MR

I have to wonder if Steve Perry isn't the type of artist who constantly needs new challenges. Being a musician myself (and someone who has founded several musicians forums), I have found that some artists are content to create something and display it over and over again to their fans. Other artists seem to get bored with redundancy, and seem to have a driving need to constantly pursue new challenges. If Steve Perry does indeed fall into the latter category, this may explain his reluctance to constantly tour with Journey playing the classics over and over. It may also explain his frustration when fans try to put him in a box and project their will upon him that he should be singing with Journey. As much as he wants to please his fans, he cannot find the motivation to go out and do the same thing over and over again.

I have found that certain types of creative entrepreneurs and artists simply get extremely bored with any form of redundancy whatsoever. It can even cause them to go into depression. Facing new challenges is what motivates them to get out of bed. If they don't have a new direction to drive them, they feel like they are going backwards.

Then again, it may simply be that Steve is a perfectionist, and he realized at a certain point that his voice simply couldn't reproduce the notes that he was able to hit when he was younger.

Just thinking out loud.

Voyager wrote:I have found that certain types of creative entrepreneurs and artists simply get extremely bored with any form of redundancy whatsoever. It can even cause them to go into depression. Facing new challenges is what motivates them to get out of bed. If they don't have a new direction to drive them, they feel like they are going backwards.

Then again, it may simply be that Steve is a perfectionist, and he realized at a certain point that his voice simply couldn't reproduce the notes that he was able to hit when he was younger.

I think it's a bit of both.He always said that he loves to explore his creativity (and his vocal capabilities).I think his solo effort "Street Talk" is a clear proof of that.
He also admitted many times that he gets really inspired by working with different musicians.Who knows,besides the job burn out he suffered from back in the 80s,he was maybe looking for other people to work with and get away from the Schon/Cain formula.

As for him being a perfectionist - I couldn't agree more.I believe that's his true demon that might keep him from doing what the fans would want him to do.

Voyager wrote:I have to wonder if Steve Perry isn't the type of artist who constantly needs new challenges. ...

I'm sure he is/was but how long do you need to find a challenge? Isn't overcoming a changing voice a challenge? I'm also thinking out loud.

I think he just reached a point and said, enough's enough. This is ME time. I don't need the dough so why hassle with it anymore and withdrew.

Voyager wrote:I have to wonder if Steve Perry isn't the type of artist who constantly needs new challenges. Being a musician myself (and someone who has founded several musicians forums), I have found that some artists are content to create something and display it over and over again to their fans. Other artists seem to get bored with redundancy, and seem to have a driving need to constantly pursue new challenges. If Steve Perry does indeed fall into the latter category, this may explain his reluctance to constantly tour with Journey playing the classics over and over. It may also explain his frustration when fans try to put him in a box and project their will upon him that he should be singing with Journey. As much as he wants to please his fans, he cannot find the motivation to go out and do the same thing over and over again.

I have found that certain types of creative entrepreneurs and artists simply get extremely bored with any form of redundancy whatsoever. It can even cause them to go into depression. Facing new challenges is what motivates them to get out of bed. If they don't have a new direction to drive them, they feel like they are going backwards.

Then again, it may simply be that Steve is a perfectionist, and he realized at a certain point that his voice simply couldn't reproduce the notes that he was able to hit when he was younger.

Just thinking out loud.

I agree that Perry would never be content playing the same old hits in the same old way - and that perfectionism has restricted his output,. But I have to say that after the extraordinarily creative period from 1978-1986...when he refused to do the same thing over and over again much to the contunued bitterness and disappointment of some fans who complain about it to this day.....the well has pretty much run dry. It's isn't just about the voice. If he was creatively inspired he'd write loads of material for other artists. He hasn't.

A handful of songs in over two decades? No matter which way you look a`t it....that's not the sign of a restless creative spirit hunting out new frontiers, etc. I'd imagine he has found his new challenges in his personal life though...having proved every point he wanted to prove and achieved everything he set out to achieve in his professional life.

