Herbie Herbert interview

[slucero]

Here's what I guess I don't get..
JOURNEY was a 5 member band ...
HH the manager, was a full 'band' member too.
That equals 6 members. So that's 6 votes..
Perry''s 1 guy, which is 1 vote.

So I guess I'm asking....what happened?

It would be illogical for Herbie to suggest or agree to giving up, since he was there from the very beginning... he was probably much more emotionally attached to it.. The only logical person to force the change is Perry, He probably gave an ultimatum, sell the stuff or he quits. Later on it was Herbies out, or he quits...

Perry gets all or most of the blame.
So if no one else wanted to dispose of everything,
where's all the 'NAY' votes ?
Where were their backbones at ??

If Perry orchestrated it.. he gets the lion share of the credit. The way Schon, Ross and Cain are together, there doesn't appear to be any bad blood between them... and Smitty appears to have no issues with them...

Logic serves that since they were a corporation, they did it in a board meeting, and someone had to have convinced them to vote for it.

So for me, when they whine about the loss..
it's all their own faults.

Agree, but a gag order would prevent that.

Yea or Nay not that hard to say.

Agree again... we'll know more when the band is done and Neal writes his "tell all" bio...

[Jeremey]

A few years ago (when Deano was still around-god rest his soul) I remember a long post from Jeremey that gave us fresh insight to the whole HH vs. SP/Band thing. He was an insider for a brief period of time and apparently got a spoken glimpse (from JC) of the band’s days dealing with their ex-manager. Maybe someone can find that post, or Jeremey may wish to re-hash. Would love to see the post again.

My memory is hazy on details at this point, but the gist of what happened at the time (according to Jon Cain as told to me) was that there was a period when Herbie wanted a much larger stake in the business than what he had. Could have been something to do with royalties or a larger percentage of gross sales or whatever.

But the way I understood it was that he wanted to renegotiate to take a bigger piece of the pie. And Steve Perry stood up to him on that, and the rest of the band supported Steve Perry – I didn't get the impression that Perry coerced the other band members, but that they looked to him as the "spokesperson" for their side of the argument.

Apparently lawyers got involved and that's where the old story about Lee Phillips (Perry's attorney) on one side of the table and Herbert and his lawyers on the other arguing back and forth, while the band sat in the middle watching like it was a tennis match.

Herbie had his reasons and the band had their reasons and the lawyers got involved, and "the band" ended up keeping things the way they were. The way Cain tells it, he still had a lot of respect for Perry getting involved and not laying down and getting railroaded.

So from that falling out is where I considered a lot of Herbie's animosity toward Perry came into play, and he still seemed bitter toward other band members as well, even though they all got over it. How Perry took control afterward during Raised On Radio and how his personal struggles began to affect the band decisions is probably when the other band members said, "Well shit, even though we didn't want Herbie to take majority ownership in this band, now we've got to pay the price by dealing with Steve Perry and his problems."

It's like I've always said, Herbie gave that interview coming from his experiences and he seems like a passionate guy who believed he was right, and he was going to vent about it. And the band had their reasons for doing what they did. It's just business. Most people only care about the music.

EDIT: I should mention this had nothing to do with selling off the Nightmare properties. I always thought that happened after Perry left them in 1987 and they sold off those holdings during that time when it seemed Journey had fallen off the face of the earth. Also, completely understand that Herbie had a vision for the band that he was passionate about, and the guys in the band had a different vision, and they were the driving creative force in the band. So no matter what Herbie's vision was, if the band themselves weren't onboard, it ultimately wasn't going to work. Both sides probably overestimated their own contributions toward the band's success and underestimated the other side's contributions. Happens all the time.

[Marabelle]

Puzling to me that no one considered that perhaps Mr Perry really wanted to quit. If you consider the possiblity of someone asking for outrageous demands in hopes perhaps the band would not grant them and that would give him a possible exit then I'd say that is what probably happened. I don't think he really thought he'd get everything he asked for but he did. I think he went against the grain time and again with some hope that they'd not go along with him ( and side with Herbie) because he wanted to stop singing and take a long vacation amd they wanted him to sing and make more money (and they liked him). But the more times he said "no" the more times that they'd come back and go along with his proposal. I think he really wanted to quit; it really wasn't a demand for them to do what he wanted because he was so hungry for power; he wanted to quit. Then comes the story of the hip; he finally got to take a long vacation and settle back into life. At least this story is more acceptable then the others because I don't see him as that conviving but he was tired. The band members liked him and he was the man with the voice so they waited and waited and waited and waited until they couldn't wait anymore. End of story.

