Steve Perry Fans - Tiger Beat August 83

AsTB's associate editor Anne Raso and I pull up to the gates of the Brendan Byrne Arena in the TIGER BEAT-mobile (it has a tiger in the tank, yuk-yuk!), we can feel the electricity in the air.
:   "Press," we shout to the guard, who smiles amiably and waves us through.
:   Then we see the crowds. Thousands of rock fans are waiting patiently in the windy parking lot, herded behind police barriers by huge bouncers like so many sheep, filing in one by one through the cyclone fences as they get patted down in search of illegal cans, bottles, cameras and tape recorders.
:   (Apparently, at least one security guard isn't too thorough, because on the second night of Journey's three-night New Jersey stand, at a climatic moment in one of Neal Schon's sizzling guitar solos, a bottle comes flying out of the crowd and hits Neal in the head! He begins to bleed profusely, and the show is stopped for 10 minutes while he gets stitched up. Don't ever throw anything at a concert - you might hurt somebody!)

:   It's an unseasonably cool night for May, and many of the Journey fans are shivering. Fortunately, there's plenty to keep them warm - at least, if t-shirts are your idea of layering. Eager buyers flock around shirt salesmen both official and unofficial, who have tour shirts, album shirts, shirts with the date of the show, caps and the odd button or two to offer.
:   And the public is snapping up the merchandise as if they were at a fire sales at the local department store. Some true fans even change into their newly-acquired garments right there outside the area, to keep their favorite band as close to them as possible. Others, like us, just walk on in, hoping to find their seats before the music goes on.
:   Like most areas, Brendan Byrne (also known as the Meadowlands, after the sports complex where it is located) is cavernous and confusing. It can take quite some time to get to your seat, especially if you enter from the opposite side, as we do. At every entrance to the seating areas, someone officious with a flashlight gestures to another entrance.
:   By the time we sit down, we've missed seeing most of Bryan Adams' excellent opening set, although we manage to hear a lot of it. Bryan is very attractive and very talented, and you're sure to be hearing a lot more about him.
:   As soon as the house lights come up after the opening set, and the taped music goes on, we can feel the building anticipation in the crowd. It's almost time for Journey! Many of these fans have driven for hours to see the

great shows because they really care about their fans. They feel that anyone who spends time and money to see them deserves the best, and that's just what their audience gets.
: Suddenly, the taped music fades out. The house lights begin to dim. The giant video screens suspended above the stage start to pulsate with color. And, almost without warning, Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Ross Valory and Steve Smith hit the stage! Journey is ON!
: Almost as one, the crowd rises to its feet and begins to scream. Many of those seated on portable chairs on the area "floor," where the New Jersey Nets usually shoot hoops, stand on the chairs for a better view, although every move the band makes is clearly visible on the huge video screens, magnified 100 times. Fans shout and shake, and wave their arms, as ushers shine flashlights in their eyes and sourly tell them to get down.

:   Meanwhile, Journey is playing with passion. Jon's fluid keyboards team with Neal's wailing guitar against the rock-solid background of Ross's bass and Steve's drums to make the perfect background for Steve's soaring, evocative vocals. The audience is going wild.
:   Then Steve Perry, clad in tight blue jeans, a black t-shirt with a pink and blue wave design and a short red military jacket, talks to the crowd. "How you doin' tonight, New Jersey?" he asks. The crowd roars back at him.
:   "Let's turn up the house lights so we can get a look at these people," he says to the light man. Instantly, the entire dome is bathed in dazzling white light. Steve looks around the audience, striding from side to side on the enormous stage. "You're a really good-looking crowd, do you know that?" he says, as the crowd yells back its approval. Then he sees something in the front row that really strikes his fancy.

