Steve Perry 2009-10
As touched on in 'One in a Million', in the last decade Steve Perry has made only token musical gestures such as guest backing vocals, a little production work and some song writing collaborations, but in March 2008 it was confirmed he had been working on demos and considering what to do with them (if anything).
Such consideration been given to the prospect of new solo material could be traced back to late 2007, but by 2009 it was still all quiet on the musical front as regards Mr Perry, although there were some interesting leaks on future new material such as session drummer Russ Miller commenting in January that he was "...working on Steve Perry's album" and Perry himself confirming during an interview with QCBC Radio Canada in July that he was working on new material.
Away from official sources however, the 2009 rumours (and in at least one case a clear fabrication), outdid the 2009 facts due to the very nature of their content...
In April a fan posted a thread on melodicrock.com in connection with vocal teacher/ trainer Jeanie LoVetri who allegedly had not only seen a video of Perry's vocal folds, but claimed that Perry had given permission to his doctors to speak about his voice (the inference as I understand it being that Perry had recently had work done, possibly even surgery, and was at least 'back in training').
The thread was soon deleted/ retracted I'm pleased to say, as even allowing for any truth that may have been contained within, it was a truly bizarre episode that didn't sit comfortably with the doctor-patient confidentiality that would exist.
But that wasn't the most bizarre Perry-out-of-retirement story of '09...
In May Greg Azus, owner of the Pipeline Café in Hawaii issued a press release announcing that Steve Perry was going to be playing a club date there in June, and that tickets would be on sale shortly.
I would imagine the fan sites went mental, with thousands of bank balances being checked to see how they could afford the trip to Hawaii, let alone actually get a ticket.
Rather than packing a bag I immediately thought 'hoax', and went back to the day job.
What was also missed in amongst all the panic and gullibility was the fact that any such announcement would come from Perry himself or a trusted agency such as Fan Asylum. And funnily enough it did just a few days later, when Perry went on record at Fan Asylum with a post to officially denounce the hoax.
Didn't want to say 'told you so' but, you know...
It was a bit of a story at the time, but let's be honest - any story on Steve Perry is hardly going to be as newsworthy or have the audience numbers of say Michael Jackson (in life or now in death), nor will any new material be as anticipated or as extraordinarily successful as The Eagles 'studio comeback' album Long Road Out Of Eden that went 7x Platinum Stateside following its 2007 release, and sold another 2 million plus worldwide.
But Perry does have a passionate fan base - the trouble being a lot of that fan base hang on the words of every unconfirmed story, believe every rumour, or download every unofficial picture they can, seemingly oblivious to the fact that those very actions are the sort of thing that separates the genuine fan from the obsessed fanatic, and are clearly actions that Perry (or any other artist that doesn't court celebrity) can't condone.
Time for a little perspective...
I have had many conversations with friends, music fans, and musicians where I always make the point about never elevating any artists to 'Hero status' as that way lies madness - they are just flesh and blood like you and me, albeit they can bring a wonderful gift to a person's life and their music can enrich it immeasurably.
Separating the love of the music from the individual's who created it is the trick (a far wiser man than me once told me he felt this was clearly my strongest trait), but many can't, and that's the problem for those who put others on pedestals and who therefore Hear, Speak, or See no evil.
They want to, and have to, know everything about their heroes beyond the Big Top World and the records/ CD's.
I've met a few of those 'fans' and while some laughingly and happily admit to it, others refuse to see it in themselves, living in denial.
The bottom line however is these artists share, or shared, their musical or artistic life with millions, but the rest of their life should be theirs and theirs alone - unless they choose to share further.
And, in February 2010, Perry himself mentioned that he may well yet share further musical output with the world - confirmed during interviews with a select number of U.K. radio stations.
The interviews, set up and scheduled by Sony, were primarily to promote and discuss the resurgence of 'Don't Stop Believing' (then riding high in the U.K. charts), and Sony's decision to re-release Journey's 'Greatest Hits' in the U.K. on the back of that success.
The interview with Planet Rock's Nicky Horne caught the most attention, what with the station's rock sensibilities and audience numbers, but as regards the interview itself it was, for the most part, another case of same 'song', different interview.
I have to admit though I did have another 'told you so' moment when he confirmed his writing/ demo progress and how far he had gone with the recordings over the last couple of years, thus obliterating the credibility of The False Musical Prophets of the Great God Internet, who all claimed a February 2010 release date (or at least the 'first quarter' of the year) for new material. They all know who they are.
