| Who Are We? |
 About Us |
 JourneyDigest.com Staff |
 Journey Digest Forums |
| Journey Digest Mailing List |
| Who Is Journey? |
| Journey Band Members |
| Journey Albums and Lyrics |
| What Do We Do? |
 Journey Analysis |
| Journey Album Reviews |
| JD Radio Station Listings |
| Journey Concert Reviews |
| Journey Interviews |
| Journey News |
| Feature Articles |
| Resources For You |
| Journey Links |
| JD Opportunities |
| JD Mailing List |
| JD Forums |
by Dan Stacy
Naysayers, Naysayers, nattering nabobs of negativity. You see them all around. Negativity in the face of change, progress associated with problems, you name it, it's negative.
Many in life find change a bad thing. I think we're programmed that way, or as Dr. Phil would say, 'we're wired that way.' We long for a sense of security. Those of us who enjoyed a pleasant childhood have fond memories of the way things used to be. We long for that sense of carefree joy and happiness, which was brought to us by our parents, which knew the wisdom of not laying the problems of the world on the shoulders of the young. Change just scares us, and we look back, often remembering the past so fondly that we embellish it beyond reality.
Journey is nothing new to this scenario. A very large group of Journey fans remembers the heyday of Journey. Journey was great in the past, so we've been told -- and they most definitely were. Journey was a national act, in fact, internationally sought after. But let's re-examine that reality.
The Journey I'm referring to is the so-called Classic Lineup -- that of Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Ross Valory, Jonathan Cain, and Steve Smith. But, for those purists among us out there, did you know that of those five, only Neal Schon and Ross Valory are original members? Trust me, there were, and still are, those fans out there bemoaning the changing face of Journey. Oh, where are Prarie Prince, Ansley Dunbar, Gregg Rolie, even Robert Fleischman and George Tickner? Where is that heavy fusion-oriented, slightly Santana sounding band of new rock renegades? They've all gone pop.
The Classic Lineup of Journey had its ride to the top, at a time of their own. It was a time made for Journey, and a Journey made for that time. The sound was new, energized, and timeless. Think I'm wrong about this? Turn on your radio to almost any Adult Contemporary, Classic Rock, or Easy Listening station and wait for a half-hour. You'll hear the boys. The sound is lasting and enduring, and almost as fresh each time it's played as the first time.
Yet, there were troubles in Journey, as in almost every band in the land. One would think that prosperity and fame would diminish all the troubles, but it would seem to be the case that with added fame and fortune comes more heartache. There were internal issues. There was a band manager pushing for more, more, more. He knew, right or wrong, that you don't stop, or even slow down, when you're on top. He knew that nobody stays on top for very long, and the best way to be remembered is to get on top and hang on with every bit of your energy for as long as possible. But with that comes personal sacrifice, fatigue, and finally, strife.
Yes, the guys found their Journey to be a bit less tolerable than it once was. There were personal issues, there were communication breakdowns, and in the end, there were separate bands. Neal and Jon went on the only way they could, they weren't ready for the end of Journey. They did everything they could to try to keep the nightmare from happening, but as with any crisis, it wouldn't be a crisis if it were totally in our hands. The band broke up.
Remember those years of Journey Digest? Remember the early years. There really was not a lot of Journey information on the Internet. There was a Box Set that came out. Those of us who heard the previously unreleased material initially thought, could it be? Journey back again? But no, it wasn't to be. Steven Lake's Journey Tribute page was an imense find for those thirsting for more. I personally spent countless hours marveling at the countless hours Steven spent on putting his favorite band up for the world to see. The man was tireless, a real tribute to his favorite band. This would be a phenomena to be repeated, to this very day. Soon the Journey-L and Journey-L-Digest mailing list would be up and functional. While it was only one of a slew of lists which Hunter Goatley owned, it was characters like Britt Pierce that made it a treasure. I remember stumbling across this gem of a list and thinking, this is the next best thing to Journey coming back together. Thanks to Steven Lake for linking the list to his web site. Soon there were tens of web sites, and then over fifty different web sites devoted to Journey.
