Herbie Herbert: One Man's Journey

[TRAGChick]

I think a singer change in 84 would have been disastrous. They would have had to find someone absolutely perfect, or invent a new sound like VH. I can’t think of any singer back then that could have pulled it off. Maybe Sammy himself. I’m a fan of Kevin’s, but no way he takes Journey anywhere near what they were. That’s my take.

If a new singer took Journey ANYWHERE after 1987, it would have been in a positive direction. Perry quitting the music business after ROR totally killed Journey as far as being anything other than a nostalgia act. He didn't just jump the shark, he quartered the thing and ate it.

Best comment yet.

Then I saw this

:arrow: The MIND IS THE KEY....you lose your PERCEPTION of who you are and your belief in your abilities...well....sadly, yes....things will come to a screeching halt....

THANK YOU, Allen.... :D

You're welcome.
It's true, I can say I know.

Sounds like something Dr. Chopra might say.

Well....it's also something I LIVED thru....and that's all I'm gonna say....

[mistiejourney]

Wow! (A little late to the game.....)

So what did I learn today?

Journey is made up of flawed, human individuals. They aren't gods, except for Neal on the guitar

Herbie is not happy with Steve Perry. Steve Perry is not perfect and I bet he has his own regrets. He's said as much on camera. Time to move on. Steve Perry was and was BIG. To quote an old saying, they gave him the keys - he put them in his pocket. It's not all his fault - Neal and Jon needed to stand up to the alpha male at the time and they did not.

Now what I could have lived without knowing for the rest of my life was that:

STEVE SMITH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR "BACKTALK"!!!!!!

Steve, what were ya thinkin' dude? Blech! Love ya anyway, but blech!

And on a personal note, the band thought their fan club was a pain in the ass from the beginning? Gee, thanks guys. Really makes a person want to run all over California to see ya.

Great interview. Arnel getting the props he deserves. Perry put in perspective (at least, finally, for me - but if he opens his mouth to sing I'm there....).

Augeri confirmed as a great guy and I will always appreciate him being willing to take on Journey.

And getting dropped was the best thing that could have happened to JSS. Can't really tell ya why, but it's a gut feeling. They don't deal up front with folks.

So - I'm moving on, just not with Journey. Am I leaving the board? Hell, no! I may think Journey now bites the wax tadpole, but you can't negate over 20 years of having them in my life and you guys are too fun.

Herbie just gave perspective - a great, great interview and a great, great read.

Thanks Andrew!

[mistiejourney]

Hmmm. Jeff wasn't just "filling in". He was announced as the new singer. It seems as though Journey thought he sounded right for the band. The fans in So Cal thought he sounded right.

But then, we've been down this road before...

If he really sounded right for the band it would seem logical that the band wouldn't had let him go the way they did(i think they would have found a way to make it work)

Maybe some fans in so cal thought he sounded right, others didn't

It would seem logical not to hire him in the first place. I don't understand any of it. Doesn't matter. I was just saying that if they hired him, it would suggest they thought at least at some point he sounded right for the band.

I agree, a "thank you, Jeff, you really helped us out, good luck in the future" would have been acceptable - hiring and THEN firing so fast was just weird, and a huge slap - but that's past, Jeff is okay and we get new music from him this year!

[Toph]

the reason i say it might've been a good thing to take a break is because bands like foreigner and styx who were churning out top ten singles and albums on the same rate as journey had horrible chart success by the time the 90's rolled around.foreigner had a number one smash with i want to know what love is and the album was a top five hit also around the same time raised on radio was released in '86.by the time '91 rolled around foreigner released another album which didn't even crack the top 100 albums.styx also released an album that hit like number 70 in 1990.bands like these that used to hit top five every release kept churning out albums which weren't selling because times had changed.by the time '96 rolled around journey had another top ten album with trial by fire and picked up where they left off because they wisely took a break.so in retrospect it was a wise thing i think because its quality not quantity that counts.

The Styx album you are referring to was Edge of The Century which featured a top 3 single, "Show Me The Way" and a top 25 single "Love At First Sight". the album went gold I believe, not bad though considering Grunge was the rage in 1991. "Show Me The Way" was a much bigger hit than "When you Love A Woman".

