Kevin Shirley - The MelodicRock Interview

by **Don** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:23 pm

It just popped into my head. Too much XTube, I guess.

by **Saint John** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:26 pm

Deb wrote:
Saint John wrote:
Deb wrote:to see what Billy and Eric could get past and share a friendship and stage again......when I think of Schon and Perry.

Martin can still sing at a very high level. Nostrildamus was cutting out songs in 1994 (Open Arms, Only The Young, etc) and knew he couldn't tour and sing them in 1996. He creates the illusion that he's pissed and that "there's no going back," because he can't ... even if he wanted to. And he does want to go back, but it's hard to to do when you're voice is dunzo. So, instead, he perpetuates a fake war and has his bullhorns purport that he can sing "as good as anytime in the mid-80's." But then has to put his head down when he mixes old shows. Why??? But I thought he can still sing like the mid-80's!!!

I think he can still sing, sure maybe not the crazy highs of the early stuff (guess you might consider that dunzo, not I) but definitely still sing, would probably take alot of warmup and practice. You also have to remember he's got over 10 years on Eric and Eric has been singing all along, whether it be in MB, Solo or TMG. All I was saying is it just makes me a little sad watching Eric and Billy now, who didn't like each other by the end either, laughing and smiling again........just wish it could be Perry and Schon too, I don't necessarily want him back in Journey, as the dirty dozen would be too hard to sing night after night.....but would just love to see them work on something else together. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mnVhHW4 ... re=related

I listened to his latest interview after I posted that and I found it VERY revealing. To me, it sounds like, for the first time, he's ready to "face those demons" and accept the fact that he's not the old Steve Perry. And I think the "love/hate relationship" that he's talking about is that he "loves" the ideas, concepts and melodies that he can come up with, but that he "hates" that his voice can't always sing what the voice in his head is telling him it should sound like. Regardless, I think it's progress. A lot of progress.

by **Deb** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:27 pm

Jeremey wrote:
Don wrote:You'll see Perry with Cain before anything with Schon. Jon can be all business and bury the other stuff, even if only temporarily. Neal wears his emotions on his sleeve. He's like the guy who would never say ill of his wife but after being strapped in a chair and seeing her being three-holed by 3 stove pipe black brothers fron Zaire (and loving it), can never take her back again.

That is quite the fucked up metaphor, my friend!

LOL?

I think Donny boy just finished watching some porn. :shock:

But either way, the magic for me was Perry and Schon, nothing against Cain, but just personally couldn't care less if they worked together again. :lol:

by **Don** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:33 pm

I'm looking at photos a friend posted on Facebook from a get together last night and just now realizing how hot some of my female classmates still are almost 30 years after my last time seeing them.

Website · by **steveo777** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:46 pm

Saint John wrote:
Deb wrote:to see what Billy and Eric could get past and share a friendship and stage again......when I think of Schon and Perry.

Martin can still sing at a very high level. Nostrildamus was cutting out songs in 1994 (Open Arms, Only The Young, etc) and knew he couldn't tour and sing them in 1996. He creates the illusion that he's pissed and that "there's no going back," because he can't ... even if he wanted to. And he does want to go back, but it's hard to to do when you're voice is dunzo. So, instead, he perpetuates a fake war and has his bullhorns purport that he can sing "as good as anytime in the mid-80's." But then has to put his head down when he mixes old shows. Why??? But I thought he can still sing like the mid-80's!!!

I guess some reminders are in order.
BTM time!
Part 1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFtTOhOq ... re=related
Part 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_ricVAX ... re=related
Part tres.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4iYY4IO ... re=related
Part quatro.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyj6_TI8 ... re=related

by **portland** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 10:34 pm

Saint John wrote:
Deb wrote:
Saint John wrote:
Deb wrote:to see what Billy and Eric could get past and share a friendship and stage again......when I think of Schon and Perry.

Martin can still sing at a very high level. Nostrildamus was cutting out songs in 1994 (Open Arms, Only The Young, etc) and knew he couldn't tour and sing them in 1996. He creates the illusion that he's pissed and that "there's no going back," because he can't ... even if he wanted to. And he does want to go back, but it's hard to to do when you're voice is dunzo. So, instead, he perpetuates a fake war and has his bullhorns purport that he can sing "as good as anytime in the mid-80's." But then has to put his head down when he mixes old shows. Why??? But I thought he can still sing like the mid-80's!!!

