chalfant interview

[Monker]

Since we are on a Chalfant kick....here's an interview...

http://www.libertynjustice.net/gettoknow_kevinc.php

The Journey highlight:

Q: Rumor has it that when Steve Perry left Journey you were close to getting the gig. What happened? Did you want to be the lead singer of Journey?

KC: I did a live performance with Journey in 1994 in San Francisco. I was asked to join the band. I began writing with Gregg, Neal and Jonathan. Then out of a nearby phone booth, Steve Perry reappears with a new fire burning. It burned long enough to record a new CD — and then back to permanent vacation again. God has something much bigger in store for me. It is a life's goal and a destination that only He can finish in me.

[Big J]

Wairt a minute, let me get this straight. Chalfant sang with Journey live in '94 in SF?

I've never heard this before...ever.

[chickpea]

I'm confused. It was '94 but he was writing with Gregg?

[jrnyman28]

I'm confused. It was '94 but he was writing with Gregg?

How is that confusing? In (late) 1994 Journey had already "reunited" with Kevin and Gregg in the band. Then Perry resurfaced, by 1995 the Escape-era had reunited and strated writing/recording and in 1996 TBF was released...

[Big J]

I totally missed this period. So, at some point both Rolie and Cain were in the band? Or was it Chalfant, Rolie, Schon, Valory, Smith?

[DreamAfterDream]

Gregg and Jonathan in the band together?

[Abitaman]

YES, both were in band. Would have loved a cd from the group then. Never knew they played live thou.-ERIC

[chickpea]

I'm confused. It was '94 but he was writing with Gregg?

How is that confusing? In (late) 1994 Journey had already "reunited" with Kevin and Gregg in the band. Then Perry resurfaced, by 1995 the Escape-era had reunited and strated writing/recording and in 1996 TBF was released...

Thank you for the explanation but there was really no need to try to make me feel stupid for asking a legitimate question. I didn't know that Gregg was in the band at that time otherwise I wouldn't have asked.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Would've been the best lineup of all time if it saw fruition.
Great interview.

[jrnyman28]

I'm confused. It was '94 but he was writing with Gregg?

How is that confusing? In (late) 1994 Journey had already "reunited" with Kevin and Gregg in the band. Then Perry resurfaced, by 1995 the Escape-era had reunited and strated writing/recording and in 1996 TBF was released...

Thank you for the explanation but there was really no need to try to make me feel stupid for asking a legitimate question. I didn't know that Gregg was in the band at that time otherwise I wouldn't have asked.

I had no intention of "making you feel stupid". I am sorry if that is how it came across. I really just did not understand what the point of confusion was based on the way you stated your question...

[jrnyman28]

YES, both were in band. Would have loved a cd from the group then. Never knew they played live thou.-ERIC

Yep, this is the first I recall hearing of this as well. Does anyone know what the event was that Kevin song for? I would imagine it was something like the Bammies or something. Sort of like when they got Michael Bolton to fill in...

[jrnyman28]

Would've been the best lineup of all time if it saw fruition.
Great interview.

100% agree. Imagine the songwriting skill of Jon mixed with the vibe/groove of Gregg!!

[DreamAfterDream]

No offense to Jon, but I far prefer Gregg's vocals.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Yep, this is the first I recall hearing of this as well. Does anyone know what the event was that Kevin song for? I would imagine it was something like the Bammies or something. Sort of like when they got Michael Bolton to fill in...

I've heard it mentioned before.
KC filled in for Perry at a ceremonial roast celebrating Herbie.

Here's an article on the event:

http://www.journey-tribute.com/journey/ ... nical.html

[Rockindeano]

Would've been the best lineup of all time if it saw fruition.
Great interview.

100% agree. Imagine the songwriting skill of Jon mixed with the vibe/groove of Gregg!!

What, 2 keyboards? An organ and an piano? I guess it would work. REO does it.

[chickpea]

I'm confused. It was '94 but he was writing with Gregg?

