A New Year’s tribute from Neal Schon has sparked renewed debate among Journey fans—this time not over the band’s future, but over how its past is framed.
Earlier this month, Schon shared a lengthy Facebook message reflecting on Journey’s five-decade history, thanking former members, collaborators, and mentors who helped shape the band’s sound across multiple eras. While the post struck a grateful tone overall, fans quickly zeroed in on how Schon referenced former lead singer Steve Perry—and many weren’t shy about voicing their opinions.
In his post, Schon credited Perry’s “vocals and songwriting” with helping create “a body of work that continues to resonate across generations,” calling that era “one of the most defining chapters in Journey’s history.”
For some fans, that wording didn’t go far enough.
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‘Without Steve Perry, Journey Is Nothing,’ Fans Argue
Some of the strongest reactions to the article left little room for nuance. One commenter bluntly wrote, “Without Steve Perry, Journey is nothing. Even Neal knows this, which is why he went out and got someone that sounds like Steve Perry. Every single Journey hit I know of was sung by Mr Perry. Without Steve Perry singing, it's just a cover band singing Journey songs.”
Another echoed that sentiment just as forcefully, adding, “Neal needs to get a reality check lol … Steve Perry WAS Journey, no disrespect to [founding singer Gregg Rolie]. Does Neal think his (the Group's) success would have been as it is without Perry??? Check yourself, your bank account, your SHARED musical accolades, and hush, you embarrass yourself!!!”
The most-liked comment on the post took a more reflective tone, reading, “For me, Steve Perry was Journey, no disrespect to others in the group. SP’s voice was so distinct and recognizable, it lulled my thoughts when in a contemplative mood and blasted on my car radio while driving with the top down, unfortunately, without SP’s vocals, the magic, for me, disappeared.”
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Others were even more blunt.
“If it wasn't for Steve Perry. Journey would be playing at VFWs and Holiday Inns,” one fan wrote.
Another added, “Steve Perry made Journey superstars. Steve made them millionaires. They should be kissing Steve's feet. Without Steve, Journey would of never happened or become superstars.”
Several commenters argued that the band’s commercial peak is inseparable from Perry’s tenure, with one writing, “Their greatest success came with Perry on lead vocals and will always be that way. I wish the drama, queen-like behavior would cease.”
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For many longtime listeners, the discussion quickly turned personal, with fans sharing memories tied to Journey’s classic hits.
“To this day, when I hear Journey, it brings me right back to my senior year in high school, cruising around with my boyfriend in his white Olds Cutlass Supreme!” one commenter recalled, adding that “the voice of Journey was and always will be Steve Perry.”
Another fan reflected on first hearing the band in the late 1970s, writing, “I can remember far back as 1977, just a young teenager… IT was ‘THE VOICE’ that captured my attention. I love Steve Perry until this days. Steve Perry IS what MADE JOURNEY'S journey SUCCESSFUL!”
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One commenter summed up the argument succinctly: “If we are talking exposure to millions, and turning millions into Journey fans, ‘Anyway You Want It,’ ‘Wheel In The Sky,’ ‘Lights.’ That would not have happened without Steve Perry.”
Even a self-described non-fan weighed in, writing, “When I think of Journey, I think of Journey with Steve Perry. Journey without Steve Perry is like Yes without Jon Anderson or or Grand Funk without Mark Farner. A tribute band, making money off of reflected glory.”
Some Fans Defend Neal Schon
Amid the criticism, a handful of commenters pushed back against the backlash itself.
“There was nothing negative about Schon's comments,” one fan wrote. “It appears as gratitude expressed for all those involved in Journey's…Journey and his words written about Steve Perry were quite positively accurate, and without veiled meaning.”
Another offered historical context, noting, “I saw Journey before Steve Perry joined. They were great with a more progressive sound. They turned into a different band altogether with the addition of Steve Perry. Commercial radio hit makers was the new Journey that everybody recognizes today.”
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Schon’s original message emphasized continuity rather than division, acknowledging nearly every era of the band while also reaffirming that current frontman Arnel Pineda remains “very much a part of Journey” as the group looks ahead to upcoming tour dates.
As with many conversations surrounding Journey’s legacy, the discussion ultimately underscored just how deeply fans remain invested in the band’s history—and how central Perry’s voice still feels to many listeners decades later.
Whether viewed as a respectful reflection or an understated acknowledgment, Schon’s tribute reopened a familiar question for fans: how to honor Journey’s evolution while recognizing the era that defined it for millions.
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