Well, it happened...... Discuss!

[inaweofschon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOxEqL3fEW8

[Jubilee]

Hmpf...yep. There it is...
Ya know, there was a time, not too long ago, when something like this would have crashed Andrew's server. Breathless, sweaty Loons charging in with effusive praise of all things Perry. Now? Not so much I guess.

Well, I have to say...meh. It's about what I expected. Pipes sounded a little rusty, but it was awesome to see him on stage again. The Loon deep down in my soul desperately hopes there's more to come...

[steveo777]

Bring him back to Journey!!!!! Yay yay yay. Well, folks, now you understand why it will never be. That said, it was nice to see him do something. Those pipes, while sounding OK, would never sustain him on a tour, much less an album. I think it's great that he stepped out and sang, but I also believe the case shall now be closed, as far as a Journey reunion is concerned.

Steve could make an album and I hope he does. Kind of in the Michael McDonald mode at this point. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I love them both.

[annpea]

He is indeed a little rusty, but what counts is the fact that he did it. I do not see him being vocally what he once was, but that's not what's most important about him getting up on that stage. Nothing beats the fear of failure but trying, and he has certainly done that by facing the public and laying his voice on the alter just as it is. I color him brave, courageous, and a winner forever.

[slucero]

Finally..

That was hard to listen to, I kept remembering the Perry of my youth....

....now maybe this can be put to rest.


Above all, I hope that was incredibly cathartic for Mr. Perry... he really needed to do this for himself, and see that although the voice isn't what it was, the love is as big as ever.


Thank God for Steve Mutherfucking Perry.

[Majestic]

You guys are nuts. His voice is different than back in the day, but differently AMAZING. That is still Steve Perry, my friends, and he can still sing. His voice is deeper and has more character now. I would love him to do some R&B type stuff. That was an awesome rendition of Open Arms. LTS I never really liked, and I don't care who sings it.

[scarab]

although Steve singing live again is one of seven signs and the end is near,


he sounds more raspy but hits the notes just fine. choosing to sing Open Arms, probably one of the most difficult in Journey's catalog, took guts, and this version he does well.


the really sad thing, is the Fitzgerald is about 5 miles from me. wonder why he is in Saint Paul, and who in the Eels got him to finally sing after 19 years?

[bluejeangirl76]

I think this might have killed all the loons.
I thought the Perry forum downstairs would be a literal flood of wet panties by now but no one has even mentioned it.

Congrats to him for getting up and finally doing it. LTS wasn't bad! Open arms, meh. I think I'm I unenthused by that one because it's not what I would have picked to hear.

[scarab]

i am hoping this means he will get out there and sing a little bit more. better yet release something new.
when i dream i dream big.

[Memorex]

I thought all of it was great.

http://vimeo.com/96459730

[Memorex]

Bring him back to Journey!!!!! Yay yay yay. Well, folks, now you understand why it will never be. That said, it was nice to see him do something. Those pipes, while sounding OK, would never sustain him on a tour, much less an album. I think it's great that he stepped out and sang, but I also believe the case shall now be closed, as far as a Journey reunion is concerned.

Steve could make an album and I hope he does. Kind of in the Michael McDonald mode at this point. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I love them both.

My first thought on this is that if Steve had of stayed with or returned to Journey, the band would have evolved with his voice. People will say he can't go back because currently Journey is a band that keeps trying to repeat 1981. They want the sound of that era and they find vocalists to help achieve that. Just like when JSS came in. If he was to stay, the band would have had to evolve. Somewhere in 1998, Journey decided what they wanted to be. Essentially, they wanted to be Chicago. Good selling tours, people in the stands being all nostalgic, yadda yadda. And you know, with the catalog they have and the fact that they do this for a living, that's fine. They had the songs that allowed them to be that and make a very good living.

If Steve stayed or returned, it would not be that. It would be different. The whole show would be different. Any new albums would be different. And there is zero wrong with that if that was the path of choice. So yes, Journey could easily have Steve Perry there as long as they evolved.

That's my 2 cents.

[portland]

Someone watching for the four horseman?

I thought he sounded like Steve Perry....would I pay to see him in concert, yes.

Was it 1980 again...no, but I was not expecting 1980, as some here would expect and demand.

I would see him with the band again as for me it would be the Journey I loved together on stage....I know for others it's not what they want to see.

For me it was just so great to see him on stage commanding the audience...enjoying it and I still have hope that maybe someday I can still buy a ticket and see Perry live.

Very cool Steve...congrats...long time coming!

[portland]

I thought all of it was great.

http://vimeo.com/96459730

'Like" button

[Eric]

It was enjoyable. Would be nice if that happened at the end of a Journey show instead...but oh well.

[Deb]

You guys are nuts. His voice is different than back in the day, but differently AMAZING. That is still Steve Perry, my friends, and he can still sing. His voice is deeper and has more character now. I would love him to do some R&B type stuff. That was an awesome rendition of Open Arms. LTS I never really liked, and I don't care who sings it.

