I appreciate the offers of debating Dean in other's personal Blogs, but for myself, the only way I will debate Dean is either here, or at his Blog.
Dean has a way of only debating where he has max exposure to stroke his massive ego and only where he knows he has backup. I could care less about stroking my ego and need no backup.
In fact, my issue is more with Dean and his lack of integrity, than with anything he says about Journey.
He claims to have these so-called inside sources, when he actually has no more knowledge than anyone else outside the band's inner circle.
I believe that he did have some sort of loose relationship with Jeff and that this relationship caused tension between Jeff and the band. At least this is what I've been told.
Think about it. Steve Augeri goes down in July of 2006 and they immediately go to Jeff to fill in. Jeff does a fantastic job and has a way of energizing the crowds in a way only Steve Perry has come close to, during his heyday with the band.
The band goes on with Jeff throughout the rest of the 2006 Tour and through all accounts from Neal, he's loving the chemistry and the positive buzz the band has been getting ever since.
Both Jonathan and Ross expressed some disappointment with the fact that Steve Augeri was let go, but by the end of 2006 and especially the beginning of this year, it seemed even they had come aboard and were equally as excited as Neal and Jeff about the new collaboration and the apparent great chemistry between them.
This was such a tremendous chemistry that the band had been touting the fact they were actively writing new songs for a CD that was to be released sometime after New Year 2008 and even performed one of those songs only 2 weeks before it was announced so suddenly that Jeff was being let go.
On the surface and for most of us that were looking in from the outside, this was an absolutely stunning turn of events and led many to believe this was simply a case of Neal's and Jonathan's egos getting the best of them and they just were scared that Jeff would show them up.
The suddenness of this decision combined with the facts leading up to and surrounding the eventual announcement, along with Dean's commentary, latest blowout and attack against Neal and Jonathan in particular, I believe supports something much more than simply the band all of the sudden decided Jeff just wasn't close enough to the Classic Journey sound, leading them to determine they needed to look elsewhere for their immediate future.
Think about the situation as a whole and look at the possible scenarios without all of the drama. You have the one scenario that after knowing Jeff for at least 2 years before he became Journey's 'permanent' lead vocalist, the fact they went so quickly to Jeff as Steve's replacement, touring with him for another 5 months or so, announcing they were lying their entire future at his feet in December 2006, going into the beginning of 2007 praising the new union as the band's "New Beginning", writing a bunch of new songs, one being played at the band's only US show this year and only 2 weeks later, showing Jeff the door and claiming it was merely the band's decision to go back to the formula that brought them their greatest success.
Or, is it more likely that something came between them on a more personal level, causing them to first request Jeff refrain from pursuing an affiliation that the band felt was detrimental to their future, then when the affiliation continued, failing to return any of Jeff's calls for a relatively short period of time while he was actively touring with Talisman on their "Farewell Tour", leading to Jeff, as well as the fans to be blindsided by the band's doing a 180 degree turn and suddenly letting him go.
Unlike Dean, I will never say that I have an inside source, especially that a bandmember or a representative of the band gave me any information. I will say that I have discussed this with at least 2 unbiased and trusted individuals that corroborate the information I have discussed above. Due to what information I know from listening to Dean's rants and observing his tendencies to personally attack anyone he dislikes or feels is unworthy and especially those that dare disagree with or question his motives and sources the past few years, coupled with information I have no reason to believe isn't based in the individuals' first hand knowledge of the entire situation, I believe most of what Dean claims to be fact are merely his attempts to garner attention to himself and make it appear he is more knowledgable than he truly is and that the only thing he really knows is the little bit Jeff let him in on before he was let go and the rest is all what he wants us to believe the facts to be.
I believe it is more than likely that the band's decision to let Jeff go was of a personal nature and not that they all of the sudden decided Jeff's sound was too far from that of the Classic Journey sound they wanted to continue to pursue. The information I've heard from my trusted sources seems much more plausible, but in the end, it really doesn't matter. It's the band's personal business and if more of us respected that, instead of speculating on what happened and holding the band to doing what 'we' believe is their best course of action for their future, we would all be better off.
For me it all remains about the music. Not the inner workings of the band's personal relationships and how they conduct their business. I am concerned with the fact that an individual like Dean Ohlrich, one that has proven he is extremely self-centered and from all appearances has some personal demons in his own closet that cause him to act in an extremely irrational manner and that makes personal attacks with such impunity and lack of care and understanding for the people he hurts, is relied on for facts for which he generally has no more knowledge than you or I.
