Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagicIt’s been 20 years since Steve Perry less-than-amicably parted ways with Journey, but keyboardist Jonathan Cain says he’s still open to reuniting with the powerhouse vocalist.
“He’s always got a door open to come around,” Cain tells ABC Radio. “Hopefully, we’ll break the ice one of these days.”
Perry did reunite with his old band mates when Journey was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in April 2017, although the singer declined to perform with the group. Current Journey frontman Arnel Pineda, who idolizes Perry, got to meet him for the first time at the Rock Hall induction ceremony. Cain recalls that Perry graciously hung out and chatted with Pineda backstage at the event.
“That was a dream come true [for Arnel],” Jonathan explains. “You know, one of his dreams or his wishes were, like, ‘I get to meet Steve Perry and be on the same stage with him’…And there he was.”
“Before I even saw Steve at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, he had spent time with Arnel, congratulating him on a job well done,” adds Cain. “The guy has got a lot of class. He’s a very soulful guy, and I wish him the best in his life.”
Reflecting on what Perry brought to Journey, Cain notes that the singer was “an incredible band leader [and he] knew how to rehearse.” Jonathan adds, “I mean, [to] go out and sing in one take, two takes. I’m like, ‘Who does that?’ But that’s the band we were.”
Cain shares more details about his relationship with Perry and the exciting time he had while Steve was a member of Journey in his recent memoir, Don’t Stop Believin’.
Journey’s current U.S. co-headlining tour with Def Leppard resumes July 1 with a show in Atlanta.
Copyright © 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
