history of band journey

Journey: Band Members and History

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For over 40 years, Journey has been one of the greatest classic rock bands of all time. The band has released 23 albums and 43 singles since 1975 and has reached worldwide album sales totaling more than 75 million. 

But how exactly did Journey come to be? The San Francisco band got its start in 1973. Santana's former road manager, Herbie Herbert, recruited two of that band's members (Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon) and former Steve Miller Band bassist Ross Valory to form the Golden Gate Rhythm Section—the band that later became Journey.

The original Journey band members included Gregg Rolie on vocals and the keyboard, Neal Schon on guitar and vocals, George Tickner on guitar, Ross Valory on bass and vocals, and Prairie Prince on drums. 

Their first album was released in 1975 and established the band's jazz-influenced progressive rock sound. After several personnel changes, Steve Perry signed on as lead vocalist, launching the band's greatest period of commercial success from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s. Many people remember Steve as the face of the band.

The Best Album

The group's seventh album, Escape,  produced three hit singles and sold over 9 million copies. In addition to its commercial success, the album also received critical acclaim that has eluded them through most of their existence. Arguably, the most popular song put out by Journey is "Don't Stop Believin'." Originally released in 1981, the song became a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at No. 9. The song has been used in near countless films in American TV and cinema including  Monster, Glee , the season finale of  The Sopranos , and  Rock of Ages. 

Journey Band Members Over the Years

In 2005, the band (along with original members Schon and Valory) marked its 30th anniversary with the release of its 23rd album,  Generations  and an anniversary tour, at times featuring some of the many former members of the group. In December 2006, Jeff Scott Soto replaced Steve Augeri as lead vocalist. Soto had been filling in for several months after Augeri was sidelined with a chronic throat infection. Soto was replaced a few months later by Arnel Pineda , vocalist for a Filipino cover band who was hired as a result of a video he posted on YouTube.

The band has been on a journey as it has evolved from past members including Steve Perry to its current members. 

Past Journey band members include the following:

• Steve Perry (1977-1998)
• Aynsley Dunbar (1974-1978)
• Robert Fleischman (1977)
• Steve Smith (1978-1985, 1995-1998)
• Randy Jackson (1985-1987)
• Steve Augeri (1998-2006)

Current Journey band members:

• Neal Schon - guitar (1973-present)
• Jonathan Cain - keyboards (1980-present)
• Ross Valory - bass (1973-1985, 1995-present)
• Arnel Pineda - vocals (2007-present)
• Deen Castronovo - drums (1998-present)

Fun Facts About Journey

• Journey music has been part of the animated TV shows South Park and Family Guy, and movies Caddyshack and BASEketball.
• The group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005 and was inducted into the San Francisco Music Hall of Fame in 2003.
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Journey Band History

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Journey Quick Facts Up Front

Gregg rolie, steve perry, jonathan cain, steve smith, ross valory, journey (1975); look into the future(1976); next (1977), infinity (1970), evolution (1979); departure (1980), dream, after dream (1980), escape (1981), raised in radio (1986), trail by fire (1996), arrivals (2000), revelation (2008), freedom (2022).

• Early Days Journey in their Fusion Days: Journey - Full Concert - 03/30/74 - Winterland (OFFICIAL) 
• Arguably the Best Group Lineup Performing During the Escape Tour: Journey - Don’t Stop Believin’ (from Live in Houston 1981: The Escape Tour) 
• A Recent Performance with Schon at the Helm. Pineda’s Vocal Performance is Stunning: Journey Live @ Lollapalooza Chicago 2021 

The Journey Lawsuit & Replacements

Did journey sell out.

The glorious days of arena rock would not be as memorable without Journey. There could not be a better name for a band that went through many changes, successes, and failures and almost single-handedly rose the power ballad to the charts.

Journey’s band history is the epitome of 80s rock and the clashes between some of the most extraordinary rock musicians of the time.

Like all Journey fans, the first songs I heard were Steve Perry’s lead emotional ballads. He was the perfect singer for the ideal backing band. Yet, listening years later as a musician, I understood that it was not Steve Perry’s or Neal Schon’s Journey; the group’s creative chemistry made it all happen. Apart from the most commercially relevant period, Journey was and still stands strong. This bio might introduce you to some aspects and periods of the band that are now almost forgotten.

Journey Members You Should Know

The lineup changes are crucial to Journey’s band history. Nowadays, with only Neil Schon left as a founding member, we need to go back to the early days to understand who wrote and played the songs that made them famous.

All lineups were made up of the top rock musicians of each era. Not all, though, contribute as much as others. 

Neil George Joseph Schon (born February 27, 1954, in Oklahoma) is the band’s guitar player, founding member, and occasional songwriter.

Born in a musical family, Schon soon became a child prodigy after starting playing guitar at ten and being recruited by Santana at age 17. By the time he started Journey, he had experience playing in one of the best bands in the world and was fluent in jazz, rock, and Latin music.  

Neal Schon is one of the most melodic guitar players of all time. He essentially shifted my perspective of a rock solo to a musical piece that tells a story rather than a power shred, which he occasionally tastefully adds. 

Schon was always the leader behind the scenes, taking a significant say in all the band’s important decisions and even personally firing and replacing members. As a solo artist, he released nine albums and founded the bands “Hardline” and “Bad English.”

Gregg Alan Rolie (born June 17, !947, in Washington) is a founding member and journey original keyboard player and vocalist. As a Santana band member, Rolie was already a senior musician by the time Schon joined. He arguably shared with Santana the same success as with Journey, singing and playing in some of their biggest hits.

He formed Journey in 1973 and co-wrote the band’s first six albums before being replaced by the pressure of Steve Perry’s musical choices.

Rolie was as essential as Schon in creating the “Journey Sound” with signature Hammond, piano sound, and a bed of synths that backed the band’s rock groove. 

Rolie is one of the most prolific musicians ever, with a successful solo career after his time with the band. He founded with Journey’s ex-member “The Storm.” He was part of Ringo Star’s “All Starr Band.”

Steve Ray Perry (born January 22, 1949, in Hanford, California) was Journey’s lead singer, frontman, and main songwriter in their most successful years.

Perry’s exceptional vocal range and affinity for writing ballads and pop songs gave Journey what they needed to become the biggest arena rock band in the world. His musical beginning, though, was unsuccessful, with many failed attempts, sometimes even from misfortunes.

Manager Herbert picked up one of Perry’s demos while he had returned to working on his family’s farm and called him to perform with the band while Rober Fleischman was already hired as a singer. One song performed during soundcheck with the band sealed his place as frontman.

Perry undoubtedly came at the right time in the right band to change it all for Journey. The mental cost of fame and several misfortunes, the last a degenerative bone disease, forced him out of the band. 

Jonathan Leonard Friga (born February 2, 1950, in Chicago, Illinois) was Journey’s most prolific keyboard player, coming in to replace Rolie and helping write the band’s most successful material.

Cain is a multi-instrumentalist who made a name for himself with the band “The Babys.” which opened for Journey. His ability to write with Perry was what convinced the singer to replace the already prolific Rolie.

Cain turned the already well-tuned Journey rhythm section into a hit-power ballad maker. Unlike Rolie, Cain’s signature is more straightforward melodic piano intros that laid the bed for tunes such as “In My Arms” or “Don’t Stop Believing.”

He was part of “Bad English” and recently started publishing Christian Rock records while serving as a Worship leader with his wife. 

Steve Bruce Smith (born August 21, 1954, in Whitman, Massachusetts) was Journey’s drummer through their most prolific years and is widely considered one of the best musicians to ever sit behind a kit.

Smith is one of the most recorded drummers in history, having played sessions for virtually every top charting artist. He was voted five times in a row No.1 All-around Drummer from Modern Drummer magazine and inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame.

The session legend was part of three different Journey Lineups, part of Journey member’s spin-off group “The Storm,” and led his jazz-fusion groups.

Ross Lamont Valory (born February 2, 1949, in San Francisco) is a founding member of Journey and the bass player in two different lineups.

Like the other founding members, Valory played with a legendary group before forming Journey. He was part of Frumious Bandersnatch and later Steve Miller Band. He holds a special place in Journey’s history, playing in all but one studio record. Even when he was not part of the band, he was hired to write and record bass tracks.

Valory is a master bass player who uses his variation of a “Nashville Tuning,” Where the 4-string bass is tuned to B-E-A-D. He continued his career in the 90s with “The Storm,” like most original Journey members.

Journey started as the most accidental Supergroup ever in a time when the notion was still new. Ex-member of Santana and Steve Miller members got together to form their prog rock, jazz fusion band called “The Golden Gate Rhythm Section.”

The mastermind behind much of Journey’s career was their manager Herbier Herbert who previously managed Santana. 

The band would perform as a backing band for Bay Area artists, with Schon and George Tickner on guitar, Rolie on Keyboards and vocals, Valory on bass, and Prairie Prince on drums. The latter would be replaced by Aynsley Dunbar around the same time Tickner quit.

The early “Journey” never achieved commercial success, mostly due to their previous musically complex influences and the lack of a strong frontman. Roli was an excellent keyboard player and vocalist, but his old-style appeal was not what the band needed to relate to young audiences.

As a band, Journey has evolved and changed more than most. It sounds like a different band from the 1st to their 14th studio album. I’ll detail most of their stunning discography according to their impact on the band and rock music.

The first 3 Journey albums are a musical treat for every sophisticated rock lover. The complex compositions, delicate songwriting, and individual chops of members are three key elements that made them. There are no weak songs in any of them, yet there are not many memorable ones.

The Debut album is the ex-Santana and Steve Miller Band members having fun. The prog style might be their favorite thing to do, but as prog rock was slowly going off the charts, rock audiences needed something else.

From the first to the third album, the experimentation leaves off more place for catchy tracks. With Roli at the creative front and Herbert at the back, the band seemed to tone down their fusion influences to achieve success finally.

Commercially none of the albums did exceptionally well, and most of the band’s time was spent touring and trying to promote them.

As a guitar player and prog rock freak, I love early Journey sometimes more than the Steve Perry one. I find Neal Schon’s best guitar performances when some glimpses of jazz fusion are put in the mix.

Not to say that his later solos were less iconic, but later I found he would mainly “serve the songs” while the guitars made the song on the early Records. The same can be said about every lead instrument.

Depending on your background and taste, you could either love this version of Journey or, like many new fans, skip the three albums entirely. If you belong to the second group, I will encourage you to listen to the first song from the Debut Album, “Of a lifetime, “and you might change your mind.

The Much Needed Lead Singer 

The musical chemistry, management, and inspiration were there for Journey, but their image and performances lacked the strong crowd-pleasing frontman. Behind the Keyboards, singing lead vocals, Roli did his part musically, but not stylistically.

The band’s first singer, hired with Herber’s suggestion, was glam rocker Robert Fleischman. With a high register and great stage presence, Fleischman toured successfully with Journey in 1977 until Steve Perry replaced him after he sang one in soundcheck with the band on the same tour.

Perry not only performed flawlessly exciting songs but managed to bond immediately with Neil Schon in writing their first songs together. The band changed direction and with that also their drummer. Session ace Smith replaced Dunbar, who was unhappy with the new pop direction of the band.

The first album with Perry as lead vocalist launched the band to commercial success reaching No. 21 on Billboard. “Infinity” marks the band’s change in musical direction, with Queen’s producer Roy Thomas Baker directing the shift.

The album is strong in every aspect. The songwriting, production, intent, and musicianship are top-notch. It combines the band’s collected materials and Perry’s melancholic songwriting over the years. His voice added character to the virtuoso band that needed it. My favorite song from the album is “Wheel in the Sky,” written by Fleischman and the band before Perry joined in. Perry’s voice, though, I think, does it more justice.

It starts with Neil Schon’s classically influenced guitar part and develops to a hard rock tone with a country riff. The mixture of different genres is, I think, what makes all individuals of the band shine.

The two songs that better defined the band’s musical direction were the power ballads “Lights” and “Patiently.” Slow-tempo emotional tracks with a solid vocal melody that builds up to guitar solos and live encores. Both tracks are now legendary and staples of the band’s live shows.

The following two Journey studio albums saw the band’s rise to fame, each doing better than the previous. They were headlining tours and festivals and having crowds resonate massively with their songs for the first time.

Both albums continued where “Infinity” left off, merging Perry’s now-proven hit songwriting skills with the band’s musicianship. The new frontman was now contributing to all the songs and indirectly dictating the band’s sound. Not all songs are great, though; most lack memorable hooks and fade compared to the hits.

My favorite of the two albums is “Departure.” There’s a spice more of prog rock in that album which I think brings out the best of the band. After all, the band was not originally an Arena rock act. 

“Any way you want” and “Loving’, Touchin’, Squeezin;” are widely known tracks. My favorites are the less popular “Do You Recall” and “I’m Cryin,” which Perry and Rolie co-wrote.

The next record was a musical spin-off as a soundtrack album. Beyond all expectations, the band produced the most musically intricate prog rock album of their career. 

It’s arguably the most polarising album of Journey’s catalog, yet one the band truly enjoyed making. The all-star band of virtuoso musicians couldn’t wait to stretch the musical muscles once again as in the old days. The result is fantastic prog rock, yet not one you would most likely hear on the radio.

I adore the compositions and musicianship on all the songs, especially the 8-minute opening track “Destiny.” In true prog fashion, extended instrumentation and solos weren’t missing.

It’s not an album for everyone, but those who like it, love it.

Rolie leaving the band in favor of Jonathan Cain might have consisted of one of the best musicians on earth, but it gave them the best-selling album of their career . The album almost single-handedly created the 80s sound. 

The album starts with the band’s epic rock anthem, “Don’t Stop Believin’.” The song was started by Perry and Schon and later finished by Cain, who added the piano hook and hook. As Cain relieves in an interview, those were the three words his dad told him when he wanted to quit music.