I am concerned with the fact that this individual is enabled by a website as powerful in the Melodicrock internet Community that absolutely refuses to reign in the outrageous behavior of such an unstable personality, thus allowing him to savagely attack anyone he chooses on an extremely personal level and even influence, if even on a relatively small scale, the business practices of an entire band.
I feel that Dean's smear campaign caused a chain of events that directly, or indirectly led to 2 decent individuals losing their jobs and quite possible caused severe damage to the first individual's entire professional career.
When are certain individuals going to be forced to take accountability for their actions? Possibly never, but I'm not the type of individual that will quietly slip in a corner and shut my mouth simply because some cyber bully with a severe personality disorder and "Jim Jones" complex wants to shove his koolaid down my throat.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Friday, July 13, 2007
Refusing The Debate
Dean, all I can say is you are a coward of the highest caliber. You refuse to address my comments at my blog and you delete my comments on yours.
This indicates you are afraid to engage in intelligent debate, or in this case any debate, with anyone that doesn't follow your lead and agree with your rants.
I've always said that you were unworthy of any of my time and your cowardice as far as refusing debate with myself, or anyone else with whom you disagree, speaks louder than any of the hate speech you spew on a regular basis.
What I get from your rants is that you have some severe psychological issues and look for attention through being as loud and abrasive as you possibly can be, by surrounding yourself with other weak-minded individuals and personally attacking anyone that doesn't partake in your koolaid parties.
I truly feel sorry for you. You need help. Unfortunately, you are surrounded by enablers, the biggest of whom runs one of the most popular websites in the World of Rock Music.
Until that individual pulls the plug on you, not temporarilly, but permanently, you will continue to unnecessarilly dominate any conversation on his Forums and make it impossible to have any sensible conversation there.
I truly believe you are a dangerous personality that needs to be dealt with before you cause irreparable damage to an innocent person.
I urge you to talk to someone soon about getting some sort of psychological intervention. If you can't, someone close to you should come to the plate and make the referral.
This indicates you are afraid to engage in intelligent debate, or in this case any debate, with anyone that doesn't follow your lead and agree with your rants.
I've always said that you were unworthy of any of my time and your cowardice as far as refusing debate with myself, or anyone else with whom you disagree, speaks louder than any of the hate speech you spew on a regular basis.
What I get from your rants is that you have some severe psychological issues and look for attention through being as loud and abrasive as you possibly can be, by surrounding yourself with other weak-minded individuals and personally attacking anyone that doesn't partake in your koolaid parties.
I truly feel sorry for you. You need help. Unfortunately, you are surrounded by enablers, the biggest of whom runs one of the most popular websites in the World of Rock Music.
Until that individual pulls the plug on you, not temporarilly, but permanently, you will continue to unnecessarilly dominate any conversation on his Forums and make it impossible to have any sensible conversation there.
I truly believe you are a dangerous personality that needs to be dealt with before you cause irreparable damage to an innocent person.
I urge you to talk to someone soon about getting some sort of psychological intervention. If you can't, someone close to you should come to the plate and make the referral.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Dean - A Real Man
Well, seems like Deano's at it again. He can't respond to me directly here in my Blog, because he knows I can and will respond with the truth. Something he's not the least bit familiar with. Instead, he decides he's going to slander my name over at the infamous Melodicrock Journey Forum, where I have no doubt that he knows that I have, through an open letter to Andrew, MR.com's creator, requested to have my IP banned and username delted from the database.
The reason? Because the place is a cesspool for gutter talk and those like Dean that spew nothing but hatred and personally attack and slander anyone that doesn't agree with him and do his bidding, on a daily basis. What makes it worse is that Andrew either outright ignores it and even sometimes is an active participant, chastising anyone that steps up and confronts Dean and his followers, labeling them as the instigator, instead of dealing with the truth.
What Dean is demonstrating is that he really doesn't have it in his gut to come and discuss the issues with me where I can view his statements and respond accordingly. A place such as this one. Here, he simply gives me one message, threatening to sue me if I don't remove a section of my Blog which he particuylarly takes issue with. The one that states he used a doctored recording of an illegally recorded bootleg from a Journey show, as a means to attack Steve Augeri's professional and personal integrity. He knows he can't debate me on the facts, so he hides in a place where he knows I cannot and will not respond. A real man, in my book.
