Steve Perry: BAM Clippings

STEVE PERRY
Journey's lead singer Steve Perry no longer needs to worry about whether or not he can make it as a solo artist. Street Talk, his first solo LP, went platinum and yielded the smash hit, "Oh Sherrie." The success sparked rumors that Perry was parting ways with his Journey mates, but in the twilight days of '84, no such division had occurred. Look for a new Journey album and major tour in 1985. Photo: Debbie Leavitt

© BAM January 1, 1985

Journey's follow-up LP to their smash album Infinity will be out soon. Entitled Evolution, it was recorded in eight weeks with Roy Thomas Baker handling production chores. The band takes of for a European tour in early March, and then kicks off a 100 date U.S. tour in May,

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How dare you say (in the Jefferson Starship article) that Aynsley Dunbar was "not wimpy enough to stay in Journey." Journey is the greatest rock band ever to have evolved. It doesn't have a lot of big-egoed people in it and that's why Aynsley's out.
You must have been high when you wrote that article. If not, you have a twisted mind, you liar, you!

    What is happening to American rock and roll? Have we no pride in our music? Lots of bands are changing members and changing sounds - usually not for the worse. Both Santana and the Doobie Brothers went to a more soulful, "funky" style that does reasonably well on both AM and FM charts, yet they continue to put out quality music, not bubblegum. But Journey ... well, that's a very different story.
    The original Journey (Schon, Valory, Rolie, Dunbar and Tickner) was the best progressive hard rock band to come about in years. They combined the hottest form of heavy metal guitar with a jazzy drum beat, spacey keyboards, and a pulsating bass, all accompanied by the soulful vocals of Gregg Rolie, who is one of the best vocalists in rock today.
    But with the addition of Steve Perry (who sounds like a screeching cat - or should I just say he's a pussy!) and the release of Infinity, presto change-o... Journey's gone bubblegum!
    The Hawk is the only one with any pride and self-respect. He got out before it got too bad. But if I were in his place, I would have gone with The Who insteaad of Jefferson Starship. Who knows? Maybe the Starship is paying him better.

Thank you so much for writing an article on Journey (BAM #151). It was a pleasure and thrill to see my favorite group on the cover of BAM, where they should be. I would also like to express my full support of these talented guys, who have put up with criticism from critics who usually have nothing to say. Journey is one of the hottest bands around. Who else has #1 albums, singles and, to top things, a video game? None other than Journey. "Don't stop believing" in these talented guys.
So all you critics out there who think Journey is a faceless band, shove your criticism or save it for someone else!

Though they didn't actually release an album in 1982, Journey was among the most popular acts in the country once again, riding on the success of their multi-platinum LP, Escape. The quintet is currently readying their next album, and preparing to introduce a Journey video game. Photo: Dennis Callahan © 1982

Aynsley Dunbar's name caught my attention before his drumming did - I suppose it was the way Frank Zappa pronounced it in his classic epic entitled "Billy The Mountain." Once I got into Journey's first album I was convinced that "the Hawk" was one of the hottest drummers around. Then I started noticing his name appearing on various albums and decided that anybody who wanted him on their album had class.
Well, now that Journey has made its move toward commercial rock, I feel very ripped off. I used to follow them everywhere and see them as often as I could. I was part of a group of people who dug Journey when everybody else was asking "who?" Now I hear my little sister listening to them on KRFC.