[Eric]

Puzling to me that no one considered that perhaps Mr Perry really wanted to quit. If you consider the possiblity of someone asking for outrageous demands in hopes perhaps the band would not grant them and that would give him a possible exit then I'd say that is what probably happened. I don't think he really thought he'd get everything he asked for but he did. I think he went against the grain time and again with some hope that they'd not go along with him ( and side with Herbie) because he wanted to stop singing and take a long vacation amd they wanted him to sing and make more money (and they liked him). But the more times he said "no" the more times that they'd come back and go along with his proposal. I think he really wanted to quit; it really wasn't a demand for them to do what he wanted because he was so hungry for power; he wanted to quit. Then comes the story of the hip; he finally got to take a long vacation and settle back into life. At least this story is more acceptable then the others because I don't see him as that conviving but he was tired. The band members liked him and he was the man with the voice so they waited and waited and waited and waited until they couldn't wait anymore. End of story.

You nailed it with a nail gun.

And I'll keep repeating this...they should have grabbed Mickey Thomas after the Frontiers tour and never looked back.

[Jeremey]

Puzling to me that no one considered that perhaps Mr Perry really wanted to quit. If you consider the possiblity of someone asking for outrageous demands in hopes perhaps the band would not grant them and that would give him a possible exit then I'd say that is what probably happened. I don't think he really thought he'd get everything he asked for but he did. I think he went against the grain time and again with some hope that they'd not go along with him ( and side with Herbie) because he wanted to stop singing and take a long vacation amd they wanted him to sing and make more money (and they liked him).

I think it's been documented that Perry wanted to take it easier after Escape (the story of Bill Graham getting on his knees and begging for more concerts) ... but to play devil's advocate for the band, it was a multimillion dollar machine at that point and the decision of one person had direct consequences on everyone else involved in that business. From Perry's perspective, he never really embraced the "rock star" persona and for a guy with a few million dollars in his pocket who was watching his life pass him by, and his relationships disintegrated, he was saying "Hey, my LIFE is worth more than this, and I just think there should be a balance here, because I'm going fucking crazy."

Then comes the story of the hip; he finally got to take a long vacation and settle back into life. At least this story is more acceptable then the others because I don't see him as that conviving but he was tired. The band members liked him and he was the man with the voice so they waited and waited and waited and waited until they couldn't wait anymore. End of story.

Well I don't think the hip incident was a story, because I truly believe that Perry had a degenerative genetic disease, possibly aggravated through stress and maybe prescription medication (steroids). But it came at a time when Perry dipped his toes back in the waters and felt all of that pressure rushing back to perform and be a part of the business again when that wasn't what he was prepared for ... so in that respect, when you combine the pressure of the band to get surgery and get fit and get on the road in a wheelchair if you need to, he pushed back and said "Fuck you, this is a personal decision I'm taking ownership of in my own life," and the band finally decided it was time to move on. Perry made a lot of health sacrifices for the band with his voice, that just weren't the same kind of issues that guitar players or keyboard players have to deal with, and I think the pressure to go out and perform at that point (in 1997) was the straw that broke the camel's back.

[Eric]

I think it's been documented that Perry wanted to take it easier after Escape (the story of Bill Graham getting on his knees and begging for more concerts) ... but to play devil's advocate for the band, it was a multimillion dollar machine at that point and the decision of one person had direct consequences on everyone else involved in that business. From Perry's perspective, he never really embraced the "rock star" persona and for a guy with a few million dollars in his pocket who was watching his life pass him by, and his relationships disintegrated, he was saying "Hey, my LIFE is worth more than this, and I just think there should be a balance here, because I'm going fucking crazy."

I love the way you articulated this.

It's not hard to emphasize with Perry wanting to get off the ride - but its clear he wanted everyone else to get off, too. And its like you pointed out...they had a multi-million dollar machine affecting lots of people's livelihoods. Nobody else wanted to get off.

[Marabelle]

It doesn't matter how you 're drowning if you're drowning; you're just drowning. I don't mean to make it sound like it was a "story"; but it was the story told that's all I meant about that.

