JRNY Contradictions 2001-2009
(With comment and/ or clarification highlighted)
Herbie Herbert on Steve Augeri:
"Steve, you did a great job. You own this material".
(2001, recalling comments made earlier to Steve Augeri).
"They dodged a real bullet there. They could easily have been reduced to Milli Vanilli quickly.""They needed the crutches, they needed the help. He had trouble. It was rough. I never understood why they went with him. They could have gone with Kevin Chalfant". (2008, commenting on the Lip Syncing expose')
On the departure of Steve Augeri:
"Due to a chronic throat infection, Journey’s lead singer, Steve Augeri, has been forced to leave the band’s current nationwide tour with Def Leppard. Steve Augeri’s condition will be closely monitored by his physician to determine when he may be able to rejoin the tour". (Part of the official statement 6th July 2006)
"For me though, it was a medical issue that was unpublished beyond just a vocal issue that brought about the end of my journey, pardon the pun. Doctors orders if you will". Steve Augeri 2009
On Lip Syncing, initially:
"It was all one big lie". "…so disrespectful". Ross Valory 2007
"...just rumours". "It's just bullshit". Neal Schon 2007
(However Neal Schon also stated that "The way I'm set up on stage I don't need to hear vocals. If stuff went on I'd have had no clue")
On Lip Syncing, later:
"No comment. You’ll have to ask him (Augeri)". Neal Schon 2008
"…you can't point a finger at anyone but yourself. So, if the schedule was gruelling, then I didn't have the backbone to say, "Stop. I'm getting off the train"…you know what…frankly, to be honest with you, I did…but the train kept going".
Steve Augeri 2009
On Jeff Scott Soto:
"He’s the real deal and a great guy…" Neal Schon 2006
"(Soto) was a relief pitcher". Jonathan Cain 2008
On Jeremey Hunsicker:
"He actually came out, he flew in and we auditioned him. He was very good…
I decided to keep looking and I'm glad I did. I was not willing to settle on just something that didn't feel completely 100%" Neal Schon 2008
"…they didn’t know about this other guy (Pineda) until several weeks after I left. The offer was made, period. I left San Francisco with every intention of returning there within 4 weeks to begin working on new material. The individual who was responsible for retracting the offer did it solely based on cold feet involving this so-called "dealbreaker" which involved my relationship with my family".
Jeremey Hunsicker 2007
On Arnel Pineda:
"…he is that good, he’s the real deal…". Neal Schon 2007
"Just phenomenal". Producer Kevin Shirley 2007
"…even if you were in fine voice, as maybe this gentleman from the Philippines is right now, this is a rugged expectation". Herbie Herbert 2008
"(Journey)...have always performed in standard E concert tuning...and it may cause problems for Arnel Pineda". From 'A Personal Journey' 2008 Addendum
(Other than the Manila show (recorded for DVD release) the 2009 Revelation tour was performed in Eb tuning)
(With comment and/ or clarification highlighted)
Herbie Herbert on Steve Augeri:
"Steve, you did a great job. You own this material".
(2001, recalling comments made earlier to Steve Augeri).
"They dodged a real bullet there. They could easily have been reduced to Milli Vanilli quickly.""They needed the crutches, they needed the help. He had trouble. It was rough. I never understood why they went with him. They could have gone with Kevin Chalfant". (2008, commenting on the Lip Syncing expose')
On the departure of Steve Augeri:
"Due to a chronic throat infection, Journey’s lead singer, Steve Augeri, has been forced to leave the band’s current nationwide tour with Def Leppard. Steve Augeri’s condition will be closely monitored by his physician to determine when he may be able to rejoin the tour". (Part of the official statement 6th July 2006)
"For me though, it was a medical issue that was unpublished beyond just a vocal issue that brought about the end of my journey, pardon the pun. Doctors orders if you will". Steve Augeri 2009
On Lip Syncing, initially:
"It was all one big lie". "…so disrespectful". Ross Valory 2007
"...just rumours". "It's just bullshit". Neal Schon 2007
(However Neal Schon also stated that "The way I'm set up on stage I don't need to hear vocals. If stuff went on I'd have had no clue")
On Lip Syncing, later:
"No comment. You’ll have to ask him (Augeri)". Neal Schon 2008
"…you can't point a finger at anyone but yourself. So, if the schedule was gruelling, then I didn't have the backbone to say, "Stop. I'm getting off the train"…you know what…frankly, to be honest with you, I did…but the train kept going".
Steve Augeri 2009
On Jeff Scott Soto:
"He’s the real deal and a great guy…" Neal Schon 2006
"(Soto) was a relief pitcher". Jonathan Cain 2008
On Jeremey Hunsicker:
"He actually came out, he flew in and we auditioned him. He was very good…
I decided to keep looking and I'm glad I did. I was not willing to settle on just something that didn't feel completely 100%" Neal Schon 2008
"…they didn’t know about this other guy (Pineda) until several weeks after I left. The offer was made, period. I left San Francisco with every intention of returning there within 4 weeks to begin working on new material. The individual who was responsible for retracting the offer did it solely based on cold feet involving this so-called "dealbreaker" which involved my relationship with my family".