[Toph]

Have to say I agree with his thoughts on Jeff...great voice, but not for Journey..

We can blame Steve Smith for 'Back Talk'...lol

Hookers and Blow for Neal - while Perry was left on the sidelines having to take special care of his voice.

Andrea Bocelli was impressed with Neal's Voices cd (still haven't heard that myself)

Infinity Recording sessions - I agree completely. That album up through departure sound terrible, yet Captured sounds friggen amazing...While new technology will help to make a better recording these days, you can't replace Perry, or Smith...Don't get me wrong, I like Arnel, and I like Dean. However, Smith should be in the band, even if Perry cannot be.

Those are my immediate thoughts.

Great job Andrew!

I'm very disappointed in Neal's massive drug use. What a shame he had to resort to illegal chemicals - you can only wonder how good he could have been had he not snorted all that Coke.

[infinityplusone]

He did just the right amount.

[ProgRocker53]

I'm positive Neal wasn't the only Journey member to partake of blow, and obviously wasn't the only rocker to ever use some nose candy.

I'm not condoning it or anything but I wouldn't judge the guy for it. It was part of the culture and his surroundings, Neal was a true rock star. I'm sure most mortal dudes in the same environment would enjoy the same kind of pleasures. Hey, you're one of the world's best guitarists, why not smoke some herb, take a little coke, throw back a shot, and do a couple ladies? "I'm young, I'm rich, I'm sexy, I'm talented.... what could happen?" At least Neal's health never suffered from it and nothing ever happened to the guy, thank God.

[Red13JoePa]

Who cares, Prog?
Schon's a warrior who's work need not be justified (hey, same w/ perry) and the horse's ass 2 posts up was obvious1y "taking the piss."

[ProgRocker53]

Schon's a warrior who's work need not be justified (hey, same w/ perry)

Agreed.

[Centaure]

I'm very disappointed in Neal's massive drug use. What a shame he had to resort to illegal chemicals - you can only wonder how good he could have been had he not snorted all that Coke.

Cocaine usually don't affect the playing.

[stevew2]

He did give Steve A alot of credit{which he deserved} He did do more gigs with Journey then Perry did,and was Journeys longest lead singer {Andrew said that} He had the moves and is more genuine then the "new kid". It was a good honest interveiw {from Herbies side} He must have been an asshole to work with at times,but without him,we would have never heard Journey.Look at all the stupid shit they ve done since they fired him

[ProgRocker53]

He did give Steve A alot of credit{which he deserved} He did do more gigs with Journey then Perry did,and was Journeys longest lead singer {Andrew said that} He had the moves and is more genuine then the "new kid". It was a good honest interveiw {from Herbies side} He must have been an asshole to work with at times,but without him,we would have never heard Journey.Look at all the stupid shit they ve done since they fired him

I could fill up a page, single-spaced, in 10 Font, listing the stupid things Journey have done since '93.

[stevew2]

He did give Steve A alot of credit{which he deserved} He did do more gigs with Journey then Perry did,and was Journeys longest lead singer {Andrew said that} He had the moves and is more genuine then the "new kid". It was a good honest interveiw {from Herbies side} He must have been an asshole to work with at times,but without him,we would have never heard Journey.Look at all the stupid shit they ve done since they fired him

I could fill up a page, single-spaced, in 10 Font, listing the stupid things Journey have done since '93.

I know, what the fuck,list them,I need a laugh

[yulog]

He did give Steve A alot of credit{which he deserved} He did do more gigs with Journey then Perry did,and was Journeys longest lead singer {Andrew said that} He had the moves and is more genuine then the "new kid". It was a good honest interveiw {from Herbies side} He must have been an asshole to work with at times,but without him,we would have never heard Journey.Look at all the stupid shit they ve done since they fired him

I could fill up a page, single-spaced, in 10 Font, listing the stupid things Journey have done since '93.

