Questions for Longtime Posters

[Saint John]

[I think losing Steve Perry was the #1 worst thing.

Steve Perry not being able to sing the catalog any longer is the worst thing that happened to Journey.

[SherriBerry]

Oops, I see what you mean - I thought SG had interpreted my post the wrong way and he
came out swinging! My bad - sorry SG.

From reading his interviews, it's clear to me that Herbie was
ahead of his time - he understood marketing and branding at a time when few
others did, particularly in the music industry. He knew what he was doing and
he did everything he could to look after his band and keep them on track, although
it wasn't always possible, particularly when SP became a force to be reckoned with.

This is a guy who created the band and loved it - it wasn't just a
business to him and I believe he still hates SP after 20 years because SP
took Journey away from him.

[Saint John]

I believe he still hates SP after 20 years because SP
took Journey away from him.

Steve Perry took Journey away from more than just Herbie.

[SherriBerry]

I believe he still hates SP after 20 years because SP
took Journey away from him.

Steve Perry took Journey away from more than just Herbie.

Because of the changes SP made or because he walked away?

[Saint John]

I believe he still hates SP after 20 years because SP
took Journey away from him.

Steve Perry took Journey away from more than just Herbie.

Because of the changes SP made or because he walked away?

A bit of both. I think he wrestled control from Herbie and THOUGHT he knew what was best for the band and because I don't think he wanted to let the band move on without him; so he came back during TBF just to thwart the Rolie/Chalfant lineup. But don't get me wrong...I like ROR, but the masses didn't. He messed with the ballad to rocker ratio too much. The view seemed to be that Journey went poser at a time where Bon Jovi and Def Leppard were rocking and selling TONS of albums.

[Don]

I believe he still hates SP after 20 years because SP
took Journey away from him.

Steve Perry took Journey away from more than just Herbie.

Because of the changes SP made or because he walked away?

A bit of both. I think he wrestled control from Herbie and THOUGHT he knew what was best for the band and because I don't think he wanted to let the band move on without him; so he came back during TBF just to thwart the Rolie/Chalfant lineup. But don't get me wrong...I like ROR, but the masses didn't. He messed with the ballad to rocker ratio too much. The view seemed to be that Journey went poser at a time where Bon Jovi and Def Leppard were rocking and selling TONS of albums.

They lost a lot of their Japanese fans with ROR. the Japanese loved the rockers, but when Journey went pop, they switched their allegiance to Bon Jovi, Winger and those types of bands.

[cheekymonkey]

He knew what he was doing and
he did everything he could to look after his band and keep them on track, although
it wasn't always possible, particularly when SP became a force to be reckoned with.

What were the differences between what Herbie wanted and Steve, when it came to the band? Was it really about artist direction, or just plain control? And with Steve, did he really get the boot over something other than his health/hip issue? I'm new to all this, so sorry if I am bringing up stuff that has been rehashed already.

[SherriBerry]

He knew what he was doing and
he did everything he could to look after his band and keep them on track, although
it wasn't always possible, particularly when SP became a force to be reckoned with.

What were the differences between what Herbie wanted and Steve, when it came to the band? Was it really about artist direction, or just plain control? And with Steve, did he really get the boot over something other than his health/hip issue? I'm new to all this, so sorry if I am bringing up stuff that has been rehashed already.

I'm pretty new too and there is a lot I'm still learning, but I love the process. There are two interviews
with Herbie Herbert that are very enlightening, but you have to consider that he holds a major grudge
against Steve Perry so his perspective is very biased. One is called "Castles Burning" by Matt
Carty http://members.cox.net/mrcarty/ and one is by Andrew - you can find it on the Melodic Rock
site. You will learn a lot - well worth the read.

[SherriBerry]

It's nice to hear something positive! There must be more people on this forum who have met him at meet and
greets, but only the individuals who, for whatever reason, had a negative experience seem to write about it.
I don't understand why that is.

I don't think that's true, I think that's just the only ones you remember. I know I have a read many positive experiences with Neal, I guess mostly on Back Talk but they were there.

I specified this forum - I've never been on Back Talk. I found MR first and have read nothing to recommend
the other. There seems to be a lot of frustration from posters who wrote anything that could be construed as
negative. Since I couldn't read forum posts before I registered, I questioned the value of doing so. If anyone
thinks it is worth a look, let me know. (Edit: I took another look and got into a forum thread - not a lot of
discussion, to say the least. Rather too much sunshine blowing for me...I think I'll pass).

