Happy Hump Day to you. I spent my day helping Pete shovel the driveway and sidewalk (he uses the snow blower, I use the shovel), because we got about 6 inches of snow last night---the day AFTER it was nice and sunny and every flake of snow was gone. I am getting really tired of winter. I want SPRING TIME dang it. Washington DC got hit hard too, in fact, they actually closed my museum, which is RARE. So it must have been pretty bad there too. Pete stayed home today from work, and we skipped going to the chiropractor.
I also spent my day painting another wall. Yeah, it's like a sickness of mine I think, "redecorating rehab" is in my future I think. Seriously. I get bored looking at the same things all the time, though, so I change it up now and then. So I drag all the beach themed stuff down from the guest room upstairs to the smaller living room on the main floor, and get it situated, figured out, and start spreading it all around the room, only to read on HGTV the "decorating DON'T's," which include using too much themed stuff that isn't something you typically see in your area....like, for Pittsburgh, a beach. Yeah. It said if you miss the beach, go ahead and use a few seashells here and there, but don't go overboard. (pun intended). BLEAHHHHH. Now I feel like I'm a stooge and I have to start the whole thing all over again. Sigh. Being a perfectionist sucks.
I'm sure you know that all too well yourself.
There was an article on Facebook that somebody posted, that you might find interesting...
www.coneysrockmachine.com
It's about how Journey is now a "ripoff" of the real band, and he adds that you were "a douche."
Yeah, nice guy. He didn't even spell AUGERI right. (FACE PALM). Here is the article....
Hands down one of my favorite bands of the 70’s and 80’s. These guys have so many good songs, it’s almost silly. Their original greatest hits CD, is one of the best selling CD’s of all time. I mean who doesn’t love Journey? I’ll tell you who, a freakin communist that’s who. So it pains me to throw Journey in here, but hey, you wanna pull this fake-ass crap, then in you go.
Now Steve Perry hands down has one of the most unique voices in all of rock and no one can hit those hi-notes like our boy Steve, I’m not even sure he has any testicles, cause I don’t know how he does it. Now things weren’t so rosy after the Frontiers album. Even though it was Journey’s biggest selling so far, with the hits Separate Ways(top ten cheesiest videos ever), After The Fall, Send Her My Love and Faithfully.
When they got back together, Steve Perry fired drummer Steve Smith and bassist Ross Valory and hired studio musicians to fill in, including Randy Jackson on bass, yes that Randy Jackson. So with Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain and studio musicians they put out Raised On Radio, A much less rocky and much more pu**y album(sorry no better word to describe it).
It was successful, but there was serious tension in the band. Steve Perry quits the band, puts out 2 solo records of pure garbage, Yes, Oh Sherry was pretty good, but that’s about it.
It was successful, but there was serious tension in the band. Steve Perry quits the band, puts out 2 solo records of pure garbage, Yes, Oh Sherry was pretty good, but that’s about it.
So after about a decade Steve Perry reunites with Journey on one condition, that they part ways with their manager. They do and Trial By Fire is released in 1996, so what should have been a kick ass 10 year in the making comeback album, turns into an adult contemporary chunk of s**t. It has a few hits, When You Love A Woman and Message Of Love.
Plans for a massive tour are under way, when Steve Perry breaks his hip hiking and decides he does not want to get a hip replacement so the tour is cancelled. So is this a dick move by Perry? Well yeah. I have no idea what that jack-ass was thinking. But the right move would have been to just end the band right there, end with some dignity. Perry’s an asshole so be it, Go form a new band, record some new music and go kick ass.
But of course that does not happen. Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain decide to go find a new lead singer. They find Steve Augier who looks and sounds like Perry, sh*t he’s even named Steve. They record two abysmal sounding CD’s Arrival and Revelations. They tour and Fake Journey is born.
Now things go from lame to downright pathetic, Steve Augier, has to leave the band for medical reasons, so they try to find another fake Steve Perry, this time they find him, in the Philippines, in a Journey cover band, On, You Tube!!!!!????!!!
You just can’t make this stuff up. His name is Arnel Pineda. They then release a double CD in June of 2008, One CD is of original music(which is awful) and then they do the unimaginable, the second CD is of this new dude re-recording all of Journey’s greatest hits. I mean what the f**k. Does anybody in Journey have any shame left. It’s just so sad. I mean is Steve Perry a douche, it certainly sounds like it, but re-record “Don’t Stop Believing” that’s even douchier. So my friends if you see a Journey show this summer or buy a new Journey CD, Stop Believing.
