Anyone know anything about this?

[jrnyman28]

Well Jrnyman, I know you were speaking to HOTS, but I had to jump in here to say that as a huge Steve Perry fan, I DID give Journey a fair chance, after Journey replaced Steve Perry with Steve Augeri.

I attended one of their concerts, and even bought the Arrival cd. I found both the concert & Arrival cd to be just ok to me, it just didn't do anything special for me.

That's great. While I question whether some Perry-only fans truly did give Journey a fair shot w/o Perry, I respect the attempt. Know that I also went into a Perry-less Journey with great trepidation. And to be fully honest, I was very excited by Arrival, but the CD is not a great CD in my mind. It was a good start, but I still feel (and always will) that Journey's hands were tied while making Arrival.

Now I'm NOT saying that to ruffle your feathers, I'm just giving you MY OWN feeling about it. And I bet there were other Perry only fans that did give SA/Journey a chance too, but we will never really know the answer for sure, because some fans here attack,so viciously that MAYBE the Perry Only fans are afraid to post here, for fear they will be pounced on for sharing their OWN feelings. Just a thought.

Lori

No feathers ruffled. You did very well stating your own opinion. I never have a probably with simple, straightforward honest opinions.

[Andrew]

As per post in the Styx forum...

Round and round and round and round and round we go......

[ohsherrie]

Jesus...I just stop in briefly now, because of "youknowwho." A couple of points.

Andrew, it's about time you stepped in and took the reigns from that idiot. I think he should be on the Stern Show as one of the "wackpackers." Troll takes more than "the piss" if you get my drift.....

I miss the days when a forum was a place where you could get intelligent discussion and you could separate the facts from fiction, and you could try to verify things you have read or heard without being crucified.

Amen Journeynut. They seem to think that just because Schon is their "RockGod" I should know this article had to be fake. To me, a band that would do what they did to Steve(the man that made Journey successful) would stoop to anything, so I sincerely wanted to know if anyone here had heard anything about the things this article alledges.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Amen Journeynut. They seem to think that just because Schon is their "RockGod" I should know this article had to be fake.

Umm, no.
Try the fact that guitarist Joe Satriani sounds absolutely nothing like Neal Schon.
"Satriani joining Journey" yeah, ok, right
And that's not even the most egregious of all the dead give-aways.
Try expanding ur musical library to more than just "Street Talk" and "GH + 5".

To me, a band that would do what they did to Steve

Did what?
Do him a favor and officially remove him from a band that he clearly no longer wanted to have any part of?
How about we focus on what Steve did to the band-
Can someone say ten year hiatus?
How about fake hip injury?
How about repeatedly cancelling tours?
How about refusing to sing at the Bammies?
How about refusing to sing at Herbie's celebration?
How about refusing to add new vocals to the Time 3 box set?

Steve(the man that made Journey successful)

Yeah, Neal and Jon really added nothing. They only share writing credits on almost every song because Steve felt sorry for them and decided to throw their names on there. Oh, and Herbie really just sat on his ass all day, too. Really did nothing for the band other than mere facile tasks such as creating it, managing it, and seeing them through to stardom.

Even Steve Perry wouldn't be so narcissistic to make such a dunder-headed remark.
In fact, I know he wouldn't.
At the Hollywood Walk of fame ceremony he thanked EVERYONE.
Most especially Herbie, saying “the guy did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves.” "If it wasn’t for Herbie Herbert, this," (he points down to the star) "wouldn’t be happening."

[Andrew]

Gotta agree with Noble Cause here....Perry did so many things for the band and they sold a shitload of record because of his help, but he did not do it alone.

The magic chemistry that was Perry-Schon-Cain is what made the band what it was and sadly that came to and end....A DECADE AGO!

Move on and enjoy what life throws at you now. Steve has all but retired and is not making music anymore, so move on and support someone that IS making music. Your lives will be richer for it.

And when you are in the mood, go back and paly those classics that are Street Talk and For The Love Of Strange Medicine.

