Lionel Richie explains what happened to Steve Perry.

[Voyager]

Lionel Richie explains to Piers Morgan what Steve Perry and other singers such as Whitney Houston have gone through when they get old:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg8yjOGw9xI

Steve Perry was "The Voice" and Lionel does a great job explaining the devastation Perry went through when he lost that voice. Lionel said he went through three surgeries to keep his voice young. I don't think Steve Perry had any vocal surgery at all. I wonder if he could have had surgery to get his younger voice back? Wouldn't that have been fun. But who knows... after seeing what is going on with Neal these days, Steve Perry would have bailed out long before now even if there would have been a reunion.

[slucero]

Um... Lionel wasn't referencing SP... he was generalizing..

[Voyager]

Um... Lionel wasn't referencing SP... he was generalizing..

I know, but I had to use some bait to get you to watch it - lol.

It is probably the best possible explanation of what Steve Perry went through that I have ever heard, coming from a singer in Steve's era. Lionel even explained the age that a singer usually starts losing his voice, which was right about the age that SP was when he threw in the towel. They all go through it... some are just more perfectionists than others. For example, David Lee Roth can't sing worth a damn and his voice is shot... but he is not the perfectionist that Steve Perry is, and he never was. Van Halen w/DLR sucked back in the 80's live because he would act a fool and forget half the lyrics. Perry was much more the perfectionist like a Broadway performer would be, whereas DLR was more the circus clown type.

[steveo777]

Lionel Richie explains to Piers Morgan what Steve Perry and other singers such as Whitney Houston have gone through when they get old:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg8yjOGw9xI

Steve Perry was "The Voice" and Lionel does a great job explaining the devastation Perry went through when he lost that voice. Lionel said he went through three surgeries to keep his voice young. I don't think Steve Perry had any vocal surgery at all. I wonder if he could have had surgery to get his younger voice back? Wouldn't that have been fun. But who knows... after seeing what is going on with Neal these days, Steve Perry would have bailed out long before now even if there would have been a reunion.

Your assumptions are just typical lunacy. Lionel didn't even talk about Steve.

I do, however, have to give you credit. You got someone to post in the Journey forum tonight, which has been all but dead.

[Voyager]

Your assumptions are just typical lunacy.

Why thank you, I am touched. I take that as a compliment, coming from a fellow loon such as yourself.

Lionel didn't even talk about Steve.

I know, but the story he told explains what obviously happened to Steve Perry. In 1996 Steve was 46 years old, which is about the age that Lionel said singers start losing their voice. It explains everything, right down to SP's demand for vocal perfection and why he wouldn't accept anything less.

The video is worth watching even if he didn't reference SP.

[slucero]

Your assumptions are just typical lunacy.

Why thank you, I am touched. I take that as a compliment, coming from a fellow loon such as yourself.

Lionel didn't even talk about Steve.

I know, but the story he told explains what obviously happened to Steve Perry. In 1996 Steve was 46 years old, which is about the age that Lionel said singers start losing their voice. It explains everything, right down to SP's demand for vocal perfection and why he wouldn't accept anything less.

The video is worth watching even if he didn't reference SP.

The story explains nothing... lol...

Go listen to Tony Bennett sing in 2009 at 84 years old... then try and convince me what Lionel says happened to Perry...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tX4rjHM ... re=related

[steveo777]

Or Tony here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEiYj0XYj5g

and here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtP4ESWiwPw

BTW, when Tony was the age that Steve Perry was burning out, he was a coke addict and at a career low.

[Voyager]

Go listen to Tony Bennett sing in 2009 at 84 years old... then try and convince me what Lionel says happened to Perry...

Okay, now go listen to this and then post a video link of Tony Bennett's high notes:

Steve Perry high notes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT8i3Ur021k

The story explains nothing... lol...

The story explains everything... LMFAO...

[steveo777]

Go listen to Tony Bennett sing in 2009 at 84 years old... then try and convince me what Lionel says happened to Perry...

Okay, now go listen to this and then post a video link of Tony Bennett's high notes:

Freddie Mercury high notes: http://youtube.com/watch?v=jhCBzU673lA&feature=related

Steve Perry high notes: http://youtube.com/watch?v=51vJElLyOL4

The story explains nothing... lol...

