Perry, Sony, Solo vs. Jrny and the TBF Fall Out

[Badcotune]

I've long had a suspicion as to what Perry's true motivation was for effectively bailing out on JRNY and TBF. This was reinforced by some comments Steve's FTLOSM drummer Moyes Lucas said on a Q and A a few years ago now. Moyes basically said that Sony would not release another single for FTLOSM until Steve came to the table for Journey discussions. This reminded me of a few older Music Executives (From Sony?) who sat behind me at Steve's FTLOSM show in LA. These guys were very haughty in their discussions of Steve and said something to the effect of " We'll let him run around and do his thing, then we'll get him back where he needs to be and he'll be huge again." Given the fallout following TBF, of which I am well read, and well researched, given the fact that Steve is much more valuable a musical commodity to Sony if he is IN Journey -- and added in the additional inforomation brought to light by reading Steve's comments re: Sony in his new reissue booklets, that Sony shelved his second Solo cd, and effectively "walked away" from it -- this all underscores my exisiting feelings that TBF non-tour, non-promotion, was Steve's big "F.U." to Sony. As an Artist, your most valuable commodity, your most valuable weapon in negotiation is your craft, your skill. Steve did the album because he wanted to create new music. He walked away to teach Sony a little lesson about "No Support." Even though it's His music, in Perry's skewed ego and mind, he was showing them -- giving back a little of the bad taste they served him. One bad turn deserves another.

Were his deteoriating voice and hip condition a factor? Yes. It was all factored in, and dovetailed nicely as Perry's true intentions began to percolate, and ultimately congeal. Perry's a drama queen, and if he had to ham it up for a video shoot and appear to be in greater pain that he probably was -- so be it. Beats the hell out of touring for a year. Was there a hip condition? Sure. Would it have prevented him from going on shows, doing some TV, doing a song while sitting on a stool at the Grammys? Would it have prohibited him saying he intended to record new music in the studio with Journey again? No.

The TBF Fallout was Perry showing Sony who really had the power. If it hurts himself, his bandmates, and his musical legacy in the long run, so be it. It's a twisted Greek Tragedy, and Perry's a conflicted, complicated man. This is all opinion, but it is a well read, informed, and educated one.

I think if you connect the dots, it's not a terribly big leap.

[whocares]

If you think back to the idea of being well read, about such things, you'll remember that by ALL accounts, Perry is the least likely to need ANY amount of money from actually recording with or being back in Journey. At any point in time.

I wondered about his comments in the booklets as well, and it could be he was "sticking it to the man". Someone at Sony had to approve the commetns in the booklet though, don't ya think? Maybe they just didn't read in between the lines as most diehard Perry fans would. Maybe it's just another way to get people to take Perry's side and say, man we've GOT to have this material, NOW! There's lots of ways to look at Perry and his situations...

[L~L~L]

Thank you I enjoyed reading this very much. I know the guys took it personally, but it was for the greater good.

[Badcotune]

If you think back to the idea of being well read, about such things, you'll remember that by ALL accounts, Perry is the least likely to need ANY amount of money from actually recording with or being back in Journey. At any point in time.

I never once mentioned MONEY as a motivating factor. I don't believe it was. It was about "doing onto others as they've done onto you." That's what Perry did to Sony.

Sony wanted him in a very specific capacity, demonstrated such on multiple occasions, and Perry smarted from it.

[whocares]

never said you mentioned money, I mentioned it, because if you have enough for you, then you can tell anyone to "F.U."

[frfksakes]

sounds as plausable as anything else I've heard. And it is a Greek tragedy. geesh! I hate that we missed out on years of music, but I think I'd get pretty sick of Sony's shit, too. If your tale is a true one, they killed FTLOSM, and he killed TBF in return. NICE

spankings all around

[Badcotune]

never said you mentioned money, I mentioned it, because if you have enough for you, then you can tell anyone to "F.U."

Sure you can, but for Perry this was't about money.

I believe this was more a case of having a commodity and a project you believed you could really run with, but having your legs tied. In Perry's case, he felt passionately about Solo, and wanted to run Solo, but had his legs tied. Sony had, in TBF, something they felt passionatley about, and something they could really run with, all motivated by money, because they don't care about the artist. For Perry, it was about Pride.

FTLOSM, and Against the Wall was a Perry want. Journey reunion and TBF was a SONY want.
Intentional reversal of fortune. In the Journey reunion, now the string holders have a project THEY felt they could run with, and Perry was the one tying off thier legs -- Tit for Tat -- metaphorically speaking. The other Perry health and aging factors were helpful and convenient accouterments.

[finalfight]

You are all waaaaaay off base. This dude has the real low down on why Perry quit Journey for good*.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmlUV3q6 ... ed&search=

*The man is quite obviously psychotic!

