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Top 10 Best Journey Tribute Bands

• February 14, 2022

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For many people, Journey is more than just a rock band.

In fact, Journey might be considered the ultimate rock band of its time with classic, unforgettable hit songs like Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’, Open Arms, Wheel in the Sky, and the universally acclaimed and staggeringly popular power ballad Don’t Stop Believin’.

What started out as a group for backing other artists in the early 1970s became a rock n’ roll sensation that, to this day, still gets their audience’s pulses racing with every high-power performance. The band continues to be be popular and tour to this day, and now features a revamped lineup, with Arnel Pineda responsible for the epic lead vocals of original vocalist, Steve Perry.

Suffice it to say, after millions of records sold, thousands of concerts held, and more than a dozen singles in the Top 40 Billboard Charts in the United States, Journey remains strong in every rock enthusiast’s heart. Of course, that means Journey is ripe for a tribute!

There are lots of Journey tribute bands across the United States, and the rest of the world. These are the Top 10 best, in our editorial opinion, of course, based on the information we could find on the band, their videos online and their current activity level.

A quick note about our list: we’ve made every effort to be accurate about names, dates and performance spots of these great bands. Unfortunately, old web data, the occasional spotty band website as well as lineup changes during the COVID-19 pandemic may have thrown our research for a bit of a loop (feel free to write and update us if you spot an error!)

If you’re looking for the best Journey tribute band for your event that sounds nearly as spectacular as the original, take a look at our list of the best Journey tribute bands of all time! You can’t go wrong with any of them!

Top 10 List of the Ultimate Journey Tribute Bands

# 1 – e5c4p3.

Our choice for the absolute BEST Journey tribute band of all time was close, but this incredible “Steve Perry” clone cements the deal: E5C4P3 (pronounced, “Escape”!) is among the first Journey tribute bands ever to exist.

Formed in 1993 , the band went on a whirlwind tour that’s never truly stopped, traveling the world to revive the same energy and spirit that Journey has brought to its fans.

Band founder Jason Kelty , a Steve Perry impersonator who formed E5C4P3 before “tribute bands” were a thing, provides the spot-on, letter-perfect lead vocals. His amazing singing voice contributes to a nostalgic concert experience for Journey fans from start to finish.

Bassist and vocalist Paul Soos provides the counterpoint lead vocals of Journey songs originally voiced by Gregg Rolie. Paul too learned music early on, fronted bands of his own and joined forces with the incredible Jason Kelty to form the very difficult-to-type E5C4P3. The combination of Paul’s and Jason’s voices gives this Journey tribute a real one-two vocal punch.

George McGrew , the band’s guitarist and vocalist, is an experienced and talented musician, having learned to play musical instruments from a very young age, and keyboardist Erney Chaney has been playing the piano since he was a child. In the 80s, he co-founded a popular Christian rock band called “Twenty Twenty”. In 2009 he performed keyboards for Strat5, who was awarded at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Ohio as Fortune Magazine’s “Best Band in Corporate America”.

Drummer Billy Jones has over three decades of drums experience and has performed across the country, Canada, and overseas.

Together, the band continues to define the meaning of the perfect tribute in every packed venue, thanks to their renditions of fan favorites like Open Arms, Separate Ways, and Faithfully . Some of their recent shows include Cleveland and Pittsburgh, and they regularly perform around Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

If you want a band that upholds Journey’s musical legacy and can take your rock experience to a whole new level, don’t sleep on E5C4P3.

Want to Book the #1 Journey Tribute Band?

# 2 – Voyage

VOYAGE is a respected Journey tribute band filled with veteran musicians and brings the most unified, complete Journey experience

The lead vocalist, Hugo Valenti , is best known for his uncanny resemblance to Steve Perry, both in visuals and in sound. It’s the next best thing to the signature sound of renowned vocalist Steve Perry. Seeing him onstage feels like being transported back to the 80s and watching the original lineup perform – a true concert experience for anyone who loves Journey.

Prior to his position as lead vocalist for VOYAGE, singer Hugo was initially the frontman for the band Valentine, which debuted in 1990 on Warner Brothers records.