Matthew wrote:

Voyager wrote:I have to wonder if Steve Perry isn't the type of artist who constantly needs new challenges. Being a musician myself (and someone who has founded several musicians forums), I have found that some artists are content to create something and display it over and over again to their fans. Other artists seem to get bored with redundancy, and seem to have a driving need to constantly pursue new challenges. If Steve Perry does indeed fall into the latter category, this may explain his reluctance to constantly tour with Journey playing the classics over and over. It may also explain his frustration when fans try to put him in a box and project their will upon him that he should be singing with Journey. As much as he wants to please his fans, he cannot find the motivation to go out and do the same thing over and over again.

I have found that certain types of creative entrepreneurs and artists simply get extremely bored with any form of redundancy whatsoever. It can even cause them to go into depression. Facing new challenges is what motivates them to get out of bed. If they don't have a new direction to drive them, they feel like they are going backwards.

Then again, it may simply be that Steve is a perfectionist, and he realized at a certain point that his voice simply couldn't reproduce the notes that he was able to hit when he was younger.

Just thinking out loud.

I agree that Perry would never be content playing the same old hits in the same old way - and that perfectionism has restricted his output,. But I have to say that after the extraordinarily creative period from 1978-1986...when he refused to do the same thing over and over again much to the contunued bitterness and disappointment of some fans who complain about it to this day.....the well has pretty much run dry. It's isn't just about the voice. If he was creatively inspired he'd write loads of material for other artists. He hasn't.

A handful of songs in over two decades? No matter which way you look a`t it....that's not the sign of a restless creative spirit hunting out new frontiers, etc. I'd imagine he has found his new challenges in his personal life though...having proved every point he wanted to prove and achieved everything he set out to achieve in his professional life.

Well said bro. Good to see you here. Where the hell have you been by the way? I see you on TBJF a little, but not so much on here

Matthew wrote:...I have to say that after the extraordinarily creative period from 1978-1986...when he refused to do the same thing over and over again much to the contunued bitterness and disappointment of some fans who complain about it to this day.....the well has pretty much run dry.

I couldn't agree more. However, when that well was flowing, it was better than anything I have ever seen or heard ever since. As much as I love Rush, Van Halen, Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Yes, The Police, Judas Priest, and other bands that I love (the list goes on and on and on i.e. Dio)... I have ever been more impressed musically and vocally than with the Perry/Journey discography from 1978-1986.

Voyager wrote:

Matthew wrote:...I have to say that after the extraordinarily creative period from 1978-1986...when he refused to do the same thing over and over again much to the contunued bitterness and disappointment of some fans who complain about it to this day.....the well has pretty much run dry.

I couldn't agree more. However, when that well was flowing, it was better than anything I have ever seen or heard ever since. As much as I love Rush, Van Halen, Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Yes, The Police, Judas Priest, and other bands that I love (the list goes on and on and on i.e. Dio)... I have ever been more impressed musically and vocally than with the Perry/Journey discography from 1978-1986.

Ditto. Great post. Those were the days.

I feel that becoming so popular in and out of Journey and some of the things that happened while being a full-time lead singer left Perry pretty emotionally beat up. I really don't think Steve's physical issues are holding him back nearly as much as the mental scars he has from the rigors of the road. I'd bet there's a big part of him that wants to record and tour all the time, but there's a bigger part that realizes it's not something he wants to go through again. I also think that he feels if he does perform one song, one show or one tour, that he might get sucked into that swirling abyss otherwise known as the music business.

Maybe he is just wanting to enjoy his "golden years" and is not interested in getting out there and making appearances.

Yeah, most of us are curious as to what he is up to, but all humor and nitpicking aside, the guy probably just wants to have a 30 year vacation.

So when he is 90(?) maybe will he do a comeback and make all the old ladies happy again.

