Steve's Raspy Voice ?

[texafana]

I've been listening to a few interviews of Steve, and one thing that strikes me is the raspy, airness, etc, of his voice over the years. The "pitch" of his voice doesn't sound as drastically changed as much as the raspiness. I realize his voice changed somewhat before TBF, but it really seems to have changed alot the past decade. So there could be other reasons why he isn't jumping on the come back band wagon.

Symptoms of vocal nodes: "Here are symptoms that are warning signs of nodes or polyps: Auditory Signs: acute or chronic hoarseness; reduced vocal range; inability to sing at length; recurring laryngitis; a tonal change from a clear voice to one that's breathy, raspy, squeaky, foggy or rough; and the inability to project clearly."

I'm not saying he has vocal nodes or polyps, but if he does.....we know from the past how much he hates surgery. And who blames him!

-------------------------------------------------------
Strange Medicine Interview
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nZ6UzELue3o

In this video in 2005, his pitch seems the same and notice his voice is much less raspy. Very clear, etc.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lb_ZSYPG6Nw

Sings "Dont Stop" with the White Sox. (Very much as sign that something is amiss.)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=504B3iR5M_8

2006 Meet and greet with fans. Voice sounds very raspy. Also shocked to see a pudgy looking Steve! The face was rounded, he looked short, somewhat fat, etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrCB1y555ss

In this (2007?) Ray foley interview the voice sounds raspy, you can hear it in the laughter the most.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IE9Chh3hV9o

[ArnelRox]

I made this comment w/another poster here about a yr ago & he put together an audio sample comparing speaking voices thru the yrs. We got slammed to hell for even suggesting it.

[tammy]

well, we all age no matter what...every part of the body is affected...that's life & we have no choice but to accept it (unless you wanna go the plastic route).
I'm not saying anything about having nodes or not as I obviously don't know...but, I did wonder about the very large & visible scar I saw on Steve's neck at the WOF...it touched my heart & I just felt an overwhelming sympathy (along with the rapture I was feeling). I think about the great painters in history who lost their sight...as if a gift so divine is given for only a brief time. That's just my perception.

[Rick]

Someone made a comment that really hit home. Can't remember who it was, but it made a lot of sense.

The comment was that SP's voice probably changed the way Al Pacino's did. If you remember him in Dog Day Afternoon, you will remember him having a youthful high pitched voice, and now he's gruff sounding. His voice is way different.

Made sense to me.

Shit happens as we age.

Lots of shit.

[StoneCold]

Someone made a comment that really hit home. Can't remember who it was, but it made a lot of sense.

The comment was that SP's voice probably changed the way Al Pacino's did. If you remember him in Dog Day Afternoon, you will remember him having a youthful high pitched voice, and now he's gruff sounding. His voice is way different.

Made sense to me.

Shit happens as we age.

Lots of shit.

HooHaa!

Man Rick, you always come up with the best movie references! As soon as you mentioned that, I saw him doing the HooHaa in Scent of a Woman!

[Rick]

Someone made a comment that really hit home. Can't remember who it was, but it made a lot of sense.

The comment was that SP's voice probably changed the way Al Pacino's did. If you remember him in Dog Day Afternoon, you will remember him having a youthful high pitched voice, and now he's gruff sounding. His voice is way different.

Made sense to me.

Shit happens as we age.

Lots of shit.

HooHaa!

Man Rick, you always come up with the best movie references! As soon as you mentioned that, I saw him doing the HooHaa in Scent of a Woman!

Another great Pacino flick. Who doesn't love that guy? He's great.

[tammy]

Al Pacino, Al Pacino, Allllll Pacino...John Travolta loved him. Quick - what movie?

[Rick]

Al Pacino, Al Pacino, Allllll Pacino...John Travolta loved him. Quick - what movie?

Saturday Night Fever?

[larryfromnextdoor]

Al Pacino, Al Pacino, Allllll Pacino...John Travolta loved him. Quick - what movie?

the boy in the plastic bubble!!!

[StoneCold]

Al Pacino, Al Pacino, Allllll Pacino...John Travolta loved him. Quick - what movie?

Saturday Night Fever,

Travolta prancing in his underwear chanting "Attica, Attica" at the poster from Dog Day Afternoon

[StoneCold]

Al Pacino, Al Pacino, Allllll Pacino...John Travolta loved him. Quick - what movie?

Saturday Night Fever,

Travolta prancing in his underwear chanting "Attica, Attica" at the poster from Dog Day Afternoon

Or was the poster "Serpico"?

[ArnelRox]

Al Pacino, Al Pacino, Allllll Pacino...John Travolta loved him. Quick - what movie?

Saturday Night Fever,

Travolta prancing in his underwear chanting "Attica, Attica" at the poster from Dog Day Afternoon

OMG not a good memory.

