Journey, like so many bands from the 1970s, underwent massive personnel changes. It was the progressive rock brainchild of former Santana singer Gregg Rollie, but the best known iteration of Journey is the Steve Perry-fronted band that dominated the pop charts in the 1980s.
Journey were one of the most successful rock bands of the Reagan era, and a lot of their success had to do with Perry's astounding vocal chops. Nobody sounded like him, and few could match him when it came time to belt out a soaring rock ballad. Unfortunately, Perry's tenure with the band was not without its complications.
Perry served as producer as well as frontman on the 1985 album Raised on Radio, but this increased influence over the band's sound led to disagreements with the other members and manager Herbie Herbert. The album was a success, which in turn led to a tour, but Perry decided that he was through once he got off the road.
Perry quit due to touring and band tensions
In the book The Untold Story of Journey, author Neil Daniels recounted Perry's reasoning. He was getting tired of butting heads with the other members, and he was also growing increasingly tired of touring. The singer felt that the constant live performances was putting a strain on his vocals, and therefore causing damage to his main instrument.
Perry officially quit Journey in 1987, a decade after he joined. The interesting thing, though, is that Perry had already found success as a solo artist when he was still with the band. Many assume that Perry dropped his debut release, Street Talk, after quitting Journey, but the album came out in 1984.
The singer's signature solo tunes, "Oh Sherrie" and "Foolish Heart," were hits while Perry was still the face and voice of Journey. He planned to record a second album after quitting, Against the Wall, but it was never finished. A few tracks from the sessions made their way onto the compilation Greatest Hits + Five Unreleased.
The singer quit the band again in 1996
Perry didn't release a solo album post-Journey until 1994's For the Love of Strange Medicine. The album failed to generate any hits, which may have played a role in the singer's decision to reunite with Journey for 1996's Trial by Fire. A chart success, the album spawned a tour that Perry was meant to front, but a hip injury sidelined him.
Perry was irritated with the band's ultimatum, which decreed that he either get hip surgery or risk being replaced by another singer. He decided to walk (well, metaphorically, at least, given his hip problems), and he's never looked back.
Steve Perry joined Journey when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, but declined to perform. As it stands, the singer, dubbed the "Voice," is riding things out as a solo artist, and he prefers it that way. He appreciates his time in Journey, but he does not want to revisit it.