Steve Perry interviewed on CBC's Q

[montyollie]

CBC radio show "Q" interviewed Steve Perry. The podcast will likely be available in the next day or two at http://www.cbc.ca/q/ -- it's the July 20th episode

Article:

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2009 ... perry.html


Journey song cements status as cultural touchstone
Last Updated: Monday, July 20, 2009 | 4:16 PM ET
CBC News

A 1987 photo of Journey, from left, Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon. The song Don't Stop Believing was very popular in live performances, but didn't get radio play, Perry says.A 1987 photo of Journey, from left, Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon. The song Don't Stop Believing was very popular in live performances, but didn't get radio play, Perry says. (Associated Press)With its re-emergence in a version by the cast of the TV series Glee, the Journey song Don't Stop Believing is gaining a reputation as the song that won't go away.

It's famous appearance in the final episode of The Sopranos is just one of a series of uses of the song on TV and in film that has reintroduced it to successive generations of listeners.

The 1981 rock power ballad is the top-selling digital download of a track not originally released in this century, according to Nielsen SoundScan, selling 2.8 million units since 2003.

It is sung by Steve Perry, lead singer of Journey from 1978-1987 and 1995-1998, and one of Rolling Stone magazine's 100 top rock singers of all time.

Perry, now working on a solo album in Los Angeles, said he always thought Don't Stop Believing had potential as a single. It was always a hit with live audiences, though it didn't get great radio play at the time it was issued, he said.

"When we were doing the song in 1981, I knew something was happening, but honestly, when I saw it in the film Monster with Patty Jenkins, I started think, 'Oh my goodness there's really something,'" he said in an interview with CBC's Q cultural affairs show aired Monday.

The scene in 2003's Monster with Charlize Therone was just the beginning. The song also turned up in TV series Orange County, Family Guy (with the cast singing), Scrubs and Laguna Beach, and the films The Comebacks and Bedtime Stories.

Don't Stop Believing is also a popular group song on the current American Idols tour that comes to Hamilton, Ont., next month, and just played Vancouver. It's also banged out during Detroit Red Wings NHL games.
'I didn't want to have a Scorsese moment'

Perry said he held back permission for using the song in the famous last episode of The Sopranos because he was afraid he had heard the rumours someone was going to be killed.

"I wanted to know how it was used. I didn't wanted to have a [director Martin] Scorsese moment at the end of the film and someone being whacked with an Uzi with the song playing," he said.

Steve Perry, former lead singer in the rock band Journey, signs autographs in Los Angeles in January 2005. He says he always thought Don't Stop Believing, which is enjoying massive popularity today, had potential as a single. Steve Perry, former lead singer in the rock band Journey, signs autographs in Los Angeles in January 2005. He says he always thought Don't Stop Believing, which is enjoying massive popularity today, had potential as a single. (Jim Ruymen/Reuters)The producers, who had been keeping a tight lock on the final storyline for fear it would be leaked, finally told Perry what would happen on the TV series.

The result was a surge of iTunes sales the following day.

"One of the things that did happen is that people did get interested in hearing Journey again," Perry said.

Steve Spears, entertainment editor of the Florida newspaper the St. Petersburg Times, and the blogger behind Stuck in the 80s, said there are several elements that are making the song a cultural touchstone for successive generations of listeners.

"First of all it starts off with probably the most distinctive two or three notes on a piano that have ever been played. As soon as you hear those piano notes, you know it's Don't Stop Believing," he told Q.

"It's a song that continues to build throughout. It's got excellent guitar work by Neil Schon, it's got the legendary voice of Steve Perry and its one of the very first songs that was composed with Jonathan Cain when he joined the band. There's something about that magical combination that gives this song this eternal quality," Spears said.

'South Detroit' is Canadian neighbour

Even Perry admits to getting choked up over the song, with its powerful chorus.

"The lyric is a strong lyric about not giving up, but it's also about being young, it's also about hanging out, not giving up and looking for that emotion hiding somewhere in the dark that we're all looking for. It's about having hope and not quitting when things get tough, because I'm telling you things get tough for everybody," Perry said.

He recalls writing the song with Cain — combining his own memories of smoky nightclubs with an image he had of Detroit from a hotel window after a concert in 1980.

He only found out later there is no such place as the "south Detroit" he sings about —that south of the U.S. city is the Ontario city of Windsor.

"I tried north Detroit, I tried east and west and it didn't sing, but south Detroit sounded so beautiful. I loved the way it sounded, only to find out later it's actually Canada," Perry said.

