Steve Perry: A Day In The Office

When the latest Journey LP is completely written, rehearsed, recorded, mixed, mastered, pressed and released - as it will be soon! - Steve and his band of merry musicians will be off on another concert tour to visit you. But if you think his "day at the office" is filled with relaxation followed by a brief evening performance - guess again! If the days aren't filled with traveling between cities, they're packed with promotional events coordinated by Steve's record company and Journey promotion man/publicist Sandy Einstein. On the road, Steve always checks in with Sandy to see what the day's itinerary will be like.

Arriving in a new city, Steve first checks into a local hotel, then ducks out again really quickly to begin his rounds. Presenting gold and platinum albums to deejays and program directors is an important part of Steve's job because it's Journey's way of saying thanks to the folks who've helped them get those hit albums! Here Steve gives M105 Music Director Marty Sobol his platinum award.

Fans. They're the most important part of any tour. Concerts, interviews, in-store appearances are all designed to keep Steve and the guys in close touch with you!
Here Steve signs one of thousands of autographs for a delighted friend of Journey's.

Since there are only 24 hours in each day, it becomes physically impossible for Steve to meet each and every person who wants to see or talk to him in a single trip through a city. Deejays like Denny Sanders give away albums to Journey lovers who can't get to Steve - he autographs them for Denny's fans in advance! - and photographers like Cleveland's Janet Macoska take pictures of Steve and Journey that are eventually used in newspaper and magazine articles. They help bring Steve closer to you too!

Interviews, interviews! Steve's always hopping in and out of limousines, grabbing fast meals and going to one interview after another, because that's how he's able to get his point across. Not only does he talk about Journey's latest LP, but he answers some behind-the-scenes-type questions and a couple of personal Qs too! The most exciting part for Steve, as in this on-air interview with WMMS' Kid Leo, is talking live with you! That's road manager Pat Morrow standing behind Steve at that Cleveland interview. Pat coordinates all the activities that go on during a tour - travel, hotels, some interviews, meals, etc.! - and he's one of Steve's constant companions.

When Steve has done his last interview and visited the final shopping mall or record store on his list of places to be, the band does a later afternoon sound check at the arena they'll be performing in - to make sure the sound quality is just so! - then gets what is usually their only rest of the day. After only an hour or two alone, Steve does what Steve loves to do more than anything else in the world. He and Journey go out on stage and sing their hearts out to the one who loves them best! - Y-O-U! That's the highlight of Steve's "office" day - and that's awfully cute company personnel, wouldn't you say?!!

Oops! Time out for a quickie conference! As Steve and Jonathan Cain share the keyboards, they sing the songs they've written together so carefully, but they're always prepared to improvise and go with the flow of a particular concert. That's what gives the band their spontaneity - and it's as important a tool of Steve's trade as his unique and mellifluous voice.

Journey. All members of this talented band are asked to do interviews, sign autographs and make presentations just the way Steve is, but Steve's being the band's lead vocalist keeps him in demand just a bit more often. But when he's on that stage with Steve Smith, Ross Valory, Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain (left to right), he's just one part of a working "family" of friends whose ultimate product is great rock 'n' roll. Can you guess what happens after Steve and the band take a bow like this? Why, it's off to the occasional party - to meet local Journey friends and fans! - then back on the road to the next city on the list to start the process all over again!