Steve Perry Talks - The GQ Interview

[Red13JoePa]

Not being a dick - but I did not follow that post at all. I have no idea what you are saying.

Pff
Good, God speed and happy trails, then.



And remember, AJM: Just delete without reading.
Your mental health will improve exponentially.

[Memorex]

Not sure who TNC is. I don't recall the name. Maybe if I saw the avetar.

You don't know who The_Noble_Cause is? Get the hell outta here!

No shit. He's easy to spot. Big ass hamburger in the early days, followed by the ginormous taco with not NEARLY enough cheese on it.

The dude knows who TheNobleCause is, believe me.

TNC is one of the online pioneers of systematically debunking loon mythology.

That's mere sandbaging by memorex as TNC has LONG been on the "Most Wanted" wall in that biodome known as loondom.

By the way - I have never been lumped in the loon group before. Is there a secret handshake or ID card? Do I get special prices on decent seats?

[Rhiannon]

Ah. I've never paid attention to Memorex (no offense M).

I'm a little offended. I'm certainly not a loon. And I have always gone to great lengths to be fair in my posts. But if it doesn't do anythjing for you, cool.

Noooooo... I just don't thoroughly study posts made by everyone on this board.
How many people participate here? ...An ass-ton. I'm not going to keep up with everyone.
No big deal dude. Sorry you're offended that I'm not obsessed with your posts.

And my comment on loons, conspiracies, and the like was referring to the whole of the board as indicated by the proceeding line from that statement.

[Memorex]

Saint John - here's the issue. Your arguments are based so much on opinion that you come off as hateful. It's why people are leaving this board. It's why I've spoken up more this past month than I have ever. Joe Pa is the same.

I'd bet my original copy of "For The Need To Augment Singing With Breathy Diaphragmnal Expulsions" that AJM's PM box is blinking into overtime with threat after threat from you of this same noise.

"YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT SJ AND JOPA ARE DRIVING PEOPLE AWAY FROM YOUR BOARD!!!! I AM ALSO GOING TO NOTIFY THE (Unnamable online domain) THAT THEIR NAME IS BEING UTTERED HERE AND THAT YOU MAY BE HELD RESPONSIBLE!!!!!!!! PUT A STOP TO IT OR ELSE!!!"





If it's going on, and I am sure it is, I wish he would simply delete without even opening.

If you are implying in some weird way that I have sent Andrew a PM asking him to censor anyone or else, you are nuts. I have complained only twice on this board and I did so publically. Once to the guy who passed away the night after I bashed him. I felt bad and deleted that post immediately. And once leading up to the posting of the Herbie interview, which I quickly got beat down for. I have PM'd Andrew just a few times and all of them, every single one, have been supportive and kind, with nothing about censoring people. I have maybe 20 PM's since I joined this thing and it is mostly about getting a song or two from someone or someone thanking me for making a certain point. That's it.

I suppose my explanation is not enough though because of that nasty trust issue you have, but you can believe me on this one.

[Red13JoePa]

I'm sure your frantic urgent pms to the site owner don't come from your "Memorex" id.

[SusieP]

Susie, my guess is management made it clear for the interview that Tapegate and the JSS era were taboo to the interviewer. Rockline, too, at least for tapegate.

You are right. It's too soon.
The stuff they are only just talking about now happened WAY back. I guess that we might hear mention of it in another 15 years or so.

Not that I'm impatient or anything................

[brywool]

Nice revisionist history, but he DID go right back to it, withOUT Journey.
The reporter either didn't know or wasn't allowed to ask about the shelved Against The Wall in '88, less than a year after he "quit" Journey.

Agghg! Forgot about that. Yeah, that really does put the BS tag on Perry's perspective. ugh...

[Saint John]

Folks, it's quite simple. One man is lying and one man is telling the truth. On one hand you have a guy ready to talk and meet the other anywhere, at any time, to talk about anything. On the other hand, you have a guy that will not talk, will not meet, and insisted on gag orders to suppress the truth and speaks only through a team of lawyers. Who's got something to hide and who doesn't? Logic tells me Neal Schon is most likely telling the truth.

[Barb]

Had Perry performed a song, a mini-set, a show or a tour after the "divorce", Neal and Jon would have looked bad for moving on without them. The fact that, as they suspected, he had no intentions of touring or performing all came out in the wash. They were right...period.

They do look bad, in my opinion. I think if Neal broke his hand and Perry was like, get the surgery or else and we have been trying out other guitarists, you'd have a different opinion.