Jeremey Hunsicker 2007
On Arnel Pineda:
"…he is that good, he’s the real deal…". Neal Schon 2007
"Just phenomenal". Producer Kevin Shirley 2007
"…even if you were in fine voice, as maybe this gentleman from the Philippines is right now, this is a rugged expectation". Herbie Herbert 2008
"(Journey)...have always performed in standard E concert tuning...and it may cause problems for Arnel Pineda". From 'A Personal Journey' 2008 Addendum
(Other than the Manila show (recorded for DVD release) the 2009 Revelation tour was performed in Eb tuning)
Neal Schon on the perennial 'Steve Perry reunion' question:
"…and maybe we can get Steve (Perry) to come out and join us this Summer…"
Neal Schon, with Perry, at the Hollywood Walk of Fame 2005
"Don’t go out and play these songs with someone else and crack the stone. Well, he did the same thing, way before we did! He went out on a solo tour, a solo Steve Perry tour, where none of us were invited…I mean, we’re completely done. I told you about the VH1 thing, which is true, about crackin’ the stone - I’ve been wanting to set that straight for a while. It’s the truth. So fuck him". Neal Schon 2008
"I had the opportunity of singing with Journey on one occasion in Oct. of 1993 at "Bimbo’s" in San Francisco for a benefit". Kevin Chalfant 2007
(One year before Steve Perry's solo tour alluded to in Schon’s “way before we did” commentary, and a reunion of Journey with Schon, Cain, Valory, Smith, Rolie and Chalfant as lead singer was considered prior to the Trial by Fire reformation)
On the Pineda v Perry and 'Tribute Band' debates:
"I don’t think he (Pineda) sounds like Steve (Perry)". Jonathan Cain 2009
"With Arnel’s soaring tenor, Journey returns to our heritage sound". Jonathan Cain (part of the official statement announcing new singer Arnel Pineda December 2007)
"There are plenty of singers out there that are true Steve Perry clones... they’re in Journey tribute bands". Jonathan Cain 2009
(The Zoo (Arnel Pineda's previous band) primarily performed 'tribute' covers including Journey classics).
"Jeremy Hunsicker, who was in a tribute band for Journey called Frontiers – we were considering him". Neal Schon 2008
And finally, a personal (Journey) favourite:
"...they turned out to be less than reliable sources. I heard they were alcoholics".
Jonathan Cain 2008
(In reply to a question regarding those that accused the band of lip syncing)
"Uh-huh. I'll drink to that". Ross Muir 2008
(in response, from A Personal Journey)
"I believe I was a functioning alcoholic". Neal Schon 2008
(Referring to life on the road of previous tours)
"…and maybe we can get Steve (Perry) to come out and join us this Summer…"
Neal Schon, with Perry, at the Hollywood Walk of Fame 2005
"Don’t go out and play these songs with someone else and crack the stone. Well, he did the same thing, way before we did! He went out on a solo tour, a solo Steve Perry tour, where none of us were invited…I mean, we’re completely done. I told you about the VH1 thing, which is true, about crackin’ the stone - I’ve been wanting to set that straight for a while. It’s the truth. So fuck him". Neal Schon 2008
"I had the opportunity of singing with Journey on one occasion in Oct. of 1993 at "Bimbo’s" in San Francisco for a benefit". Kevin Chalfant 2007
(One year before Steve Perry's solo tour alluded to in Schon’s “way before we did” commentary, and a reunion of Journey with Schon, Cain, Valory, Smith, Rolie and Chalfant as lead singer was considered prior to the Trial by Fire reformation)
On the Pineda v Perry and 'Tribute Band' debates:
"I don’t think he (Pineda) sounds like Steve (Perry)". Jonathan Cain 2009
"With Arnel’s soaring tenor, Journey returns to our heritage sound". Jonathan Cain (part of the official statement announcing new singer Arnel Pineda December 2007)
"There are plenty of singers out there that are true Steve Perry clones... they’re in Journey tribute bands". Jonathan Cain 2009
(The Zoo (Arnel Pineda's previous band) primarily performed 'tribute' covers including Journey classics).
"Jeremy Hunsicker, who was in a tribute band for Journey called Frontiers – we were considering him". Neal Schon 2008
And finally, a personal (Journey) favourite:
"...they turned out to be less than reliable sources. I heard they were alcoholics".
Jonathan Cain 2008
(In reply to a question regarding those that accused the band of lip syncing)
"Uh-huh. I'll drink to that". Ross Muir 2008
(in response, from A Personal Journey)
"I believe I was a functioning alcoholic". Neal Schon 2008
(Referring to life on the road of previous tours)