New Gregg Rolie Interview

[Onestepper]

he possessed the greatest voice in the history of rock.

No way, Colonel.
NO way.

Yes way, Private.
YES way.

Who do YOU think is better?

This should be good.

Not even the best voice in AOR.

You're outta your gourd.

Tell me who YOU think is better, and prepare for laughter.

Haha...an arguement over who's better..a couple shots apiece and nobody's dropped a name yet. Funny shit!

Right off the bat Jamison and Gramm. Gary Cherone. Delp.
Freddy Mercury's a better SINGER but I don;t care for his squealy voice.

Gonna have to agree with Splashy on this one, I laughed. But I also know it's all about personal preference. I don't believe any of those three come close to to the quality and mystique of Perry's voice.

[Red13JoePa]

Just imparting a personal opinion of course.
But outside of boards like this you'd be surprised how few people think perry trods water.

DeYoung and Cronin are arguably even better.
Sammy Hagar.

[whirlwind]

I was sorry that he said this,

"Steve... no one got along too well with Steve. (Laughs) I don't like to be pinpointed quite that way. But yeah, he made it an easier choice, that's for sure. It was time to go. For both our sakes, for the band and myself."

Sour grapes after all these years.

No offense, but SP was hard to get along with. I mean, they all can't be wrong can they? The guitar player, bassist, piano player, manager, etc. Doesn't make SP a bad guy, but one thing you and all the other LOONS need to know is SP was and is no angel.

And Steveo77, you again asshole? "Typical around here?" What's typical is you fuckin dead brained cocksucking Pineda lovers who flood this place with Praise for the Pinoy.

This place is headed for Armageddon, and that's fine with me.

Yes I don't think Perry made it easy either but you have to wonder how big your head would swell being young and that talented and loved my millions. It would be very hard to stay grounded and I do think now after many years he realizes what an ass he was and apoplgizes and has grown up into a much better person. I STILL THINK HE ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I wasn't there and I don't know about the interaction between the other band members and SP, but I do know that SP said "I never felt like part of the band." I'm speculating that feeling came from joining a band as the "new" guy after the others had long been together. Plus, SP, as he got the wind under his wings, began to fly and try to take the music into a new direction from what it was before. Wouldn't that rub the other band members a little, that the new guy is taking some control? I think they let him take more and more control because his ideas were working, but that doesn't mean they liked it or were comfortable with it. I don't think Perry needs to apologize for what he did for the band, but perhaps what he means in saying he was difficult, was more on the way he went about getting what he wanted for the band. SP seems so passionate and particular about his work that to get the definitive song just right in his eyes might have been a whole lot more than what was good enough for the rest of the band, perhaps another source of conflict. I don't think any of what the band did was easy, but through it all they were "good together." They accomplished some amazing things together, and what they accomplished lives on in the hearts of all of their fans. Perry had everything to do with that! He has taken the responsibility for his part in the chaos, and mistakes he made along the way. Again, Rolie could have left his words, "no one got along too well with Steve..." out of this interview. It wasn't necessary to say IMO. Granted Rolie said nice things about his voice, but saying no one could get along with him was not nice to say after what Perry brought to the band overall, especially after all these years.

I disagree. You can't ask for candid interview, and then have someone pick and choose his words to fit a fan base of a guy that could probably give two shits. You think Rolie and Perry care what the other thinks of each other at this point? It's been almost 30 years. Who cares. I certainly respect someone for speaking their mind a hell of a lot more than someone that is always worried about people liking him. That's high school crap.

Many people can give "candid interviews" without saying things that hurt other people. Steve Perry has given candid interviews and I don't think I've heard him say anything to disparage his band mates, when he certainly had the opportunity and probably could have said plenty.

I totally agree with your initial post and the two above. You are spot on and it felt like sour grapes to me also. I always thought that Gregg acted like a brat by quitting and couldn't take having Perry accomplish what he couldn't. He couldn't get Journey off the ground as he did with Santana.

