NEAL SCHON Is Done Talking About Possible Reunion With STEVE PERRY: 'I'm Just Gonna Give It A Rest'

Neal Schon says that he will stop making overtures to former JOURNEY singer Steve Perry about a possible reunion. "I'm gonna not say anything more about it," he told AZ Central in a new interview. "I've gone way out on a limb in so many different ways and all I can tell you is that he's not contacted me to have that coffee yet. So I'm just gonna give it a rest."

Perry, who hasn't played a full show with JOURNEY in more than three decades, returned last fall with his first solo record since the '90s, "Traces".

"Did I listen to his record?" Schon said. "Yeah, I listened to his record. And I hear a lot of emotion in it. I understood where the record was coming from and I thought he sounded very good. I said, 'Well, if we ever got together, I definitely know where I'd go with him, in more of a blues and R&B thing.' But I'm just gonna leave it alone because it just seems like he wants to have his own time to do things and not have a bunch of people talking to him about 'Are you gonna get together with Neal? Are you gonna do JOURNEY?' And all those answers are always, 'No. No. No. No.' But then every once in a while, he says something that gives you the feeling that he's open to it. But after a while, you just have to leave things alone and let them take their own course."

As for JOURNEY's future, Schon said: "We've already committed to a tour in 2020 with some dates this year. We're doing a residency in Vegas in October and we have a couple corporate shows and a couple other things before that. But the rest of the year is off."

Last October, Perry told Rolling Stone that he couldn't imagine working with Schon in any capacity again or even re-establishing their friendship.

The singer 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.

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.

Photo credit: Stephanie Savoia