How is that confusing? In (late) 1994 Journey had already "reunited" with Kevin and Gregg in the band. Then Perry resurfaced, by 1995 the Escape-era had reunited and strated writing/recording and in 1996 TBF was released...

Thank you for the explanation but there was really no need to try to make me feel stupid for asking a legitimate question. I didn't know that Gregg was in the band at that time otherwise I wouldn't have asked.

I had no intention of "making you feel stupid". I am sorry if that is how it came across. I really just did not understand what the point of confusion was based on the way you stated your question...

Thank you.

[Rockindeano]

28, I feel a lot of people here never HAD or HAVE any idea of the situation in this time era. Hell, I didn't know it at all, because I had become so disconnected with the childish behaviour of some, and the lies that came out of the Journey camp, that rivals the current Administration.

You should respond and set the record straight. I really don't believe many know of the lineup status in that time period.

[jrnyman28]

Yep, this is the first I recall hearing of this as well. Does anyone know what the event was that Kevin song for? I would imagine it was something like the Bammies or something. Sort of like when they got Michael Bolton to fill in...

I've heard it mentioned before.
KC filled in for Perry at a ceremonial roast celebrating Herbie.

Here's an article on the event:

http://www.journey-tribute.com/journey/ ... nical.html

Now I remember...thank you!

[jrnyman28]

What, 2 keyboards? An organ and an piano? I guess it would work. REO does it.

Oh I think it would have been incredible. Add to that the dimension of Jon on Rhythm Guitar and Gregg on the keys giving songs a fuller sound!

[Greg]

I must admit, I was clueless on what was happening in the Journey camp at that particular time. The only thing I knew was that Perry had released his solo record around that time, and Neal & Jon had just parted ways with Bad English.

[jrnyman28]

You should respond and set the record straight. I really don't believe many know of the lineup status in that time period.

I think it has been covered.

1987 Perry is toast and Journey ends the ROR Tour short.

No announcement is made but Journey has been put on hold.

Through 1992 Neal and Jon kept working with bands like Bad English, Hardline, backing up Michael Bolton and working with Jimmy Barnes.

In 1992 Neal and Jon went to work on TIME3 including 2 previously unreleased tracks. Perry would not lay vocals on those tracks so they remained as instrumentals. (Imagine the commercial success of the box set had Perry laid vocals on those tracks and they were released as singles??)

In 1994 Perry released FTLOSM and followed it with a tour.

Meanwhile Journey had reformed with Neal, Jon Ross, Smitty, Jon AND Gregg. (Apparantly including/sparked by a performance at a roast for HH...thank you TNC)

Sony approached Perry and promised to push another single from FTLOSM if he consider reuniting with Journey. Perry ended the FTLOSM Tour early to rejoin Journey. When he came onboard Kevin and Gregg were out. Sony wanted the most commercially successful era of the band represented. (I have also heard that Gregg wanted out when he learned Perry was back.)

In 1995 Journey started writing and recording what was to become TBF. According to all involved, the writing chemistry was amazing.

In 1996 TBF is released. Message Of Love and When You Love A Woman are simultaneously released as singles. WYLAW goes to #3 and gets a Grammy Nomination (losing out to the Beatles).

Perry goes to Hawaii to train for the upcoming TBF tour.

The rest is history...

[Rockindeano]

I was just saying, there are new people here like Marabelle, Shania, Moonbeam, etc.

Thanks for the history lesson.

I really didn't know Rolie despised Perry so bad? Was it because Perry took his lead singer job?
I wonder if this is why Rolie didn't come to the Hollywood WOF?

[jrnyman28]

I was just saying, there are new people here like Marabelle, Shania, Moonbeam, etc.

Thanks for the history lesson.

I really didn't know Rolie despised Perry so bad? Was it because Perry took his lead singer job?
I wonder if this is why Rolie didn't come to the Hollywood WOF?

