journey lead singer after steve perry

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Journey Lead Singers In Order: History and Band Members

In this article, we delve into the captivating history of Journey, an iconic rock band that has left an indelible mark on the music industry. From their humble beginnings to their meteoric rise to fame, Journey has mesmerized audiences worldwide with their unique sound and timeless hits. Join us on a journey through time as we explore the remarkable story of this legendary band.

Formation of the Band

Journey was formed in 1973 in San Francisco, California, bringing together a group of highly talented musicians. The founding members included Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Ross Valory, Aynsley Dunbar, and George Tickner. With their combined musical prowess and creative vision, they set out to create something extraordinary.

Early Years and Musical Style

During their early years, Journey experimented with a fusion of rock, jazz, and progressive influences, creating a distinctive sound that set them apart from their contemporaries. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1975, showcased their musical versatility and marked the beginning of their incredible journey.

Evolution and Breakthrough Success

In 1977, Journey underwent a significant change that would forever shape its destiny. Steve Perry joined the band as their lead vocalist, injecting new energy and unparalleled vocal range into their music. This lineup change proved to be a turning point for Journey, leading to a series of chart-topping albums and unforgettable songs.

Chart-topping albums and Hit Singles

Journey’s breakthrough came in 1978 with the release of their album “Infinity,” which became a massive success. The album spawned the hit singles “Wheel in the Sky” and “Lights,” propelling Journey into the mainstream spotlight. They continued their winning streak with subsequent albums, including “Evolution” (1979) and “Departure” (1980), which produced hits like “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin'” and “Any Way You Want It.”

The Iconic Album: “Escape”

In 1981, Journey released their most iconic album to date, “Escape.” This album elevated their status as rock superstars and solidified their place in music history. Featuring the mega-hits “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms,” and “Who’s Crying Now,” “Escape” became an instant classic, captivating audiences with its emotionally charged lyrics and powerful melodies.

The Power Ballad Era

Journey’s success continued into the mid-1980s, defined by the rise of power ballads that struck a chord with fans worldwide. Songs like “Faithfully,” “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart),” and “Send Her My Love” showcased the band’s ability to create heartfelt and anthemic ballads that resonated deeply with listeners.

A Change in Direction

As the 1990s approached, Journey faced challenges and underwent significant lineup changes. Steve Perry departed from the band in 1987, leading to a period of transition as they searched for a new lead vocalist. Despite these challenges, Journey remained resilient and continued to produce music that captivated its loyal fan base.

Journey’s Enduring Legacy

Although the band’s popularity waned in the late 1990s, their music never faded from the hearts of their dedicated fans. Journey’s timeless classics continue to resonate with audiences of all ages, thanks to their emotional depth, infectious melodies, and inspiring lyrics. Their songs have become anthems for perseverance, love, and the power of music itself.

Past Journey band members include the following:

• Steve Perry (1977-1998)
• Aynsley Dunbar (1974-1978)
• Robert Fleischman (1977)
• Steve Smith (1978-1985, 1995-1998)
• Randy Jackson (1985-1987)
• Steve Augeri (1998-2006)

Current Journey band members:

• Neal Schon – Guitar (1973-present)
• Jonathan Cain – Keyboards (1980-present)
• Ross Valory – Bass (1973-1985, 1995-present)
• Arnel Pineda – Vocals (2007-present)
• Deen Castronovo – Drums (1998-present)

Lead Singers of Journey

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The Original Journey: Gregg Rolie’s Era

Gregg Rolie, a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, served as the original lead singer of Journey. He began his musical career as a co-founder and lead vocalist of Santana before joining forces with Neal Schon to form Journey. Rolie’s soulful voice and exceptional skills as a keyboardist and harmonicist contributed to the band’s early success. He showcased his talent on albums like “Journey,” “Look into the Future,” and “Next.” However, Rolie transitioned to co-lead vocals when Steve Perry joined the band in 1977.

Steve Perry: The Voice of Journey’s Greatest Hits

Steve Perry, widely recognized as the quintessential Journey lead singer, propelled the band to unprecedented heights during their most commercially successful era. Born with a gift for singing, Perry’s powerful and emotive vocals struck a chord with audiences worldwide. With Perry at the helm, Journey released a string of chart-topping albums, including “Infinity,” “Escape,” and “Frontiers.” Iconic songs like “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms,” and “Faithfully” became anthems for a generation. Perry’s remarkable songwriting abilities and magnetic stage presence contributed to the band’s enduring legacy.

Current Lead Singer: Arnel Pineda

Following Steve Perry’s departure in 1987, Journey experienced a series of lead singer changes. Steve Augeri, known for his vocal range and stage charisma, took over from 1998 to 2006. Jeff Scott Soto briefly joined the band in 2006, leaving his mark with his distinctive style. However, it was Arnel Pineda who breathed new life into Journey as the current lead singer. Pineda’s incredible vocal resemblance to Steve Perry, coupled with his dynamic stage presence, won the hearts of fans worldwide. Since 2008, Pineda has seamlessly integrated into the band, injecting fresh energy and passion into their performances.

Journey’s Enduring Discography: Albums That Defined an Era

Over the past five decades, Journey has released a diverse and extensive discography, showcasing their musical prowess and creativity. Let’s explore some of their most iconic albums:

“ Infinity ” (1978): With Steve Perry as the lead singer, “Infinity” marked a significant turning point for Journey. It featured hit singles like “Wheel in the Sky” and “Lights,” solidifying their place in the rock music landscape.

“ Escape ” (1981): This album became a monumental success, boasting chart-topping hits such as “Don’t Stop Believin'” and “Open Arms.” “Escape” catapulted Journey to international stardom and remains one of their most beloved records.

“ Frontiers ” (1983): Building upon their previous success, “Frontiers” showcased Journey’s evolution with tracks like “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” and “Faithfully.” The album’s polished production and memorable hooks solidified Journey’s status as one of the biggest rock bands of the 1980s.

“ Raised on Radio ” (1986): Released during the band’s final years with Steve Perry, “Raised on Radio” featured a more radio-friendly sound and produced hits like “Be Good to Yourself” and “I’ll Be Alright Without You.” Despite tensions within the band, the album showcased their ability to create catchy, melodic rock tunes.

“ Revelation ” (2008): With Arnel Pineda as the lead singer, “Revelation” marked a new chapter for Journey. The album featured new recordings of their classic hits, reaffirming Pineda’s vocal prowess and rekindling the band’s popularity among longtime fans and a new generation.

“ Eclipse ” (2011): Continuing their musical journey with Pineda, Journey released “Eclipse,” a record that showcased their ability to evolve while staying true to their roots. The album demonstrated their enduring songwriting skills and featured tracks like “City of Hope” and “Edge of the Moment.”

“Escape & Frontiers Live in Japan” (2019): As a testament to their enduring appeal, Journey released a live album featuring their performances of the “Escape” and “Frontiers” albums in their entirety. The release showcased the band’s timeless hits in a live setting, capturing the energy and excitement of their concerts.

Journey’s Impact and Legacy

Journey’s impact on the rock music landscape cannot be overstated. With their infectious melodies, anthemic choruses, and powerful vocals, they carved out a unique sound that resonated with millions of listeners. Their music transcended generations, becoming the soundtrack to countless moments and capturing the hearts of fans worldwide.

Steve Perry’s tenure as the lead singer marked the band’s most successful period, and his distinct voice became synonymous with Journey’s sound. His emotional delivery and ability to connect with audiences elevated their songs to new heights and created an unparalleled legacy.

Arnel Pineda’s addition to the band injected new energy into Journey and allowed them to continue their musical journey. Pineda’s remarkable vocal resemblance to Perry breathed new life into the band’s live performances, earning him a dedicated fanbase and ensuring that Journey’s music lives on.

Journey’s timeless hits continue to be celebrated and embraced today. Songs like “Don’t Stop Believin'” have become cultural touchstones, appearing in films, TV shows, and sporting events, and capturing the imaginations of new generations of listeners.

Journey Band Member’s Ages

Here, is the list of all the Journey member’s ages. It seems like all of the Journey band members are above 50 and below 80.

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Steve Perry Walked Away From Journey. A Promise Finally Ended His Silence.

By Alex Pappademas

• Sept. 5, 2018

MALIBU, Calif. — On the back patio of a Greek restaurant, a white-haired man making his way to the exit paused for a second look at one of his fellow diners, a man with a prominent nose who wore his dark hair in a modest pompadour.

“You look a lot like Steve Perry,” the white-haired man said.

“I used to be Steve Perry,” Steve Perry said.

This is how it goes when you are Steve Perry. Everyone is excited to see you, and no one can quite believe it. Everyone wants to know where you’ve been.

In 1977, an ambitious but middlingly successful San Francisco jazz-rock band called Journey went looking for a new lead singer and found Mr. Perry, then a 28-year-old veteran of many unsigned bands. Mr. Perry and the band’s lead guitarist and co-founder, Neal Schon, began writing concise, uplifting hard rock songs that showcased Mr. Perry’s clean, powerful alto, as operatic an instrument as pop has ever seen. This new incarnation of Journey produced a string of hit singles, released eight multiplatinum albums and toured relentlessly — so relentlessly that in 1987, a road-worn Mr. Perry took a hiatus, effectively dissolving the band he’d helped make famous.

He did not disappear completely — there was a solo album in 1994, followed in 1996 by a Journey reunion album, “Trial by Fire.” But it wasn’t long before Mr. Perry walked away again, from Journey and from the spotlight. With his forthcoming album, “Traces,” due in early October, he’s breaking 20 years of radio silence.

