did the band journey break up

Why Did Journey Break Up? Creative Differences Drove the Band Apart

The rock band Journey broke up in 1987 primarily due to escalating creative differences and tensions between the band members that proved irreconcilable. Disagreements over musical direction and control ultimately tore the classic Journey lineup permanently apart.

Lead singer Steve Perry wanted to take the band in a more pop-oriented direction while guitarist Neal Schon and drummer Steve Smith staunchly preferred Journey‘s traditional, harder rock sound. This tug-of-war over the band‘s creative vision had been brewing for years and finally reached its breaking point after the album Raised on Radio.

Let‘s take a deeper look at the key factors that led to Journey‘s 1987 breakup after becoming one of the most commercially successful bands of the 1970s and 80s.

Steve Perry‘s Pop Ambitions Clashed with Band

Steve Perry, the instantly recognizable voice behind Journey‘s hits, wanted more control over the band‘s direction. He pushed for a poppier sound while Neal Schon sought a harder, more guitar-driven style true to Journey‘s progressive rock roots.

This quote from a 1987 LA Times article encapsulates the core conflict:

“The band grew apart from my vision of what Journey ought to be, which was more pop-oriented,” Perry told the Times. “And since I was the lead singer who wrote 75% of the songs, I felt I had the right to determine our musical direction.”

But the more pop-focused direction Perry steered on 1986‘s Raised on Radio splintered the band further.

“Steve became more about power and control after the success of ‘Raised on Radio,’” recalled keyboardist Jonathan Cain in a 2022 interview . “He didn’t want Journey to rock anymore.”

Perry‘s solo success with hits like "Oh Sherrie" also emboldened him to shape Journey‘s sound his way, overriding Schon‘s wishes. This exacerbated tensions and drove the divide wider.

Neal Schon Felt Marginalized in His Own Band

As Perry pulled Journey in a pop direction that alienated longtime fans, Neal Schon felt increasingly marginalized as the lead guitarist.

In a 2022 interview with Vulture , Schon explained:

“It’s my band. I started the band. I chose the name. I created the logo. I brought everybody into this band to play their ass off. Journey was founded on virtuosity.”

But Schon lost control as Perry‘s hits gave him more dominance over creative decisions. Raised on Radio marked a tipping point where Schon could no longer recognize Journey‘s core musical identity.

Steve Perry‘s Solo Success Shifted Band Power Dynamics

The success of Steve Perry‘s first solo album, 1984‘s Street Talk, fundamentally shifted Journey‘s internal power dynamics to the singer‘s benefit.

Street Talk sold over 2 million copies and scored two Top 20 singles in "Oh Sherrie" and "Foolish Heart."

This solo success emboldened Perry to increase his control over Journey‘s musical direction at the expense of Neal Schon and Steve Smith‘s wishes.

The band dynamic was no longer a democracy but tilted in Perry‘s favor. And his deepening solo career gave Perry less reason to compromise or commit fully to Journey.

Steve Smith Also Clashed with Perry over Musical Direction

Drummer Steve Smith emerged as another strong voice pushing back against Perry‘s artistic vision for Journey.

In a 2022 Modern Drummer interview , Smith explained:

"Neal and I were not happy with the direction of the band…It really wasn’t a band anymore. It was more Steve Perry’s situation.”

Smith also called out the shift from substantive songs to formulaic pop singles, saying:

“Raised on Radio was the least inspired record we did. We ended up with tracks like ‘Girl Can’t Help It’ and ‘Be Good to Yourself,’ which were written to be hits rather than coming from the heart.”

Clearly the drummer shared Schon‘s discontent as Perry led Journey away from their artistic roots.

The Breakup Had Major Financial Implications

Journey‘s 1987 breakup severely impacted the band members‘ income and net worth. Their earning power depended heavily on album sales and touring revenue.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Steve Perry‘s net worth peaked at $45 million in 1991 but dropped to $25 million by 2022, adjusted for inflation.

Neal Schon‘s net worth followed a similar trajectory, falling from $45 million to $25 million over the same timeframe as the band dissolved.

This significant financial blow was a byproduct of Journey‘s erosion. As tensions mounted, the economic motivation to stay together faded for Steve Perry.

Steve Perry‘s Fading Commitment to Journey

In the late 80s, Steve Perry‘s commitment to Journey was already waning as he focused on solo projects.

Perry released his second solo album, For Love of Strange Medicine , in 1994 while his bandmates waited in limbo. HeRecording with Journey again seemed doubtful.

Perry‘s final tour with Journey was in 1987, and he declined to make another full album with them after 1986.

His reluctance to continue working together despite Schon and Cain‘s efforts signaled the permanent end of Journey‘s classic lineup.

The Point of No Return

By 1986, the toxic infighting and artistic differences between Steve Perry, Neal Schon and Steve Smith could not be reconciled.

Perry pulled Journey in an increasingly pop direction as he gained more control through his solo success. Schon and Smith resented seeing Journey‘s rock roots marginalized and their voices overridden.

Raised on Radio represented the point of no return where competing visions diverged irreparably. Journey‘s foundation could not withstand the internal tensions.

Though the breakup caused financial pain, Perry seemed creatively liberated and disinterested in compromise. His waning participation inevitably forced Journey‘s split for good.

My Take: Creative Tensions Can Torpedo Even Great Bands

In my opinion, Journey is the classic example of how artistic tensions can torpedo even incredibly successful bands at their peak.

Conflicting creative visions stirred resentment on both sides. And the power struggle between Perry and Schon caused a permanent rift since neither would yield. Each felt justified that their musical direction was the "right" one for Journey‘s path.

Perry deserved credit for expanding their pop appeal tremendously. But stripping away Journey‘s heart and origins clearly alienated Schon, Smith and fans.

Open communication and sincere effort to find common ground could have prevented the complete breakup. But unchecked ego and personal grievances made reconciliation impossible.

This remains both a cautionary tale and tragic waste of phenomenal talent. Maybe if cooler heads had prevailed, Journey could have found balance between pop aspirations and musical integrity.

Sadly sometimes the only solution is a clean break, as Journey learned the hard way. Their story underscores how even legendary bands are vulnerable when individual agendas override the collaboration and chemistry that brought them success.

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Steve Perry Walked Away From Journey. A Promise Finally Ended His Silence.

By Alex Pappademas

• Sept. 5, 2018

MALIBU, Calif. — On the back patio of a Greek restaurant, a white-haired man making his way to the exit paused for a second look at one of his fellow diners, a man with a prominent nose who wore his dark hair in a modest pompadour.

“You look a lot like Steve Perry,” the white-haired man said.

“I used to be Steve Perry,” Steve Perry said.

This is how it goes when you are Steve Perry. Everyone is excited to see you, and no one can quite believe it. Everyone wants to know where you’ve been.

In 1977, an ambitious but middlingly successful San Francisco jazz-rock band called Journey went looking for a new lead singer and found Mr. Perry, then a 28-year-old veteran of many unsigned bands. Mr. Perry and the band’s lead guitarist and co-founder, Neal Schon, began writing concise, uplifting hard rock songs that showcased Mr. Perry’s clean, powerful alto, as operatic an instrument as pop has ever seen. This new incarnation of Journey produced a string of hit singles, released eight multiplatinum albums and toured relentlessly — so relentlessly that in 1987, a road-worn Mr. Perry took a hiatus, effectively dissolving the band he’d helped make famous.

