Is there a boot of the Bill Graham tribute ?

[Chakra]

Excerpt from Herbie Herbert interview on another great rock site, classicrockrevisited.com
(http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/Int ... bert06.htm)
“Do you remember when Bill Graham died and the band came back together and performed in Golden Gate Park?” Jon and Neal were there and when Perry showed up he said “Herbie, what songs are we going to play?” I said, “I don’t know, maybe ‘Lights’ or ‘Don’t Stop Believin.’” I rattled off three or four choices and he says, “You get the lyrics together because I certainly don’t remember the words. You write them down and tell Jon and Neal to take them down two steps.” That means if you’re in the key of ‘E’ you have to go down to ‘A.’

Taking a song down two whole steps is a monumental thing. It really demonstrated how good Jon and Neal are as musicians, that they were able to pull it off without any practice or rehearsal. With over half a million people in the park, surely people tape-recorded that performance and you can hear that it’s two whole steps down. Even then Perry could not hold his pitch and sing in tune; his voice was really rough. If he could, he would be Journey. He went out and did that solo tour to do Journey but he couldn’t. He kept postponing shows and ultimately he had to cancel the thing. He doesn’t have the health and he can’t sing anymore. He lost his talent. Think Karma. "

This speaks volumes....

About what? Words from Herbie should be taken with a gallon shaker of salt. He has never had a postive thing to say about any of the guys, except Rollie.
His ego proceeds him. He just comes off like a bitter man. All this speculation about Perry's voice is JUST that. The rumors and innuendo never stop. He gave the fans numerous first rate performances. Leave the guy in peace. If he decides to perform again, then judge from real facts, not someone else's slanted agenda.

Exactly, I'm more leaning to go with what Joe Benson said, somebody who has actually heard him sing in the last year or so.

Ditto!

[zino]

I think that Perry sounded better after 1991 on the TBF and FTLOSM than he did in that clip , that clip was also stripped down, probably no rehersal, hadn"t seen the guys in a while etc. but hell it was a Tribute to Billy Graham not a Journey concert.

[ddregs]

Excerpt from Herbie Herbert interview on another great rock site, classicrockrevisited.com
(http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/Int ... bert06.htm)
“Do you remember when Bill Graham died and the band came back together and performed in Golden Gate Park?” Jon and Neal were there and when Perry showed up he said “Herbie, what songs are we going to play?” I said, “I don’t know, maybe ‘Lights’ or ‘Don’t Stop Believin.’” I rattled off three or four choices and he says, “You get the lyrics together because I certainly don’t remember the words. You write them down and tell Jon and Neal to take them down two steps.” That means if you’re in the key of ‘E’ you have to go down to ‘A.’

Taking a song down two whole steps is a monumental thing. It really demonstrated how good Jon and Neal are as musicians, that they were able to pull it off without any practice or rehearsal. With over half a million people in the park, surely people tape-recorded that performance and you can hear that it’s two whole steps down. Even then Perry could not hold his pitch and sing in tune; his voice was really rough. If he could, he would be Journey. He went out and did that solo tour to do Journey but he couldn’t. He kept postponing shows and ultimately he had to cancel the thing. He doesn’t have the health and he can’t sing anymore. He lost his talent. Think Karma. "

This speaks volumes....

About what? Words from Herbie should be taken with a gallon shaker of salt. He has never had a postive thing to say about any of the guys, except Rollie.
His ego proceeds him. He just comes off like a bitter man. All this speculation about Perry's voice is JUST that. The rumors and innuendo never stop. He gave the fans numerous first rate performances. Leave the guy in peace. If he decides to perform again, then judge from real facts, not someone else's slanted agenda.

Exactly, I'm more leaning to go with what Joe Benson said, somebody who has actually heard him sing in the last year or so.

This is a lost war to fight. Seems like Perry's vocals on FTLOSM tour and TBF are not enough to our ears.
The guy has lost his range, not his tone. He cannot do any justice to the classics , and I mean , Journey's classics of the golden age. Most probably, his range is even worse than it was (age is never a cure to the voice).
But then I could be proven wrong (or Herbie could be proven right one more time, who knows?)

[Matthew]

[quote="ddregsThis is a lost war to fight. Seems like Perry's vocals on FTLOSM tour and TBF are not enough to our ears.
[/quote]

It's EXACTLY because of the vocals on FLOTSM and TBF that most Perry fans still believe he'll sound amazing. Sure, his voice was different to how it was the 1970s and 1980s...but his voice was still so superior to any other singer I can think of.

