By the time he reached his mid-30’s, Jeff Scott Soto had already spent twenty years splitting his time between recording studios and concert stages around the world. From heavy metal and funk to AOR and pop, Jeff has done it all.
Born November 4, 1965, in Brooklyn, New York, Jeff Scott Soto relocated to the San Fernando Valley in California at the age of eight. During his formative years, while his friends were drawn to the likes of Kiss, Jeff’s musical tastes leaned more toward bands like Queen, Journey and Motown artists like the Jackson 5. Following graduation from high school in 1983, Jeff and his older brother Joey formed a series of dead-end metal bands.
In late 1984, Soto answered an open call for audition tapes by former Alcatrazz guitarist Yngwie J. Malmsteen. Jeff’s major label debut on ‘Yngwie J. Malmsteen’s Rising Force’ was released on Polydor that year. In 1985, Jeff returned to the recording studio to record Malmsteen’s ‘Marching Out’. The band began kicked off a tour in Japan, creating quite a stir; a Tokyo concert was filmed and later released on video as ‘Chasing Yngwie: Live in Tokyo, ‘85’.
After leaving Yngwie’s band, Jeff recorded demos with ex-Kiss guitarist Vinnie Vincent and later resurfaced with Japanese guitarist Kuni Takeuchi on 1988’s ‘Lookin’ for Action’. Jeff also recorded vocals, albeit under an alias, for ‘Kryst the Conqueror’, a project spearheaded by members of punk legends The Misfits.
In 1990 Jeff Scott Soto collaborated with former Rising Force band mate, bassist Marcel Jacob, in a distinctly European metal band called Talisman. He also appeared with hard-rocking California party band Eyes. Neither band toured extensively; Jeff found time to record 1991’s ‘Skrapp Mettle’ album, wisely appearing under an assumed name.
1992 brought Jeff together with German guitarist Axel Rudi Pell for ‘Eternal Prisoner’, the first of four studio albums he would record with Pell. Throughout the Nineties, Soto split his time between Axel Rudi Pell, Talisman, the short-lived Eyes and Takara. 1993 saw the release of four albums to feature Jeff’s vocal work: Talisman’s sophomore release ‘Genesis’, the Eyes demo album ‘Windows of the Soul’, the soundtrack to the cartoon film ‘Biker Mice from Mars’ and ‘Eternal Faith’ by Takara. Jeff went on to write and record two more albums with Takara, 1995’s ‘Taste of Heaven’ and 1998’s ‘Blind in Paradise’.
1994 was a banner year. Talisman released ‘Five Out of Five Live’, recorded on their successful debut Japanese tour. While they busied themselves writing the next studio album, ‘Humanimal’, Jeff recorded ‘Between the Walls’ with Axel Rudi Pell, and paired up with Takara’s Gary Schutt, contributing lead vocals to Schutt’s ‘Sentimetal’ solo disc.
1995 brought Soto’s first solo endeavor, ‘Love Parade’. It was a funky affair, with affectionate nods to influences Prince and Queen. Following the release of Talisman’s ‘Life’ that year, Marcel and Jeff recorded the first of two albums as Human Clay. Former taskmaster Yngwie Malmsteen appeared on the album, repaying Jacob and Soto’s contributions on Malmsteen’s own ‘Inspiration’ album. Rounding out 1996, Jeff recorded a third studio album with Axel Rudi Pell, ‘Black Moon Pyramid’. Two Talisman best-of compilations also appeared that year, ‘Besterious’ and ‘Best of Talisman’.
While Jeff could be heard on the raw ‘U4IA’ album by Human Clay and his final Pell album, 1997’s ‘Magic’, he could also be heard singing “Grease” and “YMCA” on the Boogie Knights album ‘Welcome to the Jungle Boogie’. The band was the premier party band of its kind, appearing in movies, on TV and at special events nationwide. The grueling pace of his Boogie Knights schedule didn’t keep Jeff from completing 1998’s ‘Truth’ album with the revamped Talisman. ‘Truth’ featured some of Jeff’s most impressive vocal work, as well as innovative arrangements of songs by Queen, Prince and Madonna.
Most of 1999 and 2000 was spent doing odd sessions here and there. Jeff recorded contributions for tributes to both Van Halen and Ozzy, laid down lead vocals for the film ‘Rock Star’ and recorded a series of demos with Zakk Wylde. Perhaps most interesting was an invitation to perform with Queen’s Brian May at the annual Queen convention in the UK. Jeff has since furthered his reputation among Queen fans with a series of appearances with the SAS Band (Spike’s All Stars), Queen sideman Spike Edney’s band.
