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Jonathan Cain of Journey talks Prince, possible Steve Perry reunion and 'South Detroit' http://www.forever1980s.com
Jonathan Cain has some of the coolest stories to tell as the keyboardist for Journey, including the time Prince called him to listen to one of his songs.
Cain and Journey have two shows in Michigan with The Doobie Brothers and Dave Mason. They will be in Grand Rapids at Van Andel Arena on Tuesday, Aug. 2 2016 and at DTE Energy Music Theatre on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016.
Cain told me the story of how Prince called him one day because he wanted him to take a listen to "Purple Rain."
"I was out in Los Angeles. Prince wanted us to give him the ok for this new song of his. He was concerned it sounded like one of our songs. So, I drove to Santa Monica. The song was cued up. I noticed the end of the song sounded a little like "Faithfully." The guitar solo sounded a little like Neal. But there wasn't any melodic similarities.I said to Prince, no, we won't sue you. It's a brilliant tune. I love the tune." "I was flattered he cared that much to call me. Because i was the sole writer of the tune, that made me the composer. It was an honor." So, where did the lyric "South Detroit" really come from in the song "Don't Stop Believin'."
"This is how it went down. Steve had just come off the live album "Captured." Part of it was recorded at Cobo Hall in Detroit. Steve felt a kinship with Detroit and said that experience for him was super natural and he felt like Detroit had adopted Journey as one of their hometown fans. Steve also felt Detroit was one of the reasons Journey succeeded. Steve credited the fans for a lot of the success of the album and excitement for the band." "I was at the show as a keyboard player for the Babys. I was also writing songs with Steve for the new album. For "Don't Stop Believin'," we tried different things: North Detroit, West Detroit, East Detroit... but we needed that word. When he said South Detroit, it sounded right. We said I don't know if there's a South Detroit but it just sounds right. It was kind of a reverence for the acceptance for the particular live show." "Don't Stop Believin'" is also Cain's favorite Journey song.
"The song is a wild tune in a lot of ways. It has so many layers to it. It's my favorite because it represents an era where I was struggling to get into the music business. I wrote the song about Sunset Boulevard in the 70s, and being one of those street light people. Steve Perry saw the song the same way. He just thought it was brilliant, so he went with my idea. We had a trust and agreement with the song. The writers have to agree and it was an effortless and beautiful process of creating the song with him. Steve had such great intuition." Cain says his second favorite Journey song "Faithfully" also has an interesting story of how it came about.
"The other favorite of mine is "Faithfully." It's a song that came from me from God. I was a new guy in the band watching the crew. I was saying to myself, man it was only a few years ago i was schlepping my own gear in the club. These people are just like me. They have kids and loved ones at home. I said I should write a song for all of us. A song we can send on a postcard to home. I wrote some of the lyrics on a napkin. I didn't have the melody for it yet. But, it looked and sounded like a Willie Nelson song. I wanted to make it heartfelt." "Steve Perry had heard a demo of it and wanted to put it on a solo album. I said this has got to be a Journey song. When the producers said they wanted a ballad, I said I have that ballad. I bought it in and thought I hope Steve doesn't throw something at me. Steve said he would sing it under one condition, that you let me do my thing on it for four days. I can't have you in the room. Let me play with it. I came in on a Friday morning, sat down, and he gave me goose bumps and the rest is history. The song was a last minute addition to the 'Frontiers' album." Is there a possibility Journey and Steve Perry could reunite?
"As far as i know, he's making a solo album. So, he's singing again, which is encouraging. He hasn't contacted us. He knows the door is open if he wants to come and sing. He's been very supportive of our projects. I still feel like he's part of our brotherhood. If he decides he wants to do something, we'll see what happens." Any more memories of Michigan?
"We have fond memories of playing at Pine Knob, Joe Louis Arena and Cobo Hall. Radio in Detroit was also always so supportive. We wouldn't be Journey without Detroit. We really want to thank the fans for staying with us through the tough times." "I also once had a roommate from Grand Rapids. So, that's why I call it 'GR.'" How the heck are you guys not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
"The critics love to hate us. I think eventually the ice will melt. I mean, we have the biggest downloaded rock song of all time. "Don't Stop Believin" has gone over 5 million downloads. We think that would mean something. You'd also think selling over 100 million albums would mean something. All of our opening acts are in the Hall of Fame. Heart, Joan Jett and Steve Miller." "I've heard from sources possibly next year, but it's possible they may snub us. It's all based on writers and critics." You have an old member of the band returning on this tour.
"Steve Smith is back with us after 16 years, but he hasn't toured with us in 29 years. That was also the last time Steve toured with us." [Edited 5/13/16 13:26pm] | |
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LOVE JOURNEY AND STEVE PERRY!!!!
And yes i read this about Prince being worried Purple Rain sounded a little too much like Faithfully...shows the kind of thoughtful musician he was to call Jon and ask him to listen, get his input ''The beautiful ones they hurt you every tiiiiime....''
RIP BEAUTIFUL ONES: Prince & Denise 2016 | |
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I knew the chords were similar, but then I referenced the sheet music. In basics, "Purple Rain" is... . Bbsus2 - Gm7(add4) - F - Eb(add2) (Wendy & Lisa added some embellishments on those chords). . "Faithfully" is B - G#m - B/F# - E. . So they're like a half step apart. But yeah, the melodies are totally different. I mean, every other blues song has a similar progression, so it's hard to sue on that alone. . It would be cool of Journey to play "Faithfully" in concert, and beforehand tell the Prince story, then break into the chorus on "Faithfully" in the place of its normal bridge or something. Sorry, it's the Hodgkin's talking. | |
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