Perry vs. Schon

[Saint John]

First, Perry. Perry joined Journey and the impact was immediate. The commercial success that had eluded them for years was suddenly there. They had found the missing component, his voice. As they grew in popularity, they began to tour relentlessly. The voice, along with Neal Schon's guitar, and a new transgender keyboardist made them a household name. Before too long, they were the dominant band of the era. They toured nonstop to full stadiums. However, it came with a price. The road can be tough, and it was. Perry's voice changed, and the rigors of the road and the indulgences it presents can be tough on a man looking to reform. After giving all he had, he deemed it time for a rest. After a 10 year layoff he attempted a comeback to the band HE made famous. Unfortunately, he decided for whatever reasons, health or emotional, or a combination of the two, that it was time his Journey ended. Having given all he could and been financially prudent enough to step away, he did.

Second, Neal Schon. Growing up a guitar vituoso, Neal Schon was immediately noticed. After declining Eric Clapton's invitation to play with him, and later playing on several Santana albums, he agreed to branch off and start a new band with co-Santana member Greg Rolie and road manager Herbie Herbert. After playing on some smoking Journey fusion albums he was introduced to Steve Perry through Herbie Herbert. The two gelled immediately. Schon wrapped his guitar playing around an incredible, angelic voice. The two, along with a less than heterosexual new keyboardist, took the music world by storm. They pumped out album sales in the tens of millions. Schon, no stranger to touring, seemed like a kid in a candy store. The road was all he had ever known. The two partied like brothers...for awhile. However, some people grow up, others don't. Schon thought Perry had changed. He had. He had grown up. Unable to do the same, he (Schon) drove a permanent rift in the relationship. The road owned this man. All night parties, indulging in booze (among other things) and women was his idea of "touring." Unfortunately, when he realized "the voice" was gone, it was too late. He had bills to pay, wives that he owed and mouths to feed. His inability to ever grow up left him and his smock-wearing keyboardist scrambling for the next "voice." Unbeknownst to these two Einsteins, that now had the "keys to the car" was that the Journey was over. Rather than "reform this thing" with a bit of originality and dignity, they opted to ride the coattails of the "voice" that brought them fame. They continued to "journey" forward...so they thought. So here they are now, searching for their third singer since 1998, and still unable to realize that "the party's over."

In closing, I'll say this. Perry does what he wants because he made the decisions and sacrifices that have ALLOWED him to do that. If he feels like ever singing again I suspect he will. If he decides he'd rather cameo here and there, he can do that also. On the flipside you have two dumbfucks. One who was touring before he could spell "alimony" and the other who is a greedy, backstabbing, behind the scenes phony. The two seem made for each other. They've been reduced to bitter, greedy jerks who now tour as a pseudoband of something that WAS great. The critics, along with some of their peers have finally taken notice. They'll return once again, touring under the name that one man, and some great musicians at the time, made famous. Call it what you will, but it's no longer Journey. Hasn't been since 1998. If they choose the singer I think they will, I will support them because of him and him only. I enjoy rooting for the underdog. It's just a shame he might be boarding a sinking ship. Meanwhile, Steve Perry continues to seemingly enjoy life and the independence that being a competent rock star has given him. My "decision" is: Perry by knockout.

[Jeremey fan forever]

Neal vs Perry is tough. I'll go with Perry for his killer vocals, but for guitar I'll have to go with Neal, no contest.

[stevew2]

i agree with you SJ

[ProgRocker53]

The more that happens with today's Journey, and the more I look into what happened in the past, the more I feel for and understand Perry. I've never been a loon and never will be, but having been burned out on a lot of things I've done and loved in my life, I know exactly where he's coming from for not touring and not recording.

[Trailblazer]

I don't post here much, but this was one I couldn't just read and move on. Well done, Saint John. I have always admired what Steve Perry brought to the Journey table. Now I find myself respecting the man more and more for how he has conducted himself over the years. I don't think I qualify as a loon, but if so, that's fine with me.