Dean, my friend. If you want to discuss this like a man, please come here to do it. I'm up to the task, but apparently, by your actions, you're telling everyone, you can't discuss this with me if you don't have the perceived home field advantage and in a venue you know full well I've fully eliminated myself from. So sad.
The reason? Because the place is a cesspool for gutter talk and those like Dean that spew nothing but hatred and personally attack and slander anyone that doesn't agree with him and do his bidding, on a daily basis. What makes it worse is that Andrew either outright ignores it and even sometimes is an active participant, chastising anyone that steps up and confronts Dean and his followers, labeling them as the instigator, instead of dealing with the truth.
What Dean is demonstrating is that he really doesn't have it in his gut to come and discuss the issues with me where I can view his statements and respond accordingly. A place such as this one. Here, he simply gives me one message, threatening to sue me if I don't remove a section of my Blog which he particuylarly takes issue with. The one that states he used a doctored recording of an illegally recorded bootleg from a Journey show, as a means to attack Steve Augeri's professional and personal integrity. He knows he can't debate me on the facts, so he hides in a place where he knows I cannot and will not respond. A real man, in my book.
Dean, my friend. If you want to discuss this like a man, please come here to do it. I'm up to the task, but apparently, by your actions, you're telling everyone, you can't discuss this with me if you don't have the perceived home field advantage and in a venue you know full well I've fully eliminated myself from. So sad.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Calling A Spade a Spade
Before I comment, this is Dean's response to my assessment of his ramblings.
[quote]What you are doing is simply speculating, regarding me and my writings. Unlike my writings, where I was 100% correct, you are 0% correct, and if your writings about me are not erased, expect to hear from my attorney.
I won't ask twice. [/quote]
My response is, go ahead. Call your attorney. He'll tell you the same thing I'm about to tell you. The same thing that basically allows you to spew anything you wish, no matter how false and slanderous sounding it might be.
Freedom of Speech.
The problem is that you like to be the only one talking. You like the spotlight squarely on yourself and anyone else with an opinion can just shut up.
Sorry. Not with this writer.
The bottom line is that if anyone associated with the band, especially the bandmembers themeselves, had anything to say...they wouldn't use you or anyone else to relay their messages.
Your friendships with bandmembers are delusion. If it were true and if this information were being fed to you from the inside, these individuals would have no problem with you mentioning their names. Since you can't produce names, that leads me to conclude that you are a fraud.
As long as you continue to spew your hatred and psychotic ramblings, I will continue to call you on it. Yes, I have the balls.
[quote]What you are doing is simply speculating, regarding me and my writings. Unlike my writings, where I was 100% correct, you are 0% correct, and if your writings about me are not erased, expect to hear from my attorney.
I won't ask twice. [/quote]
My response is, go ahead. Call your attorney. He'll tell you the same thing I'm about to tell you. The same thing that basically allows you to spew anything you wish, no matter how false and slanderous sounding it might be.
Freedom of Speech.
The problem is that you like to be the only one talking. You like the spotlight squarely on yourself and anyone else with an opinion can just shut up.
Sorry. Not with this writer.
The bottom line is that if anyone associated with the band, especially the bandmembers themeselves, had anything to say...they wouldn't use you or anyone else to relay their messages.
Your friendships with bandmembers are delusion. If it were true and if this information were being fed to you from the inside, these individuals would have no problem with you mentioning their names. Since you can't produce names, that leads me to conclude that you are a fraud.
As long as you continue to spew your hatred and psychotic ramblings, I will continue to call you on it. Yes, I have the balls.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Crying Over Spilled Milk, or Psychotic Ramblings Of A Pseudo Cult Leader?
Yesterday, I briefly talked about the situation with Steve Augeri and Journey, in 2006 and how some at Melodicrock.com's Journey Message Board jumped all over the opportunity to bash and slash Steve, both professionally and personally.
The hatchet job against Steve Augeri was led and goaded on by an individual that goes by the screen name Rockindeano, also the author of the new Separate Ways Blog, located at http://separateways.blogspot.com/. Dean claims that he has an inside track to Journey's inner most circle and regularly spouts off about supposed facts he claims to have obtained from that as yet unnamed source, or sources.