He did not disappear completely — there was a solo album in 1994, followed in 1996 by a Journey reunion album, “Trial by Fire.” But it wasn’t long before Mr. Perry walked away again, from Journey and from the spotlight. With his forthcoming album, “Traces,” due in early October, he’s breaking 20 years of radio silence.

Over the course of a long midafternoon lunch — well-done souvlaki, hold all the starches — Mr. Perry, now 69, explained why he left, and why he’s returned. He spoke of loving, and losing and opening himself to being loved again, including by people he’s never met, who know him only as a voice from the Top 40 past.

And when he detailed the personal tragedy that moved him to make music again, he talked about it in language as earnest and emotional as any Journey song:

“I thought I had a pretty good heart,” he said, “but a heart isn’t really complete until it’s completely broken.”

IN ITS ’80S heyday, Journey was a commercial powerhouse and a critical piñata. With Mr. Perry up front, slinging high notes like Frisbees into the stratosphere, Journey quickly became not just big but huge . When few public figures aside from Pac-Man and Donkey Kong had their own video game, Journey had two. The offices of the group’s management company received 600 pieces of Journey fan mail per day.

The group toured hard for nine years. Gradually, that punishing schedule began to take a toll on Journey’s lead singer.

“I never had any nodules or anything, and I never had polyps,” Mr. Perry said, referring to the state of his vocal cords. He looked around for some wood to knock, then settled for his own skull. The pain, he said, was more spiritual than physical.

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As a vocalist, Mr. Perry explained, “your instrument is you. It’s not just your throat, it’s you . If you’re burnt out, if you’re depressed, if you’re feeling weary and lost and paranoid, you’re a mess.”

“Frankly,” Mr. Schon said in a phone interview, “I don’t know how he lasted as long as he did without feeling burned out. He was so good, doing things that nobody else could do.”

On Feb. 1, 1987, Mr. Perry performed one last show with Journey, in Anchorage. Then he went home.

Mr. Perry was born in Hanford, Calif., in the San Joaquin Valley, about 45 minutes south of Fresno. His parents, who were both Portuguese immigrants, divorced when he was 8, and Mr. Perry and his mother moved in next door to her parents’. “I became invisible, emotionally,” Mr. Perry said. “And there were places I used to hide, to feel comfortable, to protect myself.”

Sometimes he’d crawl into a corner of his grandparents’ garage with a blanket and a flashlight. But he also found refuge in music. “I could get lost in these 45s that I had,” Mr. Perry said. “It turned on a passion for music in me that saved my life.”

As a teen, Mr. Perry moved to Lemoore, Calif., where he enjoyed an archetypally idyllic West Coast adolescence: “A lot of my writing, to this day, is based on my emotional attachment to Lemoore High School.”

There he discovered the Beatles and the Beach Boys, went on parked-car dates by the San Joaquin Valley’s many irrigation canals, and experienced a feeling of “freedom and teenage emotion and contact with the world” that he’s never forgotten. Even a song like “No Erasin’,” the buoyant lead single from his new LP has that down-by-the-old-canal spirit, Mr. Perry said.

And after he left Journey, it was Lemoore that Mr. Perry returned to, hoping to rediscover the person he’d been before subsuming his identity within an internationally famous rock band. In the beginning, he couldn’t even bear to listen to music on the radio: “A little PTSD, I think.”

Eventually, in 1994, he made that solo album, “For the Love of Strange Medicine,” and sported a windblown near-mullet and a dazed expression on the cover. The reviews were respectful, and the album wasn’t a flop. With alternative rock at its cultural peak, Mr. Perry was a man without a context — which suited him just fine.

“I was glad,” he said, “that I was just allowed to step back and go, O.K. — this is a good time to go ride my Harley.”

JOURNEY STAYED REUNITED after Mr. Perry left for the second time in 1997. Since December 2007, its frontman has been Arnel Pineda, a former cover-band vocalist from Manila, Philippines, who Mr. Schon discovered via YouTube . When Journey was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last April, Mr. Pineda sang the 1981 anthem “Don’t Stop Believin’,” not Mr. Perry. “I’m not in the band,” he said flatly, adding, “It’s Arnel’s gig — singers have to stick together.”

Around the time Mr. Pineda joined the band, something strange had happened — after being radioactively unhip for decades, Journey had crept back into the zeitgeist. David Chase used “Don’t Stop Believin’” to nerve-racking effect in the last scene of the 2007 series finale of “The Sopranos” ; when Mr. Perry refused to sign off on the show’s use of the song until he was told how it would be used, he briefly became one of the few people in America who knew in advance how the show ended.

“Don’t Stop Believin’” became a kind of pop standard, covered by everyone from the cast of “Glee” to the avant-shred guitarist Marnie Stern . Decades after they’d gone their separate ways, Journey and Mr. Perry found themselves discovering fans they never knew they had.

Mark Oliver Everett, the Los Angeles singer-songwriter who performs with his band Eels under the stage name E, was not one of them, at first.

“When I was young, living in Virginia,” Mr. Everett said, “Journey was always on the radio, and I wasn’t into it.”

So although Mr. Perry became a regular at Eels shows beginning around 2003, it took Mr. Everett five years to invite him backstage. He’d become acquainted with Patty Jenkins, the film director, who’d befriended Mr. Perry after contacting him for permission to use “Don’t Stop Believin’” in her 2003 film “Monster.” (“When he literally showed up on the mixing stage the next day and pulled up a chair next to me, saying, ‘Hey I really love your movie. How can I help you?’ it was the beginning of one of the greatest friendships of my life,” Ms. Jenkins wrote in an email.) Over lunch, Ms. Jenkins lobbied Mr. Everett to meet Mr. Perry.

They hit it off immediately. “At that time,” Mr. Everett said, “we had a very serious Eels croquet game in my backyard every Sunday.” He invited Mr. Perry to attend that week. Before long, Mr. Perry began showing up — uninvited and unannounced, but not unwelcome — at Eels rehearsals.

“They’d always bust my chops,” Mr. Perry said. “Like, ‘Well? Is this the year you come on and sing a couple songs with us?’”

At one point, the Eels guitarist Jeff Lyster managed to bait Mr. Perry into singing Journey’s “Lights” at one of these rehearsals, which Mr. Everett remembers as “this great moment — a guy who’s become like Howard Hughes, and just walked away from it all 25 years ago, and he’s finally doing it again.”

Eventually Mr. Perry decided to sing a few numbers at an Eels show, which would be his first public performance in decades. He made this decision known to the band, Mr. Everett said, not via phone or email but by showing up to tour rehearsals one day carrying his own microphone. “He moves in mysterious ways,” Mr. Everett observed.

For mysterious Steve Perry reasons, Mr. Perry chose to make his long-awaited return to the stage at a 2014 Eels show at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, Minn. During a surprise encore, he sang three songs, including one of his favorite Eels tunes, whose profane title is rendered on an edited album as “It’s a Monstertrucker.”

