a dozen or so studio type things going on. They aren’t with Journey for the long haul, guaranteed.

Idol was almost a decade ago. Does Randy get residuals for reruns? Probably. Whether he's set financially, who knows? As for Narada's studio projects....as already stated, the music biz ain't what it used to be. This may seem counterintuitive, but the easy payday is actually for these guys to tour with a reliable cash cow like Journey.

I agree with that. Even Steve Smith came back for the payday. Maybe this year is no indication of future concert tours. Randy might be back next year.

Narada is too busy doing a Whitney Houston TV Special to learn the Journey songs for the concerts.