MR

Flashback: Journey Reunite With Steve Perry in 1991

Show was Perry's last performance with band


http://www.rollingstone.com/music/video ... z2jLeP4e9Y

By
Andy Greene

October 31, 2013


Journey split after the conclusion of their highly successful Raised on Radio tour in early 1987. This was not long after the height of their fame, but frontman Steve Perry wanted time off and quickly lost any desire to remain part of the band. The others carried on as Bad English with frontman John Waite, landing a big hit on the charts in 1989 with "When I See You Smile."

Despite receiving countless offers over the past 25 years, Steve Perry has only performed with his former bandmates once in public after he dissolved the band. The occasion was a tribute concert to the late promoter Bill Graham in San Francisco on November 3rd, 1991. They shared a bill with Jackson Browne, Santana, Los Lobos, John Fogerty, Joan Baez and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

Rocking an amazing mullet, Perry took the stage with a stripped-down version of Journey that only included keyboardist Jonathan Cain and guitarist Neal Schon. They played "Faithfully," "Lights" and "Lonely Road Without You." Here's amateur video of "Faithfully."

Sadly, the reunion didn't lead to any more concerts. Perry did release a solo album in 1994 and he toured behind it, playing a set full of Journey classics. The next year, he even recorded a new album with Journey, but things once again fell apart before they could go on the road. Frustrated by the setback, Journey carried on with new frontman Steve Augeri.

Journey fans continue to pray that Steve Perry will return one day, but it's seeming pretty unlikely at this point. They are doing just fine with new singer Arnel Pineda, and Perry clearly has little interest in playing gigs.

The performance that should prove to the Portuguese Sausage Lovers Society of fat chicks that Nostraldamus was toast over 20 years ago.

AR wrote:The performance that should prove to the Portuguese Sausage Lovers Society of fat chicks that Nostraldamus was toast over 20 years ago.

Not in that "Society" but he sounds just fine to me. You don't have to hit every note, just put your soul and heart into it. Would have paid big money to see that if had been around then. As one would say "Faithfully was not his best technically, but the heart and soul he put into it. Steve A. and AP are great singers, but Steve P. is the Master."

Kor'n wrote:

AR wrote:The performance that should prove to the Portuguese Sausage Lovers Society of fat chicks that Nostraldamus was toast over 20 years ago.

Not in that "Society" but he sounds just fine to me. You don't have to hit every note, just put your soul and heart into it. Would have paid big money to see that if had been around then. As one would say "Faithfully was not his best technically, but the heart and soul he put into it. Steve A. and AP are great singers, but Steve P. is the Master."

All respect to Perry, he got out at the right time.

I'm just amused by the Loons that still pine for a 60 something year old Perry to do a Journey tour now, much less back when they brought Augeri in.

AR wrote:

Kor'n wrote:

AR wrote:The performance that should prove to the Portuguese Sausage Lovers Society of fat chicks that Nostraldamus was toast over 20 years ago.

Not in that "Society" but he sounds just fine to me. You don't have to hit every note, just put your soul and heart into it. Would have paid big money to see that if had been around then. As one would say "Faithfully was not his best technically, but the heart and soul he put into it. Steve A. and AP are great singers, but Steve P. is the Master."

All respect to Perry, he got out at the right time.

I'm just amused by the Loons that still pine for a 60 something year old Perry to do a Journey tour now, much less back when they brought Augeri in.

This is a tough room. I think he sounds pretty friggin' good.

I love the performance. Lots of soul. But he sounds pretty fried. On some nites during the FTLOSM tour, he was a vocal force of nature. The band had to move on. Not sure if Steve Augeri was the way to go, but glad they kept soldiering on.

i am actually a fan of the more deeper raspier Perry voice.
coming off not singing for three years he sounds decent enough. not great but not terrible.
Was lucky enough to go to 2 Perry shows in 1994 where he was spot on. The boots sounds pretty well too.

AR wrote:

Kor'n wrote:

AR wrote:The performance that should prove to the Portuguese Sausage Lovers Society of fat chicks that Nostraldamus was toast over 20 years ago.

Not in that "Society" but he sounds just fine to me. You don't have to hit every note, just put your soul and heart into it. Would have paid big money to see that if had been around then. As one would say "Faithfully was not his best technically, but the heart and soul he put into it. Steve A. and AP are great singers, but Steve P. is the Master."

All respect to Perry, he got out at the right time.

I'm just amused by the Loons that still pine for a 60 something year old Perry to do a Journey tour now, much less back when they brought Augeri in.

You mean do a tour like these over "60" guys?

