Q&A: E Explains Steve Perry’s Surprise Return To The Stage

[tater1977]

Q&A: E Explains Steve Perry’s Surprise Return To The Stage And The Stirring New Eels Album

May 28th '14 by Chris DeVille

http://www.stereogum.com/1683659/qa-e-e ... interview/

An Eels concert in St. Paul took a surprising turn earlier this week when former Journey frontman Steve Perry emerged to perform Eels’ “It’s A Motherfucker” and Journey’s “Open Arms” and “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’.” That video of Perry’s first public performance in 19 years has now gone viral — over 1 million views in a couple of days — so I called up Eels leader E (AKA Mark Oliver Everett) to find out how it happened. What followed was a window into Eels’ unique relationship with Perry as well as their stirring new album The Cautionary Tales Of Mark Oliver Everett and the future of the band.

STEREOGUM: How long have you known Steve?

E: There’s this kind of whole secret inner life to the Eels, and one of the weirder parts of it is that we’ve been friends with Steve Perry for years. It started because he’s been coming to our shows for a long time — like 10 years. And occasionally he would send word backstage that he wanted to meet me, but I always felt awkward about it because when I grew up I didn’t have an appreciation for Journey, and I felt like, “Well, I don’t know what I’ll say to him.” So I avoided him for years, and then one day I had lunch with the film director Patti Jenkins, who made the Charlize Theron movie Monster, and she happened to be good friends with Steve, and she said, “You should really meet Steve. He’s the greatest guy.” So I did, based on that recommendation, and found that she was absolutely right. Steve’s the greatest guy. So then I invited him to one of our weekly Sunday croquet matches, which is another part of our secret inner life that I guess is no longer a secret, and he came one Sunday and never left. He became a regular for years, and he just became one of our good friends. There’s no one in our circle that doesn’t just love the shit out of Steve. He really is just a great guy. Then he started showing up unannounced to our tour rehearsals every year. He would just sit there and watch us. And then slowly over the years, guys in the band would try to bait him by playing a Journey song hoping he would grab the microphone and start singing, but he never would. He would just laugh. He was always a good sport about it. And then one tour rehearsal probably three or four years ago, it happened, where he surprised us all and grabbed the microphone. And for the first time in 18 years or something, he started singing a Journey song. And it sent shivers down my spine, and I instantly gained an appreciation for his voice and Journey, something that I never got before. And now when I hear Journey on the radio, I turn it up. And the other thing about Steve is that he’s the real deal as an artist. He’s pure heart. There’s no head with Steve. It’s all from the heart. And that’s what I want out of an artist. So I just have incredible respect for him now.

STEREOGUM: How did he end up singing with you in St. Paul?

E: We started talking to him about it, like, “Hey maybe you’d want to do this on stage with us sometime.” And he’d say, “Nah, too much pressure.” Because it is, you know? When you’re that well-known for something you do that well, and you haven’t done it for so long, it’s kind of a big deal. I get it. But this year it was different. He showed up to our tour rehearsals like he always does, but on the second day he came in carrying his own microphone that he brought with him. And I thought, “Huh, this is different. I wonder what’s going on here.” And he started talking about doing it on stage. And we all decided that we’re not going to get too excited about it because it’s more likely to not happen than to happen with him. And then he actually came out to St. Paul — and I don’t know why he chose St. Paul. Only he could tell you that. And even that day when we were there, I still thought, “It’s probably not going to happen. I’ll believe it when I see it.” It wasn’t until he actually got on the stage and he started singing that I realized, “Oh wow, it’s really happening!” And it was such a beautiful moment. Again, it sent chills down my spine just to be there with him in his element doing what he was made to do. And as my friend, it felt good to see him feeling so good about that.

STEREOGUM: How did you guys choose which songs you were going to do?

E: That’s all up to him, you know? You can’t really tell Steve Perry what to do. You just go along for the ride, you know? And that’s what he wanted to do.

STEREOGUM: You were saying that you only recently gained your appreciation of Journey, but do you have favorite Journey songs?

E: Well, I love “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’,” one of the ones we played. I really have a genuine appreciation for those songs now. Like “Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’,” that is such a great lyric. The “squeezin’” part is so graphic, and it really makes you feel the hurt and jealousy of the situation. I love that! I like the one called “Lights” — “When the lights go down in the city.” I like them all because, you know — a part of it’s because of my friendship with Steve, and part of it’s because I really have a respect for the man as an artist and how it’s all coming from his heart and how pure he is. And also, I’d like to say that I actually like his voice better now than it was back in the day. Like, my favorite Sinatra period was the later period where his voice got deeper. And Steve’s got a version of that going on where he basically sounds the same, he’s just got a little more experience and grit, and he sounds more like Sam Cooke than ever. I just think his voice is dynamite now.