[PROPERRY]

Amen Journeynut. They seem to think that just because Schon is their "RockGod" I should know this article had to be fake.

Umm, no.
Try the fact that guitarist Joe Satriani sounds absolutely nothing like Neal Schon.
"Satriani joining Journey" yeah, ok, right
And that's not even the most egregious of all the dead give-aways.
Try expanding ur musical library to more than just "Street Talk" and "GH + 5".

To me, a band that would do what they did to Steve

Did what?
Do him a favor and officially remove him from a band that he clearly no longer wanted to have any part of?
How about we focus on what Steve did to the band-
Can someone say ten year hiatus?
How about fake hip injury?
How about repeatedly cancelling tours?
How about refusing to sing at the Bammies?
How about refusing to sing at Herbie's celebration?
How about refusing to add new vocals to the Time 3 box set?

Steve(the man that made Journey successful)

Yeah, Neal and Jon really added nothing. They only share writing credits on almost every song because Steve felt sorry for them and decided to throw their names on there. Oh, and Herbie really just sat on his ass all day, too. Really did nothing for the band other than mere facile tasks such as creating it, managing it, and seeing them through to stardom.

Even Steve Perry wouldn't be so narcissistic to make such a dunder-headed remark.
In fact, I know he wouldn't.
At the Hollywood Walk of fame ceremony he thanked EVERYONE.
Most especially Herbie, saying “the guy did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves.” "If it wasn’t for Herbie Herbert, this," (he points down to the star) "wouldn’t be happening."

NC,

The crying & whining about Steve Perry never ends with you does it??? Is this what YOU call having a mature discussion???

The ONLY thing I agree with you about is that YES, Steve Perry has always been VERY GRACIOUS in "giving credit" to his ex-bandmates (Herbie too) for their part & contribution to the music of Journey.

Lori

[The_Noble_Cause]

The crying & whining about Steve Perry never ends with you does it???

I am merely responding to the posts that you and your ilk make here.
I'm not uninstigatively "whining" or carping about Perry.
I am rectifying constant attempts by Perry-onlys to revise Journey history; allocating blame for Perry's own indolence on Neal and Jon's shoulders while attributing the band's success entiriely upon Steve's.
Neither is accurate.

The ONLY thing I agree with you about is that YES, Steve Perry has always been VERY GRACIOUS in "giving credit" to his ex-bandmates (Herbie too) for their part & contribution to the music of Journey.

Too bad so many Perry-onlys can't do the same.

[PROPERRY]

The crying & whining about Steve Perry never ends with you does it???

I am merely responding to the posts that you and your ilk make here.
I'm not uninstigatively "whining" or carping about Perry.
I am rectifying constant attempts by Perry-onlys to revise Journey history & allocate blame for Perry's own indolence on Neal and Jon's shoulders.

The ONLY thing I agree with you about is that YES, Steve Perry has always been VERY GRACIOUS in "giving credit" to his ex-bandmates (Herbie too) for their part & contribution to the music of Journey.

Too bad so many Perry-onlys can't do the same.

Where in MY POST did I revise Journey's History??? I wasn't even talking about Journey's history. It was YOU who brought Journey's history up here, NOT me.

It's also too bad that you can't stop knocking Perry & give HIM credit for the "good things" he did for the band. Now wasn't it NEAL who stated that Perry brought the success to the band???

Lori

[yak]

Move on and enjoy what life throws at you now. Steve has all but retired and is not making music anymore, so move on and support someone that IS making music. Your lives will be richer for it.

Anybody seen Fred? Ohsher?:lol:

What a full of crap and worthless topic....Time to let it go....

Noble, you can debate with them till the cows come home, but you are wasting your breath...they just refuse to get it......If they admit they get it, they have no more cause to be here........

I agree with Andrew....Move on and support somebody worthy of your devotion. Otherwise what a sad waste of life.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Where in MY POST did I revise Journey's History???
Umm, I wasn't even talking about Journey's history. It was YOU who brought Journey's history up here, NOT me.