I think he can still sing, sure maybe not the crazy highs of the early stuff (guess you might consider that dunzo, not I) but definitely still sing, would probably take alot of warmup and practice. You also have to remember he's got over 10 years on Eric and Eric has been singing all along, whether it be in MB, Solo or TMG. All I was saying is it just makes me a little sad watching Eric and Billy now, who didn't like each other by the end either, laughing and smiling again........just wish it could be Perry and Schon too, I don't necessarily want him back in Journey, as the dirty dozen would be too hard to sing night after night.....but would just love to see them work on something else together. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mnVhHW4 ... re=related

I listened to his latest interview after I posted that and I found it VERY revealing. To me, it sounds like, for the first time, he's ready to "face those demons" and accept the fact that he's not the old Steve Perry. And I think the "love/hate relationship" that he's talking about is that he "loves" the ideas, concepts and melodies that he can come up with, but that he "hates" that his voice can't always sing what the voice in his head is telling him it should sound like. Regardless, I think it's progress. A lot of progress.

I actually agree with you Dan....there was more said in that interview than he has offered in a long time. Let hope he takes his own advice and "just does it" without the sabotage.

Oh...and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Dan!!!

by **portland** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 10:36 pm

steveo777 wrote:
Saint John wrote:
Deb wrote:to see what Billy and Eric could get past and share a friendship and stage again......when I think of Schon and Perry.

Martin can still sing at a very high level. Nostrildamus was cutting out songs in 1994 (Open Arms, Only The Young, etc) and knew he couldn't tour and sing them in 1996. He creates the illusion that he's pissed and that "there's no going back," because he can't ... even if he wanted to. And he does want to go back, but it's hard to to do when you're voice is dunzo. So, instead, he perpetuates a fake war and has his bullhorns purport that he can sing "as good as anytime in the mid-80's." But then has to put his head down when he mixes old shows. Why??? But I thought he can still sing like the mid-80's!!!

I guess some reminders are in order.
BTM time!
Part 1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFtTOhOq ... re=related
Part 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_ricVAX ... re=related
Part tres.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4iYY4IO ... re=related
Part quatro.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyj6_TI8 ... re=related

You really need a new gig...... :wink:

by **Andrew** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 10:44 pm

KS INTERVIEW - PART 1 ONLINE NOW:

www.melodicrock.com/interviews/kevinshi ... Part1.html

by **portland** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 10:57 pm

Andrew wrote:KS INTERVIEW - PART 1 ONLINE NOW:

www.melodicrock.com/interviews/kevinshi ... Part1.html

The man has quite a bit to say.....seems he is a Perry fan....who knew!

by **Michigan Girl** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 11:32 pm

Andrew, this is an incredible interview, Congrats to you!! :wink:

Oh, and THANK YOU!!! Incredible stuff!!

Goodnight myth ...

When we did “When you Love a Woman', that track is like one take!

I sooooo loved to hear this ...I want to hold it, too!!

Yes!
And that was all really vitally important. You would think that after the internet came in that they would have artwork on the net and credits on the net and you could go and read all that stuff. We STILL can't find it. There's a few artists that have done it, admittedly, but there's a lot of information that you can't get. To hold something gives it value and when you are just looking at your iTunes—which computers are going to die like in 2 years anyway and you are going to loose it all and try to beg iTunes to get it back- you know, what value has that got? It doesn't hold the same value.

lol, I love him ...

Ah—good! I love Stranger in My Life. I think that one's great too.

by **Michigan Girl** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 11:51 pm

steveo777 wrote:
Saint John wrote:
Deb wrote:to see what Billy and Eric could get past and share a friendship and stage again......when I think of Schon and Perry.

Martin can still sing at a very high level. Nostrildamus was cutting out songs in 1994 (Open Arms, Only The Young, etc) and knew he couldn't tour and sing them in 1996. He creates the illusion that he's pissed and that "there's no going back," because he can't ... even if he wanted to. And he does want to go back, but it's hard to to do when you're voice is dunzo. So, instead, he perpetuates a fake war and has his bullhorns purport that he can sing "as good as anytime in the mid-80's." But then has to put his head down when he mixes old shows. Why??? But I thought he can still sing like the mid-80's!!!

I guess some reminders are in order.
BTM time!
Part 1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFtTOhOq ... re=related
Part 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_ricVAX ... re=related
Part tres.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4iYY4IO ... re=related
Part quatro.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyj6_TI8 ... re=related

You need to put this old reliable piece of cut and pasted
accordingly for sensationalism inside inf. aside and move onto some new stuff, e.g. Andrew's interview!!! Geeeeezuz!

by **Andrew** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 12:02 am

Lots more in Part 2. But enjoy P1 for now.

by **The_Noble_Cause** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 12:40 am

KS's comments (regarding the band) are not flattering at all. Dude doesn't even want to talk about the new J album he produced. Ouch.

by **bluejeangirl76** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 1:11 am

Jeremey wrote:Actually Perry threw a temper tantrum and allegedly threw a fire extinguisher during the recording of FTLOSM, damaging a hard drive containing matereial for Jimbo Barton's Queensryche sessions.