Over the course of a long midafternoon lunch — well-done souvlaki, hold all the starches — Mr. Perry, now 69, explained why he left, and why he’s returned. He spoke of loving, and losing and opening himself to being loved again, including by people he’s never met, who know him only as a voice from the Top 40 past.

And when he detailed the personal tragedy that moved him to make music again, he talked about it in language as earnest and emotional as any Journey song:

“I thought I had a pretty good heart,” he said, “but a heart isn’t really complete until it’s completely broken.”

IN ITS ’80S heyday, Journey was a commercial powerhouse and a critical piñata. With Mr. Perry up front, slinging high notes like Frisbees into the stratosphere, Journey quickly became not just big but huge . When few public figures aside from Pac-Man and Donkey Kong had their own video game, Journey had two. The offices of the group’s management company received 600 pieces of Journey fan mail per day.

The group toured hard for nine years. Gradually, that punishing schedule began to take a toll on Journey’s lead singer.

“I never had any nodules or anything, and I never had polyps,” Mr. Perry said, referring to the state of his vocal cords. He looked around for some wood to knock, then settled for his own skull. The pain, he said, was more spiritual than physical.

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As a vocalist, Mr. Perry explained, “your instrument is you. It’s not just your throat, it’s you . If you’re burnt out, if you’re depressed, if you’re feeling weary and lost and paranoid, you’re a mess.”

“Frankly,” Mr. Schon said in a phone interview, “I don’t know how he lasted as long as he did without feeling burned out. He was so good, doing things that nobody else could do.”

On Feb. 1, 1987, Mr. Perry performed one last show with Journey, in Anchorage. Then he went home.

Mr. Perry was born in Hanford, Calif., in the San Joaquin Valley, about 45 minutes south of Fresno. His parents, who were both Portuguese immigrants, divorced when he was 8, and Mr. Perry and his mother moved in next door to her parents’. “I became invisible, emotionally,” Mr. Perry said. “And there were places I used to hide, to feel comfortable, to protect myself.”

Sometimes he’d crawl into a corner of his grandparents’ garage with a blanket and a flashlight. But he also found refuge in music. “I could get lost in these 45s that I had,” Mr. Perry said. “It turned on a passion for music in me that saved my life.”

As a teen, Mr. Perry moved to Lemoore, Calif., where he enjoyed an archetypally idyllic West Coast adolescence: “A lot of my writing, to this day, is based on my emotional attachment to Lemoore High School.”

There he discovered the Beatles and the Beach Boys, went on parked-car dates by the San Joaquin Valley’s many irrigation canals, and experienced a feeling of “freedom and teenage emotion and contact with the world” that he’s never forgotten. Even a song like “No Erasin’,” the buoyant lead single from his new LP has that down-by-the-old-canal spirit, Mr. Perry said.

And after he left Journey, it was Lemoore that Mr. Perry returned to, hoping to rediscover the person he’d been before subsuming his identity within an internationally famous rock band. In the beginning, he couldn’t even bear to listen to music on the radio: “A little PTSD, I think.”

Eventually, in 1994, he made that solo album, “For the Love of Strange Medicine,” and sported a windblown near-mullet and a dazed expression on the cover. The reviews were respectful, and the album wasn’t a flop. With alternative rock at its cultural peak, Mr. Perry was a man without a context — which suited him just fine.

“I was glad,” he said, “that I was just allowed to step back and go, O.K. — this is a good time to go ride my Harley.”

JOURNEY STAYED REUNITED after Mr. Perry left for the second time in 1997. Since December 2007, its frontman has been Arnel Pineda, a former cover-band vocalist from Manila, Philippines, who Mr. Schon discovered via YouTube . When Journey was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last April, Mr. Pineda sang the 1981 anthem “Don’t Stop Believin’,” not Mr. Perry. “I’m not in the band,” he said flatly, adding, “It’s Arnel’s gig — singers have to stick together.”

Around the time Mr. Pineda joined the band, something strange had happened — after being radioactively unhip for decades, Journey had crept back into the zeitgeist. David Chase used “Don’t Stop Believin’” to nerve-racking effect in the last scene of the 2007 series finale of “The Sopranos” ; when Mr. Perry refused to sign off on the show’s use of the song until he was told how it would be used, he briefly became one of the few people in America who knew in advance how the show ended.

“Don’t Stop Believin’” became a kind of pop standard, covered by everyone from the cast of “Glee” to the avant-shred guitarist Marnie Stern . Decades after they’d gone their separate ways, Journey and Mr. Perry found themselves discovering fans they never knew they had.

Mark Oliver Everett, the Los Angeles singer-songwriter who performs with his band Eels under the stage name E, was not one of them, at first.

“When I was young, living in Virginia,” Mr. Everett said, “Journey was always on the radio, and I wasn’t into it.”

So although Mr. Perry became a regular at Eels shows beginning around 2003, it took Mr. Everett five years to invite him backstage. He’d become acquainted with Patty Jenkins, the film director, who’d befriended Mr. Perry after contacting him for permission to use “Don’t Stop Believin’” in her 2003 film “Monster.” (“When he literally showed up on the mixing stage the next day and pulled up a chair next to me, saying, ‘Hey I really love your movie. How can I help you?’ it was the beginning of one of the greatest friendships of my life,” Ms. Jenkins wrote in an email.) Over lunch, Ms. Jenkins lobbied Mr. Everett to meet Mr. Perry.

They hit it off immediately. “At that time,” Mr. Everett said, “we had a very serious Eels croquet game in my backyard every Sunday.” He invited Mr. Perry to attend that week. Before long, Mr. Perry began showing up — uninvited and unannounced, but not unwelcome — at Eels rehearsals.

“They’d always bust my chops,” Mr. Perry said. “Like, ‘Well? Is this the year you come on and sing a couple songs with us?’”

At one point, the Eels guitarist Jeff Lyster managed to bait Mr. Perry into singing Journey’s “Lights” at one of these rehearsals, which Mr. Everett remembers as “this great moment — a guy who’s become like Howard Hughes, and just walked away from it all 25 years ago, and he’s finally doing it again.”

Eventually Mr. Perry decided to sing a few numbers at an Eels show, which would be his first public performance in decades. He made this decision known to the band, Mr. Everett said, not via phone or email but by showing up to tour rehearsals one day carrying his own microphone. “He moves in mysterious ways,” Mr. Everett observed.

For mysterious Steve Perry reasons, Mr. Perry chose to make his long-awaited return to the stage at a 2014 Eels show at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, Minn. During a surprise encore, he sang three songs, including one of his favorite Eels tunes, whose profane title is rendered on an edited album as “It’s a Monstertrucker.”

“I walked out with no anticipation and they knew me and they responded, and it was really a thrill,” Mr. Perry said. “I missed it so much. I couldn’t believe it’d been so long.”

“It’s a Monstertrucker” is a spare song about struggling to get through a lonely Sunday in someone’s absence. For Mr. Perry, it was not an out-of-nowhere choice.

In 2011, Ms. Jenkins directed one segment of “Five,” a Lifetime anthology film about women and breast cancer. Mr. Perry visited her one day in the cutting room while she was at work on a scene featuring real cancer patients as extras. A woman named Kellie Nash caught Mr. Perry’s eye. Instantly smitten, he asked Ms. Jenkins if she would introduce them by email.

“And she says ‘O.K., I’ll send the email,’ ” Mr. Perry said, “but there’s one thing I should tell you first. She was in remission, but it came back, and it’s in her bones and her lungs. She’s fighting for her life.”

“My head said, ‘I don’t know,’ ” Mr. Perry remembered, “but my heart said, ‘Send the email.’”

“That was extremely unlike Steve, as he is just not that guy,” Ms. Jenkins said. “I have never seen him hit on, or even show interest in anyone before. He was always so conservative about opening up to anyone.”

A few weeks later, Ms. Nash and Mr. Perry connected by phone and ended up talking for nearly five hours. Their friendship soon blossomed into romance. Mr. Perry described Ms. Nash as the greatest thing that ever happened to him.

“I was loved by a lot of people, but I didn’t really feel it as much as I did when Kellie said it,” he said. “Because she’s got better things to do than waste her time with those words.”

They were together for a year and a half. They made each other laugh and talked each other to sleep at night.

In the fall of 2012, Ms. Nash began experiencing headaches. An MRI revealed that the cancer had spread to her brain. One night not long afterward, Ms. Nash asked Mr. Perry to make her a promise.

“She said, ‘If something were to happen to me, promise me you won’t go back into isolation,’ ” Mr. Perry said, “because that would make this all for naught.”

At this point in the story, Mr. Perry asked for a moment and began to cry.

Ms. Nash died on Dec. 14, 2012, at 40. Two years later, Mr. Perry showed up to Eels rehearsal with his own microphone, ready to make good on a promise.

TIME HAS ADDED a husky edge to Mr. Perry’s angelic voice; on “Traces,” he hits some trembling high notes that bring to mind the otherworldly jazz countertenor “Little” Jimmy Scott. The tone suits the songs, which occasionally rock, but mostly feel close to their origins as solo demos Mr. Perry cut with only loops and click tracks backing him up.

The idea that the album might kick-start a comeback for Mr. Perry is one that its maker inevitably has to hem and haw about.

“I don’t even know if ‘coming back’ is a good word,” he said. “I’m in touch with the honest emotion, the love of the music I’ve just made. And all the neurosis that used to come with it, too. All the fears and joys. I had to put my arms around all of it. And walking back into it has been an experience, of all of the above.”