Umm, no one was discussing any post YOU made.
You joined in, responding to a reply made by me to one of "Oh Sherrie's" posts.
You say I am "whining" about Perry, which is not true.
I was countering Oh Sherrie's tendentious, agenda-driven claims wherein she allocates blame for Perry's own indolence upon Neal and Jon's shoulders while attributing the band's success entiriely upon Steves'.
THAT'S what was being discussed.
Are you even paying attention here ?

It's also too bad that you can't stop knocking Perry & give HIM credit for the "good things" he did for the band.

I'd love to, as I am a HUGE Steve Perry and Journey fan.
Unfortunately that wasn't the subject at hand (again, are u even paying attention???).
If you want to start a post devoted to Steve's remarkable talents then please do so.
I'd be more than happy to contribute.
The subject at hand, however, was the Perry-onlys trying to revise history by saying Steve brought all the success to the band.
That's not true and you know it.
Steve Perry's very own words belie that.

Now wasn't it NEAL who stated that Perry brought the success to the band???

Ma'am, are you calling Steve Perry a liar?

[yak]

Are you even paying attention here ?

Does she ever :?:

[Eric]

What do you mean by "after what they did to Steve"? I don't understand...what did they do?

[PROPERRY]

Where in MY POST did I revise Journey's History???
Umm, I wasn't even talking about Journey's history. It was YOU who brought Journey's history up here, NOT me.

Umm, no one was discussing any post YOU made.
You joined in, responding to a reply made by me to one of "Oh Sherrie's" posts.
You say I am "whining" about Perry, which is not true.
I was countering Oh Sherrie's tendentious, agenda-driven claims wherein she allocates blame for Perry's own indolence upon Neal and Jon's shoulders while attributing the band's success entiriely upon Steves'.
THAT'S what was being discussed.
Are you even paying attention here ?

It's also too bad that you can't stop knocking Perry & give HIM credit for the "good things" he did for the band.

I'd love to, as I am a HUGE Steve Perry and Journey fan.
Unfortunately that wasn't the subject at hand (again, are u even paying attention???).
If you want to start a post devoted to Steve's remarkable talents then please do so.
I'd be more than happy to contribute.
The subject at hand, however, was the Perry-onlys trying to revise history by saying Steve brought all the success to the band.
That's not true and you know it.
Steve Perry's very own words belie that.

Now wasn't it NEAL who stated that Perry brought the success to the band???

Ma'am, are you calling Steve Perry a liar?

NO, I'm NOT calling anyone a liar!

Unlike YOU I don't attack people for simply stating the facts. I'm only REPEATING what NEAL HIMSELF stated in Behind The Music Interview about Perry bringing the success to the band.

And if YOU were "paying attention" to my post & SAW MY "happy face" , you would know that I thought that it was a "good thing" that Steve Perry "gave credit" to his former bandmates for their contribution to the music of Journey.



Lori

[PROPERRY]

Where in MY POST did I revise Journey's History???
Umm, I wasn't even talking about Journey's history. It was YOU who brought Journey's history up here, NOT me.

Umm, no one was discussing any post YOU made.
You joined in, responding to a reply made by me to one of "Oh Sherrie's" posts.
You say I am "whining" about Perry, which is not true.
I was countering Oh Sherrie's tendentious, agenda-driven claims wherein she allocates blame for Perry's own indolence upon Neal and Jon's shoulders while attributing the band's success entiriely upon Steves'.
THAT'S what was being discussed.
Are you even paying attention here ?

It's also too bad that you can't stop knocking Perry & give HIM credit for the "good things" he did for the band.

I'd love to, as I am a HUGE Steve Perry and Journey fan.
Unfortunately that wasn't the subject at hand (again, are u even paying attention???).
If you want to start a post devoted to Steve's remarkable talents then please do so.
I'd be more than happy to contribute.
The subject at hand, however, was the Perry-onlys trying to revise history by saying Steve brought all the success to the band.
That's not true and you know it.
Steve Perry's very own words belie that.

Now wasn't it NEAL who stated that Perry brought the success to the band???

