Steve Perry - Rockline 1982

Journey's drummer once commented during an interview, "All rock stars are afraid of not seeming bigger than life . . ." If he'd been around in the days when Steve Perry was new to the band, Steve Smith would have noticed how a similar fear manifested itself in his respected colleague.
When Steve Perry was busy making those initial rounds to meet fans and press in 1978-the year Journey's Infinity LP hit the record stores-he was overflowing with the newness of the experience. He'd spent months in the recording studio getting the album ready, but that wasn't nearly enough time to prepare him for what came next - a swirl of concerts, interviews, promotional appearances, screaming fans, autographs, hotel rooms, restaurants, limousines, etc., etc., etc.! It was enough to make the most jaded soul twitch! The rock'n roll business, which Steve had been trying to make a dent in since his adolescence, turned out to be pretty heady stuff in the beginning -and Steve reeled with the excitement of it. It wouldn't have been a shock-if Steve had let his good luck go to his head-it is possible never to grow beyond that first introduction to fame and fortune-but Steve Perry was lucky. He used those early experiences to his advantage and wound up being one of the rock businesses most respected performers.

ropes of the business and began putting things into perspective. The more cities he traveled to, the more people he met, the more business he did, Steve educated himself to the ways of the world and absorbed what was important to him. What he learned after a while was that the important things were not free limousine rides, but keeping both feet on the ground and his head out of the clouds.
To that end, Steve organized his life and his personal interests. He no longer felt obligated to take advantage of everything -he didn't have to attend every party, he didn't have to say yes to everyone who wanted to get to know him better, he didn't have to devote every waking moment to things that weren't really music, but just "fluff." And it changed him. Steve matured in such a noticeable way-in such a positive way-he seemed almost like a new person when RockLine! caught up with him recently. If you need a little evidence of that admirable growth, here are just some of the obvious changes. Compare the answers Steve gave back in '78 to the ones he gave not too long ago to the very same questions!

Question: What's the date of your birth?
    Answer then: January 22, 1953
    Answer now: January 22, 1949.
    Steve no longer felt pressured by the
    "system" to fudge his age. He's 33
    years old and figures fans are together
    enough not to hold that against him,
    since it's his music they're interested in.

Q: Will you marry eventually?
    Answer then: Steve "didn't know."
    Answer now: He thinks about getting
    married in the future because he'd "like
    to have children some day." Steve wants     to be the kind of dad who does diapers
    as well as he plays horsey.

Q: What kind of ladies do you like?
    Then: Steve was into "very beautiful"
    girls, and appearance sometimes
    meant all.
    Now: He said "looks don't mean
    anything." He's interested in sincerity
    and kindness and gentleness and . . .

Q: What was your biggest disappointment?
    Then: He answered that it was having
    his '67 Corvette stolen.
    Now: Steve replies, "Losing my
    grandmother. We were very close."

Q: What do you like best about your work?
    Then: "Travel!"
    Now: Steve loves his home and
    tries to spend as much time there as
    he can. He doesn't see the band
    members socially very often and now
    enjoys the writing and recording
    aspects of the business most of all. As
    for travel, Steve says, "You don't know
    what you have until you go elsewhere."

Q: How do you relax?
    Then: "A Budweiser in one hand and a
    lady on the other."
    Now: Steve loves to sit in the middle of
    his living room and "watch television."

Q: How do you indulge yourself financially?
    Then: "With limousines to go bar
    hopping."
    Now: Today Steve drops a little
    bundle to "go on driving trips to see my
    parents."

Q: What's your most prized possession?
    Then: "My 100 year old brass bed."
    Now: Steve's parents have that bed,
    while he cherishes his old

    Volkswagen-the one that stood by
    him when times were thin.

Q: What are you afraid of?
    Then: "Tall buildings make me dizzy,
    but flying doesn't. I don't really
    understand that."
    Now: "Flying!" Steve gained more than
    a healthy respect for this means of
    transportation after being involved in a
    near miss. He won't go on certain
    planes he feels aren't secure enough.

Q: What's your worst habit?
    Then: "Driving too fast."
    Now: Steve says it's not being able to
    relax. He's always been a bit
    hyperactive, but now he seeks out quiet
    time just for contemplation.

Q: Describe your personality.
    Then: "Easy!"
    Now: "That takes too long. It's too
    complex." No longer giving some of his
    typically flirty answers of '78, Steve has
    discovered new facets of his being.

Q: Do you have a nickname?
    Then: Again he teases, "You'll never
    know!"
    Now: "People used to call me 'Pinch'
    or 'Beaky' because of my nose." A
    simple, direct reply.

Q: What sports do you participate in?
    Then: "Swimming only."
    Now: "None." Steve's a bit more
    secure in letting people know that
    sports are simply not his cup of tea.
    When Journey has one of their charity
    softball games, if Steve's there, he's the
    one who's likely to be giving the "color".

Q: Do you daydream?
    Then: Steve told of dreams of
    big houses and all kinds of fancy cars.
    Now: He dreams of the "ultimate
    song"-writing that one special piece
    of music that all people will be able
    to identify with.

Q: Do you have any regrets?
    Then: "No."

    Now: "For three years I was on Mars.
    It was totally irresponsible." Steve felt
    he had no direction during those years
    and wasted precious time.

Q: Would you date a fan?
    Then: "Yes!"
    Now: "No." Steve has had a steady
    lady for a couple of years now.

Q: What do you like to do on an evening out?
    Then: "Whatever feels good!"
    Now: "Have a quiet dinner, wine,
    laughs, dance a little . . ." The bravado's     gone and Steve is much more secure
    about what he wants and needs.

Q: What's your favorite food?
    Then: "Cheeseburgers, hot dogs,
    beer, steak . . ."
    Now: Steve's become a vegetarian
    after hundreds of hotels, restaurants,
    room service experiences-and a bit
    of food poisoning!

Q: What was your most embarrassing moment?
    Then: "I don't embarrass very often"
    is what Steve said.
    Now: "When I fell onstage in Toledo."
    Today, Steve has a few more worldly     experiences to tuck under his belt

    -including a couple of embarrassing
    ones-and he's not afraid to admit it.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
    Then: "More rock 'n roll!"
    Now: "Less touring, but still singing,
    maybe producing eventually, and I'd like
    to get into some causes" is what Steve
    thinks about for the long distance future.     No longer is he limited to short term
    thinking.

Q: Is there anything you want to add to this interview?
    Then: "I don't wear PJs when I sleep!"
    Now: "I do now."

We'll have to take his word on that one, but you can clearly see for yourself that Steve Perry has grown up a lot. He's got his priorities set and he's no longer impressed with superficial things-or people. Contrary to the rumors that insist rockers are heathens who drink, drug, and play themselves into oblivion, rockers can often be quite conservative, all things considered. Steve Perry may have started out with Journey as one of rock's mischievous little funsters, but he's grown into one of its most truly gentle men.