It's a wonderful life, Journey Edition

[classicstyxfan]

OK, here's a shocker for y'all........I'm posting over here, on topic.

You all know the famous holiday movie and it's plot revolving around what the world would be like if George Bailey had never lived. It was a darker, sadder world for all of those people who's lives he touched..

So, getting to the point, what would the Career path of Journey have looked like if Steve Perry had never existed ? would they have made the big time ? would the overall product suffer, or be better ? would YOU be a fan of the group ( would you have even heard of them ?)

[NealIsGod]

OK, here's a shocker for y'all........I'm posting over here, on topic.

You all know the famous holiday movie and it's plot revolving around what the world would be like if George Bailey had never lived. It was a darker, sadder world for all of those people who's lives he touched..

So, getting to the point, what would the Career path of Journey have looked like if Steve Perry had never existed ? would they have made the big time ? would the overall product suffer, or be better ? would YOU be a fan of the group ( would you have even heard of them ?)

Don't know and don't care.

[classicstyxfan]

Glad to see you are in the holiday spirit, Dogsi......didnt come looking for a fight, but am willing to tie one hand behind my cyber back to make it a fair one if thats what you want.

Anyway thanks for your thoughtful insight on the topic.

[Rockindeano]

Classic, that is one great question, and I have to admit, I probably wouldn't be. Have to admit his voice drew me in...Once there I found the other ingredients too that made the band stellar.

My guess is that Herbie would have found a singer with the same qualities...
Perhaps one that wouldn't quit on his band..

[NealIsGod]

Glad to see you are in the holiday spirit, Dogsi......didnt come looking for a fight, but am willing to tie one hand behind my cyber back to make it a fair one if thats what you want.

Anyway thanks for your thoughtful insight on the topic.

That's all it deserves.

[Rockindeano]

classic and Darwin vs. Deano and NIGGY in an no holds barred cage match..

Bring it on, Brother!

[classicstyxfan]

Charles Darwin would no doubt take my side !

[Red13JoePa]

And why's that

[Monker]

I think they would have recorded Infinity with Fleischman singing...which would have included most of the songs on the album as recorded, including "Wheel In the Sky".

If you read what Herbie has said, Fleischman already had one foot out the door when Perry was hired...So, I doubt he would have lasted long. If that were true, they may have picked up Kevin Chalfant in the early 80's. So, yes, I *DO* think they could have been just as big in the early 80's...and a LOT bigger then they were in the late 80's and early 90's...because I think the band would have stayed together. In fact, they could have picked Gregg back up and did a "reunion" tour with him in 1986 or so...when Gregg released his first solo album and was getting back into music again.

The bottom line for me is that I absolutely do not believe Herbie would have allowed Journey to fail. It was his baby and he ensured their success in any way he could.

[classicstyxfan]

Thanks Monker.......I'm not as versed on Early Journey as most here.....I appreciate the opinion/insight.

[jrnyman28]

I think the band would have still looked for it's voice. Like monker said, maybe Robert would not have stuck it out, but we would have Infinity. There would have been some notice. And if Journey had acheived some recognition with Robert then he might have stuck around. I do believe the musicianship of the band would have meritted some success. And if it wasn't Robert, then I am sure HH would have found someone who would have done the trick. I still see success for the band, but probably not on the same level they acheived with Perry. I have no way of knowing whether I would have heard of them or not...it all depends on what he music was like. I do know that the combination of Perry's voice and Neal's guitar is what sold me on Journey....but I also think it could have happened with another vocalist as well.

[Free]

OK, here's a shocker for y'all........I'm posting over here, on topic.

You all know the famous holiday movie and it's plot revolving around what the world would be like if George Bailey had never lived. It was a darker, sadder world for all of those people who's lives he touched..

So, getting to the point, what would the Career path of Journey have looked like if Steve Perry had never existed ? would they have made the big time ? would the overall product suffer, or be better ? would YOU be a fan of the group ( would you have even heard of them ?)

When I first read this post, I thought NO WAY would they ever have been as popular or even discovered without Perry.

