Happy Birthday Steve Perry – Why South Detroit? And What Seger Song Would He Sing?

This week (Wednesday, the 22nd), we wish Steve Perry from Journey a happy birthday! He has a fantastic voice and is a fine ambassador to South Detroit (yes, we know it's Canada...so does he). But in honor of his birthday, we revisited the discussion about WHY he picked Detroit, and we also asked him what Bob Seger song he'd cover (great answer, BTW).

Jim O'Brien: But we got—we talked to Jonathan about a month or two ago with the book, and he said that he wanted to make it South Chicago. And then you jumped in and said, "No, no, no, it's got to be South Detroit." Is that true?

Steve Perry: That’s right. I can’t believe he told the truth (laughing). 

Jim O'Brien: That’s great.

Steve Perry: Well, because I was just finishing a show that night at Cobo Hall, okay, right there along the river or the water, right? And so we were staying at a motel downtown Detroit, and I was looking down, and it was like 2–3 in the morning, and for reasons we won’t get into at this point, I wasn’t very sleepy if you know what I’m talking about.

Jim O'Brien: [Laughs]

Steve Perry: So I’m staring out the window, and at that point, I don’t know if it’s still this way, there’s kind of like an orange sort of glow from the streetlights, pushing down across the streets, shining down all over. And I was way up high in this building, looking down, thinking, "Wow, that’s amazing. It’s like all these people milling around. They’re like streetlight people, and it’s just moving around."

Jim O'Brien: Wow.

Steve Perry: So that stuck in my mind. When it came time to write the song and time to write the lyrics, that came to my mind.

Jim O'Brien: That’s incredible.

Steve Perry: And honestly, one of my favorite places of all time to play was Detroit because we used to play that Cobo Hall.

Jim O'Brien: Oh, yeah.

Steve Perry: It was like the most rockin’ little place. It was just so comfortable and intimate and just—I don’t know, it’s made of wood, so it sounded really great, you know?

Jim O'Brien: So that was it. You were sitting in the Pontchartrain Hotel, and you looked down, and that was it.

Steve Perry: It was the Pontchartrain. That’s it!

Jim O’Brien: So, Steve, if you were going to sing a Bob Seger song, which one would it be?

Steve Perry: Oh, Main Street. I’d love Main Street.

Jim O’Brien: Main Street.

Steve Perry: Main Street. I love that guy.

Jim O’Brien: So, if we could get Bob to do a Journey song, what would it be?

Steve Perry: Faithfully, probably.

Jim O’Brien: Oh, God.

Steve Perry: [Laughs]

Jim O’Brien: And now we got Chicken Skin again, Steve. I just got Chicken Skin.

Steve Perry: [Laughs] He’d sing a hole in that one. I’m telling you right now….no doubt about it.