In a parallel universe...

[lights1961]

for Schon and success with out Perry... I think all you have to think about is Bad English... that was a pretty smoking super group back in the 80s...and quite successfull or even SCHON/HAMMER was pretty succesful...

R

[Saint John]

I'm having a hard time being convinced when Schon has to cancel his solo tour
due to lack of sales ...I haven't heard of that happeneing to Slash, but if it has ...do tell!!
When you speak of relevance, how shall we measure ...other than notoriety?!?

Not a good example. Neal has "outlet" projects while he's in Journey. He gets to get out and express himself musically, while having Journey to fall back on. They're not exactly cash-seeking endeavors. If he needed to pay the bills with a particular project, I'm guessing you'd see something more successful like Bad English ... which immediately spawned one more #1 song than Steve Perry ever enjoyed. Not to mention going Platinum, selling well in other countries and having a few other hits. Hardline and The Storm were 2 other great bands as well.

[Michigan Girl]

It's not a dick measuring contest?!

You are basing your information on
the fact that SP has already been successful, made a lot
of money and is rich, therefore, he no longer has to work!!
Kind of like reality!!
You are also assuming Neal married 5 times, spent all
of his money and must work ... Isn't this a whole new scenario?!?!


Had Schon been such a huge success outside of Journey, shredding and rocking ...
I'm sure he wouldn't have been a man who just wanted his band back!!

[Saint John]

It's not a dick measuring contest?!

You are basing your information on
the fact that SP has already been successful, made a lot
of money and is rich, therefore, he no longer has to work!!
Kind of like reality!!
You are also assuming Neal married 5 times, spent all
of his money and must work ... Isn't this a whole new scenario?!?!

Neal has more than enough money to retire, and has for some time, but he loves what he does. Nostrildamus can't sing, so his retirement is a moot conversation. Out of here for the weekend. Enjoy.

[FamilyMan]

Pretty simple here...

Lets say that it was Schon, not Perry, that left Journey, in 86'. Few questions...

Do you think they would still be a success today?
Would you still be a fan?
What kind of music do you think that Journey would put out?
Would Schon have been more active/successful alone then Perry has been?

See "Street Talk" and Hammer/Schon for answers to these questions.

[steveo777]

It's not a dick measuring contest?!

You are basing your information on
the fact that SP has already been successful, made a lot
of money and is rich, therefore, he no longer has to work!!
Kind of like reality!!
You are also assuming Neal married 5 times, spent all
of his money and must work ... Isn't this a whole new scenario?!?!


Had Schon been such a huge success outside of Journey, shredding and rocking ...
I'm sure he wouldn't have been a man who just wanted his band back!!

I seriously doubt you know what one of those is, and no, it's not Deano.

[Michigan Girl]

It's not a dick measuring contest?!

You are basing your information on
the fact that SP has already been successful, made a lot
of money and is rich, therefore, he no longer has to work!!
Kind of like reality!!
You are also assuming Neal married 5 times, spent all
of his money and must work ... Isn't this a whole new scenario?!?!


Had Schon been such a huge success outside of Journey, shredding and rocking ...
I'm sure he wouldn't have been a man who just wanted his band back!!

I seriously doubt you know what one of those is, and no, it's not Deano.

Even if I didn't before, I do now ...one just left for the weekend
and the other exposes himself regularly!!

[Author2]

I'm having a hard time being convinced when Schon has to cancel his solo tour
due to lack of sales ...I haven't heard of that happeneing to Slash, but if it has ...do tell!!
When you speak of relevance, how shall we measure ...other than notoriety?!?

Not a good example. Neal has "outlet" projects while he's in Journey. He gets to get out and express himself musically, while having Journey to fall back on. They're not exactly cash-seeking endeavors. If he needed to pay the bills with a particular project, I'm guessing you'd see something more successful like Bad English ... which immediately spawned one more #1 song than Steve Perry ever enjoyed. Not to mention going Platinum, selling well in other countries and having a few other hits. Hardline and The Storm were 2 other great bands as well.

