An interesting dichotomy between Greg Rollie, an accomplished musician who can’t’ read a note, and Steve Vai, who got his first gig by transcribing Frank Zappa’s music onto paper.
I wonder if he had a measles vaccine, polio vaccine or a tetanus shot. It was a pandemic it was real and he didn’t have to take the vaccine. When I clicked on this it started with a trump commercial. Last time I’ll click on anything having to do with him.
I loved when Greg and Steve Perry would harmonize on songs such as “Feeling that Way”, such an awesome sound! Greg is such an underrated musician and singer.
Excellent conversation here. Greg is a regular guy. I first learned of him by watching Soul Sacrifice on the Woodstock vhs tape. There were no rules back then. It was made up as you went along. Anyone and everyone who dares dabble in music needs to watch that video. It’s a rite of passage. It’s a very intoxicating piece of film.
Too bad that the original band utterly blew it. Santana has contracts and promises and Carlos refuses to stand by them..how enlightened. And for those of you who were not there..this band was SO SO BIG. In 1971 they and The Rolling Stones were the biggest band in the world. These guys were so different than what came before its like self sabotage.
I met Herbie Herbert at Jim Gabberts TV 20. He asked me for some pot and he gave me his business card for Nightmare Productions. He introduced himself as Sy until some lady walked up to him and said "Hi Herbie" I then said, "Didn't you say your name was Sy?" to which he replied, "I have a band named the Sy Klopps Blues Band, and so I introduce myself as Sy". Herbie was wearing a tie-dye shirt and a black leather vest with a button that said "Legalize Marijuana" I did not know about Herbie's history with Santana and Journey when I met him. He is one of the most down-to-earth, kind, and gentle people I have met. I was not aware Herbie passed on to the spiritual. Peace be with you Herbie.
Gregg Rolie was one of my first heros, I would have been 11 years old in 69' so when my brother had the first album I was hooked then. Became a new guitar player in 71' but I always had a soft spot for B3 and man could this guy play, and what a voice. Never could get enough of that band. Then the second album. Wow. Fast forward to Journey, and what a band they were. I was a Mahavishnu fan so the birth of fusion of rock and jazz was a great time for me, the first Journey album will always be their best. I'm glad Gregg is still at it. What a treasure.
It's so great discovering his statement about the reason he stopped doing what he had been doing for about 7 years. He's the one who is right about that, among others.
I knew him as an acquaintance (neighbor of his good friend) and overheard him say that in his high school group William Penn and His Pals the first time he sang in public he turned green with stage fright...
I saw William Penn and his pals at the Cow Palace. Gregg was great then. Later he used to rehearse with Boz Skaggs at a church across from my backyard. Jammed with Santana at a commune in Sonoma before he had a band didn't know he was a guitar player until I saw him at the Tuesday night Fillmore jam. He was playing harmonica at the commune as half naked girls danced.
Wondered what Mr Rolie thought of Santana’s 4th LP Caravanserai, which to my ears was a departure to the previous Santana LP’s. Also was curious about his work on Journey’s pre Steve Perry 1st record. A great live group with a ripping instrumental “Kohoutek”. Also wondered about rhythm guitarist George Tickner’s story. Thank you for the interview with this great musician with an immense, impressive discography.
Sort of interesting until the end when he talks about being a anti-vaxer. When you’re wealthy and insulated from so many things you can be that way and take those chances I guess.
I was about to comment about it myself and decided to first look at the comments. Okay so here's the truth: all the "conspiracy theories" have been proven to be true a million times over, and the "conspiracy theorists" are up 1,000 to Zero. If you don't know that now, and you don't seem to, then you are in trouble. Unless you're not for real with that, which is a real possibility (also proven to be true a million times over). The only major platform where free speech is still happening (though very far from perfect) is X, so you should spend time on X and see all the people among the world's smartest and most accomplished who can also tell you this and see how the truth has been posted there by many. Otherwise if you rely on mainstream "news" or the more heavily censored social platforms then you can kiss your life and health goodbye or at least you're at high risk of that and playing Russian roulette based on proven lies.
He used his brain unlike my 5 dead friends that all died in the same month after boosting. Just came from a music party and found out 3 more vxxd friends died.
Saw their first big show as Journey, opening for the Doobies at the Cow Palace on New Year's Eve way back when... an all star lineup for an opening act
Gregg, I was a huge Journey fan in the early days. I still remember the concert poster that I had for decades that described the band as a group of musicians who had all had enough success that they never needed to play again and formed the band purely to do what THEY WANTED TO DO. Love what you did in that band and saw you guys a couple times back in those days! Great to hear about your later career which, I did not know.
As a musician, I loved Journey from the beginning. But, not to take away from the band after Perry came into the band, but I really appreciate the early instrumental Journey more than the vocal centered Perry era.
For me, as a huge E.L.P. fan, before there was Keith Emerson, there was Greg Rolie, his organ playing was so integral to the Santana sound...and, of course, his singing was spot on, from Evil Ways on through Caravanserai.
It drives me absolutely nuts when an interviewer asks a question and then constantly interrupts with “yep” while the person that they are interviewing is talking.
This guy cut off Gregg when asking about Perry and Gregg was just about to comment on his issue with him and the dude cuts him off - so frustrating not knowing what he was gonna divulge . This guy isn’t a great interviewer but Gregg did open up about a lot despite this .
For me Journey took a really hard hit when Greg left. They were still really successful but it wasn’t the same. Greg has an incredible voice and his and Steve’s together had an amazing chemistry…which is what all the great bands have.
What an interesting and down to earth guy! Them guys sounded super great playing Rosana with Ringo, Luke, and Mark Rivera. The bass player does have a great voice.
