Steve Perry questions....

[Lebronfan]

I have read is several places "Steve Perry can't sing anymore". How do people know this? When was the last time he was on tour? Has anybody heard him sing in the last few years? Thanks

[mrmusicman73]

I have read is several places "Steve Perry can't sing anymore". How do people know this? When was the last time he was on tour? Has anybody heard him sing in the last few years? Thanks

He just sang on the Guff album, so of course he can sing...

[Lebronfan]

Ok, let me be more specific. Can he sing like he did in the 80's? Or has he lost his range?

[Playitloudforme]

I have read is several places "Steve Perry can't sing anymore". How do people know this? When was the last time he was on tour? Has anybody heard him sing in the last few years? Thanks

He just sang on the Guff album, so of course he can sing...

and it kicked ASS! He definitely can sing. Those that say he cannot are not accurate.

He has chosen to sing in a lower register than what he did earlier on in Journey. That does not equate to not being able to sing. His worst day singing is better than 99.9% of the artists out there on their best days. (YES.. I know... I sound like a loon, but fuck it).

The last time Steve was on tour was the "For the Love of Strange Medicine" tour in 1994-95. So it's been 12 years since he's toured. He's sung back up vocals for several artists, such as David Pack and Guff, who are two of the most recent that I know of.

Go get the CDs. See (rather, Listen) for yourself.

[dcvader]

At the White Sox WS parade SP sounded like a frog was wacking off in his throat. Not sure about the Guff cd.

Link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=504B3iR5M_8

[Rick]

Sure he can sing, but in now way can he sing like the 80's. The Guff tune 'I Can See It In Your Eyes' clearly illustrates that. His vocals on David Packs song 'A Brand New Start' in '04 also shows that he can sing, but it's not even what it was in TBF. I personally don't care what his voice sounds like, I'd like to hear him sing anyway. I don't care if it is in baritone. Just freakin' sing.

[Granny]

Sure he can sing, but in now way can he sing like the 80's. The Guff tune 'I Can See It In Your Eyes' clearly illustrates that. His vocals on David Packs song 'A Brand New Start' in '04 also shows that he can sing, but it's not even what it was in TBF. I personally don't care what his voice sounds like, I'd like to hear him sing anyway. I don't care if it is in baritone. Just freakin' sing.

Right on Rick...any sound would be good...sounded good on Guff and Pack albums..oh how I want to hear him sing...again

[Playitloudforme]

At the White Sox WS parade SP sounded like a frog was wacking off in his throat. Not sure about the Guff cd.

Link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=504B3iR5M_8

DC... That was after several days of yelling out loud. I can't sing worth shit after going to any event like that, let alone talk. This was not a concert.

Guff CD is killer.

[raisedonfaith]

Sure, he can still sing just not Journey tunes the way they were originally done. If you read his recent interview with Newsweek he touches upon that issue.

[Rick]

DC... That was after several days of yelling out loud. I can't sing worth shit after going to any event like that, let alone talk. This was not a concert.

Good point.

[Playitloudforme]

What he said in Newsweek was (in regard to Don't Stop Believin')
NW: "Have there been requests for you to sing the song in public again?
SP: Yes, and I've respectfully declined at this point. Journey have been performing it with several singers since we parted ways in 1998. I could go out and do it myself if I wanted, but I won't."

NW: Why?
SP: I want to protect the integrity of the songs, keep them the way they were when we were together. We were good together and what we did was good. That's my timeline of the stuff that matters.


He didn't say he couldn't. He said he could.

He won't, as he wants to keep them the way they were when the entire group was together. Doing them by himself removes 4 parts of the integrity of the song. Has nothing to do with the quality of his voice.

[dcvader]

DC... That was after several days of yelling out loud. I can't sing worth shit after going to any event like that, let alone talk. This was not a concert.

Good point.

Agreed that was not a concert. Plus, I have have said many times here and on the Annex that I would pay whatever it takes to see SP again in the front row.

Now to the White Sox WS parade. Why the fuck would he get up there and sing in front of MILLIONS of people (mostly on TV) with no background music or even an organ player with some "Mood" music. Hell they had an organ player getting the crowd ready for hours leading up the the ceremony and SP singing. He had to know lot's of people would be watching and wanting to see how he sounds after all the years.

[Playitloudforme]

DC... That was after several days of yelling out loud. I can't sing worth shit after going to any event like that, let alone talk. This was not a concert.