NO ONE jumped on this? :shock:

Do you have any idea how much I'd pay for the flying DeLorean to go back and peek in that window? I don't even care if it's true... that's hilarious! :lol:

by **Jeremey** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 1:20 am

Wow, LOL...

Sounds like Kevin's had his fill of Journey. Reminds me of something that someone in Journey's management said to me once...."Why do you think anyone who's ever worked with [this guy] would never work with them again? Gregg Rolie, Carlos Santana, Steve Perry...they stay as far away from him is they can."

by **S2M** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 1:36 am

I think what you've got there is the typical American Journey fan that has no idea outside their own circle what exists.

Thank you, Kevin.....I've been saying that here for years.... :lol:

by **S2M** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 2:00 am

All I gotta say Dan....yes, I saw the post before you deleted it... :shock:

Is that singing is buttloads more difficult than playing any other instrument. If he couldn't sing it in one take, or live - so what?! Which begs the next question :shock:

Perhaps that is why we never got a TBF Tour....

by **Saint John** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 2:07 am

S2M wrote:All I gotta say Dan....yes, I saw the post before you deleted it... Is that singing is buttloads more difficult than playing any other instrument. If he couldn't sing it in one take, or live - so what?! Which begs the next question Perhaps that is why we never got a TBF Tour....

There are a shitload of songs that are cut and pasted on that album, and there isn't one song on tha album that's difficult to sing (though it is very hard to stay awake through the entire album!). Anyone can hit those notes. So, yes, I think that's why you/we never saw a tour that year. If he couldn't blaze through those terribly easy vocals, there's no way he could have even attempted the older songs. He couldn't sing them all that well during ROR and had to "speed" his way through many of them, he had to tune down a half step and eliminate songs during FTLOSM and in 1996 he realized it was all over, as far as singing live went. And the undeniable proof of that is in the puddding ... the almost 15 years since with zero live performances.

by **RossValoryRocks** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 2:11 am

Jeremey wrote:Wow, LOL...

Sounds like Kevin's had his fill of Journey. Reminds me of something that someone in Journey's management said to me once...."Why do you think anyone who's ever worked with [this guy] would never work with them again? Gregg Rolie, Carlos Santana, Steve Perry...they stay as far away from him is they can."

Pretend I am dense and tell me who would [this guy] be? :lol:

by **Saint John** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 2:16 am

RossValoryRocks wrote:
Jeremey wrote:Wow, LOL...

Sounds like Kevin's had his fill of Journey. Reminds me of something that someone in Journey's management said to me once...."Why do you think anyone who's ever worked with [this guy] would never work with them again? Gregg Rolie, Carlos Santana, Steve Perry...they stay as far away from him is they can."

Pretend I am dense and tell me who would [this guy] be?

I'll bet my pinky toe that it's Neal. He's the only one that's worked with all of those people, Stu! :lol:

by **S2M** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 2:17 am

So here is MY question. Something I've pondered for years. WHY? All this lost ability from a guy who supposedly took pristene care of his voice. WHY? Was it the 8-year lay off between ROR and FTLOSM? WHY? I mean between losing his breath in the middle of notes, to not being able to reach notes, to even his voice cracking....What's the deal here? WHY?

I mean you gotta expect, as an artist, to feel the pressure to tour for the latest album. If it's all about ego, and perfection - and we all know this guy don't sign off on anything until he goes over each note with a fine-toothed comb, I can see the non-tour. But even he screws up on things like that. I swear he intentionally put Neal's guitar riff at the beginning of DSB on GH Live very low in the mix(after Steve says, 'Neal')...so he is known, at least in that instance to change things. If you compare Houston to GHL it is blatant. Anyway....you gotta expect to tour. It just irks me to 'know' that he recorded knowing he wasn't going to tour....

WHY?

by **RossValoryRocks** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 2:21 am

Saint John wrote:
RossValoryRocks wrote:
Jeremey wrote:Wow, LOL...

Sounds like Kevin's had his fill of Journey. Reminds me of something that someone in Journey's management said to me once...."Why do you think anyone who's ever worked with [this guy] would never work with them again? Gregg Rolie, Carlos Santana, Steve Perry...they stay as far away from him is they can."

Pretend I am dense and tell me who would [this guy] be?

I'll bet my pinky toe that it's Neal. He's the only one that's worked with all of those people, Stu!

I just didn't want to be the first one to say it...

by **Melissa** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 2:26 am

Loved the alpha dog comments... lol

by **DrFU** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 2:31 am

Melissa wrote:Loved the alpha dog comments... lol

Woof!

[this guy] is gonna hate that.