The song is today the best-selling catalog track of the digital era. It’s now beyond a rock anthem to a pop culture hit. Journey’s “Free Bird” in a sense.

Cain brought in the catchy hooks and memorable piano parts and perfectly completed Perry’s ideas. The ballad “Open Arms” they wrote together differed from previous ones. It was more delicate, straightforward, catchy, and singable. After some struggles in getting it through Schoun skeptical reception of the song, it became a fan favorite.

Journey – Open Arms (Official Video – 1982)  

The song that moves me the most is “Mother, Father.” Perry recorded the vocals in one mesmerizing take. What’s more impressive is that it is probably the hardest Journey song to sing. 

“Espace” paved the way for the next charting album in 1983, “Frontiers.” It produced hit songs and anthems and delivered on the success of the previous albums.

Success and Downfall

Journey waited three years to release an album for the first time in their career. The continuous touring and fame were starting to kick back. Schon and Perry had also released their solo records capitalizing on Journey’s Success.

Perry, at this time, dominated the band’s musical direction completely. According to him, only Schon and Cain were suited for the band as he fired Roos Valory and, slightly later, Steve Smith. As he declared in an interview, he thought it was the best decision at the time, but he regrets doing it.

His mental health was also deteriorating as the rise to fame alienated him from the rest of the world. 

Replacing both members with session musicians gave the trio more control over the songs. Perry himself took up the role of producer for the album. “Raised In Radio” is a successful attempt to top the charts through their hit song formula, but the lack of team effort is felt. 

I think the album is too poppy and sacrifices the musical input of Valory and Smith for attempted hooks. There are undoubtedly hit songs such as “Girl, I Can’t Help It” and “Be Good To Yourself,” yet it’s not an album I can enjoy listening to back to back like the rest. 

Commercially it did well, as expected. The band knew how to write hit songs and what the audience wanted by this time. Listening to it now, It feels like Perry’s rushed attempt to stay on top of the game and even outdo himself. 

Disbandment and Attempted Comeback

The problems with Perry’s control over the band and continuous isolated life lead to him wanting to stop everything. After his last show with the band in February 1987, he left the band and stopped Journey for almost ten years.

Perry never released an official statement, and some still wonder if the animosity between members was the main cause of his leaving. The fact that he released music after leaving the band makes me think he still wanted to make music on his own, in less frantic terms.

One thing is for sure; Journey couldn’t keep up their successful streak without Perry, so each went separate ways. 

In 1995 the band reunited again at Perry’s request to fire current manager Herbert for the well-known Irving Azoff, which staged the Eagles’ comeback some years prior. 

Journey was back, and a long-awaited successful album came shortly after. All members had amassed material during the years, so a musically rich album was bound to come.

“Trial by Fire” is my favorite Journey album after “Escape,” as it delivers the quality you’d expect from a great comeback. The hit song “When You Love a Woman” was surely meant to be a hit, but it’s not formulaic in any way.  

Valory and Smith back on the band brought back the original backbone of the group. Putting this album back to back with its predecessor, you will notice the difference the rhythm section had in Journey after a few tracks. It gives character to songs having individual doing their thing and not hired guns.

I wish it had some more elements of hard rock, but that might be just the nostalgia from the days of “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

This album is the last Perry contribution as he was diagnosed unexpectedly with a bone condition and was unwilling to undergo surgery to continue touring.

Modern Journey

Journey is still touring and releasing albums today, with only Schon remaining an original band member. He calls the shots about the music direction and often replaces members.

After Perry distanced himself from music, the band moved on and recruited Steve Augeri as frontman, with drummer Deen Castronovo as occasional lead vocalist. Augeri was the perfect vocalist for Journey, who needed the same high-pitched power Steve Perry had.

Of the two albums Journey released with Perry, the first one is the only one that somehow matched the previous albums’ quality. It’s not the band’s most creative work, yet it’s an album with the pure Journey sound almost intact.

The album is instrumentally great but lacks strong songwriting. Augeri contributed to some  songs, yet his role as the newcomer was to sing, according to Schon and Cain’s writing.

The song “World Gone Wild” is my favorite of the whole album, showing off Augeri skills at best and some great guitar work by Schon.

Commercially it did well, considering that arena rock was not the most popular genre of the early 2000s. I think that part of the merit goes to the fans’ curiosity and joy of having another Journey album.

The next album with Augeri, “Generations,” was the band’s least successful record after having him fired.

Ariel Pineda replaced Augeri in a dream story of Schon recruiting him after watching his Journey Covers on YouTube. The album was the band’s last big commercial success, even though the era of rock bands topping the charts was gone.

In true Journey style, Cain delivers a hit power ballad. “After All These Years” is just as good as any of the band’s legendary ballads and is only penalized by the rise of pop and dance music. I love how the band switched to a hard rock style for this record, flexing some fast-paced tempo grooves after a while.

Pineda seemed to be a bigger creative force than Augeri and an equally experienced live frontman. The live shows with the classic hits were and still are the band’s main focus, accumulating ridiculous amounts from the tour.

Having survived a pandemic, lawsuit, and personnel changes, Journey released their new record in more than a decade. Years of accumulated creativity resulted in an arena rock juggernaut. 

Cain and Schon were in charge of the production, while drummer Narada, a prolific songwriter and singer, helped write and co-produce much of the material. It starts with the power ballad “Together We Run” and the expected melodic Cain piano intro.

Listening to album after ten other Journey pop-rock records can be too much if you’re not a die-hard fan. I would have preferred a more Prog rock Journey record as that always brings new sounds.  

Notable Performances

Early days journey in their fusion days:   journey – full concert – 03/30/74 – winterland (official)  .

Arguably the Best Group Lineup Performing During the Escape Tour: Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’ (from Live in Houston 1981: The Escape Tour)  

A Recent Performance with Schon at the Helm. Pineda’s Vocal Performance is Stunning: Journey Live @ Lollapalooza Chicago 2021  

Changes in band members always come with legal issues when rights to songs are on the table. In the 80s, they maintained a good balance between members. Primarily due to solid management from Herbert, things were kept quiet.

Valory and Smith were fired from the band in 2019 after attempting to own one of the band’s corporate entities. According to the two, Perry gave them the right to hold that part of the business. Schon and Cain considered this an attempt to squeeze more money even when they were not playing. 

Journey did write beautiful songs, yet the term’ corporate rock’ started to haunt them as each charting album chased the next big thing. The bad reputation arena rock gets from rock fans sometimes comes from the many attempts to write hits and please the crowd.

My stand as a rock fan with a taste from Beatles to modern metal is that Journey didn’t sell out in the sense of chasing money. Their style evolved, sometimes in search of a bigger fanbase, but still, they delivered nongeneric hits.

They developed a successful style that pushed them to recreate the success repeatedly. The members’ egos, management pressures, and fans’ high expectations had their parts.

Answer : One roadie, John Villanueva, suggested the name after failed attempts, including a radio contest involving the fans to find a proper name. 

Answer : Journey had six lead singers in the band from the 70s to today. 

Answer : Arena rock is considered any rock genre that can fill a stadium on a one-night event. In the mid-70s and 80s, it took a slightly different meaning, becoming a synonym for successful commercial rock bands who were best known for Power Ballads. Arena rock bands deliver great spectacles with massive crowds and often have predictable, straightforward music to resonate with as many people as possible.

• Journey (band) – Wikipedia
• Journey Documentary (Behind The Music)
• Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey HD
• Journey – Raised On Radio (1986 Tour Documentary)
• Journey Music
• Journey (band)  
• Journey’s Neal Schon says he and Steve Perry are ‘in a good place’ before band’s 50th anniversary
• Journey Biography, Songs, & Albums | AllMusic
• Journey – The Brilliant Band Members, Stories & Struggles | Eagle 106.5
• Journey: Band Members and History      

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The History Of Journey’s Music

via journey/YouTube

A Long Way To The Top

Unlike other bands from the 1970s, Journey had a pretty weak start in the music industry and it took them years before they broke into mainstream and got the recognition they deserved.

They formed in 1973 and released their first album in 1975 which established their sound that fused jazz and progressive rock. It didn’t work well for them though – at least not commercially.

Guitarist Neal Schon recalls, “I still think some of the stuff we did then was great. Some of it was self-indulgent, just jamming for ourselves, but I also think a lot of other things hurt us in the early days. It took a while for the politics to sort of shape up.”

They opened for popular rock acts like Black Sabbath, Target, Judas Priest and Emerson, Lake & Palmer but fame still eluded Journey.

When they got singer Steve Perry onboard, it was clear from the get-go that he suited the band perfectly. They changed their musical approach – deciding to move towards a more commercialized sound mixing guitar-driven hard rock with pop. An early progenitor of “arena rock”, they reached their peak between 1978 and the early ’80s.

With Perry’s smooth tenor and amazing range, their songs have stood the test of time. Their first LP with him, “Infinity” was an immediate success, peaking at #21 on the US Billboard 200. It spawned the popular singles “Lights” and “Wheel in the Sky” which became a staple in their live shows.

Their fifth studio effort “Evolution” gave them their first top 20 hit in the US Billboard Hot 100 -“Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin'” which was partly inspired by one of Perry’s musical influences Sam Cooke. Schon’s heavy guitar work and Perry’s soulful vocals were a match made in music heaven.

They struck gold in 1981 with the release of “Escape” – the first to feature keyboardist Jonathan Cain. The LP gave them four classic hits “Don’t Stop Believin'”, “Who’s Crying Now”, “Still They Ride”, and “Open Arms”.

By this time, they have refined and perfect their sound – infectious melody, heavy riffing, face-melting guitar solos, and Perry’s soaring vocals. It wasn’t all hard rock numbers because even their ballads were something else thanks mostly to Perry’s impeccable and effective delivery.

Riding high on the success of “Escape”, they released “Frontiers” less than two years later which included four more successful singles – “After the Fall”, “Send Her My Love”, “Faithfully”, and “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”.

Unfortunately, it was all downhill from there. They had a couple more albums but nothing that touched the greatness of “Escape” and “Frontiers”. That’s not to say their songs are bad, they still had their moments but at the height of their career, they were simply unmatched.

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Journey Through the Decades: Exploring the Legacy of the Iconic Rock Group Journey

Rock group journey: a step-by-step guide to their success.

Journey, the iconic rock group that dominated the charts in the 70s and 80s, is one of the most successful bands in music history. Known for their electrifying stage presence and memorable anthems, Journey continues to inspire new generations of fans worldwide.

In this blog post, we will take a step-by-step look at Journey’s success story and explore what made them stand out from other bands during their time.

Step 1: The Early Days Formed in San Francisco in 1973, Journey initially started as a progressive rock band with humble beginnings. The original lineup consisted of guitarist Neal Schon, keyboardist Gregg Rolie, drummer Prairie Prince, bassist Ross Valory and vocalist George Tickner. Their debut album did not achieve much commercial success, but it laid the foundation for what was to come.

Step 2: A New Sound Journey’s sound started evolving in their third album “Infinity” which marked the first time lead singer Steve Perry lent his powerhouse vocals to the mix. This partnership with Perry played a crucial role in shaping Journey’s signature sound that would cement their place in music history.

Step 3: Chart-Topping Hits With Perry onboard as their frontman, Journey’s fourth album “Escape” became an overnight success that catapulted them into superstardom. With hits like “Don’t Stop Believing,” “Open Arms,” and “Separate Ways,” Journey quickly became one of the top-selling acts of all time.

Step 4: Resilience Despite significant commercial success under their belt by the mid-80s, tensions between members led to multiple breakups and changes within the band ‘s lineup. Instead of succumbing to these challenges though—Journey persevered. They bounced back stronger than ever before each breakup preceding another chart-topping hit such as “Send Her My Love,” “Why Can’t This Night Go On Forever?” and “Be Good To Yourself.”

Step 5: Legacy Today, Journey remains one of the most heavily-lauded bands in music history. They have been honored with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, amid countless other accolades. The band’s style and sound continue to inspire new artists that keep their music alive for future generations.

Journey is a true testament to perseverance, resilience, and dedication in pursuing one’s dreams with an unwavering spirit. Their story is proof that greatness can come through hard work, collaboration with new talent— all while staying true to oneself throughout the journey.

In conclusion, Journey remains one of the pioneering forces in rock music that has stood the test of time. Their legacy continues on through their chart-topping hits, electrifying live performances & inspiring lyrics that have inspired legions of fans worldwide. If you haven’t already, take some time today to listen to Journey’s timeless anthems and appreciate what it means to be truly great!

Your Rock Group Journey FAQs, Answered

The world of rock and roll can be both exhilarating and confusing, especially for new bands just starting out. With so many questions about the process of forming a group , touring, and finding success, it can be difficult to navigate the industry as a new band. Luckily, we’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions about rock group journeys and are here to provide you with some answers.

1. How do I form a successful rock band?

Forming a successful band involves several key steps. Firstly, you’ll need to gather talented musicians who share your passion for music and who work well together. Once you have your lineup sorted, it’s vital to spend time developing your sound; this means writing original material that showcases your individuality as a group .

Additionally, networking with other local bands is an excellent way to gain exposure and build connections within the music scene . Keep in mind that being professional – showing up on time for gigs, respecting venues and their staff members – can go a long way toward establishing yourselves as serious artists.

2. How do we get our music heard by more people?

Thanks to social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook, getting your music out there has never been easier! You can also gain exposure by playing live shows in different venues – put together an EPK (electronic press kit) with music recordings, photos of the band performing live etc., approach influential blogs or radio stations in order to get recognition.

Building relationships with other bands can also lead to more gig opportunities: Consider organizing joint shows or collaborating on projects together for wider audience reach.

3. What should we expect when taking our band on tour? Touring is simultaneously exciting yet grueling experience for any Rock-n-Roll outfit — from managing finances while away from home base i.e., paying gas/food bills – it’s necessary that every member pull equal weight in sharing these responsibilities if one falls ill or becomes fatigued- keeping track of equipment, navigating unfamiliar cities and venues with clear directions or GPS, promotional material distribution (to be shared among different show audiences), meeting new fans before moving on.

