Journey Force - "A Chat With Steve"

We're getting ready to give Steve a call to see what's happening with his album. Interested? Well, pick up the phone and listen in...

Force: The fan club has been inundated with letters and calls about your album. Help! Can you give us an update?

Steve: I have completed and mixed twelve songs and I have one or two more that I want to record. I'll start doing that sometime in the near future, and then the whole thing will be done! After that, who knows?

Force: How about a tour?

Steve: I really can't say what's going to happen with touring aspect. I would love to perform. It's been a long tome and I remember enjoying it very much. It does seem like a long time ago. When I got up with Bon Jovi at Shoreline here in the Bay area, something automatic come over me. I didn't realize it was there because it had been so long. The automatic feeling kicked in and I felt very, very at homeout there on that stage. It was a great experience for me, so I would like to get out there, definitely.

Force: A lot of people miss you, that's for sure.

Steve: That's really nice to know.

Force: Do you have an estimate of when the album will be out?

Steve: Right now, in the wake of losing another family member, I'm just going to head down to the Valley and then I may jump on my motocycle again and cruise up to the mountains. That always helps. Yesterday I drove down the coast and just checked out some of the beautiful sights. I just lost my grandmother... my father's mother. She was 89 years old and was doing great until about a year and a half ago. Then her quality of life turned on her. At least now she's not in any discomfort. Once I've taken some time for that, I don't know what I'll do. I'll probably go back to Los Angeles and start working again.

Force: A couple of people mentioned seeing you at the Hanford Fair recently.

Steve: Yeah, I was in Hanford for a whole week and I went to the fair about four times. I got to see the pigs and the cows; I hung out and ate all the junk food and checked out the rides. (laughs) The fair was fun. I never get the chance to go to the fair.

Force: Were you recognized?

Steve: It happened, but it was okay. I have no problem with that. That doesn't affect me in the same way it used to. Things are different in my life. If people recognize me and they are nice, it is a great experience. Occasionally I might get somebody who isn't pleasant and then it might not be a pleasant experience, but I'd say 99 percent of the time it's nice. It's always people who like Journey or who like my voice or there is something about a certain period in their life that they will never forget. The other day someone came up to me nad said that they will never forget that their prom song was "Open Arms" Some kids will come up and say that "Oh, Sherrie" is their favourite song. When those things happen, it's great. It's incredible. It's amazing that you can have an opportunity to touch people in that way. We've been able to do that individually and collectively.

Force: Did you find it hard to have an intimacy with the fans when Journey was touring and playing such big arenas? It seems like you would be able to establish a closer rapport with the audience playing smaller places, like clubs

Steve: That's true to some extent, but when we were playing big arenas, most people walked out of there feeling an intimacy anyway - at least that's what I tried to put across. I was raised to believe that you are supposed to go out there and perform, interace, communicate and enjoy. The audience enjoys the performance and you enjoy them enjoying the performance and it goes back and forth. Everybody shares a great moment, all together. At some of the shows I've seen lately, I just don't get any of that. I see a big emotional isolation between the audience and the person up there performing. That isn't what I learned fromt he people I admired and I don't understand it. Things have really changed and to a degree it's sad because I think the audience notices those things. They are there with their minds and most hearts don't lie. If you're listening with that kind of emotionalism, it's easy to notice when something doesn't feel right.

Force: Well, we know you've got things to take care of, so we'll let you go. We're all very sorry to hear about the loss of your grandmother and we appreciate you taking the time to talk. Take care of yourself.

Steve: Thanks, I really appreaciate everybody's kindness, and I'll be talking to you again soon!