[Monker]

Well I don't think the hip incident was a story, because I truly believe that Perry had a degenerative genetic disease, possibly aggravated through stress and maybe prescription medication (steroids).

Honestly, this seems absolutely IMPOSSIBLE.

First of all, he "had" a genetic disease? You mean some doctor out there knows how to modifiy DNA to get rid of a genetic disease? Please post that doctors name.

Second, he 'had' a *DEGENERATIVE" disease? Did you not see the latest videos? I even posted a comment that it looked like he was moving about fine. If it were degenerative, I'd expect him to be WORSE today than he was 10yrs ago...not better.

The hip incident was not "a story". It was a lot of stories. It was an accident hiking. It was an accident mountain climbing. It was an accident biking. It was arthritis. It was a degenerative disease. There were all kinds of reasons that STEVE PERRY gave for this.

In the end, it was a way out...most likely because, as the EEL guy said and Perry agreed, "it didn't feel right." I think he had an accident in Hawaii. It aggravated arthritis he didn't know he had...it wasn't feeling better via therapy so he replaced the hip. I don't think it was "degenerative". I don't think it was anything that any other 50+ person should expect in their joints. I think it was exaggerated to give him a way out.

But it came at a time when Perry dipped his toes back in the waters and felt all of that pressure rushing back to perform and be a part of the business again when that wasn't what he was prepared for

This is just not true either. As I have stated many times, the decision to reunite was made in a band meeting on a canceled date of the FTLOSM tour...and the tour was then cut off shortly after this meeting in Florida. He was not 'dipping toes in the waters"...he had already been back as a solo artist recording and touring, and experiencing the politics of the business. He KNEW what he was getting into....and he was already feeling the pressure by constantly being asked about a reunion.

... so in that respect, when you combine the pressure of the band to get surgery and get fit and get on the road in a wheelchair if you need to, he pushed back and said "Fuck you, this is a personal decision I'm taking ownership of in my own life," and the band finally decided it was time to move on.

And, this is online myth...along with contradictions between Perry and the band. The BAND said that Perry dropped off the face of the planet and they couldn't even get ahold of him. When they finally did, the surgery and all this crap came up.

The band was also under tremendous pressure as well...they had opportunities to perform on TV, but Perry refused. The comment wasn't "get a wheelchair"...I'd like to read that one. The comment was "sit on a stool"...why couldn't he sit on a stool for five minutes to perform on the Grammy's, or whatever awards show that was? it was a HUGE missed opportunity.

Also, there was a radio interview where a caller specifically asked Perry about his injuries from Hawaii and STEVE PERRY said he was 'fine'...and talked about the tour. So, wtf? He's fine and then a few months later he's not?

So, this entire story was all over the map...mostly driven by Perry's own comments and actions and contradictions.

The only real truthful thing to say is nobody on these forums knows the entire truth and it is all just guesswork from your own bias perspective.

[Lora]

The hip incident was not "a story". It was a lot of stories. It was an accident hiking. It was an accident mountain climbing. It was an accident biking. It was arthritis. It was a degenerative disease. There were all kinds of reasons that STEVE PERRY gave for this.

In the end, it was a way out...most likely because, as the EEL guy said and Perry agreed, "it didn't feel right." I think he had an accident in Hawaii. It aggravated arthritis he didn't know he had...it wasn't feeling better via therapy so he replaced the hip. I don't think it was "degenerative". I don't think it was anything that any other 50+ person should expect in their joints. I think it was exaggerated to give him a way out.

Dear Doctor Monker - How nice that you are now diagnosing medical conditions of people you do not know and making a bunch of absurd assumptions. Steve does not talk about his health condition much because it is no one's business, but he most certainly does have a degenerative bone disease which caused the hip replacement and other ongoing issues. I know this first hand. Maybe you should stop judging other people's lives.

RE: Herbie. I love him. He opened the door for a career that has given me so much joy over the last 30 years. But I am very saddened that he is bitter and living in the past. People change and grow so why focus what happened then? I am grateful for being a part of the Journey family for those magical years and I see no point on tearing down people for something they may or may not have done 25 years ago.

[tater1977]

The hip incident was not "a story". It was a lot of stories. It was an accident hiking. It was an accident mountain climbing. It was an accident biking. It was arthritis. It was a degenerative disease. There were all kinds of reasons that STEVE PERRY gave for this.