In early 2002 Jeff, Marcel and guitarist Pontus Norgren convened under the banner of Humanimal to record a single self-titled album. Later that same year, Jeff shared the stage with Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor at an October event celebrating Queen’s induction to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Jeff also made his UK debut as a headliner at the 2002 Gods festival, an acclaimed performance later released on CD and DVD.
2003 was all about Jeff Scott Soto the solo artist. First came the release of Jeff’s second solo album, ‘Prism’, featuring a who’s who of musicians from Jeff’s career and a duet with the great Glenn Hughes. Then upon the release of ‘Cats & Dogs’, a reunited Talisman undertook a short tour in the late summer, at the tail end of Soto’s successful European solo tour. Highlighting Jeff’s solo tour was an encore performance at the 2003 UK Queen Convention, issued on CD and DVD to the delight of Soto’s growing fan base.
Soto began 2004 with the writing and recording of his third solo album, titled ‘Lost in the Translation’. In addition, a performance at the January, 2004 NAMM show with Journey guitarist Neal Schon blossomed into a new project called Soul SirkUS. Jeff released ‘Lost in the Translation’ – which also featured Soul SirkUS band mate Neal Schon - to widespread acclaim, and effectively brought 2004 to a close with a return to stages in the United States, Europe and South America in support of the album. He also extended his reach around the globe with a two-week solo tour of Australia.
Soul SirkUS became Jeff’s focus for much of 2005. Following the release of the band’s debut CD ‘World Play’, Soul SirkUS spent all of April and May on tour, criss-crossing the United States and Europe. Soto returned to Europe and South America for a solo tour in the Fall of 2005, before returning home to begin work on what would be his fourth solo album.
The early months of 2006 were spent writing music in an altogether new direction, as Jeff collaborated with several notable Swedish songsmiths. At the same time, Jeff squeezed in enough time to record vocals for a somewhat unexpected Talisman album, the appropriately titled ‘7’. Thanks to a promotional push in the UK spearheaded by Richard Mace, Soto’s music garnered valuable airplay on the BBC radio network. In May of 2006, Soto parlayed his surge in popularity into ‘Essential Ballads’, a compilation of album cuts, b-sides and rarities that acted as a perfect calling card for the uninitiated. In July 2006, having just kicked off a major co-headlining tour of North America with Def Leppard, Journey suddenly found itself without a lead singer. Within the week, and without the benefit of a rehearsal, Jeff Scott Soto found himself face to face with 20,000 screaming Journey fans. By the time the tour buses rolled to a halt at the tail end of November, due to overwhelming demand the tour had been extended a full three months beyond its original August ending date. In December of 2006 came the official announcement of Jeff Scott Soto as the lead singer for Journey.
June 2007 brought the disappointing news of Jeff Scott Soto’s departure from Journey. This turn of events precluded any opportunity for Journey and JSS to collaborate in the studio and capitalize on the enormous potential of their union, a sentiment echoed on countless forums and fan sites across the internet. Jeff wasted no time, however; he dedicated the remainder of 2007 to completing his next solo album, begun prior to joining Journey. ‘A Beautiful Mess’, initially released via iTunes in September 2008, proved to be some of the most forward-thinking songs of Soto’s career, making it apparent that Jeff had reached the next stage in his evolution as an artist.
Jeff Scott Soto, or JSS as he is affectionately referred to by his fans, continues to stir the numerous irons he has in the fire at any given moment. News of Jeff’s latest and greatest endeavors will be forthcoming, as always, when they are ready to share with the world.
It’s an exciting time to be a fan of the music of Jeff Scott Soto. And in case you hadn’t noticed, Jeff’s made a lot of music to be a fan of. This biography is only the tip of the iceberg. So for the completists out there, print off a copy of Jeff’s discography, and happy hunting!
W.E.T.
Alongside members of Work Of Art and Eclipse, Soto founded W.E.T. The group, named after the initials of the band involved, Soto's representing Talisman, released a self-titled debut album in November 2009. In 2013, they released their second album Rise Up, and their third studio album Earthrage followed in 2018. They began recording a new album in 2020.
Sons of Apollo
In May 2017, he joined a progressive metal supergroup named Sons of Apollo with Derek Sherinian, bassist Billy Sheehan, drummer Mike Portnoy and guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal. Their debut album, Psychotic Symphony, was released Oct 20, 2017 with Inside Out/Sony. After releasing a live album in 2019, Sons of Apollo released their second album MMXX in January 2020.