The story explains everything... LMFAO...

You guys look like a bunch of blind brothers fighting in the night with spoons. This fucking thread has accomplished nothing. It's funny though.

[slucero]

This fucking thread has accomplished nothing.

well that's the truth...

[Voyager]

This fucking thread has accomplished nothing. It's funny though.

Has ANY thread around here ever accomplished anything?

[SF-Dano]

Lionel Richie explains to Piers Morgan what Steve Perry and other singers such as Whitney Houston have gone through when they get old:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg8yjOGw9xI

Steve Perry was "The Voice" and Lionel does a great job explaining the devastation Perry went through when he lost that voice. Lionel said he went through three surgeries to keep his voice young. I don't think Steve Perry had any vocal surgery at all. I wonder if he could have had surgery to get his younger voice back? Wouldn't that have been fun. But who knows... after seeing what is going on with Neal these days, Steve Perry would have bailed out long before now even if there would have been a reunion.

Steve Perry has bailed on this band twice already. That is his track record. Doesn't take Neal's antics to make him do it.

[annie89509]

Um... Lionel wasn't referencing SP... he was generalizing..

I know, but I had to use some bait to get you to watch it - lol.

It is probably the best possible explanation of what Steve Perry went through that I have ever heard, coming from a singer in Steve's era. Lionel even explained the age that a singer usually starts losing his voice, which was right about the age that SP was when he threw in the towel. They all go through it... some are just more perfectionists than others. For example, David Lee Roth can't sing worth a damn and his voice is shot... but he is not the perfectionist that Steve Perry is, and he never was. Van Halen w/DLR sucked back in the 80's live because he would act a fool and forget half the lyrics. Perry was much more the perfectionist like a Broadway performer would be, whereas DLR was more the circus clown type.

I happened to hear LR's comments about WH and mentioned it in her passing thread....didn't think he said anything about SP...but you did made me listen to it again...lol...thought I missed something .

[annie89509]

...and must you bring that avatar back?!?.... it's funny and offensive at the same time... lol

[JohnH]

Um... Lionel wasn't referencing SP... he was generalizing..

I know, but I had to use some bait to get you to watch it - lol.

Itor example, David Lee Roth can't sing worth a damn and his voice is shot... but he is not the perfectionist that Steve Perry is, and he never was. Van Halen w/DLR sucked back in the 80's live because he would act a fool and forget half the lyrics. Perry was much more the perfectionist like a Broadway performer would be, whereas DLR was more the circus clown type.

Dave the past few years appears to have gotten a vocal trainer. He's actually singing better than ever and in some cases hitting notes higher than the records. I was very impressed with him in 2007 and have been watching clips of the tour, Dave sounds great. He's singing great on the record too. You need to go check out some clips of Dave kicking ass on the current tour....He's so much better than his half assed performances of the 80s 90s and ten years ago it's amazing to me it's the same guy. When I saw him with VH in 83 and solo in 86 he was terrible. He's finally gotten it together, I've seen nothing like those old shows lately.

Like this clip= actually hitting higher notes in the first verse than on the record

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4M_V7PW ... re=related

[Monker]

Your assumptions are just typical lunacy.

Why thank you, I am touched. I take that as a compliment, coming from a fellow loon such as yourself.

Lionel didn't even talk about Steve.

I know, but the story he told explains what obviously happened to Steve Perry. In 1996 Steve was 46 years old, which is about the age that Lionel said singers start losing their voice. It explains everything, right down to SP's demand for vocal perfection and why he wouldn't accept anything less.

The video is worth watching even if he didn't reference SP.

Except Perry started losing his voice during the ROR tour...10yrs earlier.

[ForceInfinity]

Your assumptions are just typical lunacy.

Why thank you, I am touched. I take that as a compliment, coming from a fellow loon such as yourself.

Lionel didn't even talk about Steve.

I know, but the story he told explains what obviously happened to Steve Perry. In 1996 Steve was 46 years old, which is about the age that Lionel said singers start losing their voice. It explains everything, right down to SP's demand for vocal perfection and why he wouldn't accept anything less.

The video is worth watching even if he didn't reference SP.

Except Perry started losing his voice during the ROR tour...10yrs earlier.

