Steve Perry Fans - July 2006 Gazette

NEWS and INFORMATION

One of our members, Marsha, reports that a recent survey of Kansas radio listeners had Journey's Faithfully as the #1 pick on the listeners' playlist! Very cool, and thanks Marsha!

From Billboard: "June 22, 2006, 3:40 PM ET - Five Journey albums have been remastered and expanded with memorabilia-rich album booklets for an Aug. 1 release via Columbia/Legacy. A handful of the titles have new bonus tracks, including 1988's Greatest Hits, which will feature the 1996 single When You Love a Woman. 1978's Infinity, which marked the vocal debut of Steve Perry, and 1979's Evolution retain their original track lists, while 1980's Departure will include the bonus tracks Little Girl and Natural Thing. The mega-selling 1981 album Escape will include live versions of Don't Stop Believin', Who's Crying Now and Open Arms from the recent archival CD/DVD Live in Houston, plus the studio track La Raza Del Sol."

A signed (by Steve Perry) copy of the Houston DVD went to the high bidder of $380.00 on eBay! Congratulations! A portion of the proceeds from this classicrockrevisited.com auction will benefit The Rhythm & Blues Foundation, Inc. an organization providing emergency assistance to and dedicated to the preservation of history for and recognition to rhythm & blues artists from the 40�s, 50�s, 60�s & 70�s.

On 6/20/06 Sony released Journey - Live In Houston 1981 in UMD format. UMD stands for "Universal Media Disc" and is specifically designed to play on Sony's PlayStation Portable players. For fans on the go!

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

This month we are spotlighting: Amy!

Name: Amy Hope Buckmaster
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Occupation: I don't really have an occupation just yet, I'm still searching. However, right now I work for a bowling alley. I do have 2 Associates Degrees; Small Business Management and Travel and Tourism.
Family: I have an identical twin sister; Anne. I have one older sister; Susan. Mom; Lee and Dad; Jerry. I have no children biologically but I do have 11 cats and 2 birds who are my children.
Hobbies: The first and obvious one is Steve Perry. I've been collecting material of all sorts for scrapbooks and photo albums since roughly 1979/1980. Other hobbies include animal rescue and care. I call it a hobby because I do it for the sheer enjoyment of helping a needy soul. Rescued animals include many cats, a couple birds, a few dogs, 2 horses, rabbits, turtles, and even a couple ducks. I like to entertain my brain with horoscopes and tarot cards. I enjoy putting puzzles together and doing word searches too.
When did you buy your first computer? I'm not exactly sure when I got my first computer (which is the same one I still use) but I believe it was 2001.
Where is your current computer located? My computer is in my living room.

Been a fan how long? I have been a fan of Steve Perry since the very second I heard his voice coming from my old AM/FM radio in 1978. I can't remember the exact date but am pretty sure it was springtime.
First time I heard Steve sing I felt: I felt several things all at the same time. Mostly I felt alive. This I do remember this like it was just a few minutes ago. First, I had a rough childhood and was pretty much a loner. I was slowly going blind and wore thick, dark framed glasses. I was teased relentlessly. I always felt so alone and depressed. Music quickly became my escape from reality. Anyone remember when radio stations would play an entire album? I was listening to a local station here in Cincinnati and the feature album was Infinity. I didn't know that at that time though. I missed the introduction to the album by a couple songs. Once I heard the lead vocalist on Patiently I was mesmerized. I literally felt every hair on my body stand on end. I got a chill that swept over me and It was if someone had lit a fire inside of my soul. That wonderful voice went through my ears into my body and soul and started my passion for music and my quest to find out who that voice belonged to. It literally was if I knew that voice from the second I heard it. To this day I will react with a chill and my hair stands on end when I hear it
Favorite CD: This is a tough one. I love all the Journey albums with Steve and his solo efforts all very much. Although, I think I'd have to say the Greatest Hits + 5.
Have you seen Steve in concert? Yes, and no. I've attended 2 Journey concerts (with Steve Perry) and 1 show for his solo tour. I literally only heard the first Journey show April 13, 1983. By that time, I was legally blind. I didn't see much of anything. Anyway, that show was a birthday gift. My birthday is March 28 and the only things I wanted for my birthday were tickets to the show. Reluctantly, my Dad bought tickets for everyone but Mom and we went. We were in the very back of the coliseum almost to the last row. Side note here...over Christmas break from school that year I had my first (of many) eye surgery. That in mind, the second show I did see. It was the Raised on Radio tour. The other was 1994 for his For The Love of Strange Medicine tour. Seeing and feeling the excitement of the live show and the energy that was put forth to entertain the audience by the guys was so electrifying. By the way, back in 1983 when I got the concert tickets for my birthday was the start of a yearly tradition of mine ... Steve Perry has been on my birthday wish list every year since! I've never gotten the real thing (not that I could own him or anything) but I have managed to get photos, CDs or something directly related to Steve or his work every year.

If you could put one song in a time capsule for future generations what would it be and why?
After much thought I'd have to say Be Good To Yourself. The reason I chose this one is it is so true. No one else can ever be good to you 100% of the time except for yourself. You and only you know your limitations, ambitions, dreams, desires, needs and wants. Sure you can tell others various things but only you can actually experience fully with your senses the things that come your way. That said, that is basically what I feel the song is all about; knowing yourself and the struggles one faces to maintain who you really are in the midst of fame and fortune. I have learned the hard way that being good to yourself is necessary. These days everyone is looking for success in whatever way it is best for you. Usually it is in the form of working for a paycheck. Family suffers (husbands/wives, children, pets, etc.) and you begin to lose yourself. You need to take the time to treat yourself well whether it be taking a day off or a vacation. In the long run you will be the one who really suffers or celebrates from your decisions. True, your decisions will affect others but you have to take care of you. Money can always be earned in one form or another but what's truly important (those things that money really can't buy) can't always be replaced or even repaired once the damage is done. Take a break once in a while to be good to yourself.

Personal Comments: Thank you for allowing me to share a little of myself with you here. Of course, many thanks to Steve Perry for sharing pieces of himself through his writing and singing through the years. Hopefully, much more is to come.

Thank You Amy!

If you would like to take part in our Member Spotlight just e-mail us and we'll send you the questionnaire