[NealIsGod]

I remember you, badco. Some people here were accusing you of being Perry a while back...

[Badcotune]

You are all waaaaaay off base. This dude has the real low down on why Perry quit Journey for good*.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmlUV3q6 ... ed&search=

*The man is quite obviously psychotic!

Yeah, there's lots of little jokes, fake news items, and people with too much time on thier hands here. How about actual discussion? Too big an ask, I'm sure.

[whocares]

Sony didn't care about anything other than there bottom line. It's still that way for them. They're in it for the money, being "fucked over" by Perry was just a minor step back for them.

Now Perry and Sony are working together again, making each other money. Again.

[brywool]

Sounds like it could be true- however, Perry's voice wasn't great at the time.
I can see Sony doing that. I can see any music biz/promoter/agent scumbag doing that...

[NoMoreTails]

...all underscores my exisiting feelings that TBF non-tour, non-promotion, was Steve's big "F.U." to Sony.

Maybe, but Sony had other artists, mostly he fucked over his bandmates...
But I think its because he knew he couldn't deliver live anymore.

[frfksakes]

never said you mentioned money, I mentioned it, because if you have enough for you, then you can tell anyone to "F.U."

Sure you can, but for Perry this was't about money.

I believe this was more a case of having a commodity and a project you believed you could really run with, but having your legs tied. In Perry's case, he felt passionately about Solo, and wanted to run Solo, but had his legs tied. Sony had, in TBF, something they felt passionatley about, and something they could really run with, all motivated by money, because they don't care about the artist. For Perry, it was about Pride.

FTLOSM, and Against the Wall was a Perry want. Journey reunion and TBF was a SONY want.
Intentional reversal of fortune. In the Journey reunion, now the string holders have a project THEY felt they could run with, and Perry was the one tying off thier legs -- Tit for Tat -- metaphorically speaking. The other Perry health and aging factors were helpful and convenient accouterments.

Yeah, but I think I get whocares point. How many artist can afford the luxury of doing what you say Perry did?

Though in you're version, he sacrificed a hell of a lot. God, I hate that everything has to be so fucked up. I want to shoot sony for not putting out Against the Wall, etc. Not perfect music, but the timing was great, and I'd love to have it.

But what would YOU have done, Badco? (Seriously)

[frfksakes]

...all underscores my exisiting feelings that TBF non-tour, non-promotion, was Steve's big "F.U." to Sony.

Maybe, but Sony had other artists, mostly he fucked over his bandmates...
But I think its because he knew he couldn't deliver live anymore.

He delivered live in 94!! I thought he was awesome.

[ArnelRox]

But I think its because he knew he couldn't deliver live anymore.

He delivered live in 94!! I thought he was awesome.

He sure did. I saw 2 shows & only wish I'd seen more. He was absolutely amazing & on top of his game for both shows I saw & the couple of boots I've heard from other shows. If I'd known that was the last time I'd hear from him for at least 12 years, I'd have gone to every single show. [Sigh]

[perryfaithful]

You are all waaaaaay off base. This dude has the real low down on why Perry quit Journey for good*.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmlUV3q6 ... ed&search=

*The man is quite obviously psychotic!

Is that THE Wix????

Thanks for the link, I gave it a quickie look and moved on to YOU BETTER WAIT!!!
Love that video......

Somewhere there is love, huh??

[SF-Dano]

-- this all underscores my exisiting feelings that TBF non-tour, non-promotion, was Steve's big "F.U." to Sony.

Yes and it was an even bigger F.U. to the rest of the guys in the band. Steve Perry = Great vocal talent, untolerable band-mate.

[finalfight]

You are all waaaaaay off base. This dude has the real low down on why Perry quit Journey for good*.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmlUV3q6 ... ed&search=

*The man is quite obviously psychotic!

Yeah, there's lots of little jokes, fake news items, and people with too much time on thier hands here. How about actual discussion? Too big an ask, I'm sure.

Jerk.

As for the topic in hand - FTLOSM is a great album and listening to Trial By Fire since gives the me the impression that Steve was being restrained a little, almost like he didn't want to be there. That whole time seems a little sad and melachonic. This is hard to express properly knowing that Steve never gave anything less than an incredible vocal performance but the project as a whole, to me at least, seems to lack energy and enthusiasm. It evokes memories of the Billy Graham tribute video, which I found both fascinating and heartbreaking to watch or Augeri's last onstage performance where he simply had to give up half way through. It practically screams - 'this is the end'!

[Rockindeano]

So Big Bad Steve Perry in your mind "stuck it to the Man?"

That's very brash of him to do so. Meanwhile, he fucked over Neal, Jon, Ross and Smith and most of all, he fucked all of US right in the ass.

Yeah Steve, you showed the man.


This is exactly why this guy is an incredibly talented asshole in every regard.