[KenTheDude]

The bolded part below will make this a 10-pager. Hope it's true.

CBC radio show "Q" interviewed Steve Perry. The podcast will likely be available in the next day or two at http://www.cbc.ca/q/ -- it's the July 20th episode

Article:

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2009 ... perry.html


Journey song cements status as cultural touchstone
Last Updated: Monday, July 20, 2009 | 4:16 PM ET
CBC News

A 1987 photo of Journey, from left, Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon. The song Don't Stop Believing was very popular in live performances, but didn't get radio play, Perry says.A 1987 photo of Journey, from left, Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon. The song Don't Stop Believing was very popular in live performances, but didn't get radio play, Perry says. (Associated Press)With its re-emergence in a version by the cast of the TV series Glee, the Journey song Don't Stop Believing is gaining a reputation as the song that won't go away.

It's famous appearance in the final episode of The Sopranos is just one of a series of uses of the song on TV and in film that has reintroduced it to successive generations of listeners.

The 1981 rock power ballad is the top-selling digital download of a track not originally released in this century, according to Nielsen SoundScan, selling 2.8 million units since 2003.

It is sung by Steve Perry, lead singer of Journey from 1978-1987 and 1995-1998, and one of Rolling Stone magazine's 100 top rock singers of all time.

Perry, now working on a solo album in Los Angeles, said he always thought Don't Stop Believing had potential as a single. It was always a hit with live audiences, though it didn't get great radio play at the time it was issued, he said.

"When we were doing the song in 1981, I knew something was happening, but honestly, when I saw it in the film Monster with Patty Jenkins, I started think, 'Oh my goodness there's really something,'" he said in an interview with CBC's Q cultural affairs show aired Monday.

The scene in 2003's Monster with Charlize Therone was just the beginning. The song also turned up in TV series Orange County, Family Guy (with the cast singing), Scrubs and Laguna Beach, and the films The Comebacks and Bedtime Stories.

Don't Stop Believing is also a popular group song on the current American Idols tour that comes to Hamilton, Ont., next month, and just played Vancouver. It's also banged out during Detroit Red Wings NHL games.
'I didn't want to have a Scorsese moment'

Perry said he held back permission for using the song in the famous last episode of The Sopranos because he was afraid he had heard the rumours someone was going to be killed.

"I wanted to know how it was used. I didn't wanted to have a [director Martin] Scorsese moment at the end of the film and someone being whacked with an Uzi with the song playing," he said.

Steve Perry, former lead singer in the rock band Journey, signs autographs in Los Angeles in January 2005. He says he always thought Don't Stop Believing, which is enjoying massive popularity today, had potential as a single. Steve Perry, former lead singer in the rock band Journey, signs autographs in Los Angeles in January 2005. He says he always thought Don't Stop Believing, which is enjoying massive popularity today, had potential as a single. (Jim Ruymen/Reuters)The producers, who had been keeping a tight lock on the final storyline for fear it would be leaked, finally told Perry what would happen on the TV series.

The result was a surge of iTunes sales the following day.

"One of the things that did happen is that people did get interested in hearing Journey again," Perry said.

Steve Spears, entertainment editor of the Florida newspaper the St. Petersburg Times, and the blogger behind Stuck in the 80s, said there are several elements that are making the song a cultural touchstone for successive generations of listeners.

"First of all it starts off with probably the most distinctive two or three notes on a piano that have ever been played. As soon as you hear those piano notes, you know it's Don't Stop Believing," he told Q.

"It's a song that continues to build throughout. It's got excellent guitar work by Neil Schon, it's got the legendary voice of Steve Perry and its one of the very first songs that was composed with Jonathan Cain when he joined the band. There's something about that magical combination that gives this song this eternal quality," Spears said.

'South Detroit' is Canadian neighbour

Even Perry admits to getting choked up over the song, with its powerful chorus.

"The lyric is a strong lyric about not giving up, but it's also about being young, it's also about hanging out, not giving up and looking for that emotion hiding somewhere in the dark that we're all looking for. It's about having hope and not quitting when things get tough, because I'm telling you things get tough for everybody," Perry said.

He recalls writing the song with Cain — combining his own memories of smoky nightclubs with an image he had of Detroit from a hotel window after a concert in 1980.

He only found out later there is no such place as the "south Detroit" he sings about —that south of the U.S. city is the Ontario city of Windsor.

