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Drummer Steve Smith talks about his time with Journey - From The Podcast "I'd Hit That" 2012

(short edit)..

http://youtu.be/adh7mjpshdU



Episode 16 - Steve Smith

(full interview)...

http://idhitthatpodcast.podomatic.com/e ... 3_23-07_00


Steve Smith is One of The Greats. A Monster of a Player - He played with Journey during their Heyday from 1978 until his departure from the group in 1984. He went on to form his own group, Vital Information, which just recently released a Live DVD/CD set entitled "One Great Night." Steve Smith has played for a Stadium Rock Band making Millions of dollars, played on The "Burning For Buddy" Tribute to Buddy Rich, played with Zakir Hussain and everyone from Mike Stern and Hiromi to Bryan Adams (Steve played on Bryan's #1 Hit "Heaven"). Steve talks about his entire career and gives many fascinating insights into his Life. Steve talks backline, preparing for the Hiromi gig (subbing for Simon Phillips), what he brings on the road, life after Journey, working with Ronnie Montrose, Jean-Luc Ponty, and a LOT more. Epic Interview with an Epic Player. Recorded in Steve's apartment in NYC, August 2012.

Interesting quote at the very end: "I have been occasionally asked to go on tour with Journey. And I'm not motivated to do that."
Do we think there's an open invitation out there to Smitty - just as there is with Perry - to come back to the band anytime? Would Deen be asked to step aside for a year, two years... to make room for Smitty?

FamilyMan wrote:Interesting quote at the very end: "I have been occasionally asked to go on tour with Journey. And I'm not motivated to do that."
Do we think there's an open invitation out there to Smitty - just as there is with Perry - to come back to the band anytime? Would Deen be asked to step aside for a year, two years... to make room for Smitty?

I'd suspect he's on good terms with Neal and Jon - but we do know he turned down when Perry did not return. Since then? Hard to say.. Fascinating to hear about the financial adjustments he had to make leaving Journey, Steve sounds like a very humble and thankful guy. On a related note I saw that Vital Information got stiffed at a jazz club in Tel Aviv recently - what a shame

brandonx76 wrote:

FamilyMan wrote:Interesting quote at the very end: "I have been occasionally asked to go on tour with Journey. And I'm not motivated to do that."
Do we think there's an open invitation out there to Smitty - just as there is with Perry - to come back to the band anytime? Would Deen be asked to step aside for a year, two years... to make room for Smitty?

I'd suspect he's on good terms with Neal and Jon - but we do know he turned down when Perry did not return. Since then? Hard to say.. Fascinating to hear about the financial adjustments he had to make leaving Journey, Steve sounds like a very humble and thankful guy. On a related note I saw that Vital Information got stiffed at a jazz club in Tel Aviv recently - what a shame

Smitty is all over Neal's lastest album, The Calling. He is playing on it. They are fine...maybe wasn't always that way, but they are on much better terms than Neal and Perry. At least they face each other and create music.

And then there is this rehearsal video for their tribute to Ronnie Montrose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQBM1QfoJxw

I wasn't referring to the friendship - I'm sure it's solid - just the fact that in the recent 5 years, has Smith been asked to play for Journey...nearest I can recall this needing to come up would have been around the time Deen had health / chick issues. And even then, it probably would have been 1 or a few shows (total speculation, but since this is an internet message board, why not )

More likely, with a proposition to "drop everything you're doing" (what he loves, Vital Information, Steps Ahead, Clinics, etc), and play a little with Journey (something that originally ended under arguably poor terms) starts to sound a little undesirable.

Still holding out for some reunion shows. Everyone's getting 'up there'.

FamilyMan wrote:Interesting quote at the very end: "I have been occasionally asked to go on tour with Journey. And I'm not motivated to do that."
Do we think there's an open invitation out there to Smitty - just as there is with Perry - to come back to the band anytime? Would Deen be asked to step aside for a year, two years... to make room for Smitty?

SS may have been asked to fill in whenever DC had his rehab stint & legal problems.


later~

Arkansas wrote:

FamilyMan wrote:Interesting quote at the very end: "I have been occasionally asked to go on tour with Journey. And I'm not motivated to do that."
Do we think there's an open invitation out there to Smitty - just as there is with Perry - to come back to the band anytime? Would Deen be asked to step aside for a year, two years... to make room for Smitty?

SS may have been asked to fill in whenever DC had his rehab stint & legal problems.


later~

Probably right. I'd love to see SS back with the band someday. I think Deen's done an admirable job, especially having to fill in vocally as often as he's had to. And personally, I like him... enjoyed meeting him. But his style always struck me a little too "metal" for Journey.

I remember he was asked to finish out the '99 Vacations Over Tour when Deen-O got hurt. I think Tichy filled in instead from what I recall?

FamilyMan wrote:Interesting quote at the very end: "I have been occasionally asked to go on tour with Journey. And I'm not motivated to do that."
Do we think there's an open invitation out there to Smitty - just as there is with Perry - to come back to the band anytime? Would Deen be asked to step aside for a year, two years... to make room for Smitty?

I'm not even sure I could find the interview, but Smith said that the main reason he came back for TBF was 1) for the fans to get the classic lineup on tour one more time, and 2) to try his hands at rock again since he had changed so much after being in jazz for so long. He basically said that if it wasn't the full classic lineup that he wasn't really interested in Journey anymore as he had moved on, but would have stayed for the TBF tour for the fans before leaving. Once the classic lineup was fractured with Perry leaving, Smith left also.

kgdjpubs wrote:

FamilyMan wrote:Interesting quote at the very end: "I have been occasionally asked to go on tour with Journey. And I'm not motivated to do that."
Do we think there's an open invitation out there to Smitty - just as there is with Perry - to come back to the band anytime? Would Deen be asked to step aside for a year, two years... to make room for Smitty?

I'm not even sure I could find the interview, but Smith said that the main reason he came back for TBF was 1) for the fans to get the classic lineup on tour one more time, and 2) to try his hands at rock again since he had changed so much after being in jazz for so long. He basically said that if it wasn't the full classic lineup that he wasn't really interested in Journey anymore as he had moved on, but would have stayed for the TBF tour for the fans before leaving. Once the classic lineup was fractured with Perry leaving, Smith left also.

yea, I know -- but if you listen to this interview, he makes it sound like he's been asked to come out and tour with Journey more than once in recent years. The inference is that it's more recent than TBF. Which makes me wonder -- if push came to shove -- would Neal and Jon choose to bring Steve back into the fold at the expense of Deen. ?