Why Journey’s iconic frontman went radio silent for 20 years
“Sherrie and I were crazy in love, I can tell you that. And it was a very tough time because the band was peaking,” the singer told the Tampa Bay Times, per The Hollywood Reporter, in 2011. “And if any woman out there thinks that it would be real exciting to be the girlfriend of somebody in a band like that and that it would be all peaches and cream, the truth is that it’s hard to navigate a relationship when you’re in the midst of such a ride.”
International fame
In the meantime, Journey had become one of the biggest rock bands in the world. Their 1981 album “Escape” went multi-platinum, and Perry was hailed as one of the greatest vocalists in rock history. His range, tone, and emotional delivery were second to none. Journey had it all – chart-topping albums, sold-out tours, and legions of devoted fans.
But the demands of fame began to take their toll.
In a 2018 interview with the New York Times, the “Open Arms” singer revealed that burnout played a significant role.
“As a vocalist,” Perry explained, “your instrument is you. It’s not just your throat, it’s you. If you’re burnt out, if you’re depressed, if you’re feeling weary and lost and paranoid, you’re a mess.”
Journey went on hiatus in 1987, and while they briefly regrouped in the mid-90s, things didn’t go smoothly.
