Monker wrote:Steve Smith from Modern Drummer magazine:
Something new I brought to the reunion was a sense of detachment from the
"band experience." Before, the band was incredibly important to me and the
outlet was really crucial in that I wanted to demonstrate everything I knew,
my ability and knowledge--and I was trying to squeeze everything in, which
can cause a lot of tension. In some ways it can create some great music, and
there's something to be said for that. But behind that, there was also
somewhat of a lack of awareness of what might he the most appropriate thing
to play. Now I just cut to the chase without taking some unnecessary,
circuitous route. Having a lot of experience as a hired hand now, I do what
the people who hire me want, and there are boundaries to be creative within,
which is the challenge so I take the challenge and if they like it, great,
and if they don't, I'm not attached to it; I'm just there to do my job. I've
learned something through the experience, but I'm not attached to it. I
approached this situation with that sense of professionalism and
objectivity."
That doesn't sound like somebody loyal to Steve Perry to me. It sounds like somebody very 'unattached' to the reunion and approaching it as a session player. He was there for the reunion and to give the fans a better ending then ROR.
And, as far as him even being in a rock band on any long term basis...
Steve Smith in Rythm Magazine, 2002:
But since I left Journey I never looked back so far as the rock thing: been
there, done that. I still enjoy doing the occasional sessions -- I'm on the
new Savage Garden record and Gavin Harrison and I are both on Claudio
Baglioni's new album, this Italian pop star. I do enough sessions -- but I
don't aspire to do sessions -- I aspire to play with my group and play jazz
and do clinics and hopefully now educate and write."
Hey Monker...
Thanks for finally bringing something to the table (although, you still had to tell someone they were "wrong"). I'm pretty sure that regardless of what was published in the magazine, you still have no clue what the relationships were between Perry and Smith, or anyone else in the band. You talk about this stuff like you hang out with Smitty and know all of this information, firsthand. Smith grew up down the street (not literally, but in the same area), and I don't pretend to know any of this. I would never question Smitty's commitment to his Jazz career, as that information is out there and available for anyone who wants to read it. That doesn't change the fact that it's still okay for some of us to find it odd that Smitty would have any desire to reunite with Journey (even if for just the TBF tour), considering Journey was fronted by a guy who fired him from the band (for no apparent reason, no less!)
Anyway...keep up with your campaign of always having to be right about everything wrong with Perry and keep telling everyone else that their opinions don't matter. Thanks for posting the Smitty quotes, and you're still a jackass! I'm hoping that someday you graduate, because I honestly think that you're probably a knowledgeable guy, in spite of your contempt for Perry. Maybe someday when you get all of that Perry rage out of you...you can stop being so condescending to anyone who would ever dare to disagree with any of your opinions!
John from Boston
Journey has always been about "the voice".