"I tried north Detroit, I tried east and west and it didn't sing, but south Detroit sounded so beautiful. I loved the way it sounded, only to find out later it's actually Canada," Perry said.

[Saint John]

Hope it's true.

I don't.

[bluejeangirl76]

So it really was all the same olf same old, then? Blah blah... powerful chorus... blah blah... Monster... blah blah... Sopranos... blah blah.... magic.

Solo album, schmolo album - that part was NOT in quotes, therefore could have very easily been something that was assumed by the interviewer based on an idle off-the-record-comment or something, just like in that GQ interview.

[Babyblue]

CBC radio show "Q" interviewed Steve Perry. The podcast will likely be available in the next day or two at http://www.cbc.ca/q/ -- it's the July 20th episode

Article:

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2009 ... perry.html


Journey song cements status as cultural touchstone
Last Updated: Monday, July 20, 2009 | 4:16 PM ET
CBC News

A 1987 photo of Journey, from left, Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon. The song Don't Stop Believing was very popular in live performances, but didn't get radio play, Perry says.A 1987 photo of Journey, from left, Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon. The song Don't Stop Believing was very popular in live performances, but didn't get radio play, Perry says. (Associated Press)With its re-emergence in a version by the cast of the TV series Glee, the Journey song Don't Stop Believing is gaining a reputation as the song that won't go away.

It's famous appearance in the final episode of The Sopranos is just one of a series of uses of the song on TV and in film that has reintroduced it to successive generations of listeners.

The 1981 rock power ballad is the top-selling digital download of a track not originally released in this century, according to Nielsen SoundScan, selling 2.8 million units since 2003.

It is sung by Steve Perry, lead singer of Journey from 1978-1987 and 1995-1998, and one of Rolling Stone magazine's 100 top rock singers of all time.

Perry, now working on a solo album in Los Angeles, said he always thought Don't Stop Believing had potential as a single. It was always a hit with live audiences, though it didn't get great radio play at the time it was issued, he said.

"When we were doing the song in 1981, I knew something was happening, but honestly, when I saw it in the film Monster with Patty Jenkins, I started think, 'Oh my goodness there's really something,'" he said in an interview with CBC's Q cultural affairs show aired Monday.

The scene in 2003's Monster with Charlize Therone was just the beginning. The song also turned up in TV series Orange County, Family Guy (with the cast singing), Scrubs and Laguna Beach, and the films The Comebacks and Bedtime Stories.

Don't Stop Believing is also a popular group song on the current American Idols tour that comes to Hamilton, Ont., next month, and just played Vancouver. It's also banged out during Detroit Red Wings NHL games.
'I didn't want to have a Scorsese moment'

Perry said he held back permission for using the song in the famous last episode of The Sopranos because he was afraid he had heard the rumours someone was going to be killed.

"I wanted to know how it was used. I didn't wanted to have a [director Martin] Scorsese moment at the end of the film and someone being whacked with an Uzi with the song playing," he said.

Steve Perry, former lead singer in the rock band Journey, signs autographs in Los Angeles in January 2005. He says he always thought Don't Stop Believing, which is enjoying massive popularity today, had potential as a single. Steve Perry, former lead singer in the rock band Journey, signs autographs in Los Angeles in January 2005. He says he always thought Don't Stop Believing, which is enjoying massive popularity today, had potential as a single. (Jim Ruymen/Reuters)The producers, who had been keeping a tight lock on the final storyline for fear it would be leaked, finally told Perry what would happen on the TV series.

The result was a surge of iTunes sales the following day.

"One of the things that did happen is that people did get interested in hearing Journey again," Perry said.

Steve Spears, entertainment editor of the Florida newspaper the St. Petersburg Times, and the blogger behind Stuck in the 80s, said there are several elements that are making the song a cultural touchstone for successive generations of listeners.

"First of all it starts off with probably the most distinctive two or three notes on a piano that have ever been played. As soon as you hear those piano notes, you know it's Don't Stop Believing," he told Q.

"It's a song that continues to build throughout. It's got excellent guitar work by Neil Schon, it's got the legendary voice of Steve Perry and its one of the very first songs that was composed with Jonathan Cain when he joined the band. There's something about that magical combination that gives this song this eternal quality," Spears said.

'South Detroit' is Canadian neighbour

Even Perry admits to getting choked up over the song, with its powerful chorus.

"The lyric is a strong lyric about not giving up, but it's also about being young, it's also about hanging out, not giving up and looking for that emotion hiding somewhere in the dark that we're all looking for. It's about having hope and not quitting when things get tough, because I'm telling you things get tough for everybody," Perry said.

