donnaplease wrote:OK, first off... you've mentioned a few times Gregg Rolie leaving Journey as due to SP. I guess I'm gonna have to go back into my history of the band, because I don't remember him saying that SP was the reason. If I remember correctly (and I may not, it's been a while) he stated there were many reasons he wanted out. Maybe someone here can provide a link to the BTM or an interview or something to clarify that for me.
If I recall correctly, Herbie Herbert and Neal Schon have both gone on record with the fact that Steve Perry and Gregg Rolie had many disputes during Rolie's tenure in the band and that it was a great source of Rolie's desire to get out.
donnaplease wrote:As for SP, I don't think anyone is trying to deny anything. Early on in this debate I said (and have said a few times since) that even SP himself has admitted to doing things that in hindsight weren't right. Yet you keep saying it as if it's the first time anyone has brought it up. You talk about SP and the decisions he made that were destructive, but have you thought to mention that Neal Schon said HIMSELF that he let SP take over the reigns. How many times has it been said here that Neal 'just wants to play the guitar'.
What's your point? As people like to point out here ad nauseum, "lulz perry was teh source of jernee's suxess!" or "lulz he was teh leader!!1!" Neal Schon accepted that Perry was the focal point of their success and popularity and, accordingly, entrusted him with the reigns. People want to constantly reference Perry's tireless, timeless, flawless direction. Well guess what? He was
the leader. Leaders take responsibilities. If he gets the credit for their success, he's also responsible for their fuck ups. The fact that Neal Schon "let" him have the reigns is an argument in favor of Neal trusting Perry implicitly. We as a nation "let" the President of the United States have the reigns to govern and command; yet when
he fucks up, he's brought to task.
If the most powerful man in the world doesn't enjoy immunity from criticism, then Steve Perry doesn't either. Period.
donnaplease wrote:And if you think 4 divorces is not an indication of what kind of man and husband Neal is, you just need to pack in your keyboard and call it a night.
No one claimed that Neal Schon was an ideal husband. But since you seem to know so much about the intimate details of his relationships, enlighten the rest of it. I would like to see ironclad proof that Schon's divorces were solely the product of Schon's problems. Because, last time I checked, it takes two to tango.
Then you can get around to explaining how this somehow makes Schon a more destructive force as regards the band.
donnaplease wrote:At the end of the day, one would be forced to admit that there has been much shame that has been brought to Journey in the past few
Forced? If I may quote you:
"I am a logical person,
but I don't have to accept anything that you say, just because you say it" and "
Just please don't tell me what to think and criticize me for not agreeing with you."
I lose my natural goodwill when people don't play fair.
donnaplease wrote:years (tapegate and the treatment of SA and JSS - regardless of what we think, it's evident that there are folks in the music biz who thought the JSS debacle was low)
Brian May, yes. Please cite others.
donnaplease wrote:that has absolutely nothing to do with SP. He never brought shame to the band, and is still highly regarded in the industry.
Proof that the rest of the band isn't? Steve Vai, Sammy Hagar, and others still speak quite highly of Neal Schon.
donnaplease wrote:Oh, and BTW, Pot, you're black too.

I haven't tried to sugarcoat, to spin, or to twist anything. I don't know the details of Neal Schon's marriages, and presumably neither do you. Perry's indiscretions are public knowledge and have been well covered in many mediums. As people so often mention, Perry himself is ashamed of it and has expressed guilt, suggesting that he is fully aware that his actions were considerably detrimental to the band. The facts are quite clear.
Now, on the subject of Neal's marriages, no one here claimed that he was a great husband. In fact, I would argue that one could still be a fickle husband or even a bad husband and still be a decent human being (I refer you to Bill Clinton and other acclaimed presidents who have had affairs).
Thus is the problem: Perry is being brought to task for shit that has happened directly concerning the band. Neal Schon's marriages are personal attacks and are irrelevant. I have you on the facts and I certainly have you on pertinent information. As far as Journey concerns, Perry was a bigger asshole than Neal.
'Nothing was bigger for Journey than 1981’s “Escape” album. “I have to attribute that to Jonathan coming in and joining the writing team,” Steve Perry (Feb 2012).'