2013 Mid Year
2. 103.9 million - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band / 31 shows
3. 87.7 million - The Rolling Stones / 18 shows
9. 58.1 million - Fleetwood Mac / 42 shows
16. 43.5 million - Paul McCarthy / 15 shows
17. 42.6 million - George Strait / 21 shows

Fail to see your "amuse[ment]." " "
Like I said, he sounds just fine and is "rocking an amazing mullet." He's a REAL singer!
Surely he could bring in much better numbers than the band has been doing w/o him.
Why must Steve Perry be perfect? Not one on that list is probably any where near perfection.

Kor'n wrote: mean do a tour like these over "60" guys?

2013 Mid Year
2. 103.9 million - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band / 31 shows
3. 87.7 million - The Rolling Stones / 18 shows
9. 58.1 million - Fleetwood Mac / 42 shows
16. 43.5 million - Paul McCarthy / 15 shows
17. 42.6 million - George Strait / 21 shows

Not one of them has to sing the way Perry would have to. It's a whole other class of singer.

yeah, that Paul McCarthy sure isn't what he was...
haha

Memorex wrote:

Kor'n wrote: mean do a tour like these over "60" guys?

2013 Mid Year
2. 103.9 million - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band / 31 shows
3. 87.7 million - The Rolling Stones / 18 shows
9. 58.1 million - Fleetwood Mac / 42 shows
16. 43.5 million - Paul McCarthy / 15 shows
17. 42.6 million - George Strait / 21 shows

Not one of them has to sing the way Perry would have to. It's a whole other class of singer.

I agree he doesn't belong in Perry's class, but I would argue that a typical Springsteen performance is way more grueling physically and he puts both his body and his voice through much more strain through a 3+ hour show. Furthermore, he never had the fear of the road or the stage the way Perry clearly does. These guys -- Bruce, Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney -- were/are waayyyy bigger stars than Steve Perry ever was. And if anybody had reasons to isolate themselves and withdraw from their fame, it would be them. Perry's demons were of his own making. I don't think it had anything to do with how strenuous it was to tour the Journey catalog.

FamilyMan wrote:

Memorex wrote:

Kor'n wrote: mean do a tour like these over "60" guys?

2013 Mid Year
2. 103.9 million - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band / 31 shows
3. 87.7 million - The Rolling Stones / 18 shows
9. 58.1 million - Fleetwood Mac / 42 shows
16. 43.5 million - Paul McCarthy / 15 shows
17. 42.6 million - George Strait / 21 shows

Not one of them has to sing the way Perry would have to. It's a whole other class of singer.

I agree he doesn't belong in Perry's class, but I would argue that a typical Springsteen performance is way more grueling physically and he puts both his body and his voice through much more strain through a 3+ hour show. Furthermore, he never had the fear of the road or the stage the way Perry clearly does. These guys -- Bruce, Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney -- were/are waayyyy bigger stars than Steve Perry ever was. And if anybody had reasons to isolate themselves and withdraw from their fame, it would be them. Perry's demons were of his own making. I don't think it had anything to do with how strenuous it was to tour the Journey catalog.

Maybe should just accept his wanting/liking a normal life...Is that so bad? That below reads like a man with common sense and that has total control of the "demons."

"Glamour: Oh, I don’t buy the age thing. Stevie Wonder is going to sing tonight and look at him.

Steve: But he never stopped. I stopped. I stopped for years. I stopped to get away from it all. We were kinda big when I stopped. I was fortunate to have had an amazing career. I just didn’t want to do it anymore. My mother had passed away the year before and family stuff was going on, and I just didn’t want to miss life. There’s a whole thing called life, and it’s not just about the entertainment industry. There’s more to life than singing and touring. The beautiful thing about this business is if you’re fortunate enough to get in it, it’s amazing, but it’s a choke chain if you don’t know how to put the brakes on for yourself because it keeps rolling like crazy. The management kept on booking us, and I had to get off [eventually]." 09/20/2013

He also messed up on the lyrics, but what's the big deal?!? It's a one-off performance with old bandmates, singing a song they hadn't performed in some 4 yrs. Sure, the high-end range seemed gone, but he still had the soul, as TNC said. I have tons of FTLOSM boots...some shows are very good, some painful to listen to... but it's still SP... larger-than-life artist/performer that one can't help but be mesmerized with.

As for AR's comment on the Loons' misguided pining for a SP/Journey reunion as far back as during the SA era, it's all very real. Gained traction subsequent to SP's surprise appearance at the HWOF in '05 ... rumors about a musical comeback (fed by SP himself who said he was "practicing scales to see what I have left") ... and the Journey guys kept saying in print interviews that "there's always been an open door policy if he wants to come back" ... even SA said he'd step aside willingly "if that day ever comes."

