Journey Lead Singer Replaced Again, 2006-Present
 Lead singer Steve Perry received much of the credit for Journey's success. In 1984, he released a solo album, Street Talk, which was successful and scored a very popular song and MTV video with Oh Sherrie. Perry also recorded Don't Fight It (1982), with Kenny Loggins. Guitarist Neal Schon produced two albums with Jan Hammer in 1981 and 1983, and in 1985 was part of the HSAS (Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve) project.
Following the release of his solo album, singer Steve Perry took more control over the studio direction of the band. Much to the dismay of manager Herbie Herbert, bass player Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith were fired from the band for musical and professional differences, and Journey released their 1986 album Raised on Radio as a trio--Perry, Schon, and Cain. Various studio musicians handled the two vacant slots in the studio, including future American Idol judge Randy Jackson and established studio musician Larrie Londin. Production was stop-and-go, due to the poor health of Perry's mother, Mary Perry. Overall, the album sold 2 million copies. A truncated tour followed, which featured Jackson on bass and Mike Baird on drums. Afterward, Perry, exhausted from the constant touring, grieving the death of his mother and the collapse of his six-year relationship with Sherrie Oh Sherrie Swafford, walked away from Journey in 1987, ending the band's ride at the top.
Despite working on a solo project in 1989 (titled Against The Wall) that was shelved, Steve Perry left the industry for several years before recording For the Love of Strange Medicine in 1994 and releasing a greatest hits compilation in 1998. Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain teamed up with Cain's ex-Babys bandmates John Waite and Ricky Phillips, forming Bad English with drummer Deen Castronovo in 1988. In addition, they each recorded several solo albums. Schon and Castronovo then joined Schon's brother-in-law's group, Hardline.
Steve Smith immersed himself in his jazz project, Vital Information, which over time developed a respectful following. In 1991, Ross Valory, Steve Smith, and Greg Rolie joined The Storm with singer Kevin Chalfant and guitarist Josh Ramos.
From 1987 to 1995, Journey saw their catalogue sales continue to grow. They released three compilations, all of which sold extremely well. In 1993, Kevin Chalfant (of The Storm) performed with members of Journey on a few shows, and Schon, Cain, Valory, Smith and Rolie briefly considered a reunion as Journey with Chalfant as lead singer, but that lineup did not come to fruition. That year, singer Steve Perry proposed rejoining the band on the condition that they seek new management. Herbie Herbert was fired and Irving Azoff retained, and in 1995 Perry once again became a member of Journey.
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