Why did Steve Perry leave Journey for good?
In the 1980s, Journey first lost Perry when the member voluntarily left to focus on his solo career and due to his "growing indifference" toward his then-bandmates. While he returned a few years later, he left for good for the second and last time 25 years ago.
Steve Perry Left Journey Due to THIS
On May 7, 1998, Perry announced his departure from the band after he suffered a hiking accident in Hawaii years prior. The singer felt horrible pain when he reached the top of the mountain, and he soon discovered that he was struggling with a degenerative bone condition that would require him to undergo hip-replacement surgery.
However, the singer refused to receive any operation and opted to try alternative treatments instead. While it helped him a little, his absence had already been affecting the band's career, prompting his bandmates to ask him to make a decision on the surgery already.
Journey soon disclosed to Perry that it already checked out some new singers.
"I said to them, 'Do what you need to do, but don't call it Journey,'" he said, per Rolling Stone. "If you fracture the stone, I don't know how I could come back to it."
Perry formally bid goodbye through a statement telling his followers that he came up with the decision because he needed to focus on his health.
Meanwhile, Journey continued its career with the Perry-soundalike singer, Steve Augeri. In 2018, Journey discovered Filipino singer, Arnel Pineda, on YouTube.
Perry, however, reunited with Journey during the band's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. While the band wanted to perform with him again, the singer only took part in the acceptance speeches with the brief message: "I am truly grateful that Journey is being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame."
Steve Perry Once Sued Journey Over Song Trademark
In 2022, Perry launched a lawsuit against his former Journey bandmates as they reportedly broke their agreement to obtain unanimous consent for any business decision when Neil Schon and Jonathan Cain used the band's name on apparel.
The singer then accused the duo of fraud on the trademark office.
A few months later, Perry withdrew the lawsuit - a move which will never allow him to re-file the petition again. Meanwhile, Schon disclosed that the members already had improved relationship since the cancelation.
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