[jrnyman28]

Jeezus Kryst, ONE person doesn't like it and the rest thought it was a good interview. What does that tell you about where the problem lies?

This was a great interview. I admit that I was looking for a little more detail about reuniting. I was actually thinking it would have been the perfect time to talk about the Journey 1995 stuff.

Gregg is a great guy doing what he loves and having fun. That is to be commended. We all know that Journey has gone through times when they were not loving what they do...with Perry and after. Gregg is the fortunate one!

Thank you Andrew for linking this. Now that Gregg is travelling even more I remain hopeful that he will get out to Denver someday!

From what he said, and the non-inclusion of any Journey material in his shows, I think that train has left the station. Once he and Chalfant got dropped for TBF, I would think that ended any chance. I would think that he didn't mention the Pre-TBF stuff because of where that question would lead back to again (Perry).

I agree. He answered wonderfully throughout the interview. Well done. That was just my little hope. The question was already out there about Perry, he was asked specifically about a reunion with Perry, so it could have been a way to go 'ya know it seems we are not meant to work together again based on 1995...' But Gregg was a great interview.

[jrnyman28]

I always thought that Gregg acted like a brat by quitting and couldn't take having Perry accomplish what he couldn't. He couldn't get Journey off the ground as he did with Santana.

Are you KIDDING??? What has Rolie ever said that would lead you to believe that? In fact, this is (I think) the first time I have even seen Gregg acknowledge that there was friction between he and Perry. HH has always been the one to say it, but Gregg has always maintained that he left because he was burnt out from the road. (Hmmmm, just like Perry in '86. But Gregg had the decency to not hang the band in limbo...) And even in this interview he talks about how he did not have an issue with a lead singer coming in. He's never shied away that he (and Neal) didn't want a "crooner" which Perry was. But they also both changed their heart about that when it WORKED.

[Deb]

he possessed the greatest voice in the history of rock.

No way, Colonel.
NO way.

Yes way, Private.
YES way.

Who do YOU think is better?

This should be good.

Not even the best voice in AOR.

You're outta your gourd.

Tell me who YOU think is better, and prepare for laughter.

Haha...an arguement over who's better..a couple shots apiece and nobody's dropped a name yet. Funny shit!

Right off the bat Jamison and Gramm. Gary Cherone. Delp.
Freddy Mercury's a better SINGER but I don;t care for his squealy voice.

All great singers, but while I don't think Jamison, Gramm, Cherone, Delp are better singers than Perry, just my opinion.........Jamison gets major kudos for singing one of my all-time favorite 80s songs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e98UOB0etdo The guy sounded just as good on that one in Southbend as he did in the 80s. Next to EM and JSS, hearing that song live was great!

[mdaemon]

I was sorry that he said this,

"Steve... no one got along too well with Steve. (Laughs) I don't like to be pinpointed quite that way. But yeah, he made it an easier choice, that's for sure. It was time to go. For both our sakes, for the band and myself."

Sour grapes after all these years.

No offense, but SP was hard to get along with. I mean, they all can't be wrong can they? The guitar player, bassist, piano player, manager, etc. Doesn't make SP a bad guy, but one thing you and all the other LOONS need to know is SP was and is no angel.

And Steveo77, you again asshole? "Typical around here?" What's typical is you fuckin dead brained cocksucking Pineda lovers who flood this place with Praise for the Pinoy.

This place is headed for Armageddon, and that's fine with me.

Apart from his barely noticeable accent and the not-so-great Superbowl performance (in which he was man enough to accept and apologize for), I don't think there isn't much negative stuff you can say about Pineda. In fact, the only thing negative that I am seeing lately that is remotely related to Pineda is about the actions of a handful of his most hardcore fans.

[whirlwind]

I always thought that Gregg acted like a brat by quitting and couldn't take having Perry accomplish what he couldn't. He couldn't get Journey off the ground as he did with Santana.