Enjoy the real Journey in this video................
I find it rather lame that he gets a lot of stuff wrong too, actually. But hey, what do I know. I read it, sniffed and thought, "Loser, learn how to spell Augeri." Then I moved on with life.
So, you poor schmuck of a man, from what he says, I guess you're just a douche.
Do I give a rat's ass what this guy says though? Not really. Do you? I'm certain that you don't.
Ya know, but if he's right, I never knew that about you. I always thought you were pretty damned awesome. But hey, again, what do I know. Maybe you ARE a douche. I know you're a vegetarian, I know you have hazel eyes, I know you were born in Hanford CA, I know most of your history in the music industry, but the douche thing, nope, can't say I ever knew about that one.
Neal Schon? Yeah, everybody knows HE is a douche bag. But YOU??? Did YOU actually FIRE Ross and Smitty??? If I may ask, how could YOU fire anybody, when you all had a BAND MANAGER who, I assumed, is supposed to make those types of decisions?? At least, in my experience, isn't that what most managers are hired to do?? As just the lead singer of that band, perhaps you had some influence on the decision, but legally, how could YOU "fire" anyone??
Please pardon my ignorance. I am not sure how all that works, but if it's true---well, then I guess that really WAS a dick move on your part, my friend. I wouldn't say DOUCHE, but DICK, okay. Firing them made no sense to me AT ALL then, and it doesn't make any sense to me now either. I mean, the drums and the bass guitar are the foundation of every song in existence---well, MOST every song---"For the Longest Time" by Billy Joel just came to mind. But, eliminating the foundation, really seems short-sighted and not so bright. Everything else hinges on that, and doesn't EVER sound the same with other people playing it.
Raised on Radio was the FIRST concert I ever got to see of Journey, (October 8th, 1986, Joe Lewis Arena, Detroit Michigan). I was 18. It was a bummer that Ross and Smitty weren't there. I didn't care for Mike Baird, nor did I know who the hell Randy Jackson was then either. I was just shocked to see two strangers up there on that stage with you. The chemistry between you guys was way off. The concert was good, don't get me wrong-----shit, I wore the damned t-shirt for an entire WEEK, night and day, before people around me finally told me I STANK and should WASH the stupid thing!!! So I loved it, I just felt like something wasn't quite right.
So, I just don't think it's true that YOU fired them. I know you're more intelligent than that. You're more savvy about business and legalities too. I don't think you would cut off your nose to spite your face. Would you?
People do make mistakes. (THAT one, unfortunately, was a biggie in my opinion). Well, no matter, even if it is true, it's still old news and nothing can be changed in the past.
I realize the music industry is harsh, and can be very cut-throat at times, but hey, I lived and worked in DC for 10 years, so believe me when I say I can totally relate. I get it. I've been there, done that. Business is business, even if you have friends involved. It sucks, but that's the way the business works.
The article is NOT very flattering, to say the least. But it was interesting to see one person's interpretation. Of course, he got pounced on by the die-hard fans, and ripped to shreds for it. But, hey, when our band gets attacked, we become a bit RABID.
Anyway, I gotta scoot, but I love ya, for what it's worth. You're smart for kicking them to the curb, you saved yourself from insanity, you had to do what you had to do. I'm fine with all that. I'm glad you're having time with your family and friends, doing the things you missed out on doing all those years. I'm glad you retired. I'm glad you saved your voice from being roached completely. (Poor Augeri didn't get so lucky...and I have the feeling Arnel won't come away unscathed too). What you did truly WAS an amazing thing, that nobody has ever been able to match since.
And for that, I think----douche or not----you are an incredible human. In fact, here's something I bet you don't hear very often---I would probably even bear your child, if you asked me nicely. :)
Bye for now. Have a good week, and if the rumor of a new album is true, I KISS YOU WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL AND THANK YOU FOR DOING IT FINALLY!!!!
Love, Rebecca ps. Neal is still dealing with his ex-wife apparently "hacking" the article that he had published regarding his fight about child support and slanderous claims that she published in a tabloid. He's really just putting it all out there for everyone on Facebook to read. It's creepy and sickening. Don't put yourself out there like that, okay? Just don't do it. It's not worth the BS and heartache.
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