Gunbot wrote:It doesn't matter if he sings again. Every day, on the radio I hear Journey three or four times. Not AP, not SA, and not JSS, there's only one Journey vocalist gets the airplay and it's SP. His name is synonymous with the name Journey. No re-records or Walmart deals are ever going to change that.
I think him not rejoining the group is what is actually keeping them out of the R&R HOF. I think they have lost points every time they change singers but don't change the sound, they have not shown that they can re-invent themselves without Perry. He may not have been the band, but no one seems to have forwarded the memo to Neal. Journey is stuck on repeat and can't get past 1983 it seems. Some people like that though and all I can say is more power to them.
Now If some DJ or presenter can say the band's name one time without mentioning Perry, then we will know they have finally moved out from his shadow but I don't see it happening.
Long live "THE VOICE".
You make some good points. The problem with Journey and with many other classic rock bands is that whenever they try to branch off from the regular sound, many of the fans get alienated. Look at the little experiment called Red 13. That was just a few songs, but people got pissed because Journey was changing their sound. When 'State of Grace' played at shows, people were totally confused even though the song rocked.
I think the worst thing that ever happened to Journey was 1987-1996. Because of that long gap, that Journey sound and voice was forever cemented in time.