I just don't understand this argument that if Perry can't sound like he did in 1981 he should retire. He still had soul and charisma in the 1990s - even if his range was narrower.

[ddregs]

It's EXACTLY because of the vocals on FLOTSM and TBF that most Perry fans still believe he'll sound amazing. Sure, his voice was different to how it was the 1970s and 1980s...but it was still a million times better than anyone else on the planet.

Well, what you're saying is to be proved. I doubt that standing alone on the success and the voice of FLOTSM and TBF Perry would have standed the test of time as one of the best singers out there. I highly doubt he would be considered without Journey's golden age records. But to say that his voice is a million times better than anyone else on the planet is highly subjective (and I partially share your point of view).

I just don't understand this argument that if Perry can't sound like he did in 1981 he should retire. He still had soul and charisma in the 1990s - even if his range was narrower.
Why this obsession with range the whole time?

This is without any doubt. His voice is unique and no one here said he should retire. But he bailed before touring again in 1996-1997 (let's count how many of us believe in the hip problem locking him out... he could have undergone surgery as soon as he could if he cared), and tuned down all the classics in his late concerts. Why then everybody is taking puns against Augeri/Soto whenever they miss the highest note?
Since everybody here is obsessed with Perry's range, Let's talk about age and state a fact. Perry in his 40 had far less range then Soto in his 40. This is a fact. Get yourself a bootleg of the FLOTSM , and listen to a bootleg with Soto (I take Escape because I love his rendition).

The obsession with range is because Perry's success was partially due to his immense range. It's the first thing that gets noticed when you lose your greatest trick...

[Matthew]

The obsession with range is because Perry's success was partially due to his immense range. It's the first thing that gets noticed when you lose your greatest trick...

Yes - the range was "partially" the reason why Perry was successful - but I wouldn't call it his "greatest trick". You make him sound like a circus act. Perry's voice was also extraordinary for its soul...its incredible ability to stir up emotion in the listener...and this ability was if anything even more noticeable in the later work. There's melancholy and depth in his voice in the 1990s (and even on ROR too) which - it could be argued - is more moving than the theatrics on Escape.

I'm not suggesting the song-writing on FLTOSM or TBF was as good as previous albums - nor that Perry's performance was as spectacular or passionate. But there was a new quality to his voice we hadn't heard before in the 1990s - and this compensated for any limitations age had placed on his range.

As for the touring issue...the lack of a TBF tour proves nothing. Maybe he just couldn't be bothered? Maybe it was the hip? Maybe it wasn't? But does it mean he's "lost his talent"? Absolutely not.

Even if he can't tour night after night anymore - I bet you he still has the talent to record a great solo album and perform a few high-profile but selective shows.

The only thing that will prevent Perry from making a comeback is lack of motivation.

[Deb]

The obsession with range is because Perry's success was partially due to his immense range. It's the first thing that gets noticed when you lose your greatest trick...

Yes - the range was "partially" the reason why Perry was successful - but I wouldn't call it his "greatest trick". You make him sound like a circus act. Perry's voice was also extraordinary for its soul...its incredible ability to stir up emotion in the listener...and this ability was if anything even more noticeable in the later work. There's melancholy and depth in his voice in the 1990s (and even on ROR too) which - it could be argued - is more moving than the theatrics on Escape.

I'm not suggesting the song-writing on FLTOSM or TBF was as good as previous albums - nor that Perry's performance was as spectacular or passionate. But there was a new quality to his voice we hadn't heard before in the 1990s - and this compensated for any limitations age had placed on his range.

As for the touring issue...the lack of a TBF tour proves nothing. Maybe he just couldn't be bothered? Maybe it was the hip? Maybe it wasn't? But does it mean he's "lost his talent"? Absolutely not.

Even if he can't tour night after night anymore - I bet you he still has the talent to record a great solo album and perform a few high-profile but selective shows.

The only thing that will prevent Perry from making a comeback is lack of motivation.

I couldn't agree more Matt! It never really was about the "range" for me, although I enjoyed the higher vocals and the high notes he could hit........it was more about the tone, soul and emotion he sang with and how he could drag out a word like no other human. There is a version of Stay Awhile on one the FTLSM boots that I enjoy just as much as the studio version and it has nothing to do with his range, because it sounds like he nails the notes just as well. Great example is "Still they Ride"....not alot of high notes to hit but the tone, soul and emotion just oooze out of that man. There is just some quality about his voice.....his singing voice is great, but I could just as easily sit there and listen to him talk.