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Robert Fleischman: the forgotten Journey singer who was sacrificed for Steve Perry

Robert Fleischman was briefly Journey’s singer before Steve Perry. But history would have been very different without him

Journey’s transformation from jazz-rock noodlers into the hard rock behemoth behind Don’t Stop Believin’ coincided with the arrival of singer Steve Perry in 1977.

But Perry wasn’t the band’s first lead singer. He was briefly preceded by Robert Fleischman earlier that year, recruited by Journey’s manager, Herbie Herbert, to give the largely faceless band more of an identity.

Fleischman’s tenure in the band lasted a matter of months. He left after clashing with Herbert, who described the singer as “a pain in the ass – a pampered poodle of person.”

But Fleischman still played a significant part in Journey’s – pardon the pun – evolution, co-writing future hit single Wheel In The Sky , a song that helped point the band in a bold new direction.

After he parted ways with the band, Fleischman ended up singing on the first album by ex-Kiss guitarist Vinnie Vincent's band, the Vinnie Vincent Invasion before embarking on a solo career. He hasn’t been written out of Journey’s history, but he the part he played in their reinvention is often overlooked. Here, he shares his memories of his time in the band, and the part he played in laying the groundwork for his successor, Steve Perry.

How did you join Journey?

Robert Fleischman: “I guess Journey wasn’t doing too well at the time, and bands like Boston and Foreigner were becoming popular. So to fix Journey they decided to add a lead singer. That was the formula.”

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Were you made to feel welcome in the band?

“Yes, they were very nice to me except when we were on the road. They let me know that I was getting it easy because they had worked so hard to get to where they were at before I joined the band. Still, it was great to be in a group that was so well organised. Gregg Rolie was the most generous to me. He let me stay in his house; it was nice. Management – that was another story.”

What do you remember about touring with Journey in 1977?

“We started in Texas for some practice shows and played with REO Speedwagon and Judas Priest. Later on we opened up shows for Emerson, Lake & Palmer in Canada and some dates in the USA.”

What was the reception like from the fans at live shows?

“The band would do about three or four songs, then they would introduce me. The front row was always diehard Journey fans and they would flip me off and say, ‘Fuck you!’ It was hard for them to see a frontman in the band so every time I got up on the stage that’s what I was up against. But at the end of the show we won them over.”

Did Neal Schon have specific ideas about what he wanted from you as a vocalist?

“No, there were no demands, plus they had never played with a lead singer and songwriter before. I think it was a big education for the both of us. At that time they were the rock fusion band and I was a pop songwriter, but it worked.”

What do you remember about writing Wheel In The Sky, which ended up on Journey’s 1978 album, Infinity?

“Neal and the band had the music already; I came up with the melody. One day I was given a poem that was written by Ross Valory’s wife, Diane. So to make everyone happy I plucked out the line ‘wheel in the sky’ and then I wrote the rest.”

What was your relationship like with Journey’s manager Herbie Herbert?

“I liked Herbie but later I found out he didn’t like me. He thought I was cocky. But name me one lead singer who’s not a little cocky? I was always professional, but I do think he was a great manager. He was ambitious, he put the band on the map, he sold them like a candy bar. Who wouldn’t wanna manager like that?”

What ended your tenure in the band?

“Like any relationship you want out of, it’s always a personality difference that’s the excuse. I heard later the band was mad at him [Herbie Herbert] for squeezing me out.”

This article originally appeared in Classic Rock Presents AOR. Q&A by Neil Daniels

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Former Frontman Steve Perry Will Never Reunite With Journey — Here's Why He Left

Aug. 29 2023, Updated 3:51 p.m. ET

The American rock band Journey has cemented their legacy in the world of classic rock music . With power ballad songs such as "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Faithfully," the lyrics continue to be sung throughout generations.

Initially formed in the early '70s, Journey reportedly hit its commercial peak between the late 1970s through the late '80s.

In 1987, frontman Steve Perry decided to part ways with Journey. Given the impact the band had, many were shocked when they learned ties had been severed. So, why did Steve leave Journey? Keep reading to find out more.

Why did Steve Perry leave Journey?

According to iHeartRadio , Steve left Journey in 1987 and pursued a solo career, though he never reached commercial success as an individual artist. In the mid-90s, Steve reunited with bandmates and prepped for an upcoming tour. However, those plans changed after Steve found out he had a hip condition that would require surgery. But, he wanted to try alternative treatments.

“They wanted me to make a decision on the surgery,” he told Rolling Stone in a 2018 interview. “But I didn’t feel it was a group decision. Then I was told on the phone that they needed to know when I was gonna do it ’cause they had checked out some new singers.” 

Though he asked his bandmates to reconsider, they did not. “I said to them, ‘Do what you need to do, but don’t call it Journey,’” he said, adding, “If you fracture the stone, I don’t know how I could come back to it.”

The band found a new singer and the group continues to tour today. While the former lead singer was present during Journey's 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, he has not performed with the band since then.

“What they do is none of my business,” the 71-year-old told the outlet. “When I walked away from it, I did not go to any of the shows, nor did I listen to any of it.”

So, what did he do after leaving behind his music career?

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Steve Perry (@steveperrymusic)

Rumors surfaced that Journey's Steve Perry was a recluse.

After parting ways with the band, Steve took a step back from the spotlight and music. “I didn’t sing in those years,” he explained to Rolling Stone . “I didn’t write music. I must have gained 50 or 60 pounds. I got a butch haircut. I just said, ‘I’m going to just become a plump kid in my hometown again.’ I’d already lived the dream of dreams and didn’t know how I could come close to being anything like what I was before.”

View this post on Instagram One late night, I was sitting in my room thinking about so many things. This song came into my mind, and it brought me some comfort. I hope it does the same for you. Stay safe, Steve A post shared by Steve Perry (@steveperrymusic) on Apr 17, 2020 at 9:02am PDT

The singer revealed that rumors started to surface of the former frontman being a "recluse with long nails." 

Finally, after several decades, Steve decided to release his third studio solo album "Traces," which was a project five years in the making.

As for fans holding out that Steve will one day reunite with his former bandmates, don't hold your breath. The singer told the outlet, "I left the band 31 f--king years ago, my friend. You can still love someone, but not want to work with them."

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The Real Reason Steve Perry Left Journey

For years, Journey singer Steve Perry used to wear a necklace of a gold musical eighth-note. In 2018, he explained to Rolling Stone it was a gift he received from his mom when he was 12 years old.

"She always believed in me. I wore it for years and years, but hung it up in May of 1998, just after the band and I legally split and I had a complete contractual release from all my obligations to the band and label."

Perry fronted Journey to its greatest commercial success in the '80s, catapulting the band to arena rock stardom through the likes of "Open Arms" and "Don't Stop Believin'." However , by 1987, even with the triumph of Raised by Radio tour, the band was greatly fractured and went on hiatus for nearly ten years. 

As time heals all wounds, Perry reunited in the mid-90s with bandmates Jonathan Cain, Ross Valory, and Steve Smith. Now under the management of Irving Azoff, Journey released Trial by Fire. The Recording Industry Association of America certified the album platinum and the Recording Academy nominated one of its hit singles, "When You Love a Woman," for a Grammy.

Through pain, Steve Perry came back to music

Just before tour arrangements could be made, Perry collapsed while on a hike. He learned he needed hip surgery due to a degenerative bone condition. The band could not wait for Perry to heal, and so he was replaced by Steve Augeri and later Arnel Pineda .

For years, Perry's surgery explained his reason for officially leaving Journey. But in 2018, he made a revelation. Ahead of the release of his solo album Traces , Perry admitted his actual motive.

"The truth is, that I thought music had run its course in my heart," Perry said. "I had to be honest with myself, and in my heart, I knew I just wasn't feeling it anymore."

Perry , in soul and spirit, was tired. But like any true rockstar, he could not be away from the limelight too long. Traces allowed Perry to find music again. In a promise to his late girlfriend Kellie Nash, who died in 2012 from breast cancer, this was the moment he stopped isolating himself from the world. 

"I found myself with not only just a broken heart but an open heart," Perry told Billboard . "And from that came rock and roll."

13 Things We Learned Hanging Out With Steve Perry

By Andy Greene

Andy Greene

It’s a punishingly hot August day and Steve Perry is tucked into a corner table at a Lower Manhattan Italian spot taking a quick breather between a long round of radio interviews promoting Traces , his new comeback album that he spent the last five years recording in such secrecy that he made everyone on his team sign strict NDAs. He’s no more than two minutes into our conversation, barely enough time to dip a single piece of bread into olive oil and take a bite, when he stands up and announces he has to leave at once. There’s loud dance pop playing on the radio and it’s driving him crazy.

“This is very distracting,” he says, as a large, tattooed bodyguard and two publicists perched near the bar look on. “I’m hearing drums and rhythm. I have a very ADD, multi-track mind and I can’t listen to two things at once. I just hear these electronic drums. Let’s go outside even though it’s going to be a little sticky.”

With the bodyguard in tow, we head onto the street towards a park overlooking the Hudson River. It’s a complete shift from our plan for the afternoon, but Perry has never been one to stick to a script. Ignoring the desperate pleas of his bandmates, management team and fans, he walked away from Journey near the pinnacle of their success in 1987 to live a quiet life free from screaming crowds and record executives thirsty for another hit. And even when Journey-mania returned again in the mid-2000s and “Don’t Stop Believin'” became absolutely inescapable — used everywhere from the The Sopranos finale to Glee  — he refused to emerge from hiding in any way, allowing his former bandmates to reap the hefty rewards by playing about 70 shows a year with a soundalike they plucked from YouTube.

