New in-depth interview with Neal

[Gideon]

Excellent interview; great questions, the guy knows his stuff.

Here you go.

[Andrew]

Speaking of which....I hope to have my interview with Neal and Arnel online end of next week.

[brywool]

Speaking of which....I hope to have my interview with Neal and Arnel online end of next week.

blah blah blah....
months we wait and nothing!!

(just messin with you Andrew!)

[perryswoman]

Steve wouldn't play the grammys?????? What the hell was the reason for that? Awesome interview!

[Rick]

Steve wouldn't play the grammys?????? What the hell was the reason for that? Awesome interview!

Wasn't that the time Bolton got up and sang with Journey?

[perryswoman]

Oh my rick! I missed that! What was perry's reason for not singing there?? Couldn't have been because of hip problems could it? It was one song! I'm never gonna hear him again it seems

[Rick]

Oh my rick! I missed that! What was perry's reason for not singing there?? Couldn't have been because of hip problems could it? It was one song! I'm never gonna hear him again it seems

I'm not sure. Maybe someone else that knows the incident better than I do can help answer.

[EightyRock]

Oh Geezus......he's still whining about Perry. STOP already! It's almost two thousand fucking twelve!!

[steveo777]

Oh Geezus......he's still whining about Perry. STOP already! It's almost two thousand fucking twelve!!

I didn't take it as whining.

[Gideon]

Oh Geezus......he's still whining about Perry. STOP already! It's almost two thousand fucking twelve!!

Schon is constantly vilified for his perceived role in Perry's departure from Journey. I see no reason why he shouldn't raise valid points to add some dimension to what happened.

[perryswoman]

Yea I luv Perrys voice better than anyone's and luv Neal's playing better than anyone's but they both need to grow up. They are both at fault and I do not want to see something hjappened to one of them with the other one feeling like crap for making amends. One final concert and a handshake woulld suit me just fine!!!!!!!

[Saint John]

Speaking of interviews, this seems to contradict what Nostrildamus said on Behind The Music:

RS: Because you were brought in later on, did you ever feel like an outsider in the band?


SP: No, they did the best they could to always make me feel a part of the whole thing. They definitely had a camaraderie going on for years prior to my entrance. That still exists. I think there is a very tight allegiance between Neal and Herbie that will never go they are like brothers. That will always be there. We do all get along, it's a democracy, otherwise it doesn't work. Unless you're Sting and you're in the Police and it's not even fair to say that because I don't even know how important the other guys are to him. Obviously, it's very important soundwise as far as I'm concerned. The group is a democracy and it really has to work. There are five very strong individuals. Strong in their own right creatively and drivewise and that's what makes up what is one very strong Journey sound. Independently I believe that everybody is as strong as the Journey thing. But independently there's an infectious freedom of creativity that is easier for myself, for instance, to just go and do something or easier for Neal to hook up with somebody else. That's what a group is all about. For the most part it is definitely a workable situation.






http://steveperryfanclub.homestead.com/ ... alkin.html

[Behshad]

Oh Geezus......he's still whining about Perry. STOP already! It's almost two thousand fucking twelve!!

I didn't take it as whining.

Of course you didnt. This is pure porn material to you, duh!

[Behshad]

Speaking of which....I hope to have my interview with Neal and Arnel online end of next week.

By the time your interview (finally) comes up, are there really unanswered questions? Or maybe you're the one who got the answers to what went on with Soto's termination?

[Pelata]

I don't think he's whining about Perry...he was recalling a time period...no big deal.

[SF-Dano]

Speaking of interviews, this seems to contradict what Nostrildamus said on Behind The Music:

RS: Because you were brought in later on, did you ever feel like an outsider in the band?


SP: No, they did the best they could to always make me feel a part of the whole thing. They definitely had a camaraderie going on for years prior to my entrance. That still exists. I think there is a very tight allegiance between Neal and Herbie that will never go they are like brothers. That will always be there. We do all get along, it's a democracy, otherwise it doesn't work. Unless you're Sting and you're in the Police and it's not even fair to say that because I don't even know how important the other guys are to him. Obviously, it's very important soundwise as far as I'm concerned. The group is a democracy and it really has to work. There are five very strong individuals. Strong in their own right creatively and drivewise and that's what makes up what is one very strong Journey sound. Independently I believe that everybody is as strong as the Journey thing. But independently there's an infectious freedom of creativity that is easier for myself, for instance, to just go and do something or easier for Neal to hook up with somebody else. That's what a group is all about. For the most part it is definitely a workable situation.






http://steveperryfanclub.homestead.com/ ... alkin.html

Wow. I wonder when his philosophy changed or if this was just BS for the press at the time. Obvisously something changed at some point in time. Nice find.