“I walked out with no anticipation and they knew me and they responded, and it was really a thrill,” Mr. Perry said. “I missed it so much. I couldn’t believe it’d been so long.”

“It’s a Monstertrucker” is a spare song about struggling to get through a lonely Sunday in someone’s absence. For Mr. Perry, it was not an out-of-nowhere choice.

In 2011, Ms. Jenkins directed one segment of “Five,” a Lifetime anthology film about women and breast cancer. Mr. Perry visited her one day in the cutting room while she was at work on a scene featuring real cancer patients as extras. A woman named Kellie Nash caught Mr. Perry’s eye. Instantly smitten, he asked Ms. Jenkins if she would introduce them by email.

“And she says ‘O.K., I’ll send the email,’ ” Mr. Perry said, “but there’s one thing I should tell you first. She was in remission, but it came back, and it’s in her bones and her lungs. She’s fighting for her life.”

“My head said, ‘I don’t know,’ ” Mr. Perry remembered, “but my heart said, ‘Send the email.’”

“That was extremely unlike Steve, as he is just not that guy,” Ms. Jenkins said. “I have never seen him hit on, or even show interest in anyone before. He was always so conservative about opening up to anyone.”

A few weeks later, Ms. Nash and Mr. Perry connected by phone and ended up talking for nearly five hours. Their friendship soon blossomed into romance. Mr. Perry described Ms. Nash as the greatest thing that ever happened to him.

“I was loved by a lot of people, but I didn’t really feel it as much as I did when Kellie said it,” he said. “Because she’s got better things to do than waste her time with those words.”

They were together for a year and a half. They made each other laugh and talked each other to sleep at night.

In the fall of 2012, Ms. Nash began experiencing headaches. An MRI revealed that the cancer had spread to her brain. One night not long afterward, Ms. Nash asked Mr. Perry to make her a promise.

“She said, ‘If something were to happen to me, promise me you won’t go back into isolation,’ ” Mr. Perry said, “because that would make this all for naught.”

At this point in the story, Mr. Perry asked for a moment and began to cry.

Ms. Nash died on Dec. 14, 2012, at 40. Two years later, Mr. Perry showed up to Eels rehearsal with his own microphone, ready to make good on a promise.

TIME HAS ADDED a husky edge to Mr. Perry’s angelic voice; on “Traces,” he hits some trembling high notes that bring to mind the otherworldly jazz countertenor “Little” Jimmy Scott. The tone suits the songs, which occasionally rock, but mostly feel close to their origins as solo demos Mr. Perry cut with only loops and click tracks backing him up.

The idea that the album might kick-start a comeback for Mr. Perry is one that its maker inevitably has to hem and haw about.

“I don’t even know if ‘coming back’ is a good word,” he said. “I’m in touch with the honest emotion, the love of the music I’ve just made. And all the neurosis that used to come with it, too. All the fears and joys. I had to put my arms around all of it. And walking back into it has been an experience, of all of the above.”

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STEVE PERRY Opens Up About Leaving JOURNEY: 'I Was Like A Wrung-Out Sponge'

Earlier today (Wednesday, August 15),former JOURNEY vocalist Steve Perry was interviewed on "Trunk Nation" , the SiriusXM satellite radio program hosted by Eddie Trunk . A few excerpts follow (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET ).

On leaving JOURNEY :

Steve : "The reason I left is because I was just truly burned out. My love for music was getting really, really questionable within my heart, and I kind of had to stop. There was no easy way to stop, leaving the mothership that I had so loved and worked so hard with the guys to build. It was tough. I didn't tell nobody — I just kept working, and then all of a sudden, it just kind of hit the wall, and I said, 'I can't do this anymore.' The band looked at me like, 'What?' I'm sure there was no way to drop such a bomb on the fans easily, but I just had to stop and just get out for a while. So I did, and once I stopped, I realized I had to be okay on my own, in my own terms, without the love and the adoration and applause. I kind of wanted the wheels to touch down, to be honest. I had to decompress... where you can be okay being yourself and that's enough. Being in such an amazing ride like we were on is like circling the earth in some satellite, then all of a sudden, it's just time to come through and land. There was no easy way to come through the earth's atmosphere without burning a little bit.

"I went back to my hometown in Hanford, California, and I just hung out in that town with old friends, drove up and down Main Street, saw my old house where I was raised, just tried to reconnect. I had a Harley-Davidson I used to keep in a storage unit, and I used to go out on these country roads — back in those days, you didn't need a helmet — and I would just drive that Harley on these one-lane, old country roads, and just let the wind blow and try to get some wind in my face and think about things.

"I had to let go with a conviction that if music was to come back to my heart again, that would be fine. If it didn't, I had already lived the dream of dreams, honestly. We had accomplished so much as a group together. I had to let it go completely to see what would happen. I was like a wrung-out sponge — there's no juice left in me.

"When I was a kid, I loved music more than anything else. It saved my life. When I can play those old 45s and get into those songs and listen to those rhythms and those voices and that songwriting, it was a place I could go to when my family was breaking up at the time, my mother and father. I'm an only child. I lived in the fantasy of those 45s, so I brought that with me when I joined the band, and brought that love for that, and when it started to leave me, I got scared. I'm not complaining — I want to make that clear — but you don't have to look too far to see people not survive in the music business. I'll speak for myself — there was some extra-stimulative behaviors going on back in the day. I could have kept going with those exterior assistance behaviors, but it wouldn't have filled the hole that I knew was going, so I had to just literally stop. There's no easy was to do it; I just had to do it. I went to baseball [games]; every summer, I'd go to the fair; I would go on vacations; I'd go to movies; I'd do the things everybody else does. I needed to just get back to a [normal] life and let that be enough."

On JOURNEY 's induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame :

Steve : "When I walked out there, that was a real thrill. They had a whole worked-up thing — they had a big teleprompter, and I said, 'F that.' I pulled out my piece of paper. I says, 'I got some things to talk about here,' and I just sort of did my thing. The fans, they were so wonderful.

On not performing with JOURNEY during the induction ceremony:

Steve : "I'm not in the band. I haven't been in the band for quite some time. Arnel's [ Pineda ] been in the band for almost 10 years, I think. He's a sweet kid — he's a wonderful kid. He sings his heart out every night. It's his gig."

On meeting Pineda :

Steve : "There was a gentleman who we recently lost named Harry , part of the management team. Harry was there with me, and he said, ' Steve , listen, I don't know if you know, but Arnel 's running up and down the halls. He heard you're here, backstage.' I said, 'Well, where is he?' He said, 'I think he's outside.' I said, 'Okay, I'll come out.' I walked out and he was there, and he comes up to me... there was something endearing about the way he looked at me. He was meeting, like, a grandfather. [ Laughs ] He's got the gig. It's his gig. He's doing great."

On whether he regrets singing in such a high range with JOURNEY :

Steve : "You don't think about it when you're doing it, because you're young. At that point in time in music, you kind of had to get in the outdo-the-next-kind-of-cat mode. There were so many of us trying to climb to the top of the heap, so to speak, as who's going to be the one who can really belt it. There were so many great singers — the cat from TOTO , the cat from SANTANA , the cat from SURVIVOR . So many different singers with these high voices, and I'm thinking, 'Okay, watch this.' We were all competitive. I just kept pushing myself for greater heights. I just really wanted to keep outdoing my own capabilities. I may have set the bar a little high at this age. [ Laughs ] I probably could [sing it today], but I may have to drop a key here and there. I'm okay with that."

