Steve Still Touches Young Hearts
By Jeannette Javier Sumicad

It was a freezing Friday midnight of the 6th of July 2012 here in the Philippines. For others, it was already a time for rest but for me, it was still a time to finish school works. Do I sound workaholic? :-D I was writing narrative reports of my class observations I had from July 2 to 5. It was quite late for me to start writing these narrative reports because I just really couldn’t start writing it right after the day of class observations, in one day, I usually had 8 to 10 classes to observe including the night classes of high school from 3:00 – 9:00 pm.

I was writing the said reports at our dining table. The freezing atmosphere seemed to tell me that I should go to bed already but I really needed to finish this so I thought I would just write the reports on Friday and submit it on Saturday, July 7. With that, I tuned in to a music channel which was the number one music channel here in my home country. The show I was watching from this music channel was entitled, “Backtrax.” It was a 30-minute show from 12:00-12:30 am featuring music videos of songs from the past. I always watched the channel from 11:00 pm and I could still stay up until around 1:00 or 2:00 am.

Actually, I’m more into songs from the late 90s especially up to the 21st century. I love songs by Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, A1, Westlife, Jennifer Lopez, Mandy Moore, M2M, Blake, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, F4 from Taiwan and even by the German pop-rock band named Tokio Hotel. That was why even though I was not really into songs from the past, I had no choice but to watch the Backtrax show.

On the Friday midnight of July 6 was the day I found a new taste of music. That was when the Backtrax show featured the music video of Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ (Live in Houston). I found out at that time that that song was not Glee’s original song. I’m not a fan of Glee so I didn’t know that Glee had revived songs from the past. What made me watched the said music video of Journey was the amazing live performance and the lovely golden voice of Steve Perry! :-) It was magical for me. I really stopped from writing my reports and honestly, my mouth was like kept hanging open and my sight set only on him. I even had a smile on my face which I usually have whenever I see my crush :-D I whispered to myself, “I couldn’t believe this that there’s still this band and as well as a singer from the past that would make me love songs from the past.” Steve Perry’s incredible performance at that time totally made me fall in love with Journey’s music! :-) This love becomes stronger and stronger when I started listening to other Journey’s songs and of course, Steve Perry’s songs from his solo career. I listen to these songs everyday now and they inspire me to look forward to life each day.

I also want to share that my younger sisters aged 9 and 5 also love listening and singing these songs with or without music player on. Yes, I still have little sisters for I am only 21 years old. I was only 20 when I discovered Steve Perry and I’d just turned 21 on July 21 last year :-)

Moreover, not only the songs have inspired me but as well as Steve’s life. I’ve read articles about Steve Perry and I learned a lot from him especially when he was at the lowest point of his life and felt like giving up, I’ve been there and felt the same way too. I also wanted to fight off these feelings that made me unhappy as a student organization officer. It happened a year ago, I’ve realized everything and I’ve moved on.

I could relate and have learned something from what he had said in the MelodicRock.com interview, “…what helps me go through the lows lately has been the lyrics in ‘Running Alone.’ ‘The trick of the dreamer is keeping yourself from the blues.’” This quote reflects the time when he stopped making music for a while but after a few years of shutting down, he went back to making music again. I’m just like him because when I realized that I was really into serving the student body, even though I tried to object from electing me to become the President of a major organization, I still accepted it for these people still believe in me and in my capabilities to serve them and help them grow in our chosen future profession and vocation as well, teaching children with special needs. This is life and it’s full of tests, we have to deal with it and do something to overcome it. And also, just don’t stop believing, with God’s help you can do anything :-)

I may not be Steve Perry’s avid fan since from the late 70s but still, I’m one of those biggest fans who really appreciates his gifts to the world of music and everything about him! :-) I don’t have the CDs and DVDs of his solo career yet for those are not available here and I cannot afford to buy it online yet :-D Anyway, I’m still praying and hoping to hear his voice again. It would be great if I get to see him perform live, a reunion with Journey or a solo concert. Hope he can still do that despite the fact that he’s been suffering from arthritis. Hope he will grant our wish to hear his voice and perform live again someday.

Well that’s how Steve Perry still touches young hearts like mine :)

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my very simple story of how I discovered Steve Perry! :-)