[STORY_TELLER]

Great interview. VERY VERY much looking forward to the two solo projects Neal spoke of. Can't wait for those releases.

[onmyjrny]

Speaking of interviews, this seems to contradict what Nostrildamus said on Behind The Music:

RS: Because you were brought in later on, did you ever feel like an outsider in the band?


SP: No, they did the best they could to always make me feel a part of the whole thing. They definitely had a camaraderie going on for years prior to my entrance. That still exists. I think there is a very tight allegiance between Neal and Herbie that will never go they are like brothers. That will always be there. We do all get along, it's a democracy, otherwise it doesn't work. Unless you're Sting and you're in the Police and it's not even fair to say that because I don't even know how important the other guys are to him. Obviously, it's very important soundwise as far as I'm concerned. The group is a democracy and it really has to work. There are five very strong individuals. Strong in their own right creatively and drivewise and that's what makes up what is one very strong Journey sound. Independently I believe that everybody is as strong as the Journey thing. But independently there's an infectious freedom of creativity that is easier for myself, for instance, to just go and do something or easier for Neal to hook up with somebody else. That's what a group is all about. For the most part it is definitely a workable situation.






http://steveperryfanclub.homestead.com/ ... alkin.html

Wow. I wonder when his philosophy changed or if this was just BS for the press at the time. Obvisously something changed at some point in time. Nice find.

I think most of this was just BS for the press. Pretty much any interview I read prior to 1986 has you believing that everything was super hunky dorey between the band members. The first interview I remember where any rifts were discussed was the San Fran newspaper interview (the Chronicle? I think) with Neal. He didn't hold back his feelings for Perry in that one. Does anyone have a copy of that?

[tater1977]

Late Nite
(Real Title Unknown)

San Francisco Chronicle (SF) - 1989
Author unknown
Transcribed by unknown

With his first noncollaborative solo album ""Late Nite" to be released next week and another album by his new superstar rock band in the can, guitarist Neal Schon looks back from a different perspective on his work with multiplatinum rockers Journey. ""With this solo record, I can lay at rest with myself," he said. ""I don't care if it sells 10 copies. This was something I had to do for myself and it is an honest thing." Schon said he didn't feel good about the last five years with Journey, including the group's last two albums. ""This may be cutting down my own stuff, but this is years later. We wrote some good stuff and Journey definitely had its day in court, but that's about it."

Schon, who launched his career 20 years ago as a teenage guitarist with the original Santana band, rode to the top of the charts on a succession of Journey albums and tours with packed stadiums in the early '80s. Under trying circumstances three years ago, he did one final Journey album produced by vocalist Steve Perry. ""I hated Perry so much that I was going on binges," Schon said. ""I'd come to the studio after having stayed up all night, and he'd look at me and say, "I can see you're not going to be good for anything.' Then I'd cut my solo on the first take. He has no respect for anyone he works with and that was pretty hard for me to deal with. Now I'm finally out of a cage...not just trying to fit into some situation." Beginning as an all instrumental, blues-oriented work, ""Late Nite" evolved into a diverse showcase of his guitar styles and vocals. ""I used to be real insecure about my singing," he said. ""But now I like it. I sound like me."

But right now, Schon is mainly interested in his Columbia Records solo album. (He had two previous collaborations, with fusion synthesizer expert Jan Hammer of ""Miami Vice" fame and one ill-conceived live album with Van Halen vocalist Sammy Hagar.) A video has been shot and Schon departs next week for a radio station promotional tour. He worked with former Journey drummer Steve Smith, axed by Perry from the final album, and Weather Report drummer Omar Hakim, one of 50 drummers who tried out for Smith's chair but was deemed inadequate by Perry.

""This is the first record I've ever made where I'm really happy about my guitar playing," Schon said. ""I think I captured the true emotion of these tracks instead of sitting in the studio and trying to get something to sound perfect."

With a new wife, a 7-month-old baby and what he sees as a new lease on his professional life, Schon talks like a man glad to have walked away from the wreckage of Journey, claiming greater satisfaction from playing a 12-bar solo on the Michael Boltin hit last year of ""Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" than from all the Journey million-sellers.