Although Dean never reveals the source(s) of his so-called facts and that his facts are almost always proven incorrect, a great number of those that are members of Melodicrock.com's Journey Message Boards take his word as gospel. Not only that, they will defend Dean and his propaganda to the fullest extent, using the most vulgar and obscene language (just as is Dean's m/o) and attacking anyone that doesn't agree unmercifully.
There are few that dare speak against Dean, as anyone that dares is quickly swarmed upon by his cult-like followers. The saddest thing about it is that the site's owner Andrew McNeice, mostly allows and many times defends, all of the above behavior. If you speak against Dean, or if you dare post to the Board when you know you are one of those on Dean's vast list of those to attack on site, you are labeled an instigator and a Troll by Dean, his followers and Melodicrock.com's creator, Andrew McNeice.
Dean has always been a source of the most ignorant and arrogant speak anywhere in any Journey related Forum, shouting and crying his propaganda louder and louder, the more he is proven wrong and especially when he is questioned on his motives, sources and tactics. Even after his attack on Steve Augeri last year, that included doctoring illegally obtained bootlegs of Journey shows, attacking Steve's professional ethics and even his personal life, wife and son included, Dean and his supporters insisted that he was a fan of Steve's. Isn't that ironic?
After all of that and the never ending "I was right and you were wrong, now exult me as your God" rants after JSS was named full time lead vocalist of Journey in December of 2006, now he finds himself blindsided by the fact that his prized horse in the race, JSS, was all of the sudden being let go and a new vocalist would be named later in 2007.
Since he can never be proven wrong and the fact that he has portrayed that the change in Journey vocalists, from Steve Augeri to JSS last year was a result of his putting the "truth", as he calls it, out there for everyone to see and hear, he has exploded on another slanderous and very personal rampage against the rest of the band. Mostly Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon, but Ross Valory isn't exempt from Dean's psychotic, self-serving ramblings either.
Don't take my word for it. Go to Melodicrock.com and check out the Journey Message Board. Read the buzz and who is saying what and about whom. You will find that Dean is at the head of the propaganda and inciting, while a handful of others are his enforcers, striking down any and all that dare speak up against him, which is now almost entirely nonexistent, so they simply bounce around parroting Dean's so-called facts to anyone that is forced to listen and standing back watching it all...with the occassional response that let's you know where he really stands (which is not behind the band he claims to love), is Melodicrock's creator and manager, Andrew McNeice.
I could go on and on about this situation, boring everyone to tears, but I think I'll let this one end by simply saying...check it out for yourself. Draw your own conclusions. I believe fair-minded and clear-headed individuals will see that there is something really wrong with this picture and that it has nothing to do with a band that is simply trying to conduct business the best way they know how and to support their families, just like every other responsible individual.
The hatchet job against Steve Augeri was led and goaded on by an individual that goes by the screen name Rockindeano, also the author of the new Separate Ways Blog, located at http://separateways.blogspot.com/. Dean claims that he has an inside track to Journey's inner most circle and regularly spouts off about supposed facts he claims to have obtained from that as yet unnamed source, or sources.
Although Dean never reveals the source(s) of his so-called facts and that his facts are almost always proven incorrect, a great number of those that are members of Melodicrock.com's Journey Message Boards take his word as gospel. Not only that, they will defend Dean and his propaganda to the fullest extent, using the most vulgar and obscene language (just as is Dean's m/o) and attacking anyone that doesn't agree unmercifully.
There are few that dare speak against Dean, as anyone that dares is quickly swarmed upon by his cult-like followers. The saddest thing about it is that the site's owner Andrew McNeice, mostly allows and many times defends, all of the above behavior. If you speak against Dean, or if you dare post to the Board when you know you are one of those on Dean's vast list of those to attack on site, you are labeled an instigator and a Troll by Dean, his followers and Melodicrock.com's creator, Andrew McNeice.
Dean has always been a source of the most ignorant and arrogant speak anywhere in any Journey related Forum, shouting and crying his propaganda louder and louder, the more he is proven wrong and especially when he is questioned on his motives, sources and tactics. Even after his attack on Steve Augeri last year, that included doctoring illegally obtained bootlegs of Journey shows, attacking Steve's professional ethics and even his personal life, wife and son included, Dean and his supporters insisted that he was a fan of Steve's. Isn't that ironic?
After all of that and the never ending "I was right and you were wrong, now exult me as your God" rants after JSS was named full time lead vocalist of Journey in December of 2006, now he finds himself blindsided by the fact that his prized horse in the race, JSS, was all of the sudden being let go and a new vocalist would be named later in 2007.