Dressed head-to-toe in black, Perry walks down the city streets, past throngs of tourists that don’t give him a second look, and attempts to explain why he turned in his rock star card over 30 years ago. “It seemed like the only thing I could do to stop some of the badness in my heart and the lack of passion for singing,” he says. “I just had to stop. I was feeling like a forced version of myself, getting into some bad habits and not connecting to my heart. I was completely deep-fried.”

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Rolling Stone published an extensive feature on Perry’s life earlier this month, but there was still a lot we learned that didn’t fit into the piece. Here are 13 of them.

1. He became interested in spiritual matters during his lost years. “I don’t attend any religious practices and I’m not religious,” he explains. “But I’ve devoted a lot of time to people like Joseph Campbell who opened the doors to all the theologists that I have opinions about now. It took a lot of open-mindedness to rewire my thinking about so many things. It needed to happen. They say that every seven years your body completely changes, that every cell in your body is no longer the same. There’s a metamorphoses. And right now, I’m more open-minded to the idea of not knowing the answers to all things.”

2. He has a crystal-clear memory of the moment they wrote “Don’t Stop Believin.'” “I know everyone has their own opinion about this,” he says. “I don’t know what Jonathan [Cain] thinks, but I remember it starting out in a warehouse in Oakland where we had a rehearsal space. I suggested we needed something with eighths on the piano because I always liked songs that began like that. It flowed from there. We were all in the room. It was me, Jonathan and Neal [Schon]. It was a true group effort. Then I went to Jonathan’s house and we wrote the lyrics together. There’s no one genius to any one moment. If you’re in a band, what you do is a group effort.”

3. Contrary to widespread rumor, he’s never suffered any vocal issues. “I have my vocal box checked all the time,” he says. “I have no nodules on it. I have a really good doctor. She sticks a camera down my nose. I call it the garden hose. It goes down to the vocal chords and then she grabs my tongue and I have to go, ‘Eeeeeee.’ She’s really able to see them well and, knock on wood, nothing wrong with my voice. The only thing is I didn’t really use if for a while, but it’s like working out when you begin using it again.”

4. His mother pushed him return to Journey in 1985 after he’d taken a long break to focus on his solo career. “I was ready to leave the group because she was so sick,” he says. “She couldn’t speak because she’d had so many strokes. She was also pretty quadriplegic at that point, but she loved my music. I asked her what she thought about it, whether I should make another solo record or go back to Journey. She said one word: ‘Journey.’ I went, ‘Are you sure? Mom, this means I won’t be around you much. Again she just said, ‘Journey.’ Then she died during the making of the record. I dedicated it to her.”

Steve Perry Signs to New Label, Contemplates Solo Tour: 'I Miss It Terribly'

Hear the journey tune steve perry rerecorded with steve lukather's son.

5. The “corporate rock” label that Journey was stuck with still baffles him. “That was amazing to me,” he says. “Any band that came to America, whether it was Led Zeppelin or anybody, would incorporate in order to create a tax shelter and not leave penniless. The way to do that legally is to form a corporation. Everybody did that, but we got stuck with the label. Isn’t that fascinating?”

6. He enjoyed meeting Arnel Pineda at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2017. “He’s a sweet kid,” he says. “We talked for a while backstage. It was really fun.”

7. But he never even considered singing with Journey at the Hall of Fame. “I heard a rumor that the invitation was open,” he says. “But I’m not the singer in the band anymore. Arnel is. He’s been in the band for ten years. I just wanted to come and thank everybody for everything, including Arnel.”

8. He was the last one in Journey to give his approval for The Sopranos to use “Don’t Stop Believin.'” “I wasn’t too excited by the possibility that it might be used when someone is whacked,” he says. “Everyone else was okay with it, but I wanted to know more. So the girl who sub-licenses my music kept on asking David Chase’s people if they could tell us a little more. But since it was the last sequence in the entire show, they were a little tight with information. I told them I wouldn’t say yes unless they told me that nobody got whacked, which is how [Martin] Scorsese would have used it. So I just waited and Thursday afternoon my girl calls and says she just spoke to David Chase’s people and they told me how it ends, but I couldn’t tell anybody. They didn’t tell me the screen turns to black, but they told me everything else. And I said okay that Thursday and it aired on Sunday.”

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9. Baseball gives him the same sort of satisfaction today that he used to get from music. “The electronic aspect of music just started wearing me out,” he says. “There’s not a lot of live musicians being played on the radio anymore. But when I’m watching baseball, these guys walk out there and hit, play, catch, run…I mean, they’re just killing it. There’s no auto-tune for baseball. They have to play. The musicianship of the music industry used to be that way.”

10. If he does tour, expect to hear a lot of Journey songs. “I don’t know if a tour will happen,” he says. “Right now it’s premature to even guess. But there would be no way in the world I’d go out there and not sing Journey music too. It would be solo and Journey together. But those songs are vocally challenging. They’re challenging for Arnel and everyone else. They’re not easy. They were challenging for me when I wrote the damn melodies, but back then I was young and in my olympic singer mode. [Barbra] Streisand lowers the keys when she does her old songs. There’s nothing wrong with lowering a key We’re not spring chickens.”

11. His time out of the spotlight after he left Journey in 1987 reinvigorated him . “I went back to my hometown and reconnected with old friends,” he says. “I bought a Harley Davidson and rode it around the country roads of my youth. I let the wind hit my face and my hair blowed behind me. There were no helmet laws back then. I disappeared. I went to the fair in the summer. I went to movies. I had dinner with friends. I had relationships. I lived.”

12. Money was never really an issue after he left the band. “I wrote every single song with members of the band with the exception, I think, of one,” he says. “And those songs kept selling. I don’t eat out a lot. I only drive one car a time. I live kind of small, so financially I never really had to work. There were certainly some sweet [royalty] checks as the years went by, but I’ll tell you something else: I was probably one of the only guys who saved his money. A lot of people were living very extravagant lifestyles. I was not raised that way. My grandfather said to me when I was very young, ‘It’s not how much you make, it’s how much you save.’ So I lived small and saved my money.”

13. When pushed, he refuses to make a Shermanesque statement that he’ll never, under any circumstances, return to Journey, even though it’s highly unlikely. “The only thing I’m willing to be definitive about is that at this age I am right now, I have to do things that I feel really great about, that feel life-sustaining and give me passion,” he says. “I really want to continue to move forward. I’m not too excited about going backwards. I’m more excited about moving forward to what is next. I’ve already written a lot more new material, in fact.”

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Steve Perry

Who Is Steve Perry?

Steve Perry played in several bands before joining Journey in 1977. The band achieved tremendous pop rock success with its 1981 album Escape , which featured the now-classic "Don't Stop Believin'." As the group's lead singer, Perry became one of the era's most famous singers. He also had some hits on his own, including "Oh Sherrie." Perry left Journey in 1987, and except for a brief reunion, he remains a solo artist.

While attending high school in Lemoore, California, Perry played drums in the marching band. He tried college for a while, performing in the choir, but eventually abandoned school for his musical dreams. Hoping to break into the business, he moved to Los Angeles for a time. There, he worked a number of jobs, including singing on commercials and serving as an engineer in a recording studio. All the while, Perry played with a number of different groups as a vocalist and drummer. He seemed to be on the edge of a breakthrough with the group Alien Project, when it suddenly disbanded — tragically, one of its members was killed in a car crash.

Journey: "Oh Sherrie" and "Don't Stop Believin'"

In 1977, Perry caught his big break, landing a gig as the vocalist for Journey, which began performing as a jazz rock group in the early 1970s, in San Francisco. With Perry on board, the band moved more toward mainstream rock, and began to see some chart success with the first album with Perry, 1978's Infinity . The band's ode to San Francisco, "Lights," became a minor hit as did "Wheel in the Sky" and "Anytime."

Journey broken into the Top 20 with "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" on their next album, Evolution (1979). Buoyed by such hits as "Open Arms," "Who's Crying Now" and "Don't Stop Believin'," Escape (1981) became the band's first No. 1 album, selling more than 7 million copies. While the band was hugely popular with music fans, many critics were less than kind.

By the early 1980s, Journey had emerged as one of rock's top acts. Perry proved that while he may have been short in stature, he possessed one of the era's biggest and most versatile voices. He was equally adept at ballads, such as "Open Arms," and at rock anthems, such as "Any Way You Want It." Behind the scenes, Perry helped write these songs and many of the band's other hits. He penned their most enduring song, "Don't Stop Believin'," with guitarist Neal Schon and keyboardist Jonathan Cain.

Journey continued to be one of the era's top-selling acts, with 1983's Frontiers . The album featured such songs as "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" and "Faithfully." To support the recording, the band undertook an extensive world tour. Around that time, Journey also became the first band to license their music and likenesses for a video game.

With 1986's Raised on Radio , Journey enjoyed another wave of success. However, Perry was ready to part ways with his bandmates. Perry left the band in 1987 after the album tour. In a statement to People magazine, Perry explained: "I had a job burnout after 10 years in Journey. I had to let my feet hit the ground, and I had to find a passion for singing again." Perry was also struggling with some personal issues at the time; his mother had become very sick, and he spent much of his time caring for her before her death.

Perry reunited with Journey in 1996, for the reunion album Trial By Fire , which reached as high as the No. 3 on the album charts. But health problems soon sidelined the famous singer—a hip condition, which led to hip replacement surgery—and his bandmates decided to continue on without him.

