Steve Smith Back in Journey

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Pocketplayer
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Re: Steve Smith Back in Journey

Postby Pocketplayer » Fri Mar 06, 2020 5:00 pm

That makes sense...Mike Baird was a studio drummer knee deep in that world
yet Smith is an extraordinary talent...i still want to believe he could have dealt
w/t new technology of that day...there is nothing on Raised on Radio both
Steve & Ross could not play...this was all Perry imo...I have read all the ramblings
by manager and according to Herbie, Perry was the devil...he was burnt out and
out of control...Neil would have fired him but he was trapped by Perry's massive
fanbase and sound of Journey...his solo LP was a direct threat to Journey music...
the end was near...they did this tour and disappeared from the scene...Ross got
royally screwed financially from the catalogue of music, Perry had most of the
rights...the death of Steve Perry's mother really hit him hard during this era.

"Steve Perry remains in his sights as the band's number one problem. Why is this so?
Herbie says: “I would just like to make my living and do what I think I can get done
here. So from my point of view that got stopped and mucked up quite a bit. There
was no reason for them not to continue in '84, '85, '86. they could have been a polished
Grateful Dead and that was my model as a deadhead.”

http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/h ... rbert.html
Jeff Porcaro Groove Master
http://jeffporcaro.blogspot.com
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langmick
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Re: Steve Smith Back in Journey

Postby langmick » Mon Mar 09, 2020 4:24 am

Deen tweeted that he wasn't in, he wasn't going to be part of Journey...then those tweets got deleted.

This stuff is crazy.
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Pocketplayer
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Re: Steve Smith Back in Journey

Postby Pocketplayer » Wed Apr 22, 2020 7:03 am

THIS fill...one of those fills I never let go...what made Smith different to me

Jeff Porcaro Groove Master
http://jeffporcaro.blogspot.com
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Paul Marangoni
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Re: Steve Smith Back in Journey

Postby Paul Marangoni » Wed Apr 22, 2020 1:26 pm

Pocketplayer wrote:THIS fill...one of those fills I never let go...what made Smith different to me

Ha! I remember getting that record when it came out, and like you, that particular fill instantly stood out. I immediately figured it out and began using it whether it belonged or not. :)
That whole tune is a great example of Smith's groovy drumming back then. Lot's of cool little things he plays.
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Steve Holmes
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Re: Steve Smith Back in Journey

Postby Steve Holmes » Wed Apr 22, 2020 1:44 pm

Super tasty fill! I Like the roll at the end of it. Nice and clean.

Man I wish I could have been in the production meetings for those videos. Then talking it through to the band and doing it.

"OK - you take turns singing to Steve like you're pleading with him, then leaving one by one. Then Steve responds with the big line at the end. Cool let's do it. "
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Pocketplayer
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Re: Steve Smith Back in Journey

Postby Pocketplayer » Wed Apr 22, 2020 2:18 pm

The forgotten Smith hard rock LP...played on all but three tracks. Man...he really
sounds good on this LP...Y&T Ten.

Steve was weaving in and out of genres during this period...
1988 Fiafiaga Vital Information
1989 Steps Ahead N.Y.C
1989 Neal Schon Late Nite
1989 Richie Kotzen, Richie Kotzen
1989 Metropolis, Turtle Island String Quartet
1990 Ten, Y&T
1990 The Storm, The Storm
1991 Frank Gambale Note Worker
1991 Vitalive! Vital Information

Jeff Porcaro Groove Master
http://jeffporcaro.blogspot.com
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langmick
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Re: Steve Smith Back in Journey

Postby langmick » Wed Apr 22, 2020 4:45 pm

Plus this one from 1986. Drums do kinda sound Frontiers-ish.



He let loose on this one. I always thought he was a lot like Bozzio, but looking back, he had a smoother technique and more authentic rock chops. And less artsy-fartsy stuff. Forgot Billy Sheehan was on this one.

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Pocketplayer
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Re: Steve Smith Back in Journey

Postby Pocketplayer » Thu Apr 23, 2020 1:20 am

"more authentic rock chops. And less artsy-fartsy stuff. "

This pretty much sums up why he was so special...he was NOT
a rock drummer...a guy who devoured rock music like the usual
cat...then played rock music as a kid in school and was good
enough to either get lucky (play in a rock band that got signed)
or was sought after...Steve was a jazz cat...even saying if not
for Journey he would not play rock music...to me, that means he
had to do a very quick study of what a rock feel/style is
and lock into that feel. I just don't see a lot of jazz/fusion guys
who need work do rock LP's...Steve sounds as good as any great
rock drummer...listen to his pocket on the Y&T song Hard Times...
This is the same guy that played with Steps Ahead? Vital Information?
Frank Gamble? JLPonty? He was a drumming chameleon!
Now, add the India blend with jazz...

Below he shares that he had to learn Journey music all over again...
because he did not or does not play this style of music! He'd forgotten
everything he played with the band and charted all HIS parts all over
again!

Good interview when he RE-joined Journey (main point of thread lol);
listen to the extended version...even the interviewer got it wrong...
Steve corrects him, it was 32 years since he toured with Journey, not since 1996!
Also makes a solid point between Steve Perry & Arnel...

https://www.klcc.org/post/drummer-steve ... and-beyond
Jeff Porcaro Groove Master
http://jeffporcaro.blogspot.com
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AllenS
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Re: Steve Smith Back in Journey

Postby AllenS » Fri Apr 24, 2020 9:20 am

Maybe if the guys in Styx ever need to take a break... :D :|
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Pocketplayer
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Re: Steve Smith Back in Journey

Postby Pocketplayer » Sun Apr 26, 2020 8:09 pm

Watched the AXS TV doc on Journey...then at the VERY end this:

Neil Schon & Jonathon Cain fired Ross Valory & Steve Smith
Counter suit filed April 2020

Jeff Porcaro Groove Master
http://jeffporcaro.blogspot.com

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