Are you KIDDING??? What has Rolie ever said that would lead you to believe that? In fact, this is (I think) the first time I have even seen Gregg acknowledge that there was friction between he and Perry. HH has always been the one to say it, but Gregg has always maintained that he left because he was burnt out from the road. (Hmmmm, just like Perry in '86. But Gregg had the decency to not hang the band in limbo...) And even in this interview he talks about how he did not have an issue with a lead singer coming in. He's never shied away that he (and Neal) didn't want a "crooner" which Perry was. But they also both changed their heart about that when it WORKED.

Sorry, it's how I see it. You''re a vocalist with a band that is peaking and you want to throw in the towel?Sorry, I never bought it. It may be only my opinion, non-the-less, I have always felt like this about his quitting. It just does not jive.

[Saint John]

DeYoung and Cronin are arguably even better.
Sammy Hagar.

Surely, you kid. DeYoung, in totality, has had a much better and longer career because the guy can still bring it at a tremendously high level. Cronin has an incredibly successful catalog and even enjoyed a few vocal moments in the sun, but he has simply never been in the same league as Perry. Hagar is the Pete Rose of rock and roll. A very consistent guy that has sung very well for a long period of time, but he has enjoyed no vocal moments that come even close to Perry. You're comparing Pete Rose to Babe Ruth, pal.

[Saint John]

Face it, Perry is a prick of epic proportions ....

....the guy was a dickbag of historic proportions

Yup, pretty much everything about him is epic and historic, isn't it?

Seriously, Dan...wtf? You sound so bitter. It's like you had to live with the guy in the same house and he pissed in your cornflakes each morning.

He's a rock star, they are all rock stars not some sweet little pink tu-tu wearing fairies. If they wouldn't had been dicks, drunks and talented they would have never made rock and roll what it is.

I'm not bitter in the least. It's just when you have had as many ex-bandmates as Nostrildamus and not one of them over the course of all these years has had anything nice to say about the guy (talent aside) it's pretty easy to conclude that he's an A-1 jackoff. Add to that Herbie's sentiments and you pretty much have a slam dunk portrait of a bandmate that was selfish, egotistical, a liar and a quitter. And that's not to say that everyone else was completely innocent, but at least the vast majority of them still talk to one another.

[Chubby321]

I was sorry that he said this,

"Steve... no one got along too well with Steve. (Laughs) I don't like to be pinpointed quite that way. But yeah, he made it an easier choice, that's for sure. It was time to go. For both our sakes, for the band and myself."

Sour grapes after all these years.

No offense, but SP was hard to get along with. I mean, they all can't be wrong can they? The guitar player, bassist, piano player, manager, etc. Doesn't make SP a bad guy, but one thing you and all the other LOONS need to know is SP was and is no angel.

And Steveo77, you again asshole? "Typical around here?" What's typical is you fuckin dead brained cocksucking Pineda lovers who flood this place with Praise for the Pinoy.

This place is headed for Armageddon, and that's fine with me.

Apart from his barely noticeable accent and the not-so-great Superbowl performance (in which he was man enough to accept and apologize for), I don't think there isn't much negative stuff you can say about Pineda. In fact, the only thing negative that I am seeing lately that is remotely related to Pineda is about the actions of a handful of his most hardcore fans.

Did I miss anything; can you fill me in please.

[knox]

What the heck, I will throw my 2 cents in, and I know that is overpricing my opinion

1. Perry, prior to Frontiers, is my favorite voice. There are a few who are close seconds (Rick Florian of White Heart and Andy Chrisman of 4 Him). To me, Cronin and Mercury aren't a match for Perry's depth and power as he sings in his higher range.

2. Next to Perry, Rolie was my favorite member of Journey. I don't even know why. (Smith is a close tie) I don't know any of the band members personally, and none of us will ever know the whole story. What I get is that Perry did have a big ego and wanted things his way or no way. Rolie simply got to the point where he wasn't going to take Perry's crap and just hung it up. I can see Gregg as the only person in the band who actually stood up to Perry, and when no one was in his corner he took his pride (in a good way) and left. He had enough respect for the band to recruit JC.