Other members of the band include Robby Hoffman, Lance Millard, Greg Smith, and Dana Spellman – some of the biggest names in their respective fields. Renowned drummer Charlie Zeleny and keyboardist Al Spinelli also had a brief stint with VOYAGE.

Hoffman previously played lead guitar for In The Pink, a hard rock band based in Boston. Millard leads SIR ELTON, an Elton John tribute band, and he also toured with Fiona and Angel, two 80s rock bands.

Meanwhile, Smith currently provides vocals and plays bass for Ted Nugent . He also has experience doing backup vocals for award-winning artists like Billy Joel and Alice Cooper. Lastly, although Spellman didn’t have any prior rock experience to this, he did teach at Berklee College of Music and has greatly helped VOYAGE perform hundreds of shows across the US.

Together, these world-class New York musicians can sell thousands of tickets and jampack arenas, fairs, and public venues.

Some of their most recent shows include Montclair and Huntington in New Jersey, as well as Bethlehem in Pennsylvania. They’re already scheduled to perform at Atlantic City, Reading, and New York City later this year, so be sure to check those out if you’re interested.

# 3 – Absolute Journey Tribute

Absolute Journey Tribute, also known as AJT, is a Journey tribute band from San Francisco that does its best to stay faithful to the original band.

Each show is an energy-filled, unforgettable performance. AJT makes sure to interact with its audience as possible, even taking the time to do costume changes in between sets to maintain the fun and excitement.

Riccardo Curzi , the lead vocalist, can bring the spirit of Journey alive as he is an absolute dead ringer for the band’s most iconic lead singer, Steve Perry. His incredible high-energy performance will certainly leave a mark on the audience,  being one of the few who can pull off Steve Perry’s vocal range and stage movements during concerts – the same energy that brought the band critical acclaim.

The other band members, Marko Stojanovic, Dan Benezra, Andrew Scola, and Jaden Spanier are just as remarkable, matching up to the original band with fantastic accuracy.

One of the coolest things these guys did is to close for a STYX concert in Quebec back in 2017.

Aside from the usual theaters, festivals, casinos, and corporate events, AJT is one of the few Journey tribute bands that perform internationally, having had shows in Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, Mexico, Vietnam, and the Caribbean, in addition to the US.

The band is also notable for performing on cruise ships, such as Royal Caribbean International, Disney Cruise Line, and Celebrity Cruises.

If you want to know the date and location of their next shows, be sure to check out their website.

# 4 – DSB

Compared to other tributes on this list, DSB, short for “Don’t Stop Believin” is a relatively recent tribute band, only playing for the first time in 2009. Since then, it has garnered a lot of popularity. Prior to the COVID pandemic, DSB boasted an astonishing tour schedule with approximately 120 shows all over America per year.

With the band’s high-energy performances and accurate renditions of the best Journey songs, it certainly lives up to its self-given title of “World’s Greatest Tribute to Journey.”

Lead vocalist Juan del Castillo has been a professional musician since seemingly since birth. His parents discovered his talent early on and started his voice training at three years old. Juan began his formal career performing in theaters at the tender age of nine.

Roger Cain , (brother of Jonathan Cain of JOURNEY) the lead guitarist, also started music at a young age, learning to strum the guitar as soon as he could reach the cords.

Other band members have included the talented Scotty Kormos on drums, Tony Love on bass, and Henry O’Neill on keyboards.

DSB attributes their success to their faithful renditions of Journey’s performances. They spend hours perfecting their personal take of the sound of Journey and strive to give the fans an accurate mirror of every rhythm and note of the band that they love.

Currently, the band tours the country for every in-demand musical performance. They’ve also partnered with a cruise line to perform on cruise ships bound to Europe and the Caribbean. Some of the places where they’ve already performed include Atlanta and Los Angeles.

# 5 – LIGHTS

Lights may well be the 2nd longest-running tribute band to Journey. Named after Journey’s song about their hometown, this 5-person band has been performing since 2006 for audiences of all ages. They’ve also toured the United States and even overseas, performing in in Asia and the UK.

