In an interesting turn, all current band members--guitarist Neal Schon, keyboardist Jonathan Cain, bassist Ross Valory and drummer Deen Castronovo--sing lead vocals on different tracks on the forthcoming set.

Borne from Santana members Schon and keyboardist Greg Rolie, Journey was originally known as the Golden Gate Rhythm Section. After becoming Journey, the band had a string of hits in the '70s, crossed the threshold to superstardom with the 1981 album "Escape," and went on to sell more than 75 million albums worldwide.

The group is currently in the middle of a lengthy 30th Anniversary North American tour, and Brooklyn-native Augeri spoke to liveDaily from Dayton, OH.

liveDaily: How is the tour going so far?

Steve Augeri: It's going great. We're approaching our third leg, and have got about another month to go. For me, it started out slightly rocky because we started doing a three-hour show, and when you're used to singing for a certain set of time, and then taking on an additional hour, your game gets thrown off a little bit. For vocalists, little changes like that in your daily routine can shake things up, so it took me a little while to adjust. But like anything, we adapt. I, as well as everybody else, have grown into the new set, and it's second nature at this point.

When did you become a Journey fan?

"Escape" was the record that hooked me in. At the time, I was working in a record store in Brooklyn, NY, and I remember the first time hearing that record. Sales went through the roof. I remember putting out at least a case of it and selling 30 pieces in a day, and listening to it two or three times a day, personally. Whether it was brainwashing or not, I can't say, but it was welcome brainwashing.

And there's a connection with "Escape" to the new record "Generations," in producer Kevin Elson.

We felt the need to go in with Kevin, because of the great relationship he's had with the band through the years. He's a part of the family. I've been a member for the last eight years, and he's always been there doing the front-of-house sound. It was a logical thing to have him produce.

What was it like to work with him?

It's a natural fit. He's got such a great ear. The thing about Kevin, at this point he knows me really well. He knows when he can get the best out of me, and he can tell if I'm a little tired. He's heard my best and my worst, which is great, because sometimes a producer who's not as knowledgeable might settle for something that's mediocre, and Kevin will turn around and say, "We can definitely do that better. I know you've got it in you." He'll get the best performances out of you.

One interesting aspect of the album is that everybody's getting a chance to sing. Even Deen? The drummer?

Augeri: [laughs] Well, when you say, "Even Deen," I have to tell you, more than anybody, there's good reason for it. He has a voice … you'd have to sit down and compose yourself. He can sing that well. In fact, I was blown away myself, the first time I heard him. I couldn't believe it. To think that he had been behind the kit--I can only imagine that he's been singing all his life because he sounds so good. If anybody ever accused me of sounding like Steve Perry, I can only, without opening my mouth, turn to Deen and say, "Listen to this guy."

Where did you get the idea to let everybody sing lead?

We did a tour with Styx and REO Speedwagon a couple years ago, and through watching Styx's show, we were very entertained, because each bandmember had a vocal spotlight. That sparked something, and since each of us sings and has an individual voice, and in a lot of my favorite bands that was the case, [so] we decided to showcase that on the record. It's something for the fans, too. I think they appreciate that.

Talk a little about the Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony this January. Any fan of the band would want to know, what did you do when Steve Perry showed up?

In the back of my mind, I put myself in Steve's shoes and thought, "He has as much right, if not more, to be there and receive that honor as I do. Absolutely." It always comes back to the fans. We're only having this conversation because there are still a handful of people out there who want to read about it and want to listen to the music. So ultimately it's still about them. [As for Steve's appearance], they ate it up, and why shouldn't they? It was still a surprise, because it was my first meeting with him, but it was special. It was humbling for me, as I think you could imagine, and it kind of put things in perspective. But, all in all, it was a great day for Journey.

Are you guys doing anything in particular to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina? How has that affected you?

I'm as overwhelmed as each and every citizen of this country who turns on the television and is absolutely floored by the visuals that you see. The heartbreak and heart-wrenching ... the people who have been displaced ... I could tell you, right now we're in the middle of talking to Volunteers for America and putting together a couple of shows, similar to what we did for Sept. 11--which by the way, being a New Yorker, hit home for me. This kind of reactivates what happened back then, seeing a lot of people in need and a lot of heartbreak. It's constantly on our minds, and we're in the process of putting together a couple of shows, I think one will be in Houston and perhaps one in Atlanta. Right now, we're booked until mid-October, so we're looking to do it sometime in late October.