I see nothing wrong with what he wrote. It is common knowledge anyway.

[bluejeangirl76]

I always thought that Gregg acted like a brat by quitting and couldn't take having Perry accomplish what he couldn't. He couldn't get Journey off the ground as he did with Santana.

Are you KIDDING??? What has Rolie ever said that would lead you to believe that? In fact, this is (I think) the first time I have even seen Gregg acknowledge that there was friction between he and Perry. HH has always been the one to say it, but Gregg has always maintained that he left because he was burnt out from the road.

That's true. I don't think I've seen anywhere, either, where Gregg has said much at all about Perry and he's always said he left because he just didn't want to be on the road like that anymore. If anything, Gregg has shown professional decency all this time by not bringing it up. He was asked a specific question in this instance, so he commented. If it were a case of Gregg being a bitter brat over Perry making Journey known when he couldn't, why would he stick around for 3 albums/tours with the guy? And even the comments he did make here, he was polite about it.

[journeygirl]

Face it, Perry is a prick of epic proportions ....

....the guy was a dickbag of historic proportions

Yup, pretty much everything about him is epic and historic, isn't it?

Seriously, Dan...wtf? You sound so bitter. It's like you had to live with the guy in the same house and he pissed in your cornflakes each morning.

He's a rock star, they are all rock stars not some sweet little pink tu-tu wearing fairies. If they wouldn't had been dicks, drunks and talented they would have never made rock and roll what it is.

You got that right!

[whirlwind]

What the heck, I will throw my 2 cents in, and I know that is overpricing my opinion

1. Perry, prior to Frontiers, is my favorite voice. There are a few who are close seconds (Rick Florian of White Heart and Andy Chrisman of 4 Him). To me, Cronin and Mercury aren't a match for Perry's depth and power as he sings in his higher range.

2. Next to Perry, Rolie was my favorite member of Journey. I don't even know why. (Smith is a close tie) I don't know any of the band members personally, and none of us will ever know the whole story. What I get is that Perry did have a big ego and wanted things his way or no way. Rolie simply got to the point where he wasn't going to take Perry's crap and just hung it up. I can see Gregg as the only person in the band who actually stood up to Perry, and when no one was in his corner he took his pride (in a good way) and left. He had enough respect for the band to recruit JC.

I see nothing wrong with what he wrote. It is common knowledge anyway.

What crap did Perry hand out to Gregg? They made duets that are huge Journey hits, the only hits that Gregg had with his time with Journey. Maybe Gregg didn't like sharing those hits with Perry but then there you have it. They would no doubt have never been hits.
Those bandmates of Perry's wanted all the fame and fortune that the man's talent could bring them but they wanted it without strings.
Gregg was a copout. He added so much to the greater sound of Journey and we will never know how much more the band could have accomplished with what he had to offer, imo.

[Onestepper]

What the heck, I will throw my 2 cents in, and I know that is overpricing my opinion

1. Perry, prior to Frontiers, is my favorite voice. There are a few who are close seconds (Rick Florian of White Heart and Andy Chrisman of 4 Him). To me, Cronin and Mercury aren't a match for Perry's depth and power as he sings in his higher range.

2. Next to Perry, Rolie was my favorite member of Journey. I don't even know why. (Smith is a close tie) I don't know any of the band members personally, and none of us will ever know the whole story. What I get is that Perry did have a big ego and wanted things his way or no way. Rolie simply got to the point where he wasn't going to take Perry's crap and just hung it up. I can see Gregg as the only person in the band who actually stood up to Perry, and when no one was in his corner he took his pride (in a good way) and left. He had enough respect for the band to recruit JC.

I see nothing wrong with what he wrote. It is common knowledge anyway.

What crap did Perry hand out to Gregg? They made duets that are huge Journey hits, the only hits that Gregg had with his time with Journey. Maybe Gregg didn't like sharing those hits with Perry but then there you have it. They would no doubt have never been hits.
Those bandmates of Perry's wanted all the fame and fortune that the man's talent could bring them but they wanted it without strings.
Gregg was a copout. He added so much to the greater sound of Journey and we will never know how much more the band could have accomplished with what he had to offer, imo.

