The Only Time Steve Perry and Neal Schon Worked Together Outside of Journey

Neal Schon, Journey’s founding guitarist, has crafted an impressive legacy across the band’s 15 albums—and beyond. Over his 50-plus years with Journey, Schon has continually expanded his musical horizons by collaborating with a diverse array of artists. Notably, he joined forces with Journey keyboardist and songwriter Jonathan Cain in the late 1980s to form Bad English. The duo co-wrote several tracks on the band’s 1989 self-titled debut and continued their partnership on 1991’s Backlash.

Schon’s collaborative spirit didn’t stop there. By the late 1990s, he was working with rock legend Paul Rodgers on tribute albums celebrating Muddy Waters and Jimi Hendrix. He also co-wrote “Saving Grace” for Rodgers’ 1997 solo album Now. Other notable partnerships include work with Joe Cocker, former Santana bandmate Gregg Rolie, Michael Bolton, Carmine Appice, Beth Hart, Sammy Hagar, and the Allman Brothers Band. More recently, Schon co-wrote “Desert Moon” for Journey frontman Steve Augeri’s 2022 album, Seven Ways ’til Sunday.

Schon & Hammer: A Fusion of Rock and Synth

Shortly after Journey’s landmark album Escape—which spawned timeless hits like “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms,” and “Who’s Crying Now”—Schon embarked on a unique collaboration with Jan Hammer. Known for his pioneering synthesizer work and the Miami Vice theme, Hammer teamed up with Schon to form Schon & Hammer. The duo released two albums: Untold Passion (1981) and Here to Stay (1982).

Here to Stay features cover art cleverly inspired by the iconic Arm & Hammer logo and showcases the duo’s songwriting chemistry. While most tracks were penned by Schon and Hammer, one standout—“Self Defense”—was co-written by Schon alongside his Journey bandmates Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain.

“Self Defense”: A Rock Anthem of Resilience

“Self Defense” serves as a powerful rocker, exploring themes of perseverance and determination amid uncertainty. Written by Schon, Perry, and Cain, the track captures the spirit of pushing through challenges—an ethos that has defined much of Schon’s career.

More than just a song, “Self Defense” embodies the grit and resilience that have propelled Schon from Journey’s early days through decades of musical evolution. As he continues to create and collaborate, Schon’s journey remains a testament to the enduring power of rock and the strength found in creative partnerships.

The situation’s got me rattled
I twist and turn late at night
This whole world’s up in shambles
Who’s the one to make it right

Missing persons lost in action (action)
Forgotten victims of the night (victims of the night)
They’re making crime the main attraction (attraction)
They’re making everyone uptight
They’re all looking for a fight

In this confusion from day to day
Sometimes fear just makes no sense
In this crossfire, I see one way
In self-defense