[ArnelRox]

well, we all age no matter what...every part of the body is affected...that's life & we have no choice but to accept it (unless you wanna go the plastic route).
I'm not saying anything about having nodes or not as I obviously don't know...but, I did wonder about the very large & visible scar I saw on Steve's neck at the WOF...it touched my heart & I just felt an overwhelming sympathy (along with the rapture I was feeling). I think about the great painters in history who lost their sight...as if a gift so divine is given for only a brief time. That's just my perception.

Yeah but that makes me so sad to hear. When is someone gonna discover the fountain of youth dammit.

[mistiejourney]

Al Pacino, Al Pacino, Allllll Pacino...John Travolta loved him. Quick - what movie?

Saturday Night Fever, I believe just before he was walking around in black bikini underwear shouting "AttiCA! AttiCA!" John, not Al.

Not that I've seen SNF like fifty times. Or so.

[Rip Rokken]

Saturday Night Fever, I believe just before he was walking around in black bikini underwear shouting "AttiCA! AttiCA!" John, not Al.

Not that I've seen SNF like fifty times. Or so.

I don't remember "Attica" in that scene, but I definitely remember "Alllllllllllll Pacino!" That was hillarious. Another two funny lines:

"ONE pork chop!!!" (his dad at dinner)

"Don't hit the hair! He keeps on hitting the hair!" (Travolta at the dinner table)

[Moose]

Someone made a comment that really hit home. Can't remember who it was, but it made a lot of sense.

The comment was that SP's voice probably changed the way Al Pacino's did. If you remember him in Dog Day Afternoon, you will remember him having a youthful high pitched voice, and now he's gruff sounding. His voice is way different.

Made sense to me.

Shit happens as we age.

Lots of shit.

HooHaa!

Man Rick, you always come up with the best movie references! As soon as you mentioned that, I saw him doing the HooHaa in Scent of a Woman!

Another great Pacino flick. Who doesn't love that guy? He's great.

One of the all time best!

[bluejeangirl76]

Shit happens as we age.

Lots of shit.

Yup. 'Nuff said. Of course he's not going to sound like he did in '79. Sheesh.
Even DICK CLARK finally started to age. Happens to everyone.
Doesn't automatically mean he's got this or that issue. Maybe he just plain don't wanna fuckin' sing no more.

[Perry86fan]

Shit happens as we age.

Lots of shit.

Yup. 'Nuff said. Of course he's not going to sound like he did in '79. Sheesh.
Even DICK CLARK finally started to age. Happens to everyone.
Doesn't automatically mean he's got this or that issue. Maybe he just plain don't wanna fuckin' sing no more.

Thank You!

[Marabelle]

Don't leave out the most obvious reason for the change in Al's voice...smoking cigarettes for the last twenty years!

[Perry86fan]

Shit happens as we age.

Lots of shit.

Yup. 'Nuff said. Of course he's not going to sound like he did in '79. Sheesh.
Even DICK CLARK finally started to age. Happens to everyone.
Doesn't automatically mean he's got this or that issue. Maybe he just plain don't wanna fuckin' sing no more.

Thank You BJG

[TigerBite]

Someone made a comment that really hit home. Can't remember who it was, but it made a lot of sense.

The comment was that SP's voice probably changed the way Al Pacino's did. If you remember him in Dog Day Afternoon, you will remember him having a youthful high pitched voice, and now he's gruff sounding. His voice is way different.

Made sense to me.

Shit happens as we age.

Lots of shit.

Agreed.
As an afterthought, doesn't SP suffer from asthma? That would have an effect on his voice overall as well.

[BobbyinTN]

Honestly, I love Steve Perry's voice and count him as one of my biggest influences so when I give this opinion, realize the respect that I have for him is immense.

Here's what I think was Steve Perry's downfall.

TOURING.

It seemed Journey had rather be on the road than be anything else. They never bothered changing keys, Steve was a showman and hit the high notes as much as possible and as often as possible and it wore him out.

Look at the voices that have changed only slightly that are as high as Steve Perry and are about the same age as Perry, and as forceful, John Farnham, Ann Wilson, Dennis DeYoung are the ones I can think of right off hand, and they still sound very good, very little rasp and sustain. Do you know why, these people only tour sporadically. They're not out there 9, 10, 12 months a year wearing it out. Honestly no singer, no matter how good there are or how perfectly they sing can ever maintain their voice if they never rest it.

One of my favorite singers of all time is Russell Hitchcock, the lead singer of Air Supply. I know a lot of you think they are "too soft" or whatever, but the man can sing and was hitting high C and the D and the E above tenor high C for years, but they toured continuously and are still touring and Russell sounds like he's out of breath, and really sounds strained. Now, the last couple of years they've changed the keys of the songs and Russell is sounding a whole lot better.