Solo Projects

While still with Journey, Perry released his first solo album, Street Talk (1984). The recording sold more than 2 million copies, helped along by the hit single, "Oh Sherrie." Burnt out after splitting with Journey, Perry took some time out before working on his next project.

Nearly a decade later, Perry re-emerged on the pop-rock scene with 1994's For the Love of Strange Medicine . While the album was well-received—one ballad, "You Better Wait," was a Top 10 hit—Perry failed to reach the same level of success that he had previously enjoyed. In 1998, he provided two songs for the soundtrack of Quest for Camelot , an animated film. Perry also released Greatest Hits + Five Unreleased that same year.

Recent Years

While he has largely stayed out of the spotlight, Perry continues to be heard in movies and on television. His songs are often chosen for soundtracks, and Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" even played during the closing moments of the hit crime-drama series The Sopranos in 2007. In 2009, a cover version of the song was done for the hit high school musical show Glee , which introduced a new generation to Perry's work.

According to several reports, Perry began working on new material around 2010. He even built a studio in his home, which is located north of San Diego, California. "I'm finishing that room up and I've written a whole bunch of ideas and directions, all over the map, in the last two, three years," Perry told Billboard in 2012.

In 2014, Perry broke from his self-imposed exile from the concert stage. He appeared with the Eels at several of their shows. According to The Hollywood Reporter , Perry explained that "I've done the 20-year hermit thing, and it's overrated." His return to performing "has to do with a lot of changes in my life, including losing my girlfriend a year ago and her wish to hear me sing again" — referring to his romance with Kellie Nash, who died in late 2012 from cancer.

Although Perry and his old bandmates had long since ventured in separate directions, the group did reunite for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2017.

In the meantime, the singer began recording again. On August 15, 2018, he released his first new song in 20 years, the ballad "No Erasin." The track arrived ahead of his new album, Traces , his first full-length studio recording since For the Love of Strange Medicine in 1994.

Regardless of what the future holds, Perry has already earned a place in rock history. Rolling Stone magazine named him one of music's top 100 singers. According to American Idol judge and former Journey bassist, Randy Jackson, Perry's voice is one of kind. "Other than Robert Plant, there's no singer in rock that even came close to Steve Perry," Jackson said. "The power, the range, the tone—he created his own style. He mixed a little Motown, a little Everly Brothers, a little Zeppelin."

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Steve Perry
• Birth Year: 1949
• Birth date: January 22, 1949
• Birth State: California
• Birth City: Hanford
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Steve Perry was the lead singer of pop rock band Journey from 1977 to 1987. He is known for having a wide vocal range, which can be heard on such popular hits as "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Oh Sherrie."
• Astrological Sign: Aquarius

We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us !

CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Steve Perry Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/steve-perry
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: July 23, 2020
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

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Steve Perry on Journey’s Arnel Pineda: ‘He’s Their Lead Singer’

Former Journey lead singer Steve Perry's long-awaited return to the stage late last month has naturally fueled speculation as to whether the vocalist would ever reunite with his former band. But in a new interview, he is once again quick to both dash those rumors and pay his respects to the man who has held that position for over seven years now.

Speaking with Fan Asylum , Perry confirms that "there is no reunion" plan in the works between him and Journey. Asked what he thought of current singer Arnel Pineda 's respectful and presumably not literal offer to step aside so that he could have his old job back, Perry says, "I don’t know who or what would make Arnel want to say such a thing. He's their lead singer and I wish him all the best."

Perry also adds that he was very surprised by how strong a reaction his return garnered. "I woke up in St. Paul, MN thinking I'd have a little YouTube leak about the gig and that would be it. After 20 years of not singing live I really thought I could just stick my toe in the Waters of Love and then go home and start blowing the rust off my pipes……. but that's not what happened."

After getting a taste for the stage in St. Paul, Perry subsequently joined Eels for two other performances:  one in Washington, D.C., the other in Los Angeles. But aside from hinting at a new solo record, Perry has not shared what his future plans may hold.

This is not the first occasion of Perry denying that a Journey reunion was in the works. Earlier this month, Perry stated that his return to the live performance arena was strictly for fun . Journey is currently on tour with the Steve Miller Band and Tower of Power. You can get all their latest tour dates here .

More From Ultimate Classic Rock

The Reason Steve Perry Decided To Leave His Journey Band Members

• Steve Perry left Journey the first time due to feeling burnt out after their final show in 1987.
• Perry left Journey a second (and final) time because of debilitating pain caused by a reported hiking accident.
• Journey continued without Perry though, finding other lead singers before ultimately reuniting and releasing new music.

Throughout the '80s, the band Journey enjoyed plenty of success. The band, which consisted of various members depending on the year and pending lawsuits, welcomed Steve Perry in 1977.

At the time, the other members of Journey included Neal Schon, Ross Valory, George Tickner, Prairie Prince, and Gregg Rolie. Though many band members came and went over the years, Steve Perry always seemed like a staple, one of the central attractions as far as drawing crowds (and rounding out the group's vocals).

But by then, Perry had launched a solo act, and at that point, he and Schon weren't getting along very well, either. That resulted in Steve leaving the band (for the first time).

Journey's Legacy Took A Hit After Steve Perry's Reported Lawsuit Against His Former Band Members

Updated April 2024: Many fans were unaware that Steve Perry left Journey because he was dealing with a debilitating degenerative bone condition . It made it hard to do daily routine activities, let alone tour. But, many fans thought that Perry was kicked out of the band so that he could be replaced by Steve Augeri. A fact that the remaining members of Journey denied. They simply believed the music was "bigger than them" and wanted to continue to tour. These days, Journey is still touring, without Perry, with Arnel Pineda on the lead vocals . Tickets are available for their tour, currently taking place in North America.

Why Steve Perry Left Journey The First Time

Steve perry left journey because he was burnt out.

As iHeartRadio explained, Perry was feeling burnt out. He said that he had "an amazing time in an amazing band," but that his last show in February of 1987 with the band had been a turning point of sorts. Setting out on his own, Perry went on to rediscover himself in a way, while his former bandmates went another direction.

Steve did come back later, however, in the early '90s. The guys reconciled, buried the hatchet, and were working on another album together. The band was even about to start touring again when Perry left the group for good.

Why Steve Perry Left Journey A Second Time

Steve perry was dealing with debilitating pain, leading him to leave journey a second and final time.

So what happened that caused Steve Perry to leave Journey a second time, this time for good? He had a good reason: UCR says Steve got hurt during a hiking accident . Rather than undergo hip surgery so that he could get back on stage (and on tour), Steve opted to quit the band. The way UCR tells it, Steve "refused" the surgery and "dredged up" memories of his leaving the band before.

But the way some fans saw it (and clearly the journalists at UCR as well), the move was a power play akin to the one Perry apparently made back in the '80s. His leaving the band at that point was a way to control Journey's fate, the publication suggested. So the second time around, the band cut ties with Perry rather than letting him drag them down.

Is Steve Perry Still Feuding With The Rest Of Journey?

Perry later related that he was both physically ill and "burnt out," noted iHeartRadio , and that after both an illustrious career as a member of Journey and a successful solo run, he was just finished. For the band's part, they soon replaced Perry with a 'soundalike' who did the job well enough, but never propelled the band to the notoriety or net worth of The Beatles .

Journey Got Back Together Without Steve Perry

Journey got back together with steve augeri and steve perry put out new music.

In 1998, the band officially announced that Steve was no longer part of Journey. After that, it would be decades before Steve got back into music again. As iHeartRadio quoted him a few years ago, "I rediscovered my love for music."

Steve released a new album in 2018, including original songs he'd written over the past 30 years. He even included a "reimagined cover" of a Beatles hit, but it wasn't the one John Lennon hated .

Has Steve Perry's Bad Blood With His Former Journey Bandmates Stopped Them From Speaking?

After Steve Augeri replaced Perry for eight years, he too called it quits with Journey. That has not stopped the band from touring, however. The band is currently doing a North American tour with Arnel Pineda on the lead vocals. Tickets are available for purchase for dates around the US.

Source: iHeart Radio

Steve Perry Explains Why He Disappeared After Leaving Journey

By Andrew Magnotta

August 26, 2018

Former Journey frontman Steve Perry has been something of a white whale in the world of classic rock for the last 20 or so years.

While Perry hasn't necessarily been avoiding the public eye, he hasn't sought it out either. Since leaving Journey officially in 1996 due to a crippling hip injury that prevented him from touring, Perry has been surprisingly absent from music.

His lack of creative output was a stark change from his time in Journey, a band that was seemingly either on tour or in the studio for the entirety of the 1980s. 

Perry has done few interviews over the last 24 years, but as the singer prepares to revamp his career with, Traces , his first solo album since 1994, he's taken the added step of explaining himself — he was physically unwell and burnt out.

“The truth is, that I thought music had run its course in my heart,” Perry explains in a statement on his website . “I’d had an amazing time in an amazing band, and then the chance to express myself as a solo artist too. But I had to be honest with myself, and in my heart, I knew I just wasn’t feeling it anymore.”

Just hearing music brought back the feelings of exhaustion and lack of control he felt at the end of his tenure in Journey, Perry says. 

"For a long time, I could barely even listen to music," he said. "My last show with Journey was February of 1987. Then one day, it hit me that I couldn't do this anymore. I felt as if I had to jump off this merry-go-round — this big beautiful mothership that we had all worked so hard together to build."

But his love for music has returned as strong as ever. Perry says Traces is the last "30 years into 10 songs," and he began writing with no expectations. 