I don't give a shit if Andrew wants an interview or not. If this in fact happened, Perry should go straight to Hell.

[TRAGChick]

This reminded me of a few older Music Executives (From Sony?) who sat behind me at Steve's FTLOSM show in LA. These guys were very haughty in their discussions of Steve and said something to the effect of "We'll let him run around and do his thing, then we'll get him back where he needs to be and he'll be huge again."

BASTARDS!!

Given the fallout following TBF, of which I am well read, and well researched, given the fact that Steve is much more valuable a musical commodity to Sony if he is IN Journey -- and added in the additional inforomation brought to light by reading Steve's comments re: Sony in his new reissue booklets, that Sony shelved his second Solo cd, and effectively "walked away" from it -- this all underscores my exisiting feelings that TBF non-tour, non-promotion, was Steve's big "F.U." to Sony.

Yup....I ALWAYS thought there was more to this picture...and LO & BEHOLD....:roll:

As an Artist, your most valuable commodity, your most valuable weapon in negotiation is your craft, your skill. Steve did the album because he wanted to create new music. He walked away to teach Sony a little lesson about "No Support." Even though it's His music, in Perry's skewed ego and mind, he was showing them -- giving back a little of the bad taste they served him. One bad turn deserves another.

Could not agree with you more on this one....they had him slammed up against a wall (ABSOLUTELY NO PUN intended) with their hand on his throat...

I think if you connect the dots, it's not a terribly big leap.

Thank you for putting into very organized words what I always thought...

[Rockindeano]

Nora, take off the fucking Biased glasses.

You sound retarded.

[A Fire Inside]

...all underscores my exisiting feelings that TBF non-tour, non-promotion, was Steve's big "F.U." to Sony.

Maybe, but Sony had other artists, mostly he fucked over his bandmates...
But I think its because he knew he couldn't deliver live anymore.

My thought was always that he just got nervous about the thought of being back in the band and touring. I also figure this is why he cut off FTLOSM... maybe had a bad voice night and freaked out. I hope the guy is taking his Zoloft nowadays, because he was Mr. Anxiety during his career.

[Rockindeano]

Yeah dude, Steve Perry got nervous about being in the band he was in for 9 fucking years? That's it, he was nervous.

What is wrong with you people?

[A Fire Inside]

Yeah dude, Steve Perry got nervous about being in the band he was in for 9 fucking years? That's it, he was nervous.

Um, no, he was nervous about being in a band he hadn't been in for 10 years, during which time his voice deteriorated a LOT, and the last time he had seen Neal and Jon was during that awful Bill Graham concert. Call it stage fright if you want.

[Rockindeano]

Yeah dude, Steve Perry got nervous about being in the band he was in for 9 fucking years? That's it, he was nervous.

Um, no, he was nervous about being in a band he hadn't been in for 10 years, during which time his voice deteriorated a LOT. Call it stage fright if you want.

Yeah you're right. I forgot Stevie never really felt like part of the band.

[Ms_M]

Yeah dude, Steve Perry got nervous about being in the band he was in for 9 fucking years? That's it, he was nervous.

Um, no, he was nervous about being in a band he hadn't been in for 10 years, during which time his voice deteriorated a LOT. Call it stage fright if you want.

Yeah you're right. I forgot Stevie never really felt like part of the band.

[Enigma869]

The TBF Fallout was Perry showing Sony who really had the power. If it hurts himself, his bandmates, and his musical legacy in the long run, so be it.

I'm not sure I have ever thought Perry leaving Journey somehow hurt his "musical legacy". Sure, there are those like Deano and others who think the guy should be burned at the stake. That said, there are many more (myself included) who think he's the greatest voice we will ever hear! I think Perry's legacy was quite secure, long before the TBF debacle. Honsestly, I've always been of the belief that if Perry came back, it might affect his legacy, long before walking away ever would have! Think about it...If Perry came back and couldn't sing half as well as he used to be able to (a real possibility at the age of 57), a lot of people might start questioning the greatness that was Perry. I think Perry is a complicated guy, but, I also think he's quite intelligent and well aware of his place in music history. He knows that he put an unkown band on the map, and for a moment in time, made Journey the biggest thing on the planet!

John from Boston

[Rockindeano]

Ok John.

I believe he is the greatest vocalist of all time, but let's face it, he is a major asshole, and you know it.

You sound like you are in love with the guy.

[Rockindeano]

I should add this. IF Perry walked away because he wanted to go out on top of his game, and not do something so scandalous as lip sync, then that is great, and I do applaud that.

However, Why in the Hell did he ever go through the trouble of doing the TBF record if he never had the slightest intention of touring. He lied to Neal and Jon. He lied to Ross and Smitty, asking them back..for what> A studio album that barely went platinum? That record would have fetched triple platinum had they toured.