Vintage Journey

[edgar_allan_poe]

That's all fine and good but what Perry can you sing and will you be at the DC Gathering 7/29?

Yes...I will be there. As far as the Perry stuff goes, here is the deal. I can do it, but after I do 1 or 2 songs, I am shot.

I do however want to try some stuff I have always wanted to sing live. I have no idea if I can pull this stuff off, but I am throwing down the gauntlet for you guys. LOL!!!! Here is what I want to try, if you guys can play it, I will give it a shot. I am not sure what it will sound like...but it will be a blast to try. LOL!!

1. If you want my love - Cheap Trick

2. She's Tight - Cheap trick

3. Shake a leg - AC/DC

[edgar_allan_poe]

They were all ready to tour in '96 and Perry injured his hip so they didn't do anything. They tried to do it again and Perry had more "issues". The rest of the band finally had enough and found a new singer so they could tour

IMHO that stuff was made up to keep from humiliating Perry. Trust me Mike...I saw him on one of his solo tours late in his career...no way he could do Journey stuff. Not even a chance, he just didn't have it anymore. It broke my heart to see that.

[jettster]

I don't like that Steve Perry is not in the band. I've heard various reports about Steve's illness and the band wanting to tour w/o him to cash in (I could be wrong but that's what I remember of it). Does anyone know exactly what happened?

I found this and from what I've read/heard it seems to be fairly accurate.

Everyone,

veteran fans and new fans alike have their opinion as to who, what and why Journey broke up. But I've yet to read anything close to the truth. Rather just mean-spirited comments aimed at either Neal or Steve. When in truth it was neither gentleman's

fault, that the band departed without Steve P. It was time and circumstances that severed the Steve P. and Journey relationship. So here is the real history: Neal Schon is the FOUNDER of Journey. Originally Journey was SUPPOSE to be an

ACOUSTIC/INSTRUMENTAL type band, the way of Santana. Neal Schon at 15 was given the chance of a lifetime to play in Santana, he later would also play with Eric Clapton's then band "Derek and The Dominoes. Neal did not see the latter band lasting too long and decided to branch out and form a band of his own JOURNEY.

They got medicore reviews and some gigs here and there but the acoustic Journey band thing was just not happening. Neal held on to his dream for the band, like a pitbull, full steam ahead, playing acoustic gigs until his manager Herbie Herbert informed Neal, that Columbia, their current record company was going to drop them unless they started turning out a profit. As they were, the acoustic Journey thing, was losing the Columbia record company money, poor sales and low to no fan base. The company told Herbie to do something to "turn the band around" or they'd be dropped immediately.

Sometime later Neal tried a lead singer for the band, their first time performing with the guy, the entire band was booed from the stage. The new "lead singer" thing did not gel well with the band or Neal's vision of Journey. Neal went back to his

original acoustic format of Journey. He did not care if the company dropped his band, he'd carry on. However his manager Herbie "Love Bug" Herbert saw greater potential in Journey beyond Neal's vision of it. He also had a demo from a virtually

unknown singer, who was amazing, but in a band falling apart. That person was Steve Perry, the band he was in were on the verge of falling apart. The band's drummer had recently been killed in a car accident. It took the wind out of Steve Perry's sails, so to speak, upon learning about the death of his band mate. Steve was close to the deceased drummer and the band was on the verge of being signed before the death. It was too much for Steve, he swore off music and got a job working for his uncle repairing Turkey coups on a local farm, swearing to never sing again. Meanwhile an unknown angel, thought Steve had far too much potential to not be big in the music business, by throwing it away to be a turkey coup repair man, so this unknown angel sent a demo tape of Steve singing with his previous defunct band, to Herbie Herbert.

Herbert was looking for the right man to be lead singer of Journey, against Neal Schons wishes and stubborn protestions of NO LEAD SINGERS in Journey. Thank God Herbie the manager knew better. He listened to the demo of Steve Perry singing and decided then and there that Steve would be the new lead singer of Journey. Neal was not open to the idea but he had no choice, it was either try another lead singer, or lose your record contract. Not to mention oweing the record company millions of dollars in loss profits that acoustic Journey did not make. Though Neal did not make it easy or pleasant for Steve Perry. He became an intrical necessary part of Journey. In time, as Neal saw how the live audiences responded to Steve Perry as lead singer, he felt "this just might work." As time went on Journey with their new lead singer became a major force in Rock and Roll. Steve Perry as front man started to attract something new in the Journey audiences "females" where as before the