In the end, it was a way out...most likely because, as the EEL guy said and Perry agreed, "it didn't feel right." I think he had an accident in Hawaii. It aggravated arthritis he didn't know he had...it wasn't feeling better via therapy so he replaced the hip. I don't think it was "degenerative". I don't think it was anything that any other 50+ person should expect in their joints. I think it was exaggerated to give him a way out.

Dear Doctor Monker - How nice that you are now diagnosing medical conditions of people you do not know and making a bunch of absurd assumptions. Steve does not talk about his health condition much because it is no one's business, but he most certainly does have a degenerative bone disease which caused the hip replacement and other ongoing issues. I know this first hand. Maybe you should stop judging other people's lives.

RE: Herbie. I love him. He opened the door for a career that has given me so much joy over the last 30 years. But I am very saddened that he is bitter and living in the past. People change and grow so why focus what happened then? I am grateful for being a part of the Journey family for those magical years and I see no point on tearing down people for something they may or may not have done 25 years ago.

I have a feeling, even if the 'doctor' was shown a scar.. he'd still say it was a tattoo and never happened..

Nite folks.

[Memorex]

The hip incident was not "a story". It was a lot of stories. It was an accident hiking. It was an accident mountain climbing. It was an accident biking. It was arthritis. It was a degenerative disease. There were all kinds of reasons that STEVE PERRY gave for this.

In the end, it was a way out...most likely because, as the EEL guy said and Perry agreed, "it didn't feel right." I think he had an accident in Hawaii. It aggravated arthritis he didn't know he had...it wasn't feeling better via therapy so he replaced the hip. I don't think it was "degenerative". I don't think it was anything that any other 50+ person should expect in their joints. I think it was exaggerated to give him a way out.

Dear Doctor Monker - How nice that you are now diagnosing medical conditions of people you do not know and making a bunch of absurd assumptions. Steve does not talk about his health condition much because it is no one's business, but he most certainly does have a degenerative bone disease which caused the hip replacement and other ongoing issues. I know this first hand. Maybe you should stop judging other people's lives.

RE: Herbie. I love him. He opened the door for a career that has given me so much joy over the last 30 years. But I am very saddened that he is bitter and living in the past. People change and grow so why focus what happened then? I am grateful for being a part of the Journey family for those magical years and I see no point on tearing down people for something they may or may not have done 25 years ago.

So many things I would like to add, but you know. People are going to believe what they want and some people are going to be obnoxious about it. After all these years, I assumed Monker was actually Perry's mother and/or nanny. Could be his therapist. I mean, who else would KNOW FOR FACT so much? Most importantly, none of us should need to know why. It's Steve and Journey's lives. It's not a public thing anyway.

[Monker]

Did you people not even read my entire post? At the very end, I said nobody on this forum really knows what happened. In fact I have said that many times over the years. There has been too much contradiction, much of it by Perry himself. Now we have the, "it just didn't feel right." And, that I believe, is the closest thing to truth that can be surmised.

"I have a feeling, even if the 'doctor' was shown a scar.. he'd still say it was a tattoo and never happened.."

You do know how to read, right? Reread the bit in my post where I said I believed he had the surgery. I just never believed it was all that every Perry fan on the internet makes it out to be. You all went about it like he was an incapacitated for years or something ridiculous.

Perry SHOULDN'T talk about any of this because every time he does it just adds to a huge pile of crap.

Perry performed a few songs. Be happy about that. The TBF years are so long ago that making excuses for Perry's reclusive behavior towards his band SHOULD be a bit overshadowed. Hasn't anything changed?

http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/A+Change+Is ... tjrR?src=5

The hip incident was not "a story". It was a lot of stories. It was an accident hiking. It was an accident mountain climbing. It was an accident biking. It was arthritis. It was a degenerative disease. There were all kinds of reasons that STEVE PERRY gave for this.

In the end, it was a way out...most likely because, as the EEL guy said and Perry agreed, "it didn't feel right." I think he had an accident in Hawaii. It aggravated arthritis he didn't know he had...it wasn't feeling better via therapy so he replaced the hip. I don't think it was "degenerative". I don't think it was anything that any other 50+ person should expect in their joints. I think it was exaggerated to give him a way out.