Yeah, is that why he hurries/hurried back to Journey.

[SF-Dano]

I'm having a hard time being convinced when Schon has to cancel his solo tour
due to lack of sales ...I haven't heard of that happeneing to Slash, but if it has ...do tell!!
When you speak of relevance, how shall we measure ...other than notoriety?!?

Not a good example. Neal has "outlet" projects while he's in Journey. He gets to get out and express himself musically, while having Journey to fall back on. They're not exactly cash-seeking endeavors. If he needed to pay the bills with a particular project, I'm guessing you'd see something more successful like Bad English ... which immediately spawned one more #1 song than Steve Perry ever enjoyed. Not to mention going Platinum, selling well in other countries and having a few other hits. Hardline and The Storm were 2 other great bands as well.

Yeah, is that why he hurries/hurried back to Journey.

I don't see how he hurried back to Journey. 86 to 93/94 when reunion plans began. 7/8 years, yeah he was in a huge rush. And why not want to get back to Journey, it was as much his band (if not more so) as any other member. And just because the loons may argue to the contrary or opine differently does not make it so. The fact remains that Neal Schon is the only name that has appeared on every Journey release.

[parfait]

Journey wouldn't be shit without Neal. SP and Friga would've cranked out a few For the love of strange medicine albums and then driftet into oblivion, working on turkey ranches or their biceps.

[Jubilee]

Pretty simple here...

Lets say that it was Schon, not Perry, that left Journey, in 86'. Few questions...

Do you think they would still be a success today?
Would you still be a fan?
What kind of music do you think that Journey would put out?
Would Schon have been more active/successful alone then Perry has been?

It's kind of hard to say. If Schon left in '86 it's likely, since Journey is his band, he would have taken the name with him, or at least could have had a case for preventing whatever was left of the band from using the name. It's also likely that Ross would have been out & stayed out, since Perry appears to have been angling to get rid of him anyway. Perry himself was burned out & couldn't/didn't want to go on. Even if Perry had managed to pull himself together, that would have left Perry, Cain (maybe) and Steve Smith (maybe). If Perry could have talked Cain into staying, I imagine they could have come up with a few more hits. Looking at the direction they were headed in musically with ROR, my guess is it would have been a very different "Journey" than long-time fans would have been used to.

Schon has already proven to be far more active/successful alone than Perry.

[Red13JoePa]

It's not a dick measuring contest?!

You are basing your information on
the fact that SP has already been successful, made a lot
of money and is rich, therefore, he no longer has to work!!
Kind of like reality!!
You are also assuming Neal married 5 times, spent all
of his money and must work ... Isn't this a whole new scenario?!?!


Had Schon been such a huge success outside of Journey, shredding and rocking ...
I'm sure he wouldn't have been a man who just wanted his band back!!

Stop, Dan completely cornered you on this.

[Journey/Survivor]

Pretty simple here...

Lets say that it was Schon, not Perry, that left Journey, in 86'. Few questions...

Do you think they would still be a success today?
Would you still be a fan?
What kind of music do you think that Journey would put out?
Would Schon have been more active/successful alone then Perry has been?

"Do you think that they would still be a success today?" If Perry's voice was still holding up well, and if they toured regularly and didn't change the direction of the bands music too drastically, then YES I think they'd still be successful.[b]

"Would you still be a fan?" [b]If they still sounded good and didn't change the direction of the music too much, then YES, I'd still be a fan.

"What kind of music do you think that Journey would put out?" Unfortunately, I think that Perry would have still wanted to keep some of that Motown sound in the music. Although, to his credit, he didn't keep that style on his FTLOSM album.

"Would Schon have been more active/successful alone than Perry has been?" Schon would have been a million times more active than Perry. Schon lives to play music. Perry acts like he's allergic to performing anymore. As for success.... It's really difficult to know for sure.