Of course, we all know nothing ever has materialized ... on anything. But, in retrospect, knowing what we know now that SA's vocal issues started precisely around this time, I'd bet that a lot of people (both in front/behind the scenes) did a lot of prodding for a reunion ... and not just for the sake of the Loons.

Kor'n wrote:
You mean do a tour like these over "60" guys?

2013 Mid Year
2. 103.9 million - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band / 31 shows
3. 87.7 million - The Rolling Stones / 18 shows
9. 58.1 million - Fleetwood Mac / 42 shows
16. 43.5 million - Paul McCarthy / 15 shows
17. 42.6 million - George Strait / 21 shows

Each artist you mentioned sings songs that nearly any drunk asshole in a karaoke bar can pull off almost perfectly. The vocal demands of Journey's music are in an entire different universe, and being 60+ is a huge factor that can't be ignored.

"And Perry has no interest in gigs". Kind of like Mario Andretti doesn't have interest in racing in F1 next year? When your body can't do it anymore its no longer up to you and your desire .

JohnH wrote:"And Perry has no interest in gigs". Kind of like Mario Andretti doesn't have interest in racing in F1 next year? When your body can't do it anymore its no longer up to you and your desire .

Surely if Perry had "interest in gigs" his body could muster up enough to at least do one or two shows, for he seems to travel around ok. Strangely now, Cain is speaking of Perry's "chronic condition" when questioned or did not believe Perry back in 1996 when he hurt himself going sloping to get ready for the tour, group bashed him as it would be now if "Eclipse" had succeeded. But the "Wheel in the Sky keeps on turning and they don't know where they will be tomorrow." And, likewise with Mario Andretti. Surely, he would not race as fast, but could probably compete and who knows, might just knock out a few young newcomers and regain his glory.

"1978-09-15 : Muhammad Ali 221 lbs beat Leon Spinks 201 lbs by UD in round 15 of 15
Ali regained the WBA title and avenged his split decision loss to Spinks from seven months prior. He also became the first man to win the World Heavyweight Championship three times. "

Archetype wrote:Each artist you mentioned sings songs that nearly any drunk asshole in a karaoke bar can pull off almost perfectly. The vocal demands of Journey's music are in an entire different universe, and being 60+ is a huge factor that can't be ignored.

Agree on the demands just because Perry in his heydey sang so bloody high. That said, I don't really want to hear any drunk asshole sing some of McCartney's high parts either.

Kor'n wrote: Strangely now, Cain is speaking of Perry's "chronic condition" when questioned or did not believe Perry back in 1996 when he hurt himself going sloping to get ready for the tour, group bashed him as it would be now if "Eclipse" had succeeded.

Cain's exact quote was: "He has some health issues, and he’s come forward on the internet and actually said what it was, so we don’t need to go into that. He has a real chronic condition that prevents him from being effective on the road. It’ll come and go."

Among his alleged hip problems, I think Cain is also referencing Perry's recent bout of skin cancer. But look, this is all moot. Perry cancelled the ROR tour short and cancelled the FTLOSM tour short. Cancelling the TBF tour was just par for the course. What does it matter? They had two choices - replace Perry or cease to exist.

Archetype wrote:Each artist you mentioned sings songs that nearly any drunk asshole in a karaoke bar can pull off almost perfectly.

Lol. Very true.

The_Noble_Cause wrote:

Kor'n wrote: Strangely now, Cain is speaking of Perry's "chronic condition" when questioned or did not believe Perry back in 1996 when he hurt himself going sloping to get ready for the tour, group bashed him as it would be now if "Eclipse" had succeeded.

Cain's exact quote was: "He has some health issues, and he’s come forward on the internet and actually said what it was, so we don’t need to go into that. He has a real chronic condition that prevents him from being effective on the road. It’ll come and go."

Among his alleged hip problems, I think Cain is also referencing Perry's recent bout of skin cancer. But look, this is all moot. Perry cancelled the ROR tour short and cancelled the FTLOSM tour short. Cancelling the TBF tour was just par for the course. What does it matter? They had two choices - replace Perry or cease to exist.

The hip was replaced. And how does skin cancer keep you from being effective on the road? I don't think SPs problems were medical in nature.

The_Noble_Cause wrote:

Kor'n wrote: Strangely now, Cain is speaking of Perry's "chronic condition" when questioned or did not believe Perry back in 1996 when he hurt himself going sloping to get ready for the tour, group bashed him as it would be now if "Eclipse" had succeeded.

Cain's exact quote was: "He has some health issues, and he’s come forward on the internet and actually said what it was, so we don’t need to go into that. He has a real chronic condition that prevents him from being effective on the road. It’ll come and go."

Among his alleged hip problems, I think Cain is also referencing Perry's recent bout of skin cancer. But look, this is all moot. Perry cancelled the ROR tour short and cancelled the FTLOSM tour short. Cancelling the TBF tour was just par for the course. What does it matter? They had two choices - replace Perry or cease to exist.