I think that is why I liked JSS's soundcheck of IBAWY......it's not so much about the range for me and he sang it with some soul/passion!

[ddregs]

Matthew and strungout,
I agree with both of you about the soulness in Perry's voice. His way of singing phrases so melodic and full of emotion is one of a kind.
Calling his range one of his greatest tricks should really go as one of his best attributes, that was most probably my fault even if not intended.
But, as much as I love Perry, hearing the tuned down versions of the classics didn't do for me. I'll stick with the original and bootleg versions of the golden age. I don't think those songs could be touched by Perry today. And I hope to be proven wrong, even though his lack of motivation could lead to all possible thoughts.
Cheers

[Enigma869]

Matthew and strungout,
I don't think those songs could be touched by Perry today. And I hope to be proven wrong, even though his lack of motivation could lead to all possible thoughts.
Cheers

Who cares if those songs couldn't be touched by Perry today! What the hell does this have to do with anything? Are you as good as you were 25 years ago, or might you have slowed down a bit?? Perry probably couldn't sing with the same range he did 25 years ago. I'll acquiesce to you on that point. That said...there isn't a singer I've heard who could touch Perry's range from that era, either! Ask Jeff Scott Soto...He has said himself, publically! The fact remains that it's Perry's voice that made all of these songs what they became, and they will often be imitated but NEVER will be duplicated!

John from Boston

[ddregs]

Who cares if those songs couldn't be touched by Perry today! What the hell does this have to do with anything? Are you as good as you were 25 years ago, or might you have slowed down a bit?? Perry probably couldn't sing with the same range he did 25 years ago.

This topic is about Perry's voice in 1991. Even 15 years ago his voice couldn't touch what he did 10 years before. I'm only stating this just like someone else did in this topic.
Sorry to have bothered you. No intention of demolishing your Perry icon.

[SteveForever]

Matthew and strungout,
I don't think those songs could be touched by Perry today. And I hope to be proven wrong, even though his lack of motivation could lead to all possible thoughts.
Cheers

Who cares if those songs couldn't be touched by Perry today! What the hell does this have to do with anything? Are you as good as you were 25 years ago, or might you have slowed down a bit?? Perry probably couldn't sing with the same range he did 25 years ago. I'll acquiesce to you on that point. That said...there isn't a singer I've heard who could touch Perry's range from that era, either! Ask Jeff Scott Soto...He has said himself, publically! The fact remains that it's Perry's voice that made all of these songs what they became, and they will often be imitated but NEVER will be duplicated!

John from Boston

Hallelujah! I would sell my car to see Steve P. again with Journey no matter what range he sings in now. If the right power people got involved it could happen, pressure from Hollywood types could make it happen, couldn't it?

[Marabelle]

dregs I don't know if I'd characterize it as lack of motivation; perhaps it is lack of ability; that might be the better word. personally i think he closed the door to singing quite a number of years ago and these hints and innuendoes are nothing more to keep the fans interested in his thinking about doing something he realistically is not going to do. no way is he going to top what he has already done. i think he'd rather leave people feeling that they had the very best then coming back and tainting his legacy with a lesser performance. leave the fans wanting for more but realizing he has given all that he has got. there is absolutely nothing left to prove to anyone even himself.

[Matthew]

I don't know if I'd characterize it as lack of motivation; perhaps it is lack of ability; that might be the better word.

I disagree with this. If Perry was motivated he'd have the ability to release a great record.

personally i think he closed the door to singing quite a number of years ago and these hints and innuendoes are nothing more to keep the fans interested in his thinking about doing something he realistically is not going to do. no way is he going to top what he has already done. i think he'd rather leave people feeling that they had the very best then coming back and tainting his legacy with a lesser performance. leave the fans wanting for more but realizing he has given all that he has got. there is absolutely nothing left to prove to anyone even himself.

However...in darker moments....I do agree with your take on this, Marabelle ...and I admire Perry for it (except for the bit about leading fans on).

But at the moment...my faith is high....and he did once say that he'd like to record another record before he dies. Well, he's 57 now...so I reckon the temptation will be too great in the next two or three years.