Totally agree, except for the last two songs. I've always liked LTS alot more than Open Arms.

As for his voice, I think he sounded great, alot better than I thought he would have after 20 years. Do my tits sit quite as high as they did in the 80s, no, well neither does Perry's voice........but then I'm a realist, I wasn't expecting it to. I've always preferred the raspier timbre to his pipes, definitely more character and soul compared to those glass shattering highs. Would I travel to see a solo show of his, most definitely!

I'm with Scarab, how the hell did The Eels get him up on a stage............after 20 years?!? Thumbs up to them!

[The_Noble_Cause]

He still has a nice tone and a unique Cookeish way of phrasing. But live Journey songs are def. out of his league. I have actually heard current Augeri sing the dozen better. Would love a more mature version of Street Talk, a solo album paying tribute to all his Motown/Soul influences. One thing is obvious, Steve has missed performing and fans have missed him. Cool high note @ 6:07. His voice is intact enough to give fans something along the lines of TBF 2.

[tater1977]

EELS w/ Journey lead vocalist Steve Perry from Paul Frank on Vimeo.
With intro:

http://vimeo.com/96473664

[fightingilliniJRNY]

Here's all three songs he did - including Open Arms and LTS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip4F9fGHZ00

[portland]

You guys are nuts. His voice is different than back in the day, but differently AMAZING. That is still Steve Perry, my friends, and he can still sing. His voice is deeper and has more character now. I would love him to do some R&B type stuff. That was an awesome rendition of Open Arms. LTS I never really liked, and I don't care who sings it.

Totally agree, except for the last two songs. I've always liked LTS alot more than Open Arms.

As for his voice, I think he sounded great, alot better than I thought he would have after 20 years. Do my tits sit quite as high as they did in the 80s, no, well neither does Perry's voice........but then I'm a realist, I wasn't expecting it to. I've always preferred the raspier timbre to his pipes, definitely more character and soul compared to those glass shattering highs. Would I travel to see a solo show of his, most definitely!

I'm with Scarab, how the hell did The Eels get him up on a stage............after 20 years?!? Thumbs up to them!

[jrny84]

Wow, really cool! This is pretty impressive that Steve actually got up on stage again and layed it all out there. After 20 something years of not singing, his voice sounds pretty good. I actually dont mind the raspy quality to it and would definetly pay to listen to him in concert. The first song he sang sounded really good. He still has great tone and control with his pipes.

[annpea]

EELS w/ Journey lead vocalist Steve Perry from Paul Frank on Vimeo.
With intro:

http://vimeo.com/96473664

He sounds good. I put on my headphones and WOW! I liked what I was hearing even more.

[Majestic]

I've never heard of the Eels before, and I don't know the name of their song the Steve sang, but that was a beautiful song and Steve nailed it. I would definitely buy that.

[portland]

better quality

http://youtu.be/Ip4F9fGHZ00

[Majestic]

The first song he sings is Eels' "It's a motherfucker" which you can hear here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPCe6xvLzGE

Compare it to Steve's rendition, and it really shows what a great singer like Steve can do for a song. The Eels version is good. It is a nice musical arrangement, and the lyrics are thoughtful and emotional. But Steve just makes it ooze with heartfelt pain and emotion. Unbelievable how good that man can interpret a song after doing nothing all these years.

[Memorex]

The first song he sings is Eels' "It's a motherfucker" which you can hear here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPCe6xvLzGE

Compare it to Steve's rendition, and it really shows what a great singer like Steve can do for a song. The Eels version is good. It is a nice musical arrangement, and the lyrics are thoughtful and emotional. But Steve just makes it ooze with heartfelt pain and emotion. Unbelievable how good that man can interpret a song after doing nothing all these years.

My guess is this was a pretty important song to him.

[BARON BLOOD]

WOW !!!!!!.......I'm really fucking excited !......AWESOME VOICE !
Congratulations !

[WalrusOct9]

He sounds good enough to do music in that format...things in a lower register, different arrangements, etc. Kind of like what Robert Plant does with old songs on tour. I'm not sure Perry's audience would be as accepting of that as Plant's though, but I'd enjoy it.

Good to see Steve back onstage, especially a couple days after Phil Collins randomly shows up to sing somewhere. Things are looking up.

[Memorex]

especially a couple days after Phil Collins randomly shows up to sing somewhere.

Was this something to do with his kids? I thought I heard someone mention it on the radio.

Edit: http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/05/24/phil_collins_sings_in_the_air_tonight_with_middle_schoolers_watch_the_british.html

[DracIsBack]

Wow - I wasn't expecting that. Good for him.

Yes, he's not 1981 Perry but I think it's great he got out there. Maybe it gave him courage to try to do more things musically.

[jestor92]

I have to say I like the way his voice sounds right now. The lower register stuff does him well. Congrats and welcome back Mr.Perry.

Also have to say somewhere Neal is seeing dollar signs in his eyes