JOURNEY keyboardist Jonathan Cain has confirmed in a new interview that he has had almost no direct contact with the band's former singer Steve Perry since they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame two years ago. "He already said, in so many words, that he's not interested in a relationship with me or Neal [Schon, JOURNEY guitarist]," Cain told Michael Cavacini. "It came up when he was [doing the press rounds for his recently released solo album]. He was saying standoffish things. Interviewers even asked him about my book and he shut it down. "That's his loss — whatever," the keyboardist continued. "I don't live like that. Your decisions and your relationships are what you make them. If he chooses not to have one with myself or Neal, that's not my wish. But I'm understanding of his space, and I'll leave it at that. To me, JOURNEY just sold a million tickets on this last tour — our most successful one ever with Arnel [Pineda, current JOURNEY singer] — and I choose to be grateful for that. We have Arnel and that voice." Asked if he thinks Steve doesn't want to reconnect because he's afraid of something happening, Cain responded: "I can't even go there. You'd have to ask him. I remember when we decided to move on without him. Steve pretty much said, in so many words, 'Lose my number.' I don't have Steve's number and I don't talk to him. If he needs something, the publisher reaches out to us. And he's been very cooperative when it comes to publishing, licenses, approving and disapproving the way our music is used. And I'm usually in complete agreement with anything he says. We're still working together in a publishing way and I'm grateful for that. But, again, he has his life and we have our band and we move on. I can't really control that situation. It's what we make of it and that's where we're at." Last fall, when Rolling Stone interviewed Steve about his solo album, writer Andy Greene noted that Perry had "a look of disgust" when he was asked about Cain's memoir, "Don't Stop Believin'". "I don't really care to read Jonathan's book," Steve said. "And I'd appreciate if you didn't tell me about it. I don't need to know. It's none of my business." The former JOURNEY singer, who claimed to feel no bitterness toward anyone in the band, even though he'd seen the members only twice in the past 20 years, also said that he couldn't imagine working with Schon in any capacity again or even re-establishing the friendship. Steve made his comments in response to Neal's frequent public calls for a renewed collaboration. "I'm not sure that's possible without stirring up hopes of a reunion," Perry said. "Please listen to me. I left the band 31 fucking years ago, my friend. You can still love someone, but not want to work with them. And if they only love you because they want to work with you, that doesn't feel good to me." Perry reunited with JOURNEY for the first time in years as they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in April 2017. The iconic singer appeared onstage with his former bandmates as they each gave speeches, but did not perform with the group later in the event. During his speech, Perry praised each of JOURNEY musicians as well as the band's current singer, Arnel Pineda, who was not being inducted into the Rock Hall. "I must give a shoutout to a man who sings his heart out every night, Arnel Pineda," Perry said. Perry's final full concert with JOURNEY took place in early 1987. He later rejoined his bandmates for a brief performance in 1991 to honor late concert promoter Bill Graham. He also appeared with JOURNEY when they received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2005.
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