Ma'am, are you calling Steve Perry a liar?

NO, I'm NOT calling anyone a liar!

Unlike YOU I don't attack people for simply stating the facts. I'm only REPEATING what NEAL HIMSELF stated in Behind The Music Interview about Perry bringing the success to the band.

And if YOU were "paying attention" to my post & SAW MY "happy face" , you would know that I thought that it was a "good thing" that Steve Perry "gave credit" to his former bandmates for their contribution to the music of Journey.



Lori

[The_Noble_Cause]

NO, I'm NOT calling anyone a liar!

Sure you are.
By now it's overly apparent that you and your Perry cabal maintain that Steve P. is solely responsible for this band's successs.
Steve Perry doesn't agree with that, and therefore, you must think him to be lying.
You can't have it both ways.
Either A) you think Steve is "the man that made Journey successful" as u all so incessantly chant mantra-style, or B) u disagree with Steve and therefore think him to be a liar.

Unlike YOU I don't attack people for simply stating the facts.

Cut it out. The perennial victim act is soooo tired by now. You come here to start trouble, get ur asses handed to u and then cry out "please stop attacking us".

Show me the precise quote where I attacked you in this thread-
You can't, and you won't because it doesn't exist.

I'm only REPEATING what NEAL HIMSELF stated in Behind The Music Interview about Perry bringing the success to the band.

Yeah, and I am only telling you what your LORD and Savior, Stephen Ray Perry said himself, and that is that he is not solely responsible for the band's success.
Perry says the magic of Journey was due to the synergy produced by all the members, not just himself.
You ladies seem to have a tough time swallowing that.
Take it up with Perry, not me.

[heardonthestreet]

But N.C., Neal dosen't lie and he stated that Perry brought the band it's success. Perry was just being humble.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Perry was just being humble.

Oh, so you are implying that what Perry said lacks veracity?
In other words, he wasn't being honest?
He was telling a fib or what is more commonly referred to as a BIG FAT LIE?

It's sad that you have so little faith in what your hero says.

The man tells u that the band was a "group effort" and that he is not solely responsible for its success.

Why must you doubt him?

Do you have any idea just how badly this post will surely undercut Steve's confidence?

I thought you were one of his biggest fans.

For shame.

[heardonthestreet]

He was being humble, N.C. He left it up to Neal to tell the world that he, Perry, brought all the success to Journey. He couldn't very well say, "I made Journey the successful band that it WAS." YOU might toot your own horn on your many talents but some people are humble.

[The_Noble_Cause]

He was being humble, N.C.

That might be you're interpretation of things, you are more than certainly entitled to having it.

He left it up to Neal to tell the world that he, Perry, brought all the success to Journey. He couldn't very well say, "I made Journey the successful band that it WAS."

When it comes to a band, any band (not even just Journey) no ONE person can claim responsibilty for ALL of the success.
That just doesn't make any sense to me.
Like I said, you can believe what you want, but history is against you.
For example, look at how Journey's success reached a fever pitch with the introdution of Jonathan Cain.
His song writing took the band to whole new levels popularity-wise, I feel.
Wouldn't you have to agree with that?

YOU might toot your own horn on your many talents but some people are humble.

I've never done such a thing.
More lies, more hyperbole, more spin...so tiring.

[heardonthestreet]

I don't agree about Cain..I much preferred Gregg and we'll never know, but I feel that the band would have been greater still if Gregg hadn't bailed. His keyboards were more suited to a rock band, imo, and the great backup vocals changed drastrically, again, imo. I listen to their earlier albums and can't really see him as Journey's frontman. For Santana, he was great and well suited for that band, imo. He was so much a part of the Journey sound that I first noticed and therefore missed when he left. That was Journey's first major shock, for me anyway, especially after just getting hooked.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I don't agree about Cain..I much preferred Gregg

Likewise.

and we'll never know, but I feel that the band would have been greater still if Gregg hadn't bailed.

I agree. However, I never said I preferred Cain, I said his song and melody writing prowess played a role in getting Journey to the top and in achieving their overall sucess.

