Herbie Questions

[Aaron]

Question: why didn't Herbie fire Perry in '83 or '86 and get on with it with someone else? I take it Herbie was booted by Perry during the reunion BS in 96. What was the real story there? And, what is Herbie saying now about the current situation?

And please, no speculation, the fuckin Perry hater, that would be cool, cheerleading bullshit on this thread. I'm looking for fact based on interviews or personal experience with the band and/or in industry. If you have direct experience with the band then speculation would be reasonable based on factual history.

Posting of interviews supporting your claims would help as well. Here are mine:

http://members.cox.net/mrcarty/
http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/Int ... bert06.htm

So Deano, dial us in mate.

L8r,

Aaron

[Rockindeano]

Dude, I was joking. Of course I don't know everything and I speculate as well.

Jesus...

It was sarcasm folks.

I think Herbie didn't have a choice. He was the fat man yes, but like Friga said after their last show in Anchorage, "The Harley was there, waiting to be ridden, but we knew who had the keys."

Perry held the cards, plain and simple, and I hasten to guess, but seeing that Perry got both Friga and Neal to dress like pussies for ROR, Neal in his gay hat and scarlett pink jacket, and Friga, looking like he was about to give Richard Simmons a perm in that Regoddamnediculous smock.....Then you got Randy looking like a black marshmellow man in Ghostbusters 5, and Mike Baird, looking like a gay tire changer with that flourescent pink lid....I think Friga and Neal both knew that Perry goes away, so does our benjamins. Perry was a dick to be sure, but he was a great singing dick, and could do anything he wanted.

What Perry had, and still has is "Scoreboard." The scoreboard never lies. It's always correct. Perry had the power, and the power can mandate whatever the Hell it wants.

[whocares]

Seemingly he'll always have the power.

There's lots of info out there, Speculation, opinons, wahtever you want to call it, but don't expect a lot of facts, because who knows what fact is anymore. There's a bunch of people who want pretty much NOTHING to do with each other, unless the money is there.

[Marzdog]

And this ladies and gentlemen is the bottom line. Love'em or hate'em, Deano comes through with something a FACT that is tough to fight...although, it is most certain that Perry still, to this day, HAS the power.

What Perry had, and still has is "Scoreboard." The scoreboard never lies. It's always correct. Perry had the power, and the power can mandate whatever the Hell it wants.

[Marzdog]

But the money IS there if Perry ever wanted to do it. Quite simply, he doesn't want to.

Look at how much money this band has taken in with 2 CDs and an EP, plus the endless tours over the past eight years. Don't you think Perry would have brought that and MUCH, MUCH more money? I say yes.

Seemingly he'll always have the power.

There's lots of info out there, Speculation, opinons, wahtever you want to call it, but don't expect a lot of facts, because who knows what fact is anymore. There's a bunch of people who want pretty much NOTHING to do with each other, unless the money is there.

[StyxCollector]

But the money IS there if Perry ever wanted to do it. Quite simply, he doesn't want to.

Look at how much money this band has taken in with 2 CDs and an EP, plus the endless tours over the past eight years. Don't you think Perry would have brought that and MUCH, MUCH more money? I say yes.

Wrong. In 1996 it would have been big. Look at Styx - that reunion tour with all but John Panozzo did good bank in 1996. The 2nd time out in 1997 not so much.

10 years on when you can go see Styx or Dennis in your area once or twice a year, the magic is gone.

Journey, by constantly touring, has done the same. 1996/97 would have been big since Journey hadn't been on the road in 10 years at that point. Now, they've been on tour for 8 with not too much to show for it (relatively speaking).

I don't think if Perry said today that he wanted back in that it would be much bigger than it is now. Most casual fans (which makes up most of the crowd) don't give a shit. Play the dirty dozen and get off.

[whocares]

sure they'd bank more, but they wouldn't tour as much, and that's fine with me.

I'm not going so far as to say Perry can do no wrong, but I respect the fact that Perry didn't tour every year with Journey. He didn't want to and he sure didn't HAVE to. The problem is, we'll never know, it's all a what if situation.

[fred_journeyman]

Thanks for the link to the latest Herbie interview. As always, an eye-opener! You have to love the way Herbie wraps his wit around his words! Hilarious.

[Fernando Ramirez]

Question: why didn't Herbie fire Perry in '83 or '86 and get on with it with someone else? I take it Herbie was booted by Perry during the reunion BS in 96. What was the real story there? And, what is Herbie saying now about the current situation?

Aaron

I doesn't make sense that Herbie would have fired him back in '83. Even if Herbie couldn't stand the man, Perry's contributions were a big part of the band's success. Firing him would have been the biggest mistake anybody ever made.

From what I've read, I don't think Herbie was fired by Perry in '96. I think Herbie just didnt want to deal with Perry in any way, shape, or form.

[Fernando Ramirez]

http://members.cox.net/mrcarty/

[Carrington]

And this ladies and gentlemen is the bottom line. Love'em or hate'em, Deano comes through with something a FACT that is tough to fight...although, it is most certain that Perry still, to this day, HAS the power.

What Perry had, and still has is "Scoreboard." The scoreboard never lies. It's always correct. Perry had the power, and the power can mandate whatever the Hell it wants.

Perfect...........

[NealIsGod]

How does a 56-year old man who used to sing well have any power over them now?

[ohsherrie]

How does a 56-year old man who used to sing well have any power over them now?

I have no idea what actual legal power he may have. I'd think probably no more than his interest in the songs that he helped write and whatever contractual agreements they signed that gave the band the name and Perry the control of the catalog. What he does have is the power of public perception and recognition. Everyone associates the songs that are Journey's bread and butter with Perry. The fact that Perry has in no way endorsed this incarnation of the band and has refused to allow any promotion of it in any new catalog related releases has exerted a form of power over the band's credibility.

[StyxCollector]

How does a 56-year old man who used to sing well have any power over them now?

A few things IMO

1. The whole TBF thing has the stink of unfinished business, so it leaves fans with a big ol', "What if ..."

2. In the separation of TBF, it's clear that from a legal standpoint (at least to me anyway), he has some say somewhere. Whatever they signed to be able to continue without him has to make fascinating reading. I'm not talking just about producing remasters, GHL, or the '81 DVD (which, btw, they seem more than happy and willing to abdicate to him). Look at Styx - they've released live album after live album, some with some DDY songs. Journey has released the now infamous Vegas DVD only and some studio albums. One use of the Perry songs with another singer. Do you really think they're holding back product "just because"? I doubt it.

3. The Perry era of Journey, for better or worse, defines the band. Their success in some way, shape, or form will always be tied back to him.

4. Since Perry hasn't done much in public (and I mean anything) since TBF was released, it creates an aura of mystique. Can he sing? Is his voice dead? blah blah blah.

5. As was proven with the ousting of SA, it's hard to fill SP's shoes despite the fact SA was in the band nearly as long as Perry was for his initial run (77/78 - 87).

The shadow of Steve Perry looms large over Journey. The shadow of DDY hangs over Styx a tad, but not much. They've found a way to move on and distance themselves - for better or worse - from Dennis. Journey can't.

[Liam]

"Contracts and lawyers, champagne downtown".
He WAS setting himself up for the future. lol.

[NYer]

"Contracts and lawyers, champagne downtown".
He WAS setting himself up for the future. lol.

nice.