On JOURNEY 's legacy:

Steve : "There's so many of our graduating class of our era who did the same thing. For whatever reason, we were just so fortunate to write the kind of music together, and the synergy that happened at that point in time when we were together, had a unique thing unto itself. That band was a great band. When we were together back in that era reaching in that era for the emotion of that time, I think we were really, really accomplishing something we didn't even know we were doing. Maybe that's what's a little timeless about our music — our sincerity to want to be the best band at that point we could possibly be."

"Traces" , Perry 's first solo album in more than two decades, will be released on October 5 via Fantasy Records (a division of Concord Records / UMG ).

"Traces" marks Perry 's first solo album since 1994's "For The Love Of Strange Medicine" , which was certified gold in the U.S. for sales in excess of half a million copies.

Perry 's final full concert with JOURNEY took place in early 1987. He later rejoined his bandmates for a brief performance in 1991 to honor late concert promoter Bill Graham . He also appeared with JOURNEY when they received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2005.

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Journey Frontman Arnel Pineda on the Band’s New Record, Dreams of a Steve Perry Reunion

By Andy Greene

Andy Greene

In early 2020, Journey frontman Arnel Pineda flew back to his native Manila after playing a corporate gig in Texas. He was gearing up for a big year in which Journey would cut their first new record since 2011’s Eclipse and play amphitheaters all over North America with the Pretenders.

The pandemic changed all that and he’s been in Manila ever since, but Journey still found a way to work remotely on the record. It’s their first full-length since parting ways with drummer Steve Smith and bassist Ross Valory. They were replaced by bassist Randy Jackson (who briefly toured and recorded with Journey in 1986–87) and drummer Narada Michael Walden, who’s doubling as the album’s producer.

We checked in with Pineda via Zoom to talk about his lockdown life in Manila, the in-progress Journey record, the upcoming biopic about his life, and why he still dreams about a Journey reunion with Steve Perry.

How are things going? Good. I arrived here in Manila last year just a week and a half before the lockdown began. I was lucky. Otherwise, I would have been stuck in America for six months before they let me back.

This must be the longest stretch of time you’ve been home since you joined Journey in 2007. Yeah. This is the longest. I like it because I got to spend a lot of time with family and the kids and more time with myself and my wife. There are other things I would rather do than tour, so I got the chance to be here. In a negative way, it’s quite bad. The survival here is a day-to-day deal. I’m the one that goes out a lot. I’m the one that goes to the market and the grocery to refill our food stocks.

You wonder if you have the virus every day. There’s a lot of paranoia going around. It’s like what is happening in America.

Do you miss playing live? Yeah. I especially miss the energy and the adrenaline of doing it. I’m delivering on the legacy that the Voice [Steve Perry] has left behind. Especially now that he formally passed the torch to me in 2017 [at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction], he made that known and he was very gracious. It was very kind of him. It was so generous of him to say that in public. It was really an honor.

What was it like to finally meet Steve after all these years? I posted on Instagram that I had waited 35 years for that. It was dreamy. I couldn’t believe I met him since he’s very reclusive and he avoids people. He didn’t want to get interviewed, at least until he released his new record [ Traces ] and then suddenly he was out there, going to radio stations and accepting interviews.

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I was really surprised that he agreed to meet me. It’s one of the most special things that happened in my life. He’s one of my heroes when it comes to singing. I remember back in the Eighties, I would sleep on the bus with my Walkman on in my ears as his voice sang all these favorite songs from Journey.

I really dug his new record. It was amazing. I’ve been teasing Jonathan [Cain] and Neal [Schon]. “Why don’t you invite Steve Perry over for a tour?” Oh, my God. I never saw them back in the Eighties. I was just a young kid in Manila, just playing around, with no chance of going to the States and seeing their show, but they were one of my favorite bands.

I’ve spoken to Steve a bunch of times in the past few years. We even talked just a few weeks ago. Oh, my God!

Judging by our talks, I’m extremely confident that he’s happy to leave the Journey baton with you. That’s even more pressure I’m getting, hearing this from you. At the same time, I’m truly honored. But I’m not losing [the hope] that one day he’ll join the band for two or three songs. It would be one of the highlights of my life if that happens.

It would almost be on the scale of Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd re-forming at this point. My God. It would be the same thing for me with Led Zeppelin because I haven’t seen them either, or Pink Floyd. I wish they would be complete again. It’s like completing a circle, being back up onstage again.

Do you think this long break has been good for your singing voice? Has it given you time to rest the muscle? I think so. At the same time, I can’t help but sing four or five songs here every day. The problem with the voice is that it changes as you grow older. It’s like athletes. They reach their peak on their 30th birthday. As they approach 31 or 32, it starts to change. It’s the same with my voice. I just want to make sure I can be of use to the band until they decide to throw the towel in.

Those are hard songs to sing for any singer. You guys go out and do 60 straight concerts in the summer and you need to hit the high notes on “Faithfully” every single time. That would be hard for anyone at any age. We’ll do five or six shows a week. I’m just quite amazed with myself a little. Somehow I was able to take it for 13 years. Let’s see what’s going to happen in the coming days. We’re on to finishing the album. We finished six songs so far. There’s talk of going out somewhere first, maybe Las Vegas for a residency. We don’t know yet. We haven’t decided. Just to break the ice between the new members and us.

You have six songs totally done? Yeah. And maybe seven songs to go.

Journey's Bassist Ross Valory Opens Up About the Band's Saga — And His Adventurous Solo Album

Watch miley cyrus cover journey's hit '80s anthem 'faithfully'.

Are these ballads? Rockers? For now, we’re doing the rocker songs first, not the ballads. I think the seven songs they’re working on, they’re working on something huge, like how you’ve known Journey doing ballads. It’s between [1981’s ] “Mother, Father” and [1978’s] “Winds of March.” We’re working on that song. We’ll see what happens. I’m waiting for them to send me the demos so that we can record it next week.

Working remotely like this must have been an adjustment. Normally, you’d be in the room together. I know. It’s quite hard right now. I have a few melody ideas that I’m into and want to share with them, but you can’t right now because of what is happening. I just have to listen to it and learn it. We use Zoom to record and I turn on my laptop and go into Logic Pro. They get ahold of it. If there’s something I want to change, I tell them. But it’s all pretty much done and I just record with them.

Are you doing the vocals on your laptop? Yeah. I’ll show you [ turns camera around and shows a microphone plugged into a computer in front of soundproofing foam ]. I share my computer, like mirroring. They can see what’s happening in my laptop. It allows them to hack it for a moment and then they can hear it. It happens in real time.

There’s no lag. I can hear that right now while we talk. It’s like you’re in the next room and you’re actually more than 8,000 miles away. Yeah. Thank God for the technology.

Do you think the album will come out this year? I think so. Neal thinks so. He can’t wait to release it before we do a full-on tour.