"I   started writing and recording these songs with the creative freedom that I was the only one who would ever hear them," he says. "Along the way, I rediscovered my love for music. Each track represents traces of my past, but is also a hopeful look into the future. I invite you to listen with an open heart.” 

Nine of the songs on Traces are originals. The tenth track is Perry's reimagined cover of The Beatles ' "I Need You."

The album is due out October 5. Fans can pre-order it   here .

Listen to the lead single, "No Erasin'" below.

The singer has yet to announce a tour or any live performances. But after so many years off the road, you can't blame him for dipping his toes in the water before diving in. 

Photo: Getty Images

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50 Years Of Journey: How Former Lead Singer Steve Perry, 74, Fought Dangerous Skin Cancer After Losing Love of His Life to Breast Cancer SHARE

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50 Years Of Journey: How Former Lead Singer Steve Perry, 74, Fought Dangerous Skin Cancer After Losing Love of His Life to Breast Cancer

• Save This Video

Losing a Loved One to Cancer

• The American rock band journey recently celebrated 50 years since its formation.
• The band’s former frontman, Steve Perry, is a survivor of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
• Melanoma is a kind of skin cancer that can develop from an existing mole or appear as a dark or pink growth on the skin even in places on the body that never see the sun.
• Perry fought the disease after losing the love of his life to breast cancer in 2012.
• Though he was only with Kellie Nash for a year and a half, he’s said “it was a lifetime of love packed into every moment.”

Journey is a classic American rock group that first formed in 1973. Current members of the band include Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, and Arnel Pineda, according to the group’s website , but Perry was the lead singer during their height of commercial success in the late ’70s and ’80s.

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Steve Perry’s Cancer Battle

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Steve Perry (@steveperrymusic)

“Three weeks ago a routine mole was taken off my face and the lab report came back Melanoma skin cancer,” he wrote.

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, and it originates in the same cells that give your skin, hair and eyes their color. It can develop from an existing mole or appear as a dark or pink growth on the skin even in places on the body that never or rarely see the sun. This disease accounts for about 1% of all skin cancers , but it can be very dangerous if left untreated.

Examining Your Skin for Melanoma: Remember ABCDE

"Melanomas are the deadliest type of skin cancer because they have a tendency to spread to other parts of the body," Dr. Anna Pavlick , medical oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, previously told SurvivorNet.

It’s unclear exactly what stage of melanoma Perry had, but treating stage 1 melanoma usually consists of a simple, in-office surgical removal by a dermatologist. When the cancer has spread beyond .08 mm in thickness , patients need an operation that is more involved.

“I’ve had two surgeries in two weeks to remove all the cancer cells and I’ve been told they think they got it all and no other treatments are required,” Perry wrote.

Although his cancer news was positive overall, Steve Perry’s 2013 post also included a heart-wrenching story about his late partner and her cancer battle.

When Perry first saw Kellie Nash, it was love at first sight. He was sitting in an editing room with a friend, Patty Jenkins, as she worked on a Lifetime breast cancer special when Perry noticed the Ph.D. psychologist in the opening scene.

The Toughest Conversations: Losing a Partner to Cancer

“When the scene was over I said to Patty, ‘Can you roll to the top of that opening scene for me?’ Patty asked, ‘Is something wrong?’ I said, ‘No. I want to see something,'” Perry wrote.

“As the camera again crossed Kellie’s smile I asked her to freeze right there.……. I asked Patty who that was. She said, ‘That’s Kellie Nash, a PHD Psychologist who was diagnosed with breast cancer, had a double mastectomy and she’s doing a cameo appearance.'”

That’s when Perry asked Jenkins to send Nash an email asking if she’d like to go on a date. Jenkins agreed but told Perry about the reality of Nash’s situation: She was currently fighting breast cancer that had returned as stage 4 and spread to her lungs and bones after eight months of remission.

“I was frozen……. I didn’t know what to do…….. I had lost my mom, dad, grandparents that raised me and I was an only child so my first thought was to maybe not send the email; then my heart said, Maybe we could be friends or maybe she could be my shrink,” he explained. “So I said, ‘Please send it.'”

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Nash happily obliged and gave Perry a call. In a couple weeks, they were on their first date, and the rest was history.

“I never felt like this before……. I had finally found her. She’s real and she’s right in front of me,” Perry wrote. “We started seeing each other and Yes, we both knew that we were meant to be together.

“My life was forever changed in ways I will explain at another time but it was all because of my Kellie.”

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Nash went courageously in and out of treatments, but she eventually passed away from the disease on Dec. 14, 2012. Although the two were together for just 1.5 years, Perry said “it was a lifetime of love packed into every moment.”

“She was so strong, so courageous and we really loved each other so very much,” he wrote. “I’ve been trying to grieve and not run from this loss so for the last 5 months that’s what I’ve been doing along with recalling everything being in Love with Kellie taught me.”

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After 20 Long Years Away, Steve Perry Finally Joins Journey Onstage

photo credit: rockaxis.com.co

Reunited And It Feels So, So Good

We’ve spent the last 20 years hoping, praying, pleading – even appealing to Steve Perry directly through the likes of Journey guitarist Neal Schon and even Carlos Santana to rejoin Journey, if only for a little while. As news of Journey’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame came to light late last year, the possibility of a Steve Perry reunion was closer to us than it had ever been but the former Journey frontman’s famed reticence when it came to anything related to his old band forced us to be realistic and prepare for the very real possibility that he wouldn’t show for Journey’s big moment.

Against all odds, however, Steve was there for Friday night’s festivities , just as excited to reunite with his former friends and bandmates as he was gracious to the legions of fans who propelled Journey to the top of the food chain and into rock and roll legend.

While Perry ultimately decided against performing with Journey and left the honor to current singer Arnel Pineda – who got his wish and finally met his idol for the very first time Friday night – his acceptance speech reflected a lifetime’s worth of love and gratitude to his bandmates as he gushed about their respective talents and thanked them individually and by name for “all the music we’ve written and recorded together.” Lastly, for the Journey fans who stopped believing that Steve heard them and cared, he had this to offer:

“You put us here,” he said. “We would not be here had it not been for you and your tireless love and consistent devotion. You never have stopped. I’ve been gone a long time, I understand that, but I want you to know that you’ve never not been in my heart.”

What a magical night! There’s no indication that Steve will ever be involved with Journey again, but who knows? It’s been an impossible year full of impossible events, and to forget that anything is possible would be absolutely foolish. Congratulations, Journey!

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Is Famous American Singer Steve Perry Still Alive?

The musician Steve Perry is one of the most well-known performers in the United States. This singer-songwriter is responsible for producing and composing a great deal of music for numerous albums. It is not quite accurate to say that he has avoided attending public events and conferences.

Many individuals have pondered the question of whether or not Steve Perry is still alive today. A great number of people, including some of Steve Perry’s most ardent admirers, have cast doubt on his continued existence. This most important question can finally be answered thanks to the information provided on this page.

Steve Perry is still alive and excels at performing all of his everyday responsibilities. He has undergone two successful operations for the replacement of his hip, and up to this point, he has been able to remain active and living. Steve Perry, the former frontman for Journey, has been something of a “white whale” in the world of classic rock for the better part of the last two decades.

Perry has never been one to shy away from the limelight, but he also hasn’t gone out of his way to seek it out. Since he formally parted ways with Journey in 1996, Perry has maintained a low profile in the music industry due, in large part, to a painful hip injury that prevented him from going on tour.

His diminished output of creative work was in stark contrast to his time spent with Journey, a band that either toured or recorded continuously during the entirety of the 1980s. In the past 24 years, Perry has only conducted a limited number of interviews; but, as the singer gets ready to relaunch his career with Traces, which is his first solo album since 1994, he is getting ready to do so.

Also Read:  Is the Popular American Singer Neil Diamond Still Alive?

A Glimpse Into Steve Perry’s Life

On the 22nd of January, 1949, Stephen Ray Perry was born. He is a popular American singer and songwriter. As the band’s leader during Journey’s most commercially successful eras, he became a household name in (1977–1987 and 1995–1998).

Steve Perry, while in his early 20s, started a band with 16-year-old Scott Mathews (a future music producer). Ice, the band, recorded a number of tracks but couldn’t find a manager.

Perry took the death of the band’s bassist in a car accident as a sign that he should quit music and return to his childhood home in Lemoore. Perry’s first solo album, named Street Talk, was released in 1984. More than two million copies of the record were sold.

Through the years, Perry has sang on numerous Journey albums, including Evolution, Departure, Dream After Dream, Captured, Escape, Frontiers, Raised on Radio, and Trial by Fire. During this time, “Open Arms” was a top-tier hit single that climbed all the way to number two.

After the dissolution of Journey in 1987, he largely avoided the public eye for the subsequent seven years. Their second studio album together, Trial by Fire, was released in 1996. However, things started to go downhill when he fractured his hip while hiking and had to have surgery.

Perry was given the moniker “The Voice,” made famous by Jon Bon Jovi, due to the widespread accolades his singing has earned from notable performers and music media. Along with his bandmates in Journey, Perry was officially inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on April 7, 2017. The magazine also ranks him as the 76th greatest singer of all time.

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Steve Perry Net Worth

American singer, songwriter, and musician Steve Perry has a net worth of $70 million according to Celebrity Net Worth . The fact that Perry was the lead singer for the band Journey brought him the most of his fame. Outside of Journey, Steve Perry has had great success with his solo career, and his voice is often regarded as being among the most distinctive and distinctively beautiful in the history of music.

