Steve Augeri, who fronted Journey for almost a decade from the late ’90s to mid-2000s, recently joined the Chuck Shute Podcast and discussed the latest conflict between current frontman Arnel Pineda and guitarist Neal Schon, remarking why the pair should patch things up and why he wouldn’t want to rejoin the band.
It is fair to say that Journey is a bit infamous for the personal disputes between bandmates or, probably, primarily for conflicts with Neal Schon. Following Steve Perry’s lawsuits against Schon and more recent legal troubles between Jonathan Cain and Neal, now things have heated up between vocalist Arnel Pineda and the guitarist as the former gave an ultimatum and dared Schon to fire him.
Augeri commented on the recent controversies, stating he wished not to be involved since it was none of his business. The rocker emphasized that the band had been together for fifty years, which should mean something. So, his former bandmates needed to make things up for the sake of Journey’s future and the fans.
However, when the host asked if he would like to rejoin the band again to replace Arnel, Augeri replied with a definite no. The singer detailed that even though he was grateful for his run with Journey, he was on a different path now and, honestly, wouldn’t be able to catch up with the band’s busy schedule. So, he firmly shut the door to any reunion with his former band.
The former Journey vocalist’s remarks on the recent disputes among Journey members:
“Look, if you asked me about them or if you asked me about my next-door neighbor and if their marriage was kind of rocky, it’s the same thing. It’s not my business; it’s none of my business. However, it’s a relationship that’s going on for 50 years, and that’s extraordinary just to achieve that milestone.
And if you don’t have cracks in your foundation, I don’t know — you must also walk on water. ‘Nobody’ walks on water. They’ve been together this long. There’s a good chance that they could… I’m sure they could patch things up, except things have been a little rocky lately, more so than ever.
That’s all I can say. It’s theirs to work out, their issue to work out. And I hope they do — for the sake of the band and equally for the sake of the fans because you can’t help but think that it affects them as well.”
The rocker on the question if he would reunite with Journey if Arnel were to part ways:
“Well, I would probably say no and no. And I’ll tell you why. If they asked me to go, for starters… Look, I’ve had my day in the sun, I’ve had my run, and I think it was wonderful. Arnel has done that, and probably twice as long as I’ve been there, and he’s done it magnificently.
I think they need to patch it up with the current team; I just think that’s the way it is. Because if I were to go with whatever faction… Because, unfortunately, right now, it appears to be like there’s two camps… I love those guys — if I could call it ‘love’ — and respect them equally for different reasons because they gave me the biggest shot anybody could.
And I would hate to turn my back on one or the other, so it’d probably be just better… And I’m content doing what I’m doing. Those guys still go out five days a week, and I can’t physically do that. The joy would… After the first show, I’d be like a deer in the headlights: ‘Is my voice gonna work after the third show on the third day?’ And that’s not where I’d like to be.”
It seems like Steve Augeri greatly respects Arnel Pineda and his former bandmates, so he didn’t want to turn his back on both sides. The rocker also believes he doesn’t have the physical energy to take the stage one day after the other, so he wishes that the current lineup works things out and continues on their Journey.