He recalls writing the song with Cain — combining his own memories of smoky nightclubs with an image he had of Detroit from a hotel window after a concert in 1980.

He only found out later there is no such place as the "south Detroit" he sings about —that south of the U.S. city is the Ontario city of Windsor.

"I tried north Detroit, I tried east and west and it didn't sing, but south Detroit sounded so beautiful. I loved the way it sounded, only to find out later it's actually Canada," Perry said.

Thanks for sharing this with us.

[Memorex]

Real Media link:

http://www.cbc.ca/clips/rm-audio/perry%20for%20online.rm

[*Laura]

The bolded part below will make this a 10-pager. Hope it's true.

It is true. I mean the 10-pager thing.

The bolded part as well.

[madsplash]

Hope it's true.

I don't.

Why, SJ?

You hope it's not true, or you hope it doesn't start a 10 pager?

I still believe he is. Too many people have said so, and Andrew confirmed that he was recording stuff. Whether we'll ever hear it seems to be the question.

[montyollie]

Real Media link:

http://www.cbc.ca/clips/rm-audio/perry%20for%20online.rm

OMG Bonus!! Thank you!!!!

[Saint John]

Hope it's true.

I don't.

Why, SJ?

You hope it's not true, or you hope it doesn't start a 10 pager?

I want the dude back in Journey. Period. He needs to swallow his pride, apologize for what he did, accept an apology that he needs to get from Neal and Jon for the lipping fiasco and rejoin the band. Fuck his boring solo records.

[Don]

Hope it's true.

I don't.

Why, SJ?

You hope it's not true, or you hope it doesn't start a 10 pager?

I want the dude back in Journey. Period. He needs to swallow his pride, apologize for what he did, accept an apology that he needs to get from Neal and Jon for the lipping fiasco and rejoin the band. Fuck his boring solo records.

+100

Either rejoin Journey or stay on the beach. All another prozac bomb like FTLOSM will do is damage his reputation as a solo artist even further.

[madsplash]

Hope it's true.

I don't.

Why, SJ?

You hope it's not true, or you hope it doesn't start a 10 pager?

I want the dude back in Journey. Period. He needs to swallow his pride, apologize for what he did, accept an apology that he needs to get from Neal and Jon for the lipping fiasco and rejoin the band. Fuck his boring solo records.

I do too, but I think that ship has sailed forever. I wouldn't call his solo records boring, though.

[bluejeangirl76]

p.s. - how damn many 'Perry interview' threads do we actually need?
The original one wasn't good enough and everyone wants their own?

[cheekymonkey]

Either rejoin Journey or stay on the beach. All another prozac bomb like FTLOSM will do is damage his reputation as a solo artist even further...
----------------------------------------

I beg to differ dude, I would kill for another FTLOSM. I listen to that cd weekly. Much better than Street Talk.

[Rick]

Hope it's true.

I don't.

Why, SJ?

You hope it's not true, or you hope it doesn't start a 10 pager?

I want the dude back in Journey. Period. He needs to swallow his pride, apologize for what he did, accept an apology that he needs to get from Neal and Jon for the lipping fiasco and rejoin the band. Fuck his boring solo records.

I do too, but I think that ship has sailed forever. I wouldn't call his solo records boring, though.

I used to never listen to his solo stuff. One day I decided I was going to listen to them and see what it is that everyone sees in them. There are some tracks that I don't like, but there are some great ones also. I think Captured By The Moment is one of his best songs ever. The lyrics are great and his vocal performance is one of his finest. I'd rather have my back broke than listen to Oh Sherri or Foolish Heart, but She's Mine, Strung Out, You Better Wait, Missing You, I Stand Alone, etc... All good songs.

[Don]

Either rejoin Journey or stay on the beach. All another prozac bomb like FTLOSM will do is damage his reputation as a solo artist even further...
----------------------------------------

I beg to differ dude, I would kill for another FTLOSM. I listen to that cd weekly. Much better than Street Talk.

To me, it's EMO music music without the dark mascara. it would have been the perfect Soundtrack for an apocalyptic movie like On The Beach.

[*Laura]

All another prozac bomb like FTLOSM will do is damage his reputation as a solo artist even further.

From what I know, that "prozac bomb" was approved by the FDA. That's the Fans Deluxe Association.

And mind you, why would FTLOSM damage his reputation? His reputation is being one of the best voices in history.That's something no one and nothing will take away from him...Especially mean comments like yours.

