Journey Force - Street Talk Interview


"Shoulder to shoulder, push and shove, I'm hangin' up my boxin' gloves. I'm ready for a long, long vacation..." When we spoke with Steve, he was catching up on some rest & relaxation... taking time to visit family & friends, doing some travelling and riding his new Harley...

Force: After the rigors of a tour, it must be nice to take some time off and just relax. What have you been doing on your vacation?

Steve: I've been riding my Harley, and working on it.

Force: What kind of bike is it?

Steve: It's a Softtail, and I've really been enjoying it. It's great to be able to take my mind off everthing except just tinkering with my Harley. I've been polishing it, I've been tightening it down... anybody who has a Harley knows that if you ride them, you've got to tighten them down. (laughter) I've been riding around the San Joaquin Valley a lot, between the orange trees and the mountains. My dad has a Harley, also and we ride together. I find riding very relaxing.

Force: Do you get recognzed much when you are out riding?

Steve: Yeah, but it's okay. It's fine. I don't mind being recognized. I enjoy people, I have a good time wherever I go, with whoever I'm with. There are times when I go away to hide, but I do that in different places.

Force: Is it hard having a private life when you are such a public figure?

Steve: I don't know how public I am, but I guess, to a degree, I am. I don't think about myself that way -- I try not to, so I can continue to live my life. Sometimes I do forget. I just think 'I'm Steve Perry, I'm just me.' But people remind me that, no, I'm Steve Perry, and I know that (laughter). When I go places, sometimes I do forget. I know that may sound silly, but I don't keep that in front of my face all the time.

Force: Now that the tour is over, and you're talking some time of, the Journey breakup rumors have already started. Does that bother you?

Steve: Yeah, but it seems to happen all the time. Everytime Steve Perry or anyone else does a solo album or another project, the rumours go wild. Then Journey makes another albuma and goes on the road, and as soon as the tour is over, the rumors start again.

Force: Do you have a favourite album of all the ones you've done with Journey?

Steve: Hmmm. I don't really know. I think it would have to be songs, not albums. 'Something To Hide' off the Infinity album is still of of my favourites. I also like 'Happy To Give' off Raised On Radio.

Force: How do you feel "Raised On Radio" stacks up with the other Journey releases?

Steve: There were some pretty intense circumstances during the making of that album. The band, in the studio, had an explosive falling apart then. Jon, Neal and I ended up standing together, as anyone who reads the newsletters remembers. That really did happen. We didn't really have a band at the time to go in and play and rehearse alot of the stuff. We went in to cut an album as opposed to going in to write, record and perform this stuff prior. I think it turned out exactly like that. it does have a different texture to it -- a different approach. I think that is good.

Force: You and the rest of the members of Journey went home with quite a few Bammies this year. How did you feel about receiving your awards?

Steve: It was so great to be chosen. I was really, really pleased. I just can't put it into words. Now I think I'm in the BAMMIE'S Hall of Fame... I'm not eligible for anymore awards in the Male Vocalist category.