Although this band is committed to staying true to the sounds that made Journey, they also endeavor to add their unique spirit to the mix and break free from the traditional way of giving tribute. Vocalist Rudy Cardenas , an American Idol vocal finalist, brings a fresh yet timeless take on the iconic stylings of Journey’s Steve Perry.

The band’s other members are equally astounding, with professional musicians Micheal Thompson on drums, Casey McNerney on bass, Jeff Vincent on keyboards, and blazing yet tasteful guitarist Al Estrada, who toured with David Lee Roth in 2018.

The entire band brings energetic performances, amazing note-for-note accuracy, and electrifying sounds that we know and love from Journey. With their lively performances and fresh spirit, they revive Journey’s epic concert atmosphere on every stage.

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# 6 – Resurrection

Next on our list of the best Journey tribute bands is Resurrection. Nicknamed The Golden Standard, after which all journey tribute bands are measured, Resurrection is one of the most popular tribute bands working today.

Formed relatively recently in 2014 when the band’s keyboardist and founding members Vic White and Ryan Christopher first played tribute songs to a live audience, the band has grown in popularity and now tours all across the United States.

Lead singer Ryan Christopher nails Journey’s revered lead vocalist Steve Perry to a “T”, from his magnetic stage presence to impressive vocal abilities. Band keyboardist Vic White is a professional musician with decades of experience. You must get those keyboards right in a Journey cover band!

The band members have performed with some of the biggest music names in Nashville and have even worked with Journey and Steve Perry himself.

Resurrection’s primary appeal is its faithful recreation of the whole Journey experience. From their powerful tribute songs to the roaring energy of their concerts, fans are sure to love the authentic 1980 Journey concert experience that they’re in for when they listen to Resurrection.

As a result, Resurrection has gained the attention of the “big box tribute brands”, such as Royal Caribbean International cruises, Fraze Pavilion, and more.

# 7 – Escape

Escape is a star-studded Journey tribute band that features five California-based rockstars who have performed in every part of the United States. These five names include big players in the rock and roll world, all of them their own biggest critics when it comes to music.

Stu Simone is the band’s keyboardist and music director. Stu is a veteran musician who toured with the multi-platinum band Poison . He also has plenty of other working experience with famous musicians and brands, such as current singers of bands Foreigner, Sweet, Toto, and more.

Master percussionist Gary Ponder is one of the busiest drummers in LA, and is endorsed by top drum equipment maker, Drum Workshop.

Other band members including Chad Smith, Jeff Ellis, and JP Michaels are equally impressive musicians, and together these five bring back the glory of Journey with their stage performances and impressive rendition of Journey’s classic hits.

Escape has performed in high-profile events and places, including the July 4th celebration Liberty by the Lake festival in Texas and on Good Morning Texas in 2007.

Escape is a complete concert experience, throwing you back to the era of rock n’ roll that you know and love. From their stage presence, authentic 80’s-era Journey vibe and set, you can be sure that this band will bring you Journey music at its best.

# 8 – Journey Revisited

Journey Revisited is a costumed and bewigged Journey tribute band that seeks to bring you organically produced, masterful songs exactly like how we all remember the Journey hits to be.

The band is composed of talented singers and musicians dedicated to bringing Journey back to life with a high-quality stage show.

Lead vocalist Frank House and keyboardist Kevin Jachetta are the band’s frontmen, copying the trademarks of Steve Perry and Gregg Rolie’s powerhouse combo to a “T” with their amazing vocals and harmony. Other members of the band include Val Popovic and Eric Barnett on guitar, Dave Sousa on bass, and David Hawkes on the drums.

If you want to see them live, get your tickets now, as their summer shows are always fast to sell out.

# 9 – Departure

Hailing from Buford, Georgia, Departure is one of the hardest-working Journey tribute bands there is, performing concerts all across the United States, with an emphasis on shows in on the southeastern U.S.

Another non-costumed tribute that dedicates itself to the music, the band features Doug Ballard on bass and vocals, Brian Williams on lead vocals, Jason Wilson on guitar, Joel Hayes on keyboards, and Chris Stone on drums.

