My interview comments

[Monker]

I haven't read all of the other comments...but here's mine.

A few things:

What he said about REO, Styx, Foreigner, etc. having all of their hits long before Journey had theirs...and that Journey's first 'hit' was "Who's Cryin Now?" is hypocritical crap.

Journey and the others basicaly followed the same timeline. There are some deviations, obviously, but the bottom line is those bands hit BIG between 1980 and 1982 with : Hi Infidelity, Foreigner 4, Paradise Theater, and Escape. Those albums launched the genre to new popularity, and lanched all of those bands to a new level. If Journey's first hits came with Escape, then it is the same with the others and their respective albums.

I also never believed Kansas and Rush copied Journey. I would put them in the same category as Prince copying "Faithfully"...an "oops..." moment. Those songwriters are not excactly the same level as Vanilla Ice copying Freddie Mercury.

The comments about the rerecording old songs. Micky Thomas rerecording Starship is a lot different then a new singer coming into Journey and rerecording songs, IMO. Then there is the FACT that we have been treated over and over again with Sony's remasters and rereleases. We have heard this all before. I can't imagine this being anything other then a dud.

I think he nailed the comments about Chalfant. He should have been there in 1998, and with Rolie and Herbert 1995. It's not suprising to me that Herbie felt that way.

It's interesting to me, however, that he says that one reason he may not have been chosen was because of Chalfant being over 40. But, he seems to like Arnel...is he not 40?

Which brings me to the last comments that they are now headed in the right direction and it is time to support them. A couple things about that.

He said the "inmates were running the asylum" during Next. Are they not doing exactly the same thing today? In my opinion, and I don't expect Herbie to share it, the last time Journey deserved our support was in 1998. The last few years they have not shown any consideration towards their fans - at all. That entire attitude has really soured me to the entire situation. That kind of attitude does not deserve my support.

He also said Journey snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. They have done that SEVERAL times: in 1985 by letting Perry run the show, in 1995 by choosing a reunion with Perry over a real band with Rolie and Chalfant, and from 2003 or so by caring about nothing except for money and touring to get it. I, as a fan, am supposed to feel they have earned my support? I don't think so.

His comments about JSS were interesting...I basicaly totaly agreed with him back when I posted when I saw the show. DL came off as the "rock stars". Journey came off as a band still trying to find themselves and not sure what they were doing. JSS is fine singer, but it did not feel right with Journey - at all.

There were so many things that Journey could have done over the past 10yrs and they let every opportunity fade away. Nowadays, I truly feel that 'it' has faded away. There will be a Journey as long as Neal Schon is alive and people pay to see the band...However, the mystique that surrounded this band, the 'spirit', the energy, whatever, will never be there again...not like it was in the 80's, and not even like it was with Augeri.

I see them now as a band touring to perform songs they recorded up to 30yrs ago for a bunch of nostalgia fans...not for their love of the music, or the fans love of the music. They are basicaly stuck as a band some oldster saw 25yrs ago and would like to see again to remind them of what it was like to be young...Or, to the young kid who thinks it would be cool to feel what it was like to be a kid 25yrs ago. They are not doing it for reasons I can look at and give my support and thumbs up to.

[conversationpc]

I also never believed Kansas and Rush copied Journey.

Agreed. If you really listen to "I'm Gonna Leave You" vs. "Carry on Wayward Son" the riff that is the same between the two is not even the main riff of COWS. It definitely sounds similar but Kerry Livgren is even quoted as saying that he did not intentionally lift that part of the song but may have been there subliminally since they had briefly toured with Journey.

[squirt1]

I agree 90% with Monker and I only had to type 39 words !

[mistiejourney]

Thanks, Monker! I KNEW he was off on that timeline - although I did see Boston and Foreigner in 1978, Journey was also here (in the Bay Area) and I knew who they were. It seems they all went nuclear in the early '80s, especially REO and Journey.

I agree with a lot of what you have posted here. Especially at the end. Just can't find the excitement anymore, although I will defend Neal Schon's talent as long as I have breath. Guess I"ve just seen enough Journey over the years.

[larryfromnextdoor]

....and wasnt it SIDE 2.. #3....????


I think if you'll listen to I'm Gonna Leave on the Look Into the Future record, track 5 side 1, it's Carry On Wayward Son, by Kansas

[Since 78]

I also never believed Kansas and Rush copied Journey Have you listened to Nickel and Dime? It is Soooo! Tom Sawyer that Journey should be getting royalties.

