New Jonathan Interview

[The_Noble_Cause]

Jonathan was on podcast, Rock & Roll High School. Link below. Some highlights

"The only reason I'm out here is the fans."

"The new albums don't seem to move the needle."

"Even though Jon [Waite] has dissed me alot in the press, I refuse to do that to him because I only am grateful for the opportunity."

He also talks about the grueling tour schedule and understands why Perry didn't want to go to Europe or S. America....
"Herbie the manager was just running the band ragged" "No wonder. Exhausted. Vocally. Emotionally. Physically. Tired"

On Perry at the RNRHOF....
"I wish that he would have sang with us that night....I would have bet money he would have changed his mind and come and sang Lights with us....I kept looking in the wings and he never came."

Complimentary to all the Escape-era players....
Perry "made everything sound easy. And Neal Schon made it all sound easy. And Steve Smith and Ross Valory all were masters at their instruments."

He compares their music to a chocolate milkshake going down easy....
"Journey is not bourbon on ice. It's not going to bite. It's not going to sting."

He blames Herbie's ego for running Steve off....
"He made mistakes with Steve Perry. That was his biggest mistake...not being able to jibe with him....because his ego was bigger than Steve's."

Cain says that Separate Ways was written for Ross as he was going through a divorce. Cain was inspired by Fleetwood Mac who also wrote about issues in band members' personal lives. Cain says he showed the guitar part to Neal as Cain already had it all in his head - the melody, the break.

On whether Arnel is part of the fabric of what the music is now....
"He is and he isn't. I wanted him to get American residence so we could, you know, tighten up, a little bit, but he's refused.....And it's unfortunate because I wanted him to get citizenship....You know, he's just been a warrior for Journey. I have nothing but accolades."

He says he bought a new $100k piano for "After All These Years" because "I believed in Arnel and I wanted a new sound."

Lastly, he says he might adopt a child from the Ukraine.

https://youtu.be/8pZ3Tjff06Q?si=3pULD36BSDmCxTCT

[ebake02]

That back handed diss on Arnel was ignorant considering Jon is made a statement at one point that Journey is a world band now now.

[The_Noble_Cause]

That back handed diss on Arnel was ignorant considering Jon is made a statement at one point that Journey is a world band now now.

I'm not quite sure what Jonathan meant regarding "tighten up." But I also don't quite understand the interviewer's question about AP being part of the fabric of the band.

In terms of chemistry and communication, Arnel's proximity to the rest of the guys can't help matters. But they should have known that when they hired him. Even if AP had a home in Florida and California, I doubt these guys would be hanging out together.

[ebake02]

I don't understand the comment about Herbie running Perry off either. I thought ROR happened because Perry was thinking of leaving so Herbie called Jon but I could be wrong.

[Monker]

I don't understand the comment about Herbie running Perry off either. I thought ROR happened because Perry was thinking of leaving so Herbie called Jon but I could be wrong.

I don't understand that comment, either. The official reason Perry went back to Journey was because of a promise he made to his mother. He asked her if he should stay solo or go back to Journey for an album. She told him Journey. So, that is what he did for ROR...maybe there is a "behind the scenes" reason...but that's the story from the band.

What I think Jonathan is talking about is from Infinity through Frontiers and the tour then record without a break. But, the simple fact is Perry had a break after the Frontiers tour and HE chose to record Street Talk. Then ROR happened and Perry's infamous "face entering the atmosphere" stuff happened. Again, STEVE PERRY choose to take over so much of the process for ROR and burn himself out. It wasn't Herbie who did that.

To me, what Jonathan is saying is more a backhanded remark to Neal driving Journey so hard the past 10yrs or more with his own demands to constantly tour....especially with Arnel wanting a break and not really getting it. The comparison is real...but, IMO, Perry had multiple chances for a break after Frontiers but chose to record his solo album and take too much responsibility for ROR...and burned himself out. Perry is at fault there, not Herbie. Not sure if Arnel was under contract and had no choice, but Neal has to have some of the responsibility for burning him (and Augeri) out.

[The_Noble_Cause]

To me, what Jonathan is saying is more a backhanded remark to Neal driving Journey so hard the past 10yrs or more with his own demands to constantly tour....especially with Arnel wanting a break and not really getting it.

I really did not pick up on any passive aggressive digs at the current band when discussing Herbie and Perry. To me, Jon was really just defending Perry and how hard HH drove the band.

However, in several interviews (including this one), Cain really describes Perry as a great band leader etc. I don't think it's an intentional dig at Neal, but as Neal is the current "leader", it could be interpreted that way.