Since he can never be proven wrong and the fact that he has portrayed that the change in Journey vocalists, from Steve Augeri to JSS last year was a result of his putting the "truth", as he calls it, out there for everyone to see and hear, he has exploded on another slanderous and very personal rampage against the rest of the band. Mostly Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon, but Ross Valory isn't exempt from Dean's psychotic, self-serving ramblings either.
Don't take my word for it. Go to Melodicrock.com and check out the Journey Message Board. Read the buzz and who is saying what and about whom. You will find that Dean is at the head of the propaganda and inciting, while a handful of others are his enforcers, striking down any and all that dare speak up against him, which is now almost entirely nonexistent, so they simply bounce around parroting Dean's so-called facts to anyone that is forced to listen and standing back watching it all...with the occassional response that let's you know where he really stands (which is not behind the band he claims to love), is Melodicrock's creator and manager, Andrew McNeice.
I could go on and on about this situation, boring everyone to tears, but I think I'll let this one end by simply saying...check it out for yourself. Draw your own conclusions. I believe fair-minded and clear-headed individuals will see that there is something really wrong with this picture and that it has nothing to do with a band that is simply trying to conduct business the best way they know how and to support their families, just like every other responsible individual.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
My Feelings On Journey's Newest Lineup Change
Yesterday, I got online all ready to go through my normal online routine...read the email, go to Journey's Back Talk Forums to get the results of the previous day's H2H and post the new one, then on to my MySpace account, then back to my regular offline duties...but was immediately stunned by the topic of conversation on both Jeff Scott Soto's and my Journey fan Yahoo Group.
When opening the email from each group, they were discussing the dismissal of JSS as Journey's newest lead singer. I was absolutely stunned. After all, hadn't we all just endured all of the drama surrounding Steve Augeri's untimely release from the group and been feeling the momentum and excitement that was building with Jeff's introduction as Journey's new lead singer?
Then, I go to Back Talk to hopefully catch up on what I was missing and to update the H2Hs, I see that it's been offline since Tuesday June 12 at 10:30AM PT, only an hour or so after I had been there that morning. How the heck did I miss all of that. Must have literally been moments.
Anyway, still reeling from the news and wondering how this all happened so fast, I went to Melodicrock.com. The best site for news on everyone's favorite Melodicrock bands of yesterday and today. Andrew would most certainly know what was going on. Beloe is the article I found there.
JOURNEY ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE OF JEFF SCOTT SOTO:Press Release / June 12, 2007 -- Journey has parted ways with their recently named lead singer Jeff Scott Soto. Jeff s first appearance with Journey was July 7, 2006 in Bristow, VA. He had been filling in for Steve Augeri, who had to leave the tour shortly after it began on June 23 due to illness. Jeff s last performance was May 12, 2007 in Leesburg, VA.
According to guitarist Neal Schon, "We appreciate all of Jeff s hard work and we can t thank him enough for stepping in when Steve Augeri got sick last year. He did a tremendous job for us and we wish him the best. We've just decided to go our separate ways, no pun intended. We re plotting our next move now."
Keyboardist Jonathan Cain continues, We were lucky to have a friend who was already a Journey fan step in on a moment s notice during the Def Leppard tour to help us out. Jeff was always the consummate professional and we hope that he remains a friend of the band in the future. We just felt it was time to go in a different direction.
Journey--Neal Schon (guitar), Ross Valory (bass), Jonathan Cain (keyboards) and Deen Castronovo (drums) is taking the rest of 2007 off to spend time with their families, write new songs and map out plans for 2008. WebLink: www.journeymusic.comComment from me? Where does one start? Right now I am too disappointed to comment, but I guess Neal and Jon have a different vision for Journey than that of Jeff Scott Soto.And no...Steve Perry is not returning to the band.
It was obvious from Andrew's comments, he was as stunned as I was, so my next step was to go see what the buzz was from the fans at Melodicrock.com's Journey Message Board.
From past experience, I knew that the response from this particular group of fans was going to be raw and brutal, as this is the m/o of these Forums, so I wasn't surprised to see all of the hateful commentary and personal attacks being aimed at Neal and Jonathan, in particular. There are even calls for a boycott against Journey's MySpace, with Melodicrock.com's owner chiming in with his support.