[jrnyman28]

I don't agree about Cain..I much preferred Gregg

Likewise.

and we'll never know, but I feel that the band would have been greater still if Gregg hadn't bailed.

I agree. However, I never said I preferred Cain, I said his song and melody writing prowess played a role in getting Journey to the top and in achieving their overall sucess.

I actually agree with both of you that I prefer Gregg. While Jon's addition to the band took Journey to their highest level of popularity, I think it also led to their future 'demise'. Jon's writing became the signature of Journey, they got stuck under the ballad band moniker. Open Arms IMO led to the ruination because of it's stlye and eventual popularity. Journey had to do more songs like that...everyone expected them too. And Open Arms gave more 'power' or control to perry. He had proven himself wise by selecting and fighting for Open Arms so Journey followed his lead. And songs like Open Arms were perfect for Perry's voice so of course they would sound great. Futhermore, Open Arms cemented a chemistry between Jon and Perry. And they both had similar visions...RADIOPLAY. And THAT is what ROR was all about.

I know I am guilty of laying nearly all the blame of ROR on Perry's shoulders. Afterall, he was the producer and he made most of the decisions. But in reality, Jon was right there beside him. Jon was helping Perry craft an album whose sole intention was to be heard on the radio. They (not just Perry) wanted hits on the radio. Jon Cain is the one ingredient that keeps ROR from truly being a Perry solo album.

If you go back to when Gregg was in Journey, you had more of a progressive/rock band. And Gregg and Neal were the united front. When Gregg left, you got more of a pop/rock band with Perry and Jon eventually being the united front. Now you have Neal and Jon as the united front (in a pretty darn democratic band, but still) and I think that gives us the best of both worlds. You still get the radio-friendly pop-rock and you still get some of the experimental prog/rock. Life is good! And we wouldn't have this if it weren't for EVERY member of Journey who was ever involved! THAT is why I am a JOURNEY fan...

[heardonthestreet]

I wouldn't exactly use the word "blame" where ROR is concerned. Blame is
being held responsible for the fault of............... It's a wonderful part of Journey for me. A bit different from their others but a Journey gem for me.

I really wish that I could share your enthusiasm for Journey since Perry, and maybe I'll find it in this next album.

[jrnyman28]

I wouldn't exactly use the word "blame" where ROR is concerned. Blame is
being held responsible for the fault of...............

But that is exactly why I used the word "blame". I can enjoy ROR, but I do not rank it very high on my list of Journey albums. And most of my reason's are directly related to Perry's decisions. Therefore, I say "blame".

It's a wonderful part of Journey for me. A bit different from their others but a Journey gem for me.

That's great, and I will not try to change your mind. When I state my opinions concerning ROR, it is merely to help you understand WHY I feel the way I do. That way, you can accept my POV even if you do not share it.

I really wish that I could share your enthusiasm for Journey since Perry, and maybe I'll find it in this next album.

I guess that will depend on you.
Will you listen to it for what it is, instead of what it 'could be'?
Will you NOT think about Perry when listening to it?
Will you give it more than one spin before passing judgement?

Will you give a real critique of what you do and don't like about "Generations" after doing the above?

I am more than willing to accept that you don't like something, as long as you can tell me why...specifically. I don't want to hear anything like "I think it would have been better if Perry sang it." Because you cannot argue that this material (specifically) would not exist if Perry were in the band. Sure we can speculate on whether there would be ANY Journey music if Perry were in the band...but it would be an incontrovertible fact that THIS CD would not exist with Perry in the band.

I certainly hope that, even if you don't like "Generations" overall, you will be able to find and address SOME things that you do like.

But I look forward to discussing "Generations" with you once we have all heard it. I will not hold back, if I do not like something I will say so. Likewise, if I love it I am gonna say that too.

I also would like to look forward to discussing Journey as it is today with everyone. Instead of comparing them to the Journey of yesteryear. If anyone wants to talk about Perry-era Journey, GREAT!! Let's have a thread for it. If anyone wants to talk about Journey of today, GREAT!! Let's have a thread for that too! But maybe we can all try to keep from comparing/confusing/attacking any eras of Journey within our threads.

