Did the HH Interview Change Your Opinion of Steve Perry?

[tammy]

No, it hasn't changed my opinion or feelings about SP. It's unrealistic to think anyone, even SP, isn't human. He probably did give the band grief as they probably did to him...nothing new there concerning bands. Lots of egos involved in entertainers & managers.

I appreciate his openness, but I can't understand his intense dislike of SP, especially when he knew the grueling toll on the voice. I guess it has to do with them both being similar in wanting creative control. They both made some great choices, so what's the problem? I love all the SP era Journey albums...there's a ton of amazing songs from this group. They really gave 110% and toured enough without having to go around the world.
And, I don't get where he says SP lost his voice in the 80s? He sounds terrific on the FTLOSM tour clips, which was mid 90s. I'm not under any illusion...I do believe SP has a different voice now. He still can sing, just not the way it used to be. That's okay - he's human. It seems he really wanted to be singing for the public during FTLOSM & the TBF tours, but that is when his health problems began. SP is a professional. He doesn't want to give the audience any less than they deserve.

[Enigma869]

Herbie sounds like more of an asshole every time he opens his mouth. It's a good thing the guy is irrelevant in today's world, because if he had a publicist, they'd put a muzzle on this clown and NEVER allow him to be interviewed by ANYONE! This guy NEVER takes the high road, and sounds like a bitter, whiny bitch, every time he flaps his gums! For what it's worth, I agree with Herbie (and have said for years) that I don't believe Perry could sing any longer. I also agreed with Herbie's assessment on both Augeri and Jeff Scott Soto. He obviously understands music and singers, but it doesn't change the fact that I think the guy is a complete jackass!


John from Boston

[Voyager]

I appreciate his openness, but I can't understand his intense dislike of SP, especially when he knew the grueling toll on the voice. I guess it has to do with them both being similar in wanting creative control. They both made some great choices, so what's the problem?

If you own a large ship and you give a new deck hand the wheel and the helm, whose fault is it when it gets shipwrecked? Perry may have known how to sing and what type of melodies went best with his voice... but the way I see it, Herbie was the businessman running the business. I own my own business, and years ago I almost let my brother and cousin wreck it once when they were working for me and I turned away to start another side-business. I immediately shut that business down, cut my losses, and pursued the side business. It was a good move for me, as I am making more profit now with two employees than when I had 15 of them.

If the business gets shipwrecked, usually the one to blame is the business owner. If you let someone steer the ship who is not trained to do so, the blame still falls back on you for handing your helm over to someone less than qualified to steer it.

I'm sure it was a tug-of-war between Herbie's management style and Perry's musical tastes. That's where all the bad blood came from. Plenty of mistakes made on both sides. I'm sure Perry felt like he wanted to run his own singing career... but Herbie managed and controlled Journey. Definitely a recipe for shipwreck.

[sniper16]

The breakup of Steve Perry and Journey seems very similar to that of Styx and Dennis DeYoung. Both Steve and Dennis had visions of a direction that they felt their band should go that the other members of the band didn't agree with. Interestingly, neither band has put out any hit records without them.

ive seen several post mentioning the lack of a hit from journey, styx, foreigner. all of these bands lost thier singer of took an extended break from the business at around the same time frame 84-86 . i think the extended breaks or members switch has more to do with that than the bands ability to write a good song. styles on the radio change about every 3-5 years and if you take off, you loose some of your audiance. if steve and journey would have recorded the song from arriaval in 87 or 88 they would have sold pretty close to or more that what ror had.even trial by fire would have fared much better in the late 80's the average cd sales doubled to tripled in the late 80's look at pyromania/hysteria double platimun was huge in the us in 82, 4/5 million was the water mark in the late 80's

[WykkedSensation]

No, not really.

If you really want to get the grit on Perry, you need to read Castles Burning...that interview allows Herbie to really tell what kind of prick Perry can be. it tells it in a very straight forward, honest way.

So in reading this interview, it didn't change anything per-se. I already thought Perry was a dick. This only reaffirmed what I had already read from Herbie.

And how the fuck do you know that Herbert was telling the truth in the Castles Burning interview or this one? You say ''''It tells it in a very straight forward and honest way''''??? How the fuck do you know that??? If someone said in an interview that Neal was really a woman, would you believe that??

Give me some fuckin strength for fuck sake. Its an interview with a man who is so blatantly pissed that he was ousted, and still is to this day. It may well be the truth, who am i to know, but then again it may also be absolute fuckin garbage all over again.