Well considering they got even bigger without Rolie, and with Cain, I bet the rest of the band mates were just fine at the end of the day with how it all worked out. And you are jumping to a butt load of conclusions to say that he didn't like sharing those hits with Perry or anyone else. Ever think maybe the guy just got on his nerves? And it finally just came down to him just beingtired and said screw it? Not everyone has the same motivation. And what I don't get is why people always have to fully understand why a human being does something just because a group of people like the status quo. He's an individual who made up his mind to move on. Now 30 years later, he's got people calling him a quiter, and an ego maniac because they didn't like the reasons he gave.

I continue to believe that people are just stupid.

[knox]

What the heck, I will throw my 2 cents in, and I know that is overpricing my opinion

1. Perry, prior to Frontiers, is my favorite voice. There are a few who are close seconds (Rick Florian of White Heart and Andy Chrisman of 4 Him). To me, Cronin and Mercury aren't a match for Perry's depth and power as he sings in his higher range.

2. Next to Perry, Rolie was my favorite member of Journey. I don't even know why. (Smith is a close tie) I don't know any of the band members personally, and none of us will ever know the whole story. What I get is that Perry did have a big ego and wanted things his way or no way. Rolie simply got to the point where he wasn't going to take Perry's crap and just hung it up. I can see Gregg as the only person in the band who actually stood up to Perry, and when no one was in his corner he took his pride (in a good way) and left. He had enough respect for the band to recruit JC.

I see nothing wrong with what he wrote. It is common knowledge anyway.

What crap did Perry hand out to Gregg? They made duets that are huge Journey hits, the only hits that Gregg had with his time with Journey. Maybe Gregg didn't like sharing those hits with Perry but then there you have it. They would no doubt have never been hits.
Those bandmates of Perry's wanted all the fame and fortune that the man's talent could bring them but they wanted it without strings.
Gregg was a copout. He added so much to the greater sound of Journey and we will never know how much more the band could have accomplished with what he had to offer, imo.

The same crap Perry handed out to everyone in his perfectionist, "MY Way" approach to music - which obviously worked because we got excellent music from Journey when he joined.

Like it or hate it, believe or don't, I put a lot of stock in the Herbie interview. In addition, there was a reason Perry had final editing power on the Behind The Music special. Also, didn't Herbie say that the members had to sign a "gag order" to make the 2001 DVD? Ever wonder why Neal or Ross or Cain haven't written or spoken about their dealings with Perry in a candid, no holds barred manner? I can't imagine that they aren't itching to get it out and answer so many questions.

I am not going to get into a fight - I merely stated my opinion on what I believe happened. Could I be 1000% wrong? Of course.

I love Perry's voice - but that's the extent of it. I am a huge fan of that voice and always will be.

And like you, I often wonder what Journey would have been like had Rolie not left - what Escape would have sounded like.

[Michigan Girl]

What the heck, I will throw my 2 cents in, and I know that is overpricing my opinion

1. Perry, prior to Frontiers, is my favorite voice. There are a few who are close seconds (Rick Florian of White Heart and Andy Chrisman of 4 Him). To me, Cronin and Mercury aren't a match for Perry's depth and power as he sings in his higher range.

2. Next to Perry, Rolie was my favorite member of Journey. I don't even know why. (Smith is a close tie) I don't know any of the band members personally, and none of us will ever know the whole story. What I get is that Perry did have a big ego and wanted things his way or no way. Rolie simply got to the point where he wasn't going to take Perry's crap and just hung it up. I can see Gregg as the only person in the band who actually stood up to Perry, and when no one was in his corner he took his pride (in a good way) and left. He had enough respect for the band to recruit JC.

I see nothing wrong with what he wrote. It is common knowledge anyway.