Octavision
In 2020, alongside his Sons Of Apollo co-bandmate Billy Sheehan, Soto was invited by a Glendale, California based Armenian guitarist Hovak Alaverdyan to participate in his progressive metal project Octavision. There, Soto performed vocal duties on two tracks - "Coexist" and "Apocalyptus". The album titled Coexist was released on 29th December 2020.
Solo albums
* 1994 - Love Parade
* 2002 - Holding On (EP)
* 2002 - Prism
* 2003 - JSS Live at the Gods (live)
* 2004 - Believe in Me (EP)
* 2004 - Lost In The Translation
* 2006 - Essential Ballads
* 2009 - Beautiful Mess
* 2012 - Damage Control
* 2017 - Retribution
* 2020 - Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)
* 2021 - The Duets Collection, Vol. 1
* 2022 - Complicated
Drowning
Jeff Scott Soto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I dont know where u think u got the right, the right the rule my life
If u think u got me on a string
U'd better take another look at yourself, aint hard 2 satisfy
Doesn't really matter what I do or say, no
But you're pushing me away
Don't wanna let u down again
I gotta confess I'm really drowning from your love
& I wont go down, dont let me down
Why do u insist on constantly bringing me down
When all I do is convey, convey 2 your desire
Nothing but frustration time & time & time again
You're driving me 2 escape & reach 4 something higher
All the things u said are ringing in my ears
& you're pushing me away
There's something about u got me drowning from your love
Don't wanna let u down again
I gotta confess I'm really drowning from your love
& I wont go down
There's something about u got me drowning from your love
Don't wanna let u down again
I gotta remake I'm really drowning from your love
& I aint going down again
There's something about u got me drowning from your love
Don't wanna let u down again
I gotta confess I'm really drowning from your love
Aint going down
The lyrics of Jeff Scott Soto's song "Drowning" convey a sense of frustration and helplessness in a toxic, one-sided relationship. The singer is being pushed and controlled by their partner who constantly brings them down and doesn't seem to respect their life choices. Despite struggling to keep their head above water and feeling like they are drowning in their partner's love, the singer wants to hold onto the relationship and hopes to find some way to make it work.
The lines "There's a time & place 4 everything u say & do, I don't know where u think u got the right, the right the rule my life" express the singer's frustration with their partner's constant attempts at controlling them. The lyrics "All the things u said are ringing in my ears & you're pushing me away" convey the singer's desperation to find a way out of this situation.
The chorus of the song, with the repeated lines "There's something about u got me drowning from your love, Don't wanna let u down again, I gotta confess I'm really drowning from your love, & I wont go down, don't let me down" expresses the intense emotion and inner turmoil the singer is experiencing. The repeated use of the lines "drowning from your love" suggests the suffocation and emotional weight of the relationship.
Overall, Jeff Scott Soto's song "Drowning" is a powerful and emotional expression of the mental and emotional turmoil that can arise in a toxic relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a time & place 4 everything u say & do
There is a certain time and situation for every word and act you choose to do
I dont know where u think u got the right, the right the rule my life
I am unsure about where you think you have the authority to dictate my life
If u think u got me on a string
U'd better take another look at yourself, aint hard 2 satisfy
If you believe that you control me, you need to reconsider your expectations because I am easy to please
Doesn't really matter what I do or say, no
But you're pushing me away
No matter what I say or do, it seems like you are intentionally creating distance between us
There's something about u got me drowning from your love
Don't wanna let u down again
I gotta confess I'm really drowning from your love
& I wont go down, dont let me down
You have such an intense hold on me that I feel like I am drowning, and I do not want to disappoint you, but I need you to support me
Why do u insist on constantly bringing me down
When all I do is convey, convey 2 your desire
Why do you continuously try to discourage me when all I am doing is fulfilling your wishes?
Nothing but frustration time & time & time again
You're driving me 2 escape & reach 4 something higher
I keep getting frustrated because of your actions, and it is driving me to seek something more fulfilling
All the things u said are ringing in my ears
& you're pushing me away
I cannot forget the hurtful things you said, and it seems like you are still creating distance between us
I gotta remake I'm really drowning from your love
& I aint going down again
I need to heal and acknowledge that your love is overwhelming, but I will not let it consume me again
There's something about u got me drowning from your love
Don't wanna let u down again
I gotta confess I'm really drowning from your love
Aint going down
You have such an intense hold on me that I feel like I am drowning, and I do not want to disappoint you, but I refuse to let it consume me
Contributed by Leo K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.