November 21 [8:35 EDT] -- It appears that Eddie Van Halen (Edward to his friends) at least for the time being has avoided hip surgery, but Journey singer Steve Perry may not be so lucky.

Journey manager Irving Azoff told Australian journalist Andrew McNeice that Perry's hip is not healing with therapy and that he will have to have an operation before he can tour. And with Perry unable to tour to support a CD release, the band is also not recording.

McNeice's well-documented quest for Journey news was a story in itself, but his efforts were finally rewarded last week when he connected with Azoff who told him Perry was "on medical leave" from Journey and that contrary to rumors, the band has not broken up. (Azoff added that Perry has also not "found God"). He is, however, working under the name Steve Perry, not Journey. He's been in the studio with David Foster and will be on the soundtrack for the animated probable blockbuster, "The Quest," due out next year.

As

for the rest of the band, Neal Schon has just recorded a blues project with his new band "Piranha Blues" which includes Journey bandmate Ross Valory (bass) as well as Prairie Prince (drums), and Richard Martin Ross (vocal) with some assistance from another Journey alumni, Jonathan Cain. Schon and Cain have recently released instrumental 'new age' records. Valory has also been playing sessions in Europe while Steve Smith has been doing drum festivals in Europe and Japan.

Van Halen fans had been told that the guitarist required surgery this fall, but a statement from the band's management released last week says that his hip had not deteriorated and had seen improvement. As a result the doctor have opted to put the surgery on hold, also with consideration to the fact a lifetime model would soon be on the market as opposed to the current replacement hip that only lasts 10-years.

The album Van Halen III with Gary Cherone on vocals is due for release February 24 and the band

is scheduled to tour to support it, beginning March 6 in New Zealand.