The quality of Perry’s voice has, on more than one occasion, drawn compliments. He can play a wide variety of notes, all of which are forceful and delivered with good tone. Steve Perry not only possesses a significant amount of technical singing ability, but he also sings with true emotion.

Sam Cooke was the artist who had the most significant impact on Perry. Not only that, but other artists such as The Beach Boys, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, and Aretha Franklin served as sources of motivation for him. Aside from the singers who influenced him vocally, Perry has a personal preference for music that is similar to the style of Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley.

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Additionally, Steve Perry has an extensive amount of experience as a songwriter. During his time with Journey, he was responsible for writing the majority of the band’s songs. Additionally, he penned the majority of his solo compositions.

Who is He Married to?

The song “Oh Sherrie,” written by Perry in 1984, was inspired by his relationship with Sherrie Swafford, whom he dated in the 1980s. The psychologist and breast cancer survivor Kellie Nash has been dating Perry since 2011. He was there when Nash’s cancer returned in December 2012 and she passed away.

During an interview in September 2018, Perry said, “Things occurred to me as a kid that I still can’t talk about – they had nothing to do with my parents, but they did. As I discovered, it happened to a lot of kids… there was nowhere to talk it out, so I had to sing it out instead.”

Steve reportedly had Shamela when he was 21 years old, following a brief relationship. Even though Steve didn’t find out about Shamela’s mother’s pregnancy until she was thirteen, the move to North Carolina was made. She’s been married twice and the mother of two little lads. Steve prefers to keep his private life under wraps, despite the fact that images of him and his kid have gone viral on the internet.

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• 10 Best Steve Perry Songs of All Time

List of the Top 10 Best Steve Perry Songs of All Time

Steve Perry, with his distinctive voice and emotive delivery, has left an indelible mark on the music world as the former lead singer of Journey and through his solo career. As we explore the top 10 best Steve Perry songs of all time, we delve into a collection of timeless classics that showcase his unparalleled vocal prowess and songwriting genius. From anthemic power ballads to upbeat rock anthems, Steve Perry’s songs resonate with audiences across generations.

Topping the list is the iconic “Don’t Stop Believin’,” a song that has become an anthem of hope and perseverance. Followed closely by “Open Arms,” a heartfelt ballad that showcases Perry’s vocal range and emotional depth. “Faithfully” and “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” also feature prominently, with their powerful lyrics and unforgettable melodies.

Other notable tracks include “Oh Sherrie,” a standout from his solo career, and “Any Way You Want It,” a Journey classic that never fails to energize audiences. With each song, Steve Perry’s passion and talent shine through, solidifying his place as one of the greatest vocalists in rock history. Join us as we celebrate the enduring legacy of Steve Perry through his most beloved songs.

Table of Contents

1. Oh Sherrie

Steve Perry, renowned for his soulful voice and captivating performances, has left an indelible mark on music history. Topping the list of his most beloved songs is “Oh Sherrie,” a timeless anthem that showcases Perry’s vocal prowess and heartfelt delivery. Released in 1984 as a solo venture during his tenure with Journey, this track soared to the top of the charts and into the hearts of millions.

“Oh Sherrie” is celebrated for its infectious melody and poignant lyrics, capturing the essence of love and longing with Perry’s signature emotive style. The song’s memorable chorus and dynamic instrumentation underscore Perry’s ability to blend rock sensibilities with heartfelt balladry, creating a song that remains as powerful today as it was upon its release.

Fans and critics alike continue to praise “Oh Sherrie” for its enduring appeal and Perry’s vocal range, cementing its status as one of the best Steve Perry songs of all time. Its universal themes and Perry’s unmatched vocal delivery ensure that “Oh Sherrie” remains a cherished classic in the pantheon of rock music, a testament to Perry’s unparalleled talent and enduring legacy.

2. Foolish Heart

“Foolish Heart,” another gem in Steve Perry’s illustrious career, resonates deeply as one of his most cherished songs. Released in 1984 as part of his debut solo album “Street Talk,” the track showcases Perry’s ability to infuse raw emotion into his music, captivating listeners with its heartfelt lyrics and soul-stirring melody.

The song explores themes of vulnerability and heartache, portraying Perry’s introspective journey through love’s trials and tribulations. His emotive vocals soar over a backdrop of lush instrumentation, creating a powerful ballad that has stood the test of time.

“Foolish Heart” not only became a commercial success, climbing the charts and solidifying Perry’s solo career, but also became a favorite among fans for its sincerity and depth. Perry’s ability to convey profound emotions through his music shines brightly in this song, making it a quintessential piece of his repertoire.

With its timeless appeal and universal themes, “Foolish Heart” remains a standout in Steve Perry’s catalog, showcasing his exceptional talent as both a singer and a storyteller. Its enduring popularity continues to resonate with audiences, ensuring its place among the top Steve Perry songs of all time.

3. You Better Wait

“You Better Wait” stands as a testament to Steve Perry’s enduring ability to blend rock intensity with heartfelt emotion. Released in 1994 from his second solo album, “For the Love of Strange Medicine,” the song showcases Perry’s distinctive vocal range and emotive power.

The track opens with a powerful guitar riff that sets the tone for Perry’s passionate delivery. Lyrically, “You Better Wait” explores themes of longing and resilience in the face of adversity, resonating deeply with listeners through its relatable lyrics and anthemic chorus.

Perry’s vocal performance in “You Better Wait” is particularly noteworthy, as he effortlessly transitions between tender vulnerability and commanding strength. The song’s dynamic arrangement, featuring soaring guitar solos and a driving rhythm section, further enhances its impact, solidifying its place as a standout track in Perry’s solo career.

Released as a single, “You Better Wait” received critical acclaim and remains a fan favorite, cherished for its powerful lyrics and Perry’s masterful vocal delivery. Its timeless appeal continues to captivate audiences, reaffirming its position as one of the top Steve Perry songs of all time.

4. I Believe

“I Believe” is a poignant ballad that showcases Steve Perry’s ability to connect deeply with listeners through his heartfelt lyrics and soulful vocals. Released in 1996 from his solo album “For the Love of Strange Medicine,” the song stands out as a testament to Perry’s enduring musical legacy.

The track begins gently, with acoustic guitar chords that complement Perry’s introspective lyrics about hope, faith, and the resilience of the human spirit. As the song progresses, Perry’s vocals build in intensity, conveying a powerful sense of conviction and belief in the face of adversity.

“I Believe” resonates with audiences for its universal themes of perseverance and optimism, offering solace and inspiration through Perry’s emotive delivery. The song’s melodic structure and lush instrumentation, including orchestral arrangements that heighten its emotional impact, further enhance its timeless appeal.

Critically acclaimed and beloved by fans, “I Believe” remains a standout in Steve Perry’s discography, showcasing his ability to craft songs that resonate on a profound level. Its message of faith and perseverance continues to resonate with listeners, cementing its place as one of the best Steve Perry songs of all time.

5. No Erasin’

“No Erasin'” marks Steve Perry’s triumphant return to music after a long hiatus, released as the lead single from his highly anticipated album “Traces” in 2018. This song immediately captivated audiences with its infectious energy and Perry’s unmistakable voice, reaffirming his status as a legendary vocalist.

The track blends classic rock elements with contemporary production, creating a sound that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Perry’s vocals are as powerful and emotive as ever, delivering lyrics that reflect on love, memories, and the passage of time.

“No Erasin'” resonates with listeners on multiple levels, from its catchy hooks to its heartfelt lyrics that speak to the complexities of relationships and the enduring nature of love. The song’s anthemic chorus and memorable guitar riffs ensure its place as a standout in Perry’s solo career.

Released to critical acclaim, “No Erasin'” quickly became a favorite among fans old and new, garnering widespread praise for Perry’s vocal performance and the song’s relatable themes. It serves as a powerful reminder of Perry’s musical influence and his ability to connect with audiences through his timeless music.

As one of the top Steve Perry songs of all time, “No Erasin'” continues to shine as a testament to Perry’s enduring talent and the lasting impact of his music on generations of listeners.

6. Against The Wall

“Against the Wall” is a compelling track that showcases Steve Perry’s knack for blending rock intensity with heartfelt emotion. Released in 1994 as part of his solo album “For the Love of Strange Medicine,” this song stands out for its powerful lyrics and Perry’s soulful vocals.

The track opens with a driving rhythm and electric guitar riffs that set a dramatic tone, perfectly complementing Perry’s commanding vocal delivery. Lyrically, “Against the Wall” explores themes of determination and resilience in the face of challenges, resonating with listeners through its raw honesty and impassioned performance.

Perry’s vocal range is on full display in “Against the Wall,” effortlessly shifting between soaring highs and gritty lows, adding depth and emotion to the song’s narrative. The dynamic instrumentation, including powerful drum fills and melodic guitar solos, further enhances its impact, making it a standout in Perry’s solo repertoire.

Released as part of his second solo effort, “Against the Wall” received acclaim for its powerful lyrics and Perry’s masterful vocal performance. It remains a favorite among fans for its anthemic quality and timeless appeal, solidifying its place as one of the top Steve Perry songs of all time.

7. Captured By The Moment

“Captured by the Moment” exemplifies Steve Perry’s ability to blend poignant storytelling with his distinctive vocal prowess. Released in 1984 as part of his debut solo album “Street Talk,” the song quickly became a favorite among fans for its emotive lyrics and infectious melody.

The track opens with a melodic piano arrangement that sets a reflective tone, allowing Perry’s vocals to take center stage. Lyrically, “Captured by the Moment” explores themes of nostalgia and the fleeting nature of time, resonating with listeners through its relatable portrayal of seizing precious moments.

