WHY STEVE FEELS LIKE HE WAS NEVER REALLY PART OF JOURNEY
Most of the information I will mention comes from this GQ Interview of both Neal Schon and Steve Perry.
I feel gutted after reading this article.
Steve was part of the band the Alien Project before joining Journey. Journey was already a working band and the people in that band wanted a different career - they didn't want a frontman. The label created the band for Neal Schon. Neal knew that. Putting a frontman in means, he won't get to be the star of the show like what was initially intended (and I think what he expected). However, the label forced them to add a vocalist to get them on radio. They were given an ultimatum: get a vocalist or we let you go. Not only that, they were not given the choice of who to hire for their frontman - Steve was shoved down their throats. So, from the get-go, the relationship within the band was already strained.
Steve felt like he always had to prove himself to the band. I know what that feels like. I was with a great band, too, shoved down their throats by management because they needed a vocalist. I never got along with everyone in the band, especially the lead guitar who, actually, (like Schon), wanted to be the star of the show. So, like Steve, I had to prove my worth to them in every gig. I cannot believe, though, that after all their success, they still made Steve feel like an outsider. I believe him, too, I think that, till this day, Neal feels some kind of resentment towards Steve for stealing his thunder.
Neal broke the band long before Steve said goodbye. Neal did his solo album first - and this was the beginning of the end for Journey. Neal admits it, too. He knew it was a mistake. He broke the stone that was Journey. He made another solo album after that - and then Steve put out his solo album, and this fractured their already frail relationship. Steve tried to mend their broken band. He reached out to them first. He called Jon - they cut a record. It was so good it got nominated for a Grammy! Then, Steve got injured and, instead of supporting him during this trying time, they told him, "We’ve tried out a few singers." What was the reaction they expected out of him after that? As a vocalist myself, you tell me that you've tried out a few singers - REPLACEMENTS FOR ME - you are basically telling me, I'M NOT IMPORTANT. MY CONTRIBUTION TO THE BAND IS NOT IMPORTANT.
They all basically ganged up on him, and I hate that they all ganged up on him. Neal, Jon, Steve Smith, and Ross all decided Steve should go. They hurt him so badly that he decided to "divorce" them.
He is NEVER going back to Journey. After what they did to him, I don't think he should even try to go back.
UPDATE: OMG! I just figured it out! This is why they all love Arnel. He does the job without taking any of the limelight. Same case with Steve Augeri, Robert Fleischman, and even Gregg Rolie - they were all great musicians - no doubting their talent. However, they were not as charismatic as Steve. Whenever Steve stepped on stage - HE TOOK EVERYONE'S ATTENTION. He was magnetic. He was adorable. He was the real reason why JOURNEY, until now, is remembered, admired, and desired by millions of fans!
I feel gutted after reading this article.
Steve was part of the band the Alien Project before joining Journey. Journey was already a working band and the people in that band wanted a different career - they didn't want a frontman. The label created the band for Neal Schon. Neal knew that. Putting a frontman in means, he won't get to be the star of the show like what was initially intended (and I think what he expected). However, the label forced them to add a vocalist to get them on radio. They were given an ultimatum: get a vocalist or we let you go. Not only that, they were not given the choice of who to hire for their frontman - Steve was shoved down their throats. So, from the get-go, the relationship within the band was already strained.
Steve felt like he always had to prove himself to the band. I know what that feels like. I was with a great band, too, shoved down their throats by management because they needed a vocalist. I never got along with everyone in the band, especially the lead guitar who, actually, (like Schon), wanted to be the star of the show. So, like Steve, I had to prove my worth to them in every gig. I cannot believe, though, that after all their success, they still made Steve feel like an outsider. I believe him, too, I think that, till this day, Neal feels some kind of resentment towards Steve for stealing his thunder.
Neal broke the band long before Steve said goodbye. Neal did his solo album first - and this was the beginning of the end for Journey. Neal admits it, too. He knew it was a mistake. He broke the stone that was Journey. He made another solo album after that - and then Steve put out his solo album, and this fractured their already frail relationship. Steve tried to mend their broken band. He reached out to them first. He called Jon - they cut a record. It was so good it got nominated for a Grammy! Then, Steve got injured and, instead of supporting him during this trying time, they told him, "We’ve tried out a few singers." What was the reaction they expected out of him after that? As a vocalist myself, you tell me that you've tried out a few singers - REPLACEMENTS FOR ME - you are basically telling me, I'M NOT IMPORTANT. MY CONTRIBUTION TO THE BAND IS NOT IMPORTANT.
They all basically ganged up on him, and I hate that they all ganged up on him. Neal, Jon, Steve Smith, and Ross all decided Steve should go. They hurt him so badly that he decided to "divorce" them.
He is NEVER going back to Journey. After what they did to him, I don't think he should even try to go back.
UPDATE: OMG! I just figured it out! This is why they all love Arnel. He does the job without taking any of the limelight. Same case with Steve Augeri, Robert Fleischman, and even Gregg Rolie - they were all great musicians - no doubting their talent. However, they were not as charismatic as Steve. Whenever Steve stepped on stage - HE TOOK EVERYONE'S ATTENTION. He was magnetic. He was adorable. He was the real reason why JOURNEY, until now, is remembered, admired, and desired by millions of fans!
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