It was a similar experience during last year's tour, when a certain member of this group decided he's had enough of Steve Augeri ruining his favorite band, so he decided to engage in a hatchet and smear campaign against Steve. Not only did he smear Steve professionally, but personally as well. It became not enough to simply make what I feel were blatant slanderous charges against the man, but it turned into an all out personal attack against Steve as a human being, as well as shots against Steve's family, as well.
So basically, it's a case of sour grapes, where this group of individuals spent an entire Summer and Fall smearing Steve and the band to everyone that would listen and attacking anyone that didn't follow the rule of thought they'd created, then generally feeling full of themselves and rubbing it in everyone's faces when their predictions of Steve's being permanently replaced with JSS turned out to be what actually happened...and now, all of their puffed chests and feelings of self importance have come down to more sour grapes with their man being let go.
Although I am surprised at the decision to replace JSS, just as I was last year with Steve Augeri, I do realize that Journey is a business first and foremost. It is how 5 musicians, their management and crew make their livings and support their families. It is up to them how they feel is the best way for them to continue, not a fan's.
I continue to support this band and to love it's music. For me, the basic philosophy of this band has always been to create and perform music that touches the hearts and souls of it's listeners. I don't believe they have lost that philosophy and I'm positive that's what they're striving for in their future.
When opening the email from each group, they were discussing the dismissal of JSS as Journey's newest lead singer. I was absolutely stunned. After all, hadn't we all just endured all of the drama surrounding Steve Augeri's untimely release from the group and been feeling the momentum and excitement that was building with Jeff's introduction as Journey's new lead singer?
Then, I go to Back Talk to hopefully catch up on what I was missing and to update the H2Hs, I see that it's been offline since Tuesday June 12 at 10:30AM PT, only an hour or so after I had been there that morning. How the heck did I miss all of that. Must have literally been moments.
Anyway, still reeling from the news and wondering how this all happened so fast, I went to Melodicrock.com. The best site for news on everyone's favorite Melodicrock bands of yesterday and today. Andrew would most certainly know what was going on. Beloe is the article I found there.
JOURNEY ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE OF JEFF SCOTT SOTO:Press Release / June 12, 2007 -- Journey has parted ways with their recently named lead singer Jeff Scott Soto. Jeff s first appearance with Journey was July 7, 2006 in Bristow, VA. He had been filling in for Steve Augeri, who had to leave the tour shortly after it began on June 23 due to illness. Jeff s last performance was May 12, 2007 in Leesburg, VA.
According to guitarist Neal Schon, "We appreciate all of Jeff s hard work and we can t thank him enough for stepping in when Steve Augeri got sick last year. He did a tremendous job for us and we wish him the best. We've just decided to go our separate ways, no pun intended. We re plotting our next move now."
Keyboardist Jonathan Cain continues, We were lucky to have a friend who was already a Journey fan step in on a moment s notice during the Def Leppard tour to help us out. Jeff was always the consummate professional and we hope that he remains a friend of the band in the future. We just felt it was time to go in a different direction.
Journey--Neal Schon (guitar), Ross Valory (bass), Jonathan Cain (keyboards) and Deen Castronovo (drums) is taking the rest of 2007 off to spend time with their families, write new songs and map out plans for 2008. WebLink: www.journeymusic.comComment from me? Where does one start? Right now I am too disappointed to comment, but I guess Neal and Jon have a different vision for Journey than that of Jeff Scott Soto.And no...Steve Perry is not returning to the band.
It was obvious from Andrew's comments, he was as stunned as I was, so my next step was to go see what the buzz was from the fans at Melodicrock.com's Journey Message Board.
From past experience, I knew that the response from this particular group of fans was going to be raw and brutal, as this is the m/o of these Forums, so I wasn't surprised to see all of the hateful commentary and personal attacks being aimed at Neal and Jonathan, in particular. There are even calls for a boycott against Journey's MySpace, with Melodicrock.com's owner chiming in with his support.
It was a similar experience during last year's tour, when a certain member of this group decided he's had enough of Steve Augeri ruining his favorite band, so he decided to engage in a hatchet and smear campaign against Steve. Not only did he smear Steve professionally, but personally as well. It became not enough to simply make what I feel were blatant slanderous charges against the man, but it turned into an all out personal attack against Steve as a human being, as well as shots against Steve's family, as well.