They could have kept Perry as the recording vocalist and part of the song writing team, and then if the band still wanted to go out and Perry didn't, have another singer for the live shows. Didn't Beach Boys do this? I think Glen Campbell did live shows but Wilson continued writing and recording.

Majestic wrote:

The_Noble_Cause wrote:

Kor'n wrote: Strangely now, Cain is speaking of Perry's "chronic condition" when questioned or did not believe Perry back in 1996 when he hurt himself going sloping to get ready for the tour, group bashed him as it would be now if "Eclipse" had succeeded.

Cain's exact quote was: "He has some health issues, and he’s come forward on the internet and actually said what it was, so we don’t need to go into that. He has a real chronic condition that prevents him from being effective on the road. It’ll come and go."

Among his alleged hip problems, I think Cain is also referencing Perry's recent bout of skin cancer. But look, this is all moot. Perry cancelled the ROR tour short and cancelled the FTLOSM tour short. Cancelling the TBF tour was just par for the course. What does it matter? They had two choices - replace Perry or cease to exist.

They could have kept Perry as the recording vocalist and part of the song writing team, and then if the band still wanted to go out and Perry didn't, have another singer for the live shows. Didn't Beach Boys do this? I think Glen Campbell did live shows but Wilson continued writing and recording.

Boston also did this. How'd that work out?

Cain's exact quote was: "He has some health issues, and he’s come forward on the internet and actually said what it was, so we don’t need to go into that. He has a real chronic condition that prevents him from being effective on the road. It’ll come and go."

Among his alleged hip problems, I think Cain is also referencing Perry's recent bout of skin cancer. But look, this is all moot. Perry cancelled the ROR tour short and cancelled the FTLOSM tour short. Cancelling the TBF tour was just par for the course. What does it matter? They had two choices - replace Perry or cease to exist.[/quote]

They could have kept Perry as the recording vocalist and part of the song writing team, and then if the band still wanted to go out and Perry didn't, have another singer for the live shows. Didn't Beach Boys do this? I think Glen Campbell did live shows but Wilson continued writing and recording.[/quote]

Boston also did this. How'd that work out? [/quote]

Perry in the studio and not on the road would not work out. There's more to Perry than just the voice. People want to see and connect with him live and in person, especially after all these years. Plus, no Perry on tour just puts them right back to where they are now.
The Beach Boys situation was different for a number of reasons. Brian Wilson was having panic attacks on the road and pulled out to focus on writing and producing, and ended up creating some of the most magical music ever recorded. He wasn't the main focus on stage, so having Glenn Campbell, and eventually Bruce Johnson, replace him wasn't a major problem. Plus, this was during the time when live concerts were different. 30-45 minutes of performing at most, usually on packed bills. Brian did eventually come back (physically, at least), and helped them become one of the biggest stadium acts of the 70s.

not that it means all that much but I thought Neal and Jon wanted to extend the tour, and Perry did not.
I dont think anything was cancelled, except for some show here and there.
And Perry had health issues that stopped the FTLOSM tour, which would explain why shows at the end were sounding worse.
And Perry, being only in his early fifties I can see him doing everything he could do to aviod getting cut open for hip replacement. It was funny how they changed the line "held us up for years" to "months".
The last thing I would want to see is Steve hobbling around on stage, in pain.
The pictures of him iced down after the WYLAW video were painful enough to see.

FamilyMan wrote:

The_Noble_Cause wrote:

Kor'n wrote: Strangely now, Cain is speaking of Perry's "chronic condition" when questioned or did not believe Perry back in 1996 when he hurt himself going sloping to get ready for the tour, group bashed him as it would be now if "Eclipse" had succeeded.

Cain's exact quote was: "He has some health issues, and he’s come forward on the internet and actually said what it was, so we don’t need to go into that. He has a real chronic condition that prevents him from being effective on the road. It’ll come and go."

Among his alleged hip problems, I think Cain is also referencing Perry's recent bout of skin cancer. But look, this is all moot. Perry cancelled the ROR tour short and cancelled the FTLOSM tour short. Cancelling the TBF tour was just par for the course. What does it matter? They had two choices - replace Perry or cease to exist.

The hip was replaced. And how does skin cancer keep you from being effective on the road? I don't think SPs problems were medical in nature.

I do..

chron·ic
adjective \ˈkrä-nik\

medical : continuing or occurring again and again for a long time

: happening or existing frequently or most of the time
: always or often doing something specified

Cain wouldn't call it "chronic" unless he'd been told so.. that's not a word one normally uses to describe someone's illness..

Cain's use of the word can only mean that whatever Perry has, he's had it for a long time...