Dear Doctor Monker - How nice that you are now diagnosing medical conditions of people you do not know and making a bunch of absurd assumptions. Steve does not talk about his health condition much because it is no one's business, but he most certainly does have a degenerative bone disease which caused the hip replacement and other ongoing issues. I know this first hand. Maybe you should stop judging other people's lives.

RE: Herbie. I love him. He opened the door for a career that has given me so much joy over the last 30 years. But I am very saddened that he is bitter and living in the past. People change and grow so why focus what happened then? I am grateful for being a part of the Journey family for those magical years and I see no point on tearing down people for something they may or may not have done 25 years ago.

So many things I would like to add, but you know. People are going to believe what they want and some people are going to be obnoxious about it. After all these years, I assumed Monker was actually Perry's mother and/or nanny. Could be his therapist. I mean, who else would KNOW FOR FACT so much? Most importantly, none of us should need to know why. It's Steve and Journey's lives. It's not a public thing anyway.

[Memorex]

The only contradictions I have ever heard in this time frame is Steve's frequent hints that he wanted to get back, but then didn't. Maybe those aren't contradictions, but unfulfilled intentions. Not sure. I've never heard anything different about the injury/illness. I've never heard Perry once say he was going back with Journey. I've seen a lot of people mis-interpret his words, but that's easily pushed aside because you know, I have a brain.

How much he decides to say one day about his personal health VS another is entirely up to him. But nothing I have heard would be considered a "changed" story. All this can be true. Obliviously, after the hip thing he made a choice to no longer record. No one thinks he didn't stop for 20 years because of a hip. The way I see it is he couldn't do the tour, the guys pressured him, he didn't particularly appreciate that, they didn't want to wait and so they gave him the ultimatum, and that pushed him away for good. I'm not judging at all. Feel free to think he was wrong, that's fine. Doesn't mean he lied or set out to do it on purpose. He's also Steve Perry. If he didn't want to tour in the first place, he never had to agree to it. So why come up with a big "lie"? Makes no sense. I've also heard both Neal and Jon both say he had this ongoing disease or issue. So there is not a single dispute about it by anyone that was actually there or knows Steve Perry.

In any case, too many people tend to either judge celebrities or think they know what they are all about. I've met enough celebrities to know that the public persona and stories in the news are very far from who these people actually are. And in band situations, people are going to spin things. I mean, Steve tells an honest story about how Lights was written - the same story he told when I saw him in LA in 1994 - and then Neal has to go correct it. Forget that Neal is on record saying the only thing he added to Lights was the solo. So bands have their oneupsmanship issues. So what. Why should we pay attention to any of it? All of that just takes away from the music.

I don't know - maybe it's ok to dissect everything that happens in a band. Maybe it's natural. But you guys are often wrong (in my opinion) and you are rude about it. Know-it-alls. But not always right. And what I find the worst of it is this expectation that Steve Perry owes people something. I think there have been enough hints to know that carrying on for him meant serious mental anguish. Why demand that of a human? We are not the ancient Greek's throwing a man into the middle of the arena with a few hungry lions just for our own gratification. Or are we?

[livin2do]

RE: Herbie. I love him. He opened the door for a career that has given me so much joy over the last 30 years. But I am very saddened that he is bitter and living in the past. People change and grow so why focus what happened then? I am grateful for being a part of the Journey family for those magical years and I see no point on tearing down people for something they may or may not have done 25 years ago.

As far as "bitter and living in the past" is concerned, I would note that I did Castles Burning 13 years ago!!! I'm sure the hostility that was shown in that interview was fresher in 2001, with Herbie having been ousted from the band and under-appreciated for his contributions by VH1. But I'm sure he has moved on. Rehashing arguments from that long ago makes me wonder who is really living in the past.

[Marabelle]

I think we should all just celebrate the music.

[MysteryMountain]

RE: Herbie. I love him. He opened the door for a career that has given me so much joy over the last 30 years. But I am very saddened that he is bitter and living in the past. People change and grow so why focus what happened then? I am grateful for being a part of the Journey family for those magical years and I see no point on tearing down people for something they may or may not have done 25 years ago.

