This has to be one of the most awesome things I have ever come across!
I'd have to say JOURNEY was the first band I fell in love with as a youth, thanks to my brother's heavy influence on all things outside the world of Barbie. The album that got it started was Escape. I'm pretty sure I was clueless about the lyrics, but I remember Steve Perry's vocals being powerful and inescap... (wow - I almost wrote a pun without meaning to... so, er,um) memorable. I followed them through Frontiers and Raised on Radio with Steve Perry's Street Talk in-between, because let's face it - they weren't JOURNEY without Steve.
Then there are the haters who've watched Behind the Music to see that Steve was probably a jerky prima donna, and maybe he was, but a band is a band for good and bad, and they did attempt a reunion with the album Trial by Fire (1996) but it didn't do very well even with the hit single, "When You Love a Woman". Now, there would have come some promotional concerts except for Steve's bad hip, which prompted the rest of the band to find a new singer. However, WHY try to keep going with Steve Perry sound-a-likes? Because, even they know, Journey isn't Journey without Steve Perry. I recall hearing that the original drummer, Steve Smith (far right above), also left the band because he felt the same.
So now, where is Steve Perry? They put aside their differences long enough so they all came together to receive their Star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, but I haven't heard anything about Steve since.
I read up on a few sites that he is producing music and was credited as music consultant on MONSTER for which Charlize Theron won an Oscar because he knew its director, Patty Jenkins. He supposedly has no interest in following up on his singing career, but I really hope he changes his mind. Steve Perry has one of the most incredible and distinctive vocals out there, and it's a damn shame not to be hearing it any longer. Even if he were to only tour and play his songs from yester-year, it would be treat enough. I wonder if his vocal chords are not what they used to be, which is his real reason for not wanting to sing?
Either way, no matter what, I anxiously await the day Mr. Perry decides us to grace us with his performance. I've seen him twice - once with Journey during the tour for Raised on Radio and as a solo artist where he was engaging, charming, and brought the house down at the Wiltern. I won't hold my breath, but I'll keep hoping for the best.
p.s. I'm glad Rock Band 2 deemed "Any Way You Want It" worthy of 5 Dots on the vocals, but giving "Don't Stop Believin'" only 3 doesn't seem fair. Sure, the latter is easier than the former, but it's still trying to sing like Steve Perry. It's harder than 3 Dots.
I read up on a few sites that he is producing music and was credited as music consultant on MONSTER for which Charlize Theron won an Oscar because he knew its director, Patty Jenkins. He supposedly has no interest in following up on his singing career, but I really hope he changes his mind. Steve Perry has one of the most incredible and distinctive vocals out there, and it's a damn shame not to be hearing it any longer. Even if he were to only tour and play his songs from yester-year, it would be treat enough. I wonder if his vocal chords are not what they used to be, which is his real reason for not wanting to sing?
Either way, no matter what, I anxiously await the day Mr. Perry decides us to grace us with his performance. I've seen him twice - once with Journey during the tour for Raised on Radio and as a solo artist where he was engaging, charming, and brought the house down at the Wiltern. I won't hold my breath, but I'll keep hoping for the best.
p.s. I'm glad Rock Band 2 deemed "Any Way You Want It" worthy of 5 Dots on the vocals, but giving "Don't Stop Believin'" only 3 doesn't seem fair. Sure, the latter is easier than the former, but it's still trying to sing like Steve Perry. It's harder than 3 Dots. 
I could not agree with you more! You are my word genius! Thank you fellow Perry Lover.
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks a bunch!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I love SP and really miss hearing his vocals.
Glad there are still a lot of SP lovers out there!
xoxo
I always counted Steve Perry among those powerhouse singers with strong vocals like a Lou Gramm of Foreigner, a Dennis Deyoung of Styx or a Ritchie Blackmore of Rainbow. I am dating myself but can remember seeing Journey on Don Kirschner's "Rock Concert" back in the day and one show in particular seeing Steve Perry totally mesmerized by a young woman with a large chest in the audience!
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