It can be tough to keep morale up when times are tough such as having little turnout in the audience, sleeping for days in cramped van quarters or not knowing where your next meal will come from. You might experience some transient “road life blues” but if your group manages to stay strong & motivated through rough patches – you will inevitably stick together as a tight-knit team with lasting memories that are both meaningful and epic.

4. What makes a great Rock-n-Roll group?

Great rock bands often share common traits: a powerful, entertaining live presence; a willingness to take risks with their music while staying true to their sound; and creative drive. These groups also tend to have dedicated fan bases thanks to consistent touring and promotion.. Innovation in songwriting is key as well – think about pairing lyrical relatability that resonates with listeners along with technically accomplished musicianship.

Ultimately, it takes personality and hard work too! — the perseverance required of sticking upstanding persistent dedication—all combined together make up that indefinable “X-factor” which draws fans in for an exciting journey.

These four FAQs offer just scratching the surface when it comes to the world of rock band formation, touring footwork & success factors. However, by putting these answers into practice and maintaining passion/commitment throughout the process — you’ll be well on your way towards achieving the rock star status you’ve always dreamed of!

The Top 5 Facts You Didn’t Know About Rock Group Journey

Journey is a household name for anyone who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s. Their music has stood the test of time and they continue to be one of the most beloved rock groups out there. But, did you know that there are several interesting and unknown facts about this iconic band ? Here are the top 5 surprising facts you didn’t know about Journey.

1. Steve Perry wasn’t their first lead singer When most people think of Journey, they immediately picture Steve Perry’s remarkable vocals. However, Steve Perry was not their original lead singer! In fact, Journey had three other lead singers before Perry joined the group in 1977 – Gregg Rolie (who went on to join Santana), Robert Fleischman, and George Tickner.

2. The song “Don’t Stop Believin'” almost didn’t make it onto their album “Don’t Stop Believin'” is without a doubt one of Journey’s biggest hits, but it almost didn’t make it onto their classic album Escape. The band initially left it off the album because they felt like it needed more work. It wasn’t until their producer convinced them to record it again that they finally agreed to include it on the album – and we’re so grateful they did!

3. They’ve broken up multiple times Despite being known as one of the bands that defined an era, Journey have actually broken up multiple times throughout their career. After increasing tensions within the band led to temporary break-ups in 1980 and 1983, guitarist Neal Schon was determined to keep Journey going even when others were uncertain about whether or not they should stay together as a group .

4. Their hit song “Separate Ways” has an infamous video The music video for “Separate Ways” is notorious among fans as one of the worst music videos ever made. Shot entirely in front of green screens with very basic graphics, the video features the band members awkwardly playing their instruments while poorly choreographed female models dance around them. The result is cringe-inducing, but has still managed to become a cult classic in its own right.

5. Journey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame… without Steve Perry In 2017, Journey was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – but Steve Perry didn’t show up to perform with them. In fact, they performed with their singer at the time, Arnel Pineda, who had been discovered on YouTube by guitarist Neal Schon. While some fans were disappointed that Steve Perry didn’t make an appearance, his contributions to Journey’s legacy were not forgotten during their induction speech.

In conclusion, Journey may have been around for decades and produced timeless classics like “Don’t Stop Believin'”, but there are still plenty of lesser-known facts about this iconic band that will surprise even diehard fans! From lineup changes to notorious music videos and Hall of Fame inductions sans lead singers – these five facts just scratch the surface of what makes Journey such a fascinating group .

A Look At The Discography Of Rock Group Journey

Journey is a classic rock band that has been captivating audiences around the world for over four decades. With their powerful vocals, energetic guitar riffs, and memorable choruses, this group has left an indelible mark on the music industry. Their timeless songs have continued to inspire generations of fans and musicians alike, solidifying their place as one of the greatest rock bands in history.

Let’s take a closer look at the discography of Journey, starting with their first album “Journey” released in 1975. This album featured hits such as “Of A Lifetime,” “In My Lonely Feeling/Conversations,” and “To Play Some Music,” which showcased the band’s progressive rock sound . Although it did not achieve commercial success at the time of its release, it set the foundation for future albums to come.

Their second album, “Look Into The Future” was released in 1976 and helped to further establish Journey’s unique sound . The album featured songs such as “I’m Gonna Leave You,” “People,” “Nickel And Dime,” and more that were notable because they incorporated elements of progressive rock mixed with traditional blues-rock elements.

Their third album, titled “Next” was released just one year later in 1977. This time around Journey opted for a mainstream rock sound with songs like “Spaceman” and “Kahoutek”. Things really picked up steam for the band after lead vocalist Steve Perry joined forces with them in 1978.

With Perry onboard, Journey’s fourth studio album titled “Infinity” was released which proved to be a game changer for them on the charts. Released in 1980 it contained hits like “Feeling That Way”, “Anytime” & “Wheel In The Sky”, amongst many others – helping the album go platinum three times.

The next year brought forth another significant milestone for Journey as they released Escape (1981), an album that defined their sound in the mainstream, highlighted by tracks such as “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms,” “Who’s Crying Now”, and “Stone In Love”. All of which helped this blockbuster album achieve the sales accolade of a diamond certification.

Their seventh studio album, Frontiers (1983), continued in the vein of Escape with anthems like “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” and power ballads such as “Faithfully.” They also mixed things up with a bit more synthesizer use than their previous albums, depicting a new era for Journey’s musical style.

Journey’s eighth album Raised on Radio (1986) marked another creative shift. With Perry at the helm once again on lead vocals, they moved away from their signature rock guitar sound to include funk R&B beats on songs like “Girl Can’t Help It” and “Be Good To Yourself.”

Subsequent journeys into reunited line-ups have seen continual sonic changes over time, however many fans will always identify Steve Perry as providing the trademark trademark awareness throughout much of Journey music history.

In conclusion, Journey has left a lasting impression in rock history with an impressive discography that spans several decades. From their early days as a progressive rock band to their rise to chart-topping success with hits including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and incorporating sounds ranging through blues-rock into pop-rock throughout its careers; it’s clear that each album spotlights something unique about them. Whatever your favorite era or lineup may be — one thing is certain: Journey’s music will continue to inspire and captivate fans around the world.

Inside Story Of The Rise And Fall Of Rock Group Journey

As one of the most beloved American rock bands of all time, Journey captured the hearts and minds of fans across the globe with their soaring ballads and electrifying performances. From their humble beginnings in San Francisco to their meteoric rise to fame in the 1980s, the story of Journey is a tale of triumph and tragedy that will forever be etched into the annals of music history.

The genesis of Journey dates back to 1973 when former members of Santana, Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie, joined forces with drummer Prairie Prince, bassist Ross Valory, and guitarist George Tickner to form a new group. The band’s early sound was heavily influenced by jazz fusion and progressive rock, but as they began recording and touring extensively throughout the mid-70s, they gradually evolved into a more mainstream rock outfit.

In 1977, Journey released their fourth album “Infinity,” which marked a turning point in their career. The record was a commercial success thanks to hits like “Lights” and “Wheel In The Sky,” launching them onto arena stages across America. By 1981’s chart-topping “Escape,” which gave us epic power ballads like “Open Arms” and “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Journey had cemented themselves as one of the biggest acts on the planet.

However, behind closed doors things were far from rosy for the band . Struggling with addiction issues and personal conflicts between members led to lineup changes over the years including Steve Perry replacing Rolie on lead vocals in 1977 before himself being replaced by Arnel Pineda in 2007 amid Perry’s struggles with vocal damage.

In addition to those internal problems member infighting also led to break ups following differences over style-disconnect after Shearhart stopped writing songs when they hired Jonathan Cain causing some frictions between member.

Despite these challenges though, Journey remained an incredibly popular live act, drawing huge crowds to their shows with their catchy hooks and anthemic choruses. They continued to release albums throughout the 90s and beyond, but the magic of the peak years was never quite recaptured.

Today, many fans fondly remember Journey for their iconic hits, from “Open Arms” to “Don’t Stop Believin’,” as a testimony that despite hardships and failure one can rise back stronger than ever. Their story reminds us that success in music requires not only talent but also perseverance, grit, and resilience; journey showed strength even in moments when they had all odds against them. And though their era might have passed into history books but always an adventure continues for rock lovers as they follow other great bands hoping tales-such journeys repeat through innovation or interchanging achievements even today to lead future generations towards endless possibilities rather than repetition of same glory-days narratives.

Experience the Evolution of Music with Rock Group Journey

Journey is one of the iconic rock bands that took the world by storm in the late 70s and early 80s. The band’s distinctive blend of rock, classical, and progressive music marked them out as visionary musicians whose sound would continue to influence audiences for decades to come.

The history of Journey dates back to their founding in San Francisco in 1973. The group originally started out with the name Golden Gate Rhythm Section but quickly changed it after they recruited Neal Schon, a guitar prodigy who had played with Carlos Santana on his first three albums. Alongside keyboardist Gregg Rolie and drummer Aynsley Dunbar, Schon helped create a unique style that blended traditional rock with more experimental sounds .

Journey’s early years were characterized by a constantly changing line-up, but in 1977 things came together when Steve Perry joined as lead vocalist. With Perry’s soaring voice fronting the group, they began recording hit songs like “Wheel In The Sky,” “Lights,” and “Any Way You Want It.” These tracks helped propel Journey onto the national stage making them one of America’s most popular rock groups .

One notable example of their talent is their iconic song “Don’t Stop Believing” which has stood the test of time becoming an anthem for generations. Its catchy melody combined with meaningful lyrics made it an instant classic among fans and critics alike. In fact, this song is so widely appreciated that it even appeared in many films including “Rock of Ages”, “Family Guy: Partial Terms of Endearment” among others.

Journey continued to evolve throughout their career, experimenting with different musical styles while staying true to their core values as musicians. There is no doubt that without Journey’s contribution to rock music there wouldn’t be modern-day classics like ‘Arnel Pineda’s Faithfully’ which was released about Thirty-seven years after Arnel joined the band in 2007. Although the members have changed over time, their music remains timeless; proving that they were not just a fleeting trend, but rather one of rock music ‘s greats.

So there you have it, Journey’s musical evolution from a group of talented musicians seeking to create something original and memorable to becoming one of rock’s most influential bands. With their legacy firmly cemented in the annals of music history, Journey will continue to inspire and captivate audiences for generations to come!

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INDUCTED BY

Pat Monahan

Call the style what you will-arena rock, stadium rock, concert rock-Journey dominated in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Journey performed ballads and scorchers with equal skill and passion led by Neal Schon’s remarkable guitar and the soaring vocals of Steve Perry.

HALL OF FAME ESSAY

By Robert Bourke Warren

In the seventies, and especially the eighties, rock music became an international force, with album sales resulting in packed arenas and stadiums.

Thanks to technology and a shrinking globe, bands suddenly reached untold millions; a hit song, beamed via satellite from culture to culture, could now touch hearts globally. Few groups embraced such unprecedented reach with as much enthusiasm and skill as Bay Area-based Journey.

The Californians not only rode the tsunami wave with panache, they created a template for bands aspiring to this level of engagement with fans. Most impressive, they are still at it, four decades on.

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Journey – The Brilliant Band Members, Stories & Struggles

The best part was watching Journey grow into this monster. The band was huge, playing these enormous gigs – Neal Schon

Key Takeaways From the History of Journey Band

Table of Contents

• Journey’s success and fame can be attributed to their journey of growth, evolving from a jazz-heavy progressive rock fusion band to a mainstream rock sensation.
• Guitarist Neal Schon, a founding member, played a crucial role in the band’s inception and continued to be a driving force throughout their career.
• The addition of Steve Perry as lead vocalist brought commercial success to Journey, with albums like “Infinity” and “Escape” achieving significant chart positions and producing hit singles like “Wheel in the Sky” and “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
• The band faced challenges and conflicts, resulting in significant lineup changes, a temporary hiatus and legal disputes. But, they managed to reconcile and continue their musical journey with new releases and a dedicated fan base.
• The band’s legacy is a reminder that success in the music industry often comes with personal and financial sacrifices, but their passion for music has kept them going, even in the face of challenges.

In The Road Not Taken , Robert Frost popularised the idea that the choices that an individual makes and the path that they choose to follow determines who they will eventually become and whether they’ll fall by the wayside of fate, or end up changing the world.

Neal Schon, guitarist extraordinaire and sole remaining original member of Journey, was according to Bobby Whitlock who first met him in 1970, and played with him briefly when he jammed with Derek And The Dominoes, always going to succeed thanks to his incredible talent and drive. 

Even though Schon didn’t end up joining Eric Clapton and Whitlock in their short-lived supergroup,  he did impress another guitar legend enough for him to take the teenage virtuoso under his wing and give him his first high-profile, paying job as a guitarist. 

That musician was Carlos Satana who believed in the then seventeen-year-old Schon enough to ask him to become a full-time member of his band. 

What does Santana have to do with Journey, one of the world’s biggest-selling and most famous hard rock bands?

Well, without the former the latter wouldn’t exist, and if Carlos hadn’t brought Schon into the fold, the band that would go on to sell eighty million records over the course of their, so far forty-eight-year career might not have followed the path that they found themselves on.

From Caravanserai To Journey

Schon stayed with Santana for two years and was part of the line-up that recorded Santana III and Caravanserai and after leaving the band at just 19 years old, found himself teaming up with a fellow Santana veteran, Greg Rolle under the guidance of Herbie Herbert.

A self-proclaimed flower child and Grateful Dead fanatic, Herbert was also Santana’s manager, and by default became Rolle and Schon’s manager when they left the band and the foundation on which he was planning to build his next project, a group of talented musicians who could serve as the backing band for any established artist in San Francisco who needed or required their services. 