""Where have I been?" he said. ""I guess I haven't been being myself. There is not one blues solo in all my playing in Journey, and I've been playing blues since I was 12 years old. What I'm doing now is honest, not stuff that has been contrived or thought about too much. Those days are way over for me."

Copyright 1989 The San Francisco Chronicle

[tater1977]

Speaking of interviews, this seems to contradict what Nostrildamus said on Behind The Music:

RS: Because you were brought in later on, did you ever feel like an outsider in the band?


SP: No, they did the best they could to always make me feel a part of the whole thing. They definitely had a camaraderie going on for years prior to my entrance. That still exists. I think there is a very tight allegiance between Neal and Herbie that will never go they are like brothers. That will always be there. We do all get along, it's a democracy, otherwise it doesn't work. Unless you're Sting and you're in the Police and it's not even fair to say that because I don't even know how important the other guys are to him. Obviously, it's very important soundwise as far as I'm concerned. The group is a democracy and it really has to work. There are five very strong individuals. Strong in their own right creatively and drivewise and that's what makes up what is one very strong Journey sound. Independently I believe that everybody is as strong as the Journey thing. But independently there's an infectious freedom of creativity that is easier for myself, for instance, to just go and do something or easier for Neal to hook up with somebody else. That's what a group is all about. For the most part it is definitely a workable situation.






http://steveperryfanclub.homestead.com/ ... alkin.html

Wow. I wonder when his philosophy changed or if this was just BS for the press at the time. Obvisously something changed at some point in time. Nice find.

I think most of this was just BS for the press. Pretty much any interview I read prior to 1986 has you believing that everything was super hunky dorey between the band members. The first interview I remember where any rifts were discussed was the San Fran newspaper interview (the Chronicle? I think) with Neal. He didn't hold back his feelings for Perry in that one. Does anyone have a copy of that?

Is that the article onmyjrny?

[steveo777]

I see back then that Neal blamed his alcoholism on Perry.
Steve Perry drove Neal to drinkin.

[onmyjrny]

Speaking of interviews, this seems to contradict what Nostrildamus said on Behind The Music:

RS: Because you were brought in later on, did you ever feel like an outsider in the band?


SP: No, they did the best they could to always make me feel a part of the whole thing. They definitely had a camaraderie going on for years prior to my entrance. That still exists. I think there is a very tight allegiance between Neal and Herbie that will never go they are like brothers. That will always be there. We do all get along, it's a democracy, otherwise it doesn't work. Unless you're Sting and you're in the Police and it's not even fair to say that because I don't even know how important the other guys are to him. Obviously, it's very important soundwise as far as I'm concerned. The group is a democracy and it really has to work. There are five very strong individuals. Strong in their own right creatively and drivewise and that's what makes up what is one very strong Journey sound. Independently I believe that everybody is as strong as the Journey thing. But independently there's an infectious freedom of creativity that is easier for myself, for instance, to just go and do something or easier for Neal to hook up with somebody else. That's what a group is all about. For the most part it is definitely a workable situation.






http://steveperryfanclub.homestead.com/ ... alkin.html

Wow. I wonder when his philosophy changed or if this was just BS for the press at the time. Obvisously something changed at some point in time. Nice find.

I think most of this was just BS for the press. Pretty much any interview I read prior to 1986 has you believing that everything was super hunky dorey between the band members. The first interview I remember where any rifts were discussed was the San Fran newspaper interview (the Chronicle? I think) with Neal. He didn't hold back his feelings for Perry in that one. Does anyone have a copy of that?

Is that the article onmyjrny?

Yes, that's it! Wow, I haven't seen that for a long time. I had forgotten how um...direct...Neal was. I vividly remember reading that and being quite shocked. I mean, it was always rumored that Perry and Schon didn't get along, but when you listened to them in an interview they always made it sound like there were creative differences but that was it. Steve even sang in Neal's wedding and contributed quite a bit to Here to Stay. It just goes to show that you never really know what goes on.

[perryswoman]

Interesting find. Those 2 mix like oil and water.

[tater1977]

Interesting find. Those 2 mix like oil and water.

Steve Schon and Neal Perry...

[SusieP]

Excellent interview; great questions, the guy knows his stuff.

Here you go.

Thanks for the link.
Enjoyed reading that.


I find it interesting that Neal is happy with the sound on stage and yet I have read nothing but complaints from concert goers that this year's Journey sound has been dreadful.

