MR

In another thread Gideon and I got into a discussion over Steve Perry and Journey and I started to consider what would have happened if Steve Perry had never joined Journey.
What if Herbie had not convinced SP to go to Colorado and put him in the band - what would have happened to Journey and the band members? Would they have gone on with
Robert Fleischman and been a huge success or found someone else? Disbanded and gone on to solo careers? Joined other bands? Would Steve Perry have given up his dream?
Where would they be now?

It's pure speculation, but I thought it might be interesting. Or funny given what people come up with on here!

That is a question on it all.I can not wait to hear what everyone has to say.Will check back later.

I'm back on Sunday - no computer access until then, so in case anyone has questions or comments for me you'll know why I'm not answering.

I think Steve would have recorded an album, Songs for Turkeys to Die/Roast/Make Out To. Not necessarily in that order. Awe to have beem that special turkey in Steve's hands.

Survivor would have eventually hired Perry and then now everyone would be saying. " I like Journey , but its just a poor man's Survivor"

Gin and Tonic Sky wrote:Survivor would have eventually hired Perry and then now everyone would be saying. " I like Journey , but its just a poor man's Survivor"

The question should be "what if Alien Project hadn't disbanded" (ie bass player not died). That band would've probably been fantastic.

Journey would've hired someone else. Kevin Chalfant, Jimi Jamison, Steve Augeri and so on.

They would've been successful. Maybe even as successful depending on what songs they came up with. Don't forget Gregg Rolie was there. That is a major factor.

Perry's balladeering along with DSB, OA and Faithfully is what cemented him as a legend in AOR.

StoneCold wrote:

Gin and Tonic Sky wrote:Survivor would have eventually hired Perry and then now everyone would be saying. " I like Journey , but its just a poor man's Survivor"

The question should be "what if Alien Project hadn't disbanded" (ie bass player not died). That band would've probably been fantastic.

Journey would've hired someone else. Kevin Chalfant, Jimi Jamison, Steve Augeri and so on.

They would've been successful. Maybe even as successful depending on what songs they came up with. Don't forget Gregg Rolie was there. That is a major factor.

Perry's balladeering along with DSB, OA and Faithfully is what cemented him as a legend in AOR.

Agreed (mostly).

We also have to remember, Perry was the major factor in Rolie "getting tired of the road". What did he do after Journey? Cut solo albums and tour.

Had a singer more compatible with Rolie joined, he might still be there.

StoneCold wrote:We also have to remember, Perry was the major factor in Rolie "getting tired of the road". What did he do after Journey? Cut solo albums and tour.

Had a singer more compatible with Rolie joined, he might still be there.

That wouldn't be in the best interest of Journey's commecial success.

If Perry hadn't joined Journey...none of us would be in this thread or forum right now. Journey would have done maybe one more album, but would have stayed true to their fusion roots and played themselves into obscurity. Times changed musically, and I don't think Gregg would have kept them current or relevant. I know he has many fans here with his career (I like several of his songs with Journey), but I don't think they would have had any more radio hits.

Perry on the other hand, would have retired at the turkey farm never to be heard from again...Pretty much just like he is now!

Gideon wrote:

StoneCold wrote:We also have to remember, Perry was the major factor in Rolie "getting tired of the road". What did he do after Journey? Cut solo albums and tour.

Had a singer more compatible with Rolie joined, he might still be there.

That wouldn't be in the best interest of Journey's commecial success.

They just needed a better singer than what they had. Chalfant would've fit in just as well, maybe better.

Rolie, Schon, Chalfant. No doubt they would've been successful.

StoneCold wrote:We also have to remember, Perry was the major factor in Rolie "getting tired of the road". What did he do after Journey? Cut solo albums and tour.

Had a singer more compatible with Rolie joined, he might still be there.

He might still be there, but then Journey would not have become the Journey that most Journey fans know and love today. Rolie is still out there doing his music, but, God love him, he's still playing the same Santana-esque material from his early days. Which is fine. That's his comfort zone. It's possible, however, that without Perry, and if Rolie had stayed, the band may never have progressed and become a part of what was to become the sound of the '80's.