If Neal broke his hand, he would have surgery before Steve Perry could have dialed the phone to call him.

[Memorex]

I'm sure your frantic urgent pms to the site owner don't come from your "Memorex" id.

Dude - you are derranged. I trust Andrew knows me well enough. But you need serious help.

[Memorex]

Had Perry performed a song, a mini-set, a show or a tour after the "divorce", Neal and Jon would have looked bad for moving on without them. The fact that, as they suspected, he had no intentions of touring or performing all came out in the wash. They were right...period.

They do look bad, in my opinion. I think if Neal broke his hand and Perry was like, get the surgery or else and we have been trying out other guitarists, you'd have a different opinion.

If Neal broke his hand, he would have surgery before Steve Perry could have dialed the phone to call him.

Not the point.

[brywool]

Just one thing - in respect to why Perry is talking at this point. I believe GQ contacted him for his take on what the band is doing at this point in time. So he can't be blamed for commenting.

Actually, Perry should've said "When you want to talk about my new project, call me, but I really don't wish to do an interview regarding Journey".

However, I'm glad he did.

[Playitloudforme]

The album wasn't inferior either -- it sold.

Not arguing that at all. The playing was inferior. All in all, the album was great. Had it had the Journey name on it it would have sold 4 or 5 times what it did. I believe this was an attempt by Perry to flex his muscles and show his worth to the band, which is why he demanded Herbie make it the best selling album to date...bigger than any Journey album. He didn't realize how important that name and those other guys playing really meant. He sure as fuck was reminded when the FTLOSM results came back, though.

I will concede that compared to the original Journey, yes, the playing was inferior. However, the band themselves was not an inferior band, only in direct comparison to the multi-platinum artists that are Journey. I'd agree, if it had been labeled Journey, it would have been huge(r)(...more huge, ok bigger!).

However, the FTLOSM results were not due to the material or effort, in my opinion, but due to the Powersthatbe that wanted the Journey money-maker back in the studio. Flush Strange meds down the toilet so we can get the big big big money-maker back. Carrot over the head syndrome. I don't recall the exact interview, but that's pretty much what I took from it. Today, he's got the internet to help push the new CD (as does Journey). Should be interesting to see how it goes. In any case, I hope he moves his ass and produces it. I'll buy it.

[frfksakes]

"You broke out of prison, and immediately started thinking about how to get back in. "

Lol! Great comeback by the interviewer. He did a good job.

& You know, it's funny how we can all read this article so differently, lol.
I thought it was a great interview, I learned quite a bit.

I think Perry was pretty candid about his insecurities - with his voice, and with his relationship with the band.
And I thought he was very kind and careful about the band members and their point of view.

Neal came off as still being very bitter – maybe understandably so, but it’s less candid than emotionally reactive. Very honest in it’s own way, I guess.

[SusieP]

Now can we get the interviewer to go back to Neal and talk about the JSS hiring & firing?

I'm sorry Andrew and all, but I couldn't let this pass. Are you kidding me? Why would a major magazine waste space and ink on this? NO one KNOWS who Soto is? Not saying he isn't good, but he is not a mainstream star or near Journey/Perry's level.

Come on folks, already. I'm not bashing Soto, but we really need to have a sense of reality here. He was a singer for 9 or 10 months with them, and a pinch-hitter or relief pitcher, whichever analogy you prefer, at that.

For the sake of Soto, let it go. You're making it impossible for people like me to even try and like his music.

I am making it impossible for you to try and like JSS's music??????????????? Sorry mate, you've lost me.

A major magazine has just done an interview with members of a band called Journey. It briefly mentioned the tenure of various singers. I would have liked a little more about what went down last year. Because it happened recently and because I am curious.
How that affects your taste in singers baffles me.

I - as a fan of the band - and not a basher of ANY of the singers - have waited a long time to hear Neal's thoughts on the break up of the line up way back when.
Living in the UK, we got bugger all info about it when it happened. And as Neal has been so vocal now about his thoughts and feelings on Perry, I would have liked a paragraph - just a few words - about what went down recently too. It's all part of the interesting history of a band whose music I enjoy listening to.

Now will YOU stop telling me that Soto isn't near Perry's level? I have a brain and a mind of my own. I know how good Perry was, thanks.
Also FYI, I DO have a sense of reality. I know how long Soto was with them. I have been a member of this board for long enough to work that out thankyou.

I can work out that his tenure wasn't a long one, but he WAS a member of the band. I saw him perform with the band last year, and I was just curious about what Neal would have to say about his hiring and firing.
We got a brief interview last year with JSS but not Neal. That ok with you?