[annpea]

Late Nite
(Real Title Unknown)

San Francisco Chronicle (SF) - 1989
Author unknown
Transcribed by unknown

With his first noncollaborative solo album ""Late Nite" to be released next week and another album by his new superstar rock band in the can, guitarist Neal Schon looks back from a different perspective on his work with multiplatinum rockers Journey. ""With this solo record, I can lay at rest with myself," he said. ""I don't care if it sells 10 copies. This was something I had to do for myself and it is an honest thing." Schon said he didn't feel good about the last five years with Journey, including the group's last two albums. ""This may be cutting down my own stuff, but this is years later. We wrote some good stuff and Journey definitely had its day in court, but that's about it."

Schon, who launched his career 20 years ago as a teenage guitarist with the original Santana band, rode to the top of the charts on a succession of Journey albums and tours with packed stadiums in the early '80s. Under trying circumstances three years ago, he did one final Journey album produced by vocalist Steve Perry. ""I hated Perry so much that I was going on binges," Schon said. ""I'd come to the studio after having stayed up all night, and he'd look at me and say, "I can see you're not going to be good for anything.' Then I'd cut my solo on the first take. He has no respect for anyone he works with and that was pretty hard for me to deal with. Now I'm finally out of a cage...not just trying to fit into some situation." Beginning as an all instrumental, blues-oriented work, ""Late Nite" evolved into a diverse showcase of his guitar styles and vocals. ""I used to be real insecure about my singing," he said. ""But now I like it. I sound like me."

But right now, Schon is mainly interested in his Columbia Records solo album. (He had two previous collaborations, with fusion synthesizer expert Jan Hammer of ""Miami Vice" fame and one ill-conceived live album with Van Halen vocalist Sammy Hagar.) A video has been shot and Schon departs next week for a radio station promotional tour. He worked with former Journey drummer Steve Smith, axed by Perry from the final album, and Weather Report drummer Omar Hakim, one of 50 drummers who tried out for Smith's chair but was deemed inadequate by Perry.

""This is the first record I've ever made where I'm really happy about my guitar playing," Schon said. ""I think I captured the true emotion of these tracks instead of sitting in the studio and trying to get something to sound perfect."

With a new wife, a 7-month-old baby and what he sees as a new lease on his professional life, Schon talks like a man glad to have walked away from the wreckage of Journey, claiming greater satisfaction from playing a 12-bar solo on the Michael Boltin hit last year of ""Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" than from all the Journey million-sellers.

""Where have I been?" he said. ""I guess I haven't been being myself. There is not one blues solo in all my playing in Journey, and I've been playing blues since I was 12 years old. What I'm doing now is honest, not stuff that has been contrived or thought about too much. Those days are way over for me."

Copyright 1989 The San Francisco Chronicle

Well I guess that kind of statement would make someone feel a little bit not part of the band.

[Saint John]

I see back then that Neal blamed his alcoholism on Perry.
Steve Perry drove Neal to drinkin.

The binging is really nothing we didn't already know about. Herbie said that used to amaze him; that Neal could come in still blasted and cut a perfect solo. And I don't see Neal blaming his binges on Perry. I see him admitting that alcohol and (probably) drugs were his way of coping. And that's no one's fault, or choice, but his own. And he's admitted more than once that he overindulged for far too long.

[onmyjrny]

The end of that article (the 1989 one) sure makes it sound like Neal was done with Journey then.

[onmyjrny]

Neal's comments about Can't Tame the Lion surprised me a little. I like that song and would love to hear it in concert. I can't picture anyone at a live show sitting there and analyzing the lyrics.

[Michigan Girl]

lol... I remember that old interview w/Neal, from many moons and
a wife or two, ago. He made a lot of stupid statements/comments,
as do we all ...they just aren't always in print for posterity.
I've always thought Neal needed a PR guy. He clears up Perry's,
I never felt like part of the band,mystery comment, every time he opens
his mouth!!

This may be cutting down my own stuff, but this is years later. We wrote some good stuff and Journey definitely had its day in court, but that's about it."

"This is the first record I've ever made where I'm really happy about my guitar playing," Schon said. ""I think I captured the true emotion of these tracks instead of sitting in the studio and trying to get something to sound perfect."

""Where have I been?" he said. ""I guess I haven't been being myself. There is not one blues solo in all my playing in Journey, and I've been playing blues since I was 12 years old. What I'm doing now is honest, not stuff that has been contrived or thought about too much. Those days are way over for me."

Things that make one say hmmmmmmmmmmm!!

Oh, and it's Bolton ...certainly the interviewer's fault?!?