I could fill up a page, single-spaced, in 10 Font, listing the stupid things I have done since 2007 and something tells me so could everyone else here on MR

[stevew2]

He did give Steve A alot of credit{which he deserved} He did do more gigs with Journey then Perry did,and was Journeys longest lead singer {Andrew said that} He had the moves and is more genuine then the "new kid". It was a good honest interveiw {from Herbies side} He must have been an asshole to work with at times,but without him,we would have never heard Journey.Look at all the stupid shit they ve done since they fired him

I could fill up a page, single-spaced, in 10 Font, listing the stupid things Journey have done since '93.

I could fill up a page, single-spaced, in 10 Font, listing the stupid things I have done since 2007 and something tells me so could everyone else here on MR

We already know{daily] the stupid things you do, Im sure we missed some, please post them

[ProgRocker53]

He did give Steve A alot of credit{which he deserved} He did do more gigs with Journey then Perry did,and was Journeys longest lead singer {Andrew said that} He had the moves and is more genuine then the "new kid". It was a good honest interveiw {from Herbies side} He must have been an asshole to work with at times,but without him,we would have never heard Journey.Look at all the stupid shit they ve done since they fired him

I could fill up a page, single-spaced, in 10 Font, listing the stupid things Journey have done since '93.

I could fill up a page, single-spaced, in 10 Font, listing the stupid things I have done since 2007 and something tells me so could everyone else here on MR

heck, i could fill that up just for the past day!! haha!

[Sarah]

He did give Steve A alot of credit{which he deserved} He did do more gigs with Journey then Perry did,and was Journeys longest lead singer {Andrew said that} He had the moves and is more genuine then the "new kid". It was a good honest interveiw {from Herbies side} He must have been an asshole to work with at times,but without him,we would have never heard Journey.Look at all the stupid shit they ve done since they fired him

I could fill up a page, single-spaced, in 10 Font, listing the stupid things Journey have done since '93.

They were making stupid decisions way before then, haha

[slucero]

Have to say I agree with his thoughts on Jeff...great voice, but not for Journey..

We can blame Steve Smith for 'Back Talk'...lol

Hookers and Blow for Neal - while Perry was left on the sidelines having to take special care of his voice.

Andrea Bocelli was impressed with Neal's Voices cd (still haven't heard that myself)

Infinity Recording sessions - I agree completely. That album up through departure sound terrible, yet Captured sounds friggen amazing...While new technology will help to make a better recording these days, you can't replace Perry, or Smith...Don't get me wrong, I like Arnel, and I like Dean. However, Smith should be in the band, even if Perry cannot be.

Those are my immediate thoughts.

Great job Andrew!

I'm very disappointed in Neal's massive drug use. What a shame he had to resort to illegal chemicals - you can only wonder how good he could have been had he not snorted all that Coke.

lmao... Toph... the 80's were all about cocaine... they aren't called the "crazy 80's" for nothing....

[yulog]

He did give Steve A alot of credit{which he deserved} He did do more gigs with Journey then Perry did,and was Journeys longest lead singer {Andrew said that} He had the moves and is more genuine then the "new kid". It was a good honest interveiw {from Herbies side} He must have been an asshole to work with at times,but without him,we would have never heard Journey.Look at all the stupid shit they ve done since they fired him

I could fill up a page, single-spaced, in 10 Font, listing the stupid things Journey have done since '93.

I could fill up a page, single-spaced, in 10 Font, listing the stupid things I have done since 2007 and something tells me so could everyone else here on MR

We already know{daily] the stupid things you do, Im sure we missed some, please post them

lets see, i guess that hatchet fight i had with my friend last week wasn't such a great idea

[Toph]

I'm positive Neal wasn't the only Journey member to partake of blow, and obviously wasn't the only rocker to ever use some nose candy.

I'm not condoning it or anything but I wouldn't judge the guy for it. It was part of the culture and his surroundings, Neal was a true rock star. I'm sure most mortal dudes in the same environment would enjoy the same kind of pleasures. Hey, you're one of the world's best guitarists, why not smoke some herb, take a little coke, throw back a shot, and do a couple ladies? "I'm young, I'm rich, I'm sexy, I'm talented.... what could happen?" At least Neal's health never suffered from it and nothing ever happened to the guy, thank God.

Perry didn't get involved in that crap - he always preached against drugs.

[Panther]

I'm positive Neal wasn't the only Journey member to partake of blow, and obviously wasn't the only rocker to ever use some nose candy.

