Steve Perry: Stage return was just for fun

[tater1977]

Steve Perry: Stage return was just for fun

by Dave Ling
~ 02/06/2014

http://classicrock.teamrock.com/news/20 ... st-for-fun

Exclusive: Former Journey frontman makes second Eels guest appearance but confirms there's no reunion on the cards


Former Journey frontman Steve Perry made a second surprise guest appearance with Eels over the weekend – but he's underlined the stage stunts are just for fun.

And he's reiterated that there's no chance of a reunion with Neal Schon and co – despite current frontman Arnel Pineda saying he'd be welcome to reclaim his "righteous place."

He last week led a song in front of an audience for the first time in 19 years when he guested with Eels, and repeated the escapade over the weekend, performing four songs with frontman E and his band in Washington. He's also released a self-shot video of his earlier walk-on in Saint Paul, Minnesota – view it below.

Perry says: "People have been putting two and two together – but this wasn't about a reunion with Journey. There is no reunion. I was just having fun."

In Minnesota he performed Journey classics Open Arms and Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' along with Eels track It's A Motherfucker. He explains: "I've always loved It's A Motherfucker because it's about loss and pain. We played it together in rehearsal, and the next thing I know I'm in Saint Paul. Someday I'm going to record that song.

"In a world where it's hard to keep a secret, it felt so much fun to walk out there to an unsuspecting crowd."

E, real name Mark Oliver Everett, introduced him by explaining he'd walked away from Journey because "it didn't feel right." Perry says: "I couldn't have put it better – that's exactly what happened. It had run its course."

He says of his moment in the spotlight: "When E announced me I thought I’d take the piss and hang back a while. But finally I’m out there; the audience saw me, and I hadn’t experienced that kind of emotion in quite a while. It was beyond exhilarating.

"I was so grateful that they were so loving and happy to see me. I was just as happy to see them. I had forgotten how much I’d missed it.”

Asked if he was happy with his performance, he replies: "Well, I hadn’t sung in 20 years – I sounded more like Otis Redding than I did in Journey; and I love Otis, so that’s not a bad thing. But after twenty years, wherever you hit that golf ball is where it lands. I just wanted to go out there and hit the ball. I was pretty pleased with what I pulled off.

"I’m not the person I was thirty years ago; that person is gone."

Perry recently confirmed he'd been writing material with a view to recording a solo album. He says his Eels experience has made him more determined than ever that his latest songs should be heard, adding: "it's very important for me. I wrote a new song just last week."

[Sassie]

OMGoodness!!! I got my wish. Now we know how he felt before and now.I never thought about him getting back with Journey. He is solo all the way, in my humble opinion. I have always said that at the Journey concerts it was like he was to see us as much as we were there to see him. I'm so glad he said that because it gives those that were not lucky enough to see him in concert when he was with Journey a small glimpse at what made him so great. He always included us in the fun and the music and everybody left those concerts with a great feeling. I have been to many concerts and no other band I ever saw even came close to what he did. Those were extremely special experiences. Now just concerts but experiences. I feel very lucky and proud that I was around to be there.

[Marabelle]

There is a woman in the DC audience; well quite a few women in the audience but the one I'm talking about is the woman who shrills and shrieks the loudest as if her ears and soul are being pleasured. I love her screams! She yells the loudest above and beyond all others. She's a standout! She got my attention and I"m sure those on stage heard her out there screaming at the top of her lungs! It probably made Mr Stevie feel very welcomed. Everyone was having a lot of fun.

[nylady]

I don't understand why so many still wish for a reunion. Would be going backwards, to be the singer is what is now basically a nostalgia tribute band. Yes, at one time they created magic together, but that was a long time ago. Now, these many years later it's just singing the oldies. They would be striving to be the act that generates the highest donations during pledge week on PBS.

It appears, happily, that Steve might be ready to do something on his own and that's exactly where he should be, on his own. This weekend, the first 2 numbers he did were incredible. His rendition of the Eels song, and Sam Cookes 'Only 16' were just ear candy.

I also loved hearing him do the Journey songs and since I wouldn't know a key of D from a door key, I have no problem with whatever lower range they are in. In this second appearance Steve showed more of his emotion and exuberance in performing, and that was great to see.

Should he decide to jump back into performing again, I'm hoping for new solo music from Steve. It would be criminal to want to see him limited to only singing 20-30 year old songs.

[donnaplease]

But after twenty years, wherever you hit that golf ball is where it lands. I just wanted to go out there and hit the ball.

I LOVE this quote! I think SP is the most realistic of us all.