For me, I'd rather my favorite singers just do a few shows a year, crank out new recorded music and give us something to look forward to, not something to worry about thinking if they're gonna be able to sing or not.

That was also the downfall of Steve Augeri. He was the lead singer. He could have said, hey guys, let's change keys, but he didn't and I fault him for that.

One more thing, anyone that thinks Steve Augeri can't sing, is tone deaf. Yeah, he messed up live, but show me a singer that doesn't or hasn't.

[*Laura]

doing the HooHaa in Scent of a Woman!

I.LOVE.PACINO.

He's the best.

[journeyrock]

One more thing, anyone that thinks Steve Augeri can't sing, is tone deaf. Yeah, he messed up live, but show me a singer show doesn't.

Steve Perry!

[tammy]

Honestly, I love Steve Perry's voice and count him as one of my biggest influences so when I give this opinion, realize the respect that I have for him is immense.

Here's what I think was Steve Perry's downfall.

TOURING.

It seemed Journey had rather be on the road than be anything else. They never bothered changing keys, Steve was a showman and hit the high notes as much as possible and as often as possible and it wore him out.

That touring was brutal! Anyone can see the list of concerts they did in those years - it was insane. Back to back nights singing like that! I, honestly don't know how Steve did it - no wonder he said he was "toast" & had to stop it. He gave it all.

[tammy]

Saturday Night Fever, I believe just before he was walking around in black bikini underwear shouting "AttiCA! AttiCA!" John, not Al.

Not that I've seen SNF like fifty times. Or so.

I don't remember "Attica" in that scene, but I definitely remember "Alllllllllllll Pacino!" That was hillarious. Another two funny lines:

"ONE pork chop!!!" (his dad at dinner)

"Don't hit the hair! He keeps on hitting the hair!" (Travolta at the dinner table)

Yep, it was SNF. The dinner scene is funny. My fave scene is the friend with the big platform shoes walking down the street - it always makes me laugh. Gawd, the clothes we wore then.

[BobbyinTN]

One more thing, anyone that thinks Steve Augeri can't sing, is tone deaf. Yeah, he messed up live, but show me a singer show doesn't.

Steve Perry!

With all due respect, I remember the era and I remember a few concerts that had to be canceled due to Steve's "throat" problems.

He's incredible, but he is human.

[STORY_TELLER]

Someone made a comment that really hit home. Can't remember who it was, but it made a lot of sense.

The comment was that SP's voice probably changed the way Al Pacino's did. If you remember him in Dog Day Afternoon, you will remember him having a youthful high pitched voice, and now he's gruff sounding. His voice is way different.

Made sense to me.

Shit happens as we age.

Lots of shit.

It was me who made the Perry to Pacino comparison.

And yes, touring wreaks havoc on vocal chords. But my point for making the Perry to Pacino comparison is to show that touring alone might not have been the reason for the voice change. Pacino is not a singer, doesn't put his vocal chords to a 10th of the workout Perry did over the years, yet he suffers from the exact same issue.

The same tour schedule Perry was able to handle with Journey would have destroyed your average singer in a much short period of time. The same genetics that kept his voice going so long could very well be the same thing that was going to change it, regardless of whether he was a singer or a guy who worked on a turkey farm. Same thing with Pacino.

[journeyrock]

One more thing, anyone that thinks Steve Augeri can't sing, is tone deaf. Yeah, he messed up live, but show me a singer show doesn't.

Steve Perry!

With all due respect, I remember the era and I remember a few concerts that had to be canceled due to Steve's "throat" problems.

He's incredible, but he is human.

Yeah, I know, but he didn't mess up live, he just didn't sing due to the fact he had throat problems. I just think it's a shame that SA wasn't allowed to do that.

[*Laura]

It was me who made the Perry to Pacino comparison.

And yes, touring wreaks havoc on vocal chords. But my point for making the Perry to Pacino comparison is to show that touring alone might not have been the reason for the voice change. Pacino is not a singer, doesn't put his vocal chords to a 10th of the workout Perry did over the years, yet he suffers from the exact same issue.

The same tour schedule Perry was able to handle with Journey would have destroyed your average singer in a much short period of time. The same genetics that kept his voice going so long could very well be the same thing that was going to change it, regardless of whether he was a singer or a guy who worked on a turkey farm. Same thing with Pacino.

I'm not sure Pacino and Perry had/have the same throat problem.As I was reading your post I remembered something about Pacino's voice issues,but couldn't recall exactly what it was.So I looked up a bio.Found this.

"Pacino suffered from a throat disorder in the mid-1980s which forced him to stop smoking cigarettes. In Sea of Love, he sounded noticibly different, the beginning of his now-famous dark, owly eyes and hoarse, deep voice. He hasn't stopped smoking, but he has successfully transfered his habit to herbal cigarettes."


http://www.popstarsplus.com/actors_alpacino.htm