Why We Don't Hear About Journey's Steve Perry Anymore

You can't think of the classic rock band Journey without humming that karaoke staple "Don't Stop Believin'"... "Don't Stop. Belevin'. Hold on to that feeling." ...or other hits like "Separate Ways" and slow dance favorite "Open Arms." And thanks to "Don't Stop Believin'" being used on Glee... "Just a small town girl... living in a lonely world"... and in the final episode of The Sopranos... " Oh no". Don't stop believing!" And how can we not mention the genius that is Rock Sugar? "She took a midnight train to go anywhere." ...an entire generation rediscovered the rock hitmakers in the arena But the voice behind those songs, Steve Perry, has been missing for some time, both from the band that made him famous and from public life.

Fans miss the artist who was so great in the '80s that he sang. a verse in “We Are the World” “Oh, the choice we’re making… we’re saving our own lives.” So what happened to the singer who helped Journey hit the high notes? Let's find out: Leaving on top Journey's music was inescapable during the '70s and '80s. "So what?" "So what? So let's dance!" "I was alone... I never knew..." They toured constantly, released one album a year between 1975 and 1981, and even had their own arcade game where fans could play as band members retrieving instruments in outer space. .

Steve Perry told GQ that he thought the game was "dumb" at the time, and it's hard to disagree with him, but its existence remains proof of the band's mega popularity during their heyday after several years. of stadium tours. took a much-needed break, founding member Neal Schon recorded two solo albums with Miami Vice theme composer Jan Hammer as Schon and Hammer, inspiring Perry to go solo on 1984's Street Talk, a hit record that included the hits "Foolish Heart" and "Oh Sherrie," which Perry wrote for his then-girlfriend, Sherrie Swafford, who also appears in the video, "Oh Sherrie, Our Love, Hold On." But what started as a brief respite from Journey eventually turned into a long-term hiatus. of the music.

Perry first left Journey in 1987, after the final tour date in support of the album Raised On Radio, an album whose recording sessions were strained by Perry's intermittent attendance, due to the poor health of his mother and his eventual death. After years of touring and recording albums, Perry was mentally done with the band. "I told them I didn't want to do it

anymore

. I think I just wanted to stop." The band moved on to other projects over the next few years. Neal Schon and keyboardist Jonathan Cain formed the band Bad English with singer John Waite, which scored the No. 1 Billboard hit "When I See You Smile." "When I see you smile." Perry recorded a solo album called Against the Wall in 1988, but due to label changes it was never released.

After eight years away from the spotlight, Perry released the solo album For The Love Of Strange Medicine in 1994, where he sported some sweet '90s grunge rocker locks in the video for the single "You Better Wait." "Somewhere there is love" Perry was back, but his return would be short-lived. The reunion tour ended before it began. Perry's Strange Medicine album attracted enough attention that plans were made for a Journey reunion. The band reunited in 1996 and recorded the album Trial By Fire, which produced the number one adult contemporary hit "When You Love a Woman." "She's by your side though." Joy that lasts forever!

But before Journey could hit the road for a tour, Perry experienced hip pain while hiking in Hawaii. And I, uh... And I, uh... I didn't think I was going to make it off the mountain." Perry was diagnosed with a degenerative bone disease and could no longer perform. Without Perry, there was no tour, and No tour , the album quickly disappeared from the charts. Perry postponed hip surgery until 1998, but by then the rest of the band was frustrated at having to wait for their lead singer and Perry had even moved on from the rest of the band. advising him to "go out and do whatever you want, but don't call it Journey." That was the final straw for Perry, who told music journalist Mitch Lafon, "I don't respond well to ultimatums." and Perry going their separate ways forever.

Behind The Music turned ugly. In 2001, the band members were interviewed for VH1's Behind The Music, shortly after releasing the modestly successful album Arrival, with new singer Steve Augeri taking the spotlight. in the band's internal disputes and reopened some old wounds. What particularly increased the tension was Perry describing himself as an outsider in the group. "I never really felt part of the band. I really always thought I was the outside guy." From the perspective of the other members of Journey, Perry was a driving force of the band, so the outsider comments on both. It hurt and didn't make any sense. "I have no idea why he would feel that way..." "It's crazy.

I never felt part of the band" "He was making, you know, a lot of the decisions..." The band that gave us the song "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" was now "Arguin', Squabblin' and Catfightin'". Perry's Permanent Replacement In the early 2000s, new Journey vocalist Steve Augeri was struggling to provide the vocal chops needed to fill Perry's shoes. "It was terrifying to go on stage and it was terrifying to be compared to one of the greatest rock and roll vocalists in the history of rock and roll." The band was even being accused of employing pre-recorded vocals in live performances to compensate, which might be the least rocking thing after a pan flute.

The remaining members of Journey needed a singer who could match Perry's iconic voice. Miraculously, the guys from Journey found their new singer while searching for covers of his songs on YouTube. The band

hear

d Filipino singer Arnel Pineda sing his hit "Faithfully" and were impressed by his vocal resemblance to Steve Perry. "Wait, wait, wait, wait." Living in poverty and paying his dues (and bills) performing with classic rock cover bands in Manila, Pineda sounded almost exactly like Perry, so the band immediately tracked him down and signed him. "Just a city boy. Born and raised in south Detroit." Pineda, who was the subject of a 2012 documentary about his incredible

journey

, has been humble about the concert and said he never expected to draw the attention of one of his favorite bands.

And although he hasn't actually met Steve Perry, he insists that if he ever does, he'd be in line for an autograph like any fan. Perry told Glamor that he thinks Pineda is doing "very well" and squashed reunion rumors in 2014 by telling Fan Asylum, "He's her lead singer and I wish him all the best." In 2013, Steve Perry spoke on his blog about the tremendous loss he had suffered. While watching footage from the Lifetime TV special Five about breast cancer survivors made by his friend and filmmaker Patty Jenkins, Perry was caught by Kellie Nash, a psychologist and cancer patient who made a cameo in the special.

Perry asked Jenkins to introduce him to Nash, and after a few email exchanges, the two met and instantly fell in love. They dated for a year and a half, but Nash's cancer spread and she eventually claimed her life. Perry himself experienced a cancer scare in 2013, when he underwent surgery to remove melanoma skin cancer. Both experiences have made him a more thoughtful and reflective man, which doesn't always jibe with the wild lifestyle of a rock star. Fears expressed In recent years, Perry has reared his head from his self-imposed exile. He has appeared in a few major league baseball games, "Up and Down the Boulevard." and he even performed some Journey songs with the indie band Eels in 2014 at their concerts in St.

Paul, Minnesota, and Los Angeles. Perry is a fan of the group and performed slower versions of "Open Arrms," ​​"Faithfully" and more classic songs. "So now I have come to you with open arms." While Perry's voice had certainly aged, the Internet exploded following his return to the stage. The surprise performance was well received, but there are no signs of a full return for Steve Perry. So what's up? Perry has expressed concern that, after so long without practicing, his voice may not even be able to achieve the high notes of Journey's classic songs. "Here I am, with open arms." When a Glamor reporter asked him in 2013 how his voice was doing these days, Steve said, "He's out of shape." Meanwhile, Perry has been increasingly hinting at releasing a new album, and the last time he released a solo album led to a Journey reunion.

But while the other members of Journey said they would welcome Perry, Neal Schon told Billboard that Perry will only speak to him through an attorney. Don't stop believing, Journey fans. But don't hold your breath either. "Don't stop. Believing. Hold on to that feeling." Thanks for watching! Click the Grunge icon to subscribe to our YouTube channel. Plus, check out all these other cool things we know you'll love too!