Interesting to note though that on another interview (with Scottish DJ Gary Marshall) he did confirm he was looking to pursue that recording process more seriously quite soon. He also mentioned how it would be the "thrill of my life" to come over to Scotland to perform - "perhaps in the future that's gonna happen."
Intriguing, but not holding my breath, and clearly he has forgotten he performed here before with Journey (albeit only once in 1979 as documented in my 'Journey - Recollections' article).
Curiously enough, around the same time those interviews were airing Steve Perry set up a page on the social networking site 'Facebook'.
Well, that's how it was presented (and not as the more common 'fan pages' for artists, of which there are a couple for Perry), and many fans immediately flocked to the cause to say hello, thank Mr Perry for 'friending' them, and to share their thoughts.
Unfortunately for them however, it's simply some individual/s getting their jollies at the expense of the many naive or gullible Facebookers out there.
But if it's fake, then it would be pulled quicker than you could say 'Malicous Mischief', surely? Well, no.
Facebook is just one of many networking sites where it's a case of 'buyer beware' and, on the other side of the coin, it's free publicity.
However, if the perpetrators actually post as Steve Perry, then they run the risk of misrepresentation, and legal action.
Mind you, a Steve Perry FB page would be the perfect place for him to present an 'exclusive to the U.K.' announcement for the forthcoming 'Steve Perry's Revelation' Triple CD pack that will include a Sam Cooke covers album and a 're-recorded classics' album, which would have then led to the confirmation that his 2010 Comeback World Tour would kick off in the U.K. with the first date in Glasgow, some thirty one years after his last (and only) musical appearance within my own borders (and thus honouring his 'Scottish' interview comment).
You'll probably now find the above on the sites that expected a new album in February 2010...
In summary, Steve Perry may yet choose to share more of his music, but that's
TBC - which usually, of course, stands for 'To Be Confirmed'.
In the case of Perry however, and the stories that continue to follow him (most not of his own making), it's probably more accurate to define it as 'To Be Continued'...
Ross Muir
March 2010 (updated May 2010)
(A review of Steve Perry's career in front of a microphone, from the Alien Project demos of 1977 to confirmation that the singer has recently been writing and recording demos, can be found in Ross Muir's eBook 'paper', One in a Million)
As touched on in 'One in a Million', in the last decade Steve Perry has made only token musical gestures such as guest backing vocals, a little production work and some song writing collaborations, but in March 2008 it was confirmed he had been working on demos and considering what to do with them (if anything).
Such consideration been given to the prospect of new solo material could be traced back to late 2007, but by 2009 it was still all quiet on the musical front as regards Mr Perry, although there were some interesting leaks on future new material such as session drummer Russ Miller commenting in January that he was "...working on Steve Perry's album" and Perry himself confirming during an interview with QCBC Radio Canada in July that he was working on new material.
Away from official sources however, the 2009 rumours (and in at least one case a clear fabrication), outdid the 2009 facts due to the very nature of their content...
In April a fan posted a thread on melodicrock.com in connection with vocal teacher/ trainer Jeanie LoVetri who allegedly had not only seen a video of Perry's vocal folds, but claimed that Perry had given permission to his doctors to speak about his voice (the inference as I understand it being that Perry had recently had work done, possibly even surgery, and was at least 'back in training').
The thread was soon deleted/ retracted I'm pleased to say, as even allowing for any truth that may have been contained within, it was a truly bizarre episode that didn't sit comfortably with the doctor-patient confidentiality that would exist.
But that wasn't the most bizarre Perry-out-of-retirement story of '09...
In May Greg Azus, owner of the Pipeline Café in Hawaii issued a press release announcing that Steve Perry was going to be playing a club date there in June, and that tickets would be on sale shortly.
I would imagine the fan sites went mental, with thousands of bank balances being checked to see how they could afford the trip to Hawaii, let alone actually get a ticket.
Rather than packing a bag I immediately thought 'hoax', and went back to the day job.
What was also missed in amongst all the panic and gullibility was the fact that any such announcement would come from Perry himself or a trusted agency such as Fan Asylum. And funnily enough it did just a few days later, when Perry went on record at Fan Asylum with a post to officially denounce the hoax.
Didn't want to say 'told you so' but, you know...
It was a bit of a story at the time, but let's be honest - any story on Steve Perry is hardly going to be as newsworthy or have the audience numbers of say Michael Jackson (in life or now in death), nor will any new material be as anticipated or as extraordinarily successful as The Eagles 'studio comeback' album Long Road Out Of Eden that went 7x Platinum Stateside following its 2007 release, and sold another 2 million plus worldwide.