What crap did Perry hand out to Gregg? They made duets that are huge Journey hits, the only hits that Gregg had with his time with Journey. Maybe Gregg didn't like sharing those hits with Perry but then there you have it. They would no doubt have never been hits.
Those bandmates of Perry's wanted all the fame and fortune that the man's talent could bring them but they wanted it without strings.
Gregg was a copout. He added so much to the greater sound of Journey and we will never know how much more the band could have accomplished with what he had to offer, imo.

Well considering they got even bigger without Rolie, and with Cain, I bet the rest of the band mates were just fine at the end of the day with how it all worked out. And you are jumping to a butt load of conclusions to say that he didn't like sharing those hits with Perry or anyone else. Ever think maybe the guy just got on his nerves? And it finally just came down to him just beingtired and said screw it? Not everyone has the same motivation. And what I don't get is why people always have to fully understand why a human being does something just because a group of people like the status quo. He's an individual who made up his mind to move on. Now 30 years later, he's got people calling him a quiter, and an ego maniac because they didn't like the reasons he gave. I continue to believe that people are just stupid.

I agree....sounds familiar, eh?!?!?

[Michigan Girl]

I was sorry that he said this,

"Steve... no one got along too well with Steve. (Laughs) I don't like to be pinpointed quite that way. But yeah, he made it an easier choice, that's for sure. It was time to go. For both our sakes, for the band and myself."

Sour grapes after all these years.

No offense, but SP was hard to get along with. I mean, they all can't be wrong can they? The guitar player, bassist, piano player, manager, etc. Doesn't make SP a bad guy, but one thing you and all the other LOONS need to know is SP was and is no angel.

And Steveo77, you again asshole? "Typical around here?" What's typical is you fuckin dead brained cocksucking Pineda lovers who flood this place with Praise for the Pinoy.

This place is headed for Armageddon, and that's fine with me.

I said it was like walking in a minefield....I like^^^!!!

[whirlwind]

And it finally just came down to him just beingtired and said screw it? Not everyone has the same motivation. And what I don't get is why people always have to fully understand why a human being does something just because a group of people like the status quo. He's an individual who made up his mind to move on. Now 30 years later, he's got people calling him a quiter, and an ego maniac because they didn't like the reasons he gave. I continue to believe that people are just stupid.


I agree....sounds familiar, eh?!?!? Wink


Yeah, familiar, like the statement could apply to Perry and the the fact that so many won't accept the reasons that he gives for the way he lives his life.

[Jubilee]

And it finally just came down to him just beingtired and said screw it? Not everyone has the same motivation. And what I don't get is why people always have to fully understand why a human being does something just because a group of people like the status quo. He's an individual who made up his mind to move on. Now 30 years later, he's got people calling him a quiter, and an ego maniac because they didn't like the reasons he gave. I continue to believe that people are just stupid.


I agree....sounds familiar, eh?!?!? Wink


Yeah, familiar, like the statement could apply to Perry and the the fact that so many won't accept the reasons that he gives for the way he lives his life.

...and there you have it. Each for his own reason decided he "had to get off the merry-go-round". I don't think people disagree with Perry's need to get of the merry-go-round so much, it's the manner in which it was done. Rolie, bless his heart, left without leaving the band in the lurch - not so for Perry.

[SP Fan in Oregon]

Again, I'm speculating about the source of the conflict with the band members, but this is my opinion about it. Perry is a perfectionist.
Perry became the leader in the direction the music was being taken. His leadership skills were probably not the best at his tender age.

Many perfectionists would argue that they wouldn’t be where they were today if they weren’t perfectionists. I think the statement should be that they wouldn’t be where they were today if they didn’t set high standards. You see there is a difference. A Perfectionist does not allow for margin of error and are severely unhappy or depressed when they or others do not achieve their perfectionist ideals. A high achiever on the other hand sets high standards for themselves and others. Study after study confirms that people want to work for or with a leader who sets high goals for themselves and for others. However people also want to have those goals be logical and just out of reach in order to be motivated. Here's the difference.