[Monker]

Steve Smith would be there w/SP ...Jon Cain would be in hog heaven, (that's a southern
term which he understands now that he's in Tennessee) Ross would stay ...but would
Perry keep him or give RJ a call?!? ...either way, Jon would be there to make the calls
and loving it!! I'm not sure who would be on geetar ...Lincoln?!?

What you say about Steve Smith is simply NOT TRUE. He joined Journey for the reunion...and that was it. He specifically said that in interviews from the time. Without Neal, there is no reunion. In fact, in the scenerio, I think he would join Neal, Gregg, and Chalfant - and Herbie. I say that because he was already in that version of the reunion before Perry decided to join.

[Monker]

Not a great analogy ...Slash hasn't been around as long as Schon ...mid~eighties?!?!
And has been waaay more relevant/known ...so no!! Most people would say
"who's Schon?" Everyone knows Slash!!

People that know good music (in this genre) know who Schon is. Now that may not be "most" as you stated, but I think it would be enough to keep him making money and living comfortably. I do agree Slash is a bigger name these days though. Give Slash another decade though and who knows if anyone will even remember him then. I will say this, he is not even in Schon's league as far as talent on the guitar goes. Slash relevant? Recently? Please explain. I don't think the guy has been relevant since the mid/late 90s. Known yes, relevent .... not so much. Could that change...... sure.

Slash was featured in Guitar Hero, in the game, and promo. Don't know if that means much...but that gave him MUCH more exposure then Neal has had recently.

[Monker]

I'm having a hard time being convinced when Schon has to cancel his solo tour
due to lack of sales ...I haven't heard of that happeneing to Slash, but if it has ...do tell!!
When you speak of relevance, how shall we measure ...other than notoriety?!?

Not a good example. Neal has "outlet" projects while he's in Journey. He gets to get out and express himself musically, while having Journey to fall back on. They're not exactly cash-seeking endeavors. If he needed to pay the bills with a particular project, I'm guessing you'd see something more successful like Bad English ... which immediately spawned one more #1 song than Steve Perry ever enjoyed. Not to mention going Platinum, selling well in other countries and having a few other hits. Hardline and The Storm were 2 other great bands as well.

That is not totally true about "outlet projects". If Soul Sirkus had been successful, IMO, Journey would have broken up. And, if Planet US had been able to hold it together, IMO, Journey would have broken up. These seemed to me to be attempts to move away from the band - not as some kinda 'outlet'. Remember, he put Journey on hold for Soul Sirkus...which I was very critical of on BT, and got 'talked to' about it. Journey did not seem to be his priority AT ALL at that time.

[steveo777]

I'm having a hard time being convinced when Schon has to cancel his solo tour
due to lack of sales ...I haven't heard of that happeneing to Slash, but if it has ...do tell!!
When you speak of relevance, how shall we measure ...other than notoriety?!?

Not a good example. Neal has "outlet" projects while he's in Journey. He gets to get out and express himself musically, while having Journey to fall back on. They're not exactly cash-seeking endeavors. If he needed to pay the bills with a particular project, I'm guessing you'd see something more successful like Bad English ... which immediately spawned one more #1 song than Steve Perry ever enjoyed. Not to mention going Platinum, selling well in other countries and having a few other hits. Hardline and The Storm were 2 other great bands as well.

That is not totally true about "outlet projects". If Soul Sirkus had been successful, IMO, Journey would have broken up. And, if Planet US had been able to hold it together, IMO, Journey would have broken up. These seemed to me to be attempts to move away from the band - not as some kinda 'outlet'. Remember, he put Journey on hold for Soul Sirkus...which I was very critical of on BT, and got 'talked to' about it. Journey did not seem to be his priority AT ALL at that time.

Maybe Schon was getting some "revenge fuck" out of those projects.

[Schon Rules All]

Nancy Reagan is more active than him.

[Schon Rules All]

Nancy Reagan is more active than him.

HAHAHAHAHA Way True!!!

[Rick]

I'm having a hard time being convinced when Schon has to cancel his solo tour
due to lack of sales ...I haven't heard of that happeneing to Slash, but if it has ...do tell!!
When you speak of relevance, how shall we measure ...other than notoriety?!?

