Why Journey’s Reunion With Steve Perry Was Just A Disaster
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 07: Inductees Steve Perry and Neal Schon of Journey speak onstage during the 32nd Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on April 7, 2017 in New York City. The broadcast will air on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on HBO. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
Discussing the band Journey without mentioning frontman Steve Perry is like missing a crucial part of their story. Perry led the band to huge success in the ’80s, took a break, came back in the ’90s, and then left again, opting for a quiet life for nearly two decades. This article dives into Perry’s return to the band and the reasons he left once more.
In the 80s, Journey was a big deal, churning out albums, hits, and even having their own video game. Even though the game wasn’t great, it was a big deal back then.
Perry guided Journey through their peak from 1977 to 1987 and then again from 1995 to 1998. In between, he did his solo thing but kept a low profile, only returning to music a few years ago.
The Audition that Changed Everything
Born in California to Portuguese parents, Perry got into music at 12, inspired by Sam Cooke’s “Cupid.” He joined Journey after their manager heard a tape of Perry’s previous band and liked his voice. Perry replaced Robert Fleishman as the frontman, even though they did a sneaky tour to avoid causing a stir.
Perry’s pop style brought success but also turned away some old fans. His first run with the band ended in 1985 due to personal issues like his mom being sick and a breakup.
After leaving in 1987, Perry worked on a solo album, but he wasn’t feeling it, so he took a break until the mid-90s, making a few stage appearances.
The Reunion Proposal
In 1995, Perry suggested reuniting with Journey, but with new conditions, including a change in management. With a new manager, they got back together and made a successful album, Trial by Fire, but Perry’s health issues in 1998 stopped their tour plans. Perry didn’t promote the album much, citing pain and avoiding surgery.
By 1998, some band members wanted to move on without Perry, looking for a new singer despite his pleas. Steve Augeri, a former rocker turned GAP employee, joined, facing challenges, and was eventually replaced.
In the end, Journey found their current vocalist, Arnel Pineda, after a bumpy ride with various changes and challenges.