[Saint John]

I don't post here much, but this was one I couldn't just read and move on. Well done, Saint John. I have always admired what Steve Perry brought to the Journey table. Now I find myself respecting the man more and more for how he has conducted himself over the years. I don't think I qualify as a loon, but if so, that's fine with me.

Thank you, TB.

[EightyRock]

Bang on, SJ. Schon is on a path of self-destruction. He's already single-handedly destroyed the band under his and the frocked-one's leadership. Perry may have stopped for whatever reasons, but at least he had cared about the 'l" word. (that's legacy, for you newbies) While he was in charge, there was vision and a passion to always be the best. That's gone.

I won't support the band with ANY new singer at this point. I wish Jeremey the best, though.

[Trailblazer]

No problem, SJ - just calling it as I see it.

[Saint John]

Bang on, SJ. Schon is on a path of self-destruction. He's already single-handedly destroyed the band under his and the frocked-one's leadership. Perry may have stopped for whatever reasons, but at least he had cared about the 'l" word. (that's legacy, for you newbies) While he was in charge, there was vision and a passion to always be the best. That's gone.

I won't support the band with ANY new singer at this point. I wish Jeremey the best, though.

Funny how Friga and Schon always bring up Perry taking control of the band back in the day. Judging by the decsions they've made since his departure, it was a no-brainer for him to take the reigns.

[EightyRock]

Yeah, even Rolie said Perry was ambitious and wanted to write the songs. It took me awhile to see how much he influenced their sound, other than just vocals. Perry and Schon wrote some good stuff together, then frock-boy gets hired and the Perry/Cain sound happens. I think Journey's sound was more influenced THROUGHOUT their career by Perry, instead of with Cain coming in, as many imply. It took all three of them combined to create greatness, but the Perry element was the glue.

[sindee67]

I wonder what SMITTY would say about all this..
No one's heard from him.
Oh, that's right, he's moved on himself to bigger and better things!

[ohsherrie]

Great post and thread SJ. I couldn't have said it better myself.

[Saint John]

Great post and thread SJ. I couldn't have said it better myself.

What did ya expect?

[Rick]

Funny how Friga and Schon always bring up Perry taking control of the band back in the day. Judging by the decsions they've made since his departure, it was a no-brainer for him to take the reigns.

A-fuckin-men right there bro.

[Soto All The Way]

Funny how Friga and Schon always bring up Perry taking control of the band back in the day. Judging by the decsions they've made since his departure, it was a no-brainer for him to take the reigns.

A-fuckin-men right there bro.

Yes Sir.....Indeed I agree.

e-

[WIX]

take away recent events, past, whatever.

It has always been Perry for me.

Best singer there ever was fucking PERIOD !

If you disagree with that whoever you may be. That is fine. Because you are wrong. If you like being wrong have at it.

Steve Perry has a voice that no other will ever have. Guy makes me want to have homosexual san fransisco thoughts and I am as far from gay as a man can get.

His voice is that good.

I rode my first girl in high school to send her my love, actually she was on top as I had no clue what the hell I was doing at 3am in a church parking lot. She was a red head, had rode lots of ponies before.
Steve was there for that moment bwhahahahaahahahahahaha

When I am 90 I will throw in Stone in Love and ride my wife and die having that ride with Perry present again !

The guy is,was simply that gosh damned good.

Like I say, if you diagree, or if you think Journey wasn't a success because of what he brought. Then you can go play hide aND GO FK YERSELF. BECAUSE YOU ARE WRONG.

iF YOU AGREE WITH ME, I will accept your invitiation for that beer !

[7 Wishes]

Neal is flat-out the most diversely talented guitarist who ever walked the earth. The fact that he had the greatest rock singer in history (a helluva songwriter in his own right) is what made Journey the standard against which all other melodic rock bands should be, are, and will be judged.

[Soto All The Way]

take away recent events, past, whatever.

It has always been Perry for me.

Best singer there ever was fucking PERIOD !