Really? His voice sounded rather different (maybe because of the reverb) on Frontiers, and his voice changed even further on Street Talk. So to my ears, the voice change started happening on Frontiers

[ForceInfinity]

To other commenters, there have been male singers whose voices held together reasonably well over the years including Tony Lewis from the Outfield, and Dennis DeYoung to name two of them. So the whole rule of 45 is over generalizing a bit

[steveo777]

To other commenters, there have been male singers whose voices held together reasonably well over the years including Tony Lewis from the Outfield, and Dennis DeYoung to name two of them. So the whole rule of 45 is over generalizing a bit

So maybe people just become less passionate about what they do or have done. Is that a possibility? People sing with their heart in it and when they no longer feel that they stop. So...the excuses begin, from both the fans and the artists. Most cessation comes from losing desire, not physical reasons, right? That is typically what happens when something fun becomes an overbearing job. People die from that shit.

[ForceInfinity]

To other commenters, there have been male singers whose voices held together reasonably well over the years including Tony Lewis from the Outfield, and Dennis DeYoung to name two of them. So the whole rule of 45 is over generalizing a bit

So maybe people just become less passionate about what they do or have done. Is that a possibility? People sing with their heart in it and when they no longer feel that they stop. So...the excuses begin, from both the fans and the artists. Most cessation comes from losing desire, not physical reasons, right? That is typically what happens when something fun becomes an overbearing job. People die from that shit.

You do bring up a good point Steve, I agree with you there. I imagine having the passion is especially critical with music, because if you lose the passion, it will definitely show up in your performance no matter how gifted your voice/talent is. Now that you had me thinking about it, I've seen that come up in my day to day life as a software engineer where I've had days where my heart wasn't in it. When that happened, it was hard as well to stay focused and get things done.

[brandonx76]

What a rediculous waste - no reference to Steve Perry...the guy is the complete opposite of someone like Whitney Houston - he was in the limelight briefly, made some incredible performances, toured the world...probably partied a little bit, then peacefully retreated into his private life. He is still alive, his voice may have changed, but he can still sing.

[slucero]

What a rediculous waste - no reference to Steve Perry...the guy is the complete opposite of someone like Whitney Houston - he was in the limelight briefly, made some incredible performances, toured the world...probably partied a little bit, then peacefully retreated into his private life. He is still alive, his voice may have changed, but he can still sing.

+1

[brywool]

I agree with Voyager and I DO think it pertains to Perry bigtime, even though he wasn't named in the clip. So what? Like V said, he was generalizing. He's right. Nobody knows if Perry can still sing or not. Even Perry has alluded to the fact that he's not able to do it. I would bet the arthritis is only part of it. Perry kept the band waiting a long time. Went into the studio with them and did TBF. However, there are many stories out there from those that were in that inner circle that swore up and down that Perry wouldn't be able to tour behind it. Listen to how raspy he is on TBF. Now, there's a tour looming where he's going to have to sing the Escape, Infinity, Frontiers, etc. material and the voice isn't up to it. It's enough to freak anybody out.

I'm with ya Voyager.

[Jeremey]

I think if Perry was physically and mentally fit, he could find a way to tour with the voice he currently has. I tend to believe his voice has not changed much since FTLSOM or TBF, and if he was able to dictate things like set times, how many days on/off, etc, his voice could support a tour with a 60-75 minute set every night in a tuned down key. There's a lot of things that go into touring that have little to do with the physical condition of his voice I think - That's just my opinion, gathered from different interviews and things I've heard from people who know him. I think there's probably some real physical discomfort from arthritis that makes touring an impossibility, and I also think that the mental toll of being on the road, in empty hotel rooms, worrying over voice and sickness, as well as the responsibility of being in the spotlight make touring an impossibility as well. Hopefully we'll hear some new music from Mr Perry sometime in the next year.

[brandonx76]

I agree with Voyager and I DO think it pertains to Perry bigtime, even though he wasn't named in the clip. So what? Like V said, he was generalizing. He's right. Nobody knows if Perry can still sing or not. Even Perry has alluded to the fact that he's not able to do it. I would bet the arthritis is only part of it. Perry kept the band waiting a long time. Went into the studio with them and did TBF. However, there are many stories out there from those that were in that inner circle that swore up and down that Perry wouldn't be able to tour behind it. Listen to how raspy he is on TBF. Now, there's a tour looming where he's going to have to sing the Escape, Infinity, Frontiers, etc. material and the voice isn't up to it. It's enough to freak anybody out.