[madsplash]

Hope it's true.

I don't.

Why, SJ?

You hope it's not true, or you hope it doesn't start a 10 pager?

I want the dude back in Journey. Period. He needs to swallow his pride, apologize for what he did, accept an apology that he needs to get from Neal and Jon for the lipping fiasco and rejoin the band. Fuck his boring solo records.

I do too, but I think that ship has sailed forever. I wouldn't call his solo records boring, though.

I used to never listen to his solo stuff. One day I decided I was going to listen to them and see what it is that everyone sees in them. There are some tracks that I don't like, but there are some great ones also. I think Captured By The Moment is one of his best songs ever. The lyrics are great and his vocal performance is one of his finest. I'd rather have my back broke than listen to Oh Sherri or Foolish Heart, but She's Mine, Strung Out, You Better Wait, Missing You, I Stand Alone, etc... All good songs.

Go Away is one of my favorite songs he ever sang, Journey or solo. His solo stuff is excellent.

[madsplash]

All another prozac bomb like FTLOSM will do is damage his reputation as a solo artist even further.

From what I know, that "prozac bomb" was approved by the FDA. That's the Fans Deluxe Association.

And mind you, why would FTLOSM damage his reputation? His reputation is being one of the best voices in history.That's something no one and nothing will take away from him...Especially mean comments like yours.

Very well said.

[Rhiannon]

I could care less if he rejoined Journey. A one-night spectacle would be sweet for all involved while still allowing all parties to continue after doing what they wish. That said, whatever he's working on... less worky, more releasy. I'm sure it's fine as it stands in the can right now.

[Since 78]

Hope it's true.

I don't.

Why, SJ?

You hope it's not true, or you hope it doesn't start a 10 pager?

I want the dude back in Journey. Period. He needs to swallow his pride, apologize for what he did, accept an apology that he needs to get from Neal and Jon for the lipping fiasco and rejoin the band. Fuck his boring solo records.

+100

Either rejoin Journey or stay on the beach. All another prozac bomb like FTLOSM will do is damage his reputation as a solo artist even further.

For what? To put the final nail in the coffin? No thanks! If, and that's a BIG if he comes out with something on his own, Ill listen, but I personally don't want him back in the band.

[Don]

All another prozac bomb like FTLOSM will do is damage his reputation as a solo artist even further.

From what I know, that "prozac bomb" was approved by the FDA. That's the Fans Deluxe Association.

And mind you, why would FTLOSM damage his reputation? His reputation is being one of the best voices in history.That's something no one and nothing will take away from him...Especially mean comments like yours.

My comment wasn't mean. Street Talk outselling it four to one shows that the album was not everyone's cup of tea. I don't care for ROR either because of Perry's majority influence over that album.
I like Perry with Journey and I like Journey with Perry. I have no need for anything else beyond that.

[Jana]

All another prozac bomb like FTLOSM will do is damage his reputation as a solo artist even further.

From what I know, that "prozac bomb" was approved by the FDA. That's the Fans Deluxe Association.

And mind you, why would FTLOSM damage his reputation? His reputation is being one of the best voices in history.That's something no one and nothing will take away from him...Especially mean comments like yours.

My comment wasn't mean. Street Talk outselling it four to one shows that the album was not everyone's cup of tea. I don't care for ROR either because of Perry's majority influence over that album.
I like Perry with Journey and I like Journey with Perry. I have no need for anything else beyond that.

Well, Street Talk came out riding on the coattails of their heyday, so it would have sold more anyway than FTLOSM ten years later. But even with that, if FTLOSM was in the 80s instead of ST, cut the sales way down compared to ST, but higher than Gold in '94. Street Talk had more energy, definitely a better album.

[*Laura]

All another prozac bomb like FTLOSM will do is damage his reputation as a solo artist even further.

From what I know, that "prozac bomb" was approved by the FDA. That's the Fans Deluxe Association.

And mind you, why would FTLOSM damage his reputation? His reputation is being one of the best voices in history.That's something no one and nothing will take away from him...Especially mean comments like yours.

My comment wasn't mean. Street Talk outselling it four to one shows that the album was not everyone's cup of tea. I don't care for ROR either because of Perry's majority influence over that album.
I like Perry with Journey and I like Journey with Perry. I have no need for anything else beyond that.

