Former Journey frontman Steve Perry made a triumphant return to the stage on Sunday night (25May14) when he joined rockers eels for impromptu, pitch-perfect renditions of classics Open Arms and Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' at their Minnesota gig.

The show at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul marked Perry's first public performance since the late 1990s.

The singer quit Journey in 1986 but briefly reunited with the group a decade later. His name has been back in the news recently after he revealed he was discussing a possible comeback with his former bandmates.

However, guitarist Neal Schon insists a reunion is no longer a talking point, explaining, "I think when Steve mentioned that, when somebody put him on the spot and asked him, we had been (communicating) with email, just saying, 'Hello, I hope you're well,' all that.

"He opened the door and shut the door. It wasn't anybody but him that created all that media for a second, and so we do want to reassure the fans that no, (current frontman) Arnel (Pineda) has not gone anywhere. He's still right here with us."