Departure performs at larger venues, including performing arts centers and large theaters. The band is dedicated to bringing the Journey experience to the modern-day when Journey’s music ruled the radio and concert stadiums. Together, these five friends and bandmates take their passion for rock and Journey to the stage, bringing fans a concert experience that they will not soon forget.

Together, the five band members faithfully recreate the best of Journey’s music, giving their fans the ultimate concert experience just as it would have been back during the band’s highest points.

# 10 – Infinite Journey

A non-costumed tribute, Infinite Journey is a five piece band that delivers a musically immersive Journey experience, focusing on the legendary band’s sound, guitar solos, and naturally the soaring vocals that make Journey so iconic. These are experienced musicians determined to bring the voice of Journey back to the present day.

Donovan Duke has years of experience in stage performances from theater to rock bands, and brings to life Steve Perry’s memorable performances for the band. Mike Cooper , the band’s bass player and vocalist, has been passionate about music and rock n’ roll since he was a kid, honing his skills in an electric guitar since the age of 12. 

Other band members, such as Paul Bullock on lead guitar, John Arnett on the drums, and Steve Trevino on the keyboards, are equally experienced and talented. The band is so inherently talented, it uses no backing tracks or other live concert “helpers”.

Infinite Journey was even chosen out of thousands of Journey tribute acts across the country to perform on Season 7 of AXS TV’s “The World’s Greatest Tribute Bands”.

The Best Journey Tribute Bands

Journey has undoubtedly left its mark on the rock n’ roll scene, especially at its prime. To this day, there’s no doubt it will continue to do so in the future.

If you want to get a taste of what it was like during their heydays, getting the best Journey tribute band is what you need. Their acts are specifically designed to recreate the band back in the days, making rock history come to life before our very eyes.

With this wealth of information on the best tribute bands to Journey, you shouldn’t have a hard time picking the best one to get for your next event.

Are you interested in other tribute bands, maybe the best BOSTON tribute bands or Queen tribute bands ? Be sure to check out our other articles for more information!

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Absolutely the best of Journey!!

I have seen them 2 times. Going to see them tomorrow night! This band is the absolute best Journey Tribute! Lead Singer gives me chills, sounds just like Steve Perry! 🖤

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DSB is the World's Greatest Journey tribute band. - Katie Daryl / The World's Greatest Tribute Bands / AXS.tv

DSB is kick ass! They are really awesome! - Heidi Hamilton / Heidi & Frank / KLOS 95.5 FM

On my radio show at K-Earth 101 in Los Angeles, Journey is a big part of our playlist. DSB's performance and Juan Del Castillo's voice makes you feel as if you were listening to Steve Perry himself! - "Shotgun Tom" Kelly / K-Earth 101 Los Angeles

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Since 2009, DSB’s high-energy stage production and exceptionally accurate recreations of Journey classics have made DSB the #1 Journey legacy concert experience in the world.

DSB has been highly revered as the World’s Greatest. They have captured the lush and signature sound of renowned vocalist Steve Perry and Journey in their prime. Complete with a band of world-class musicians, DSB remains true to Journey’s musical legacy and delivers the definitive legacy concert experience that will keep you believin’!

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Journeymen bursts with intensity and pulls audiences out of their chairs at every performance. All the Journey mega-hits with transcendent vocals, melodic guitar solos, soaring harmonies in an interactive performance style unite the crowd into a swaying, singing, lighter-waving choir. All the ageless arena anthems, smoking rockers and power ballads of Foreigner, Bon Jovi, Styx, Toto, Boston and more are added to create an unforgettable experience!

They are a solid 5-piece band of experienced showmen that is considered one of the premier Journey Tribute bands in all of the United States. You get all of the hits and deep cuts. Playing corporate events, casinos and major venues in Southern California and across the United States — they know how to ensure your event becomes a crowd-favorite. Fans are raving about them. Professionalism, timing and intuitive staging are key to a seamless event. Special requests are considered.

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“Journeymen has never disappointed us. We book acts year around and we are always excited when we see Journeymen come up on the calendar!”