The Golden State Rhythm Section, which also included former Frumious Bandersnatch members Ross Valory and George Tickner and Tubes drummer Charles “Prairie” Prince was, on paper at least, a great idea.

The musicians all had a flawless pedigree, and when they played together they gelled instantly, the problem with the band was the concept. After they played their first two shows, The Golden State Rhythm Section realized that the idea of being a backing band just didn’t work for them and that they wanted to stretch their creative wings and fly. 

And the name? That wasn’t working for them either but by the end of their first show in Hawaii, and after an abortive radio show contest to find them a new name was swiftly brushed under the carpet and forgotten, the solution to their moniker problem appeared out of the ether when one of their roadies suggested that they call themselves Journey . 

Journeying To Next 

Someone up there must have liked what they heard, as the newly named Journey’s debut mainland show was at a sold-out Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco in front of ten thousand people on New Year’s Eve, 1973.

From there, they jumped straight on a plane and flew back to Hawaii to play another gig, but before they returned to the Bay Area to play a showcase gig for Columbia Records, Prairie Prince left and returned to the Tubes and was replaced by Aynsley Dunbar.

That’s right, THE Aynsley Dunbar from The Mothers Of Invention and David Bowie’s band. As we’ve already said, somebody up there must have really, really liked what Journey was doing. 

Whoever it was up there that had taken a shine to the embryonic Journey wasn’t their only fan, Columbia Records liked what they heard too, and in November 1974, the American rock band formed together in the studio to record their debut album (also called Journey ) which was released in June 1975.

It entered the Billboard Chart at one hundred and thirty-eight, which was more than a little impressive, and while the direction of the debut bore little resemblance to the band that they would eventually become less than half a decade later, it did ensure that Journey became a fixture on the map that the rock hungry audiences of America regularly looked to for direction. 

The band then took their jazz-heavy progressive rock fusion out on the road to play to anyone and everyone they could to promote their debut to, and after the tour, George Tickner left as the touring schedule that the band had undertaken was just a little too much for him. 

Their hard work began to pay off though, as Journey’s sophomore album, Look Into The Future which was released in January 1976, entered the Billboard Top One Hundred shortly after it hit the record shop racks. Granted, it entered the chart at Number One Hundred, but it did make the cut. 

While the band was happy with their sure but steady progress, their label wasn’t quite as thrilled. 

When Journey recorded their third album, Next in 1977 they tempered their sound and made it a little more commercial in order to try and appeal to a broader audience, but even with a slightly more melodic approach, when it was released, Next entered the chart at Number Eighty-Five, and like it’s predecessors, sales began to fall after the initial week of release.

It seemed as though Journey had reached the height of their fame , and despite the band being “happy” with where they were, Columbia Records were seriously beginning to reconsider their investment. Something had to change, and it had to change fast if Journey wanted to stay with their, still relatively new, label. 

The Evolution Of Journey

Even Schon, who wrote most of the band’s early material, later admitted that he thought that their first three records were self-indulgent and should have been more focused than they were.

In an effort to appease their label and increase their record sales, Journey asked singer Robert Fleischman to join the band, reigned in some of their wilder musical impulses, and softened their sound even further.  Adopting a similar approach to bands like the, at the time, wildly popular Boston they hit the road with Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, and ELP. 

But everyone in the Journey camp wasn’t enamoured with Fleischman, and following a series of disagreements with Herbie Herbert, the singer was replaced by Steve Perry who Journey’s manager had met after hearing a demo by Alien Project, Perry’s old band. 

Perry joined the band just in time to record their fourth album, Infinity with them, which was produced by Roy Thomas Baker, who had flown in after working with Queen .

It was a vastly different album for the band, but the addition of Perry coupled with their new direction and having Baker at the helm paid dividends, and Infinity entered the Billboard Chart at Number Twenty-One in January 1978 and gave the band their first hit single, Wheel In The Sky, which entered the Billboard Hot One Hundred and eventually climbed to Number Fifty-Six.

It was enough to convince the band that their new musical direction was the right one to pursue and more than enough to persuade Columbia Records to keep them around. 

Change isn’t always easy, and Aynsley Dunbar wasn’t as keen on Journey’s new direction as the rest of his bandmates were, and following an awkward and difficult tour to promote Infinity , he was sacked by Herbert and replaced by former Montrose drummer Stevie Smith.

With Dunbar firmly in their rearview mirror, Journey with Smith in tow recorded their fifth album, Evolution in 1978 and released it in March 1979. It did slightly better than Infinity reaching Number Twenty in the Billboard Chart, but it did something that its forerunner didn’t. It gave Journey their first Top Twenty hit. 

Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’ climbed to Number Sixteen and made sure that every rock fan with a radio in America knew who Journey was. They weren’t just a name on the map anymore, they were a rock and roll destination that an entirely new generation of fans decided to pack their bags and head directly toward for an extended vacation. 

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow 

The Evolution tour was a revelation for the band and was so successful that it saw them having to increase the size of the stage show and the venues that they were used to playing. It also added roughly five million dollars to the band’s bank balance, which just confirmed their status, both to the band and their label, as bonafide rock stars. 

By the time they recorded their sixth album, Departure, Journey was firing on all cylinders, and armed with 19 songs they embarked on a mission to solidify and magnify their success.

They succeeded and the resultant twelve-song record (the seven “weakest” numbers were dropped during the final mix) gave the band their first top ten album and their first top ten hit, as the lead single Anyway You Want It reached number eight in the Billboard Hot One Hundred. 

It was also the last Journey record that founding member Greg Rolle would play on, as he left the band shortly after the end of the Departure tour, to spend more time with his family and work on his own solo career.

But Rolle didn’t leave Journey high and dry, as he pointed them in the direction of the man he thought should replace him, and the individual who would help to shape the future sound of the band, Jonathan Cain. 

Escaping To The Frontier 

With Cain onboard, Journey’s meteoric rise to the upper echelons of rock and roll superstardom continued unabated, and their next record Escape was their most successful to date and remains a firm fan favorite.

Critically acclaimed and voted the best AOR (Album Oriented Rock) album of all time by the readers of British Heavy Metal Bible Kerrang! In 1988, Escape was Journey’s first album to soar straight to the top of the album charts when it was released in July 1981. 

It also gave Journey four top ten singles, Still They Ride On, Open Arms, Who’s Crying Now, and arguably the song that the band will be remembered for long after they and every single one of their first, second and third generation of fans are long gone, Don’t Stop Believin’.

Described as being the perfect rock anthem by music critic Mike DeGagne, Don’t Stop, despite what the bands fans and critics alike think, wasn’t Journey’s biggest hit. 

It wasn’t even the biggest hit on Escape, but thanks to the power of rock radio, and then-newcomer on the block, MTV it’s still the song that everyone remembers.

If you ask anyone to sing a Journey song , they’ll start smiling and either humming or singing Don’t Stop, as the tune has become a cultural phenomenon that has ensured that the band will never be forgotten. 

Escape led to Journey having to found their own fan club, it enabled them to support the Rolling Stones and pushed them to record a song for the soundtrack to Disney’s 1982 Science Fiction spectacular, Tron.

Journey had managed to do what few hard rock bands before them had done. They’d successfully crossed over into the mainstream and had become one of the most famous bands in the world. 

And the Journey ride didn’t stop there. It didn’t even pause for breath, and in the middle of their 1982 tour to support Escape , they returned to the studio to record their eighth album Frontiers, which like Escape before it, went straight to the top of the Billboard album chart when it was released in February 1983, spawned another four ( Separate Ways, Faithfully, Send Her My Love and After The Fall ) top thirty singles and went on to sell six million copies.

And the tour that the band undertook to support it saw them playing the sort of venues that only the NFL could fill and included a sold-out show in Philadelphia that saw eighty thousand rabid Journey fans singing along with the band. 

Raised On Radio 

Fearing that if they continued at the same sort of pace they’d burn out, Perry, Schon, and the other members of the band decided to take some time off in 1984.

During the lull in Journey activities, both Steve Perry and Neal Schon recorded and released solo albums, with Schon deciding to frame his as a band effort rather than using his own name to release the resultant record. 

The release of the solo, and sideband in Schon’s case, records did lead to some speculation in the music press that Journey might be over, to which Schon responded by telling the interviewer that the band was too important to all of the members to let go and the reason that they’d taken time out was ton esquire that it could, and would continue. 

When the band confirmed, following a conversation between Schon, Perry, and Cain, that they’d be returning to the studio to record a new album in 1986, their fans and the press heaved a collective sigh of relief.

Raised On Radio proved to be a difficult album to make, as singer Perry assumed production duties and a few months into making the record, with the assistance of Herbie Herbert he fired long time bass player Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith, citing the age-old musical differences as the reason for their termination.

With a record to complete, Perry and Herbert drafted Randy Jackson and Larrie Londin to help Journey finish their ninth album. 

When the record was finally released in April 1986, despite yielding five singles and the top ten hit Be Good To Yourself and climbing to Number Four on the Billboard Chart, Raised On Radio was seen as a reluctant, rather than a triumphant success it failed to attain the same commercial high as Journey’s previous release. 

So Long Steve Perry

Undaunted by the commercial performance of Raised On Radio (which still sold millions of copies, but didn’t sell the additional millions that Columbia hoped a Journey record would), Journey hit the road for a sold-out stadium tour in 1986 that finally culminated in Alaska at the beginning of 1987. 

Things weren’t all great in the Journey camp though as Herbie Herbert and Steve Perry had continually clashed throughout the tour and by the time it was over, neither man wanted to spend any time in the other company.  A line needed to be drawn in the sand, and Perry was the one who picked up a stick and drew it. 

Perry decided that enough was enough, and told Schon and Cain that he wanted out, but the keyboard player being the most pragmatic member of the band told that rather than quitting, he should just take some time out. The singer agreed, and Journey decided that it was time that the band and its members needed to go on a break. 

Eight Years And A Few Bands Later

What was initially supposed to be a short time out, eventually turned into an extended eight-year hiatus, during which Schon, Cain, and Perry only played together once in 1991 at a Bill Graham memorial show.

As 1995 crawled into view, Steve Perry called Schon and Cain and told them that he’d be willing to return to Journey as long as Herbie Herbert wasn’t involved with the band anymore. Cain and Schon promptly fired their friend and manager and hired Eagles manager Irving Azoff to replace him. 

With a new manager in place, Journey, including the previously fired Stevie Smith and Ross Valory reunited and began to write and record their tenth album, Trial By Fire.

Even though the record delivered the top twenty hit single When You Love A Woman , when it was released in October 1996, it woefully underperformed and is still one of Journey’s worst-selling albums.

The band, especially Schon, rightly blamed the record’s lack of success on the fact that it was heavy on ballads and didn’t include the sort of uptempo, high-energy, hard rock anthems that the band’s fans expected them to write, record release, and play. 

And playing had also become a contentious issue for the band. Perry, following a hiking accident in Hawaii, had discovered that he needed a hip replacement and had kept putting the surgery off.

The singer, as it would later be discovered was also plagued by a number of other physical ailments, and rather than giving the band’s fans anything less than one hundred percent, he kept delaying the band’s muted tour plans.

Journey couldn’t tour to promote their record, which meant that the record, as far as the band being able to get out and play the songs from it for their fans was concerned, was dead in the water. 

Back On The Road

It had been more than twelve months since the band had released Trial By Fire, and as Perry was still reluctant to commit to any firm touring schedule, following a difficult conversation with Cain, Steve Perry stepped away from Journey for good and went into semi-retirement. 

Worried that the band wouldn’t be the same without Perry, Smith also announced that he was leaving Journey. In the aftermath of two of its longest-serving members leaving the band, Journey, or rather the other members of the band, set about finding replacements for their departed comrades. Deen Castronovo, a musical acquaintance of Schon and Cain became Journey’s new drummer while former Tyketto and Tall Stories singer Steve Augeri were brought in to replace Perry. 

The band finally started touring again in 1998 after contributing a new track to the soundtrack for the film Armageddon and as the millennium dawned they once again entered the studio to record their eleventh album, Arrival which was finally released in April 2001.

Whether it was due to the climatic shift in the musical landscape, or the fact that the band’s fans were just older and had moved on from their wild teenage rock and roll years, their latest opus failed to make the mark that the band hoped it would. It entered the Billboard Chart at Number 56, and its lead single fared even worse.

The future wasn’t as bright as it had once seemed and Journey, following a brief tour in 2001, decided to take 2002 off to rethink their future. 

From Then Until Now

Aguri’s tenure in the band was brief due to his deteriorating health, and he was eventually replaced by Jeff Soto from Talisman while the band was on tour with Def Leppard in 2006. Soto spent less than a year in Journey before he in turn was replaced by Arnel Pineda in 2007, who is still a member of Journey and is their second longest-serving vocalist. 

In recognition of their incredible contributions to the music industry, Journey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

Just when it looked like things were finally getting back on track with the band, it was following an ongoing dispute Journey fractured into camps with the official band being led by Schon and Cain and an unofficial version being led by Valory and Smith.

That’s when things started to get ugly with both parties threatening to sue each other and hurling lawsuits around like they were going out of fashion. It was an incredibly dark period in the band’s history that was finally resolved in April 2021, and both parties when the legalities were concluded were able to walk away feeling as though they had won a partial victory.

Success, as far as Journey is concerned, is an incredibly costly experience, both personally and financially.

Following the conclusion of their ongoing legal battle, Journey released a single The Way We Used To Be in June 2021 and Neal Schon has promised that the release will shortly be followed by a new album.  And when it does appear, we’ll be the first in line to buy it, as just like their millions of other fans, we’ll never stop believin’ in Journey. 

Journey Band Members Timeline

As you now know, Journey has had several notable members throughout its long and successful musical journey. From the early days to the present, the band has seen talented musicians come and go. Let’s take a look at the timeline of the prominent members, categorized by their respective roles in the band.