I'm just glad I ain't hooked or hell bent on his return.
Loads of other loverly voices out there.
Sad it is though cuz he's the best my ears have ever heard.

Saint John wrote:I feel that becoming so popular in and out of Journey and some of the things that happened while being a full-time lead singer left Perry pretty emotionally beat up. I really don't think Steve's physical issues are holding him back nearly as much as the mental scars he has from the rigors of the road. I'd bet there's a big part of him that wants to record and tour all the time, but there's a bigger part that realizes it's not something he wants to go through again. I also think that he feels if he does perform one song, one show or one tour, that he might get sucked into that swirling abyss otherwise known as the music business.

Couldn't agree more!

Saint John wrote: I also think that he feels if he does perform one song, one show or one tour, that he might get sucked into that swirling abyss otherwise known as the music business.

I don't know...IF he'd ever decide to get on stage and do the live thing (be it just one show or one small tour) my belief is that he would survive this time.
His past experiences must've made him stronger.Sure,that doesn't mean that he would LIKE to be in the biz again,although right now he can have as many people working for him as he wants to.I guess all he'd have to do would be to just focus on his singing.

And that's the whole issue,I suppose.Before any biz-related concerns comes the voice.
If he's worried about something then it must be his own vocal expectations,not the show business itself.

*Laura wrote:

Saint John wrote: I also think that he feels if he does perform one song, one show or one tour, that he might get sucked into that swirling abyss otherwise known as the music business.

I don't know...IF he'd ever decide to get on stage and do the live thing (be it just one show or one small tour) my belief is that he would survive this time.
His past experiences must've made him stronger.Sure,that doesn't mean that he would LIKE to be in the biz again,although right now he can have as many people working for him as he wants to.I guess all he'd have to do would be to just focus on his singing.

And that's the whole issue,I suppose.Before any biz-related concerns comes the voice.
If he's worried about something then it must be his own vocal expectations,not the show business itself.

True, but I also think all that hardcore touring they did took more out of him than any of us know.

Deb wrote:True, but I also think all that hardcore touring they did took more out of him than any of us know.

*Laura wrote:

Deb wrote:True, but I also think all that hardcore touring they did took more out of him than any of us know.

I don't know why, but that Led Zepplin song came to mind......

Deb wrote:

*Laura wrote:

Deb wrote:True, but I also think all that hardcore touring they did took more out of him than any of us know.

I don't know why, but that Led Zepplin song came to mind......

"Squeeze me, babe, 'till the juice runs down my leg
Do, squeeze, squeeze me, baby, until the juice runs down my leg
The wayyou squeeze my lemon-a
I'm gonna fall right outta bed, 'ed, 'ed, bed, yeah"

conversationpc wrote:

Deb wrote:

*Laura wrote:

Deb wrote:True, but I also think all that hardcore touring they did took more out of him than any of us know.

I don't know why, but that Led Zepplin song came to mind......

"Squeeze me, babe, 'till the juice runs down my leg
Do, squeeze, squeeze me, baby, until the juice runs down my leg
The wayyou squeeze my lemon-a
I'm gonna fall right outta bed, 'ed, 'ed, bed, yeah"

Better watch out for TVL

TigerBite wrote:
So when he is 90(?) maybe will he do a comeback and make all the old ladies happy again.

I'll be the youngest groupie there... I'll only be 63!!
I'll have "I (heart) Perry" painted across my saggers.

Rick wrote:

Voyager wrote:

Matthew wrote:...I have to say that after the extraordinarily creative period from 1978-1986...when he refused to do the same thing over and over again much to the contunued bitterness and disappointment of some fans who complain about it to this day.....the well has pretty much run dry.

I couldn't agree more. However, when that well was flowing, it was better than anything I have ever seen or heard ever since. As much as I love Rush, Van Halen, Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Yes, The Police, Judas Priest, and other bands that I love (the list goes on and on and on i.e. Dio)... I have ever been more impressed musically and vocally than with the Perry/Journey discography from 1978-1986.