StoneCold wrote:

Gideon wrote:

StoneCold wrote:We also have to remember, Perry was the major factor in Rolie "getting tired of the road". What did he do after Journey? Cut solo albums and tour.

Had a singer more compatible with Rolie joined, he might still be there.

That wouldn't be in the best interest of Journey's commecial success.

They just needed a better singer than what they had. Chalfant would've fit in just as well, maybe better.

Rolie, Schon, Chalfant. No doubt they would've been successful.

No, I mean sticking with Rolie. He can't write songs for shit.

They would have trolled through another singer or two, then hung it up. Herbie would have stepped back in and recruited George Michael.


later~

Gideon wrote:

StoneCold wrote:

Gideon wrote:

StoneCold wrote:We also have to remember, Perry was the major factor in Rolie "getting tired of the road". What did he do after Journey? Cut solo albums and tour.

Had a singer more compatible with Rolie joined, he might still be there.

That wouldn't be in the best interest of Journey's commecial success.

They just needed a better singer than what they had. Chalfant would've fit in just as well, maybe better.

Rolie, Schon, Chalfant. No doubt they would've been successful.

No, I mean sticking with Rolie. He can't write songs for shit.

The Storm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mOr3P1lvtE

That's as good as anything Journey did after Rolie left.

StoneCold wrote:

Gideon wrote:

StoneCold wrote:

Gideon wrote:

StoneCold wrote:We also have to remember, Perry was the major factor in Rolie "getting tired of the road". What did he do after Journey? Cut solo albums and tour.

Had a singer more compatible with Rolie joined, he might still be there.

That wouldn't be in the best interest of Journey's commecial success.

They just needed a better singer than what they had. Chalfant would've fit in just as well, maybe better.

Rolie, Schon, Chalfant. No doubt they would've been successful.

No, I mean sticking with Rolie. He can't write songs for shit.

The Storm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mOr3P1lvtE

That's as good as anything Journey did after Rolie left.

I am familiar with the Storm and own both albums; Chalfant is an incredible singer. But I completely disagree and conclude Rolie can't write pop songs for shit. The structure of the songs themselves are terrible. From Fight For the Right:

"I'm gonna fight for the right
I'm gonna win your love tonight
I'm gonna win
So let me in"?

LOL. Cain's diarrhea is more impressive than anything the Storm's produced. Lyrically.

2nd Storm cd is weaker lyrically but has some good tunes. Fight for the right isn't one of them.

Tell ya one person who thought Rolie and Chalfant might have something to offer.

SP, he came running back aka interloping to get make TBF a Rolieless album.

StoneCold wrote:2nd Storm cd is weaker lyrically but has some good tunes. Fight for the right isn't one of them.

Tell ya one person who thought Rolie and Chalfant might have something to offer.

SP, he came running back aka interloping to get make TBF a Rolieless album.

It's not just about lyrics, though. It's also about structure of the song, musicianship, melody, and vocals. The Storm has shitty lyrics through and through, but it makes up for it in the other categories.

Arkansas wrote:They would have trolled through another singer or two, then hung it up. Herbie would have stepped back in and recruited George Michael.


later~

He's probably the only one around who could sing the whole Journey catalog without struggling.

Gunbot wrote:

Arkansas wrote:They would have trolled through another singer or two, then hung it up. Herbie would have stepped back in and recruited George Michael.


later~

He's probably the only one around who could sing the whole Journey catalog without struggling.

Actually, I've never heard Michael's tenor come anywhere close to Perry's. He would have been a better fit for Queen.

Gideon wrote:He would have been a better fit for Queen.

Literally.

Saint John wrote:

Gideon wrote:He would have been a better fit for Queen.

Literally.

So would you.

StoneCold wrote:

Gin and Tonic Sky wrote:Survivor would have eventually hired Perry and then now everyone would be saying. " I like Journey , but its just a poor man's Survivor"

The question should be "what if Alien Project hadn't disbanded" (ie bass player not died). That band would've probably been fantastic.

Journey would've hired someone else. Kevin Chalfant, Jimi Jamison, Steve Augeri and so on.

They would've been successful. Maybe even as successful depending on what songs they came up with. Don't forget Gregg Rolie was there. That is a major factor.

Perry's balladeering along with DSB, OA and Faithfully is what cemented him as a legend in AOR.

I hadn't thought of Alien Project reforming, but I could see Steve Perry wanting to give it another shot and putting
his band back together with a new bass player. Journey already had Robert Fleischman, so they had started toward
a more commercial, radio-friendly sound that I believe would have continued. Without Steve Perry though, would
they have written the songs around the vocals instead of the lead guitar? I often wonder if Neal's talent as a guitarist
has been overshadowed by SP's voice and that is why he doesn't get the recognition he should.

G.I.Jim wrote:If Perry hadn't joined Journey...none of us would be in this thread or forum right now. Journey would have done maybe one more album, but would have stayed true to their fusion roots and played themselves into obscurity. Times changed musically, and I don't think Gregg would have kept them current or relevant. I know he has many fans here with his career (I like several of his songs with Journey), but I don't think they would have had any more radio hits.

Perry on the other hand, would have retired at the turkey farm never to be heard from again...Pretty much just like he is now!

My thoughts exactly.

G.I.Jim wrote:If Perry hadn't joined Journey...none of us would be in this thread or forum right now. Journey would have done maybe one more album, but would have stayed true to their fusion roots and played themselves into obscurity. Times changed musically, and I don't think Gregg would have kept them current or relevant. I know he has many fans here with his career (I like several of his songs with Journey), but I don't think they would have had any more radio hits.

Perry on the other hand, would have retired at the turkey farm never to be heard from again...Pretty much just like he is now!

exactly.plus the record company already basically told gregg if they didn't increase the record sales or get some hits they'd be dropped.

mikemarrs wrote:

G.I.Jim wrote:If Perry hadn't joined Journey...none of us would be in this thread or forum right now. Journey would have done maybe one more album, but would have stayed true to their fusion roots and played themselves into obscurity. Times changed musically, and I don't think Gregg would have kept them current or relevant. I know he has many fans here with his career (I like several of his songs with Journey), but I don't think they would have had any more radio hits.

Perry on the other hand, would have retired at the turkey farm never to be heard from again...Pretty much just like he is now!

exactly.plus the record company already basically told gregg if they didn't increase the record sales or get some hits they'd be dropped.

That's why they had Robert Fleischman. The label said they needed a frontman, someone who could get them on the radio and increase album sales, so they hired RF. Journey was touring with this guy before Herbie heard SP's Alien Project demo and their sound was already shifting away from fusion. When he was fired, the band and Fleischman divied up the songs that they had written together - Journey kept 'Wheel in the Sky', but I would like to hear the songs they wrote together that never got recorded.

SherriBerry wrote:

mikemarrs wrote:

G.I.Jim wrote:If Perry hadn't joined Journey...none of us would be in this thread or forum right now. Journey would have done maybe one more album, but would have stayed true to their fusion roots and played themselves into obscurity. Times changed musically, and I don't think Gregg would have kept them current or relevant. I know he has many fans here with his career (I like several of his songs with Journey), but I don't think they would have had any more radio hits.

Perry on the other hand, would have retired at the turkey farm never to be heard from again...Pretty much just like he is now!

exactly.plus the record company already basically told gregg if they didn't increase the record sales or get some hits they'd be dropped.

That's why they had Robert Fleischman. The label said they needed a frontman, someone who could get them on the radio and increase album sales, so they hired RF. Journey was touring with this guy before Herbie heard SP's Alien Project demo and their sound was already shifting away from fusion. When he was fired, the band and Fleischman divied up the songs that they had written together - Journey kept 'Wheel in the Sky', but I would like to hear the songs they wrote together that never got recorded.

They kept a few of the Fleischman songs, but the fans that the band had back then did NOT like Fleischman, and lets face it Who would have? He was terrible. It wasn't until Perry came on board that they headed in the right direction. He changed those already written Fleischman songs, ('Winds Of March' also) and turned them into what they became.
I am convinced that it was the Steve Perry factor mainly, that saved the band. Without him, the band would have died with Fleischman or any other singer at that specific time.