[Marabelle]

"Leading them on" oh I don't think he's intentionally leading them on; he's just not slamming the door shut; he tells them what they seem to have a need to hear and he's also keeping them interested in him and allowing himself a little more time of the being a legend.

[Matthew]

"Leading them on" oh I don't think he's intentionally leading them on; he's just not slamming the door shut; he tells them what they seem to have a need to hear and he's also keeping them interested in him and allowing himself a little more time of the being a legend.

But Marabelle - you just said: "i think he closed the door to singing quite a number of years ago" - but in public has been dropping hints that he might come back. If he's made a private decision to retire and hasn't announced this...then he is intentionally leading us on.

I hope it's closer to the truth to say that Perry genuinely hasn't known whether or not he'll come back.

I wonder if the success of the DL/Journey tour has encouraged him at all to believe that the 'time is right' now?

[A Fire Inside]

Perry is such a perfectionist that it doesn't surprise me to see that he has shyed away from singing lead as his voice grows older.

Perhaps he is afraid, and maybe rightly so, since some people are so critical ALREADY of what they think they will hear. I bet that casual fans will also be expecting 1980 Perry and whine when it isn't him. Steve Perry has never struck me as someone who can just laugh off harsh words like Jeff does here.

[JohnH]

Oops ok well obviously Herbie wasn't a musician. If you are in E (which Dont Stop is) and go down two full steps you would then be playing in C. If you're sitting at a piano and play E then go down two steps, you are actually playing four keys below E. A half step is playing the key next to E, which would be Eflat. Each step down consists of two half steps, or two keys. If Lights, which is in D was taken down two steps it would be played in Bflat, two and a half steps would take it to A. When I watched that clip they were doing it in C. I think Herbie got mixed up that is two half steps down (One full step). If they did lights in A it would sound like Johnny Cash was singing it, it definitely wasnt that low.

JH

[Cheska]

Thanks Sallee for the clip of this...something I didn't have.


How you doing btw?...hope you and Bryn are doing OK

[Matthew]

Perry is such a perfectionist that it doesn't surprise me to see that he has shyed away from singing lead as his voice grows older.

Steve Perry has never struck me as someone who can just laugh off harsh words like Jeff does here.

At first I agreed with your post AFI...and then I thought....hang on a minute....

Who exactly does Perry have to worry about? The music press have slagged him off since day one...and this didn't stop Perry from recording in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

And for every person complaining about "range" on an internet forum there are a hundred people who worship him. I can't see anyone on Perryville giving him a hard time because his voice has changed.

Did perfectionism stop Perry singing on FLOTSM and TBF? On David Pack's single last year? At the World Series rally? Perry was losing his range in the late 1980s - yet he continued to record and perform.

I guess the question is...did he lose confidence in himself after he left Journey? Looking at that awful picture of Perry with the cat in 2000...he looked like a guy who was dimininished in some way...

But in recent pictures he looks like a guy who doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks.

[Deb]

Perry is such a perfectionist that it doesn't surprise me to see that he has shyed away from singing lead as his voice grows older.

Perhaps he is afraid, and maybe rightly so, since some people are so critical ALREADY of what they think they will hear. I bet that casual fans will also be expecting 1980 Perry and whine when it isn't him. Steve Perry has never struck me as someone who can just laugh off harsh words like Jeff does here.

I totally agree with your post, except the last sentence. Perry seems to have a wicked sense of humour. My favorite pic taken from back in May is one of us sharing a laugh. Everybody else was smiling, posing for a pic but SP and I were laughing our heads off.
If he does put out a new CD, do I expect him to sound like he did 30 years ago, not in the least, more realistic than that......but do I expect him to put the same soul/passion into it, you bet your ass I do! And for right now, I am enjoying the mix of JSS and Deen's vocals..........and of course the classic Journey and Perry on CD/DVDs.

[Clasicrockldy]

Was finally able too view this.. Perry sounded OK a few things though as mentioned before the crowd just didn't seem into it at all, Perr was begging them too sing. Could Neal stood further away from Perry you could almost see the tension between them. I wonder why since this was a tribute to Billy why no Ross, or Rollie or Smith. They could of delt with each other for two songs. But anyway thanks for the link it was finally good too see after all those years.

zino,

I believe that th crowd that showed up for the Bill Graham memorial were mostly Grateful Dead heads, and they might not of known the words to the songs. But I really don't know for sure, since I haven't seen the whole program.

[A Fire Inside]

The music press have slagged him off since day one...and this didn't stop Perry from recording in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Well, in the 70s and 80s he had his young range that he could be confident in - now he does not.