Ditto. Great post. Those were the days.

That says it all, imo.

Voyager wrote:I have to wonder if Steve Perry isn't the type of artist who constantly needs new challenges. Being a musician myself (and someone who has founded several musicians forums), I have found that some artists are content to create something and display it over and over again to their fans. Other artists seem to get bored with redundancy, and seem to have a driving need to constantly pursue new challenges. If Steve Perry does indeed fall into the latter category, this may explain his reluctance to constantly tour with Journey playing the classics over and over. It may also explain his frustration when fans try to put him in a box and project their will upon him that he should be singing with Journey. As much as he wants to please his fans, he cannot find the motivation to go out and do the same thing over and over again.

I have found that certain types of creative entrepreneurs and artists simply get extremely bored with any form of redundancy whatsoever. It can even cause them to go into depression. Facing new challenges is what motivates them to get out of bed. If they don't have a new direction to drive them, they feel like they are going backwards.

Then again, it may simply be that Steve is a perfectionist, and he realized at a certain point that his voice simply couldn't reproduce the notes that he was able to hit when he was younger.

Just thinking out loud.

As an artist myself, I know what it's like to deal with burnout. Flexing the creative muscle at one time is a love, but after burnout, it's hard work and the work becomes a drudgery. It becomes something you dabble in, but only in spurts and rarely is the quality to the degree of the work you used to create before the burnout.

I think Perry is in this phase and coupled with his vocal issues, it's easier for him to walk away. Not saying he doesn't yearn every so often to return to what he used to love doing, but then the realization sets in how hard it will be on him and that yearning fades quick.

That's my insight into what he MIGHT be going through. Then again, he might just be happier having found a new passion in life to replace music.

STORY_TELLER wrote:


As an artist myself, I know what it's like to deal with burnout. Flexing the creative muscle at one time is a love, but after burnout, it's hard work and the work becomes a drudgery. It becomes something you dabble in, but only in spurts and rarely is the quality to the degree of the work you used to create before the burnout.

I think Perry is in this phase and coupled with his vocal issues, it's easier for him to walk away. Not saying he doesn't yearn every so often to return to what he used to love doing, but then the realization sets in how hard it will be on him and that yearning fades quick.

That's my insight into what he MIGHT be going through. Then again, he might just be happier having found a new passion in life to replace music.

You know, that is the probably the most insightful thing I have heard in a while. Nice to read some eloquent English now and then.

TigerBite wrote:

STORY_TELLER wrote:


As an artist myself, I know what it's like to deal with burnout. Flexing the creative muscle at one time is a love, but after burnout, it's hard work and the work becomes a drudgery. It becomes something you dabble in, but only in spurts and rarely is the quality to the degree of the work you used to create before the burnout.

I think Perry is in this phase and coupled with his vocal issues, it's easier for him to walk away. Not saying he doesn't yearn every so often to return to what he used to love doing, but then the realization sets in how hard it will be on him and that yearning fades quick.

That's my insight into what he MIGHT be going through. Then again, he might just be happier having found a new passion in life to replace music.

You know, that is the probably the most insightful thing I have heard in a while. Nice to read some eloquent English now and then.

Why thank you, Tiger. Most kind

I have to agree, well thought out and very well said, nice to see something without too much bullshit in it.

Welcome to MR anyway, I just gotta know if you fancy
the Lad's from your location, you know Great Big Sea?

STORY_TELLER wrote:As an artist myself, I know what it's like to deal with burnout. Flexing the creative muscle at one time is a love, but after burnout, it's hard work and the work becomes a drudgery. It becomes something you dabble in, but only in spurts and rarely is the quality to the degree of the work you used to create before the burnout.

That's an excellent point. It takes a lot of hard work for a singer to get back into shape vocally & a lot of work to get back into a creative place where u can sit down & really write for long periods & go thru the creative process. There's no way anyone would go thru all that unless there was a compelling reason for them to do so.