Vocalist Jeff Scott Soto recently discussed his dismissal from Journey with THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW. Here's an excerpt:
THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW We read in the press release that you were let go from Journey because the band wants to go back to the old sound. Im curious what you were told when you were let go from the band.
JEFF SCOTT SOTO Actually, I cant go into too many specifics here because there are some pending things going back and forth, but what I can say is that I wasnt really told anything. I cant get into any kind of trouble by stating the true fact that I havent spoken to any one of those guys since the last show that we did together, which was back in Virginia on May 12th. I left for Europe three days after that to start the Talisman farewell tour. Like I said, I havent spoken to one guy in the band since that day. Nobody has bothered to call me, and it was all done through the management and through all their top people because they just didnt want to address it. Maybe they felt that Id want to discuss it with them, and there just wasnt any grounds for discussion. It is what it is, and I was just kind of given the walking papers. The only thing I have to go on is exactly what you said. The press release states exactly that. They felt they needed someone that can live their legacy and do their catalog the way the fans have come to expect it. I honestly didnt see that when I was playing with them. As you said, we were kicking ass out there. Every show was just knocking them dead. It even got to the point where Def Leppard had to raise their game. They went out there and went, Guys, they are playing before us. We cant slag tonight. Every night they were on top of their game, because they realized that if they slacked off for two seconds, everyone was going to go, Journey beat them again tonight. It was a very good and healthy competition between the two bands, and God bless them for it. Were all getting up there in our years, but we all kind of felt like we were kids again going out there and doing those shows.
THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW You dont have to answer this, but what I heard was that you heard that you were no longer part of Journey before you were actually told.
JEFF SCOTT SOTO Uh yeah. Id rather not go into Basically by me not commenting, thats basically saying yes, but for the most part, Id rather not say anything to that. Im not about berating anybody . As far as Im concerned, yeah I was hurt being let go the way I was. I had a nice feeling about the band. I had a great respect for them, and I was so happy to be there. I looked forward to a nice, fruitful career with the band. Thats why it hurt in being let go, but Im not going to sit here and berate anybody and put anybody down. Its time for me to move on and its time for them to move on. Thats how I see it.
THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW We read in the press release that you were let go from Journey because the band wants to go back to the old sound. Im curious what you were told when you were let go from the band.
JEFF SCOTT SOTO Actually, I cant go into too many specifics here because there are some pending things going back and forth, but what I can say is that I wasnt really told anything. I cant get into any kind of trouble by stating the true fact that I havent spoken to any one of those guys since the last show that we did together, which was back in Virginia on May 12th. I left for Europe three days after that to start the Talisman farewell tour. Like I said, I havent spoken to one guy in the band since that day. Nobody has bothered to call me, and it was all done through the management and through all their top people because they just didnt want to address it. Maybe they felt that Id want to discuss it with them, and there just wasnt any grounds for discussion. It is what it is, and I was just kind of given the walking papers. The only thing I have to go on is exactly what you said. The press release states exactly that. They felt they needed someone that can live their legacy and do their catalog the way the fans have come to expect it. I honestly didnt see that when I was playing with them. As you said, we were kicking ass out there. Every show was just knocking them dead. It even got to the point where Def Leppard had to raise their game. They went out there and went, Guys, they are playing before us. We cant slag tonight. Every night they were on top of their game, because they realized that if they slacked off for two seconds, everyone was going to go, Journey beat them again tonight. It was a very good and healthy competition between the two bands, and God bless them for it. Were all getting up there in our years, but we all kind of felt like we were kids again going out there and doing those shows.
THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW You dont have to answer this, but what I heard was that you heard that you were no longer part of Journey before you were actually told.
JEFF SCOTT SOTO Uh yeah. Id rather not go into Basically by me not commenting, thats basically saying yes, but for the most part, Id rather not say anything to that. Im not about berating anybody . As far as Im concerned, yeah I was hurt being let go the way I was. I had a nice feeling about the band. I had a great respect for them, and I was so happy to be there. I looked forward to a nice, fruitful career with the band. Thats why it hurt in being let go, but Im not going to sit here and berate anybody and put anybody down. Its time for me to move on and its time for them to move on. Thats how I see it.
