What is the speculation and or known factual information...

[Liquid_Drummer]

About Steve Perry and his rumored vocal condition ? Just curious. I was listening to TBF using a vocal plug in in winamp that really boosts the vocals and even removes the reverb. Listening to it like this you can really hear that there is something wrong in there but despite this I still like his voice. It is easy to tell at that point there is no way in hell he could sing the old stuff and this was 12 years ago now. Just age ?

[Rip Rokken]

I've heard all sides, but I have a hard time believing that he just can't sing anymore... Lord knows he's had plenty of rest by now! I think it was in that Herbie Herbert interview where he mention how a man's voice changes again (drops) with age, and that that was what had happened to Perry.

I've always noticed just how completely encapsulated in effects his voice was on a lot of that album... it just floats in and fades out like a ghost. Very cool effect, but necesssary? Who knows... Would be interesting to hear it as you have!

[Lori Jo]

This is only my opinion/intuition here...

I think his voice is toast. I think that he has limited capabilities, like the background stuff he has been doing for other recording artists. But I think that he probably loses it very quickly if he uses it too much. And too much, in my opinion only, is probably WAY less than he was used to singing "back in the day" and may even only extend to a only a short set of songs at a time. My opinion/intuition is that, were he to do even one show, by the end of that show his voice would pretty much be shot.

Please...this is only my impression/opinion,intuition...no fact here at all!

[NealIsGod]

I think LoriJo is probably right. If he could sing at a professional level, he would.

[donnaplease]

I think LoriJo is probably right. If he could sing at a professional level, he would.

[NealIsGod]

I think LoriJo is probably right. If he could sing at a professional level, he would.

Hey, don't shoot the messengers.

[donnaplease]

I think LoriJo is probably right. If he could sing at a professional level, he would.

Hey, don't shoot the messengers.

Nope, just you.

[texafana]

One of the worst signs that a voice is pretty much gone is the classic "raspiness, airy, etc," sound when nornally speaking. In the last recent clips of Steve speaking he unfortuantely sounds like this. But I still think he will come out with some new music. It just won't be this high pitch Steve we used to know, it will be a very soft, lower tone. Only time will tell.

[T-Bone]

I have many friends who are vocalists, some of them getting older than when I met them 20 years ago And any of them will tell you, if you do not keep up on the practicing, your voice will go. It's no different than weightlifters. If they go without a workout for a month or more, they'll notice visual as well as strength drops.

When my friends do their normal weekend shows, Fri/Sat, they are ok, but when they've skipped weekends or even more, it's a little bit of a struggle the next time they get out on the stage. They'll always start of good, but by the end of a 3 hour show, they're shot. Sometimes before that.

I can only assume that Steve Perry would still be good in a studio setting if given enough time, but not on a 4-5 night a week schedule like he used to be. He would really have to go through alot of conditioning to get even close to where he was when his vocal chords were in shape. On top of that, you'd have to subtract for age as well. I think he'd be lucky if he got back to singing 2 day weekends or just special appearances.

Just my opinion

[donnaplease]

I think he'd be lucky if he got back to singing 2 day weekends or just special appearances.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if he would do that...?

[ScarabGator]

How old is Dennis DeYoung now? Hell, that guy can still wail just like 1983.

[T-Bone]

How old is Dennis DeYoung now? Hell, that guy can still wail just like 1983.

And he's also been continually singing throughout his career as well. Perry has not

[TRAGChick]

I have many friends who are vocalists, some of them getting older than when I met them 20 years ago And any of them will tell you, if you do not keep up on the practicing, your voice will go. It's no different than weightlifters. If they go without a workout for a month or more, they'll notice visual as well as strength drops.

This is the absolute truth....unfortunately.

Heck, it takes me a long time to get my voice back after having a COLD for a few days.

I can only assume that Steve Perry would still be good in a studio setting if given enough time, but not on a 4-5 night a week schedule like he used to be. He would really have to go through alot of conditioning to get even close to where he was when his vocal chords were in shape. On top of that, you'd have to subtract for age as well. I think he'd be lucky if he got back to singing 2 day weekends or just special appearances.

Just my opinion

It's not just the voice: it's also everything else to do with breathing....

the Diaphragm is the most important part of the vocals: the "core of the voice", if you will.
All of your sustain and power comes from there, NOT the throat. That's why I work out in a Hip-Hop Dance class:
"Core training" ~ tighter abs; stronger voice. Simple as that.

[STORY_TELLER]

I think it's a combination of everything mentioned so far, and more. The idea of "can he still sing" is subjective, especially to the man himself. Let's not forget the psychological aspect to this issue. I mean, we're talking about Steve Perry here. The guy who Cain said would bleed over every song they worked on. He's a perfectionist. He knows what he was capable of in his heyday and what he can or can't achieve now.

I think this is what Perry was mostly referring to when he was interviewed about him producing the live in Houston DVD. He mentioned how emotionally difficult it was for him during that process. I mean, can you imagine watching and listening to yourself at your peak, reliving the love and admiration from your fans at that moment in time, then snapping back to the present and hearing yourself speak with your raspy voice (let alone singing with it)?

If Perry himself isn't happy with the sound of his own voice, he won't sing, especially not performing in a live show let alone a tour. I think that's what's really going on here.

That being said, like liquiddrummer pointed out, raspy as it is, I still like his voice. It's not just the notes the man can hit, it's his overall vocal character. I mean Geddy Lee sings in tune and has hit some amazing notes in his time, but the sound of his voice, its character isn't attractive to me (but I still like Rush ).