'acoustic Journey' had a male to female audience, with the ratio of males out numbering the females. Steve's amazing vocals turned all that around. Perry's voice and unmatched

vocals were so overpowering, that when written about in music trade papers and reviews, the critics and fans alike were calling it "Steve Perry & Journey" or "Steve Perry's Journey". Naturally this caused bitterness in Schon towards Perry,

he felt Perry was taking credit for a band he Schon created. But Steve could no more control what people wrote about the band or how they wrote it, no more than he could avoid not being the amazing singer he was. Feeling uncredited and pushed out of the spotlight, Neal made it tough for Steve in Journey, especially when it came to songs. Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain had worked on a song called "Open Arms", Cain had the song for years but was unable or too unsure the song would ever become anything. Steve heard the melody of "Open Arms" and encouraged Cain to come to his home, where the two collaborated and reworked the song, which became one of many of Journey's #1 hits. Not only that, but Open Arms was also a crossover success. It started to get airplay on black urban radio. Which was unheard of for a white rock band, at that time. It was a first in the history of Rock and Roll. A rock group had broken through to the R&B market, gaining not only a new audience of fans but a black audience fan following. Open Arms became a requested favorite on many R&B radio stations, especially on the "midnight love" hour. Neal, who felt the song was too sappy, highly protested the group even recording the song,

and did not want it to be on the album Escape. Finally Steve had proven himself to be a formidable collaborater and song writer within the group. Neal had to give Steve credit and Cain, for giving the band their first crossover #1, which gained the group Journey an even larger fan base than ever before. Although he still gave Steve a hard time, and their relationship as band mates, would always be 'rocky', Neal finally accepted Steve as an official part of the band. By the time the Frontiers album started coming about, the band had already been through some heady and internal changes. But as brothers in music they stuck it out and stayed together playing on. Then Steve Perry's mother was stricken with Cancer, she had been fighting the disease for years and had recovered. This time she was losing the fight, this affected Steve's ability to perform. He separated himself from his bandmates while on tour, and with every chance he got, he flew back home to be at his Mother's side. Steve had a helicopter waiting at every recording session for the Frontiers album, in case his Mom's condition took a turn for the worse. This caused considerable upheavel among the other band members. Steve chose to keep his pain private and shut out his bandmates and in doing so the riff between him and the others began to grow.

It would be a riff that would only get stronger, by time and more uncertain circumstances.

After his Mom's passing, Steve pulled it together and focused on Journey again, but the others especially Neal, never forgot how Steve acted or treated them. The other bandmates experienced life changes as well, divorces, etc, but Journey always stayed together. Eventually Steve P. Neal S. Steve S. and Jonathan C. would all go on to do or work on solo projects during breaks from Journey. These solo projects would also be the start, of rumours that the band was breaking up, but to the chagrin of many critics and other hard core rock artist, who didn't consider Journey to be Rock and Roll sounding, Journey reunited and continued to run circles around many. Breaking record sales, live stadium attendance records, and making critics eat crow, by putting out albums that fans snatched up like hot hams at Christmas. During that time, some felt Steve was taking too much control in Journey. Steve's side was merely, he wanted more input and producing control, over and on the songs he had to sing as front man. He didn't think it was asking too much, but as he probably did not recall, Neal and others in the band, still held it against Steve for what they deemed 'snotty' behavoiur towards them when his Mom died. So Steve had to fight for writing credits and song control, which he eventually won because the songs he wrote for and with the band are the ones that sold the most records. Time and circumstance. The band had taken a long break, then came back together to try to give it a shot after many years apart. The album would be titled Trial by Fire, an ironic, if not aptly titled CD especially for Steve P. Old wounds had been healed and the past forgiven, so they thought. During a break in the recording sessions for TBF, Steve took a short vacation in Hawaii where he made the decision to go rock climbing. Something he'd always done before a tour, to unwind and relax. It would prove to be the catalyst to the ending of his career with Journey. During the climb Steve P. fell and injured his left side, mainly his hip. When he got back to the states he was already in excruiating pain. He checked himself into the Hospital. He was told that he had to have hip-replacement surgery, and that it was not to be entered into lightly. He was told that he could die on the operating table. The news hit Steve and the band real hard. What was harder was the fact that the band had been informed through their manager that the record company wanted them on the road ASAP! Also many in the band were going through financial hardship, so sales from a huge tour was to serve to be a saviour for many in the band. Ross Valory in particular had gotten himself into a bind financially, with his home about to be foreclosed on, this tour meant a way out. By providing him with an income he so desperately needed. The others had obligations to family, and child support, to deal with. the Trial by Fire Tour, was just that. A Trial! Steve, after talking it over with the doctors, and family, decided to forego surgery until later. The band felt however, that he should have the surgery, get healed, go through rehabilitation and get his butt ready to get on the road. Steve felt the band was being unreasonable and didn't care about his 50/50 chance on the operating table. The band in turn felt it was awfully selfish of Steve, to make everyone wait until HE decided to have surgery, while financially their lives fell apart. No one was willing to compromise, although Steve P. tried, by doing one video for the TBF CD. While filming the video, inbetween takes, Steve would hobble back to his trailer and be packed in ice up to his hip. Which was swollen from him standing on it, yet from watching the video you'd never know what overwhelming pain Steve was in during the making of that video. For everyone's sake Steve did try, but his body, time and circumstances were all saying no. When time rolled around for the band to take the Trial By Fire Tour on the road, Steve decided he would not rush into surgery. The band had already gotten together as a group, without Steve, and decided that if Steve told them "no" as to surgery, that they would vote him out of the band. It was painful for both parties, but time and circumstances, had already decided Journey's fate. In the end, the band carried on without Steve. The band felt he was wrong to not do the surgery to help save the members financially, by getting on the road sooner than advised after such a serious surgery. Steve felt his bandmates were being unreasonable and uncaring for his health and well being, by asking him to rush into an operation that could very well take his life. After the split, neither party looked back or ever spoke directly to each other again.

