Met Steve Augeri

So there I was just wandering around the Newark, NJ airport on a layover and I walked past this restaurant on my way to the men's room. I happened to glance into a diner and saw a gentleman that looked oddly familiar. I didn't think much of it. I came back past once more to verify my suspicions. As I walked by I noticed the electric guitar he had leaning on the table. I had a feeling that it was indeed Steve Augeri formerly of the band Tall Stories in NYC and now the front-man for the supergroup Journey.

I decided to actually ask him if he was indeed the man that has added a different edge to the Journey songs that I've grown to love as well as adding his own part to the passionate soul of their new offerings and sure enough it was indeed Mr. Augeri.

Now I didn't want to be that oh-so-irritating crazy stalker-ish kind of star-crazy fanatic but I had to at least ask for a signature for my Journey memorabilia collection. Although I didn't have anything with me that he could sign, he jotted his "John Hancock" on the back surface of my Apple iPod. I want to report that Steve was a wonderful person to talk with. He asked me where I was headed and when I said "Out to Cupertino to do training for our new positions as Mac Geniuses" he mentioned that he had his "baby" (17" Powerbook G4) with him and that he does a great deal of work with the Apple software GarageBand.

Steve if you happen to read this, I apologize for hitting you up for the autograph. I wish you and all of the members of Journey the best and for what its worth, I appreciate the passion and dedication that each member puts into every note of every song. We won't stop Believin' if you won't. (I had to at least reference one song.)