As far as "bitter and living in the past" is concerned, I would note that I did Castles Burning 13 years ago!!! I'm sure the hostility that was shown in that interview was fresher in 2001, with Herbie having been ousted from the band and under-appreciated for his contributions by VH1. But I'm sure he has moved on. Rehashing arguments from that long ago makes me wonder who is really living in the past.

^This

I think we should all just celebrate the music.

^And that

[Monker]

The only contradictions I have ever heard in this time frame is Steve's frequent hints that he wanted to get back, but then didn't.

Saying you are fine in your last radio interview, and then disappearing for months and months and then revealing that you are NOT fine is a contradiction.

Obliviously, after the hip thing he made a choice to no longer record.

THAT IS NOT TRUE. He recorded "I Stand Alone" and various background vocals.

The way I see it is he couldn't do the tour, the guys pressured him, he didn't particularly appreciate that, they didn't want to wait and so they gave him the ultimatum, and that pushed him away for good.

My argument back in the olden days was: You take months and months away from your job without any communication with your employer and see how long it takes before they fire you. Maybe he felt disrespected...but he disrespected the band by cutting off communication.

He's also Steve Perry. If he didn't want to tour in the first place, he never had to agree to it.

Members of his solo band came out and said that he made a deal with Sony that they would release another single from FTLOSM if he rejoined Journey. And, his attitude was that he would be back to his solo career after he, "got this Journey thing out of the way." So, he made a deal with Sony.

After the reunion was announced there was a big span of time where there was no news. Finally, Neal came out and said they had been debating on whether to tour first, or record a new album...and they decided to record the new album.

So, there was a lot of negotiating behind the scenes...but it has to make you wonder who wanted to record first, and who wanted to tour. And, when did that conversation between Neal and Herbie happen where Herbie said Perry would never tour with them.

And what I find the worst of it is this expectation that Steve Perry owes people something.

I have never said Steve Perry owes "people" anything.

Lora knows this: I was arguing against Perry due to ROR long before the TBF reunion came about. I didn't want him there in the first place.

I think there have been enough hints to know that carrying on for him meant serious mental anguish. Why demand that of a human?

If that is true, he brought it on himself. He could have told Sony to fuck off, that he was happy solo and didn't want a reunion with Journey. He could have allowed Journey to continue without him. Instead HE made agreements to put himself right back into that "mental anguish" or "face hitting the atmosphere", or whatever.

That's why IMO you all should be happy that he did the Eels shows at all.

We are not the ancient Greek's throwing a man into the middle of the arena with a few hungry lions just for our own gratification. Or are we?

I think you mean Roman's...but I'm sure some of them were Greek.

[Memorex]

The only contradictions I have ever heard in this time frame is Steve's frequent hints that he wanted to get back, but then didn't.

Saying you are fine in your last radio interview, and then disappearing for months and months and then revealing that you are NOT fine is a contradiction.

Obliviously, after the hip thing he made a choice to no longer record.

THAT IS NOT TRUE. He recorded "I Stand Alone" and various background vocals.

The way I see it is he couldn't do the tour, the guys pressured him, he didn't particularly appreciate that, they didn't want to wait and so they gave him the ultimatum, and that pushed him away for good.

My argument back in the olden days was: You take months and months away from your job without any communication with your employer and see how long it takes before they fire you. Maybe he felt disrespected...but he disrespected the band by cutting off communication.

He's also Steve Perry. If he didn't want to tour in the first place, he never had to agree to it.

Members of his solo band came out and said that he made a deal with Sony that they would release another single from FTLOSM if he rejoined Journey. And, his attitude was that he would be back to his solo career after he, "got this Journey thing out of the way." So, he made a deal with Sony.

After the reunion was announced there was a big span of time where there was no news. Finally, Neal came out and said they had been debating on whether to tour first, or record a new album...and they decided to record the new album.

So, there was a lot of negotiating behind the scenes...but it has to make you wonder who wanted to record first, and who wanted to tour. And, when did that conversation between Neal and Herbie happen where Herbie said Perry would never tour with them.

And what I find the worst of it is this expectation that Steve Perry owes people something.

I have never said Steve Perry owes "people" anything.

Lora knows this: I was arguing against Perry due to ROR long before the TBF reunion came about. I didn't want him there in the first place.

I think there have been enough hints to know that carrying on for him meant serious mental anguish. Why demand that of a human?

