Why Did Steve Perry Leave Journey?
Best known as a pop-rock super star, Steve Perry was the face of Journey. From 1977 to 1987 as well as 1995 to 1998, they had their most successful period with songs like “Don’t Stop Believin’”, “Any Way You Want It”, “Faithfully”, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”, “Wheel in the Sky” and so much more.
Escape, their seventh and most successful album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and included some of their most popular singles like “Open Arms”. In 1983, their second most successful album was Frontiers (and my personal favorite), which also reached No. 2 and made them more successful in the UK.
Up until 1987, Steve has been in and out of the band, which seems outrageous because they all fit together so well. Why would a band so successful break it off? Well, despite what everyone wants and what seemed like fate for them to stay together until the end of time, life had other plans.
Why Steve Perry Left Journey
Before diving into the details, you should probably know Steve Perry left Journey first in 1987 and then again in 1998 for good. So there are actually two reasons and two times he left the band.
He first left in 1987 to pursue a solo career and again in 1998 after feeling pressure to undergo a hip replacement surgery by his bandmates so they can go on their Trial by Fire tour.
Why Steve Left in 1987
Steve originally left Journey in 1987 to pursue a solo career. He did come out with “Oh Sherrie” and “Foolish Heart” in 1984, which were incredibly successful as the music video for “Oh Sherrie” played on MTV‘s heavy rotation.
But Steve’s is mother became ill and passed away during the production of the Raised on Radio. Can you imagine trying to put together an album on the other side of the country while your mother is sick? So just after their tour to promote the album, Steve decided to leave Journey, mentioning “he didn’t feel the passion” for writing and recording music.
In 1988, Steve started working on another solo album called Against the Wall, which was never finished but there were several songs that made it on his 1998 solo compilation Greatest Hits + Five Unreleased). He also worked with Bon Jovi to perform Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home to Me” and the Four Tops’ “Reach Out”. He also reunited once with Journey at the Bill Graham tribute concert, “Laughter, Love and Music” on November 3, 1991 at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, performing “Faithfully” and “Lights”. But it would be seven years before Perry entered the spotlight again.
On July 19, 1994, he came out with his second album, For the Love of Strange Medicine. It was certified Gold by the RIAA in September 1994 with the first single “You Better Wait” received radio air play, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and making No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Steve Perry Rejoined Journey in 1995
When the public found out that Steve had rejoined Journey in 1995, it was a dream come true! In 1996, they recorded Trial by Fire, which was highly successful, entering the Billboard charts at No. 3 and going platinum before 1997. But shortly before their tour, Perry suffered a hip injury while hiking in Hawaii and deemed unable to perform. He was then diagnosed with a degenerative bone condition which required a hip replacement.
Hesitant to rush into surgery, Steve decided to postpone the tour.
Why Steve Perry Left Journey in 1998
After waiting 17 months after Steve’s injury, the bandmates were done waiting and members Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon approached him with an ultimatum. If he didn’t undergo hip replacement surgery so they could proceed with the Trial By Fire tour, they would find a replacement singer.
Still hesitant to undergo the surgery and taken aback by his bandmates, Steve Perry permanently left Journey in 1998. He said in an interview with Rolling Stone in 2018, “They wanted me to make a decision on the surgery. But I didn’t feel it was a group decision. Then I was told on the phone that they needed to know when I was gonna do it ‘cause they had checked out some new singers…I said to them, ‘Do what you need to do, but don’t call it Journey.’ If you fracture the stone, I don’t know how I could come back to it.” And that was it.
Steve Perry’s Career After Leaving Journey
Journey’s lead singer was replaced by Steve Augeri of Tall Stories and they began their tour.
But this didn’t mean Perry was sitting at home like a bum. He released his own album Greatest Hit + Five Unreleased compilation album on December 15, 1998, which included an original Alien Project demo as well as some songs from his unfinished Against the Wall album.
He also recorded two songs for the Warner Bros. movie Quest for Camelot. In 2001, during an episode of VH1’s Behind the Music, he stated that he “never really felt like [he] was part of the band”. His former manager, Herbie Herbert, reacted by saying “That’s like the Pope saying he never really felt Catholic.” Sad, right?
2000 and Onward
Steve Perry appeared on two songs by Kauai, Hawaii, artist Tommy Tokioka’s album Happy to Be Living where he sang backup vocal on “I Wish You Were Mine” and “An Angel Above Me” in 2000. He also collaborated with the musician Jeff Golub on a song entitled “Can’t Let You Go” for Golub’s Soul Sessions album that was released in 2003. Perry provided vocals on the mostly instrumental jazz track.
On January 21, 2005, Steve appeared with the other members of Journey at a ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, after previously saying it wasn’t likely he would ever stand with the band again. He said that it was a good experience and that it was unlikely he would rejoin. He also said, “never say never, unless you mean never, nevertheless” when the issue of returning to Journey was mentioned.
Steve also co-produced “A Brand New Start”, which was a track on a solo album for former Ambrosia lead vocalist David Pack in 2005. He also provided co-vocals and background vocals for the track, which was among many songs he and Pack wrote together shortly after 9/11.
Steve’s two solo albums, Street Talk (1984) and For the Love of Strange Medicine (1994) as well as his Greatest Hits CD were remastered and released on October 3, 2006. Sony Legacy also released Playlist: The Very Best of Steve Perry on January 13, 2009.
In 2014, Steve joined the indie rock band, Eels, during the encore and sang several songs at three concerts in 2014.
On April 7, 2017, he appeared alongside Journey ex-bandmates for the first time since 2005 at their induction into the rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He gave an acceptance speech, but chose not to perform with the band out of respect for their lead singer Arnel Pineda.
On October 5, 2018, Steve released another album, Traces and a US Deluxe Edition was released at Target and has five bonus songs. He described the album as “cathartic” and an “emotional expression” about the loss of a loved one.
On December 17, 2018, he released a cover of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
Most Recent Work
Steve Perry’s most recent work was on December 4, 2020, where he released an acoustic, stripped down companion album to Traces. It was titled TRACES (Alternate Versions & Sketches), which features re-worked acoustic versions of eight of his favorite songs from Traces, but with a bigger focus on his vocals.
What Do You Think of Steve Perry?
As sad as it was to hear Steve leave Journey in 1987 and again in 1998, I give him credit for doing what he needed to do. Because even if he had stayed, the popularity of the band probably would have declined because his heart and soul wasn’t in it, like he said. So I do think he made the right decision by leaving, or he might have devastated the other bandmates’ futures.
Personally I don’t think Journey was the same without Steve Perry, but it will always be one of those, “it was good while it lasted” kind of situations, kind of like Van Halen. I support Steve in all his endeavors and decisions and enjoy watching him come out with new tracks on social media!
So what do you think of Steve Perry? Was he wrong for leaving or do you support his decision too? Let me know in the comments below!
