Ross Valory discussed Journey’s success in a recent conversation with Total Rock.
“I haven’t been in touch with anybody except Steve Smith for a while. Everybody moved on with their lives,” he replied when asked whether he stayed in touch with Journey members.
Then, Valory talked about the issues within the band, “You put it delicately. So many people are curious about what went wrong. My point is we should talk about what went right. All musicians that come over the decade. The musicians remain, the band remains with Arnel singing and Jon and Neal. They continue to this day. I see them the best.”
Valory played with Journey from 1973 to 1985 and then again from 1995 to 2020. Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain accused Ross and drummer Steve Smith of trying to take over the band.
This led to a legal battle, and both sides sued each other. Valory denied the claims and said they only wanted to protect the band’s legacy. The dispute got serious with a lawsuit for over $10 million. It involved details about how the band was run and trademark rights.
Even though there was a tough argument, they reached a friendly agreement outside of court. “For me, it’s now a matter of history. There was controversy and personal and business conflicts,” Ross said in another chat. “But we worked out our differences in a relatively short time. We had a mediated settlement that everyone was happy with. And since that time, we’ve all gone our own way. The band continues to perform and do well.”
“What an experience, from this experimental fusion band into one of the top-rated popular bands. This is a band that reinvented itself twice. But to answer your question, certainly I miss it. I miss performing, and eventually, I will be doing so on my own,” he also reflected on his time with Journey.
Valory’s solo album, ‘All of the Above’ came out on April 12. Besides Smith, it featured former Journey drummer Prairie Prince, members of Santana, and Eric Levy from Night Ranger.