Deb will be in Heaven with all the Mr. Big dish.

by **S2M** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 2:35 am

Melissa wrote:Loved the alpha dog comments... lol

Well when you are the face of a band, this goes with the territory.....just like Eddie founded VH, and he is the guitarist - the singers(Dave and Sammy) were the faces of the band.....and thus the Alpha Dogs. Although with Eddie's issues - he could usurp that status.....and maybe Neal could as well.....but Steve being the Alpha dog....I can totally see it, understand it, and agree with it. It's HIS voice that IS /WAS Journey....

and if I hear ONE more person claimed Neal founded Journey I'm going to lose it. Herbie founded Journey, Neal was just a founding member. Big difference.

by **Saint John** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 2:39 am

Melissa wrote:Loved the alpha dog comments... lol

I found those to be an insult to Perry. Those guys having to cow tow to him only shows what an asshole he is. Keeping him pacified is just another way of saying, "If he didn't get a completely boring and mundane album done his way, he would've taken his ball and went home." Well, he got it and it was atrocious. But I loved the tour! :lol:

by **Melissa** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 2:48 am

LOL! No I understand there has to be one in every band, I just laughed out loud when I read that, not for any particular reason :lol:

by **Jeremey** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 2:56 am

Saint John wrote:
Melissa wrote:Loved the alpha dog comments... lol

I found those to be an insult to Perry. Those guys having to cow tow to him only shows what an asshole he is. Keeping him pacified is just another way of saying, "If he didn't get a completely boring and mundane album done his way, he would've taken his ball and went home." Well, he got it and it was atrocious. But I loved the tour!

Or, it could refer to the fact that someone had to keep the band focused when other personalities tend to skip around all over the place...it doesn't sound like Kevin meant that as a bad thing. Speaking of taking the ball and going home, how many times do you think Kevin and the band have heard, "if we don't do it my way, I'll just quit and hire different players." I know that's tossed out quite a bit. It may not jive with your idealized image of Mr Schon but I can promise you the foot stamping has increased considerably in volume since Mr Perry has left the scene. Let's see, Cain has relocated across the country, Kevin Shirley adamantly refuses to discuss the new album.

I promise you if Neal could replace the entire band Journey with Arnel and Deen type subordinates, he would. In fact after this 2011 tour I wouldn't be surprised if we see that happen, LOL.

by **Saint John** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 3:12 am

Jeremey wrote:
Saint John wrote:
Melissa wrote:Loved the alpha dog comments... lol

I found those to be an insult to Perry. Those guys having to cow tow to him only shows what an asshole he is. Keeping him pacified is just another way of saying, "If he didn't get a completely boring and mundane album done his way, he would've taken his ball and went home." Well, he got it and it was atrocious. But I loved the tour!

Or, it could refer to the fact that someone had to keep the band focused when other personalities tend to skip around all over the place...it doesn't sound like Kevin meant that as a bad thing. Speaking of taking the ball and going home, how many times do you think Kevin and the band have heard, "if we don't do it my way, I'll just quit and hire different players." I know that's tossed out quite a bit. It may not jive with your idealized image of Mr Schon but I can promise you the foot stamping has increased considerably in volume since Mr Perry has left the scene. Let's see, Cain has relocated across the country, Kevin Shirley adamantly refuses to discuss the new album.

I promise you if Neal could replace the entire band Journey with Arnel and Deen type subordinates, he would. In fact after this 2011 tour I wouldn't be surprised if we see that happen, LOL.

No arguments here. I thnk Perry probably was the most cohesive member of the band, but I also think he was probably the only one that wouldn't budge on something he felt uncomfortable with. And, in the end, that uncomfortablitity was rock music .. and Journey is a rock band. He should have never came back in 1996. His motives weren't genuine.

That said, day after day, it is sounding like Neal is hell bent on a certain direction and redefining the band. I think ROR and TBF, and Augeri's inabaility to ever sing at a high level left him one unhappy motherfucker for almost 25 years, and he now has what he thinks are the components to really rock hard. It's a huge risk and I wouldn't be surprised at all if this album is much harder than anything Journey has ever done. I also wouldn't be surprised if it alienates a lot of the ballad side of the fan base. The million dollar question is whether or not there are enough people out there that will be interested to make up for the ballad fans they're gonna lose and is the material strong enough to make people take notice. It's s huge risk and, being a huge fan of balanced albums with rockers, mid-tempo numbers and a few ballads, I'm interested to see if I like the new album. If I had to bet on it, I'd say probably not. I guess we just have to wait.

by **Jeremey** » Sat Dec 25, 2010 3:31 am

I could elaborate and clarify my earlier post but it wouldn't be too flattering to certain people in and around the band...but suffice it to say, if you trip and fall into a bunch of shit and come out smelling like a rose enough times, you're not going to wonder too much about why you keep falling into shit...you're just going to start believing that the pile of shit actually does smell like roses...not sure if that's a clear metaphor, but I tried to steer clear of the African three way references, LOL :lol:

MR

Kevin Shirley - The MelodicRock Interview

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