:   "Can you get the camera on this?" he asks the video crew as he holds up a rectangular object. They can, and the object is a stunning display of true fan-dom: a New York license plate, it clearly spells out: ILVJRNY. The crowd gasps, and JRNY launches back into its set.
:   It's an action-packed evening of rock 'n roll, with lengthy solos by each musician; a stirring rendition of "No More Lies" by Neal from his Schon & Hammer album, and a tenderly beautiful version of "Faithfully," featuring a specially made video that shows shots of the band on their tour bus, in their hotel rooms, on stage, and all the while obviously missing the ones they love.
:   Everyone in the band runs around the stage (except, of course, for Steve Smith, marooned behind his drum kit), their movement unhampered by electrical cords - Journey, like the Rolling Stones, don't use any, because they cramp their style and clutter up the stage. (Also, wireless

mikes and guitars are, needless to say, the latest thing in technology, and Journey are big technology buffs - it's rumored that their equipment is worth over one millions dollars.) Steve and Neal even take turns facing the back of the area, where fans usually just see fannies. It's just another way that Journey shows how considerate of their audience they are.
: All too soon, the show is over - or so it seems. But the crowd yells for more, stamps, whistles, and light matches, and soon the video screen shows the band running through the labyrinth of tunnels and up to the stage. The audience goes berserk, the band plays more, leaves the stage again, and is called back for yet another encore. By the time they leave the stage, they are obviously drained, and then the imaginatively-done video credits begin to roll. There are so many people to thank, including

Journey's entire road crew and the staff of their management company, Nightmare (they called it that because that's how they perceived the music business when they were starting out - but now, of course, they see that they were wrong!).
:   As the last name fades from the screen, Anne and I are trying to find our way back through the arena's maze of tunnels to the "hospitality" room, brandishing our backstage passes like magic charms. And indeed they are, because we find it with very little trouble.
:   All of our friends from Columbia Records are there, as is a lavish spread of cheese, fruit, pastries and flowing champagne. And there, too, are Neal, Ross, Jonathan and Steve Smith.
:   "Where's Steve Perry?" we want to know. "We had so looked forward to meeting him!"
:   "Steve exerted himself so much on stage tonight," a Columbia representative tells us, "that he just can't see anybody!" But the other members of Journey are open and friendly, and more than make up for their lead singer's absence.
:   "You were great tonight!" I tell Neal Schon, who smiles hugely.
:   "Well, I didn't think we were that good," he answers. "I'm not all that happy with the way we played -" And then he burbles, "but I'm planning on having a heckuva good time anyway!"
:   It's obvious that Neal is the kind of guy who truly enjoys the company of others, because he circulates like some curly-haired social butterfly. But I'm not alone for long, because soon Jonathan Cain wanders over.
:   "I'm just so glad we played tonight," he says sincerely. "And I'm so glad you could come. You write for fans, and fans are great! They're what makes it all worthwhile."
:   Jon's enthusiasm is contagious, and soon we're chatting away like old friends. As the newest member of Journey, he's still a bit bemused by the idea of being in one of the most popular bands in the world, a band that fills areas throughout the country night after night. "But I love it!" he says, grinning ear to ear. And I can tell that he means it with all his heart.
:   Meanwhile, Anne is playing wallflower. She's over by the wall, yakking with Neal. "So, do you have road fever yet?" she inquires.
:   "Not quite," he replies. "But it sure does get hot out there! Seriously, though, I love playing - and as long as the road can handle me, I can handle it!" And then he's off again, a gleeful expression on his face, like a mischievous child.
:   Steve Smith, the "quiet man" of the band, is standing in a corner, deep in conversation with a friend. "You were awesome out there," I tell him, and he breaks into a warm, shy smile - I can even detect a slight blush! Because Steve isn't quite as extroverted as the other band members, he probably just isn't as used to getting compliments, I decided. It's too bad - his drumming is truly ferocious.
:   We wander around, talking to everybody, having a great time, sampling the food ("the German chocolate cake is the best I've ever had," swears Anne), but all too soon it's time for us to go.
:   We bid our fond farewells to everyone, promising to stay in touch - and yes, TIGER BEAT readers, a very special interview is in the works - and walk out in to the clear New Jersey night.
:   Up above, the stars are twinkling, and I make a wish on the first one I see: "I wish, I may, I wish, I might, that every night could be like tonight!"