How do things sound different now that Randy Jackson and Narada Michael Walden are in the band? It’s somewhat like the sound back in the Eighties when Randy Jackson joined the band for the Raised on Radio album. It’s kind of like that, but it’s also more updated. Narada is producing my vocals and mentoring me on how to do it. He’s telling me to sing it this way and that way. It’s amazing. I’m learning a lot from Narada. It’s truly an honor and I appreciate him for doing so. It’s amazing.

Has the band even been in the same room yet? Have you met Randy and Narada in person? Right now, it’s just been virtual. It’s tough. I wanted to do it. I keep telling Neal, “If only I had been there, we would have done this in two months. Sorry it’s taking so long.” But with all these health protocols where you need to quarantine for two weeks, and then I come back and I’d be quarantined for another two weeks before I can join my family. It’s too much of a hassle, so we decided to do it this way even though Neal isn’t too happy about it. He wants it the old, classic way of making an album.

Moving on here, what’s the status of the movie about your life? It’s going to happen. I think they’re gonna start. Some people from Warner will start coming here. I think maybe with [ Crazy Rich Asians director] Jon Chu and [ Joker and The Fighter screenwriter] Scott Silver. They might come here to audition actors and actresses that will take part in my biopic.

Are you going to take them around town and show them the places you grew up? Yes. That’s the deal, of course. I want to show them where I grew up, where I was born, where everything happened before this whole magical thing.

Do you think the story will start in your childhood and show all your early bands and struggles and focus on the pre-Journey period? I think so, yeah. That’s the plan. I’ve spoken many times with Scott Silver. What’s interesting about my story is that I’ve survived two coup attempts here in the Philippines before I went to Hong Kong for 10 years. I don’t know he if plans to tell what happened to me in Hong Kong, but I had 10 years there. He might focus on my love story with my wife now.

I can see the grand finale in my head. It’ll be you walking onstage in Chile at your first Journey show. You’re nervous and they push you out and you burst into “Separate Ways.” Yeah. I was trying to back out five minutes before. I was like, “Neal, I cannot do this. This is not built for me.” They were like, “No. It’s too late. Get out there and do it.”

It was the turning point of your life. Everything is either before that moment or after that moment. You should tell Scott Silver about this idea. I’ve been implying it to him that we should end everything in Chile. And I remember when my wife decided to join me on tour in 2011. We were playing to a 30,000 crowd that night. I was telling my wife, “Remember Hard Rock Cafe when there were only three tables? Now it’s 30,000 people.” It was just unbelievable. It doesn’t get old to me. It’s still so surreal and bizarre.

I saw you at Citi Field with Fleetwood Mac and Madison Square Garden with Def Leppard. I could tell you were still having a blast. It’s still unbelievable. I’m just so blessed. I can’t thank them enough, especially Neal Schon. He was the one that was really sold that I am the one since 2007. But then again, I still think, “If only they could bring back Steve Perry.” You know what I mean?

I do, but if he came back, that would mean … I know, but I miss them so much together. Every now and then, I watch their videos together. It’s always them with Steve Perry that I watch. I mean, no offense to Adam Lambert. He’s an amazing performer and he has an amazing voice, but I still watch the old [Queen] ones with Freddie Mercury. That’s why when people say things like “No Perry, No Journey,” I understand it. Where I come from, we’re so influenced by Western music. We loved the originals, if you know what I mean.

His return would put you out of a job. That would be OK to me! I’m telling you. That’s how much I adore him and I adore Journey and how much I adore Steve Perry. Back in 2005, I resigned from my job in Hong Kong because I lost my voice due to acid reflux. I was telling my friends back then that my only regret was I lost my voice before I had the chance to sing side-by-side with Steve Perry. I was joking with them, but then a different situation happened. I just wish that one show with him … it would change my life forever. It’s been 30 years now and the band keeps changing my life in ways nobody would ever guess would happen.

Do you miss Ross Valory and Steve Smith now that they’re out of the band? I do, of course. We had a real bond that nobody can deny. [ Sighs ] When the first day came that Steve Smith went back, I could feel that he was trying to feel everything out and observe. When he got the good vibe again, we clicked. Four years with him was very special. And 11 years with Ross was amazing. I cannot ask for anything more. Those friendships I’ll take with me until the end of time.

The group has dealt with a lot of tensions and feuds during your time with them, but you always remain neutral and out of the fray. How do you do that? I try to stay away. It’s like, “Oh, the big boys are fighting.” I’d rather stick to my guns, which is just singing and delivering the legacy with them onstage. When we’re up onstage, I think everyone forgets their differences behind the scenes. That’s my happy place. When they’re having some petty quarrels, I try to stay away. I talk to everybody without having to talk about their differences.

Your White House visit caused a bit of controversy. Do you have any regrets about going there and meeting Trump? I do not. As a Filipino, I am such a big fan of the White House. It’s not about Trump. It’s not about who the president is. It’s the whole history of the White House. I was just amazed. When I went there, I looked at all the pictures of past presidents and how old everything was. And then the table where President Trump was seated was about 100 years old. Who wouldn’t want to see that? Who wouldn’t want to touch that?

His presidential guard was laughing at me because President Trump was talking to the other members [of the band] and I was just mesmerized by the table. I was like, “Wow! This is truly 100 years old?” I’m just a kid from Manila and I was in the White House for the first time, so no regrets. I guess I didn’t even have a chance to apologize to Neal. He must understand. I’m just a kid from Manila that wants to see the White House, in general.

What’s the status of your next solo record? I’m doing it right now. I’m just waiting on a couple of friends that are helping me finish it from the States. Because of the recent banning of some countries from coming in here, we got delayed. I’m expecting them to arrive here at the end of March instead of the end of January. Even my online streaming concert was moved to April 18th. It was supposed to happen in February. To those who want to get a ticket, it’ll be at sanrestreaming.com .

Back to the movie, do you think being on set and watching someone play a younger version of you will be a surreal experience? It will be weird, but it’ll be weirder if I am there portraying myself! [ Laughs ] I will not be able to stand there and look at myself. I don’t really listen to myself singing either. When the documentary Everyman’s Journey came out, I could barely watch it. The premier was in Tribeca. I was like, “Do I really have to watch this and see myself on the big screen?” I was cringing.

Do you think the actor in the movie will actually sing, or will you provide the vocals? I think I’m going to use my voice. Do you remember the Queen movie [ Bohemian Rhapsody ]? Marc Martel did the voice. I think I’m going to do that too.

I can’t wait. Crazy Rich Asians is a great movie. Jon Chu really knows what he’s doing. It’s unbelievable that he took notice of my life and my story and wants to make a movie out of it. It really humbled me.

They should film it in Manila and not somewhere else. It should look authentic. They definitely will. There’s so much to remember, I’m telling you. At one point in my life, I was really on drugs. It quite affected my memory. I need to recover all those things that happened to me when I was young. But I’ve recovered a lot of my childhood memories. Scott Silver is quite happy with what I was able to tell him.

I’m very hopeful that before 2021 ends, you’ll be back onstage with Journey. Me too. I can’t wait to see those smiling faces and that rolling-thunder sound of the audience. It’s quite an adrenaline [rush] when you experience that every night. That’s what keeps you going.

