What Steve Perry taught me in a Hollywood hotel gym at 6 a.m

[tater1977]

May 28, 2014, 7:42am EDT

Bob Niedt Digital Producer-
Washington Business Journal

http://washington.cityandpress.com/node ... um=twitter

8 things to start your Wednesday and what ex-Journey frontman Steve Perry taught me in a Hollywood hotel gym at 6 a.m.

And now, Steve Perry. Oh, Perry. We have a history. The former frontman for the rock group Journey, red-hot in the '80s, reappeared after nearly 20 years of seclusion from the trappings of rock 'n' roll. The shaky video has been storming Facebook(and if you check it out, be warned: It may be NSFW).

His range isn't all there, but mine isn't, either.

But I will never forget running into him in a hotel near the Hollywood Bowl back in the '70s. We were both early risers, it turned out, waiting for the hotel we were both staying in for work — separate work, of course — to unlock the gym doors. The gym was supposed to open at 6, but no one was there and doors remained locked. I didn't recognize him at first. But I did say to him I'd go to the front desk and get someone to open the door to the small gym. I did.

We both climbed aboard neighboring stationary bikes. I finally realized who he was but didn't say anything. I noticed he was reading a script. He started in with some small talk, asking where I was from. At the time, I was living in Upstate New York, and that's what I told him. He said, "Oh, we did some work in Upstate New York." He didn't see me smile.

I thought, "Really? 'We did some work in Upstate New York?' So I asked him where. He said, 'Saratoga.' I knew that meant the outdoor Saratoga Performing Arts Center, where Journey played a time or two. I was quiet for a minute. Then I said, "By the way, Steve, nice job singing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl." He turned to me, smiled and quietly said, "Thanks, man." He turned back to his script. That was it. I didn't ask for his autograph or bug him, impressed he didn't have to push his celebrity or business model at me, staying humble and reserved. That's good business. And classy.

[Marabelle]

That is nice. Anytime I run into somebody who is sought by people trying to get a picture or a signature; I give them a smile and wide birth. To me I don't want to be another person who they are trying to find shelter from. It's the only gracious thing to do. And we both can go about our day. The last person I saw was an actor in Whole Foods and we both looked at each other and then I looked away with a smile. He got to finish shopping and I got to pick up my pizza and get out of the place before the 4pm traffic.