annpea wrote:peridactyl wrote:annpea wrote:peridactyl wrote:Jana wrote:wow, peridactyl, good analysis.
Thanks. I think there really is a lot Steve has to feel guilty about (and which he is trying to deny to himself) and it has to do with hubris (pride) and selfishness. (Nothing you haven't heard before....) At least this is the way Journey seem to interpret his behavior and he knows it.
He was on top of the world after Street Talk and really wanted a solo career; he felt he was great the superstar of Journey and didn't need them. He had a 3 album solo contract He went back because his ailing Mother told him to.
After taking control of ROR (arrogance) and messing up the band in some REAL ways with that (that he does openly regret) the king of the hill got some real painful injuries as his voice diminished, he lost Sherry and his Mom died. He hated Journey and it is certainly reasonable to believe as Journey did that he wanted out to pursue his solo work, but he found a dishonest way out. Maybe he did, though he denies it. Still, after caregiving his grandfather, rather than return to Journey he went to work on his second solo album which reinforces the idea that steve felt his greatness alone was enough.. That is when he got his real ego-deflating spanking, when Sony turned down Against the Wall. Rude awakening, that.
The next few year his voice was deteriorating and his solo career was shaky. But he couldn't go back to Journey given the manipulation he pulled a few years earlier and besides, the other guys were in new projects. So he goes on and tries to work on his third solo album. He finally gets it together with FTLOSM in which he admits he blew it with Journey in the song Anyway. He goes on with the FTLOSM tour which proves to him he can't do it alone for sure. He decides his last hope is to rejoin Journey, which appears to be reforming and he has to act because 1) they are about to hire a new singer and 2) They are approaching the 10 year anniversary when royalties diminish and 3) He needs the band to make any kind of comeback musically that he couldn't pull off alone.
Then the shit hits the fan with TBF.
Whether or not he really injured his hip, and I believe he did, his lengthy absence from Journey and slow process of dealing with his medical problems really appear convenient if he couldn't go forward vocally, emotionally, or physically, and needed a way out of the contract to tour.
All that is past. Now he can't face Journey and doesn't want to dredge up the guilt over being manipulative, arrogant, and maybe dishonest. So he stays completely away from them and his past and lets everyone think it is because journey hurt him by not waiting for him.
This in no way minimizes the way Journey may have been crappy to Steve, and that his talent is what made Journey superstars. No doubt about that. He brought greatness to the group (Neal's talent was extraordinary but never would've brought wealth and acclaim.) Anyway, they seem to have less anger with Steve over the past than he has guilt and anger (which is evident in the complete avoidance he maintains, rather than the words he speaks.)
Whew.
Great, theory.

Thanks. I neglected to mention that the true anger Journey feels about what happened with TBF is likely because they think Steve never intended to tour (as HH has admitted.) Which means they feel manipulated into reforming with Steve rather than someone else in order to give him 10 more years of royalties after they split.
I hope I am wrong.
I have to admit I still think he was a great singer and will always enjoy hearing him sing but he was somewhat lacking in personality.A good singer with bad qualities. The scale for me is balancing more toward herbie's side of the story; not all the way but some of the way.
Not for me!! Herbie is an asshole, through and through, and money was his only objective. Steve is an artist but arrogant and could be (and was, perhaps) a shit at times, but he is not just that. I mean, Neal was drinking, Ross is kinda dumb, Steve Smith is not the sharpest tack in the world, and Herbie is gross and a bastard, though he made Journey a ton of money, they made him a ton of money, and that's his main concern, IMHO. Cain was the only one other than Steve Perry)with a brain that was working, and anyway, the band admits they let Steve take control. He was just a hick from central California before Journey and he was on his own going head to head against Herbie a lot of the time (him and his attorneys.) Herbie would've wrung the group dry if he could've. No doubt about it. Money money money money. Doesn't work with a countertenor voice like steves. It was an unhealthy atmosphere in a number of ways. So Steve sang and kept away from the group except creatively. Maybe. Just a thought.....Anyway, Steve could easily feel he had to take control or jump ship for better offers at times.