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The Reason Steve Perry Decided To Leave His Journey Band Members

Steve Perry had a good reason for leaving his Journey band members, at least, the second time around.

• Steve Perry left Journey the first time due to feeling burnt out after their final show in 1987.
• Perry left Journey a second (and final) time because of debilitating pain caused by a reported hiking accident.
• Journey continued without Perry though, finding other lead singers before ultimately reuniting and releasing new music.

Throughout the '80s, the band Journey enjoyed plenty of success. The band, which consisted of various members depending on the year and pending lawsuits, welcomed Steve Perry in 1977.

At the time, the other members of Journey included Neal Schon, Ross Valory, George Tickner, Prairie Prince, and Gregg Rolie. Though many band members came and went over the years, Steve Perry always seemed like a staple, one of the central attractions as far as drawing crowds (and rounding out the group's vocals).

But by then, Perry had launched a solo act, and at that point, he and Schon weren't getting along very well, either. That resulted in Steve leaving the band (for the first time).

Journey's Legacy Took A Hit After Steve Perry's Reported Lawsuit Against His Former Band Members

Updated April 2024: Many fans were unaware that Steve Perry left Journey because he was dealing with a debilitating degenerative bone condition . It made it hard to do daily routine activities, let alone tour. But, many fans thought that Perry was kicked out of the band so that he could be replaced by Steve Augeri. A fact that the remaining members of Journey denied. They simply believed the music was "bigger than them" and wanted to continue to tour. These days, Journey is still touring, without Perry, with Arnel Pineda on the lead vocals . Tickets are available for their tour, currently taking place in North America.

Why Steve Perry Left Journey The First Time

Steve perry left journey because he was burnt out.

As iHeartRadio explained, Perry was feeling burnt out. He said that he had "an amazing time in an amazing band," but that his last show in February of 1987 with the band had been a turning point of sorts. Setting out on his own, Perry went on to rediscover himself in a way, while his former bandmates went another direction.

Steve did come back later, however, in the early '90s. The guys reconciled, buried the hatchet, and were working on another album together. The band was even about to start touring again when Perry left the group for good.

Why Steve Perry Left Journey A Second Time

Steve perry was dealing with debilitating pain, leading him to leave journey a second and final time.

So what happened that caused Steve Perry to leave Journey a second time, this time for good? He had a good reason: UCR says Steve got hurt during a hiking accident . Rather than undergo hip surgery so that he could get back on stage (and on tour), Steve opted to quit the band. The way UCR tells it, Steve "refused" the surgery and "dredged up" memories of his leaving the band before.

But the way some fans saw it (and clearly the journalists at UCR as well), the move was a power play akin to the one Perry apparently made back in the '80s. His leaving the band at that point was a way to control Journey's fate, the publication suggested. So the second time around, the band cut ties with Perry rather than letting him drag them down.

Is Steve Perry Still Feuding With The Rest Of Journey?

Perry later related that he was both physically ill and "burnt out," noted iHeartRadio , and that after both an illustrious career as a member of Journey and a successful solo run, he was just finished. For the band's part, they soon replaced Perry with a 'soundalike' who did the job well enough, but never propelled the band to the notoriety or net worth of The Beatles .

Journey Got Back Together Without Steve Perry

Journey got back together with steve augeri and steve perry put out new music.

In 1998, the band officially announced that Steve was no longer part of Journey. After that, it would be decades before Steve got back into music again. As iHeartRadio quoted him a few years ago, "I rediscovered my love for music."

Steve released a new album in 2018, including original songs he'd written over the past 30 years. He even included a "reimagined cover" of a Beatles hit, but it wasn't the one John Lennon hated .

Has Steve Perry's Bad Blood With His Former Journey Bandmates Stopped Them From Speaking?

After Steve Augeri replaced Perry for eight years, he too called it quits with Journey. That has not stopped the band from touring, however. The band is currently doing a North American tour with Arnel Pineda on the lead vocals. Tickets are available for purchase for dates around the US.

Source: iHeart Radio

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Why Journey’s Reunion With Steve Perry Was Just A Disaster

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 07: Inductees Steve Perry and Neal Schon of Journey speak onstage during the 32nd Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on April 7, 2017 in New York City. The broadcast will air on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on HBO. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

Discussing the band Journey without mentioning frontman Steve Perry is like missing a crucial part of their story. Perry led the band to huge success in the ’80s, took a break, came back in the ’90s, and then left again, opting for a quiet life for nearly two decades. This article dives into Perry’s return to the band and the reasons he left once more.

In the 80s, Journey was a big deal, churning out albums, hits, and even having their own video game. Even though the game wasn’t great, it was a big deal back then.

Perry guided Journey through their peak from 1977 to 1987 and then again from 1995 to 1998. In between, he did his solo thing but kept a low profile, only returning to music a few years ago.

The Audition that Changed Everything

Born in California to Portuguese parents, Perry got into music at 12, inspired by Sam Cooke’s “Cupid.” He joined Journey after their manager heard a tape of Perry’s previous band and liked his voice. Perry replaced Robert Fleishman as the frontman, even though they did a sneaky tour to avoid causing a stir.

Perry’s pop style brought success but also turned away some old fans. His first run with the band ended in 1985 due to personal issues like his mom being sick and a breakup.

After leaving in 1987, Perry worked on a solo album, but he wasn’t feeling it, so he took a break until the mid-90s, making a few stage appearances.

The Reunion Proposal

In 1995, Perry suggested reuniting with Journey, but with new conditions, including a change in management. With a new manager, they got back together and made a successful album, Trial by Fire, but Perry’s health issues in 1998 stopped their tour plans. Perry didn’t promote the album much, citing pain and avoiding surgery.

By 1998, some band members wanted to move on without Perry, looking for a new singer despite his pleas. Steve Augeri, a former rocker turned GAP employee, joined, facing challenges, and was eventually replaced.

In the end, Journey found their current vocalist, Arnel Pineda, after a bumpy ride with various changes and challenges.

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Steve Perry

Who Is Steve Perry?

Steve Perry played in several bands before joining Journey in 1977. The band achieved tremendous pop rock success with its 1981 album Escape , which featured the now-classic "Don't Stop Believin'." As the group's lead singer, Perry became one of the era's most famous singers. He also had some hits on his own, including "Oh Sherrie." Perry left Journey in 1987, and except for a brief reunion, he remains a solo artist.

While attending high school in Lemoore, California, Perry played drums in the marching band. He tried college for a while, performing in the choir, but eventually abandoned school for his musical dreams. Hoping to break into the business, he moved to Los Angeles for a time. There, he worked a number of jobs, including singing on commercials and serving as an engineer in a recording studio. All the while, Perry played with a number of different groups as a vocalist and drummer. He seemed to be on the edge of a breakthrough with the group Alien Project, when it suddenly disbanded — tragically, one of its members was killed in a car crash.

Journey: "Oh Sherrie" and "Don't Stop Believin'"

In 1977, Perry caught his big break, landing a gig as the vocalist for Journey, which began performing as a jazz rock group in the early 1970s, in San Francisco. With Perry on board, the band moved more toward mainstream rock, and began to see some chart success with the first album with Perry, 1978's Infinity . The band's ode to San Francisco, "Lights," became a minor hit as did "Wheel in the Sky" and "Anytime."