If that is true, he brought it on himself. He could have told Sony to fuck off, that he was happy solo and didn't want a reunion with Journey. He could have allowed Journey to continue without him. Instead HE made agreements to put himself right back into that "mental anguish" or "face hitting the atmosphere", or whatever.

That's why IMO you all should be happy that he did the Eels shows at all.

We are not the ancient Greek's throwing a man into the middle of the arena with a few hungry lions just for our own gratification. Or are we?

I think you mean Roman's...but I'm sure some of them were Greek.

I was thinking Olympics. Sorry. Mixed my metaphors. I think I'll make like a tree and split.

[lparn]

Does anyone have a copy of the article thanks

[livin2do]

I do. And the original cassette recorded interview. But it's not online anymore, and I don't know if it ever will be. I just am not motivated to contribute to an argument that no longer has any merit. The band moved on, and I am glad they did. Steve Perry is Steve "motherfucking" Perry. He can do and be what he wants. Not for me to say.

There was a time when I revered this group. I will love the music until I die. But, if I have learned anything, it's that they're just people. They've had ups, downs, and plenty of mistakes to go around - just like anyone else. They aren't living in the past anymore, and neither am I.

As the song goes... I've got Livin' to do...

[lparn]

I understand completely Matt, I was just interested for myself I had printed it back then and lost some things when I moved
Good interview

[The_Noble_Cause]

I do. And the original cassette recorded interview. But it's not online anymore, and I don't know if it ever will be. I just am not motivated to contribute to an argument that no longer has any merit. The band moved on, and I am glad they did. Steve Perry is Steve "motherfucking" Perry. He can do and be what he wants. Not for me to say.

There was a time when I revered this group. I will love the music until I die. But, if I have learned anything, it's that they're just people. They've had ups, downs, and plenty of mistakes to go around - just like anyone else. They aren't living in the past anymore, and neither am I.

As the song goes... I've got Livin' to do...

Don't sell yourself short. It's a great piece of journalism. Your interview acted as a counter-balance to the VH1 BTM episode and provided some real insights.

[tater1977]

Does anyone have a copy of the article thanks

http://web.archive.org/web/200204091253 ... page2.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200206150244 ... page3.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200206240302 ... page4.html
http://web.archive.org/web/200301251157 ... page5.html

[tj]

Herbie has his perspective and isn't afraid of upsetting anyone by sharing it. That's fine. It seems like the only person who escapes his barbs, regardless of which interview, is Rolie. He has high regard for Schon's talent, calls him "like a son" (which seems a little odd to me since he's only a few years older than Neal), and yet still drubs him pretty good too. Perhaps because Rolie got out before the real issues Herbie had with Perry came to a head, Herbie sees Rolie as the only smart one of the bunch.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Does anyone on here prefer the creative direction the band went in post-Herbie? ROR and TBF have their moments, but the band lost their way. Eric is right. The band should have grabbed Mickey or Kevin and kept Journey going.

[tj]

Does anyone on here prefer the creative direction the band went in post-Herbie? ROR and TBF have their moments, but the band lost their way. Eric is right. The band should have grabbed Mickey or Kevin and kept Journey going.

Perry was such a part of the songwriting, it's hard to imagine that either of those guys would have made the band any better than what happened.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Does anyone on here prefer the creative direction the band went in post-Herbie? ROR and TBF have their moments, but the band lost their way. Eric is right. The band should have grabbed Mickey or Kevin and kept Journey going.

Perry was such a part of the songwriting, it's hard to imagine that either of those guys would have made the band any better than what happened.

Hard to say. Both ROR and TBF have a few classics, but also a whole lotta filler. Herbie always said he sequenced the albums personally. ROR and TBF could've used his touch. Kalodner, I assume, chose the tracks for both TBF and Arrival. Waaay too many ballads.

[livin2do]

Alright, I did it... had a change of heart.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/collection/MKSNTB

[tj]

Alright, I did it... had a change of heart.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/collection/MKSNTB

Thank you. I read it when it first came out years ago. It makes for an interesting read still.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Alright, I did it... had a change of heart.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/collection/MKSNTB

Thank you. It deserves to be read and to be available. The misinformation leveled against the band continues to this day. VH1 Behind the Music made it seem like Perry was kicked to the curb after TBF. As Herbie makes clear, the band pretty much came to a grinding standstill from ROR until Arrival.