And I do remember GI Jim had a positive post - I definitely remember the green curry!

[SherriBerry]

I believe he still hates SP after 20 years because SP
took Journey away from him.

Steve Perry took Journey away from more than just Herbie.

Because of the changes SP made or because he walked away?

A bit of both. I think he wrestled control from Herbie and THOUGHT he knew what was best for the band and because I don't think he wanted to let the band move on without him; so he came back during TBF just to thwart the Rolie/Chalfant lineup. But don't get me wrong...I like ROR, but the masses didn't. He messed with the ballad to rocker ratio too much. The view seemed to be that Journey went poser at a time where Bon Jovi and Def Leppard were rocking and selling TONS of albums.

When considered individually, I like ROR too, but it definitely took Journey a bit too far to the pop genre.
Too much crooning, not enough rocking. If SP had been able to continue and Journey put out a new album
soon after the ROR tour, I like to think that they would have returned to their more rock-tinged signature
sound and brought back Smitty and Valory.

One thing I have read very little about is the Rolie/Chalfant lineup. I read in Andrew's HH interview that Kevin
Chalfant performed with Journey at a tribute in 1993, but I really don't know the history behind a Journey
comeback with Rolie/Chalfant and that being the motivation for SP to return for TBF. What is the story there?

[Loneman1]

He knew what he was doing and
he did everything he could to look after his band and keep them on track, although
it wasn't always possible, particularly when SP became a force to be reckoned with.

What were the differences between what Herbie wanted and Steve, when it came to the band? Was it really about artist direction, or just plain control? And with Steve, did he really get the boot over something other than his health/hip issue? I'm new to all this, so sorry if I am bringing up stuff that has been rehashed already.

I'm pretty new too and there is a lot I'm still learning, but I love the process. There are two interviews
with Herbie Herbert that are very enlightening, but you have to consider that he holds a major grudge
against Steve Perry so his perspective is very biased. One is called "Castles Burning" by Matt
Carty http://members.cox.net/mrcarty/ and one is by Andrew - you can find it on the Melodic Rock
site. You will learn a lot - well worth the read.

Hehe, I kinda envy you guys in a way. I've heard damn near everything now since I climbed on board as a serious fan around late '95, and I clearly remember loving those moments when you learned something big about the band you didn't know as a casual fan by digging deeper. Same goes for discovering all their great boots/videos/interviews and whatnot that you hear for the first time. This band has a very rich and obviously not always glimmering history. I think Perry kinda said it best in the '86 MTV ROR documentary...."The lights don't always shine as pretty as they look." That sums up quite a bit in that one statement.

[SherriBerry]

He knew what he was doing and
he did everything he could to look after his band and keep them on track, although
it wasn't always possible, particularly when SP became a force to be reckoned with.

What were the differences between what Herbie wanted and Steve, when it came to the band? Was it really about artist direction, or just plain control? And with Steve, did he really get the boot over something other than his health/hip issue? I'm new to all this, so sorry if I am bringing up stuff that has been rehashed already.

I'm pretty new too and there is a lot I'm still learning, but I love the process. There are two interviews
with Herbie Herbert that are very enlightening, but you have to consider that he holds a major grudge
against Steve Perry so his perspective is very biased. One is called "Castles Burning" by Matt
Carty http://members.cox.net/mrcarty/ and one is by Andrew - you can find it on the Melodic Rock
site. You will learn a lot - well worth the read.

Hehe, I kinda envy you guys in a way. I've heard damn near everything now since I climbed on board as a serious fan around late '95, and I clearly remember loving those moments when you learned something big about the band you didn't know as a casual fan by digging deeper. Same goes for discovering all their great boots/videos/interviews and whatnot that you hear for the first time. This band has a very rich and obviously not always glimmering history. I think Perry kinda said it best in the '86 MTV ROR documentary...."The lights don't always shine as pretty as they look." That sums up quite a bit in that one statement.

The first thread I ever started posed the question of whether Herbie Herbert should write a biography about Journey
and the concensus was that Andrew should do it! I can't think of another band that has such a fascinating history
or group of personalities.

As a longtime Journey fan, do you know the story behind the Rolie/Chalfant lineup and SP's return for TBF?