I'm more interested in new recorded material from Perry than seeing him live. Sure, I'd be thrilled to see him live, but I'd be just as happy if Perry sat down with Jeff Golub and did a whole album of songs like "Can't let you go" (only more vocally driven). Let him spend a year on it. Build the songs piecemeal in production so he can tweak every lyric to his satisfaction. I'm sure he's capable of doing that. The question is, will he? Probably not, but dare to dream...

[Rick]

I wonder if the laser treatment that Steven Tyler got would help SP?

[ForeverInBlue]

I heard that he can't sing past 5 songs now, sad, very sad.

[STORY_TELLER]

I wonder if the laser treatment that Steven Tyler got would help SP?

I don't know too much about what the treatment is for. As far as I know, Tyler's voice is still raspy, he's just able to sing without suddenly going off pitch or mute. Doubt that's enough for Perry from his POV.

[STORY_TELLER]

I heard that he can't sing past 5 songs now, sad, very sad.

Really?? Wow. So does that mean Aerosmith is done (at least as far as touring goes)?

[ForeverInBlue]

Talking SP not Tyler.

[weatherman90]

How old is Dennis DeYoung now? Hell, that guy can still wail just like 1983.

And he's also been continually singing throughout his career as well. Perry has not

Hey who knows...maybe Perry has a mini concert venue built into his home and he sings Journey every night with his cat in the audience.

[Rick]

I wonder if the laser treatment that Steven Tyler got would help SP?

I don't know too much about what the treatment is for. As far as I know, Tyler's voice is still raspy, he's just able to sing without suddenly going off pitch or mute. Doubt that's enough for Perry from his POV.

They showed a video of the treatment. They put a tube with a laser down Tylers throat and lasered his vocal chords. It removed all of these varicose looking veins from the surface of the chords. They said he was able to sing like he hadn't in years.

[STORY_TELLER]

Talking SP not Tyler.

OH!!! LMAO!

...ahem...

Still, if he can sing 5 songs, he should work on new material, record 'em, get some rest, then work on some more. Selfish bastard

[Rick]

Talking SP not Tyler.

OH!!! LMAO!

...ahem...

Still, if he can sing 5 songs, he should work on new material, record 'em, get some rest, then work on some more. Selfish bastard

[STORY_TELLER]

I wonder if the laser treatment that Steven Tyler got would help SP?

I don't know too much about what the treatment is for. As far as I know, Tyler's voice is still raspy, he's just able to sing without suddenly going off pitch or mute. Doubt that's enough for Perry from his POV.

They showed a video of the treatment. They put a tube with a laser down Tylers throat and lasered his vocal chords. It removed all of these varicose looking veins from the surface of the chords. They said he was able to sing like he hadn't in years.

Yes, but did it improve the quality of his voice or his ability to sustain notes? Two different things entirely from Perry's perspective.

[Lori Jo]

[/quote]

Hey who knows...maybe Perry has a mini concert venue built into his home and he sings Journey every night with his cat in the audience. [/quote]

Too funny!!!

[Rick]

I wonder if the laser treatment that Steven Tyler got would help SP?

I don't know too much about what the treatment is for. As far as I know, Tyler's voice is still raspy, he's just able to sing without suddenly going off pitch or mute. Doubt that's enough for Perry from his POV.

They showed a video of the treatment. They put a tube with a laser down Tylers throat and lasered his vocal chords. It removed all of these varicose looking veins from the surface of the chords. They said he was able to sing like he hadn't in years.

Yes, but did it improve the quality of his voice or his ability to sustain notes? Two different things entirely from Perry's perspective.

Not sure. It wasn't invasive or anything. If it improves the health of the voice at all, many of them should do it.

[Andrew]

About Steve Perry and his rumored vocal condition ? Just curious. I was listening to TBF using a vocal plug in in winamp that really boosts the vocals and even removes the reverb. Listening to it like this you can really hear that there is something wrong in there but despite this I still like his voice. It is easy to tell at that point there is no way in hell he could sing the old stuff and this was 12 years ago now. Just age ?

I'll tell you what I know, but whether anyone wants to take that as absolute fact is up to them.

Steve Perry's voice is not as it once was (and as stated in other threads, not many vocalists of his era and age have the same voices either). It wasn't as strong as it once was in 96 and even less so now.
The difference with Steve vs other singers - he (to the very best of my knowledge) does not want to sing/perform/record unless he could recapture his very best. It is the perfectionist in him.

I have the utmost respect for this self belief that he has - if he can't do it as good as ever, he won't do it. And that is why he won't return to Journey and wy I believe there probably won't be another solo release either.

[ForeverInBlue]

I am a loon but believe he is done recording too.

[bluejeangirl76]

I have the utmost respect for this self belief that he has - if he can't do it as good as ever, he won't do it.

I agree with Andrew - I can respect that totally, if indeed that is the case.
I really have no opinion one way or the other because I have no facts, but whatever his reason for not doing it, it's fine with me.
He had a great career and should be, and probably is, god damned proud of it.

However... if Frankie Valli can still sing "Sherry" 40+ years later...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDwpYmb5_6I

... then anything is possible. (Steve... call Frankie... he'll help you out - and get me an autograph!)

[weatherman90]

Franki Valli is something else - amazing he can sing so well still