Sergio,

You basically are a Steve Perry fan, not a Journey fan - which is fine. It sounds like you have an open mind about Augeri, and Its cool you'll most likely enjoy the new CD even without Perry.

Many of us rock fans, and especially Journey fans LOVE instrumentals and it is only an opinion about the first Journey albums being un-listenable to - many of us enjoy the hell out of them. I'll take any of the first 3 over Raised on Radio - a completely Perry driven album.

The fans who are saying Journey is better off without Perry, are most likely just expressing their frustration that the alternative would be to have NO Journey. Perry isn't an option, and so, essentially, they are better off without him.

Schon and Cain's solo albums may not have had commercial hits, but have you ever heard of the Babys, Santana, HSAS, Hardline, Bad English or Abraxus Pool. MUCH. MUCH better than Perry's solo efforts. For the Love of Strange Medicine is nice, but it isn't strong.

Just my opinions.......