Steve Perry Talks About Street Talk

About six years ago, Journey was a concert band with a year's long reputation and a solid rock following. They received steady support from album-oriented radio stations, but they were a faceless band as far as the broader music audience was concerned. Journey had no focus and no consistent track record in terms of the Top Ten and the general public.
When Gregg Rolie started talking retirement, the band latched onto Robert Fleischman, a vocalist they hoped would center the band somehow. Because of personality differences, however, the relationship was short-lived and that opened the door for one Steve Perry, an L.A. area singer just waiting for his one big break.
Infinity was the first album recorded with Steve singing lead vocals and it was no coincidence that it was Journey's first really big, commercially successful, super-charted album. Steve Perry's vocals just about tore your heart out with their bittersweet qualities; and talk about unique, his voice and songwriting couldn't be matched. There was no doubt about it - the mix of Steve Perry and Journey was magical.

All these years later, Journey is still one of the hottest tour groups around - probably the hottest. They break records in ticket sales, merchandising and record sales with regularity and now the faces of the band members are as identifiable as Santa Claus himself. Having managed their money wisely, Journey is also a financially successful band and now has the time and resources to go off on an occasional tangent to blow off a little creative steam. Of course, that's presented some problems; rumors of the band's demise have remained rampant, fueled by the

group members' activities.
In recent years, Neal Schon has done a couple of solo projects with keyboardist Jan Hammer and has most recently worked with Sammy Hagar. Steve Smith has two jazz LPs with Vital Information to his credit and Jonathan Cain has written, arranged, produced and sung on wife Tane Cain's debut LP. Bassist Ross Valory hasn't yet shown signs of wanting to do anything but take Journey home videos, and Steve Perry . . . well it's his solo project, Street Talk that's caused the most concern.
When word of Steve's desire to do a solo LP reached some of his Journey fans, the first thing they though was "This is the end of Journey." That's not necessarily the case Steve's said again and again, even though his album is a huge success; but fans continue to worry about Journey in much the same way they worry about the Police, for example, or Fleetwood Mac or Styx (lead singer Dennis DeYoung has put out a solo LP too). Steve's not saying one way or another right now - especially since he and Journey are working on a new album as we speak! - but he is talking about Street Talk. So if the truth to those Journey rumors is what you're after, read on and get the answers straight from Steve in this exclusive Rockline! Interview.

How would you describe Street Talk, Steve?
It's full of concrete; it's sidewalk oriented music.

Coming from Hanford, California, we never really think of you as a street kid.
You bet your booty I was a street kid. It was no day at the beach in Hanford!

Why did you decide to do a solo LP?
With a group you get mixed in with the pie - it's real hard to separate your input. Now there's nothing but one element. I've blown it larger - it's much more me.

How would you describe the music on Street Talk?
I like quiet motion, but I experimented lots on this. It's different.

Who are some of the people on the album?
Oh, the band consisted of people like Larry Londin and Craig Kampf on drums, Bob Glaub and Kevin McCormick on bass, Michael Landon and Waddy Wachtel on guitar - it changed for every song.

Who sang background vocals?
I did - lead and background vocals.

And who produced the album?
The record company gave me total freedom - I produced it too. Listen, I wasn't going to sit around and have someone tell me what to do. It can work with one guy and a producer of course, but I decided to make my own shoes and wear them.

What if the album isn't accepted?
Hey - I am what I am! I would do anything to help this project. If no-one likes it, I did the best I could. Beauty's in the eye of the beholder. I'm ecstatic!

Why did you decide to do the album now?
I've been holding back all this. I wanted to do it and the time was now. Other members of Journey have done several solo albums. It was about time!

Does it sound like a Journey album to you?
The vocals are lower, gutsier, more soulful. I'd say it's 98% different, but there are some Journey flavours.

What about the single, "Oh Sherrie"? Does it reflect what's happened in real life between you and your friend Sherrie?
Well . . . it's about two people not getting along - but how good it is! It's about love holding on. That's about all I want to say on that topic.

Did you write that number?
I co-wrote it. As a matter of fact, I co-wrote everything on the album.

Are there any Journey members on the LP?
No, I really had to have that space.

What if Street Talk is a soaring success? Will you leave Journey?
Oh, I don't know. I haven't really thought in those terms.

Well then, how is this different from doing a Journey offering?
For Journey I usually sit down with Jon or Neal to write and they, of course, have different musical aspirations. Obviously we have to compromise.

Are you spoiled now?
Creatively I'm spoiled rotten to tears.

Will it be harder to do a Journey project now?
No! All good projects are not easy. Five good heads have to compromise. It's a double-edged sword, but there's lots of good tension. I'm looking forward to it.