But Perry does have a passionate fan base - the trouble being a lot of that fan base hang on the words of every unconfirmed story, believe every rumour, or download every unofficial picture they can, seemingly oblivious to the fact that those very actions are the sort of thing that separates the genuine fan from the obsessed fanatic, and are clearly actions that Perry (or any other artist that doesn't court celebrity) can't condone.
Time for a little perspective...
I have had many conversations with friends, music fans, and musicians where I always make the point about never elevating any artists to 'Hero status' as that way lies madness - they are just flesh and blood like you and me, albeit they can bring a wonderful gift to a person's life and their music can enrich it immeasurably.
Separating the love of the music from the individual's who created it is the trick (a far wiser man than me once told me he felt this was clearly my strongest trait), but many can't, and that's the problem for those who put others on pedestals and who therefore Hear, Speak, or See no evil.
They want to, and have to, know everything about their heroes beyond the Big Top World and the records/ CD's.
I've met a few of those 'fans' and while some laughingly and happily admit to it, others refuse to see it in themselves, living in denial.
The bottom line however is these artists share, or shared, their musical or artistic life with millions, but the rest of their life should be theirs and theirs alone - unless they choose to share further.
And, in February 2010, Perry himself mentioned that he may well yet share further musical output with the world - confirmed during interviews with a select number of U.K. radio stations.
The interviews, set up and scheduled by Sony, were primarily to promote and discuss the resurgence of 'Don't Stop Believing' (then riding high in the U.K. charts), and Sony's decision to re-release Journey's 'Greatest Hits' in the U.K. on the back of that success.
The interview with Planet Rock's Nicky Horne caught the most attention, what with the station's rock sensibilities and audience numbers, but as regards the interview itself it was, for the most part, another case of same 'song', different interview.
I have to admit though I did have another 'told you so' moment when he confirmed his writing/ demo progress and how far he had gone with the recordings over the last couple of years, thus obliterating the credibility of The False Musical Prophets of the Great God Internet, who all claimed a February 2010 release date (or at least the 'first quarter' of the year) for new material. They all know who they are.
Interesting to note though that on another interview (with Scottish DJ Gary Marshall) he did confirm he was looking to pursue that recording process more seriously quite soon. He also mentioned how it would be the "thrill of my life" to come over to Scotland to perform - "perhaps in the future that's gonna happen."
Intriguing, but not holding my breath, and clearly he has forgotten he performed here before with Journey (albeit only once in 1979 as documented in my 'Journey - Recollections' article).
Curiously enough, around the same time those interviews were airing Steve Perry set up a page on the social networking site 'Facebook'.
Well, that's how it was presented (and not as the more common 'fan pages' for artists, of which there are a couple for Perry), and many fans immediately flocked to the cause to say hello, thank Mr Perry for 'friending' them, and to share their thoughts.
Unfortunately for them however, it's simply some individual/s getting their jollies at the expense of the many naive or gullible Facebookers out there.
But if it's fake, then it would be pulled quicker than you could say 'Malicous Mischief', surely? Well, no.
Facebook is just one of many networking sites where it's a case of 'buyer beware' and, on the other side of the coin, it's free publicity.
However, if the perpetrators actually post as Steve Perry, then they run the risk of misrepresentation, and legal action.
Mind you, a Steve Perry FB page would be the perfect place for him to present an 'exclusive to the U.K.' announcement for the forthcoming 'Steve Perry's Revelation' Triple CD pack that will include a Sam Cooke covers album and a 're-recorded classics' album, which would have then led to the confirmation that his 2010 Comeback World Tour would kick off in the U.K. with the first date in Glasgow, some thirty one years after his last (and only) musical appearance within my own borders (and thus honouring his 'Scottish' interview comment).
You'll probably now find the above on the sites that expected a new album in February 2010...
In summary, Steve Perry may yet choose to share more of his music, but that's
TBC - which usually, of course, stands for 'To Be Confirmed'.
In the case of Perry however, and the stories that continue to follow him (most not of his own making), it's probably more accurate to define it as 'To Be Continued'...
Ross Muir
March 2010 (updated May 2010)
(A review of Steve Perry's career in front of a microphone, from the Alien Project demos of 1977 to confirmation that the singer has recently been writing and recording demos, can be found in Ross Muir's eBook 'paper', One in a Million)