He was the front man of a legendary band in the ’80s and dubbed ‘The Voice’ by Jon Bon Jovi. Now this Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, 75, goes unnoticed at the grocery store – can you guess who he is?
His famous wavy long black hair has turned gray, but would you recognize this legendary rock star today?
Shoppers at the upscale Erewhon Market in Calabasas, California, seemed unaware of the former chart-topper who had released singles and eight multiplatinum albums with his band in the 1970s and 1980s.
Jon Bon Jovi once referred to this soulful crooner and songwriter simply as “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 their #1 favorite rock singer of all time.
In 1985, he was one of a selected 46 famous vocalists to participate in the iconic We Are The World fundraising song for Africa.
Have you guessed who it is yet?
DailyMail.com spotted this frontman of a legendary rock group shopping at the chic Erewhon Market in Calabasas, California
In 2017 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Jon Bon Jovi once called this crooner ‘The Voice’
The 75-year-old singer’s long black hair has now turned gray. His characteristic ‘high tenor altino’ and impressive range filled packed arenas on countless tours
The singer, who is ultra private, was accompanied by his blonde girlfriend during his outing
The singer parked his white Mercedes in a disabled spot right in front of the door, with his sign on the rear-view mirror
It’s former Journey frontman Steve Perry!
DailyMail.com spotted the quiet and unassuming 75-year-old, mingling with other locals, busy buying expensive groceries.
He was wearing what appeared to be hiking clothes.
Perry and his blonde girlfriend bought grab-and-go items like deli sandwiches, snacks, sushi and sparkling water.
He parked his white Mercedes in a handicap spot right in front of the door, with his sign hanging from the rearview mirror, and you could see him trying to figure out where to put his shopping cart.
Perry seemed in good spirits, despite several medical issues that have plagued him over the years.
In 1998, he underwent hip replacement surgery and last year reported two successful operations to remove cancerous moles. He struggles with arthritis and says he “lives on anti-inflammatories.”
The ultra-private singer is known to be moody and elusive in public. In 2018, the New York Times reported that during an interview with him at a Malibu restaurant, a fan approached him and asked if he was Steve Perry.
“I used to be Steve Perry,” he replied flatly.
High praise: He’s been called “The Voice,” a name originally coined by Jon Bon Jovi; he is pictured performing in Detroit in May 1980
Perry is pictured (left) being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2017. He has since let his dark hair turn gray
Perry was the rock band’s lead singer during their most commercially successful periods from 1977 to 1987, and again from 1995 to 1998, providing signature vocals for hits Don’t Stop Believin’ and Open Arms. The band is pictured in June 1979
The San Francisco band Journey had been around for four years before Perry joined in 1978, but had not had major commercial success.
It wasn’t until songs like Don’t Stop Believin’, Oh Sherrie, Foolish Heart and more that 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. America.
Perry is said to have invented the ‘power ballad’ with songs such as Send Her My Love, Open Arms and Faithfully.
Like many talented artists, his erratic personality caused him friction with his bandmates.
Perry left Journey after ten years in 1987 and then briefly reunited with them from 1995-1998.
The only child of Portuguese immigrants, he grew up on a dairy farm in Central California after his parents divorced at the age of eight.
He says he was inspired to become a singer after hearing Sam Cooke’s classic song Cupid at the age of 12.
Perry left Journey after ten years in 1987, then briefly reunited with them from 1995 to 1998
Last month, he posted a screenshot of a Forbes headline that read: Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ Is Officially the Greatest Song of All Time.
He has been intensely private about his personal life. Although he has never married, he says he has a daughter and even grandchildren, but he refuses to elaborate.
He is now pursuing his own endeavors that bring him joy, such as his Christmas album The Season which he released in November 2021.
Although he has had ups and downs with his former bandmates, he seems to be proud of what he was able to achieve with them.
Last month, he posted a screenshot of a Forbes headline that read: Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ Is Officially the Greatest Song of All Time.’
Below it he wrote: ‘When this article came out yesterday I was so emotionally stunned. Being part of such a moment made me think about my parents. By that I mean that even though I lost them both years ago, I was so happy for them because they are truly the reason this is happening.
‘My father was a singer and both were very musical. On behalf of my father and mother, I thank you all for so many years of support. Kind regards, Steve Perry.”