STEREOGUM: Do you think he’ll do this again? Have you communicated about that at all?

E: I have no idea. Steve does what Steve does, and you either go along for the ride or you don’t. I would love to do it again because it was such a fun experience, and I hope he will, but I totally understand if he doesn’t. It’s all up to him. I’m at least glad it happened this one time. In the meantime, I’ll just try to not stop believing. I mean, for now, he’s on the midnight train going anywhere. I don’t know where it’s going to stop.

STEREOGUM: Since Steve’s obviously a big fan of Eels, has he told you what about your music drew him in?

E: We have a song called “I’m Going To Stop Pretending That I Didn’t Break Your Heart,” and he told me this really touching story about how he heard that song and it totally woke him up and led to him rekindling a very important relationship in his life. And that was really touching to hear.

STEREOGUM: What do you think the chances are of him appearing on an Eels album?

E: Actually, that is something he’s brought up before, now that I think about it. He always says he wants to do background vocals. I’m like, “You’re not a background vocalist. You’re a monstrous lead vocalist. You don’t belong in the background.”

STEREOGUM: This new Eels record is more low-key — it’s not as bombastic as you’d expect from a Journey song — but it would be interesting to hear what Steve does with it.

E: I see where you’re going with this — like the Steve Perry remix of our entire new album. I’d love to hear that. I think he could kill it.

STEREOGUM: What was the impetus to make this stripped-down, bare collection of songs?

E: This was an incredibly uncomfortable album to me. To make it was uncomfortable. To put it out was uncomfortable. To write the songs was uncomfortable. But I knew this was going to be uncomfortable, and I decided that it was going to be worth it. Because I kind of had to sacrifice some of my dignity to do this and throw myself under the bus by making myself the subject of some really harsh songs. And putting my face and name on the cover of the album was really uncomfortable for me. And I think it’s easy to misinterpret, and I think some people might not — especially in this day and age when you can only give things a cursory glance or listen; this is something you really need to give it some time and some repeated listenings to get it. But the purpose of it all is to set an example and to say, “Maybe you can avoid some of the mistakes that this idiot, me, made.” And that’s the same thing we’re doing with our concerts right now. It’s a really kind of rich musical evening, where it can be kind of harsh at times, but by the end of the night there’s always this great feeling in the house. There’s this healing kind of feeling. That sounds like a Journey title: “Healing Kind Of Feeling.” It’s just a great experience. I’ve always felt like I’m playing the long game, and the concerts we’re doing right now are the mini example of a long game. The way it starts out is nothing like how you feel when it’s over.

STEREOGUM: Are you following the typical format of doing the new stuff first and breaking out the old hits at the end, or is it more complicated than that?

E: There’s some of that, but it’s a little more complicated than that, yeah. But there is some of that. We like to take old songs and do them like we would do them now — you know, get them right this time.

STEREOGUM: You’ve taken it almost as small-scale as you can go with the stripped-down approach. Do you have a vision for what direction you might take the next one?

E: I really don’t. There’s nothing on the horizon. We’ve been pretty busy the last several years. Maybe I’m inspired by Steve Perry. When I heard that applause he got for stepping on stage for the first time in 20 years, it made me think, “Oh, maybe I should go away for 20 years, and then I could come back and have that kind of applause.” So maybe that’s my next move. Steve Perry is such an inspiration.

STEREOGUM: Well, as someone who only recently got into your work, I hope you don’t go away, but I can’t dispute the reasoning.

E: You know, I’ve been working hard for over 20 years, and that is why this album was written. It’s about the other side of that. You keep your nose to the grindstone so intensely, your life becomes too unbalanced and one-sided. You pay a price for that, and that’s exactly what this album is about is the price that I have paid for working so hard on music and nothing else for over 20 years. So me going away is probably a really smart idea for me personally, but we’ll see.

[annpea]

Each one help one, but with this one action it has helped three. Journey, The Eels, and Steve Perry are for the moment all in the limelight. You couldn't get this kind of promotional prize in a cracker jack box. To quote Hannibal from the A-Team " I love it when a plan comes together" JMO

[Yoda]

Wow, that's a great interview! I've been listening to a few Eels songs here and there, and watching a few interviews with E. He's got a great sense of humor! Once you kind of listen to him in interviews, you start to get his mindset of his music. And once you kind of get the mindset of his music, you start to slowly understand why Steve Perry was drawn to the Eels so much! It was almost like therapy for both Steve; and E as well I think! And I like the approach that E and his band had toward Perry. Inviting him into their inner circle, gently coaxing him into singing in rehearsals, but leaving everything up to Steve. He could very easily say to Steve, "OK, you need to do this again because this sells us tickets and it gives you more time on stage!" No, E simply is like, "I hope he does this again, but it's all up to Steve!" E seems to be the friend that Perry has always needed in the music business. For all of these years, there has been so much pressure put upon Perry because of his million dollar voice! From his band mates, his managers, the record company, his fans....I can understand how that becomes very overwhelming. And having a guy like E as a true friend, a friend who knows about the pressures the music business brings, a guy who's had issues with depression himself, and also a guy who wasn't - in the beginning - a Journey fan at all! A true guy who gets Steve Perry who cut through all of the "It's Steve Perry" crap and really listened to the man's voice and understood the heart Perry has always put into his music. And a guy who appreciates Perry's voice now, as opposed to those who are hung up on his voice from earlier in his career.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I like Perry's voice better in his later years than the earlier years. The Frontiers record - to me - sounded better, vocally, than Escape. I love the deeper, richer sound of Perry's voice from '83 and on, and I absolutely loved his work on Trial By Fire. While others heard a broken down voice that no longer has that "out of this world" range, I heard an absolute masterpiece from an older, wiser, Steve Perry that poured his heart into those songs. And I've heard all the explanations upstairs as to why some hate his voice now - all the technical issues and why he shouldn't ever be in Journey again. But, man, I honestly believe that's because they just don't get the mental and emotional side of music. It's all technical to them - a detachment from why those songs were written in the first place.

[annpea]

Wow, that's a great interview! I've been listening to a few Eels songs here and there, and watching a few interviews with E. He's got a great sense of humor! Once you kind of listen to him in interviews, you start to get his mindset of his music. And once you kind of get the mindset of his music, you start to slowly understand why Steve Perry was drawn to the Eels so much! It was almost like therapy for both Steve; and E as well I think! And I like the approach that E and his band had toward Perry. Inviting him into their inner circle, gently coaxing him into singing in rehearsals, but leaving everything up to Steve. He could very easily say to Steve, "OK, you need to do this again because this sells us tickets and it gives you more time on stage!" No, E simply is like, "I hope he does this again, but it's all up to Steve!" E seems to be the friend that Perry has always needed in the music business. For all of these years, there has been so much pressure put upon Perry because of his million dollar voice! From his band mates, his managers, the record company, his fans....I can understand how that becomes very overwhelming. And having a guy like E as a true friend, a friend who knows about the pressures the music business brings, a guy who's had issues with depression himself, and also a guy who wasn't - in the beginning - a Journey fan at all! A true guy who gets Steve Perry who cut through all of the "It's Steve Perry" crap and really listened to the man's voice and understood the heart Perry has always put into his music. And a guy who appreciates Perry's voice now, as opposed to those who are hung up on his voice from earlier in his career.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I like Perry's voice better in his later years than the earlier years. The Frontiers record - to me - sounded better, vocally, than Escape. I love the deeper, richer sound of Perry's voice from '83 and on, and I absolutely loved his work on Trial By Fire. While others heard a broken down voice that no longer has that "out of this world" range, I heard an absolute masterpiece from an older, wiser, Steve Perry that poured his heart into those songs. And I've heard all the explanations upstairs as to why some hate his voice now - all the technical issues and why he shouldn't ever be in Journey again. But, man, I honestly believe that's because they just don't get the mental and emotional side of music. It's all technical to them - a detachment from why those songs were written in the first place.

+1000

[nylady]

While I haven't listened to any interviews with E, I did hear SP talk about the Eels in an interview a while back, so I sorta knew who they were when the news broke of him appearing with them. His rendition of "It's a MotherF***er" totally floored me, and that was recorded on a cell phone. I loved it! I hope if he does anything more, it will be music like this, coming from his heart and the place he is in now, emotionally and vocally. While I love what he did with Journey, I have no desire to see him go back to lead a sing-a-long of oldies.

[jrny84]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I like Perry's voice better in his later years than the earlier years. The Frontiers record - to me - sounded better, vocally, than Escape. I love the deeper, richer sound of Perry's voice from '83 and on, and I absolutely loved his work on Trial By Fire. While others heard a broken down voice that no longer has that "out of this world" range, I heard an absolute masterpiece from an older, wiser, Steve Perry that poured his heart into those songs. And I've heard all the explanations upstairs as to why some hate his voice now - all the technical issues and why he shouldn't ever be in Journey again. But, man, I honestly believe that's because they just don't get the mental and emotional side of music. It's all technical to them - a detachment from why those songs were written in the first place.

I totally agree. I prefer his voice on Faithfully over the way it sounded on Open Arms. I like the huskier and deeper voice he acquired in the Frontiers period and on. The way he sounded on Why Cant This Night is just unbelievable on ROR. Raspier voice than the Escape era, but I like it.

[Yoda]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I like Perry's voice better in his later years than the earlier years. The Frontiers record - to me - sounded better, vocally, than Escape. I love the deeper, richer sound of Perry's voice from '83 and on, and I absolutely loved his work on Trial By Fire. While others heard a broken down voice that no longer has that "out of this world" range, I heard an absolute masterpiece from an older, wiser, Steve Perry that poured his heart into those songs. And I've heard all the explanations upstairs as to why some hate his voice now - all the technical issues and why he shouldn't ever be in Journey again. But, man, I honestly believe that's because they just don't get the mental and emotional side of music. It's all technical to them - a detachment from why those songs were written in the first place.

I totally agree. I prefer his voice on Faithfully over the way it sounded on Open Arms. I like the huskier and deeper voice he acquired in the Frontiers period and on. The way he sounded on Why Cant This Night is just unbelievable on ROR. Raspier voice than the Escape era, but I like it.

Yep! It's something about that rasp that adds a great touch to his vocals. When I first got exposed to Journey music, it was from hearing Faithfully and Separate Ways on the radio. It was also my brother having the cassette of Raised on Radio. Keep in mind, I was like 10 years old when I first got into listening to rock music, and Frontiers had already been out for a few years at that point. So, I heard Separate Ways for the first time on the radio. I didn't know who did the song, but I was blown away! I asked my oldest brother who did the song (I had to sort of sing him the course of the song) and he said it was Journey and he had their cassette tape. I listened to his Raised on Radio tape front and back - loved the album, but was disappointed that SW wasn't on that tape! So, with the money I earned from mowing my grandparents' yard, I went to the store and found the Frontiers cassette. Very first rock album I had ever purchased in my youth! In one week's time, I had worn out side one! But it was those two albums that really got me into Journey!

And of course, when I would hear some of the Escape album songs, I then realized that was Journey too...but even back then I realized that Perry's voice was much "younger" sounding on Escape than Frontiers. I actually didn't like it nearly as much to be honest! To be honest, I was fine buying the greatest hits CD long before I ever decided to go back and purchase the older albums. It took me a few years to really appreciate their best selling album, because honestly, I felt Perry's vocals were "too perfect!" I know it sounds crazy, but it was just too high, too clear, just a little too much for a male voice. I liked the songs, but it took me awhile to really started appreciating those songs. But, Frontiers had grittier vocals, harder/heavier songs, more of a darker feel to it, and I loved it! That album is, by far, my most favorite Journey album of all time.

So, anyway, yeah - Steve Perry back in Journey with present day voice would work for me.

[Foolish Heart]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I like Perry's voice better in his later years than the earlier years. The Frontiers record - to me - sounded better, vocally, than Escape. I love the deeper, richer sound of Perry's voice from '83 and on, and I absolutely loved his work on Trial By Fire. While others heard a broken down voice that no longer has that "out of this world" range, I heard an absolute masterpiece from an older, wiser, Steve Perry that poured his heart into those songs. And I've heard all the explanations upstairs as to why some hate his voice now - all the technical issues and why he shouldn't ever be in Journey again. But, man, I honestly believe that's because they just don't get the mental and emotional side of music. It's all technical to them - a detachment from why those songs were written in the first place.

I totally agree. I prefer his voice on Faithfully over the way it sounded on Open Arms. I like the huskier and deeper voice he acquired in the Frontiers period and on. The way he sounded on Why Cant This Night is just unbelievable on ROR. Raspier voice than the Escape era, but I like it.

Totally agree - especially about the way he sounded on Why Cant this Night….my favorite Steve Perry song ever….every time I hear it, I get goosebumps….

[tammy]

That's a great interview...he sounds as genuine as Steve. It's neat to hear how he got chills, like we do when we hear him. I have one of the Eels CDs, haven't listened in a long while but I like it.