Kerri Wagner - Pala Casino, CA

“Journeymen are a high-energy , very authentic band! Entertaining and talented! The audience sings and dances all night long!”

Tommy Sablan - KUSI TV, San Diego

“To be a tribute band to Journey, you need to have the greatest musicians and a top rate singer and that’s exactly what you have with the Journeymen. It’s my opinion, they are the best this side of the Mississippi!”

The Holding Co. - San Diego, CA

“We make sure to book Journeymen 3-4 times a year. They pack the place out and our staff loves working with them.”

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Steve Perry has rerecorded a Journey deep cut with the sons of Steve Lukather and Phil Collins

Trev Lukather and Nic Collins' new band The Effect have employed the services of former Journey frontman Steve Perry on one of his band's old tunes

The Effect, the new band formed by guitarist Trev Lukather and drummer Nic Collins – the sons of Toto 's Steve Lukather and Genesis man Phil Collins – have released a cover version of an old Journey song as their new single, and Journey's old singer is along for the ride.

The band's cover of It Could Have Been You – which originally appeared on Journey's 1986 album Raised On Radio – features lead vocals from The Effect's frontman Emmett Lee Stang, while Perry features on backing vocals.

"They did an amazing version of it,” Perry tells  Rolling Stone [paywalled link]. "In my opinion, it’s completely current, refreshed, and ready to go out there and do some damage."

“Steve and I go way back," Lukather, who is married to the daughter of Journey's Jonatha Cain, posted on Instagram. "Other than my Pop, Steve Perry has been a mentor to me. When he heard The Effect, he called me and expressed how much he really loved what we were doing. It meant the world. On that same call, I started raving about a deep cut Journey tune It Could Have Been You.

“The idea came up about The Effect doing our own version of it. I asked SP if he’d be into singing on it and he said yes. The power of Steve’s vocals is on another level. One of a kind. That’s why he’s the GOAT. Thank you Steve Perry for not only for the honour, but for your belief in us and what we do. That is never taken for granted!"

Lukather Jr was previously in Levara , whose self-titled debut album was released in 2021, but left the band within days of its release. The Effect's debut single, Unwanted , was released last year. 

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Online Editor at Louder/Classic Rock magazine since 2014. 38 years in music industry, online for 25. Also bylines for: Metal Hammer, Prog Magazine, The Word Magazine, The Guardian, The New Statesman, Saga, Music365. Former Head of Music at Xfm Radio, A&R at Fiction Records, early blogger, ex-roadie, published author. Once appeared in a Cure video dressed as a cowboy, and thinks any situation can be improved by the introduction of cats. Favourite Serbian trumpeter: Dejan Petrović.  

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• Steve Perry

Steve Perry Joins Forces With Phil Collins’ Son and Steve Lukather’s Son for New Version of Journey’s “It Could Have Been You”

by Matt Friedlander May 7, 2024, 5:42 pm

The Effect, a new band featuring Toto guitarist Steve Lukather’s son, Trevor, and Phil Collins’ son, Nic, has debuted its cover of the 1986 Journey tune “It Could Have Been You,” which features guest backing vocals by Steve Perry .

Videos by American Songwriter

The track is available now as a digital download and via streaming services. In addition, a music video for the tune has premiered on The Effect’s official YouTube channel . The clip shows the band members performing the song on a darkly-lit soundstage, interspersed with footage of a woman who is seen dancing in the shadows.

[RELATED: Steve Perry Has Recorded a Deep Cut Journey Cover with the Sons of Toto and Genesis Members]

The Effect offer up a rocking, supercharged rendition of “It Could Have Been You,” which originally appeared on Journey’s 1986 album Raised on the Radio . Perry’s backing vocals blend in with the powerful lead vocals of Effect frontman Emmett Lee Stang, and the ex-Journey singer also contributes some ad-libs to the track.

Perry and Trevor Lukather both shared how the collaboration came about in recent posts on their respective social media pages. The two artists also were interviewed via Zoom by Rolling Stone , and they talked with the magazine about their friendship and the new track.