I'm with ya Voyager.

My real concern was the cheap ploy used by Voyager - it totally wasn't necessary...this is the Journey forum. You can frame the topic a few different ways and get the same effect - this topic has been done to death tho, hasn't it?

[Jubilee]

I agree with Voyager and I DO think it pertains to Perry bigtime, even though he wasn't named in the clip. So what? Like V said, he was generalizing. He's right. Nobody knows if Perry can still sing or not. Even Perry has alluded to the fact that he's not able to do it. I would bet the arthritis is only part of it. Perry kept the band waiting a long time. Went into the studio with them and did TBF. However, there are many stories out there from those that were in that inner circle that swore up and down that Perry wouldn't be able to tour behind it. Listen to how raspy he is on TBF. Now, there's a tour looming where he's going to have to sing the Escape, Infinity, Frontiers, etc. material and the voice isn't up to it. It's enough to freak anybody out.

I'm with ya Voyager.

+1

Yes, it's a generalization and complete speculation, but it does sound eerily familiar. Perry has commented on more than one occasion about the neurosis of singers regarding their voices. I got the impression that even when things were going well there he was concerned about "not knowing how much was left in the tank" after any given performance. Not wanting to disappoint the fans, yet being terrified until he got out on stage the next night and hit that first note...

[slucero]

I agree with Voyager and I DO think it pertains to Perry bigtime, even though he wasn't named in the clip. So what? Like V said, he was generalizing. He's right. Nobody knows if Perry can still sing or not. Even Perry has alluded to the fact that he's not able to do it. I would bet the arthritis is only part of it. Perry kept the band waiting a long time. Went into the studio with them and did TBF. However, there are many stories out there from those that were in that inner circle that swore up and down that Perry wouldn't be able to tour behind it. Listen to how raspy he is on TBF. Now, there's a tour looming where he's going to have to sing the Escape, Infinity, Frontiers, etc. material and the voice isn't up to it. It's enough to freak anybody out.

I'm with ya Voyager.

+1

Yes, it's a generalization and complete speculation, but it does sound eerily familiar. Perry has commented on more than one occasion about the neurosis of singers regarding their voices. I got the impression that even when things were going well there he was concerned about "not knowing how much was left in the tank" after any given performance. Not wanting to disappoint the fans, yet being terrified until he got out on stage the next night and hit that first note...

Regardless of any of this... it's still as you said... "a generalization and complete speculation"... so the risk here is that it keeps getting repeated, Ad nauseam... and eventually, just like the famous Joseph Goebell's quote:

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. "


people start assuming it is fact...


Just read the 1st two sentences of the thread...

Lionel Richie explains what happened to Steve Perry.

Lionel Richie explains to Piers Morgan what Steve Perry and other singers such as Whitney Houston have gone through when they get old:

and then to admitting to baiting people....

I know, but I had to use some bait to get you to watch it - lol.

what the heck kind of responses did he think he'd get?

[Frontiers65]

I know, but I had to use some bait to get you to watch it - lol.

It is probably the best possible explanation of what Steve Perry went through that I have ever heard, coming from a singer in Steve's era. Lionel even explained the age that a singer usually starts losing his voice, which was right about the age that SP was when he threw in the towel. They all go through it... some are just more perfectionists than others. For example, David Lee Roth can't sing worth a damn and his voice is shot... but he is not the perfectionist that Steve Perry is, and he never was. Van Halen w/DLR sucked back in the 80's live because he would act a fool and forget half the lyrics. Perry was much more the perfectionist like a Broadway performer would be, whereas DLR was more the circus clown type.

[/quote]


Haha! So fucking true!

[Frontiers65]

To other commenters, there have been male singers whose voices held together reasonably well over the years including Tony Lewis from the Outfield, and Dennis DeYoung to name two of them. So the whole rule of 45 is over generalizing a bit

Jon Anderson also.

[mrsromek]

To other commenters, there have been male singers whose voices held together reasonably well over the years including Tony Lewis from the Outfield, and Dennis DeYoung to name two of them. So the whole rule of 45 is over generalizing a bit

Jon Anderson also.

Agreed.