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.