Steve Perry is the only child of Raymond F. Perry (born Raymond Pereira) and Mary C. Quaresma and is of Portuguese heritage (Pico island, Azores). Steve grew up interested in music, as his father was a vocalist. He also counts Sam Cooke and Al Jolson among his early inspirations. The Perry family was close-knit until Ray left when Steve was 7. His mother later remarried, and Steve remained extremely close to her. On his twelfth birthday, Mary presented Steve with a gold eighth note necklace, which he still wears for good luck.
The family moved to Lemoore, California during Steve's teen years. While in Lemoore, the young long-haired singer continued to pursue his interest in music. He attended high school there, drumming in the marching band as well as in extracurricular bands. He attended Visalia, California's College of the Sequoias for a short time after graduation, where he took first tenor in the choir there. Steve's mother encouraged his musical growth during this time.
Steve Perry moved to Los Angeles and fronted the band Alien Project in his mid twenties. He nearly gave up music when the bassist of that band, Richard Michaels, was killed in a tragic car accident. Filled with grief, Steve returned to Lemoore and decided not to continue his singing career, instead following in his stepfather's trade of construction, once working on a turkey farm. But at the urging of his mother, Steve answered a call from Walter "Herbie" Herbert, manager of the struggling San Francisco band Journey.
Herbert had heard a demo of an Alien Project song, "If You Need Me, Call Me", and knew Journey had to have the young singer. Steve was brought on tour and performed a song with Journey during a sound check in Long Beach. Herbert informed the band of the lineup change that night.
Steve Perry with Journey, c. 1981 - Perry replaced then-frontman Robert Fleischman in Journey, and brought a completely new pop sound to its music, despite protests from his new bandmates and fans of Journey's former progressive rock sound. He made his public debut on October 28, 1977 in San Francisco, and was met with mixed emotions. Steve determinedly proved the critics wrong and won over new audiences on his first album with the group, Infinity, which included a song that he had written called "Lights". The band's style had changed dramatically, but as Journey began to garner radio airplay and media buzz over Infinity, Steve's arrival was accepted.
He provided lead vocals on nine of Journey's albums: Infinity (1978), Evolution (1979), Departure (1980), Dream After Dream (1980), a Japanese movie soundtrack), Captured (1980, a live album), Escape (1981, which went to #1 on the Billboard charts), Frontiers (1983), Raised on Radio (1986), and Trial By Fire (1996). The single "Open Arms", off of Escape, made it to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Steve Perry had become the unmistakable voice of Journey throughout his time with the band. His trademark tuxedo tails also made him stand out amongst other performers.
Perry had previously worked with other performers, such as singing backing vocals on several Sammy Hagar songs, including the 1980 "Run For Your Life", and dueting with Kenny Loggins on the 1982 #17 hit single "Don't Fight It". Perry also worked with other musicians such as Sheena Easton and Jon Bon Jovi during the height of his career.
Now Perry released his first solo album, Street Talk, in 1984, following the release and tour for Journey's Frontiers. The record was a platinum success and scored hit singles with "Oh, Sherrie", written for his then-girlfriend Sherrie Swafford, and "Foolish Heart". "Oh, Sherrie" was also a heavily played music video on MTV. "She's Mine" and "Strung Out" were also released as singles from this project, which featured former Alien Project drummer Craig Krampf on a few tracks, guitarist Michael Landau, future American Idol judge Randy Jackson, and others.
In 1985, Perry had a featured vocal in the famed USA for Africa all-star benefit song "We Are the World", lending his high tenor to the lines "Oh, there's a choice we're making / We're saving our own lives". He also recorded a song, "If Only For a Moment, Girl" for the album.
Steve debated continuing a solo career or returning to Journey after the success of Street Talk. His mother said "Journey", and Steve obliged. He left his second solo album, Against The Wall, unfinished and instead sang on Journey's Raised on Radio album. Perry would eventually continue his solo project after the Raised On Radio tour but it was never completed.
Unfortunately, during this time Steve's mother had become ill. The production of Raised on Radio, which he produced, was stop-and-go as Steve frequently returned to the San Joaquin valley to visit his family. It took a major toll on Journey to have intermittent recording sessions and a vocalist who was not with the band much of the time. Eventually, as Steve later said, he "was toast". Journey disbanded in 1987 after the Raised on Radio tour. Steve disappeared from public view for years afterward, taking a break from the industry.
Seven years later, in 1994, he released For the Love Of Strange Medicine, his second solo effort. It was mildly successful, partly due to the Strange Medicine world tour (supported for a short time by Sass Jordan) being cut short.
Journey reunited in 1996 for Trial by Fire. The album was a success, but a short-lived one. Before the Trial By Fire tour, Perry suffered a hip injury mountain hiking in Hawaii and was unable to perform. He had a degenerative bone condition and would need a hip replacement. Steve was reluctant to jump into surgery and wanted to postpone the tour.
Given an ultimatum by his impatient bandmates, Perry opted to leave Journey permanently. Shocked and saddened fans grieved the absence of Perry saying, "the voice of Journey" was gone. The band brought in a new vocalist, Steve Augeri. Tensions remained high at the time between Journey and Steve Perry.
Since then, news has been rare of the elusive singer. He eventually underwent a successful hip surgery in 1998 to correct the problem he had been diagnosed with two years earlier. He released the Greatest Hits + Five Unreleased compilation later in 1998; the unreleased tracks included the original Alien Project demo as well as selections from the abandoned Against The Wall C.D. In, 1998, Perry also recorded two songs for the Warner Bros. film Quest for Camelot which can be found on the motion picture's soundtrack.