And for every person complaining about "range" on an internet forum there are a hundred people who worship him. I can't see anyone on Perryville giving him a hard time because his voice has changed.

Perryville and other sites are but a small fraction of a potential fanbase. As I said in my original post, casual fans (ones who are not on Journey-related forums) will, IMO, blow a new Perry CD off as either "who cares" or "wtf happened to his voice". I find it hard to believe that TODAY Perry has a hundred diehards for every critic.

Did perfectionism stop Perry singing on FLOTSM and TBF? On David Pack's single last year? At the World Series rally? Perry was losing his range in the late 1980s - yet he continued to record and perform.

Quite honestly, I believe it did stop him. He cut FTLOSM short. He never toured TBF. He sang bg vox on Pack, and remember all of these things are only released from the studio, which if we are to believe Tapegate, anyone can be made to sound decent in. I would bet money he did not suggest or immediately agree with the idea of singing DSB with the Sox.

I guess the question is...did he lose confidence in himself after he left Journey? Looking at that awful picture of Perry with the cat in 2000...he looked like a guy who was dimininished in some way...

But in recent pictures he looks like a guy who doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks.

I'm not sure how a picture of him smiling with a cat is more awful than him getting in a suit and smiling with some fans... but I do think that he lost a lot of confidence in himself before he even left Journey. I happen to believe when Herbie says Steve never wanted to tour for TBF - IMO his hip injury timing was perfect when he started getting cold feet about the tour.

I actually like Steve Perry a lot, but I'm convinced he has major issues about performing and he will not tour again. He may release something eventually, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

[Matthew]

Well, in the 70s and 80s he had his young range that he could be confident in - now he does not.

The range was what he was criticized for. In the UK music press he was nicknamed "The Duck".

Perryville and other sites are but a small fraction of a potential fanbase.

Sure - but in May alone it got 30,000 hits. And he still thought it was a significant enough website to do a meet-and-greet with them this year.

As I said in my original post, casual fans (ones who are not on Journey-related forums) will, IMO, blow a new Perry CD off as either "who cares" or "wtf happened to his voice".

If if they're so casual they don't even care then they aren't fans. The ones who do care might go "WTF" - but if the material is strong enough then it won't matter.

I find it hard to believe that TODAY Perry has a hundred diehards for every critic.

Really? The internet community devoted to Perry seems far larger than the one devoted to Journey. I wouldn't underestimate the size of the diehard audience.

Quite honestly, I believe it did stop him. He cut FTLOSM short. He never toured TBF. He sang bg vox on Pack, and remember all of these things are only released from the studio, which if we are to believe Tapegate, anyone can be made to sound decent in. I would bet money he did not suggest or immediately agree with the idea of singing DSB with the Sox.

What's Tapegate got to do with anything? That was about a deception of a live audience. Perry - for all his tour cancellations - has never deceived his fans. But studio technology didn't hide the fact that his range was much narrower than it used to be. It didn't trick us into thinking his voice was the same as it was on Escape. The changes in Perry's voice have been entirely clear on all the albums released since 1981. If he was such a perfectiionist about his range - then none of the albums after ROR would have been released.

And as for the World Series - yes, I'm sure he was initially resistant - but he still showed up and sang into television reporter's microphones didn't he? And - on the pitch at least - he sounded great to me.

I'm not sure how a picture of him smiling with a cat is more awful than him getting in a suit and smiling with some fans...

I'm talking about the pictures of him last week at the Dodgers game. No-one can deny that the guy looks in great shape compared to that cat picture - or indeed any picture taken in the last ten years.

but I do think that he lost a lot of confidence in himself before he even left Journey. I happen to believe when Herbie says Steve never wanted to tour for TBF

Yes - from what I've read - he pretty much had a nervous breakdown of sorts in 1987. Or at the very least he suffered chronic burn out.

To be honest...Herbie Herbert's persepective is so warped by resentment I can't take anything the guy has said at face value after Perry hired Azoff instead of him.

I believe the hip injury was real - but was this the only reason for not touring? No, probably not.

I actually like Steve Perry a lot, but I'm convinced he has major issues about performing and he will not tour again. He may release something eventually, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

You like him a lot? Sounding a bit lukewarm there, AFI? But yes...I agree...a new release is more likely than a tour...but a handful of big dates isn't beyond possibility.