Perry’s vocal performance in “Captured by the Moment” is marked by its sincerity and depth, conveying a sense of longing and introspection. The song’s soaring chorus and uplifting instrumentation, including lush strings and rhythmic guitar, further enhance its emotional impact, creating a memorable listening experience.

Critically acclaimed upon its release, “Captured by the Moment” continues to be celebrated for its timeless appeal and Perry’s masterful delivery. Its ability to evoke powerful emotions and capture the essence of fleeting memories solidifies its place as one of the top Steve Perry songs of all time, showcasing his enduring influence in the world of rock music.

8. Missing You

“Missing You” is a heartfelt ballad that showcases Steve Perry’s ability to convey deep emotion through his music. Released in 1994 as part of his solo album “For the Love of Strange Medicine,” the song stands out for its poignant lyrics and Perry’s soulful vocals.

The track begins with gentle acoustic guitar chords and a melodic piano accompaniment, setting a reflective and introspective mood. Perry’s vocals enter with a raw honesty, exploring themes of longing and nostalgia as he sings about the ache of missing someone deeply.

“Missing You” resonates with listeners for its universal themes of love and loss, capturing the bittersweet essence of yearning for someone who is no longer present. Perry’s vocal performance is particularly poignant, conveying vulnerability and longing with each heartfelt note.

The song’s evocative melody and orchestral arrangements add depth and richness to its emotional landscape, enhancing its impact and making it a standout in Perry’s solo career. “Missing You” received acclaim for its sincere lyrics and Perry’s powerful delivery, solidifying its place as one of the top Steve Perry songs of all time.

As a testament to Perry’s ability to connect with audiences through his music, “Missing You” continues to resonate with listeners, offering solace and understanding in moments of heartache and longing.

9. She’s Mine

“She’s Mine” is a compelling track that showcases Steve Perry’s emotive storytelling and powerful vocal delivery. Released in 1984 as part of his debut solo album “Street Talk,” the song stands out for its upbeat tempo and catchy melody, coupled with Perry’s signature soulful voice.

The track opens with energetic guitar riffs and a driving rhythm section, immediately capturing listeners’ attention. Lyrically, “She’s Mine” portrays a tale of passion and desire, with Perry’s vocals conveying a sense of urgency and fervor as he sings about a captivating love interest.

Perry’s vocal performance in “She’s Mine” is characterized by its intensity and charisma, reflecting his ability to convey emotions with authenticity and flair. The song’s dynamic instrumentation, including vibrant keyboards and rhythmic guitar solos, further enhances its infectious energy and memorable hooks.

Released as a single, “She’s Mine” received positive reviews and became a fan favorite for its infectious groove and Perry’s undeniable vocal prowess. Its lively melody and relatable lyrics about love and attraction ensure its enduring popularity, solidifying its place as one of the top Steve Perry songs of all time.

As a testament to Perry’s musical talent and ability to captivate audiences, “She’s Mine” continues to be celebrated for its catchy hooks, vibrant energy, and Perry’s charismatic performance, making it a standout in his illustrious career.

10. No More Cryin’

“No More Cryin'” is a standout track that showcases Steve Perry’s ability to blend rock sensibilities with heartfelt lyricism. Released in 2018 as part of his album “Traces,” this song marked Perry’s highly anticipated return to music after a long hiatus, delighting fans with its powerful message and soulful delivery.

The track opens with a captivating guitar riff and a driving rhythm, setting the stage for Perry’s emotive vocals. Lyrically, “No More Cryin'” explores themes of resilience and hope, with Perry singing about overcoming personal struggles and finding strength in the face of adversity.

Perry’s vocal performance in “No More Cryin'” is marked by its raw emotion and dynamic range, as he effortlessly transitions between soulful crooning and powerful belting. The song’s anthemic chorus and melodic hooks resonate deeply with listeners, offering a message of empowerment and renewal.

Released to critical acclaim, “No More Cryin'” quickly became a fan favorite for its infectious energy and Perry’s masterful vocal delivery. Its universal themes and uplifting message ensure its place as one of the top Steve Perry songs of all time, reaffirming his status as a legendary vocalist and songwriter.

As a testament to Perry’s enduring musical legacy, “No More Cryin'” continues to inspire audiences with its powerful lyrics and infectious melody, solidifying its position as a standout track in Perry’s illustrious career.

Samuel Moore is a frequent contributor to Singers Room. Since 2005, Singersroom has been the voice of R&B around the world. Connect with us via social media below.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Journey’s Jonathan Cain won’t stop believin’ Donald Trump is innocent

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‘Where are you?’ Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain asks. ‘ London ,’ I reply. ‘That’s a sensible city,’ he responds. ‘Do you think?’ I ask sceptically, thinking about the sky-high rent prices, verging on £8 pints, and the generally miserable June we’re having.

‘But you’ve just got to work on your border a little bit like us,’ he adds.

It turns out Cain, 74, who is the keyboardist and rhythm guitarist for Journey , the band behind uplifting rock anthem Don’t Stop Believin’, is a staunch Trump supporter.

He explained: ‘I thought, “What happened to London, oh my god.” But you know, the culture absorbs it all. I see all the different cultures coming in and absorbing it all.

‘I think London is a big enough city to diffuse it all. But still, it’s noticeable, from the 80s.’

What he means by ‘it’ is unclear – but open to interpretation. ‘Who knows though. Maybe London needed shaking up. It’s still a great town,’ he adds diplomatically, before: ‘Go London!’

I was going to write about his 80s rockstar memories, Journey’s big UK tour this year, and their hit song (which is a banger) Don’t Stop Believin’, which has been named the Biggest Song of All Time by Forbes….

‘It’s been a long time for Europe,’ Cain said, explaining how they exploded in the UK in 1981 but didn’t get over here for concerts much, so their fanbase suffered as a result.

It wasn’t until just after Steve Augeri joined the band as Perry’s replacement in 1998 that Don’t Stop Believin’ suddenly exploded internationally with its inclusion in Broadway musical Rock of Ages, TV series Glee, and then The Sopranos.

Now, over 50 years after they first formed Journey are coming to the UK in October to play at Cardiff, Nottingham, Glasgow, Belfast, Mancester, Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham, Newcastle and London.

Festival-wise, after Journey’s manager retired Cain admits he doesn’t know whether they will be in the running for a Glastonbury appearance in the coming years.

‘I think he had a connection with these promoters over and UK. So we kind of lost that,’ he said, adding that the UK fanbase is great because it grew ‘organically’ online in the 2000s.

So does rockstar Cain really think, like those red hat-wearing Americans, that Donald Trump is – as the tangerine man himself declared – ‘an innocent man’?

Surely not, after Trump became the  first former US president to be a convicted felon …

‘Put it this way, there might have been some misdemeanors. Crimes, as they’re calling it. But yes, I do,’ Cain said.

A deep irony in US law means that as a convicted felon, Trump won’t be able to vote in the upcoming November election – but he will be able to stand. (Whether or not he will do from inside a jail cell, remains to be seen.)

Rather than see this as a disturbing development in the history of the world, his supporters are martyring him. And Cain is one of them.

‘I think it was unfair what happened,’ he said. ‘It was a sad day for the United States but I think he’s a fighter. He has a chance. They can’t stop him legally. He can run for president from jail.’

Cain added: ‘It will make him a legend.’

In 2022, Cain got in hot water with Journey founder Neal Schon when he played Don’t Stop Believin’ for Trump at one of his political functions.

In an open letter, Schon’s lawyer said Cain’s appearances caused ‘irreparable harm to the Journey brand’ for associating it with a political viewpoint.

Journey is not a political band, Cain sustains, while explaining why they never initially broke the UK.

The keyboardist said former lead singer Steve Perry was always worried ‘something would happen’ at a concert if they toured Europe back in the 80s.

‘There was some unrest in Europe, and especially over in Ireland. And I think that was what kept Steve Perry away was all the bombing and, you know, the unrest,’ he said.

‘He was always worried about something happening in one of our shows. I didn’t get that because we’re not political. We just come and play our hits, you know.

‘Don’t Stop Believin’, the one song that made it in the UK, was an escape route. That’s all we needed to do.’

Cain added: ‘But in the end I think we missed an opportunity that we could have showed up. There would have been no trouble, I don’t think at all. But he had to approve it. And he just said it wasn’t safe.’

Discussing Perry’s departure from the group – first in 1987 and again in 1998 – Cain said the band worked the former lead singer too hard over the years, which also to their lack of UK shows.

Arnel Pineda, 56, is the group’s current lead singer, having joined Journey in 2007.

‘I was young enough to deal with it,’ Cain said. ‘But Steve had to sing all this stiff and in the end I think it took its toll and that’s why he’s not with us.

‘You just have to pace things. I don’t think we paced it right with him. His voice is very sensitive, and he needs time off.’

Cain also revealed that when Perry took time off, he wouldn’t hear from him ‘for a year’.

‘It was weird,’ he said, explaining how Perry would come back and say: ‘Time to make another album.’

Comparing Journey to The Beatles, Cain said they worked much like John Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney, when they would disappear then come back together and write a song.

‘When I watched the old Beatles movies, the way it was between those two guys was the same way in our band, you know, we had similar patterns. We had the magic chemistry. That was the coolest thing, it was undeniable.’

Reflecting on their various breaks, he added: ‘It was good to go away because Steve Perry used to say: “How can you miss me if I don’t go away?”‘

Perhaps Trump should take a leaf out of Perry’s book…

Journey’s 50th Anniversary Arena Headline Tour of the UK and Ireland starts on October 30th.

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