Maybe...

[ohsherrie]

What do you mean by "after what they did to Steve"? I don't understand...what did they do?

They didn't give him the time he needed to make his decisions about his health problems. They insisted on using the Journey name for a nostalia band with a cover singer against his wishes. Neal badmouthed him(whether Neal's fans want to rememer, or admit, it or not).

Unlike YOU I don't attack people for simply stating the facts. I'm only REPEATING what NEAL HIMSELF stated in Behind The Music Interview about Perry bringing the success to the band.

You're exactly right Lori, but some people will twist anything you say, in whatever way they can to try to sound like they have a valid way to contradict you.

I never said Steve was the only talent that went into Journey's success. That's just the spin someone here seems to want to put on my comment for the purpose of arguement. I'm just saying they couldn't make it(couldn't get on the radio and were about to lose they're recording contract)before he joined them, and they haven't done anything since they left him.

[Eric]

[quote="ohsherrie"] They didn't give him the time he needed to make his decisions about his health problems. They insisted on using the Journey name for a nostalia band with a cover singer against his wishes. Neal badmouthed him(whether Neal's fans want to rememer, or admit, it or not). [quote]

Oh Sherrie,

You have made a HUGE improvement.

You are calling them "a nostalgia band" (which they essentially are) rather than your usual "a cover band". I appreciate that.

Whether or not they gave him time or not is simply an opinion. Your opinion is they can only be popular without him so they should have waited as long as it takes. My opinion is they are not young and deserved at least a timetable from the unstable Perry. This is a fair disagreement.

[heardonthestreet]

Also, I believe that some here are trying to play off Ross's interview of late where he states that when Cain joined the band, he, Cain made things start to happen and that he brought the success to the band. A new twist in the never ending fable of Journey now and reality.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Also, I believe that some here are trying to play off Ross's interview of late where he states that when Cain joined the band, he, Cain made things start to happen and that he brought the success to the band.

No ONE singular person is solely responsible for bringing "the success" to this band.
That's why it is called a "band".

Show me this recent Ross interview you speak of. I've never heard of it.

Also A new twist in the never ending fable of Journey now and reality.

Everyone from Ross to Perry to Herbie has at one time or another given credit to Jon for what he brought to the table. Cain took the song writing to a whole new level. This isn't news.

[jrnyman28]

They didn't give him the time he needed to make his decisions about his health problems.

Tomayto, Tomahto
You feel Journey didn't wait long enough for Perry to decide. Others feel Perry should have kept the band informed instead of keeping the band on hold for an indefinate and undetermined amount of time.

I think that will always be the biggest reason why "we" cannot see eye to eye. If you were to hurt yourself to the extent that you could not work, and you expected to return to work when you were better, wouldn't you atleast update your work on your progress? Wouldn't your work expect you to keep them informed? And if you didn't keep them informed, isn't it a reasonable action to hire someone else who can do the job?

I don't feel the band had any say in what Perry's decision "should" have been. I agree that it is not a "band decision". But I think they deserved to be kept informed. And from all accounts I have heard and read, Neal and Jon did not hear from Perry and did not KNOW what was going to happen.

I DO think it is entirely possible that Neal and Jon might have 'pushed' for Perry to do whatever was quickest "for the sake of the band" HAD THEY KNOWN. And that would not have been right either. But I think the biggest foul here is that Perry left the band hanging.

I also think it was difficult for Neal and Jon because they still thought of Journey more as 'family' than just a band. Couple that with the fact that Perry had 'all but disappeared' once before FOR 10 YEARS and I can easily understand why their patience wore thin quicker.