Perfectionist
Sets standards beyond reason
Never satisfied unless it is perfect
Becomes angry or depressed with failure
Is obsessed with fear of failure
Sees mistakes as proof of unworthiness
Defensive with feedback

High Achiever
Sets high standards
Enjoys the process as much as the outcome
See Failure as experience and learning
Manage anxiety and fear to benefit
Sees mistakes as opportunities
Sees Feedback as crucial to growth


So, Perry likely knew what he wanted to achieve, but in the process of trying to achieve those goals he stepped on a few toes, mainly his bandmates. They gave him the reins though, smart move on their part, because the combination of Perry's perfection, ideas, and songwriting with the skill and contributions of his other bandmates, produced some of the finest songs this planet will ever know or hear. I don't think faulting Perry for being who he was or is that resulted in the finished product does anyone any good. No wonder Perry prefers solo work because he can control the entire process. I think the quality of his product is the very best, and I thank Perry for that.

[kgdjpubs]

Just imparting a personal opinion of course.
But outside of boards like this you'd be surprised how few people think perry trods water.

DeYoung and Cronin are arguably even better.
Sammy Hagar.

As far as actual singers go, you would probably be amazed how many cite Perry as an influence. I've heard more singers reference Perry than almost anyone else of recent times.

From a technical standpoint, Perry was very gifted, but then-so, so were quite a few others. Freddie Mercury, Dennis DeYoung, John Farnham, Jimi Jamison, Freddy Curci, etc. The list goes on and on. Plenty of singers had a gifted, natural singing voice. Clarity of voice and range were matched by many also. So why does Perry get listed as influence, and many of the others do not?

Natural ability is only one part of the singing equation, and probably less important than HOW you use the voice (phrasing). In the standpoint of phrasing, Perry is one of the best ever at wrapping the melody around lyrics. Phrasing is what touches people.

Combine the two, and you have something special. Perry's inactivity since basically 1986 has somewhat removed him from public conscience, so he doesn't do his recognition at the moment, but it may come back at some point. His influence among singers is secure however.

[annpea]

[

quote="mikemarrs"]if someone is a complete control freak but the product is superior then thats the way it is.if someone produces i'll overlook the rough edges and be thankful for the great output.most geniuses can be very damn difficult at times but they've earned that right.they know something others might not know plus they do it better so they are the one that makes it happen.gregg certainly ain't bitching about three or four multi-platinum discs hanging on his wall or the millions of dollars those laborious sessions gave.

[/quote] That's the way I see it also... It's like they're crying about how awful he was , with a loaf bread under each arm.( The bread he helped bake and they all happily ate) to me it appears that they wanted the bakers dough making skills, but not the baker himself.... my point is why eat the bread if you're gonna turn around and spit on the baker.. no pain no gain... He may have been no picnic, but those fat paychecks just kept rolling in.

[verslibre]

DeYoung and Cronin are arguably even better.
Sammy Hagar.

Surely, you kid. DeYoung, in totality, has had a much better and longer career because the guy can still bring it at a tremendously high level. Cronin has an incredibly successful catalog and even enjoyed a few vocal moments in the sun, but he has simply never been in the same league as Perry. Hagar is the Pete Rose of rock and roll. A very consistent guy that has sung very well for a long period of time, but he has enjoyed no vocal moments that come even close to Perry. You're comparing Pete Rose to Babe Ruth, pal.

In his prime, Ronnie James Dio was a better singer than any of the singers mentioned. I'm surprised Kevin Cronin's name even gets dropped. The guy's so one-dimensional. Nothing special. And Sammy Hagar is one of my favorite singers: not only is his a powerful voice, and one that has held up over the course of four decades, it's utterly pathetic to hear that he "doesn't compare" to Steve Perry, for whatever reason. Perry's crystalline tone is nice to listen to, but I always felt he lacked grit, the kind Sammy, Dio and John Lawton ('76-'80 in Uriah Heep) could bring. And on some songs, he sounded way too "fairy Perry," like on that p.o.s. "Cryin'"....even hearing the opening verse makes me want to throw on Conan The Barbarian or Rambo so I can feel like a man again!!!