The way I understand (and believe it), Perry started asserting control after Infinity. Perry was (supposedly) responsible for Aynsley being kicked out. And he was pushing more and more on each album. Gregg has always maintained (publicly) that he left Journey due to road burnout. But I have defiantely heard it had a LOT to do with the direction the band was headed...led by Perry.

As for Rolie not showing at the WOF, supposedly NO ONE knew Perry was going to be there so I don't think that could be it. But, ya never really know do ya?

Ironically, I am listening to Infinity In The Studio and Gregg makes a specific statement that he never had a problem with the direction the band was headed...

[Rockindeano]

The Castles Burning interview, it seemed like HH was sick of the 16 yr old groupies going in and out nightly...and the drugs too.

[anonymousse]

[quote="DreamAfterDream"]No offense to Jon, but I far prefer Gregg's vocals.[/quote]

Gregg does have a great voice and his keyboard playing is amazing. It would be cool if he and Journey got together again for at least a few songs. I remember really missing him when comparing Escape to previous albums, even though I love Escape.

[The_Noble_Cause]

The Castles Burning interview, it seemed like HH was sick of the 16 yr old groupies going in and out nightly...and the drugs too.

Those comments were largerly aimed at Dunbar. He comes off slightly pedophile-esque in HH's interview.

Herbert does say that Gregg left because he didn't like Perry's overbearing control. According to HH, Gregg realized that Perry was gonna fix things regardless if they were broken or not (as ROR proved, he eventually did go on to do that - however, Perry did alot of great things, too)

[*Laura]

I know the entire Journey history.
Dunbar was out because he had problems with drugs,alcohol and 15 year old girls.
As for Steve and Gregg...it`s hard to say what really happened.All I know is that at first they were very good friends.Steve stated that in an interview.I`ll look it up in a second and post that one.
Something definately changed after Infinity was released because Perry became the hot spot in Journey.That wasn`t hard considering his overwhelming voice and personality.
Obviously not everyone in Journey was happy with that and maybe Gregg was one of them.
If Gregg didn`t show up at the WOF because of Perry I think that`s completely childish.

Ok,here`s what Steve said on Off The Record (2000)

" In the very beginning I have to say that Gregg Rolie was the guy who took me under his wing. I had nowhere to stay in the bay area and he put me in a downstairs bedroom of his house. He was a really supportive guy and really was positively behind the idea of me being in the band. At some point in time I don`t know what happened but I think we did become professionally competitive.That was just bound to happen I guess on both fronts."

[The_Noble_Cause]

I know the entire Journey history.
Dunbar was out because he had problems with drugs,alcohol and 15 year old girls.
As for Steve and Gregg...it`s hard to say what really happened.All I know is that at first they were very good friends.Steve stated that in an interview.I`ll look it up in a second and post that one.
Something definately changed after Infinity was released because Perry became the hot spot in Journey.That wasn`t hard considering his overwhelming voice and personality.
Obviously not everyone in Journey was happy with that and maybe Gregg was one of them.
If Gregg didn`t show up at the WOF because of Perry I think that`s completely childish.

Ok,here`s what Steve said on Off The Record (2000)

" In the very beginning I have to say that Gregg Rolie was the guy who took me under his wing. I had nowhere to stay in the bay area and he put me in a downstairs bedroom of his house. He was a really supportive guy and really was positively behind the idea of me being in the band. At some point in time I don`t know what happened but I think we did become professionally competitive.That was just bound to happen I guess on both fronts."

Interesting stuff. Thanks.

[Rockindeano]

I earlier stated the "riff" between Rolie and Perry, if there was one, may have led to Rolie not showing up at Hollywood last year.

That probably isn't the case, because all along, 99% of the folks either organizing or attending thought Perry would never show, so Rolie must have had a scheduling conflict or some shit going on.

[JohnH]

The Castles Burning interview, it seemed like HH was sick of the 16 yr old groupies going in and out nightly...and the drugs too.

Yes. Aynsley was very high maintenance and in that interview HH tells of the difficulties dealing with Aynsley. Things like having the cops show up all the time because Aynsley was messing with somebody's daughter.

John