[Voyager]

It's got to be tough when you have a huge superstar vocalist like Perry who tastes success in a solo career. All of a sudden he's like the Brad Pitt of AOR music. He feels invincible... like a modern-day Elvis. He doesn't want a manager or anyone else running his career. I can see where that would make someone seem like a dick... but the record industry wanted people like Perry because he is the type that makes them huge bank. If Perry ever became a dick to anyone, he was just because he had become a product of the record industry.

If you'll notice, the record industry no longer looks for the Steve Perry's. They want someone they can control. Hell, they can take a fucking bum off the street, send them through the American Idol training camp, and then make them a huge star. But the record company runs the show and calls the shots from A to Z. If they decide that they want to take a bankrupt Santana and make him a big star again... they know just how to do it. It's a well-oiled business machine now, and it's not ran by singers or musicians.

[conversationpc]

And how the fuck do you know that Herbert was telling the truth in the Castles Burning interview or this one? You say ''''It tells it in a very straight forward and honest way''''??? How the fuck do you know that??? If someone said in an interview that Neal was really a woman, would you believe that??

Give me some fuckin strength for fuck sake. Its an interview with a man who is so blatantly pissed that he was ousted, and still is to this day. It may well be the truth, who am i to know, but then again it may also be absolute fuckin garbage all over again.

I don't think he comes across as pissed in this interview at all. He did in the "Castles Burning" interview, though, definitely.

[cookieduster]

Money is the root of all evil and apparently Tevye is still bitchin he didn't get his fair share of it.

[Playitloudforme]

I had told myself I wasn't going to read it... sigh. Since I did, here's my two cents.

A better man would have, after all this time, lightened up. He has not. He's still moaning and pointing fingers.

Perry, on the other hand, has offered amends in several interviews, admits that he screwed up, and goes as far to thank HH at the Walk of Fame ceremony.

Who's the adult here? Perry.

There's no denying that EVERYONE's screwed up/around. But fer cryin' out loud...drop the rock already Herbie... geeeez. And as for the comment regarding Perry not being able to sing, HH mentions that the LAST time he heard Perry sing was at the Bill Graham tribute. C'mon... that was out of the blue, no prep, and after years of NOT singing. OF COURSE he'd sound less than perfect, but that doesn't mean the man doesn't have pipes left. To the contrary, several, including Luke just recently, said that he still did. I tend to believe them more than a man who just simply cannot let go of a helluva resentment.

Drop the rock Herbie... it only makes you look sad.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

The only personal opinion I formed from the interview is that Andrews and darn good interviewer and brilliant at his job. (but we kinda knew that already :!) It did not change my opinion of Steve Perry or ANY of the other cast of characters involved.

In almost any profession (even ones involving a Philanthropic, non profit goal ), individuals pursue their own personal goals and agendas. Its the nature of the way we are wired. Furthermore, you wouldn't expect most members of any profession to work in the same place or with the same people for more than a few years as closely as members of a rock group have to. You'd expect people to leave , visions to clash, etc,

They are rock stars , not the advance team for the Second Coming or Mother Theresa's merry band of helpers. They are human and you dont buy their music to reach some deep understanding of how people get along or should get along.

Who was to blame, who hated who, who is the asshole , etc etc. really doesnt matter. Its interesting and entertaining to read. But frankly to me Escape stills sounds like Escape whether Perry was saint or sinner, Frontiers still sounds like Frontiers whether Schon is a moral dwarf or a virtous giant among men. Furhermore, any talk of unrealised potential can't be measured by the yardstick of my ears - I cant hear what wasnt there, so why worry about that?

The music still sounds good before and after I read the interview. If it sounds good listen to it.!

[RossValoryRocks]

Many of you here know I harbored a grudge against Mr. Perry for years...the person who changed my perception of Steve Perry from what I used to think about him to what I now think about him was Steve Perry. I saw him reach out to hurting fans last fall that he had never met to try an ease their pain...that showed me more about Steve Perry as a person than anything Herbie could ever say.

Given evertything that happened with JSS and Augeri, I can see why Steve Perry wanted more control and I can see the rift wasn't totally of his own making.

[Rockindeano]

I had told myself I wasn't going to read it... sigh. Since I did, here's my two cents.

A better man would have, after all this time, lightened up. He has not. He's still moaning and pointing fingers.