[Don]

Some sales numbers from the Rolie era.

Infinity 3X Platinum
Evolution 3X Platinum
Departure 3X Platinum
Captured 2X Platinum

[steveo777]

Some sales numbers from the Rolie era.

Infinity 3X Platinum
Evolution 3X Platinum
Departure 3X Platinum
Captured 2X Platinum

Nice numbers. That's 11 million by pre-revelation standards. Now who sang on the other 70+ million albums sold?

No, I have not been sleeping in class.

[annie89509]

Clashes of ego within the Journey empire notwithstanding, I do think SP gets a bad rap about “not getting along with people,” which, unfortunately, paints him in a bad light among fans’ perceptions (of him) fueled solely by what we have read/heard around these parts (btw, I do think Gregg is a very nice guy).

Like what is happening with another long-running thread, I just think it’s too easy for people to sit back and cast condemnation toward someone without being in said shoes or giving the benefit of hearing the other side of the story.

Personal conflicts are nothing new; happens to the best of us. I think we can all agreed SP was(is) a perfectionist, driven by a strong will to achieve. Add that to his private (i.e., loner) personality, and I can see why he was not the most popular Journey bandmate. I remember another famous singer, Barbra Streisand, back in her day (possessing the same traits as SP) was called “a bitch” to work with by many in the business.

Couple of other thoughts:
How come Steve’s Strange Medicine bandmates have nothing but fond memories of their relationship? Not to mention a couple of other obscure interview articles from Steve’s old (pre-Journey) bandmates that found its way on the ‘net. No dirt whatsoever there.

Lol … people always bring up the fact that SP had editorial control over the VH1-BTM expose. Heck, if he had editorial control, why not steer the show toward his favor? There were plenty of excerpts where he came across badly – not the least of which was that quote that ended the show .

[Matthew]

Clashes of ego within the Journey empire notwithstanding, I do think SP gets a bad rap about “not getting along with people,” which, unfortunately, paints him in a bad light among fans’ perceptions (of him) fueled solely by what we have read/heard around these parts (btw, I do think Gregg is a very nice guy).

Like what is happening with another long-running thread, I just think it’s too easy for people to sit back and cast condemnation toward someone without being in said shoes or giving the benefit of hearing the other side of the story.

Personal conflicts are nothing new; happens to the best of us. I think we can all agreed SP was(is) a perfectionist, driven by a strong will to achieve. Add that to his private (i.e., loner) personality, and I can see why he was not the most popular Journey bandmate. I remember another famous singer, Barbra Streisand, back in her day (possessing the same traits as SP) was called “a bitch” to work with by many in the business.

Couple of other thoughts:
How come Steve’s Strange Medicine bandmates have nothing but fond memories of their relationship? Not to mention a couple of other obscure interview articles from Steve’s old (pre-Journey) bandmates that found its way on the ‘net. No dirt whatsoever there.

Lol … people always bring up the fact that SP had editorial control over the VH1-BTM expose. Heck, if he had editorial control, why not steer the show toward his favor? There were plenty of excerpts where he came across badly – not the least of which was that quote that ended the show .

Good post - and worth saying too that Perry got on well enough with his bandmates for Journey to record a succession of classic albums over an eight year period in which they also toured relentlessly and with great success.

Given this...I'm really not sure how 'dysfunctional' this band ever really was and I've never quite understood why so many Journey fans continue to feel short changed.

[moangel58]

I believe it was said by Steve himself and I quote:
"I was no day at the beach or picnic in the park."
Steve admitted numerous times that he was a perfectionist and things needed to go his way. He had an amazing knack for getting things done and still does.
So let this go, Steve admits his fault in the whole thing.

Sorry, but those three words in your otherwise accurate statement do not fit.

Okay so he is working on a new project and we don't know when it will surface, but he is trying to get things done, is that better onestepper? But TY for the rest of the comment.