[Vladan]

Matthew and strungout,
I don't think those songs could be touched by Perry today. And I hope to be proven wrong, even though his lack of motivation could lead to all possible thoughts.
Cheers

Who cares if those songs couldn't be touched by Perry today! What the hell does this have to do with anything? Are you as good as you were 25 years ago, or might you have slowed down a bit?? Perry probably couldn't sing with the same range he did 25 years ago. I'll acquiesce to you on that point. That said...there isn't a singer I've heard who could touch Perry's range from that era, either! Ask Jeff Scott Soto...He has said himself, publically! The fact remains that it's Perry's voice that made all of these songs what they became, and they will often be imitated but NEVER will be duplicated!

John from Boston

Exactly!. The fact of the matter remains, Perry made those songs along with Schon and Cain, Valory, Smith. But the vocals were Perry's, he can sing them today in any way shape or form! they are his, just take a look at the albums made by these guys, that's all that matters. Perry on his worst day, even today - would be better than anyone else singing them! simply because it's Steve Perry!, look at the Stones - can you imagine anyone singing their songs? yeah sure there are "better singers" but! nobody is and ever will be like Mick Jagger or Roger Daltrey. The Stones and The Who are not what they once were 25 years ago either.

[A Fire Inside]

Really? The internet community devoted to Perry seems far larger than the one devoted to Journey. I wouldn't underestimate the size of the diehard audience.

Hmm, no, it seems to me the "largest" fanbase is the Perry-with-Journey crowd, not Perry solo or Journey today. Just read their Myspace comments... "get Perry back"... there are more classic Journey fans than Perry alone. I also do not think that the handful of Perry boards surpasses the membership of this forum and BT, they are probably comparable at best.

What's Tapegate got to do with anything?

Nothing really, but if it can be said that Augeri sounds fine in the studio but crappy live, it's possible that Perry has "fixed" his voice up a bit in studio to sound his best.

Perry - for all his tour cancellations - has never deceived his fans.

Actually, you can't know that for sure. I'm not guessing he DID, but you still can't say he didn't.

And as for the World Series - yes, I'm sure he was initially resistant - but he still showed up and sang into television reporter's microphones didn't he?

After long, hard thinking and changing his mind several times, I'd bet.

You like him a lot? Sounding a bit lukewarm there, AFI?

Yeah, I do, I love him for his music and voice. His character, however, is a completely different story.

[Monker]

The Stones and The Who are not what they once were 25 years ago either.

And, Journey isn't the Stones or the Who...not even close. Journey are not, never were, and never will be, rock icons.

Whether you like it or not, the FACT is that Journey continued on without Perry...and still are continuing on without him. The people who keep going back to see Journey perform don't seem to mind that Perry isn't there.

[Matthew]

The Stones and The Who are not what they once were 25 years ago either.

And, Journey isn't the Stones or the Who...not even close. Journey are not, never were, and never will be, rock icons.

Whether you like it or not, the FACT is that Journey continued on without Perry...and still are continuing on without him. The people who keep going back to see Journey perform don't seem to mind that Perry isn't there.

I minded.

[Deb]

Hmm, no, it seems to me the "largest" fanbase is the Perry-with-Journey crowd, not Perry solo or Journey today. Just read their Myspace comments... "get Perry back"... there are more classic Journey fans than Perry alone. I also do not think that the handful of Perry boards surpasses the membership of this forum and BT, they are probably comparable at best.

I have to agree with that comment. And by the way AFI, I don't think it was sad or awful that Perry decided to surprise some fans, I thought it was pretty f***ing cool! Even if I wasn't one of them, I'd still think the same.

[Monker]

I believe that th crowd that showed up for the Bill Graham memorial were mostly Grateful Dead heads, and they might not of known the words to the songs. But I really don't know for sure, since I haven't seen the whole program. [/b]

Oh, please. It was a free concert in Journey's hometown...and that was the reaction. That would not have happened in 1983...and I doubt it would happen today. What occured at the Bill Graham tribute was a result of the Journey that PERRY built. What happened in 1983 was a result of the Journey that HERBIE built. What is happening today is the result of what Neal and Jonathan built.

The truth is that Perry led the band to their lowest point possible, twice. Once after ROR, and again after TBF. They were lucky they could recover anything.

[Monker]

I guess the question is...did he lose confidence in himself after he left Journey?

No, he lost confidence after both GH+5 and "I Stand Alone" bombed.