Good point.

Agreed that was not a concert. Plus, I have have said many times here and on the Annex that I would pay whatever it takes to see SP again in the front row.

Now to the White Sox WS parade. Why the fuck would he get up there and sing in front of MILLIONS of people (mostly on TV) with no background music or even an organ player with some "Mood" music. Hell they had an organ player getting the crowd ready for hours leading up the the ceremony and SP singing. He had to know lot's of people would be watching and wanting to see how he sounds after all the years.

Probably because he was as honored as all shit that he was ASKED... they just won the World Series, they're in the locker room jumpin up and down like 10 yr olds screaming " STEVE STEVE STEVE". I doubt very much that his ego was wrapped up in what he sounded like. If he had, he would have turned them down. He was celebrating the team, not him. It was about them, not Steve Perry.

And I'll be right along side of ya watching him when he DOES decide to sing in front of an audience again. Hopefully, one day soon.

[Soto All The Way]

DC... That was after several days of yelling out loud. I can't sing worth shit after going to any event like that, let alone talk. This was not a concert.

Good point.

Agreed that was not a concert. Plus, I have have said many times here and on the Annex that I would pay whatever it takes to see SP again in the front row.

Now to the White Sox WS parade. Why the fuck would he get up there and sing in front of MILLIONS of people (mostly on TV) with no background music or even an organ player with some "Mood" music. Hell they had an organ player getting the crowd ready for hours leading up the the ceremony and SP singing. He had to know lot's of people would be watching and wanting to see how he sounds after all the years.

Agreed, he sounded like shit. I doubt he has much left. I know he does not have a 20 or 30 city 15 song tour in his future.

e-

[slucero]

I thought so too.. thought he had lost it... then I listened to "Brand New Start... from the David Pack CD... Perry can still sing....

BUT.... the reason he doesn't sing publicly now is ...


... wait for it....



CAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO...

[Rick]

I thought so too.. thought he had lost it... then I listened to "Brand New Start... from the David Pack CD... Perry can still sing....

BUT.... the reason he doesn't sing publicly now is ...


... wait for it....



CAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO...

I'll just have to agree with this one. With one side note. I don't think he wants to because he knows that everyone will expect him to sound like he did in his heyday. He knows his hardcore fans like us don't mind if he doesn't sound as good, but it's the casual fans that he's afraid of.

[Playitloudforme]

He does interviews when he has something to say (his words, not mine).

I'm thinkin he sings when he has something he wants to sing. The man needs a muse. Where's Olivia Newton-John in her rollerskates when ya need her....

[Kate]

What he said in Newsweek was (in regard to Don't Stop Believin')
NW: "Have there been requests for you to sing the song in public again?
SP: Yes, and I've respectfully declined at this point. Journey have been performing it with several singers since we parted ways in 1998. I could go out and do it myself if I wanted, but I won't."

NW: Why?
SP: I want to protect the integrity of the songs, keep them the way they were when we were together. We were good together and what we did was good. That's my timeline of the stuff that matters.


He didn't say he couldn't. He said he could.

He won't, as he wants to keep them the way they were when the entire group was together. Doing them by himself removes 4 parts of the integrity of the song. Has nothing to do with the quality of his voice.

When I read his interview about wanting to protect the integrity of the songs, all I could think of was that it was like buying a child a present then making them leave it in the box and put it on a shelf until it became a collector's item. To me, music is meant to be played, heard and enjoyed. In a perfect world he'd have taken the break he needed and then gone back to working with the band, but he chose not to do that. I for one am glad I've had the opportunity to see a lot of great concerts with SA and JSS, and those shows have brought a whole new generation of fans on board. I have 2 kids in college, and every time Journey played around here huge groups of their friends went to the shows, and it seemed like most of them wound up going out and buying their cd's after seeing them live. Touring without Perry kept the music alive, and kept the money rolling in for all of them, SP included.

[Playitloudforme]

Very weird seeing someone else post with my name. Anywho...

As a performer, here's my take on it. There's the Broadway version of Wicked with Edina Menzel. Frickin brilliance. Then everyone and their mother starts putting on a staging of Wicked. Many are very good. Many have great great names playing some of the roles. But damn it... not Edina. Her voice, her performance is what blew everyone away. Could it have been a huge hit with someone else? Probably, but that isn't what happened. It historically was Edina. She gets remembered. By everyone. She's Elphaba (yes..I'm a full-on theater geek, m'k?)

