It must have been a boat load of pressure. It really makes you wonder how to approach a recording session and how much you push it versus what you can sing on tour. I think Steve's ability to push on the high side is what really made him and was a key to his ability to convey his emotions while singing. It's really amazing Steve went as long as he did with Journey singing in that high range with that schedule. Being a smaller person is an advantage to singing high which falls in Steve's favor. Still, the pressure must have been tremendous.
I think Steve must have went balls out when recording in the studio. It had to be tough when singing that catalog day in and day out on tour. My band does a couple of Journey songs. As I've gotten older, it's more difficult to zip up the chords and sing in that high range (I bet Rip can chime in here). On my best day singing his stuff it's pretty good, on my worst day it's a little rough, and on an average day it's ok but not great. I sing those two songs a couple of day a week (in the original key). I think once you hit you mid 40's, it's tougher to do. I hope Arnel can hang in there. His size is a huge advantage in that range but his age is working against him (at least from my experience).
Damn, what a great interview. This is the best interview I've ever read. I've read it 3 times and it gets better every time. I really like how Mac takes the excuses away about labels and such by making a record offer to Steve on the spot.

And the offer of playing at the MRF315th was icing on the cake. Mac removed the excuses we've heard in the past. Mac, thanks for that and well done.
onmyjrny wrote:Aaron wrote:Mac,
That was the best interview I've seen in a long time. Great job! I can't believe how smoothly you lead into the questions. Perry was also very cordial in his answers, what a class act.
It was very insightful hearing Steve talk about his voice and the touring schedule. He must have been under a ton of stress every night not knowing if "it" was all there. Wow, what a cool interview.
I assume you recorded the interview for complete the transcript? Any chance of hearing Steve's singing during the interview?
Well done!
Can you imagine what kind of pressure that must have been? Living with that fear every day for months at a time? Talk about stress! No wonder he burnt out and didn't want to return!!
Taking life a quarter mile at a time .... [img]