I have noticed that a lot of Perry-only fans are now saying that they never "said" Perry was the 'only' reason for Journey's success. but the bulk of 'your' posts imply otherwise. And it is even more apparant when you won't consider that Journey "could" have become pretty big, sort of big, just as big, or bigger with a different vocalist. You won't even entertain the idea that Journey could have done just fine with Robert Fleischman. And don't give any credit to the other men (ALL the other men) involved with Journey for THEIR contributions. Maybe those contributions do not measure up to your level of expectancy, but they all deserve credit...INCLUDING Steve Augeri and Deen Castronovo.

They insisted on using the Journey name for a nostalia band

Their right to do. The name did not belong to ONE person. ESPECIALLY a member of the band who was not an original member. And you can call them Nostalgia all you want to...but do you really think things would be that different if Perry WERE still in the band? The setlist would still be similar...greatest hits with some rarities thrown in.

with a cover singer against his wishes.

Why do you still have to call him a cover singer? He HAS recorded new music with the band. You give him zero respect. You have the right to hold Neal accountable for his words toward Perry, but Steve has done nothing but be completely respectful.

Neal badmouthed him(whether Neal's fans want to rememer, or admit, it or not).

I really don't think ANYONE has denied Neal's behaviour. But I do see a lot of excusing it...and I think that is fair. He had the right to respond, just like you do, just like I do. We all know there is a big difference in how Neal handles situations and how Perry does. Perry is much more introverted. He internalizes much of his feelings, and he is very emotional without being angry. Whereas Neal seems to get angry. I would imagine much of that has to do with 'growing up' around Herbie...who is a complete hothead. But Neal and Perry are two completely different people. Perry had family that was very important to him. Neal had bands that were like family and were very important to him. But they got different values from different situations.

All that can be a reason why you prefer Perry over Neal, but it still should not excuse the lack of respect for Neal (and Jon, and every other member of Journey) and his (their) talent and contributions to Journey.

You're exactly right Lori, but some people will twist anything you say, in whatever way they can to try to sound like they have a valid way to contradict you.

You KNOW that has gone both ways since the beginning of time (or 1997).

[The_Noble_Cause]

They didn't give him the time he needed to make his decisions about his health problems.

They gave him two years. I'd go so far as to say they gave him more then that. When pressed for a decision, Perry gave the guys NO inclination whatsoever that he ever truly intended to return to touring.
As Neal said in an interview conducted by Andrew here on MR.com

"Well, you know, that was one thing in the Behind the Music show that caused a lot of controversy, in one section it said we waited months for him. And I called up the producer and I said months? Are you kidding? We waited years. We waited ten years and then we got back together and then it was close to two years.
We asked for a commitment from him, we just said, 'Do you want to do this or do you not want to do it, we'll wait for you if you do want to do it, if you'll commit to it', 'No, I can't commit to it, and I can't commit to doing my operation', and so at one point Jon and I turned around to each other and just said, look, we could be sitting here forever, I mean, do you want to move on, or do you not? And I said, we've got nothing to lose at this point. We had already rebuilt this thing somewhat, and I want to continue doing it.

Also, don't forget before Trial By Fire happened and before Steve's "injury" happened, plans were already underway for a new Journey lineup featuring lead singer, Kevin Chalfant (and with Rolie returning).

They insisted on using the Journey name for a nostalia band with a cover singer against his wishes.

Frankly, who cares about his wishes?
Did Perry stop to consider Ross and Steve's wishes when he handed them big fat pink slips and replaced them with a cover bassist and drummer?
Did he consider any other members wishes when he decided to call it quits right when Jon and Neal are in the prime of their lives and the band was at the zenith of it's success?
Did he show any concern for Herbie's wishes when he laid down the ultimatum of firing Herbie, the band's creator?
Besides, as already stated, before the Trial by Fire fiasco went down, there already were plans for Journey to tour with what you would deem a "cover singer" (Kevin Chalfant).
So who cares?
If Perry didn't do TBF, renege on touring (and subsequently get replaced by Augeri in 1998), then he would've been replaced by Kev in '96.
One way or another Journey was intent on hitting the road be it with Perry or without.

they haven't done anything since they left him.

So I guess the Arrival, Red 13, and Journey 2001 disks I own are all figments of my imagination?