Not a good example. Neal has "outlet" projects while he's in Journey. He gets to get out and express himself musically, while having Journey to fall back on. They're not exactly cash-seeking endeavors. If he needed to pay the bills with a particular project, I'm guessing you'd see something more successful like Bad English ... which immediately spawned one more #1 song than Steve Perry ever enjoyed. Not to mention going Platinum, selling well in other countries and having a few other hits. Hardline and The Storm were 2 other great bands as well.

That is not totally true about "outlet projects". If Soul Sirkus had been successful, IMO, Journey would have broken up. And, if Planet US had been able to hold it together, IMO, Journey would have broken up. These seemed to me to be attempts to move away from the band - not as some kinda 'outlet'. Remember, he put Journey on hold for Soul Sirkus...which I was very critical of on BT, and got 'talked to' about it. Journey did not seem to be his priority AT ALL at that time.

They would have never put the cash cow down. Never.

[swataz]

As in playing live still? You have to be kidding. Nostrildamus was barely a 10 year flash in the pan, didn't take any sort of care of his voice, and has always been a quitter (first band when bandmate was killed, Journey in 1986, solo in 1994 and Journey again in 1996). He would have packed it up after (possibly) one tour post-ROR and we would hear what we hear from him today ... nothing.

I can agree with you here on the fact that he seems to have no gumption to "come back" and he does seem to have a stop button built into his career to some degree.

What I really don't necessarily agree with is the bolded statement about not taking care of his voice. The theory has been bandied about regading the rigors of the Journey catalog, the constant touring and just the physiology of Steve Perry himself brought upon the "shot" nature of his latter-day voice. What makes you think he didn't take care of his voice properly?

[steveo777]

As in playing live still? You have to be kidding. Nostrildamus was barely a 10 year flash in the pan, didn't take any sort of care of his voice, and has always been a quitter (first band when bandmate was killed, Journey in 1986, solo in 1994 and Journey again in 1996). He would have packed it up after (possibly) one tour post-ROR and we would hear what we hear from him today ... nothing.

I can agree with you here on the fact that he seems to have no gumption to "come back" and he does seem to have a stop button built into his career to some degree.

What I really don't necessarily agree with is the bolded statement about not taking care of his voice. The theory has been bandied about regading the rigors of the Journey catalog, the constant touring and just the physiology of Steve Perry himself brought upon the "shot" nature of his latter-day voice. What makes you think he didn't take care of his voice properly?

If you don't use it you lose it.

[swataz]

As in playing live still? You have to be kidding. Nostrildamus was barely a 10 year flash in the pan, didn't take any sort of care of his voice, and has always been a quitter (first band when bandmate was killed, Journey in 1986, solo in 1994 and Journey again in 1996). He would have packed it up after (possibly) one tour post-ROR and we would hear what we hear from him today ... nothing.

I can agree with you here on the fact that he seems to have no gumption to "come back" and he does seem to have a stop button built into his career to some degree.

What I really don't necessarily agree with is the bolded statement about not taking care of his voice. The theory has been bandied about regading the rigors of the Journey catalog, the constant touring and just the physiology of Steve Perry himself brought upon the "shot" nature of his latter-day voice. What makes you think he didn't take care of his voice properly?

If you don't use it you lose it.

LOL...yes in the context of not using it AFTER the 10 year stint, I can understand, but he was heading toward TOAST by the end of ROR tour, and that seemed to ME, at least, to be due to overuse, etc.

[Author2]

Journey wouldn't be shit without Neal. SP and Friga would've cranked out a few For the love of strange medicine albums and then driftet into oblivion, working on turkey ranches or their biceps.

and Neal would have continue with more Journey, Look into the Future and Next - Columbia sends them packing.

[Monker]

Journey wouldn't be shit without Neal. SP and Friga would've cranked out a few For the love of strange medicine albums and then driftet into oblivion, working on turkey ranches or their biceps.

and Neal would have continue with more Journey, Look into the Future and Next - Columbia sends them packing.