Things are different now. Journey is back. But you know, for as long as folks waited, they couldn't see what was right under their nose. I remember the comments on the Journey Digest when the band reunited. 'Steve's voice will never hold up to a concert schedule.' 'The guys just can't write new material, that would be changing who they are.' 'The guys can't just rely on dated sounding material.' Then came the album, and a mixed review. To this day, Trial By Fire still is a stigma to some fans. Even those who claimed to like it have mixed things to say about it, and I doubt you would still find the CD in their car. It was a great album, but still most fans weren't looking for that album. The truth is, most of them were looking for something they remember, the way they remember it.
Flash up a year, and we have a new lead vocalist, and a new drummer. The drummer is new to some of us, but others remember him from the days with Bad English, and he has our respect. The vocalist is new to most of us, but he's known to a few of us from his Tall Stories days. He's a breath of fresh air. Think of how things were with Steve Perry circa Infinity, there you have Steve Augeri. His grace, style, charm, vocal ablility, and rapport with the audience grows steadily each day.
But still, we had folks who would make such statements as 'if it's not with Steve Perry, it's not Journey.' They'd make such statements without even having heard the band.
What else did the critics say? For starters, they said Journey would never get backing. Well, Sony stayed with the band initially. Then, they claimed Journey could never pull off a tour. Bring in Journey's 1998 and 1999 Vacation's Over tours. The band played night after night for two years, packing out some venues and coming close with others. We had extended song sets, audience input via the web site, and new material. Next, Steve Augeri could never pull off Steve P erry era songs. Well, listen to the way Steve nails Separate Ways and tell me that. After that, we hear Journey in its current lineup is not going to last long. I'm here to tell you negative nancy's out there, Journey in its current lineup has outlasted any other lineup of said band. They've toured since 1998. They've put out a soundtrack single, a full album, and an EP disc. They continue to tour, and have toured alone, as well as with other acts, among which number Peter Frampton, Jon Waite, Foreigner, and the latest being REO Speedwagon and Styxx.
Do you remember the debates we used to have about how Journey would have to open for bands like Foreigner and Styxx? Have they opened on a major tour yet? No.
What does all this mean? Well, sometimes we 'cut off our foot to spite our toe.' Or, we 'throw the baby out with the bathwater.' We get so wrapped up in the way things used to be, not realizing that great or not, we're comparing the present to memories of the past. Our memories are mostly comprized of the good experiences, with the bad experiences shaved off the top. We fondly look back to a time when we had fun, and we label it the most fun we've ever had. In the process, we spend so much time and effort mourning the past, that we fail to realize what is taking place around us.
Journey is here, they've been here for quite a few years now, and they're still here. We need to stop the moaning and complaining, stop the comparisons, and just recognize this is the next form of Journey. Just as the Classic Lineup was not the original Journey, it had some of the elements of the original Journey, and we grew to love it. And the same applies here. The current lineup has elements of the original and the classic versions of Journey, and so much more.
I predict that 20 years from now there will be folks bemoaning the fact that they spent so much time obsessing about where the Classic Lineup of Journey went, that they didn't realize until after the band had retired just how good they really were. And with that goes the opportunity to see that band live.
We live in a land of opportunity, in a time of opportunity, and this is a band of opportunities. The guys have made a major comeback to their fanbase. Even the classic material is selling more than it would have without the current activity by the band; and the radio play is also enhanced. So the question to you is, have you seen Journey? Have you heard them? Have you just put an Arrival or Red13 CD in your player and cranked it way up? What are you waiting for? Don't let your memories rob you of more memories. The memories you can add now are just that -- added memories, not replaced memories. It's ok to like the new lineup of Journey as well as the Classic Lineup, it's not blasphemy.
Don't be a Negative Nancy when what's needed is a Positive Percy.
Copyright © 1994-2006 Dan Stacy, Journey Digest, JourneyDigest.com
No portion of this article may be reprinted without express written permission from the author and JourneyDigest.com