So Steve did not break up Journey.

Neal did not kick Steve out of Journey.

Time and circumstances separated a great band, period!

The band with the original lineup did get together, informerly, when they were finally honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for music.

[cmatthes]

I have always dug Journey but Perry annoyed the F outta me after say 1984 or so.

Steve Haynie nailed it - about when he started crying instead of singing. I'm not saying that there isn't quality stuff after that point - there most certainly IS (!!) - but he started to grate on my nerves for some reason. I still love their pre-crying material best.

And Poe:

1. If you want my love - Cheap Trick

2. She's Tight - Cheap trick

3. Shake a leg - AC/DC

Can (and am willing to) do all three as long as you're singing, bro!

[Jimbilly]

I was having lunch w/ some musician buddies today, one of the guys won a guitar playing contest about 25 years ago and got to spend some time playing Neal's stage, rig, and apparently played on stage for a time w/ the band, Seattle Center Coliseum. Fun stories to hear, -wish it had been me. They were HUGE when I was in high school.

[elduave]

Well, I can play drums on If You Want My Love (the tempo is in my drum wheelhouse) but I'd love to do Feeling That Way/Anytime as well!

[Guest Hellrider67]

:

[Steve Haynie]

The long article jettster posted is informative, but ignores Greg Rollie's singing. I also have never heard of a person having a 50/50 chance of dying from hip replacement surgery.

[Guest Hellrider67]

[edgar_allan_poe]

Sorry, the hip replacement story just doesn't wash. I can see it keeping them from touring. But why would that keep them from releasing another album? The dude can't sing anymore, and your hips have nothing to do with that.

FWIW...the new singer sounds as close as anyone I have ever heard to Perry. He has the tone and range...but doesn't have Perry's power. Hell, he even looks like Steve Perry

[Guest Hellrider67]

[elduave]

Speaking of Steve Augeri we can't forget to mention the Tall Stories CD. Great slab of melody soaked songs. Check it out...

[Guest Mike Lee]

The article sounds like what was said on VH-1's Behind the Music show. But what's all this about Journey being an "acoustic" band? They were an electric instrumental fusion band!

My wife's step grandfather has had his hip replaced several times - he keeps wearing them out. All major surgeries carry a risk of death due to the general anesthetic and shock of the invasion. A 50/50 shot does not seem reasonable unless he had a heart condition or other problem that made surgery too risky.

The impression is that Steve was a total puss and was scared of the surgery. He probably gets enough publishing royalties to live comfortably.

We've got a guy like that at work who has bad knees. He milks it like you woudn't believe, getting accomodations and other special treatment. In the time I have been there one of my employees had both knees worked on, another had a knee worked on, another had both feet done, and my boss had an ACL replaced in one knee. All are fine now, but this other guy continues to do nothing.