How Perry and Trevor Lukather Became Friends

Perry first met Trevor when Lukather was just 9 years old, and the two reconnected 11 years later and developed a friendship after the guitarist, who is now 37, played Steve some of the music he was recording at the time.

“He was like, ‘Oh my gosh, man, this is great,’” Lukather recalled. “He wound up coming by the studio. And from that moment on, Steve has just been a mentor to me, along with my dad, and just a dear brother.”

As Perry explained to Rolling Stone, “When I hear somebody that’s musically got talent, just God-given talent … I can’t stay away from it. And that’s what happened when I heard Trev play the first time. I thought, ‘Jesus, man, this kid has taken his DNA to the next level.’”

How Perry Feels About The Effect’s Version of the Song

Meanwhile, Perry told Rolling Stone he was blown away by The Effect’s cover of “It Could Have Been You.”

“They did an amazing version of it,” he said. “In my opinion, it’s completely current, refreshed, and ready to go out there and do some damage.”

The track is the lead single from The Effect’s upcoming debut album, which is due out later in 2024.

Perry’s Contributions to the Track

Perry decided to contribute to the track after Lukather played him the version on which the band was working.

“They had reimagined it so beautifully that I just had to do my best to fall into what felt right for the track and what felt believable for where they took it,” explained Perry. “They had already stacked the parts that were there, and I added some embellishments and some inversional choices against their chord arrangements. … All I did was follow the sketches of the backgrounds they already put in there.”

How Trevor Lukather Discovered “It Could Have Been You”

Besides being Perry’s friend, Lukather has another connection to Journey. In 2022, he married Madison Cain, daughter of Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain. “It Could Have Been You” was co-written by Perry, Cain, and Journey guitarist Neal Schon. Lukather revealed to Rolling Stone that the idea to cover the song happened after he and his wife discovered the tune while listening to some old Journey tracks during a road trip.

“I loved the funkiness of it, and Steve Perry’s vocals were just insane,” Trevor told the magazine. “We kept playing that song on repeat.”

He eventually brought it to the band, and everyone agreed it would be a great tune to cover.

The Effect’s 2024 Concert Plans

The Effect are preparing to kick off a series of U.S. dates opening for Billy Idol, starting with a show in Flagstaff, Arizona, this Friday, May 10. The band also will be playing a variety of concerts in Europe in June and July.

Lukather revealed to Rolling Stone that his band plans to close all their shows with “It Could Have Been You.”

“It’ll give us a chance to jam out and really have this huge ending,” he explained. “It’s also a great story, obviously, which I’m going to lay onto the crowd before we play it.”

Tickets for The Effect’s concerts with Billy Idol are available now via various outlets, including StubHub .

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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The Effect Join Forces with Steve Perry for Cover of Journey’s “It Could Have Been You”: Stream

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The post The Effect Join Forces with Steve Perry for Cover of Journey’s “It Could Have Been You”: Stream appeared first on Consequence .

The new rock band The Effect , featuring the sons of Genesis’ Phil Collins and Toto’s Steve Lukather, have teamed up with Steve Perry himself for a cover of the Journey song “It Could Have Been You.”

Alongside drummer Nic Collins and guitarist Trev Lukather, The Effect are fronted by singer Emmett Stang. On the band’s version of “It Could Have Been You,” Stang’s lead vocals take center stage, with Perry contributing backing vocals and ad libs throughout the track.

An accompanying music video shows The Effect performing the song in silhouette. While Perry doesn’t appear in the video, he did issue a statement expressing his excitement over The Effect covering the 1986 song by his former band:

“In 1986, the Journey Raised on Radio record was released and in it was a song I’ve always felt was a diamond in the ruff. I’ve known Trev Lukather since he was 9 years old, and he is a very gifted musician. One day we were talking about his new band, The Effect … He surprisingly mentioned ‘It Could Have Been You’ is one of his favorite tracks from that record, I told him I felt the same. I then said, why don’t you record it? He asked if I would sing on it if they did, I said… ‘Of course, my most precious!’ I must say, singing on their powerful track brought out a vocal experience from years ago! So now… Releasing on May 7th on all socials and streaming is a powerful reimagined version of ‘It Could Have Been You’ by… The Effect. Have a listen!”