Journey broken into the Top 20 with "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" on their next album, Evolution (1979). Buoyed by such hits as "Open Arms," "Who's Crying Now" and "Don't Stop Believin'," Escape (1981) became the band's first No. 1 album, selling more than 7 million copies. While the band was hugely popular with music fans, many critics were less than kind.

By the early 1980s, Journey had emerged as one of rock's top acts. Perry proved that while he may have been short in stature, he possessed one of the era's biggest and most versatile voices. He was equally adept at ballads, such as "Open Arms," and at rock anthems, such as "Any Way You Want It." Behind the scenes, Perry helped write these songs and many of the band's other hits. He penned their most enduring song, "Don't Stop Believin'," with guitarist Neal Schon and keyboardist Jonathan Cain.

Journey continued to be one of the era's top-selling acts, with 1983's Frontiers . The album featured such songs as "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" and "Faithfully." To support the recording, the band undertook an extensive world tour. Around that time, Journey also became the first band to license their music and likenesses for a video game.

With 1986's Raised on Radio , Journey enjoyed another wave of success. However, Perry was ready to part ways with his bandmates. Perry left the band in 1987 after the album tour. In a statement to People magazine, Perry explained: "I had a job burnout after 10 years in Journey. I had to let my feet hit the ground, and I had to find a passion for singing again." Perry was also struggling with some personal issues at the time; his mother had become very sick, and he spent much of his time caring for her before her death.

Perry reunited with Journey in 1996, for the reunion album Trial By Fire , which reached as high as the No. 3 on the album charts. But health problems soon sidelined the famous singer—a hip condition, which led to hip replacement surgery—and his bandmates decided to continue on without him.

Solo Projects

While still with Journey, Perry released his first solo album, Street Talk (1984). The recording sold more than 2 million copies, helped along by the hit single, "Oh Sherrie." Burnt out after splitting with Journey, Perry took some time out before working on his next project.

Nearly a decade later, Perry re-emerged on the pop-rock scene with 1994's For the Love of Strange Medicine . While the album was well-received—one ballad, "You Better Wait," was a Top 10 hit—Perry failed to reach the same level of success that he had previously enjoyed. In 1998, he provided two songs for the soundtrack of Quest for Camelot , an animated film. Perry also released Greatest Hits + Five Unreleased that same year.

Recent Years

While he has largely stayed out of the spotlight, Perry continues to be heard in movies and on television. His songs are often chosen for soundtracks, and Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" even played during the closing moments of the hit crime-drama series The Sopranos in 2007. In 2009, a cover version of the song was done for the hit high school musical show Glee , which introduced a new generation to Perry's work.

According to several reports, Perry began working on new material around 2010. He even built a studio in his home, which is located north of San Diego, California. "I'm finishing that room up and I've written a whole bunch of ideas and directions, all over the map, in the last two, three years," Perry told Billboard in 2012.

In 2014, Perry broke from his self-imposed exile from the concert stage. He appeared with the Eels at several of their shows. According to The Hollywood Reporter , Perry explained that "I've done the 20-year hermit thing, and it's overrated." His return to performing "has to do with a lot of changes in my life, including losing my girlfriend a year ago and her wish to hear me sing again" — referring to his romance with Kellie Nash, who died in late 2012 from cancer.

Although Perry and his old bandmates had long since ventured in separate directions, the group did reunite for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2017.

In the meantime, the singer began recording again. On August 15, 2018, he released his first new song in 20 years, the ballad "No Erasin." The track arrived ahead of his new album, Traces , his first full-length studio recording since For the Love of Strange Medicine in 1994.

Regardless of what the future holds, Perry has already earned a place in rock history. Rolling Stone magazine named him one of music's top 100 singers. According to American Idol judge and former Journey bassist, Randy Jackson, Perry's voice is one of kind. "Other than Robert Plant, there's no singer in rock that even came close to Steve Perry," Jackson said. "The power, the range, the tone—he created his own style. He mixed a little Motown, a little Everly Brothers, a little Zeppelin."

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Steve Perry
• Birth Year: 1949
• Birth date: January 22, 1949
• Birth State: California
• Birth City: Hanford
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Steve Perry was the lead singer of pop rock band Journey from 1977 to 1987. He is known for having a wide vocal range, which can be heard on such popular hits as "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Oh Sherrie."
• Astrological Sign: Aquarius

We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us !

CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Steve Perry Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/steve-perry
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: July 23, 2020
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

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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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Tragic Details About Journey

Now a touring legacy act with many latter-day members, Journey once ruled '70s and '80s arena rock with its hard-charging anthems ("Don't Stop Believing," "Separate Ways") and power ballads ("Open Arms," "Faithfully") alike. Before that iteration, Journey sounded a lot different, a jazzy, progressive-rock collective-meets-supergroup. 

Through its 50-year history, Journey has been a musical outlet for a lot of musicians, if not something of a respite for the tragedies and turmoils of their personal lives. The men who played guitars, drums, and keyboards (and sang) in both the prog era Journey and arena rock Journey have dealt with a voluminous amount of heartbreak, health issues, and unfathomable loss. Those sad parts of life have taken a tremendous emotional, physical, and professional toll on the musicians who comprise Journey past and present, including Steve Perry, Neal Schon , Arnel Pineda, Randy Jackson, and Jonathan Cain. Here are all of the horrible things happening to and near the members of Journey while they were busy bringing joy to everyone else. 

Steve Perry departed journey for tragic reasons

In 1977, Journey took a radio-friendly route, and after hiring singer Steve Perry, released eight multi-platinum albums in just 10 years. Easily the most successful period in Journey's history, and one that launched a successful solo side career for Perry, it ended when the singer quit the band, to the surprise of his bandmates. "I'm sure they thought, 'Oh, there he goes. Solo career. F*** Steve,'" Perry recalled to GQ  in 2008. Actually, he had to step away in order to grieve and to get healthy.

During the creation of Journey's 1986 album "Raised on Radio," Perry's mother died. "So I came home, took care of that, went back, finished the vocals and stuff, and before I know it, we're on tour." After fulfilling those obligations, Perry felt bombarded by the weight of the situation. "I hadn't even addressed or dealt with anything pertaining to that loss. So I was about ready to crash and didn't know." 

At the same time, Perry seriously required a break from the tremendous and damaging strain he put on his voice singing Journey songs every night, for months at a time. During the "Raised on Radio" tour, Perry had to resort to doctor-administered shots of B12 and anti-inflammatory agents before heading out on stage. Rather than continue on without their frontman, Journey effectively split up upon Perry's departure.

Mental health and addiction issues also led to Steve Perry leaving Journey

While the need to grieve and rest his frayed vocal cords were reasons enough to leave Journey at the peak of its commercial success — and relentless cycle of recording and touring — in the late 1980s, Steve Perry felt he needed to separate himself from his band because of mental health issues that he feared he was over-treating with the use of substances that he could see getting out of control.