Now that I've thought about it, I believe that they could have been discovered and even had some hits. However, it's very, very difficult for me to believe they would have been as big as they were without Perry. Nobody in music has ever had a voice as unique as his.

[Marabelle]

I'm thinking they would have stuck more with those long boring solos where they seem to want to impress each other with their musical skills.
It does seem that everyone was into themselves and would play endlessly to appease their little naracisstic hearts. Perhaps HH would have brought this all to an end and put up a singer who would have been able to compete with all the egos on stage. I probably would not have been interested at all in the band. The band would not be as it is today and it would not have probably sold as many records or sold out as many arenas as they have. I'm thinking they would have broken off into a lot of different groups and none would have been very popular. Neal would have ventured back to Santana and after awhle hooked up with some other groups. It's my thoughts and I'm entitled.

[Rockindeano]

s. However, it's very, very difficult for me to believe they would have been as big as they were without Perry. Nobody in music has ever had a voice as unique as his.

True, but Perry has polarized so many people..There probably more poeople who hate Journey because of Perry, than love them because of him..

[Marabelle]

s. However, it's very, very difficult for me to believe they would have been as big as they were without Perry. Nobody in music has ever had a voice as unique as his.

True, but Perry has polarized so many people..There probably more poeople who hate Journey because of Perry, than love them because of him..

Hate! Really! Oh isn't that just going a bit too far! Hate! My goodness! I think that is just too harsh of a word. May be..turned off...but hate! Really!

[Rockindeano]

No, unfortunately, most of the people I talk to, use the word "hate" when perry is mentioned. For what it's worth, I come back with, "name me a better singer?" then silence..

But yes, perry is a polarizing person.

[Free]

s. However, it's very, very difficult for me to believe they would have been as big as they were without Perry. Nobody in music has ever had a voice as unique as his.

True, but Perry has polarized so many people..There probably more poeople who hate Journey because of Perry, than love them because of him..

Man, are you sure?? There is no doubt he has polarized people but those people are not the vast majority who bought the records.

Please don't get me wrong. I fully realize how much of a head case Perry is. It's just that most of the people who casually listen to Journeya and by the records do not.

[jrnyman28]

I'm thinking they would have stuck more with those long boring solos where they seem to want to impress each other with their musical skills.
It does seem that everyone was into themselves and would play endlessly to appease their little naracisstic hearts. Perhaps HH would have brought this all to an end and put up a singer who would have been able to compete with all the egos on stage. I probably would not have been interested at all in the band. The band would not be as it is today and it would not have probably sold as many records or sold out as many arenas as they have. I'm thinking they would have broken off into a lot of different groups and none would have been very popular. Neal would have ventured back to Santana and after awhle hooked up with some other groups. It's my thoughts and I'm entitled.

Have you listened to Infinity? That CD was almost finished being written when Perry joined. So I think you can already see the change within the band. You can actually go back to Look Into The Future and hear the song strucute changes from Next. The band was already evolving into a more structured song band. It was not Perry's addition that did it. Although he certainly helped, even Gregg has said that he taught them a lot about writing "songs", but the changes were already there.

I don't think Neal would have ended up back in Santana, there was too much going on "under the surface" which led to Gregg and Neal leaving. I do agree that it is quite possible Neal would have started working with others much sooner. Well, now that I think about it, maybe not. He might not have felt the same constraints in Journey that he did 'because of Perry' (image/voice) so he might not have felt the need to go outside the band. Much like what is happening now in Journey, they are much more open to playing different styles...

[Marabelle]

Let me just say, I don't think people look beyond the music and don't care how much of a jerk he is. I think most people just like his talent or his looks or whatever. He might be a head case but those who idolize and drool over him could care less if he got along with the band members or anyone else in his life.

[Journeynut]

OK, here's a shocker for y'all........I'm posting over here, on topic.

You all know the famous holiday movie and it's plot revolving around what the world would be like if George Bailey had never lived. It was a darker, sadder world for all of those people who's lives he touched..

So, getting to the point, what would the Career path of Journey have looked like if Steve Perry had never existed ? would they have made the big time ? would the overall product suffer, or be better ? would YOU be a fan of the group ( would you have even heard of them ?)

