Neal Schon understands that fans would love to see Steve Perry perform with Journey. However, as he has repeatedly stated, it’s a door — even from a friendship standpoint — that seems to be permanently closed.

In a 2012 interview with UCR, the guitarist and cofounder noted, “We didn’t kick him out — he walked.” He expressed regret over the lack of contact with his former bandmate, who left the group for the final time in 1998.

“I hope that someday, we can reach a point where I can pick up the telephone and talk to him without going through management and attorneys,” he said then. “I still don’t quite understand why we can’t just talk one-on-one, for whatever reason, just to say hello. Not to pressure anybody to do anything or anything like that – it wouldn’t be like that. [It would be] just in a friendly manner.”

Although they embraced during Journey’s 2017 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, their communication status has largely remained unchanged. The guitarist claims he has “zero dialogue” with Perry at present.

READ MORE: The Rift That Steve Perry Fixed at Journey’s Rock Hall Induction

“I reached out, wrote him an email, and I’m sure it’s probably still his email because he did reach back to me about a year ago through the email,” Schon shared in a new interview with Eddie Trunk. “[I] invited him to the [San Francisco] Giants game because I knew that he was a fan as well and was going to be there. It would be cool just to catch up, hang out, and watch a ballgame, but [I] never heard anything back. So, I mean, you can’t keep chasing something that’s just not interested in correlating with you.”

Regardless, Schon continues to wish his old friend well in whatever he might pursue. “I think we’ve seen that he wants to still create and you know, more would be great,” he says. “I was totally behind his [Traces] album. When he released his album, I thought there was some very good material on it. I’d like to see him create some more.”

Is Journey Working on New Music?

When Trunk asked about the possibility of new material from Journey, the prolific guitarist quickly confirmed that he has no shortage of ideas, but coordinating with the various band members would be essential. “I’m always working on new material and I have quite a lot compiled this year during our time off and many ideas for new songs,” he offered. “[We would need] to get in a room and throw it around and see what happens with it. We get very inspired once we are together in a room actually rehearsing. You know, anything could happen.”

On a positive note, Schon mentioned that after taking a hiatus from touring in 2025, Journey (with longtime singer Arnel Pineda) will return to the road next year. In fact, they have as many as 120 shows booked over the next two years, including an April 25 appearance at the Stagecoach Music Festival. “We’re going to dig deep and the sets are going to be much longer,” he reported. “I think our fans are really going to enjoy what we’re putting together for them.”