Founding Members of Journey:

1. neal schon (guitarist).

• Joined Journey in 1973 as one of the founding members.
• Continues to be an integral part of the band’s lineup till today.
• Known for his exceptional guitar skills and iconic solos.

2. Gregg Rolie (Keyboardist, Vocalist, and Drummer)

• Also a founding member of the band in 1973.
• Contributed as the main vocalist, drummer, and keyboard player.
• Played a significant role in shaping the band’s early sound.

3. Ross Valory (Bassist)

• Joined the band in 1973 as a founding member.
• Known for his melodic bass lines and occasional backing vocals.
• Has had intermittent periods with the band, but remains an important member.

4. George Tickner (Guitarist)

• One of the founding members who played guitar.
• Actively contributed to the band’s early years until his departure in 1975.

Drummers from Journey:

1. prairie prince (1974-1978).

• Joined the band, replacing Prairie Prince.
• A renowned drummer from The Mothers Of Invention and David Bowie’s band.
• Contributed to Journey’s early success and played on their debut album.

2. Aynsley Dunbar (1973-1974)

• Joined Journey in 1974 after the departure of their original drummer.
• Was an established musician and brought his solid drumming skills to the band.
• Left the band in 1978, but played an essential role during their formative years.

3. Steve Smith (1978-1985, 1995-1998)

• Known for exceptional drumming skills during Journey’s most successful era.
• Featured on albums like “Escape” and “Frontiers” among others.

4. Larrie Londin (1985-1986)

• Temporarily replaced Steve Smith during his departure from the band.
• A short but notable tenure in Journey.

5. Mike Baird (1986-1987)

• Filled in for Londin during Journey’s “Raised on Radio” Tour.

6. Deen Castronovo (1998-present)

• Officially joined the band in 1998, known for versatile drumming and vocals.
• Served as the band’s drummer until 2020 when he was briefly replaced by Narada Walden.
• Rejoined Journey in 2021, becoming the current member.

7. Narada Walden (2020–2022)

• Temporarily filled in for Deen Castronovo as the band’s drummer.
• Made notable contributions during his tenure with Journey.

Lead Singers of Journey:

1. steve perry (1977-1998).

• Joined Journey in 1977 and became the band’s lead vocalist.
• Known for his powerful and distinctive voice, he played a pivotal role in the band’s success.
• Perry’s tenure with the band lasted until 1998 and included hit albums like “Escape” and “Frontiers.”

2. Steve Augeri (1998-2006)

• Joined Journey as the successor to Steve Perry.
• Fronted the band for nearly a decade, releasing albums like “Arrival” and “Revelation.”
• Departed from Journey in 2006 due to health issues.

3. Jeff Scott Soto (2006-2007)

• Joined Journey as the lead vocalist following Augeri’s departure.
• Performed with the band for a short period covering various international shows.

4. Arnel Pineda (2007-Present)

• Became Journey’s lead vocalist after being discovered through YouTube.
• With his remarkable vocal range, he helped the band regain popularity with new audiences.
• Continues to captivate audiences worldwide as Journey’s current frontman.

Keyboardists of Journey:

1. stevie “keys” roseman (1980-1983).

• Filled in for Rolie during Journey’s Departure Tour.
• Assumed keyboard duties temporarily.

2. Jonathan Cain (1980-present)

• Joined Journey in 1980 and became an essential member.
• Took over keyboard duties and co-wrote many hit songs.

Bassists and Guitarists from Journey:

1. steve perry (1978 – 1987, 1995 – 1998).

• Many fans might not know that Perry also played guitar on some of the band’s tracks
• His contributions as a guitarist added depth and creativity to Journey’s music

2. Steve Smith (1978 – 1985, 1995 – 1998)

• Steve Smith also proved his proficiency as a guitarist during his time with the band
• His ability to switch between drums and guitar added a dynamic element to their performance

3. Randy Jackson (1986 – 1987)

• Randy Jackson’s diverse musical background brought a fresh perspective to Journey’s sound
• Jackson later became a well-known TV personality and one of the judges on American Idol.

4. Todd Jensen (2021-Present)

• Joined Journey as a bassist for their Las Vegas residency, starting on December 2021.
• A seasoned musician with an impressive resume, having played with artists like SEQUEL, HARDLINE, and HARLOW.
• Filled in on bass for Journey during the six shows of their residency

Throughout the band’s history, Journey has seen multiple personnel changes, but their music and legacy have continued to resonate with fans across generations. These talented individuals have each made significant contributions, leaving an indelible mark on the band’s evolution and success.

Frequently Asked Questions about Journey

Q1: what is journey’s net worth.

As of July 2023, Journey Band’s net worth is $8.87B.

Q2: Is Arnel Pineda still with Journey?

Yes, Arnel Pineda is currently the lead singer of Journey.

Q3: Are any of the current Journey members originals?

No, none of the current members of Journey are original members. The original members of Journey include Gregg Rolie, Neal Schon, Ross Valory, and George Tickner.

Q4: When was the last time Steve Perry sang with Journey?

The last time Steve Perry sang with Journey was in 1991. After leaving the band in 1998, he rejoined briefly for a reunion album and tour in 1996-1997, but they parted ways again after that.

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New Journey Book Takes Definitive Look At the Band’s History

From the publisher’s announcement: Journey started as a dream for former Santana road manager Herbie Herbert, who thought he could build a blockbuster band out of the remnants of post-Woodstock Santana with Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon. Turns out, he could – but it would take a few albums, and the arrival of frontman Steve Perry. By the time Rolie exited at the turn of the ‘80s, Journey was already a multi-platinum band – and they would only get bigger with the addition of Jonathan Cain from Journey’s former opening act, The Babys.

Solo projects and long periods apart slowed their momentum until Perry finally left for good in the late ‘90s. Then Journey was faced with one of its biggest challenges: Whether and how to move forward without the singer who had redefined their sound forever on songs like “Open Arms,” “Only the Young” and “When You Love a Woman.”

The story is guided from their earliest roots by conversations with co-founding members Schon and Rolie, and Prairie Prince, along with long-time Herbert confidant Pat Morrow. DeRiso then follows Journey toward music superstardom through additional talks with later-era collaborators Cain, Steve Smith, Deen Castronovo, Steve Augeri and scores of producers, sidemen, label representatives and various industry veterans like former Rolling Stone contributing editor David Wild, original MTV VJ Martha Quinn, and longtime San Francisco Chronicle music writer Joel Selvin, the latter of whom covered Journey almost from the beginning. The title takes a similar approach as a definitive series on Eagles  from the same publishing company.

A sample two-page spread from the Journey: Worlds Apart book (Used with permission of the publisher)

Journey: Worlds Apart emerges as the definitive look back at Journey, with deep explorations of every era, every album and every song. Pathway collaborations and key side projects complete this detailed analysis, as DeRiso speaks with John Waite, Jan Hammer, Marco Mendoza, Ron Wikso and others.

Spanning 417 pages, this extensive Journey history contains dozens of rare photos from across the years. Also, it includes an exclusive appendix of never-before-seen concept art, designs, sketches, and illustrations of Journey projects — some accepted and some that never made it to production — from the masterful hand of famed rock illustrator Stanley Mouse.

Author DeRiso is currently assistant managing editor with Townsquare Media.

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Journey Lead Singers In Order: History and Band Members

In this article, we delve into the captivating history of Journey, an iconic rock band that has left an indelible mark on the music industry. From their humble beginnings to their meteoric rise to fame, Journey has mesmerized audiences worldwide with their unique sound and timeless hits. Join us on a journey through time as we explore the remarkable story of this legendary band.

Formation of the Band

Journey was formed in 1973 in San Francisco, California, bringing together a group of highly talented musicians. The founding members included Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Ross Valory, Aynsley Dunbar, and George Tickner. With their combined musical prowess and creative vision, they set out to create something extraordinary.

Early Years and Musical Style

During their early years, Journey experimented with a fusion of rock, jazz, and progressive influences, creating a distinctive sound that set them apart from their contemporaries. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1975, showcased their musical versatility and marked the beginning of their incredible journey.

Evolution and Breakthrough Success

In 1977, Journey underwent a significant change that would forever shape its destiny. Steve Perry joined the band as their lead vocalist, injecting new energy and unparalleled vocal range into their music. This lineup change proved to be a turning point for Journey, leading to a series of chart-topping albums and unforgettable songs.

Chart-topping albums and Hit Singles

Journey’s breakthrough came in 1978 with the release of their album “Infinity,” which became a massive success. The album spawned the hit singles “Wheel in the Sky” and “Lights,” propelling Journey into the mainstream spotlight. They continued their winning streak with subsequent albums, including “Evolution” (1979) and “Departure” (1980), which produced hits like “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin'” and “Any Way You Want It.”

The Iconic Album: “Escape”

In 1981, Journey released their most iconic album to date, “Escape.” This album elevated their status as rock superstars and solidified their place in music history. Featuring the mega-hits “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms,” and “Who’s Crying Now,” “Escape” became an instant classic, captivating audiences with its emotionally charged lyrics and powerful melodies.

The Power Ballad Era

Journey’s success continued into the mid-1980s, defined by the rise of power ballads that struck a chord with fans worldwide. Songs like “Faithfully,” “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart),” and “Send Her My Love” showcased the band’s ability to create heartfelt and anthemic ballads that resonated deeply with listeners.

A Change in Direction

As the 1990s approached, Journey faced challenges and underwent significant lineup changes. Steve Perry departed from the band in 1987, leading to a period of transition as they searched for a new lead vocalist. Despite these challenges, Journey remained resilient and continued to produce music that captivated its loyal fan base.

Journey’s Enduring Legacy

Although the band’s popularity waned in the late 1990s, their music never faded from the hearts of their dedicated fans. Journey’s timeless classics continue to resonate with audiences of all ages, thanks to their emotional depth, infectious melodies, and inspiring lyrics. Their songs have become anthems for perseverance, love, and the power of music itself.

Past Journey band members include the following:

• Steve Perry (1977-1998)
• Aynsley Dunbar (1974-1978)
• Robert Fleischman (1977)
• Steve Smith (1978-1985, 1995-1998)
• Randy Jackson (1985-1987)
• Steve Augeri (1998-2006)

Current Journey band members:

• Neal Schon – Guitar (1973-present)
• Jonathan Cain – Keyboards (1980-present)
• Ross Valory – Bass (1973-1985, 1995-present)
• Arnel Pineda – Vocals (2007-present)
• Deen Castronovo – Drums (1998-present)

Lead Singers of Journey

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The Original Journey: Gregg Rolie’s Era

Gregg Rolie, a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, served as the original lead singer of Journey. He began his musical career as a co-founder and lead vocalist of Santana before joining forces with Neal Schon to form Journey. Rolie’s soulful voice and exceptional skills as a keyboardist and harmonicist contributed to the band’s early success. He showcased his talent on albums like “Journey,” “Look into the Future,” and “Next.” However, Rolie transitioned to co-lead vocals when Steve Perry joined the band in 1977.

Steve Perry: The Voice of Journey’s Greatest Hits

Steve Perry, widely recognized as the quintessential Journey lead singer, propelled the band to unprecedented heights during their most commercially successful era. Born with a gift for singing, Perry’s powerful and emotive vocals struck a chord with audiences worldwide. With Perry at the helm, Journey released a string of chart-topping albums, including “Infinity,” “Escape,” and “Frontiers.” Iconic songs like “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms,” and “Faithfully” became anthems for a generation. Perry’s remarkable songwriting abilities and magnetic stage presence contributed to the band’s enduring legacy.

Current Lead Singer: Arnel Pineda

Following Steve Perry’s departure in 1987, Journey experienced a series of lead singer changes. Steve Augeri, known for his vocal range and stage charisma, took over from 1998 to 2006. Jeff Scott Soto briefly joined the band in 2006, leaving his mark with his distinctive style. However, it was Arnel Pineda who breathed new life into Journey as the current lead singer. Pineda’s incredible vocal resemblance to Steve Perry, coupled with his dynamic stage presence, won the hearts of fans worldwide. Since 2008, Pineda has seamlessly integrated into the band, injecting fresh energy and passion into their performances.

Journey’s Enduring Discography: Albums That Defined an Era

Over the past five decades, Journey has released a diverse and extensive discography, showcasing their musical prowess and creativity. Let’s explore some of their most iconic albums:

“ Infinity ” (1978): With Steve Perry as the lead singer, “Infinity” marked a significant turning point for Journey. It featured hit singles like “Wheel in the Sky” and “Lights,” solidifying their place in the rock music landscape.

“ Escape ” (1981): This album became a monumental success, boasting chart-topping hits such as “Don’t Stop Believin'” and “Open Arms.” “Escape” catapulted Journey to international stardom and remains one of their most beloved records.

“ Frontiers ” (1983): Building upon their previous success, “Frontiers” showcased Journey’s evolution with tracks like “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” and “Faithfully.” The album’s polished production and memorable hooks solidified Journey’s status as one of the biggest rock bands of the 1980s.

“ Raised on Radio ” (1986): Released during the band’s final years with Steve Perry, “Raised on Radio” featured a more radio-friendly sound and produced hits like “Be Good to Yourself” and “I’ll Be Alright Without You.” Despite tensions within the band, the album showcased their ability to create catchy, melodic rock tunes.

“ Revelation ” (2008): With Arnel Pineda as the lead singer, “Revelation” marked a new chapter for Journey. The album featured new recordings of their classic hits, reaffirming Pineda’s vocal prowess and rekindling the band’s popularity among longtime fans and a new generation.

“ Eclipse ” (2011): Continuing their musical journey with Pineda, Journey released “Eclipse,” a record that showcased their ability to evolve while staying true to their roots. The album demonstrated their enduring songwriting skills and featured tracks like “City of Hope” and “Edge of the Moment.”

