His famous flowing long black hair has gone grey, but would you recognize this legendary rock star today?
Shoppers at the upscale Erewhon market in Calabasas, California, didn’t seem to know who this former chart-topper who had hit singles and eight multiplatinum albums with his band in the 1970s and ’80s.
Jon Bon Jovi once dubbed this soulful crooner and songwriter as simply ‘The Voice’ and his impressive range filled arenas on countless sold out tours.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 and last year Billboard readers voted him as their #1 favorite rock singer of all time.
In 1985, he was one of the select 46 famous vocalists who participated in the iconic We Are The World fundraising song for Africa.
Did you guess who it is yet?
DailyMail.com spotted this front man of a legendary rock group shopping at upscale Erewhon market in Calabasas, California
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 and Jon Bon Jovi once dubbed this crooner ‘The Voice’
The 75-year-old singer’s long black hair has now gone grey. His distinctive ‘high tenor altino’ and impressive range filled packed arenas around on countless tours
The singer, who is ultra private, was accompanied by his blond girlfriend for his outing
The singer parked his white Mercedes in a handicapped spot right out front with his placard hanging from the rear view mirror
It’s former Journey front man Steve Perry!
DailyMail.com spotted the quiet and unassuming 75-year-old blending in with other locals busy shopping for high-priced groceries.
He was wearing what appeared to be hiking attire.
Perry and his blond girlfriend bought grab-and-go items like sandwiches from the deli, snacks, sushi, and sparkling waters.
He parked his white Mercedes in a handicapped spot right out front with his placard hanging from the rear view mirror, and could be seen trying to figure out where to put his shopping cart.
Perry appeared to be in good spirits despite several medical issues that have plagued him over the years.
In 1998 he had hip replacement surgery, and last year he reported two successful surgeries to remove cancerous moles. He struggles with arthritis and says he ‘lives on anti-inflammatories.’
The ultra private singer has been known to be moody and elusive when in public. Back in 2018 the New York Times reported that during an interview with him at a Malibu restaurant a fan approached asking if he was Steve Perry.
‘I used to be Steve Perry,’ he responded flatly.
High praise: He has been dubbed ‘The Voice’, a moniker originally coined by Jon Bon Jovi; he is pictured performing in Detroit back in May 1980
Perry is pictured (left) being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2017. He’s since let his dark hair go grey
Perry was the lead singer of the rock band during their most commercially successful periods from 1977 to 1987, and again from 1995 to 1998 and provides the distinctive vocals for hits Don’t Stop Believin’ and Open Arms. The band is pictured in June 1979
The San Francisco-based band Journey had been around for four years before Perry joined in 1978 but had not had widespread commercial success.
It wasn’t until songs like Don’t Stop Believin’, Oh Sherrie, Foolish Heart and more catapulted the band into the record books with 52 million albums sold, making them the 11th best-selling band, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
Perry is said to have invented the ‘power ballad’ with songs like Send Her My Love, Open Arms, and Faithfully.
Like many talented artists, his mercurial personality caused him to have friction with his band mates.
Perry left Journey after a decade in 1987, then briefly reuniting with them from 1995-1998.
An only child of Portuguese immigrants, he was raised on a dairy farm in Central California after his parents divorce at eight years old.
He says he was inspired to become a singer after hearing the Sam Cooke classic song Cupid at age 12.
Perry left Journey after a decade in 1987, then briefly reunited with them from 1995-1998
Last month he posted a screenshot of a Forbes headline that read, ‘Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ Is Officially The Biggest Song Of All Time’
He has been intensely private about his personal life. While he has never married, he says he has a daughter, and even grandchildren but refuses to elaborate.
He now pursues his own endeavors that bring him joy, like his Christmas album The Season that he released in November of 2021.
While he’s had ups and downs with his former band members, he seems to be proud of what he was able to accomplish with them.
Last month he posted a screenshot of a Forbes headline that read, ‘Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ Is Officially The Biggest Song Of All Time.’
Under it he wrote: ‘When this article came out yesterday I was so emotionally stunned. To be part of such a moment as this made me reflect on my parents. By that I mean, though I lost them both years ago, I was so happy for them because they are truly the reason this is happening.
‘My Dad was a singer and both of them were very musical. So on behalf of my Mom and Dad, I thank every one of you for so many years of support. Sincerely Steve Perry.’