[Sarah]

Hehe, I kinda envy you guys in a way. I've heard damn near everything now since I climbed on board as a serious fan around late '95, and I clearly remember loving those moments when you learned something big about the band you didn't know as a casual fan by digging deeper. Same goes for discovering all their great boots/videos/interviews and whatnot that you hear for the first time.

dittoooooo I know too much and I've heard everything so there's nothing for me to look forward to anymore.

[Loneman1]

He knew what he was doing and
he did everything he could to look after his band and keep them on track, although
it wasn't always possible, particularly when SP became a force to be reckoned with.

What were the differences between what Herbie wanted and Steve, when it came to the band? Was it really about artist direction, or just plain control? And with Steve, did he really get the boot over something other than his health/hip issue? I'm new to all this, so sorry if I am bringing up stuff that has been rehashed already.

I'm pretty new too and there is a lot I'm still learning, but I love the process. There are two interviews
with Herbie Herbert that are very enlightening, but you have to consider that he holds a major grudge
against Steve Perry so his perspective is very biased. One is called "Castles Burning" by Matt
Carty http://members.cox.net/mrcarty/ and one is by Andrew - you can find it on the Melodic Rock
site. You will learn a lot - well worth the read.

Hehe, I kinda envy you guys in a way. I've heard damn near everything now since I climbed on board as a serious fan around late '95, and I clearly remember loving those moments when you learned something big about the band you didn't know as a casual fan by digging deeper. Same goes for discovering all their great boots/videos/interviews and whatnot that you hear for the first time. This band has a very rich and obviously not always glimmering history. I think Perry kinda said it best in the '86 MTV ROR documentary...."The lights don't always shine as pretty as they look." That sums up quite a bit in that one statement.

The first thread I ever started posed the question of whether Herbie Herbert should write a biography about Journey
and the concensus was that Andrew should do it! I can't think of another band that has such a fascinating history
or group of personalities.

As a longtime Journey fan, do you know the story behind the Rolie/Chalfant lineup and SP's return for TBF?

Well, the concrete details are pretty hazy, but as far as I know the general consensus is that everyone was pretty much a go to include those two guys in a reunion project of sorts probably around '95 or so, but speculation says that Perry caught wind of this and called up Cain to get back together, which was likely to be under his terms, which obviously didn't include Chalfant or Rolie, and as it turned out Herbie as well. I think Chalfant has mentioned in the past that he has some Journey songs they worked on "packed away in his dresser drawer" or something like that, but I am not entirely sure and might be misquoting that. I would love to hear Rolie's take on that situation, as I don't think I ever have. He might have either opted out himself since he does seem pretty hesitant to work with Perry again, or Perry flat out rejected his being there. IMO I'd probably say both sides of the coin are true.

I would love Herbie to write a book, but I'd definitely be in line for Andrew's as well!

[Loneman1]

dittoooooo I know too much and I've heard everything so there's nothing for me to look forward to anymore.

Yup, that's definitely the way I feel, mostly about new uncovered bootlegs. There are some obvious shows that everyone wants to get a hold of, but I kinda fear that unless some major leaking takes place, I don't see that happening any time soon since likely a lot of major promises would have to be broken in trading circles that trust each other.

[SherriBerry]

dittoooooo I know too much and I've heard everything so there's nothing for me to look forward to anymore.

Yup, that's definitely the way I feel, mostly about new uncovered bootlegs. There are some obvious shows that everyone wants to get a hold of, but I kinda fear that unless some major leaking takes place, I don't see that happening any time soon since likely a lot of major promises would have to be broken in trading circles that trust each other.

I hope Journey releases more of its live recordings - I'm surprised they haven't, but I'm not sure how the
recording process works for that. From my 'Escape' dvd, I get the impression that in order to properly record
a performance to release later as a live CD, they set up special microphones onstage - is that just to capture
the audience?

With the advances in computer technology, do they record and store all or most of their concerts now?
I want to hear one of the concerts where Deen sang lead - he has such a beautiful voice
and I love his version of 'Patiently'. I am so grateful for YouTube!

What I would like is a CD of live Journey songs, but not necessarily from one concert. I think it would
be great if each of the band members got to pick one or two of their favourite performances for the disc
and write why that particular performance of a song is special to them. It may be a logistics nightmare to
compile that, but it would be an interesting spin and may contain some surprises - something that old-time
Journey fans seem to be in need of Between live recordings and unedited commentary from the band,
I would happily pay more than $11.99 for that one disc.