“Escape & Frontiers Live in Japan” (2019): As a testament to their enduring appeal, Journey released a live album featuring their performances of the “Escape” and “Frontiers” albums in their entirety. The release showcased the band’s timeless hits in a live setting, capturing the energy and excitement of their concerts.

Journey’s Impact and Legacy

Journey’s impact on the rock music landscape cannot be overstated. With their infectious melodies, anthemic choruses, and powerful vocals, they carved out a unique sound that resonated with millions of listeners. Their music transcended generations, becoming the soundtrack to countless moments and capturing the hearts of fans worldwide.

Steve Perry’s tenure as the lead singer marked the band’s most successful period, and his distinct voice became synonymous with Journey’s sound. His emotional delivery and ability to connect with audiences elevated their songs to new heights and created an unparalleled legacy.

Arnel Pineda’s addition to the band injected new energy into Journey and allowed them to continue their musical journey. Pineda’s remarkable vocal resemblance to Perry breathed new life into the band’s live performances, earning him a dedicated fanbase and ensuring that Journey’s music lives on.

Journey’s timeless hits continue to be celebrated and embraced today. Songs like “Don’t Stop Believin'” have become cultural touchstones, appearing in films, TV shows, and sporting events, and capturing the imaginations of new generations of listeners.

Journey Band Member’s Ages

Here, is the list of all the Journey member’s ages. It seems like all of the Journey band members are above 50 and below 80.

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Complete List Of Journey Albums And Songs

Feature Photo: Bruce Alan Bennett / Shutterstock.com

This Complete List Of Journey Albums And Songs presents the full discography of Journey studio albums. The band Journey was first formed in 1973.  The group Journey hails from the area of San Francisco, California. This complete Journey discography also includes every single Journey live album. All these spectacular Journey albums have been presented below in chronological order. We have also included all original release dates with each Journey album as well as all original Journey album covers. Every Journey album listed below showcases the entire album tracklisting.

JOURNEY STUDIO ALBUMS

Released: April 1, 1975

Journey’s self-titled debut album was released in April 1975 and was the band’s first outing into the musical world. At the time, Journey was yet to adopt the arena rock sound that they would later become famous for. Instead, the album exhibited strong influences of jazz fusion and progressive rock, with extensive instrumental solos and complex musical arrangements.

Notable tracks include “Of a Lifetime” and “Mystery Mountain,” which offered a glimpse into the technical proficiency and artistic aspirations of the band. Though the album didn’t achieve significant commercial success, it laid the groundwork for what the band could accomplish. The album featured Neal Schon on guitars, Ross Valory on bass, Gregg Rolie on keyboards and vocals, Aynsley Dunbar on drums, and George Tickner on rhythm guitar. It was produced by Roy Halee and recorded at CBS Studios in San Francisco in late 1974. .

CD Track Listings:

• “Of a Lifetime” – 6:48
• “In the Morning Day” – 4:23
• “Kohoutek” – 6:40
• “To Play Some Music” – 3:16
• “Topaz” – 6:09
• “In My Lonely Feeling / Conversations” – 4:56
• “Mystery Mountain” – 4:25

Look into the Future

Released: January 1976

Released just a year after their debut, “Look into the Future” was Journey’s second studio album. The band continued in a similar vein, leaning heavily towards progressive rock with intricate instrumental arrangements. The title track and “On a Saturday Nite” are often cited as highlights. However, the album failed to bring substantial commercial success, although it was a step forward in terms of songwriting and complexity. Neal Schon on guitars, Ross Valory on bass, and Gregg Rolie on keyboards and vocals returned for this album, with Aynsley Dunbar continuing to provide the drum work. The album was produced by Glen Kolotkin and was recorded at CBS Studios in San Francisco during late 1975.

• “Look into the Future” – 8:08
• “On a Saturday Nite” – 4:02
• “It’s All Too Much” – 4:03
• “Anyway” – 4:12
• “She Makes Me (Feel Alright)” – 2:43
• “You’re on Your Own” – 5:54
• “Look into the Future” – 8:13

Released: February 1977

“Next,” Journey’s third studio album, represents the end of an era for the band in terms of their experimentation with progressive rock and jazz fusion. Songs like “Spaceman” and “Hustler” continue to echo their earlier styles but also hint at the more commercial sound the band would later adopt. While not commercially successful upon its release, it gained some retrospective recognition for marking a transitional phase for the band. As with the previous albums, the lineup featured Neal Schon on guitars, Gregg Rolie on keyboards and vocals, Ross Valory on bass, and Aynsley Dunbar on drums. Produced by Glen Kolotkin and recorded at His Master’s Wheels Studio in San Francisco in late 1976, “Next” was the last Journey album to feature solely Gregg Rolie on lead vocals.

• “Spaceman” – 4:01
• “People” – 5:19
• “I Would Find You” – 5:20
• “Here We Are” – 4:16
• “Hustler” – 3:14
• “Next” – 5:26
• “Nickel & Dime” – 4:13
• “Karma” – 5:12

Released: January 20, 1978

“Infinity” marked a major turning point in Journey’s career, introducing vocalist Steve Perry and adopting a more mainstream, radio-friendly sound. Produced by Roy Thomas Baker and recorded at His Master’s Wheels Studio and Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles in late 1977, the album was a commercial success. It featured hits like “Lights” and “Wheel in the Sky,” which have since become staples of classic rock radio. The album peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified 3x Platinum in the United States. “Infinity” was the last album to feature Aynsley Dunbar before he was replaced by Steve Smith. Alongside Dunbar, the album featured Neal Schon on guitars, Ross Valory on bass, Gregg Rolie on keyboards and vocals, and the newly added Steve Perry on vocals.

• “Lights” – 3:09
• “Feeling That Way” – 3:26
• “Anytime” – 3:28
• “Lă Do Dā” – 2:55
• “Patiently” – 3:09
• “Wheel in the Sky” – 4:12
• “Somethin’ to Hide” – 3:26
• “Winds of March” – 5:04
• “Can Do” – 2:39
• “Opened the Door” – 4:34

Released: April 5, 1979

“Evolution” was Journey’s fifth studio album, and it marked the band’s continued move toward a mainstream rock sound. It was produced by Roy Thomas Baker and recorded at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles. Featuring singles like “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin'” and “Just the Same Way,” the album helped to further cement the band’s commercial viability. “Evolution” peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified 3x Platinum in the United States. The lineup for this album remained the same as “Infinity,” with Neal Schon on guitars, Ross Valory on bass, Gregg Rolie on keyboards and vocals, Steve Smith on drums, and Steve Perry on vocals.

• “Majestic” – 1:16
• “Too Late” – 2:58
• “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin'” – 3:54
• “City of the Angels” – 3:12
• “When You’re Alone (It Ain’t Easy)” – 3:10
• “Sweet and Simple” – 4:12
• “Lovin’ You Is Easy” – 3:38
• “Just the Same Way” – 3:18
• “Do You Recall” – 3:13
• “Daydream” – 4:41
• “Lady Luck” – 3:35

Released: March 23, 1980

“Departure,” Journey’s sixth studio album, featured a harder rock sound compared to its predecessors. Recorded at The Automatt Studios in San Francisco and produced by Geoff Workman and Kevin Elson, “Departure” spawned hits like “Any Way You Want It” and “Walks Like a Lady.” The album reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified 3x Platinum. This was the last studio album to feature Gregg Rolie, who was replaced by Jonathan Cain.

• “Any Way You Want It” – 3:22
• “Walks Like a Lady” – 3:16
• “Someday Soon” – 3:32
• “People and Places” – 5:04
• “Precious Time” – 4:48
• “Where Were You” – 3:01
• “I’m Cryin'” – 2:53
• “Line of Fire” – 3:18
• “Departure” – 0:38
• “Good Morning Girl” – 1:44
• “Stay Awhile” – 2:48
• “Homemade Love” – 2:56

Dream, After Dream

Released: December 10, 1980

“Dream, After Dream,” an often-overlooked album in the Journey discography, served as a soundtrack for the Japanese film of the same name. The music showcased a more orchestrated and experimental side of the band. It was the last Journey album to involve Gregg Rolie and was not as commercially successful as their previous works. It was recorded in Osaka, Japan and was produced by Kevin Elson.

• “Destiny” – 5:32
• “Snow Theme” – 5:15
• “Sand Castles” – 4:50
• “A Few Coins” – 0:54
• “Moon Theme” – 1:41
• “When the Love Has Gone” – 5:03
• “Festival Dance” – 0:59
• “The Rape” – 1:23
• “Little Girl” – 5:51

Released: July 31, 1981

“Escape” was a landmark album for Journey, featuring some of the band’s most iconic songs like “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Who’s Crying Now,” and “Open Arms.” Produced by Mike Stone and Kevin Elson, and recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California, “Escape” was a massive commercial success. It was the first Journey album to feature Jonathan Cain, who replaced Gregg Rolie on keyboards. The album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified 9x Platinum in the United States.

• “Don’t Stop Believin'” – 4:11
• “Stone in Love” – 4:25
• “ Who’s Crying Now” – 5:00
• “Keep On Runnin'” – 3:39
• “Still They Ride” – 3:49
• “Escape” – 5:16
• “Lay It Down” – 4:13
• “Dead or Alive” – 3:20
• “Mother, Father” – 5:28
• “Open Arms” – 3:18

Released: February 22, 1983

“Frontiers,” Journey’s eighth studio album, continued the band’s commercial success from “Escape.” This is the most underrated Journey album. The sound of this record is incredible. Produced by Mike Stone and Kevin Elson, this album was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California. It featured hits like “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart),” “Faithfully,” and “Send Her My Love.” “Frontiers” reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified 6x Platinum in the United States.

• “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” – 5:26
• “Send Her My Love” – 3:55
• “Chain Reaction” – 4:20
• “After the Fall” – 5:01
• “Faithfully” – 4:24
• “Edge of the Blade” – 4:30
• “Troubled Child” – 4:29
• “Back Talk” – 3:18
• “Frontiers” – 4:04
• “Rubicon” – 4:19

Raised on Radio

Released: May 27, 1986

Breaking a three-year silence, Journey returned with “Raised on Radio,” an album that reflected the changing musical landscape of the late ’80s. Produced by Steve Perry and recorded at Fantasy Studios, it had a more streamlined, pop-oriented sound. Despite significant line-up changes, the album was commercially successful, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart and going 2x Platinum.

• “Girl Can’t Help It” – 3:50
• “Positive Touch” – 4:17
• “Suzanne” – 3:38
• “Be Good to Yourself” – 3:51
• “Once You Love Somebody” – 4:40
• “Happy to Give” – 3:50
• “Raised on Radio” – 3:49
• “I’ll Be Alright Without You” – 4:50
• “It Could Have Been You” – 3:36
• “The Eyes of a Woman” – 4:33
• “Why Can’t This Night Go on Forever” – 3:41

Trial by Fire

Released: October 22, 1996

Journey’s “Trial by Fire” was a reunion album featuring the band’s classic lineup. Produced by Kevin Shirley and recorded at Wildhorse Studios in Novato, California, the album was well-received by fans. Although it couldn’t replicate the massive success of the band’s ’80s heyday, it still peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart and went Platinum.

• “Message of Love” – 5:34
• “One More” – 5:28
• “When You Love a Woman” – 4:07
• “If He Should Break Your Heart” – 4:23
• “Forever in Blue” – 4:34
• “Castles Burning” – 6:00
• “Don’t Be Down on Me Baby” – 4:01
• “Still She Cries” – 5:04
• “Colors of the Spirit” – 5:35
• “When I Think of You” – 4:20
• “Easy to Fall” – 5:16
• “Can’t Tame the Lion” – 4:32
• “It’s Just the Rain” – 5:03
• “Trial by Fire” – 4:27
• “Baby I’m a Leavin’ You” – 2:48

Released: April 3, 2001

Marking a new era for the band, “Arrival” was the first Journey album to feature Steve Augeri on lead vocals, replacing Steve Perry. Produced by Kevin Shirley and recorded at Avatar Studios in New York City, it failed to achieve the commercial success of previous albums but was appreciated by the band’s dedicated fan base. Of course, there were many who were not happy that Steve Perry was no longer a part of the band, and the low album sales was further proof of the fans who were upset over the loss of Perry

• “Higher Place” – 5:11
• “All the Way” – 3:35
• “Signs of Life” – 4:54
• “All the Things” – 4:21
• “Loved by You” – 4:02
• “Livin’ to Do” – 6:19
• “World Gone Wild” – 6:00
• “I Got a Reason” – 4:00
• “With Your Love” – 4:25
• “Lifetime of Dreams” – 5:28
• “Live and Breathe” – 5:17
• “Nothin’ Comes Close” – 5:41
• “To Be Alive Again” – 4:20
• “Kiss Me Softly” – 4:46
• “I Was Made of You” – 4:29

Generations

Released: August 29, 2005

Journey returned in 2005 with “Generations,” which was the first album to feature drummer Deen Castronovo on lead vocals for several tracks, alternating with Steve Augeri. Produced by Kevin Shirley, the album was recorded at The Plant Studios, Sausalito, California. The album includes a variety of styles, blending traditional Journey elements with more modern influences. Musicians featured on “Generations” included Steve Augeri on lead vocals, Neal Schon on guitars and vocals, Jonathan Cain on keyboards and vocals, Ross Valory on bass and vocals, and Deen Castronovo on drums, percussion, and vocals.

• “Faith in the Heartland” – 6:02
• “The Place in Your Heart” – 4:24
• “A Better Life” – 5:45
• “Every Generation” – 5:52
• “Butterfly (She Flies Alone)” – 5:55
• “Believe” – 5:45
• “Knowing That You Love Me” – 4:12
• “Out of Harms Way” – 5:16
• “In Self-Defense” – 5:32
• “Better Together” – 5:14
• “Gone Crazy” – 4:25
• “Beyond the Clouds” – 7:52

Released: June 3, 2008

Journey’s “Revelation” marked a pivotal point in the band’s long and storied career, primarily because it was their second album with Arnel Pineda on lead vocals. Produced by Kevin Shirley, “Revelation” was recorded at The Plant Studios in Sausalito, California, and Avatar Studios in New York.