In March, The Effect released the single “Toxic Envy.” The band is currently working on a debut album that is tentatively slated for release later this year.

This Friday (May 10th), The Effect will kick off a brief run of US dates opening for Billy Idol ( pick up tickets here ). Next month, they’ll hit the road for a UK/Europe tour that includes several dates opening for Toto. Tickets to those shows are available here .

Watch the video for The Effect’s cover of Journey’s “It Could Have Been You” below.

The Effect Join Forces with Steve Perry for Cover of Journey’s “It Could Have Been You”: Stream Spencer Kaufman

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Hear Cover of Journey's 'It Could Have Been You' With Steve Perry

Steve Perry appears on an update of “It Could Have Been You” from Journey ‘s Raised on Radio by a new band called the Effect. Listen below.

The Effect features a pair of sons of famous rock stars: producer/guitarist Trev Lukather’s father is Steve Lukather of Toto , and drummer Nic Collins’ dad is Phil Collins of Genesis . (The younger Lukather is also Perry’s former bandmate Jonathan Cain ‘s son-in-law.)

“Steve and I go way back,” Lukather said on Instagram . “Other than my Pop, Steve Perry has been a mentor to me. When he heard the Effect, he called me and expressed how much he really loved what we were doing. It meant the world.”

READ MORE: Top 35 Videos by Journey, Together and Apart

Then Lukather began raving about a favorite Journey deep cut from the late ’80s. “He surprisingly mentioned ‘It Could Have Been You’ is one of his favorite tracks,” Perry wrote on Instagram , and “I told him I felt the same. I then said, ‘Why don’t you record it?’ He asked if I would sing on it if they did, I said, ‘Of course, my most precious!'”

The Effect had already completed their album, but decided this opportunity “was just too good of an idea to pass up,” Lukather added. Lukather and Collins began developing a completed track with singer Emmett Stang and keyboardist Steve Maggiora, the latter of whom had been pulling double duty with Toto until recently leaving the Effect.

Perry dropped by the studio while they were tracking drums, and was soon adding vocals of his own. “I’ll forever bottle up his first reaction after the playback,” Lukather added. His excitement that we could resurrect an overlooked Journey song with new life obviously connected to the pipes, because Steve came in the next day and shook the house with his vocal performance.”

Describing “It Could Have Been You” as a “diamond in the rough,” Perry said his emotive new performance came as a surprise. “I must say, singing on their powerful track brought out a vocal experience in me from years ago!” he said.

Lukather recalled the session in seismic terms: “I think our neighbors thought it was the Northridge earthquake all over again,” he said. “The power of Steve’s vocals is on another level.”

Listen to Journey’s Original Version

Update Also Had to Pass Muster With the Father-in-Law

“It Could Have Been You” was co-written by Perry, Neal Schon and Lukather’s father-in-law. So, he anxiously awaited Cain’s response, as well.

“To add to the pressure of doing it justice, not only did I want to knock it out of the park for my friend and mentor but for Jonathan Cain, who is the co-writer on this epic tune,” Lukather admitted. “I sent him the master when we finalized. He called me stunned and blown away. He praised the arrangement and performances and he said how [Steve Perry] sounded like a million bucks. To get the approval from them both was everything, but we have a feeling the world will connect to our version the way we all did making it.”

“It Could Have Been You” is available for purchase now. The Effect debuted in October with the quite different sounding “Unwanted.” Both songs will be part of a forthcoming album of several stylistic journeys that Collins says are held together by the group’s collaborative spirit.

“We never sat down and were like, ‘Okay, what kind of band do we want to sound like? What do we want to be?'” Collins tells UCR . “That just happens to be what the [sound is] with the four of us as individuals when you put us [together]. It was weird, I didn’t realize that until a couple of months in.”

Nick DeRiso is author of the Amazon best-selling rock band bio ‘Journey: Worlds Apart,’ available now at all major bookseller websites .

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Why Steve Lukather’s Autobiography Took the High Road

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