There is only one man with that Voice and that is Perry.
Journey gave it a stage and a place for it to soar.
Without that voice I do not know that Journey would have been
that distinctive. As it has been said, Perry was the voice that got
them on the radio.
wonder what Herbies "plan b" would have been had Perry not joined.

[Rockindeano]

Let me just say, I don't think people look beyond the music and don't care how much of a jerk he is. I think most people just like his talent or his looks or whatever. He might be a head case but those who idolize and drool over him could care less if he got along with the band members or anyone else in his life.

I'm not arguing whether Perry is a bad guy or not..Furthest thing from my mind.

I said simply, Perry has turned a great deal of people off..for sometime now.

[NoMoreTails]

Now that I've thought about it, I believe that they could have been discovered and even had some hits.

Discovered???
This was a band that existed before Perry, with founding member and singer of a world famous band and a child prodigy guitarist who was getting attention from rock and blues greats when he was 14 and 15 years old. They had three albums and a loyal fan base built over four years of touring before anyone ever heard of Perry.
Journey owes a portion of its success to Perry but certainly not its discovery.

[NealIsGod]

Now that I've thought about it, I believe that they could have been discovered and even had some hits.

Discovered???
This was a band that existed before Perry, with founding member and singer of a world famous band and a child prodigy guitarist who was getting attention from rock and blues greats when he was 14 and 15 years old. They had three albums and a loyal fan base built over four years of touring before anyone ever heard of Perry.
Journey owes a portion of its success to Perry but certainly not its discovery.

No, NMT. Journey did not exist before Perry!!! Everyone knows that!!!

[NoMoreTails]

No, NMT. Journey did not exist before Perry!!! Everyone knows that!!!

My bad, NIG, what was I thinking...I mean what was I saying, anywayayayay...

Deano, what is that pre-Perry Journey stuff you mentioned to Cubby?

[Abitaman]

If I understood the question right, Journey would have been big, but not as big. Only single or double Platinum.
Same with SP. He would have been single or double platinum. Both as a half would have been been good, and could have, and still be making music. But it was as a whole that the two blazed. What is Journey without a sizzling guitarist, to match the soaring vocals? Just another Bad English! What is Steve Perry without a guitarist to push is vocals? Just another Rod Stewart!

Without each other they would have been stars. But with each other they were SUPERSTARS. They needed each other to push the other farther. If you were lazy in Journey, you were forced to step up or step out (unfortunately).

So nowadays only one continues on, while the other does their on thing.
Journey goes on without Perry and does a great job or carrying on the legacy THAT was before, by making great music thru respect for each other. If and when Perry comes out of retirement, he will need to set the bar impossibly high, and will need to push his self.....-ERIC

[cubby69]

Now that I've thought about it, I believe that they could have been discovered and even had some hits.

Discovered???
This was a band that existed before Perry, with founding member and singer of a world famous band and a child prodigy guitarist who was getting attention from rock and blues greats when he was 14 and 15 years old. They had three albums and a loyal fan base built over four years of touring before anyone ever heard of Perry.
Journey owes a portion of its success to Perry but certainly not its discovery.

Yes, there was a Journey before Perry and I happend to be a fan. And many others like me were not exactly thrilled when Perry came on board. So anyone that wants to kid themselves about anything other than that, go ahead, its your fantasy.

Like Dave said, Infinity was almost complete before Perry even walked in the door. And I think that maybe Gregg wouldn't have felt the need to leave after Departure because there wouldn't have been this enormous egomaniac taking over the band. And before you say record sales and 'superstar' status of Escape, shove it, because Escape does not impress me. We would never have had to live thru Jonathan and his endless need to tell the world how much love he has.... ....

I would have preferred a Journey that never knew Perry or Cain, they would probably be a lot more respected in the business because they wouldn't have sold out their sound to become a ballady pop band in the early '80's. And Deano is right, a lot of people were turned off by Perry's bad attitude and didn't always like everything about his voice.

Gregg once said in an interview that he wrote 'I'm Crying' totally different than what Perry ended up changing too, who's know.