"Prozac bomb" is mean, because the album was not that at all. Just because it was released in a moment when the music market was chocked by Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, not to mention all the Salt-N-Pepas and Boys II Men in the world , making it hard for true classic rockers to have a say, doesn't mean that Perry's release was of poor quality.
If you compare it strictly with his own previous work, again, not really a good indication of his value. Some albums (by the same artist) are better than others.
(Take Metallica for example - the Black album was their best. Does it mean that the others that followed damaged their reputation or something? It's still Metallica. People who love them, love everything they do. That's all.)

I do understand that you are a Perry-in-Journey fan, not a Perry-solo act. But don't talk about the man's reputation. Like I said, that's indestructible.

[bluejeangirl76]

But don't talk about the man's reputation. Like I said, that's indestructible.

Much like his hair.

[mikemarrs]

Hope it's true.

I don't.

Why, SJ?

You hope it's not true, or you hope it doesn't start a 10 pager?

I want the dude back in Journey. Period. He needs to swallow his pride, apologize for what he did, accept an apology that he needs to get from Neal and Jon for the lipping fiasco and rejoin the band. Fuck his boring solo records.

Either rejoin Journey or stay on the beach. All another prozac bomb like FTLOSM will do is damage his reputation as a solo artist even further.

i sure could use a prozac bomb right now.its been a long day.

[steveo777]

But don't talk about the man's reputation. Like I said, that's indestructible.

Much like his hair.

Be careful what you say. Bald pictures of SP will soon start to surface. (I wonder if that will make his schnauze seem bigger)

[Jubilee]

All another prozac bomb like FTLOSM will do is damage his reputation as a solo artist even further.

From what I know, that "prozac bomb" was approved by the FDA. That's the Fans Deluxe Association.

And mind you, why would FTLOSM damage his reputation? His reputation is being one of the best voices in history.That's something no one and nothing will take away from him...Especially mean comments like yours.

My comment wasn't mean. Street Talk outselling it four to one shows that the album was not everyone's cup of tea. I don't care for ROR either because of Perry's majority influence over that album.
I like Perry with Journey and I like Journey with Perry. I have no need for anything else beyond that.

"Prozac bomb" is mean, because the album was not that at all. Just because it was released in a moment when the music market was chocked by Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, not to mention all the Salt-N-Pepas and Boys II Men in the world , making it hard for true classic rockers to have a say, doesn't mean that Perry's release was of poor quality.
If you compare it strictly with his own previous work, again, not really a good indication of his value. Some albums (by the same artist) are better than others.
(Take Metallica for example - the Black album was their best. Does it mean that the others that followed damaged their reputation or something? It's still Metallica. People who love them, love everything they do. That's all.)

I do understand that you are a Perry-in-Journey fan, not a Perry-solo act. But don't talk about the man's reputation. Like I said, that's indestructible.

I've gotta go with G on this one. Now, I'm a loon, and proud of it, but FTLOSM (or flotsam and jetsam as I like to call it) was indeed a "prozac bomb". The problem with FLOTSM wasn't that it was a classic rock album being unable to find a spot between Metallica and Salt-N-Peppa (because it really wasn't a classic rock album) the problem was it was "neither here nor there". It wasn't really rock and it wasn't really R&B it never really found its niche audience. IMHO another mediocre outing like FTLOSM certainly would be damaging to Perry's reputation. While I agree every artist is going to have at least one album that underperforms, Perry's track record thus far is showing a downward trend. How can you be "The Voice" if no one's listening, not as solo artist anyway?

[SP Fan in Oregon]

When the podcast comes out I can confirm, but I thought SP talked fondly about the guys in Journey when he said, "we were good together." I also have not previously heard his comments about Neal's guitar playing on DSB, where SP has noticed the sounds like running on tracks and how SP really likes that. In addition, it isn't very often that a star, such a Perry, shares his very personal and private feelings like he did today. Moms are so important in all of our lives, but with Perry's father leaving the family when he was a young child (I think 7 years old), most likely heightened the bond with his mother. His profound appreciation for her and sharing his memories of all she did for him was very touching and moving to hear today. I'm sure Perry didn't really expect the emotions to come out as he tried to keep them contained once they started. It made my heart melt to hear it though. I have thought before that maybe he sang for her, to make her proud of him, to be all that she believed in about him. Now that she has passed on, he has nothing left to sing for that is personal to him. We can't always assume that his devotion to singing was motivated by the throngs of fans, but perhaps by only one very special fan, his loving mother.

[TRAGChick]

Listening to it right now...

Um....

Why do they sound like they're in Church / large Museum Hall...?