[Journey/Survivor]

Yes, I think it's undeniable that Rush and Kansas DID rip-off those ideas from Journey.

[cudaclan]

Lifting or sampling is done by many.

Case in point: http://www.benedict.com/Audio/Harrison/Harrison.aspx

Play both at the same time..you decide.

[conversationpc]

Yes, I think it's undeniable that Rush and Kansas DID rip-off those ideas from Journey.

Kerry Livgren himself said he may have come up with that riff subconsciously. Besides that, again, the riff that is so similar plays a fairly small part in "Carry on Wayward Son" and is not even the main riff in that song.

[NealIsGod]

I see them now as a band touring to perform songs they recorded up to 30yrs ago for a bunch of nostalgia fans...not for their love of the music, or the fans love of the music. They are basicaly stuck as a band some oldster saw 25yrs ago and would like to see again to remind them of what it was like to be young...Or, to the young kid who thinks it would be cool to feel what it was like to be a kid 25yrs ago. They are not doing it for reasons I can look at and give my support and thumbs up to.

I see them the same way, but what bands their age are able to play a lot of new music live? Rush is one of the few. It will be interesting to see how many songs from the new CD they are able to play each show.

[yogi]

I know that Styx didNT rip off Journey.

Lady was orginally released in 1972 off of the Styx ll album.

The ORGINAL power ballad!!

[SteveForever]

New Journey needs to bombard the media with the new songs as much as possible so people WANT to hear them
at the concerts. XM radio, t.v. shows, itunes, whatever it takes.

The audience wants a connection with each other when
they go to the performances and if its a song they've never heard it makes them slightly uncomfortable (for the most part I'm
talking about) and they will get up and go to the concessions. When everyone knows the songs they are singing along, screaming,
hugging each other, high 5'ving, its all good.

Put the words on the screen to the new songs up above too during the concert, to pictures or a video. That's how our generation
learned to remember the songs, if I hear "Oh Sherrie" I still see Steve singing in that Hamlet costume, "After the Fal"l you see them
sitting at that weird little table and so forth...they need to make a connection of some sort with these new songs....

[7 Wishes]

I know that Styx didNT rip off Journey.

Lady was orginally released in 1972 off of the Styx ll album.

The ORGINAL power ballad!!

I'd have to agree with you.

[jrnyfan74]

I have to agree with you Monker. As much as I want to get behind this band and get excited about it...I just can't. It took me a long time to get comfortable with Augeri, and I am just not excited about hearing another new singer.

I think it is interesting that Herbie, with all of his knowledge about the business continues to talk about Steve's range not being what it was and that he can't sing. So what if he had to drop it down a notch? Fans wouldn't care, because there is something special about seeing band reunite (or simply stick together). Take Def Leppard for example. Joe Elliott cannot sing the DL hits in the original key anymore...but everytime I see them, I see a band who has stuck together through thick and thin, and they are delivering what the fans want. If Journey were to reunite with Perry, they would sell out everywhere they went and Herbie knows it.

[Eric]

The only problem is that you're leaving out that they do have new music....

[Saint John]

New Journey needs to bombard the media with the new songs as much as possible so people WANT to hear them
at the concerts. XM radio, t.v. shows, itunes, whatever it takes.

The audience wants a connection with each other when
they go to the performances and if its a song they've never heard it makes them slightly uncomfortable (for the most part I'm
talking about) and they will get up and go to the concessions. When everyone knows the songs they are singing along, screaming,
hugging each other, high 5'ving, its all good.

Put the words on the screen to the new songs up above too during the concert, to pictures or a video. That's how our generation
learned to remember the songs, if I hear "Oh Sherrie" I still see Steve singing in that Hamlet costume, "After the Fal"l you see them
sitting at that weird little table and so forth...they need to make a connection of some sort with these new songs....

Good post, Liz. About fucking time.

[sniper16]

just because a rif has the same or similar progression dosent mean they ripped of the other band.
boston and foreigner did have hits first , then reo and styx, followed by journey

[X factor]

I know that Styx didNT rip off Journey.

Lady was orginally released in 1972 off of the Styx ll album.

The ORGINAL power ballad!!

I'd have to agree with you.

'

Yeah me too, but this stuff about these bands not having HITS until the 80's is nonsense. Journey, Styx, Heart, REO, etc, are ALL essentially bands of the 70's. The best music all these bands made (except for perhaps Journey themselves) came in the 1970's.