Perry, on the other hand, has offered amends in several interviews, admits that he screwed up, and goes as far to thank HH at the Walk of Fame ceremony.

Who's the adult here? Perry.

There's no denying that EVERYONE's screwed up/around. But fer cryin' out loud...drop the rock already Herbie... geeeez. And as for the comment regarding Perry not being able to sing, HH mentions that the LAST time he heard Perry sing was at the Bill Graham tribute. C'mon... that was out of the blue, no prep, and after years of NOT singing. OF COURSE he'd sound less than perfect, but that doesn't mean the man doesn't have pipes left. To the contrary, several, including Luke just recently, said that he still did. I tend to believe them more than a man who just simply cannot let go of a helluva resentment.

Drop the rock Herbie... it only makes you look sad.

That's a great post. Well said.

[Voyager]

The music still sounds good before and after I read the interview.

Signature worthy.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

The music still sounds good before and after I read the interview.

Signature worthy.

And if I didnt have those absolutely brilliant words of Soto as my signature Id use it. Feel free to steal it!

[ProgRocker53]

Nothing will change my opinion of Steve Perry. He's an incredible singer, and in his post-Journey career, he's a good guy.

[no1uknow]

Old Herb sounds very bitter. His interview did nothing to change my opinion of SP. He will always be the best male rock vocalist of all time in my book. He has more class in his little pinky than HH could ever hope to have. You rock my world Steve!

Herb, let it go man. Life is too short.

[Deb]

I had told myself I wasn't going to read it... sigh. Since I did, here's my two cents.

A better man would have, after all this time, lightened up. He has not. He's still moaning and pointing fingers.

Perry, on the other hand, has offered amends in several interviews, admits that he screwed up, and goes as far to thank HH at the Walk of Fame ceremony.

Who's the adult here? Perry.

There's no denying that EVERYONE's screwed up/around. But fer cryin' out loud...drop the rock already Herbie... geeeez. And as for the comment regarding Perry not being able to sing, HH mentions that the LAST time he heard Perry sing was at the Bill Graham tribute. C'mon... that was out of the blue, no prep, and after years of NOT singing. OF COURSE he'd sound less than perfect, but that doesn't mean the man doesn't have pipes left. To the contrary, several, including Luke just recently, said that he still did. I tend to believe them more than a man who just simply cannot let go of a helluva resentment.

Drop the rock Herbie... it only makes you look sad.

Totally agree Kate! Doesn't change my opinion at all.

There really was no surprises.....same old. HH has still got a boner for Neal and still resents Perry....what's new?! From what I've read SP wasn't into the touchy feely band crap and was his own man, so of course they were going to butt heads. And it sounds like HH feels like Perry's voice has been gone since 91? I've got '94 boots that beg to differ and I thought he sounded pretty damn good on TBF. Maybe some range, but definately hasn't lost his "voice". Sure they all made mistakes and some have even owned up to them and moved on. Class act. And there isn't a person on this planet that can convince me Perry doesn't care about his fans.

I think that was the first time that I've ever seen all 3 of my favorite singers (SP, JSS, EM) mentioned in one article. Kudos Andrew, great interview.......very impressed with how you handled it.

And Stu, your post made me smile.

[Vladan]

I had told myself I wasn't going to read it... sigh. Since I did, here's my two cents.

A better man would have, after all this time, lightened up. He has not. He's still moaning and pointing fingers.

Perry, on the other hand, has offered amends in several interviews, admits that he screwed up, and goes as far to thank HH at the Walk of Fame ceremony.

Who's the adult here? Perry.

There's no denying that EVERYONE's screwed up/around. But fer cryin' out loud...drop the rock already Herbie... geeeez. And as for the comment regarding Perry not being able to sing, HH mentions that the LAST time he heard Perry sing was at the Bill Graham tribute. C'mon... that was out of the blue, no prep, and after years of NOT singing. OF COURSE he'd sound less than perfect, but that doesn't mean the man doesn't have pipes left. To the contrary, several, including Luke just recently, said that he still did. I tend to believe them more than a man who just simply cannot let go of a helluva resentment.

Drop the rock Herbie... it only makes you look sad.

That's a great post. Well said.