[Saint John]

Flush Strange meds down the toilet

*If* I owned it that's exactly what I'd do.

[DracIsBack]

Folks, it's quite simple. One man is lying and one man is telling the truth. On one hand you have a guy ready to talk and meet the other anywhere, at any time, to talk about anything. On the other hand, you have a guy that will not talk, will not meet, and insisted on gag orders to suppress the truth and speaks only through a team of lawyers. Who's got something to hide and who doesn't? Logic tells me Neal Schon is most likely telling the truth.

I heard from someone who heard from someone who heard from someone who heard from someone that you sleep in rubber underwear too.

Seriously though, I really don't think as "fans" we've got anything more than an "ignorant at best" picture of things. Just enjoy the music.

[Playitloudforme]

Folks, it's quite simple. One man is lying and one man is telling the truth. On one hand you have a guy ready to talk and meet the other anywhere, at any time, to talk about anything. On the other hand, you have a guy that will not talk, will not meet, and insisted on gag orders to suppress the truth and speaks only through a team of lawyers. Who's got something to hide and who doesn't? Logic tells me Neal Schon is most likely telling the truth.

I think you've got a mixed bag on both counts. Ever hear there are 3 sides to every story, yours, mine and the truth? Logic tells me that I can see a blatant example on where Neal didn't tell the truth on this (Perry touring for Street Talk). Was it a mistake, or on purpose? Malicious or innocent? Who knows.

I'm quite sure both have strong opinions on what went down, and see things as they elect to see them, just as we, here on this board, select which truths ring clear, and which don't. And somewhere in the middle of all of it, are the facts. Since none of us here were present during phone conversations made, meetings, etc., all we have to go by is our gut instinct on what we see written in interviews YEARS AFTER THE FACT, and comments made. That is colored by our own personal histories, which in turn form our opinions. Doesn't make them right or wrong... they're just opinions, based upon our view of what we see. Makes the world go round, eh?

[Barb]

Had Perry performed a song, a mini-set, a show or a tour after the "divorce", Neal and Jon would have looked bad for moving on without them. The fact that, as they suspected, he had no intentions of touring or performing all came out in the wash. They were right...period.

They do look bad, in my opinion. I think if Neal broke his hand and Perry was like, get the surgery or else and we have been trying out other guitarists, you'd have a different opinion.

If Neal broke his hand, he would have surgery before Steve Perry could have dialed the phone to call him.

Not the point.

That is exactly the point. Neal WANTS to be in Journey and perform, so he wouldn't have to hem and haw for over 2 years to make that decision.

[Eric]

The album wasn't inferior either -- it sold. It got radio time. Perry made money off his project. That's what pissed Neal off. Just a gut instinct, if it had not sold, I doubt that Neal would have felt threatened. Yes, I'm reading into it, but just as much as any one else here is.

It was inferior in comparsion to the overall quality of any Journey album.....

[Saint John]

Logic tells me that I can see a blatant example on where Neal didn't tell the truth on this (Perry touring for Street Talk)

He merely misstated the album and time frame but it still doesn't excuse the fact that Journey waited for Steve Perry for 7 years and were rewarded in 1993 with him touring with others. Which is why I don't blame them for not waiting for him in 1998. 2 fucking years was more than enough time for him to make a decision on the surgery. 2 years with pain? Couldn't have hurt that much if he waffled on a decision for so long. 2 years...lol

[Eric]

Had Perry performed a song, a mini-set, a show or a tour after the "divorce", Neal and Jon would have looked bad for moving on without them. The fact that, as they suspected, he had no intentions of touring or performing all came out in the wash. They were right...period.

They do look bad, in my opinion. I think if Neal broke his hand and Perry was like, get the surgery or else and we have been trying out other guitarists, you'd have a different opinion.

I'm with Saint John. Its been 12 years and he's done nothing. I think that kinda validates their decision to move on. And I really don't see how Perry could replace Schon and still call it Journey, when its Schon's band?

[Lula]

Folks, it's quite simple. One man is lying and one man is telling the truth. On one hand you have a guy ready to talk and meet the other anywhere, at any time, to talk about anything. On the other hand, you have a guy that will not talk, will not meet, and insisted on gag orders to suppress the truth and speaks only through a team of lawyers. Who's got something to hide and who doesn't? Logic tells me Neal Schon is most likely telling the truth.

I heard from someone who heard from someone who heard from someone who heard from someone that you sleep in rubber underwear too.

