If you think the Journey sound IS Steve Perry than you obviously don't listen to Neal Schon's guitar. ONCE AGAIN, IT IS NEAL'S BAND, IT ALWAYS WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE.

Also, a lot of rock fans prefer the songs that Rolie is contributing vocals on (Rolie is not their original vocalist however) - just the Same Way, Anytime, Feeling that Way. Matter of fact, those 3 are pretty much all Rock radio will play here.

It is YOUR opinion that Perry is Journey. The Journey family is trying to still make Journey sounding music. Bad English was a different band - they didn't attempt to make Journey sounding music

By the way, in case you were confused, Oh Sherrie is NOT a Journey song, even though Perry is on vocals. Also, I Stand Alone is not a Journey song, even though Perry is on vocals. Journey has a new voice.....it has happened before.

Is Journey better without Perry? - hard to say, probably not better than Perry's best work with them, but they have no choice. And Arrival had damn well better be stronger than Raised on Radio and Trial by Fire. Those 2 albums are not played much by me, and Journey doesn't touch them much in concert either (some but not as much as others).

Will this Journey be successful? - hopefuly, but it will be quite the task, as many people don't appreciate music as much as the vocals, and Perry is the man with the vocals that they know.

Does the lengthy delay hurt Journey's respect among casual fans and rock fans - yepper, but they have no choice. The only thing the fans can hope for is better promoting leading up to it.