The album is a triple-disc set. The first disc features 11 new songs, while the second contains 11 re-recorded classics featuring Pineda’s vocals, allowing both old and new fans to experience Journey’s classics in a new light. The third disc is a DVD of a live concert.

The album captures Journey’s classic rock sound, while also infusing new energy. Hits like “Never Walk Away” and “After All These Years” became fan favorites and enjoyed radio airplay. The album went on to receive platinum certification and peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Musicians on “Revelation” include Arnel Pineda on lead vocals, Neal Schon on guitars and vocals, Jonathan Cain on keyboards and vocals, Ross Valory on bass and vocals, and Deen Castronovo on drums, percussion, and vocals.

CD 1 Track Listings:

• “Never Walk Away” – 4:19
• “Like a Sunshower” – 4:29
• “Change for the Better” – 5:52
• “Wildest Dream” – 5:02
• “Faith in the Heartland” – 6:18
• “After All These Years” – 4:10
• “Where Did I Lose Your Love” – 5:02
• “What I Needed” – 5:28
• “What It Takes to Win” – 5:23
• “Turn Down the World Tonight” – 4:56
• “The Journey (Revelation)” – 3:17

CD 2 Track Listings (Re-recorded classics):

• “Only the Young” – 4:14
• “Don’t Stop Believin'” – 4:55
• “Wheel in the Sky” – 5:01
• “Faithfully” – 4:47
• “Any Way You Want It” – 3:25
• “Who’s Crying Now” – 5:44
• “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” – 5:27
• “Lights” – 3:16
• “Open Arms” – 3:22
• “Be Good to Yourself” – 4:29
• “Stone in Love” – 4:26

DVD Track Listing (Live in Concert):

• “Intro Medley: The Journey (Revelation)/Majestic”
• “Never Walk Away”
• “Only the Young”
• “Ask the Lonely”
• “Stone in Love”
• “Keep On Runnin'”
• “After All These Years”
• “Change for the Better”
• “Wheel in the Sky”
• “Lights”
• “Still They Ride”
• “Open Arms”
• “Mother, Father”
• “Wildest Dream”
• “When You Love a Woman”
• “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”
• “What I Needed”
• “Edge of the Blade”
• “Where Did I Lose Your Love”
• “Escape”
• “Faithfully”
• “Don’t Stop Believin’”

Released: May 24, 2011

“Eclipse” is the 14th studio album by Journey. Also featuring Arnel Pineda on vocals, the album aimed for a heavier sound than its predecessor. Produced by Kevin Shirley, it was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California. Despite receiving positive reviews for its musical direction, it did not achieve high commercial success.

• “City of Hope” – 6:01
• “Edge of the Moment” – 5:27
• “Chain of Love” – 6:10
• “Tantra” – 6:27
• “Anything Is Possible” – 5:21
• “Resonate” – 5:10
• “She’s a Mystery” – 6:41
• “Human Feel” – 6:43
• “Ritual” – 4:57
• “To Whom It May Concern” – 5:15
• “Someone” – 4:34
• “Venus” – 3:30

Released: July 8, 2022

Freedom features the return of bassist Randy Jackson.

1. Together We Run 2. Don’t Give Up On Us 3. Still Believe In Love 4. You Got The Best Of Me 5. Live To Love Again 6. The Way We Used To Be 7. Come Away With Me 8. After Glow 9. Let It Rain 10. Holdin On 11. All Day And All Night 12. Don’t Go 13. United We Stand 14. Life Rolls On 15. Beautiful As You Are

JOURNEY LIVE ALBUMS

Released 1981

Captured is Journey’s first live album, released on January 30, 1981. This album marked the end of the band’s successful run in the late ’70s into the ’80s with Steve Perry. The album charted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum, which attests to its commercial success.

The album features Steve Perry on lead vocals, Neal Schon on guitar, Ross Valory on bass, Jonathan Cain on keyboards, and Steve Smith on drums. The record was produced by Kevin Elson and Steve Perry. Captured was released on the Columbia Records label. The album was recorded during various shows in 1980 but primarily on the “Departure” tour.

• “Where Were You” – 3:22
• “Just the Same Way” – 3:37
• “Line of Fire” – 3:26
• “Lights” – 3:30
• “Too Late” – 3:44
• “Dixie Highway” – 6:51
• “Feeling That Way” – 3:14
• “Anytime” – 4:27
• “Do You Recall” – 3:26
• “Walks Like a Lady” – 7:05
• “La Do Da” – 7:02
• “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin'” – 5:16
• “Wheel in the Sky” – 5:03
• “Any Way You Want It” – 3:39
• “The Party’s Over (Hopelessly in Love)” – 3:42

Greatest Hits Live

Released 1998

Greatest Hits Live is not an official studio album by Journey, but a compilation of live performances released on October 13, 1998. It’s a compilation of recordings taken from various concerts, primarily during the period when Steve Perry was the lead vocalist.

This collection features Steve Perry on vocals, Neal Schon on guitar, Jonathan Cain on keyboards, Ross Valory on bass, and Steve Smith on drums. It was released on the Columbia Records label.

• “Don’t Stop Believin'” – 4:19
• “Lights” – 3:20
• “Open Arms” – 3:21
• “Mother, Father” – 5:27
• “La Do Da” – 7:03
• “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin'” – 5:09
• “Who’s Crying Now” – 5:46
• “Ask the Lonely” – 3:23
• “Girl Can’t Help It” – 4:29

Live in Houston 1981: The Escape Tour

Released 2005

“Live in Houston 1981: The Escape Tour” is a live DVD/CD package by the American rock band Journey, released on November 15, 2005. The concert was recorded and filmed at The Summit in Houston, Texas on November 6, 1981, during the band’s tour for their then-newly released “Escape” album, which had been released in July of that year. The album peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 chart for music videos and was certified Platinum by the RIAA.

The lineup for this live recording included Steve Perry on lead vocals, Neal Schon on lead guitar, Jonathan Cain on keyboards, Ross Valory on bass, and Steve Smith on drums. The album was produced by Steve Perry and Neal Schon.

• “Escape” – 5:17
• “Line of Fire” – 3:07
• “Lights” – 3:17
• “Stay Awhile” – 2:26
• “Open Arms” – 3:09
• “Mother, Father” – 5:22
• “Jonathan Cain Solo” – 1:53
• “Who’s Crying Now” – 5:41
• “Where Were You” – 3:18
• “Steve Smith Solo” – 3:54
• “Dead or Alive” – 3:30
• “Don’t Stop Believin'” – 4:09
• “Stone in Love” – 5:00
• “Keep On Runnin'” – 4:01
• “Neal Schon Solo” – 2:21
• “Wheel in the Sky” – 5:56
• “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin'” – 5:14
• “Anyway You Want It” – 3:39

Escape & Frontiers Live in Japan

Released 2019

“Escape & Frontiers Live in Japan” was released on April 3, 2019, and captures Journey’s performance at the Budokan in Tokyo on February 7, 2017. This special live performance was a unique set where Journey played their “Escape” and “Frontiers” albums back-to-back in their entirety.

The lineup for this recording featured Arnel Pineda on lead vocals, Neal Schon on lead guitar, Ross Valory on bass, Jonathan Cain on keyboards, and Steve Smith on drums. The album was produced by Journey and was released through Eagle Vision.

• “Don’t Stop Believin'” – 4:15
• “Who’s Crying Now” – 5:01
• “Troubled Child” – 4:04
• “Frontiers” – 4:10

Complete List Of Journey Albums And Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023

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Brian Kachejian was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx. He is the founder and Editor in Chief of ClassicRockHistory.com. He has spent thirty years in the music business often working with many of the people who have appeared on this site. Brian Kachejian also holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from Stony Brook University along with New York State Public School Education Certifications in Music and Social Studies. Brian Kachejian is also an active member of the New York Press.

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Who Is Arnel Pineda?

After a series of unfortunate events in his childhood, Arnel Pineda found success in Asia as the front man for the group The Zoo. In 2007, he was discovered by Journey guitarist Neal Schon, after a series of YouTube videos were posted of him covering American songs, including the famous hit, "Dont Stop Believin'." In December 2007, Pineda became the new lead singer of Journey. His is noted for having a strikingly similar sound to former Journey front man Steve Perry.

Troubled Childhood

Arnel Pineda was born on September 5, 1967, in Sampaloc, Manila, in the Philippines. Throughout his childhood, Pineda endured grave misfortune. When he was just 13 years old, his mother, who was 35 at the time, passed away after a long battle with heart disease. Her medical costs left the family in serious debt, and Pineda's father could no longer provide for Pineda and his three younger brothers, Russmon, Roderick and Joselito.

While relatives were able to take in his brothers, Pineda was left on his own. He spent the next few years homeless, often sleeping outside in public parks and scraping for any food or water that he could afford. When possible, he would stay at a friend's house, who offered him a cot outside. Eventually, Pineda was forced to quit school and take up odd jobs collecting scrap metal and bottles at the pier and selling newspapers to support his family.

Early Career

Pineda's love of music started at a young age. He began singing at just five years old, and had entered many singing contests as a child. In 1982, when he was 15, Pineda was introduced to a local band called Ijos, and was encouraged by his friends to try out as their new lead singer. He sang the Beatles' "Help" and Air Supply's "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All." Although they were concerned with his lack of training, Ijos members were wowed by Pineda's powerful voice, and took him on as the new front man of the band. One of the band member's friends even offered to pay Pineda's salary, 35 pesos a night, out of his own pocket, and Pineda was offered a tiny room to sleep under the guitarist's front stairs.

In 1986, some members of Ijos joined together to form the new pop-rock band Amo. The group found success covering songs by hit groups Heart, Queen and Journey. In 1988, they turned heads when they won the Philippines' leg of the Yamaha World Band Explosion Contest. Although they were disqualified in the finals due to a technicality, the event was broadcast on TV in Asia, widening their fanbase. The band continued performing at popular clubs and arenas around the Philippines.

In 1990, the members re-grouped yet again, under the new name Intensity Five, and re-entered the contest. The band came in as runner up and Pineda won the Best Vocalist Award. After a series of unfortunate health problems in the early '90s, including the brief loss of his voice, Pineda re-emerged in 1999 with a new solo album with Warner Brothers. The self-titled album had several hits in Asia.

After brief stints with a few different bands, Pineda found success again in 2006 with The Zoo, a band that he formed with Monet Cajipe, a guitarist/songwriter who had been in all his bands during over the previous 20 years. The Zoo performed at several popular clubs in the area and, in 2007, released an album by MCA Universal titled Zoology . Soon the band began covering songs by groups such as Journey, Survivor, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles and more, with more than 200 performances uploaded to YouTube.

On June 28, 2007, Neal Schon, guitarist and member of the band Journey, saw a video of Pineda on YouTube and immediately contacted him. The band had been looking for a new lead singer, and Pineda's voice sounded strikingly similar to Steve Perry, Journey's legendary former front man. After speaking with Schon on the phone, Pineda made arrangements to fly to the United States and audition with the band in San Francisco. On December 5, 2007, Pineda was welcomed as the band's new lead singer.

Right away, Pineda went on tour with the band, performing two shows in Chile and two in Las Vegas. Both were a huge success. After a series of guest show appearances and magazine features, Pineda gained popularity within the American public. On June 3, 2008, the newly organized Journey released their first album, Revelation , which came in at No. 5 on the U.S. charts. The album was their highest charting album since Trial by Fire (with Steve Perry), and reached platinum status by October 2008.

Soon after the album's release, the band continued touring around the world with Pineda. The documentary, Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey , slated to be released in 2012, will chronicle the band's "Revelation Tour," and Pineda's first years with the band.

Personal Life

When he is not on tour, Pineda resides in the Philippines with his wife, Cherry, their children, Cherub and Thea. He has two other sons—Matthew, 19, and Angelo, 13—from past relationships.

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Arnel Pineda
• Birth Year: 1967
• Birth date: September 5, 1967
• Birth City: Sampaloc, Manila
• Birth Country: Philippines
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Arnel Pineda is best known as the new lead singer for the rock group Journey.
• Astrological Sign: Virgo
• Nacionalities

CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Arnel Pineda Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/arnel-pineda
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: July 20, 2020
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

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The legendary rock band journey celebrating the 50th anniversary freedom tour 2023.

October 17, 2022 – One of the most legendary rock bands of all time, JOURNEY, announces the continuation of their highly successful tour with the 50th Anniversary Celebration Freedom Tour 2023 featuring, very special guest TOTO. JOURNEY , Diamond-selling Rock & Roll Hall of Famers will take the stage in 38 cities across North America with their catalog of global chart-topping hits, including "Don't Stop Believin”, "Any Way You Want It", "Faithfully", "Lights" and more.

Presented by AEG Presents, JOURNEY Freedom Tour 2023 begins February 4 in Allentown, PA – making stops in Austin, Montreal, Memphis and more – before wrapping April 25 at the brand new Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, CA. The 2023 run includes rescheduled dates in Washington DC, Hartford, Toronto and Quebec that were postponed earlier this year due to covid.

Citi is the official card of the JOURNEY 50th ANNIVERSARY Freedom Tour 2023. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets for theU.S. dates beginning Tuesday, October 18th at 10am local time until Thursday, October 20th at 10pm local time through Citi Entertainment (excluding Canada, Washington DC and Hartford shows). For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com. A limited number of exclusive VIP Packages are also available. These exceptional offers can include an amazing selection of reserved seated tickets, custom merchandise and much more.

Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, October 21 at 10am local time HERE

JOURNEY features Founder,Neal Schon (lead guitarist, ), Jonathan Cain (keyboards, backing vocals), Arnel Pineda (lead vocals) Jason Derlatka (keyboards, vocals), and Deen Castronovo (drums, vocals) and Todd Jensen (bass). Neal Schon, 3x Hall of Fame inductee: Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame. Jon Cain is a recipient of two BMI songwriter awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Journey.

Neal Schon: “We are all thankful and overwhelmed by the success of our Journey Freedom Tour 2022 this year and have added a new run of dates for 2023” says JOURNEY Founder Neal Schon. “We are looking forward to hitting the road again with our very good friends Toto! Come join us for a special evening full of fun and Rockin’ good memories. See you soon Friends.”

Jonathan Cain adds “Excited to perform for our fans as we tour next year with Toto. The combined hits of both bands represent a couple of decades of excellence that have become a soundtrack for people’s lives. The music of Journey along with the music of Toto is an example of “certain music” during “uncertain times”.

Very special guest TOTO, who have collectively streamed more than 3.3 billion plays on Spotify alone based on hits including “Rosanna”, “Africa” and “Hold the Line”, will join JOURNEY on all dates.

TOTO’s Steve Lukather shares, “'On behalf of myself and the band, we are very honored and excited to do this tour with our old and dear friends JOURNEY. Gonna be a great night of music, and as all the guys are lifelong friends... a blast off stage as well.”

FREEDOM TOUR 2023 DATES

February 4 Allentown, PA PPL Center

February 5 Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones Arena

February 8 Savannah, GA Enmarket Arena

February 10 Columbia, SC Colonial Life Arena

February 11 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum

February 14 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena

February 17 Knoxville, TN Thompson-Boling Arena

February 19 Bossier City, LA Brookshire Grocery Arena

February 22 Austin, TX Moody Center

February 23 Lafayette, LA Cajundome

February 26 Jacksonville, FL Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena

March 1* Washington, DC Capital One Arena

March 3 State College, PA Bryce Jordan Center

March 4* Hartford, CT XL Center

March 8 Montreal, QC Bell Centre

March 9* Quebec, QC Videotron Centre

March 12* Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena

March 13 Ottawa, ON Canadian Tire Centre

March 16 Buffalo, NY KeyBank Center

March 17 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall

March 20 Champaign, IL State Farm Center

March 21 Moline, IL Vibrant Arena at The MARK

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ABOUT JOURNEY

Since the group's formation in 1973, JOURNEY has earned 19 top 40 singles, 25 gold and platinum albums, and has sold over 100 million albums globally. Their "Greatest Hits" album is certified 15 times-platinum, making JOURNEY one of the few bands to ever have been diamond-certified, and their song "Don't Stop Believin'" has been streamed over one billion times alone.

JOURNEY was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017, and 2018's co-headlining tour with DEF LEPPARD was the band's most successful tour to date, landing them in the Top 10 year-end touring chart with more than 1 million tickets sold, and earning them the prestigious Billboard "Legends Of Live" touring award. March 2019 saw the release of "Escape & Frontiers Live In Japan", a live DVD/CD set from their concert at the Budokan in Tokyo featuring the band's first-ever performances of the albums "Escape" and "Frontiers" in their entirety. JOURNEY has also received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame and were inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall Of Fame. Additionally, the band is the subject of the award-winning documentary "Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey" about the band's resurgence upon adding Arnel Pineda as lead singer after JOURNEY Founder, Neal Schon discovered the Philippines native on YouTube.

The members of TOTO are celebrating an accomplishment few bands have achieved in the modern era. Cumulative streams of the ensemble’s repertoire

now exceed 3 billion plays. Amongst the most listened to recordings, “Africa” accounts for over one billion streams at Spotify alone. This year the song was recertified by the RIAA 8X Platinum.

Over the past decade, the band has had a major renaissance in popularity like few bands at this point in their career. The audience is truly multi-generational, becoming younger with each passing year. Joining Steve Lukather and Joseph Williams are band members bassist John Pierce (Huey Lewis and The News), drummer Robert “Sput” Searight (Ghost-Note, Founding member Snarky Puppy, Snoop Dogg), keyboardist Dominique “Xavier” Taplin (Prince, Ghost-Note), multi-instrumentalist / vocalist Warren Ham (Ringo Starr) and keyboardist / background vocalist Steve Maggiora,. This line-up marks the fifteenth incarnation of Toto in consideration of band members or sidemen who joined or exited. Individually and collectively, few have had a larger imprint on pop culture than the members of TOTO. The family tree can be heard on an astonishing 5000 albums that together amass a sales history of a half a billion albums. Amongst these recordings, NARAS applauded the performances with hundreds of Grammy nominations.

With now 45+ years together and literally thousands of credits, including the biggest selling album of all time: Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and accolades to their names, TOTO remains one of the top selling touring and recording acts in the world. They are the benchmark by which many artists base their sound and production, and they continue to transcend the standards set by the entire music community, being simply synonymous with musical credibility. They are pop culture and are one of the few 70’s bands that have endured the changing trends and styles continuing to remain relevant.

About AEG Presents

Combining the power of the live event with a focus on true artist development, AEG Presents is a world leader in the music and entertainment industries. Operating across five continents, the company has an unparalleled commitment to artistry, creativity, and community. Its tentpole festivals and multi-day music events — which include the iconic Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and the legendary New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival alongside British Summer Time at Hyde Park, Stagecoach, Hangout Festival, Electric Forest, and Firefly — continue to set the bar for the live music experience. AEG Presents promotes global tours for artists such as The Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran, Elton John, Taylor Swift, Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, Kenny Chesney, Paul McCartney, and Katy Perry, in addition to — through its network of clubs, theatres, arenas, stadiums and renowned partner brands such as The Bowery Presents, Concerts West, Frontier Touring, Goldenvoice, Madison House Presents, Marshall Arts,

Messina Touring Group, PromoWest Productions, and Zero Mile Presents — creating and developing an unmatched infrastructure for artist development and audience reach. More information can be found at www.aegpresents.com.

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George Tickner, co-founder and rhythm guitarist of Journey, dies at 76

The musician co-wrote several songs on the band's first three albums before departing to get his Ph.D at Stanford University.

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at  Entertainment Weekly  with over five years of experience covering the latest in entertainment. A proud Kingston University alum, Emlyn has written about music, fandom, film, television, and awards for multiple outlets including MTV News,  Teen Vogue , Bustle, BuzzFeed,  Paper Magazine , Dazed, and NME. She joined EW in August 2022.

George Tickner, a co-founding member and the original rhythm guitarist of Journey , has died. He was 76.

His former bandmate Neal Schon announced the musician's death in an Instagram video that featured him playing guitar in Tickner's honor on Thursday. "Some smooth Strat to EZzzzzzz your soul. Prayers for George," he captioned the post. "Farewell old friend." The video was reposted in a story on Journey's official Instagram account later that day.

Schon also paid tribute to Tickner's legacy in a poignant Facebook statement. "Journey Junkies, I have some very sad news. George Tickner, Journey's original rhythm guitarist and songwriting contributor on their first three albums, has passed away," he wrote. "Godspeed, George… Thank you for the music."

Alongside a separate image, Schon added, "Rest peacefully, Dr. George Tickner… you will be missed immensely! Thank you for your incomparable contributions to Journey's early years. The reason he left Journey was to attend Stanford University on a full scholarship, earning his Ph.D. Fly free above the stars, sir… Herbie's waiting to greet you."

Representatives for Journey did not immediately respond to EW's request for more information.

Tickner founded Journey alongside Schon, Prairie Prince, Gregg Rolie, and Ross Valory (he had previously played with the latter in the psychedelic band Frumious Bandersnatch) in February 1973. The San Francisco band held their first-ever public performance at the city's historic Winterland Ballroom on New Year's Eve that year and would go on to dominate the airwaves with hits like "Don't Stop Believin'," "Separate Ways," and "Faithfully."

In addition to serving as Journey's rhythm guitarist, Tickner co-wrote and composed several songs on their first three albums, including "Of a Lifetime," "Topaz," "Mystery Mountain," "You're on Your Own," and "I'm Gonna Leave You."

Although he left the group to study medicine, Tickner remained in close contact with his former bandmates. He and Valory co-founded a recording studio called The Hive and performed together, alongside fellow Journey alum Stevie 'Keys' Roseman, in the band VTR. They released an album, Cinema , in 2005.

Tickner later reunited with Journey when the band received its star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005.

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When and why did Steve Perry leave Journey?

Journey helped set the soundtrack for the 1970s and 1980s, with hits that are still remembered as some of the best songs ever written. However, the band couldn’t count on lead singer Steve Perry for most of their existence.

Journey was formed in 1973, a union of several experienced musicians trying to create a new sound experience. As the jazz fusion project didn’t work as well as Journey had hoped, the band was forced to experiment with new genres and invite new members. The version of Journey we all know and love began in 1977 when Perry joined as the band’s lead singer and songwriter. As the frontman, he made history, using his vocal talents to turn hits such as “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Open Arms” into the anthems of a generation.

Though Journey’s explosive success established them as one of the biggest musical influences of the 1980s, Perry left the band in 1987. It would be the first time, but not the last, that Perry and Journey went in different directions.

Why did Steve Perry leave Journey in 1987?

In 1987, Journey was at the peak of its success. Since Perry joined the band, they released hit after hit, attracting millions of fans to their live performances worldwide. However, to fans’ despair, Perry left Journey to pursue a solo career. 

The lead singer position gave Perry the attention he needed to ensure he would succeed in his solo career. Furthermore, since Perry had creative differences with Journey, he could focus his creative energy by flying solo without making concessions or negotiating with other band members. In addition, things were somewhat tense within the band before Perry’s departure, with the lead singer firing founding bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith during the recording of 1986’s Raised on Radio — the two would return to the band in 1995. Hence, his departure wasn’t entirely shocking. Still, Perry’s absence impacted Journey.

Journey would remain popular without Perry, but they never repeated the success of their 1980s run. Likewise, Perry is mainly remembered for the songs he wrote or co-wrote for the band, not for his solo career. Unsurprisingly, though, he would rejoin the group in 1995, a new partnership that lasted only three years.

Why Steve Perry and Journey parted ways in 1998?

With Perry back in the folder, Journey launched a new studio album in 1996, Trial by Fire . The album got three charting singles and a Grammy nomination , with fans eager to see the band hitting the road again for a new world tour. The tour plans derailed after Perry’s ski accident in the same year. He needed hip surgery to get back on stage in time for the tour, which he refused to get. His Journey companions waited for him until 1998, post which they decided the band’s future was more important than the selfish decisions of a single person.

The same year Journey hired voice-lookalike Steve Augeri, forging a successful partnership until 2006. In 2007, singer Arnel Pineda became the band’s lead singer, a role that is still his. As for Perry, he showed up on a few special presentations with the team but has primarily remained in the shadows. His story is a bitter reminder that a band is bigger than its frontman, no matter how important they think they are.

Source disclaimer : The article above is partly based on the book The Untold Story of Journey by Neil Daniels.

‘Ramblin’ Man’ Dickey Betts’ musical and life journey traces all over Florida

The “Ramblin’ Man” of the Allman Brothers was a Florida man, too.

Dickey Betts, a founding member and a lead guitarist of the trailblazing Southern rock group he formed with brothers Gregg and Duane Allman in Jacksonville in 1969, died Thursday at his Osprey home in Sarasota County , according to band management.

Betts was 80.

Betts wrote the band’s sole Top 10 single, “Ramblin’ Man,” in 1973 — a song that peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 that fall, held out of the top spot by “Half Breed,” a campy story song hit by Cher. The detail amuses trivia watchers because a couple years later in 1975 Gregg Allman would marry Cher in what became one of pop culture’s most unlikely of unions.

The Allmans had many adventures on the road both in and out of Florida and Betts split from the group in 2000. But there was plenty of Florida man in this ramblin’ man from the start of his career through the end.

In fact, the Betts name in Florida dates back to the Civil War.

Betts’ Florida history

Here are some of Betts’ Florida connections.

▪ Betts was born in West Palm Beach on Dec. 12, 1943. He was raised in Bradenton. His family’s roots in Florida date back to the southeastern Manatee County community of Myakka City, about the time of the Civil War, according to the Sarasota Herald-Trubune.

▪ Betts Road, named for the family, is just east of Bradenton in Myakka City.

READ MORE: Get ready to cruise the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway with a Margaritaville license plate

▪ Betts formed a band, Second Coming, with bassist Berry Oakley, in Jacksonville in the late ‘60s. The pair would soon meet with the Allmans and form that band in the same locale in 1969.

▪ The Allman Brothers Band’s second album, “Idlewild South” that featured Betts compositions “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” and “Revival,” with Tom Dowd producing, was the first of the group’s numerous albums to be either partly, or wholly, recorded at Criteria Studios in North Miami. Dowd preferred producing in South Florida. The Allmans also cut “Seven Turns” at Criteria in 1990, and mixed their 1995 live album, “2nd Set,” at Criteria.

▪ Betts recorded his second solo album “Dickey Betts & Great Southern” in 1977 at Criteria. He wrote the closing track. “Bougainvillea” with actor Don Johnson who, in seven years, would achieve worldwide fame as Sonny Crockett on NBC’s crime drama, “ Miami Vice ” for a five-season run from 1984 to 1989. Betts played guitar on Johnson’s high-profile debut album, “Heartbeat” on an upbeat track called “Love Roulette.” Johnson’s “Heartbeat,” released in 1986 amid the star’s “Miami Vice” fame, was also recorded at Criteria.

▪ The Allmans recorded their 1994 album, “Where It All Begins,” their last studio album with Dowd as producer, at Burt Reynold’s studio in Jupiter. Five of the 10 songs, including the title track, were Betts compositions. This was Betts’ last album with the band.

▪ Betts died on April 18, 2024, at his home in Osprey.

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