Anyway, when it comes to bands, especially with songs that they wrote, it has to be weird as all to see someone else put their spin on it. That's what I'm thinking he means by the Integrity of the songs. It took that line up to make THAT magic happen. Alter it in any way... and it'll never be the same as what it was when it was done by the classic line up. Doesn't make it worse, but it's can't have what the original had. The ingredients are different. Trade out steak for chicken in a dish, and it's different.

**and off my loon soapbox.

[RSParker]

i would think after 30 plus years of the man singing like that, and i MEAN SINGING LIKE THAT! wow! the voice would tend to get wore out. I dont see him returning to the touring or album world. JMHO

[Kate]

Very weird seeing someone else post with my name. Anywho...

As a performer, here's my take on it. There's the Broadway version of Wicked with Edina Menzel. Frickin brilliance. Then everyone and their mother starts putting on a staging of Wicked. Many are very good. Many have great great names playing some of the roles. But damn it... not Edina. Her voice, her performance is what blew everyone away. Could it have been a huge hit with someone else? Probably, but that isn't what happened. It historically was Edina. She gets remembered. By everyone. She's Elphaba (yes..I'm a full-on theater geek, m'k?)

Anyway, when it comes to bands, especially with songs that they wrote, it has to be weird as all to see someone else put their spin on it. That's what I'm thinking he means by the Integrity of the songs. It took that line up to make THAT magic happen. Alter it in any way... and it'll never be the same as what it was when it was done by the classic line up. Doesn't make it worse, but it's can't have what the original had. The ingredients are different. Trade out steak for chicken in a dish, and it's different.

**and off my loon soapbox.

I was kinda surprised Kate wasn't taken when I registered. Anyway, I don't disagree with you. The Perry lineup did have a special magic and I would have loved for it to continue. I'm just saying I'm glad that the live shows didn't end when he left even though they were a long time coming. I really enjoyed the SA and JSS shows I saw, and I thought their personalities brought something new to the mix. Not better...just different. Never saw Wicked with Edina, but wish I had!

[tammy]

I thought so too.. thought he had lost it... then I listened to "Brand New Start... from the David Pack CD... Perry can still sing....

BUT.... the reason he doesn't sing publicly now is ...


... wait for it....



CAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO...

That's about it. For whatever reasons he has, he chooses not to. He seems okay with being in the background of other artists. As much as I would love to see/hear him again, realistically, I don't believe it will happen after all I've read from him. Plus, it has been a very, very long time. Holding out for a RocknRoll heaven...hope I get a ticket.

[Deb]

Very weird seeing someone else post with my name. Anywho...

As a performer, here's my take on it. There's the Broadway version of Wicked with Edina Menzel. Frickin brilliance. Then everyone and their mother starts putting on a staging of Wicked. Many are very good. Many have great great names playing some of the roles. But damn it... not Edina. Her voice, her performance is what blew everyone away. Could it have been a huge hit with someone else? Probably, but that isn't what happened. It historically was Edina. She gets remembered. By everyone. She's Elphaba (yes..I'm a full-on theater geek, m'k?)

Anyway, when it comes to bands, especially with songs that they wrote, it has to be weird as all to see someone else put their spin on it. That's what I'm thinking he means by the Integrity of the songs. It took that line up to make THAT magic happen. Alter it in any way... and it'll never be the same as what it was when it was done by the classic line up. Doesn't make it worse, but it's can't have what the original had. The ingredients are different. Trade out steak for chicken in a dish, and it's different.

**and off my loon soapbox.

Great post Kate! LOL you Kates may have to go the 1 & 2 route like the Debs.

[Enigma869]

When I read his interview about wanting to protect the integrity of the songs, all I could think of was that it was like buying a child a present then making them leave it in the box and put it on a shelf until it became a collector's item.

I guess different eyes interpret things a bit differently. I honestly thought Perry's comments about protecting the integrity of the songs was a shot across the bow at the guys still masquerading as "Journey"! I don't think Perry is even remotely happy that these songs are still being performed under a name he made famous. Not to mention, the complete embarrassment Journey has become in the music world!


John from Boston

[Playitloudforme]

Very weird seeing someone else post with my name. Anywho...