The band participated in an episode of VH1's Behind The Music in 2001, where Steve made the controversial statement that he "never really felt like part of the band."
Perry became more involved in motion pictures thanks to a close friendship with movie director Patty Jenkins. Accordingly, in 2003, Perry worked as a musical consultant on the critically acclaimed film Monster.
More recently, Perry surprised fans by appearing at Journey's star ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 21, 2005, after previously stating it was unlikely that he would ever stand with the band again. Perry said on his website that it was a good experience, and that tensions between him and the other band members were reduced, but that his rejoining Journey is not going to happen.
In 2005, Steve Perry produced a track on a solo album for former Ambrosia lead vocalist David Pack, titled The Secret Of Moving On. Perry also provides background vocals for "A Brand New Start", among the many songs he and Pack co-wrote shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Pack's album, which also includes re-recordings of two Ambrosia songs, has been climbing the Billboard charts since its early-2006 release.
Also in 2005, the Chicago White Sox team adopted Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" as their unofficial team anthem. As a result, Perry (an avid baseball fan) joined the players on the field and in the locker room as they celebrated their World Series Championship.
In the 1998 film BASEketball, Steve Perry's name is used as a powerful psyche-out tactic by the main character, Coop, played by Trey Parker. This, however, seems to work only against Doug Remer and was never used in a BASEketball season game.
Traces - 2018
The Season - 2021
Perry continues to give annual greetings on his birthday at http://fanasylum.com and occasionally posts new messages to his fans there.
You Should Be Happy
Steve Perry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whisper words of loneliness
It's true
Footsteps echo down the hall
Comin' ever closer to you
It's not fair for mortal man
To put up with this pain
I'm goin' through
[Chorus]
You should be happy
Now you're on your own
You should be happy
Now you're on your own
If I could walk through that door
I'd leave behind these broken memories
Trapped inside this empty room
Despiration's closing in on me
If I had your heart of stone
I could break these chains
And I'd be free
[Chorus]
I could be happy
I could be happy, someday
If you would have tried
If you hadn't lied
We'd never be alone again
Happy
Now you're on your own
Happy
Yes, you're on your own
You should be
Happy
Now you're on your own
Happy
Oh yes, you're on your own
But, now I'm
Happy
Now I'm on my own
Happy
Steve Perry's "You Should Be Happy" is a soulful and melancholic song that delves into the pain and loneliness that comes with a broken heart. The lyrics capture the essence of a broken relationship, where one partner has moved on, leaving the other to struggle with the feelings of loneliness and betrayal. The song opens with haunting voices in the dead of night, whispering words of loneliness. This creates a sense of emptiness and despair, drawing you into the emotional landscape of the singer.
As the song progresses, we hear the footsteps echo down the hall, coming ever closer to the listener. This is a powerful image that creates a sense of foreboding, as we realize that the end of the relationship is inevitable. The singer laments that it's not fair for mortal man to put up with this pain, and expresses the desire to leave the broken memories behind and be free.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the central theme of the song. It highlights the pain and the loneliness that comes with being left behind. The repeated phrase "you should be happy" further emphasizes the singer's sense of hurt and betrayal, as if to say that the listener's happiness has come at the cost of his own.
Overall, Steve Perry's "You Should Be Happy" is a touching and emotionally powerful song that captures the pain and loneliness of a broken relationship. The lyrics are relatable and poignant, and the melody and delivery are soulful and stirring, making it a classic for anyone going through heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Voices in the dead of night
Steve Perry hears voices during the night which make him feel lonely and sad.
Whisper words of loneliness
These voices are whispering to Steve Perry about how lonely he is.
It's true
The loneliness is very real and affecting Steve Perry.
Footsteps echo down the hall
Steve Perry can hear footsteps coming towards him down the hall.
Comin' ever closer to you
These footsteps are getting closer to him.
It's not fair for mortal man
Steve Perry feels that it is unjust for ordinary people to have to deal with such pain.
To put up with this pain
Steve Perry is struggling with emotional pain.
[Chorus]
The chorus repeats that the person Steve Perry is addressing should be happy now that they are alone.
If I could walk through that door
Steve Perry wishes he could leave behind his memories and move on.
I'd leave behind these broken memories
Steve Perry wants to forget about his past experiences which have left him hurting and broken.
Trapped inside this empty room
Steve Perry feels trapped and alone in a room with nothing to occupy his mind.
Desperation's closing in on me
Steve Perry is feeling desperate and scared.
If I had your heart of stone
Steve Perry wishes he didn't care so much and was able to be as emotionally resilient as the person he is addressing.
I could break these chains
If Steve Perry was less attached, he would not feel trapped and held back by his emotions.
And I'd be free
Steve Perry believes he could be happier and more content if he was not weighed down by his emotions.
[Chorus]
The chorus repeats that the person Steve Perry is addressing should be happy now that they are alone.
I could be happy
Steve Perry believes he could be happy someday.
If you would have tried
Steve Perry blames the person he is addressing for not trying hard enough to make the relationship work.
If you hadn't lied
Steve Perry feels that if the person he is addressing had not lied to him, they would still be together.
We'd never be alone again
If the person Steve Perry addressed had not lied, they would still be together and therefore not feel so isolated.
Happy
The chorus repeats that the person Steve Perry is addressing should be happy now that they are alone.
Now you're on your own
The person Steve Perry is addressing is now alone.
But, now I'm
Steve Perry is turning the tables and saying that he is now happy.
Happy
Steve Perry is happy now that he is no longer in the relationship.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RANDY GOODRUM, STEPHEN RAY PERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind