Gunbot wrote:Could it have been possible that Steve Perry agreed not to perform any Journey songs live during the period in which the band supposedly was paying him as a six member all those years to keep him from going out later and competing with them on his own solo tour. A confidentiality agreement would have made it tough for him to explain to fans why they wouldn't be hearing those songs at his shows so he just shuts down and waits it out. Now with the alleged agreement over, Perry can go back out hit the road singing any thing he wants.
It makes sense to me and it's better than talking about vocal folds.
This is a good possibility too - one of the problems when SP released his first solo album is the perception of how much it sounded like a Journey album, as his voice was the most recognizable part of their sound to most people. Can you imagine if both Steve Perry and Journey with a different singer were touring with the same catalogue at the same time? I love Neal's guitar playing, but I would go listen to Steve Perry!
Some might argue that SP couldn't sing the catalogue and wouldn't tour anyway, but considering that SP sang the classics and impressed the band at the beginning of the TBF sessions and they believed and planned on him touring, I also believe that he could have toured if he wanted to barring an agreement like this, which would benefit both sides. My question would be, in the 2001 VH1 BTM special, why would he then say he was talking about touring if he couldn't? Just to keep hope alive for the fans of the possibility in the future? Or could he tour at some point, but lose the touring payout from Journey? Either way, it seems to me that SP is a pretty sharp businessman.