As a performer, here's my take on it. There's the Broadway version of Wicked with Edina Menzel. Frickin brilliance. Then everyone and their mother starts putting on a staging of Wicked. Many are very good. Many have great great names playing some of the roles. But damn it... not Edina. Her voice, her performance is what blew everyone away. Could it have been a huge hit with someone else? Probably, but that isn't what happened. It historically was Edina. She gets remembered. By everyone. She's Elphaba (yes..I'm a full-on theater geek, m'k?)

Anyway, when it comes to bands, especially with songs that they wrote, it has to be weird as all to see someone else put their spin on it. That's what I'm thinking he means by the Integrity of the songs. It took that line up to make THAT magic happen. Alter it in any way... and it'll never be the same as what it was when it was done by the classic line up. Doesn't make it worse, but it's can't have what the original had. The ingredients are different. Trade out steak for chicken in a dish, and it's different.

**and off my loon soapbox.

Great post Kate! LOL you Kates may have to go the 1 & 2 route like the Debs.

LOL.. Deb1, Deb2, Kate1, Kate2, Thing1, Thing2...LOL!

[CatEyes]

Sure he can sing, but in now way can he sing like the 80's. The Guff tune 'I Can See It In Your Eyes' clearly illustrates that. His vocals on David Packs song 'A Brand New Start' in '04 also shows that he can sing, but it's not even what it was in TBF. I personally don't care what his voice sounds like, I'd like to hear him sing anyway. I don't care if it is in baritone. Just freakin' sing.

Right on Rick...any sound would be good...sounded good on Guff and Pack albums..oh how I want to hear him sing...again

Amen.

Heck I would be thrilled to hear him stand on a street corner and read the phone book.

I would FIND a way to dance to it!!

Cat

[dcvader]

DC... That was after several days of yelling out loud. I can't sing worth shit after going to any event like that, let alone talk. This was not a concert.

Good point.

Agreed that was not a concert. Plus, I have have said many times here and on the Annex that I would pay whatever it takes to see SP again in the front row.

Now to the White Sox WS parade. Why the fuck would he get up there and sing in front of MILLIONS of people (mostly on TV) with no background music or even an organ player with some "Mood" music. Hell they had an organ player getting the crowd ready for hours leading up the the ceremony and SP singing. He had to know lot's of people would be watching and wanting to see how he sounds after all the years.

Probably because he was as honored as all shit that he was ASKED... they just won the World Series, they're in the locker room jumpin up and down like 10 yr olds screaming " STEVE STEVE STEVE". I doubt very much that his ego was wrapped up in what he sounded like. If he had, he would have turned them down. He was celebrating the team, not him. It was about them, not Steve Perry.

And I'll be right along side of ya watching him when he DOES decide to sing in front of an audience again. Hopefully, one day soon.

This took place a few days later. I am not talking about in the locker room. This was the parade a few days later. Plenty of time to get it right. The youtube video I posted is not in the locker room.

[Soto All The Way]

When I read his interview about wanting to protect the integrity of the songs, all I could think of was that it was like buying a child a present then making them leave it in the box and put it on a shelf until it became a collector's item.

I guess different eyes interpret things a bit differently. I honestly thought Perry's comments about protecting the integrity of the songs was a shot across the bow at the guys still masquerading as "Journey"! I don't think Perry is even remotely happy that these songs are still being performed under a name he made famous. Not to mention, the complete embarrassment Journey has become in the music world!


John from Boston

BINGO!!!! I think the same thing......Don't break the "Journey Mold" I think it was......From here on out, it's simply a over band with guest stars.....

e-

[Playitloudforme]

This took place a few days later. I am not talking about in the locker room. This was the parade a few days later. Plenty of time to get it right. The youtube video I posted is not in the locker room.

No it's not. I've blown out my voice for a week after going to a concert and screaming like crazy. I've no doubt he did the same.

[ohsherrie]

When I read his interview about wanting to protect the integrity of the songs, all I could think of was that it was like buying a child a present then making them leave it in the box and put it on a shelf until it became a collector's item.

I guess different eyes interpret things a bit differently. I honestly thought Perry's comments about protecting the integrity of the songs was a shot across the bow at the guys still masquerading as "Journey"! I don't think Perry is even remotely happy that these songs are still being performed under a name he made famous. Not to mention, the complete embarrassment Journey has become in the music world!


John from Boston

BINGO!!!! I think the same thing......Don't break the "Journey Mold" I think it was......From here on out, it's simply a over band with guest stars.....

e-

Yep!! The integrity of the songs is as much about the people who created them and made them part of the soundtrack of our lives as the notes and lyrics of the songs.