During a recent appearance on Scott Shannon in the Morning, classic Journey vocalist Steve Perry was asked the big question: “Where were you for 24 freakin’ years?!”.
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As you may or may not know, Steve released his latest solo album in 1994, and his final album with Journey in 1996. He remained inactive in the music world until recent years, when he started working on his upcoming new album “Traces.”
Anyhow, Perry replied :
“Oh, man! That’s the question of the day. The band was really, really fortunate to be successful, and at some point, I got a little bit toasty, a little burned out, and coupled with a serious touring schedule and, like I said, being crispy.
“And back in the day, we all had a little bit of what we might call ‘extra party behaviors,’ maybe – and when you put the ‘party behaviors’ together with a little bit burned out, I was toast.
“It was an unpopular decision I came up with at the time, which was just to stop. I told the band, and they were not happy about it. But the biggest thing I was really concerned with was the fans.
“Because I knew it was gonna be a painful decision for me to walk away, but sometimes you just have to take care of yourself, even if it hurts to do so – you have to do that.”
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Did you plan on being away for so long?
“I did not plan to be gone so long. But once I stopped, there was something great about just stopping. I went back to my hometown and hung out with friends.
“I rode my motorcycle on these country roads on the outskirts of Fresno, where I was born and raised, and I’ve gotta tell you – there was something cathartic about just stopping.”