Seriously though, I really don't think as "fans" we've got anything more than an "ignorant at best" picture of things. Just enjoy the music.

ya think drac? i'd say so!

neal and jon are pros at talking out of both sides of their mouths. perry is not the devial incarnate and niether are jon and neal. sometimes, or most i'd say, it's just better to enjoy the product and not get into the characters of the producers.

tito- what the hell is your problen with jss? geez, it's clear you don't like him, let it go already!

[Memorex]

Had Perry performed a song, a mini-set, a show or a tour after the "divorce", Neal and Jon would have looked bad for moving on without them. The fact that, as they suspected, he had no intentions of touring or performing all came out in the wash. They were right...period.

They do look bad, in my opinion. I think if Neal broke his hand and Perry was like, get the surgery or else and we have been trying out other guitarists, you'd have a different opinion.

I'm with Saint John. Its been 12 years and he's done nothing. I think that kinda validates their decision to move on. And I really don't see how Perry could replace Schon and still call it Journey, when its Schon's band?

Um, maybe it was them moving on that caused Perry to just stop. That and his desire to sound better than he thoguht he could. If they waited for the surgery, as he asked them to do, maybe there would have been new Journey music with Perry in 1998. It's quite a leap to say he would have made them wait 12 years when they are the ones who (in this case) left him behind.

[Red13JoePa]

If they waited for the surgery, as he asked them to do

LOL

What were the 1 1/2-2 years of doing nothing if not waiting on him?
What, did fall of '96 through spring of '98 go by in a vacuum like it does in that hermetically sealed biodome loons live in?

[Saint John]

Um, maybe it was them moving on that caused Perry to just stop.

Stop??? He never got started!!! lol..."stop"

[Tito]

Now can we get the interviewer to go back to Neal and talk about the JSS hiring & firing?

I'm sorry Andrew and all, but I couldn't let this pass. Are you kidding me? Why would a major magazine waste space and ink on this? NO one KNOWS who Soto is? Not saying he isn't good, but he is not a mainstream star or near Journey/Perry's level.

Come on folks, already. I'm not bashing Soto, but we really need to have a sense of reality here. He was a singer for 9 or 10 months with them, and a pinch-hitter or relief pitcher, whichever analogy you prefer, at that.

For the sake of Soto, let it go. You're making it impossible for people like me to even try and like his music.

I am making it impossible for you to try and like JSS's music??????????????? Sorry mate, you've lost me.

A major magazine has just done an interview with members of a band called Journey. It briefly mentioned the tenure of various singers. I would have liked a little more about what went down last year. Because it happened recently and because I am curious.
How that affects your taste in singers baffles me.

I - as a fan of the band - and not a basher of ANY of the singers - have waited a long time to hear Neal's thoughts on the break up of the line up way back when.
Living in the UK, we got bugger all info about it when it happened. And as Neal has been so vocal now about his thoughts and feelings on Perry, I would have liked a paragraph - just a few words - about what went down recently too. It's all part of the interesting history of a band whose music I enjoy listening to.

Now will YOU stop telling me that Soto isn't near Perry's level? I have a brain and a mind of my own. I know how good Perry was, thanks.
Also FYI, I DO have a sense of reality. I know how long Soto was with them. I have been a member of this board for long enough to work that out thankyou.

I can work out that his tenure wasn't a long one, but he WAS a member of the band. I saw him perform with the band last year, and I was just curious about what Neal would have to say about his hiring and firing.
We got a brief interview last year with JSS but not Neal. That ok with you?

Geez, don't take it so personal.

[Saint John]

72 users online...you're right Memorex. The place is in shambles.

[Memorex]

If they waited for the surgery, as he asked them to do

LOL

What were the 1 1/2-2 years of doing nothing if not waiting on him?
What, did fall of '96 through spring of '98 go by in a vacuum like it does in that hermetically sealed biodome loons live in?

I think many things happened prior to spring of 98. I wouldn't say all that time was waiting. That's just when it got announced. But I am not sure because I do not put timelines together.

By the way - if I remember correctly, Against the Wall was not done in 88. I recall him turning that album into Sony around 93 and them saying it was too mellow - go back with a full band and he did that into 94. I know that the turn around from the rejection to the new album was not that long.

[Memorex]

72 users online...you're right Memorex. The place is in shambles.

People come here. But I don't think it is as pleasant as one may like. People respond to you for different reasons, me included. But in the end, it really detracts from the band in my opinion.

Maybe there are a lot here today because Steve has spoken.

You would know better than me though. I don't keep track other than what a few have said to me.