[LordOfTheThighs]

Hi, my name is Kathy.

[jwhitcomb3]

Journey was one of those interchangeable late 70's/early 80's bland arena rock bands that I had to wait for the DJ to tell me who it was to tell 'em apart: Foreigner, Toto, Loverboy, Journey, REO Speedwagon, Styx...ZZZzzzzz.

Didn't like 'em then, don't miss 'em now.

-Jonathan

[Steve Haynie]

Foreigner was OK with me until their fourth album. "I Want To Know What Love Is" was the song that ended my respect for them. That video sucked as bad as the song, too.

Toto had the radio pop sound from the beginning. I liked their first album, but soon did not care about them one way or the other.

Loverboy had some cool songs, but their audience was a bunch of 14 year old girls screaming over Mike Reno.

REO Speedwagon was a rock band at one time. They fell into the same trap as Journey. Journey was a better band, too.

I never liked Styx, but it was mostly because of Dennis DeYoung's vocals and too many keyboards. I like the Tommy Shaw stuff.

Fortunately we had Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and the first Montrose album to counteract the fluffy stuff back then.

[jettster]

Yeah, not to sure about the 50/50 chance on the hip replacement thing. I'm thinking the guy meant instrumental, instead of acoustic.

[Guest pirateflynn]

Hopefully, I won't get crucified for this but from that period I really like The Baby's........I still listen to them. When I was a teenager I couldn't understand why they didn't make it bigger. They had cool songs, a good band and a really good singer. Somebody once suggested to me that the name Baby's was a big probelm and that a lot of people couldn't get around that.

Anyway, I like them because I like good pop rock bands from that era. I've been listening to a Promo album called "THE BABY'S Live at the Tower Theater, Philadelphia, April 23, 1977".

It's a good one.

[elduave]

+1 for The Babys.

[jettster]

I like The Babys as well as Bad English.

[ZR]

I loved the Baby's - John Waite was a great singer. I remember playing the Union Jacks cd (uhm...record I mean) a lot. I had that Bad English cd but didn't care for it much.

Just saw the video at the beginning of the post - pretty cool. It reminded me of why I bought my 1st guitar; a black LP copy like his!! Me, the Infinity album and headphones were good friends back then! I liked the Feeling That Way video even better. It was weird when it ended though because Anytime didn't start right up!

Funny, when Randy Jackson was playing for them I just didn't feel it dawg, his playing was kinda pitchy, he tried to do his thing but just didn't make it into my dog pound y'all!!

[stobro]

Somewhere in my stash of vinyl I have a Babys LP signed by their guitar player that I won at a local music store. I think I still have one of the pre-Perry Journey LPs, too.

I was in a band in the late 70s- early 80s that covered "Head First" by the Babys, as well as some Cheap Trick, REO, Styx (they were local bands in my area so we HAD to cover them), Loverboy, Montrose and, if our singer could have pulled it off, I'm sure we would have done some Journey and Foreigner.

Time to spool up some of the old band tapes and remind myself of all of the tunes that I forgot I used to know!

[Bruiser Brody]

HA! For whatever reason I got that Jerny DVD for Xmas last year. CHEEEEEEEEEEEE-ZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

Brooks..when ya show up in Texxxas in August we'll throw both of those discs (came with the audio CD too..of the same friggin' show) in the microwave and see what happens.

Even worse..the ex went to a IBM gathering a few years back and HALL AND OTIS played the thing and all the attendees got a DVD of the live show..that one's history too. "Whoa-wuh here it goes..watch the discs we'll burn 'em up..!!!"

Two embarassing DVDs in my collection that I ALWAYS have to explain how I got 'em.

FUKK JERNY

FUKK HALL'N OTIS

Having said that smack..I saw Schon play w/ Paul Rogers at a free show many years ago in Dallas and he shredded it up. Great show.

[Jack C]

Hey - Daryl Hall can sing. Hall and Oates had some good stuff.

(This is totally turning into a "guilty pleasures with talent" thread)

[jwhitcomb3]

At one point Daryl Hall was on tap to be the next singer for King Crimson. Seek out his Robert Fripp produced "Sacred Songs" from 1980 (recorded in 1977 but the record company refused to release it because it didn't match Hall's image). Really an astounding album.

-Jonathan