If you disagree with that whoever you may be. That is fine. Because you are wrong. If you like being wrong have at it.

Steve Perry has a voice that no other will ever have. Guy makes me want to have homosexual san fransisco thoughts and I am as far from gay as a man can get.

His voice is that good.

I rode my first girl in high school to send her my love, actually she was on top as I had no clue what the hell I was doing at 3am in a church parking lot. She was a red head, had rode lots of ponies before.
Steve was there for that moment bwhahahahaahahahahahaha

When I am 90 I will throw in Stone in Love and ride my wife and die having that ride with Perry present again !

The guy is,was simply that gosh damned good.

Like I say, if you diagree, or if you think Journey wasn't a success because of what he brought. Then you can go play hide aND GO FK YERSELF. BECAUSE YOU ARE WRONG.

iF YOU AGREE WITH ME, I will accept your invitiation for that beer !

Did you cum in her WIX or blow it her mouth???? I heard red heads like to swallow!!!!

e-

[Soto All The Way]

Neal is flat-out the most diversely talented guitarist who ever walked the earth. The fact that he had the greatest rock singer in history (a helluva songwriter in his own right) is what made Journey the standard against which all other melodic rock bands should be, are, and will be judged.

Neal IS NOT THE BEST!!!!

e-

[7 Wishes]

I didn't say he was "better" than Perry. One's a slinger, one's a singer. Apples and oranges.

[rdekker]

This isn't fair. A singer that lost the best of his voice compared to a guitarist that has been getting better year by year.
Perry lets everyone down by not recording, not touring and Schon still makes our hearts beat faster while we watch him in awe night after night.

Neal Schon is a true god on the electric guitar. I've seen him perform with Journey 10 x now since he decided to continue the Journey, it doesn't matter which singer stands beside him, he rules the stage, He's the best and I can't get enough.

[NealIsGod]

This isn't fair. A singer that lost the best of his voice compared to a guitarist that has been getting better year by year.
Perry lets everyone down by not recording, not touring and Schon still makes our hearts beat faster while we watch him in awe night after night.

Neal Schon is a true god on the electric guitar. I've seen him perform with Journey 10 x now since he decided to continue the Journey, it doesn't matter which singer stands beside him, he rules the stage, He's the best and I can't get enough.

Here's your cigarette and blindfold... You will be needing it later.

I feel the same way about Neal, I love his style of playing. I love the music of Journey. I love Perry's voice. It does matter who is singing, tho. Most of the crowd is there to hear someone sound like Perry like the songs. JSS was doing a great job of reminding people of Perry while still bringing his own style to the band.

And you're right. It isn't fair.

[sindee67]

JIMI Hendrix could out do Neal Schon any old day!!

[NealIsGod]

JIMI Hendrix could out do Neal Schon any old day!!

Not melodically.

[Saint John]

JIMI Hendrix could out do Neal Schon any old day!!

Hendrix was a one trick pony.

[sindee67]

JIMI Hendrix could out do Neal Schon any old day!!

Not melodically.

I bet he could, dammit, I have to go to work, we'll finish this later tonight...
Ok, wanna talk melodic?
STEVE GAINS {LYNYRD SKYNYRD}
JAKE E LEE
EDDIE VAN HALEN
TONY IOMMI
RICHIE SAMBORA
MICK MARS
ZACH WYLDE

[RunningAlone Pgh]

St. John, that is the best summary of the whole Journey mess that I've ever heard. Thank you for a killer post - and for making me laugh despite having to come back to work after the holiday!

Kudos!

Kim

[RunningAlone Pgh]

I wonder what SMITTY would say about all this..
No one's heard from him.
Oh, that's right, he's moved on himself to bigger and better things!

True, and he's probably also too classy to say what he might really think.

[BobbyinTN]

I don't get it. "less than heterosexual keyboard player"?

Somebody fill me in.

[Saint John]

I don't get it. "less than heterosexual keyboard player"?

Somebody fill me in.

Friga's a cocksmoker. That help?