So basically, it's a case of sour grapes, where this group of individuals spent an entire Summer and Fall smearing Steve and the band to everyone that would listen and attacking anyone that didn't follow the rule of thought they'd created, then generally feeling full of themselves and rubbing it in everyone's faces when their predictions of Steve's being permanently replaced with JSS turned out to be what actually happened...and now, all of their puffed chests and feelings of self importance have come down to more sour grapes with their man being let go.
Although I am surprised at the decision to replace JSS, just as I was last year with Steve Augeri, I do realize that Journey is a business first and foremost. It is how 5 musicians, their management and crew make their livings and support their families. It is up to them how they feel is the best way for them to continue, not a fan's.
I continue to support this band and to love it's music. For me, the basic philosophy of this band has always been to create and perform music that touches the hearts and souls of it's listeners. I don't believe they have lost that philosophy and I'm positive that's what they're striving for in their future.
Journey's Newest Stunner
After the debacle of 2006, when Steve Augeri fell ill and was supposedly 'temporarilly' replaced by one Jeff Scott Soto, followed up by December 2006's announcement that JSS would be stepping in on a permanent basis, then after announcing a brief 2007 European Tour, which was to be followed by Jeff's appearing with Talisman for it's final Tour and debuting of Journey's newest single in a special unveiling in Virginia this past month, which everyone knows was to lead to some much earned time off for all involved, some writing for a highly anticipated new CD tentatively scheduled to be released in 2008 and now..
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
JOURNEY ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE OF JEFF SCOTT SOTO:
Press Release / June 12, 2007 -- Journey has parted ways with their recently named lead singer Jeff Scott Soto. Jeff s first appearance with Journey was July 7, 2006 in Bristow, VA. He had been filling in for Steve Augeri, who had to leave the tour shortly after it began on June 23 due to illness. Jeff s last performance was May 12, 2007 in Leesburg, VA.
According to guitarist Neal Schon, "We appreciate all of Jeff s hard work and we can t thank him enough for stepping in when Steve Augeri got sick last year. He did a tremendous job for us and we wish him the best. We've just decided to go our separate ways, no pun intended. We re plotting our next move now."
Keyboardist Jonathan Cain continues, We were lucky to have a friend who was already a Journey fan step in on a moment s notice during the Def Leppard tour to help us out. Jeff was always the consummate professional and we hope that he remains a friend of the band in the future. We just felt it was time to go in a different direction.
Journey--Neal Schon (guitar), Ross Valory (bass), Jonathan Cain (keyboards) and Deen Castronovo (drums) is taking the rest of 2007 off to spend time with their families, write new songs and map out plans for 2008.
WebLink: www.journeymusic.com
Now I'm scrambling to find information on just what the he double hockey sticks has happened to derail all of the above, leading to JSS' departure and who knows what is going to happen now.
All I can say is that I am truly stunned. Especially since there is no mention of this on Journeymusic.com and Back Talk is down for the count..at least for now. Got to find out some more information...after I collect my jaw off of the floor...before I comment any further.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
JOURNEY ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE OF JEFF SCOTT SOTO:
Press Release / June 12, 2007 -- Journey has parted ways with their recently named lead singer Jeff Scott Soto. Jeff s first appearance with Journey was July 7, 2006 in Bristow, VA. He had been filling in for Steve Augeri, who had to leave the tour shortly after it began on June 23 due to illness. Jeff s last performance was May 12, 2007 in Leesburg, VA.
According to guitarist Neal Schon, "We appreciate all of Jeff s hard work and we can t thank him enough for stepping in when Steve Augeri got sick last year. He did a tremendous job for us and we wish him the best. We've just decided to go our separate ways, no pun intended. We re plotting our next move now."
Keyboardist Jonathan Cain continues, We were lucky to have a friend who was already a Journey fan step in on a moment s notice during the Def Leppard tour to help us out. Jeff was always the consummate professional and we hope that he remains a friend of the band in the future. We just felt it was time to go in a different direction.
Journey--Neal Schon (guitar), Ross Valory (bass), Jonathan Cain (keyboards) and Deen Castronovo (drums) is taking the rest of 2007 off to spend time with their families, write new songs and map out plans for 2008.
WebLink: www.journeymusic.com
Now I'm scrambling to find information on just what the he double hockey sticks has happened to derail all of the above, leading to JSS' departure and who knows what is going to happen now.
All I can say is that I am truly stunned. Especially since there is no mention of this on Journeymusic.com and Back Talk is down for the count..at least for now. Got to find out some more information...after I collect my jaw off of the floor...before I comment any further.
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