I'm not condoning it or anything but I wouldn't judge the guy for it. It was part of the culture and his surroundings, Neal was a true rock star. I'm sure most mortal dudes in the same environment would enjoy the same kind of pleasures. Hey, you're one of the world's best guitarists, why not smoke some herb, take a little coke, throw back a shot, and do a couple ladies? "I'm young, I'm rich, I'm sexy, I'm talented.... what could happen?" At least Neal's health never suffered from it and nothing ever happened to the guy, thank God.

Perry didn't get involved in that crap - he always preached against drugs.

Supposedly so was Herbie (wasn't that part of a long rant in the Castle's interview?). I thought I read in the CB interview that Herbie was constantly 'keeping them away from' and 'preaching to them to not get involved' in the stuff. Perhaps in the same interview is where he mentioned the canning of certain specific members due to their own "use" of the stuff and the mucho partying with many women (okay, here I think it was more "girls" but all the same to me). Meh.. not that it makes a difference, but that portion of this interview did jump out at me when I read it and remembered what he said in the other one.

[ProgRocker53]

I'm positive Neal wasn't the only Journey member to partake of blow, and obviously wasn't the only rocker to ever use some nose candy.

I'm not condoning it or anything but I wouldn't judge the guy for it. It was part of the culture and his surroundings, Neal was a true rock star. I'm sure most mortal dudes in the same environment would enjoy the same kind of pleasures. Hey, you're one of the world's best guitarists, why not smoke some herb, take a little coke, throw back a shot, and do a couple ladies? "I'm young, I'm rich, I'm sexy, I'm talented.... what could happen?" At least Neal's health never suffered from it and nothing ever happened to the guy, thank God.

Perry didn't get involved in that crap - he always preached against drugs.

I'm talking about Neal here. Hey, now that you brought Perry into it, isn't there a picture or two out there of him wearing a NORML t-shirt?

[slucero]

I'm positive Neal wasn't the only Journey member to partake of blow, and obviously wasn't the only rocker to ever use some nose candy.

I'm not condoning it or anything but I wouldn't judge the guy for it. It was part of the culture and his surroundings, Neal was a true rock star. I'm sure most mortal dudes in the same environment would enjoy the same kind of pleasures. Hey, you're one of the world's best guitarists, why not smoke some herb, take a little coke, throw back a shot, and do a couple ladies? "I'm young, I'm rich, I'm sexy, I'm talented.... what could happen?" At least Neal's health never suffered from it and nothing ever happened to the guy, thank God.

Perry didn't get involved in that crap - he always preached against drugs.

Wrong again.....

http://steveperryfanclub.homestead.com/StevePerryLeadVocalistOfJourney.html

Steve Perry from the interview.... "....You know you talk about drying your chords out and all that. Liquor is very bad, and smoking. I do not smoke - not pot very much anymore, or cigarettes. That is direct. The smoke is as hot as the flame and it goes right across your chords. What better drying agent than hot smoke and flame. "

Toph - Perry was as much a partier as the rest...

[Rick]

I'm positive Neal wasn't the only Journey member to partake of blow, and obviously wasn't the only rocker to ever use some nose candy.

I'm not condoning it or anything but I wouldn't judge the guy for it. It was part of the culture and his surroundings, Neal was a true rock star. I'm sure most mortal dudes in the same environment would enjoy the same kind of pleasures. Hey, you're one of the world's best guitarists, why not smoke some herb, take a little coke, throw back a shot, and do a couple ladies? "I'm young, I'm rich, I'm sexy, I'm talented.... what could happen?" At least Neal's health never suffered from it and nothing ever happened to the guy, thank God.

Perry didn't get involved in that crap - he always preached against drugs.

Wrong again.....

http://steveperryfanclub.homestead.com/StevePerryLeadVocalistOfJourney.html

Steve Perry from the interview.... "....You know you talk about drying your chords out and all that. Liquor is very bad, and smoking. I do not smoke - not pot very much anymore, or cigarettes. That is direct. The smoke is as hot as the flame and it goes right across your chords. What better drying agent than hot smoke and flame. "

Toph - Perry was as much a partier as the rest...