Agreed. Well said. I enjoyed the interview - no it has it not changed my feelings on Perry. Thanks

[Saint John]

Herbie and Perry didn't get along because they had different visions for the band. Herbie wanted to make them a piece of history...musical icons with a following that could rival anyone. He worked hard to achieve that. His strategy was flawless until 1984 (post-Frontiers). Enter Steve Perry and his vision. Long layoffs, albums with no rockers (ROR...good album, shitty rocker to ballad ratio) and no desire to work. Steve Perry took a band on top of the world in 1983 and drove them right into the ground.

[fredinator]

Yes, it sounds that way and that is painful. No getting those years back, TOO SAD! That really bothered me after I read the interview; I can certainly understand his pain... Still love Steve but have put his contribution into perspective and have come to realize a while back that Neal is really Journey; that Neal is the melodic savant (I love that description); that Neal deserves much, much more recognition than he has gotten; he is a genius.

Thanks, Andrew, for the interview; I felt melancholy after reading it--I didn't think HH was that bitter anymore. He has been around a long time, that's for sure--can you imagine the things he knows about other legendary bands from the 60s and 70s? Maybe you ought to reinterview him!!

[Since 78]

No, my opinion hasn't changed. I still think Steve Perry is the greatest singer Ive ever heard and probably a good guy. The interview just solidified my thoughts that what you had were a couple of perfectionist with strong personality's and different visions of the direction for band. I don't think that makes either of them a bad guy, however I do credit Perry for pretty much keeping quiet and not retaliating. I thought it was a great interview and for the most part brought out some new and positive things.

[mikemarrs]

perry and herbert were BOTH strong willed,hard headed,controlling and that caused them to butt heads.however that was good until perry wanted to quit and herbert wanted to continue.thats when the struggles really begin.

[Saint John]

perry and herbert were BOTH strong willed,hard headed,controlling and that caused them to butt heads.however that was good until perry wanted to quit and herbert wanted to continue.thats when the struggles really begin.

True...and the facts tell us that under Herbie's "vision" (with Perry 77-83) the band got bigger with every single album and with Perry's "vision" (1984 on) they went right into the shitter.

[tammy]

Many of you here know I harbored a grudge against Mr. Perry for years...the person who changed my perception of Steve Perry from what I used to think about him to what I now think about him was Steve Perry. I saw him reach out to hurting fans last fall that he had never met to try an ease their pain...that showed me more about Steve Perry as a person than anything Herbie could ever say.

Given evertything that happened with JSS and Augeri, I can see why Steve Perry wanted more control and I can see the rift wasn't totally of his own making.

Wow! That is something 'cuz I remember reading your story. Good for you - I admire that. But, what "hurting fans" are you referring to? I must've missed something.

[tammy]

double post.

[mikemarrs]

ross,what were your reasons for disliking perry at one time? sorry haven't been around here that long.

[Rick]

Hasn't changed my thoughts on Perry. What stands out in my mind about SP and his time with Journey is that he gave everything he had in his performances. Great frontman.

All the behind scenes shit isn't worth wasting energy on. What happened happened and can't be changed. No use beating anyone up about it. Everyone makes mistakes. Some people own up to it and some don't. And no use in those people harboring guilt or ill feelings about that either. You'll sleep better at night if you can just let it go.

[perrylover52]

No, it hasn't changed my feeling toward Steve Perry one bit. I love to hear the man sing and as far as I'm concerned he still can.

As for Herbie. I feel he was only out for the money and if it wasn't Journey it would have been some other group. Did he come up with things that are still being used today? Yes. But drop it and get over it already, Herbie. It's getting old.

From what I have read, Herbie was the kind of boss that would run you until you were almost dead. Let you have a few weeks off and then do it all over again. Herbie may be able to get along on a few hours sleep and may not need any vacation time. But the Steve and the rest of the guys were not Herbie and that, I think is something Herbie couldn't understand. Herbie was out to make money period and he didn't care who he took down to do it. Two strong will men who knew what was best for them and butt heads. Steve stood up to Herbie and they argued. One came to an understanding and admitted some mistakes. One still can't.

[bluejeangirl76]

Nope. Didn't change my opinion of Perry or Herbie. He's got a right to tell his stories if he wants to, no big deal. I'm sure Perry could tell some stories on him too. It doesn't matter - or at least it shouldn't matter to anyone who wasn't involved. I wasn't there and I don't care what went down. I'm not gonna waste my time geting upset about it.

[Granny]

No, didn't change my opinion one bit...I could listen to him sing all day long....I prefer the lower vocal range...
My fav. album is TBF.....its the best!