A Perry Tale
By Cheryl R

It was 81 and I was only 13. I had just started 8th grade when my dad brought home an album called Escape from a band called Journey. I was familiar with the lead singer’s voice and knew of a few songs from them. When I put the record on , this voice filled up my room and I knew this was the singer of the year. His voice was strong , powerful and full of passion. He name was Steve Perry and he had this incredible long dark brown-black hair. I remember going on a cruise to Mexico with my family during Christmas break of 81. I met a girl and we became instant friends. The only problem we had is that I loved Journey and she loved Foreigner. We would argue who was better and to me Journey was the best band in the world. In July of 82 , Journey headlined an all day concert at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. CA. The warm up bands were Aldo Nova, Triumph, and Blue Oyster Cult. I was a 14 year old teen, so excited to see the best band as well the best vocalist. When Journey was about to go onstage, myself and two other friends made it to the front of the stage. I was only 4′ 8 1/2″ and was covered by all of these people around me. When the band came on, they opened up with the title song off the album and people went crazy. I could see Steve come up to the front but then people started pushing and shoving to get to the front. My friends and I grabbed eachother’s hands and pulled ourselves through the crowd and ended up on the bleachers. I was so sad to be so far away but Steve’s voice rang out through the whole stadium. Tears ran down my face to see Steve on stage and to see the band Journey. The way he moved around the stage and the certain move he made with his shoulders lifted up alittle. I hope you Steve Perry fans know what move I am talking about. I was also wearing K-Swiss tennis shoes because it seemed those were the tennis shoes he wore back then.

During the concert they set off fireworks because it was two days before the 4th of July. They were absolutely beautiful and the concert was amazing. The next day I went out and bought all of the albums that Journey had with Steve Perry and would listen to them over and over again. I was also a vocalist, so Steve was a huge influence on my training as I got older and went to music school. I also trained with Tim Boggart back in the early 90′s and would tell me some great stories with his days with Steve. Tim was an amazing man, I hope he is well. I had a boyfriend back in 95 and he knew I was a big Steve Perry fan, so he surprised me and bought tickets to see his Stange Medicine at the Brens Event Center back in 95. Back in 94 Journey came out with Trial by Fire and I was estatic. I couldn’t wait to see them in concert again and to see Steve. But then Klos said there wasn’t going to be a tour. I was so upset so seeing Steve’s solo Tour was a blessing to me. He came out onstage and still had that incredible voice and presence. I loved the part with his tuxedo tails slowing coming down from the ceiling. It felt like I was a teenager all over again.

Years have gone by and I have heard nothing of Steve’s career. I have met people who knew him and who know him but I have never been fortunate enough to meet him. Until last week I realized all of these websites about him. I am sad that it has taken me this long to figure this out but I am also so grateful to know that Steve is doing well and healthy. God Bless

Steve always had the most contagious smile
By Lisa Fox Subia

Sometime in 1975 while I was working as a waitress in a Mexican restaurant in Thousand Oaks, CA, 3 guys came in to have dinner. Being a bit of a flirt, I spent a few minutes talking to them each time I delivered something to the table. They introduced themselves as Tim Bogart, Denver Cross, and Steve Perry, and told me they were in a band together. They said they were going up to Charlie Brown’s after dinner (a local restaurant with live entertainment) and asked if I wanted to join them after I got off work. I said sure, called my sister up, and we both met up with them later on in the evening. What a fun group of guys. We all got up and did the hustle (yes it was that long ago), then Gerri and I taught them the version that we had made up. It was a blast!

There was a 4 or 5 piece band playing that night, and at one point Steve asked if he could sing a song. Even though they didn’t know who he was they said sure, so he got up and sang “Will it go Round in Circles” and just blew the doors off the place. I could see a couple of the band members standing there with their mouths hanging open, and of course they all wanted to talk to him after. I didn’t know who he was, I just knew he was great, and when he told me one day he would be famous, I never doubted it for a minute.

At that time Tim Bogart was a pretty big name bass player (Beck, Bogart & Appice), and Denver and Steve were virtually unknown. They were looking for a label, so they had different music producers coming to hear them all the time. There was one song that Steve had written that my sister and I thought was absolutely great (something about Lonely Lonely?), but we also used to crack up when we would go listen to them rehearse. Serious musicians yes, but seriously funny guys.

They were all living in the Thousand Oaks area then, and we spent lots of time having fun with them for the couple of years they were around. Steve and Tim both liked to go dancing, and drinking, of course, but mostly what I remember is the laughter. Steve always had the most contagious smile . . . We used to joke around and sing a ditty that Bugs Bunny sang. The only lyrics I can remember are “please pass the ketchup, I think I’ll go to bed.”

My sister and I finally moved away to other parts of the state, and one day she called to tell me that she had seen an article that said Steve had joined a band called Journey. She gave me the number to the studio where they were rehearsing, so I called him. He was great, so happy about the opportunity to work with top drawer musicians, and so grateful that his dreams were finally being fulfilled. The last time we saw him was the night that Journey headlined for the first time in Long Beach , CA . We didn’t have time to get word to him that we would be there, but managed to talk our way backstage and surprised him as soon as he walked off the stage.

The best part was seeing how little he had changed. Fame had not gone to his head at all. He knew it was a job, and he had a lot of respect for that fact, but it didn’t give him a swollen ego. He was just really happy. What a great guy. We both cried when Journey did “Wheel in the Sky”, and “Lights.” They were magnificent, and he was in his element. We watched him stride off into the limo, and into a future that has suited him to a T. He was a nice guy and a real gentleman then, as I have no doubt he is today. I still think of him occasionally, and it always makes me smile.