August 3, 2018 – From time to time there are Steve Perry sightings, I mean like about every ten years or so. I’m not sure what goes through that man’s head, but whatever it is, he keeps a really low profile. Until lately, that is.

Sure it’s not some full-scale announcement of a long-awaited return to Journey. In fact, the best I can tell, Journey is still on tour, Journey, the version fronted by Arnel Pineda, that is. Journey of that persuasion is set to conclude its joint-billing with Def Leppard in Los Angeles on October 7, 2018. Also, and this is one of the Steve Perry sightings, on October 7, CBS will air an interview with Steve Perry, recorded from a trip Steve took to his hometown of Hanford, California for the interview. Is it just a coincidence those events, namely the airing of Steve’s CBS interview and the last date of Journey’s current tour, are on the same date? Could that interview be an announcement that Steve will do something with Journey?

That’s what some people are speculating.

But it could simply be publicity for the sake of Steve. Last year Steve was supposed to release a record of what was billed to be “emotional” songs. But 2017 came and went with no Steve Perry release. Perhaps, the October 7 interview is pre-publicity for a new release. Or….

Perhaps Steve wants to perform?

That could be. A couple of weeks ago, Steve dropped in on the rehearsal of the band Toad the Wet Sprocket. That’s performing. But what is the end game?

A short time before that, Steve dropped in on the American Idol finale. The contestant covered Don’t Stop Believin’, and Steve became part of the critique. Everyone, and these are celebrity judges, was star-struck. Again, though, what was that end game?

There are other rumblings too, Journey-based rumblings: Journey’s guitarist Neal Schon publicly stating he wants to work with Steve Perry again. Mind you, Neal was talking about doing R&B songs, saying he doesn’t think Steve wants to make another Journey record. Whatever all these Steve Perry sightings mean, and meaning no ill-will to Arnel Pineda, how cool would it be if Steve Perry actually is planning to do something with Journey?

This is Steve… testing the publicity waters. For something. I’m almost sure of it. It makes that October concert date look pretty tempting. Guest appearance? Humm…. if only I knew. How does one get a front-row ticket in this day and age? I’m not sure I could stand to see a reunited Journey with Steve Perry — the first man who ever paid any attention to me in my long-ago front-row seat — from the nose bleeds, or even from the third row for that matter. No, this must be done, if it is to be, in a very grand way. Perhaps I’ll even paint a sheet with the words “we love Journey” and get that paint stuck for ten years on my driveway, just like before.

Is he or isn’t he? I honestly can’t tell. But whatever he’s doing, I think it’s something. And I wish him the very best luck in whatever he’s up to, even if it’s a solo album. And those nice sentiments out of the way, I wish for Journey to reunite with Steve Perry. For me! See, I bet you wondered what the Genie was for. Now you know. So it’s one wish for Steve Perry. One wish for me. Now for that third wish….