Doesn't make him a bad guy.

Perry's voice suffered more damage from overuse than anything else. I've smoked cigarettes since I was 18 and I sound pretty much the same. I can sing the same shit I sang then, nearly. None of it is worth listening to, but the point is, my voice hasn't changed much at all. I smoked bags and bags of pot in my early years as well.

[slucero]

I'm positive Neal wasn't the only Journey member to partake of blow, and obviously wasn't the only rocker to ever use some nose candy.

I'm not condoning it or anything but I wouldn't judge the guy for it. It was part of the culture and his surroundings, Neal was a true rock star. I'm sure most mortal dudes in the same environment would enjoy the same kind of pleasures. Hey, you're one of the world's best guitarists, why not smoke some herb, take a little coke, throw back a shot, and do a couple ladies? "I'm young, I'm rich, I'm sexy, I'm talented.... what could happen?" At least Neal's health never suffered from it and nothing ever happened to the guy, thank God.

Perry didn't get involved in that crap - he always preached against drugs.

Wrong again.....

http://steveperryfanclub.homestead.com/StevePerryLeadVocalistOfJourney.html

Steve Perry from the interview.... "....You know you talk about drying your chords out and all that. Liquor is very bad, and smoking. I do not smoke - not pot very much anymore, or cigarettes. That is direct. The smoke is as hot as the flame and it goes right across your chords. What better drying agent than hot smoke and flame. "

Toph - Perry was as much a partier as the rest...

Doesn't make him a bad guy.

Perry's voice suffered more damage from overuse than anything else. I've smoked cigarettes since I was 18 and I sound pretty much the same. I can sing the same shit I sang then, nearly. None of it is worth listening to, but the point is, my voice hasn't changed much at all. I smoked bags and bags of pot in my early years as well.

Never said it made him a "bad guy".... my point was that he's "human"... and was no more or less a saint than the rest of the guys....

[Rick]

I'm positive Neal wasn't the only Journey member to partake of blow, and obviously wasn't the only rocker to ever use some nose candy.

I'm not condoning it or anything but I wouldn't judge the guy for it. It was part of the culture and his surroundings, Neal was a true rock star. I'm sure most mortal dudes in the same environment would enjoy the same kind of pleasures. Hey, you're one of the world's best guitarists, why not smoke some herb, take a little coke, throw back a shot, and do a couple ladies? "I'm young, I'm rich, I'm sexy, I'm talented.... what could happen?" At least Neal's health never suffered from it and nothing ever happened to the guy, thank God.

Perry didn't get involved in that crap - he always preached against drugs.

Wrong again.....

http://steveperryfanclub.homestead.com/StevePerryLeadVocalistOfJourney.html

Steve Perry from the interview.... "....You know you talk about drying your chords out and all that. Liquor is very bad, and smoking. I do not smoke - not pot very much anymore, or cigarettes. That is direct. The smoke is as hot as the flame and it goes right across your chords. What better drying agent than hot smoke and flame. "

Toph - Perry was as much a partier as the rest...

Doesn't make him a bad guy.

Perry's voice suffered more damage from overuse than anything else. I've smoked cigarettes since I was 18 and I sound pretty much the same. I can sing the same shit I sang then, nearly. None of it is worth listening to, but the point is, my voice hasn't changed much at all. I smoked bags and bags of pot in my early years as well.

Never said it made him a "bad guy".... my point was that he's "human"... and was no more or less a saint than the rest of the guys....

Was a joke, but you're absolutely right, he's just as human as you and I are.

[amaron]

Wasn't Perry a NORML supporter at one point?

[Rick]

Wasn't Perry a NORML supporter at one point?

At the risk of being prude or just stupid, I'll ask, what is NORML?

[conversationpc]

Wasn't Perry a NORML supporter at one point?

At the risk of being prude or just stupid, I'll ask, what is NORML?

National Organization for the Reformation of Marijuana Laws.

[Rick]

Wasn't Perry a NORML supporter at one point?

At the risk of being prude or just stupid, I'll ask, what is NORML?

National Organization for the Reformation of Marijuana Laws.

Thanks Dave. Where do I join?