Walter Herbert (manager)
| Walter Herbert | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Walter James Herbert II |
| Born | February 5, 1948 |
| Origin | Berkeley, California, USA |
| Genres | R&B, soul |
| Occupation(s) | Manager, Promoter, Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Lead vocalist |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Labels | Sy Records |
Walter James "Herbie" Herbert II (born 5 February 1948) is the former manager of rock band Journey, The Storm, and a vocalist for the Sy Klopps Blues Band. Born and raised in Berkeley, Herbert is a self-proclaimed hippie and fan of the Grateful Dead.
Herbert got his start in the music business with the aid of his mentor Bill Graham. Through Graham, Herbert became a roadie for the multi-platinum-selling band Santana (where he met Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie). He managed Frumious Bandersnatch (where he met Ross Valory and George Tickner). When Santana imploded in 1973, Herbert put together the original lineup of Journey and remained its manager through 1993. Herbert was heavily involved in all business aspects of the band and traveled as their road manager. With a sharp business sense, Herbert brought everything in house under the name of Nightmare Productions and pioneered the use of large screen videos, impressive lighting and sound for arena-sized concerts. A shrewd businessman, Herbert made a fortune with Journey's real estate holdings, Nocturne video company, and catalog management. He and Jim Welch, his art director, devised a creative marketing plan to promote the band using the Grateful Dead's artists Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelly, thematic one-worded album titles, and exposure at point-of-purchase outlets. In 1993 Steve Perry asked that he resign from managing Journey due to personality conflicts.
In addition to his work with Journey, Herbert brought Swedish rock groups Roxette and Europe to the United States in the mid to late-1980s, and managed Mr. Big and R&B artist Tara Kemp and rock band Signal. In the late 1990s, Herbert moved from backstage into the spotlight, recording three albums as Sy Klopps and touring the San Francisco Bay Area with the Sy Klopps Band, which has included current and former Journey band members Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Prairie Prince, and Ross Valory.