Not true. By the early 90's he had success in BE, was in Hardline, and the early Journey reunion had everybody EXCEPT Perry. I have no doubt that Neal and Herbie would have continued on to record successful and popular music...they were not stuck in 1975. and Perry leading Journey would have ended no different then it did...except there would be no 'reunion' album to bolster any type of success.

[Author2]

Are we to assume Perry kept his voice and Neal lost his fingers?

"Are we to assume" that there would be more than "ten guitars" to take on Brad Gillis' "one"? 9/2009

[Monker]

I'm having a hard time being convinced when Schon has to cancel his solo tour
due to lack of sales ...I haven't heard of that happeneing to Slash, but if it has ...do tell!!
When you speak of relevance, how shall we measure ...other than notoriety?!?

Not a good example. Neal has "outlet" projects while he's in Journey. He gets to get out and express himself musically, while having Journey to fall back on. They're not exactly cash-seeking endeavors. If he needed to pay the bills with a particular project, I'm guessing you'd see something more successful like Bad English ... which immediately spawned one more #1 song than Steve Perry ever enjoyed. Not to mention going Platinum, selling well in other countries and having a few other hits. Hardline and The Storm were 2 other great bands as well.

That is not totally true about "outlet projects". If Soul Sirkus had been successful, IMO, Journey would have broken up. And, if Planet US had been able to hold it together, IMO, Journey would have broken up. These seemed to me to be attempts to move away from the band - not as some kinda 'outlet'. Remember, he put Journey on hold for Soul Sirkus...which I was very critical of on BT, and got 'talked to' about it. Journey did not seem to be his priority AT ALL at that time.

They would have never put the cash cow down. Never.

Unless Neal found a bigger one...and Sammy Hagar may have brought that. I think Neal thought he could do it without Sammy...and when he couldn't, he brought JSS into Journey. When that still didn't work, he embraced Perry's vocals and decided to cash in on the past as much as Wal-Mart would let him.

[Author2]

Journey wouldn't be shit without Neal. SP and Friga would've cranked out a few For the love of strange medicine albums and then driftet into oblivion, working on turkey ranches or their biceps.

and Neal would have continue with more Journey, Look into the Future and Next - Columbia sends them packing.

Not true. By the early 90's he had success in BE, was in Hardline, and the early Journey reunion had everybody EXCEPT Perry. I have no doubt that Neal and Herbie would have continued on to record successful and popular music...they were not stuck in 1975. and Perry leading Journey would have ended no different then it did...except there would be no 'reunion' album to bolster any type of success.

Yeah, history doesn't seem to dictate such..... BE's RIAA certifications less than Steve Perry's and what's a "Hardline" anyway? Guess it was a "Hardline" or he would have stayed with it....

I know it's hard for you, but brace yourself and repeat after me "KC was just not to be the MAN" for they dismissed him too easily..

[Author2]

As in playing live still? You have to be kidding. Nostrildamus was barely a 10 year flash in the pan, didn't take any sort of care of his voice, and has always been a quitter (first band when bandmate was killed, Journey in 1986, solo in 1994 and Journey again in 1996). He would have packed it up after (possibly) one tour post-ROR and we would hear what we hear from him today ... nothing.

I can agree with you here on the fact that he seems to have no gumption to "come back" and he does seem to have a stop button built into his career to some degree.

What I really don't necessarily agree with is the bolded statement about not taking care of his voice. The theory has been bandied about regading the rigors of the Journey catalog, the constant touring and just the physiology of Steve Perry himself brought upon the "shot" nature of his latter-day voice. What makes you think he didn't take care of his voice properly?

If you don't use it you lose it.

thinking out loud.....oops!

[Arkansas]

Who was bigger/better...Bad English or Velvet Revolver?
No need, really, to compare the two bands, per se.
Thing is, who made who?

Did Slash make VR?
Did Schon make BE? I think Schon did make Hard Line.
Interesting debate...

And who has Perry made?


later~