"How do you walk away from something like that? Well, the only reason I did it was because my passion for it, my actual connection to it started to become invisible to singing. I thought, 'What am I? Just a parody of myself now? I'm not connecting to my heart anymore,'" Perry recalled on "Out of the Box with Jonathan Clarke" in 2018. "Back in the days we used to sometimes party a little bit. It would fill your empty heart for a minute, and when you came off of that, guess what? It's worse," Perry said. "I knew it was gonna upset the fans, but I just had to stop."

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Medical issues doomed Steve Perry's return to Journey

After about a decade of dormancy, Journey reunited in the 1990s. In 1996, the group released "Trial by Fire," which featured Steve Perry on vocals (notably on the No. 1 adult contemporary single "When You Love a Woman" and on the rock radio hit "Message of Love"). Despite the animosity surrounding Perry's departure and the band's dissolution, it was Perry who instigated the reunion, contacting each of his old bandmates to smooth things over, rekindle friendships, and get them all involved. 

Journey, with its prime-era lineup, was set to tour in support of "Trial by Fire," until Perry suffered a medical emergency on a hike in Hawaii, during a 10-day getaway before rehearsals, according to GQ . "I got to the top of this hill, and I was in trouble. I could hardly walk. I don't know what had happened, but the pain was like an ice pick. I'd had some pain in my left hip area before, but I didn't think nothin' about it." Some tests and doctor consultations revealed that Perry needed a complete hip replacement — which would take him off of any Journey world tour.

Perry allowed the rest of the band to tour, with a sensitive caveat. "Call it the J-Boys. Call it anything. But don't call it Journey, y'know? Because I am gonna get this done, eventually." Instead, they hired a new singer, hit the road as Journey, and it upset Perry so much that it re-fractured the carefully reformed band.

Steve Perry's partner died of cancer

In 2011, Steve Perry accompanied his friend, filmmaker Patty Jenkins, while she edited a segment of a Lifetime documentary about breast cancer, when a shot of a woman caught his eye. Jenkins agreed to set up a date between Perry and the individual, Dr. Kellie Nash, a psychologist dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis. At the time, she'd been in remission for eight months, only for the cancer to return to a Stage 4 level and spread into her bones and lungs. Perry and Nash hit it off. "I never felt like this before, I had finally found her. She's real and right in front of me," Perry wrote on his blog about their profound connection.

The romance developed in 2011 and 2012 as Nash attended radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Two months after receiving a terminal diagnosis, Nash died in December 2012. It took another year and a half for Perry to fulfill a promise he made to his dying partner. "She said, 'Promise me you won't back into isolation, because I fear it would make this all for naught.' I said: 'OK, I promise,'" Perry recalled to The Guardian . In May 2014, he appeared onstage for the first time, singing with his friend Mark Everett's band Eels. That led to the creation of the unsigned Perry's first album in more than 20 years, "Traces." "Doing this has been cathartic for me," Perry said.

Neal Schon has severe tinnitus

In 2012, longtime Journey guitarist Neal Schon was accused of bailing on a Q&A session after a screening of the documentary "Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey" at the Silverdocs film festival. He later explained that he only left so quickly because he couldn't physically handle the event. "I have tinnitus, I can barely hear what the people are saying," Schon told  The Washington Post .

Tinnitus is a persistent and sometimes painful medical condition characterized by a regular, if not constant, ringing, buzzing, or whistling sensation, according to WebMD . Because tinnitus, and the permanent hearing damage that goes along with it, develops after prolonged and frequent exposure to loud noise, many musicians who've played hundreds of loud rock concerts receive a tinnitus diagnosis. According to Guitar Interactive Magazine , Schon has to use special equipment to regulate the volume of instruments both onstage and in the recording studio.

Steve Augeri lost his voice

Following Steve Perry's second and permanent exit from Journey in the mid-1990s, the rest of the band moved on with a new singer. Steve Augeri, a crooner who could wail in the Perry style with experience leading Tall Stories and Tyketto, got the job. From 1998 to 2006, Augeri took the stage with Journey and recorded three albums with the band, until he abruptly quit immediately following a sour performance.

According to Melodic Rock , Augeri had difficulty hitting a lot of notes during some 2006 concerts, and before a show in Raleigh, North Carolina, he decided that evening's performance would have to be his last with Journey. He still demonstrated major vocal issues that night, before Journey released a statement announcing Augeri's departure and the arrival of new singer Jeff Scott Soto. Augeri had to exit Journey for health reasons. Near-constant touring left him nearly silent and unable to sing. 

"Everyone thinks of the upsides and the glamor and the sparkle and everything that shines," Augeri told Rolling Stone of his Journey years. "But the loneliness and the wear and tear, which is a huge part of it for a vocalist. The thing that would kill me was when we'd do three nights in a row. We would do five shows a week."

Robert Fleischman's wife died of cancer

After some early recordings as primarily a jazzy, progressive-rock, instrumental-focus outfit, in 1977, Journey hired San Francisco musician Robert Fleischman to be its first dedicated lead vocalist. Just months later, after a single tour as the opening act for Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, Journey fired Fleischman and brought in Steve Perry. He'd later sing lead for the bands Channel and Vinnie Vincent Invasion and co-write songs for his former cohorts in Journey, including "Wheel in the Sky" and "Winds of March."

In 2007, Fleischman married the former Michelle Johnson, who in March 2020, died seven years after a breast cancer diagnosis, according to her obituary . "Sorry to tell you, my beautiful wife, Michelle Fleischman passed today," Robert Fleischman said in a statement (via Brave Words ). "When she passed church bells from the church down the street played." Michelle Fleischman was 47 years old.

A pediatric cystic fibrosis patient inspired Journey in the '80s

In 1983, shortly after Make-A-Wish International was created to make a dream come true for terminally ill and very sick children, the foundation contacted the band Journey. A young client named Kenny Sykaluk, coping with cystic fibrosis at a facility in Cleveland, really wanted to meet the arena rock group. "We went off to see him. He had no idea how bad he was, but he was dying," Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain told One One 7 (via Something Else Reviews ). "We got to spend the last day of his life with him. He passed the next day, and it stayed with me for a long time." When Sykaluk died, he was holding a Walkman given to him by the members of Journey, which contained a recording of the then-unreleased song "Only the Young."

"When we did VH1's 'Behind the Music,' I was asked about the most powerful things that happened to me as a member of Journey, and it had to be with Kenny Sykaluk on that last day," Cain said. On the band's "Raised on Radio" tour, Journey opened every concert with "Only the Young," played in tribute to Sykaluk.

Aynsley Dunbar's son died of cancer

Drummer Aynsley Dunbar has played with numerous professional rock bands since he was a teenager, including a stint alongside future Fleetwood Mac members John McVie and Peter Green in the star-making John Mayall's Bluesbreakers in the mid-1960s. In 1973, he replaced Prairie Price as the drummer in Journey, when the band was still in its experimental rock fusion phase. Dunbar would be gone from the group by 1978, when it entered its commercially-minded era, and he'd play for bands like Jefferson Starship and Whitesnake, heading into semi-retirement in the early 1990s to spend time with his four young children.

In 1999, per  SFGate , doctors discovered a tumor in the brain of the musician's youngest son, Dash Dunbar. The five-year-old's diagnosis was a pontine glioma, a rarely seen mass that attaches itself to and assaults the brain stem, making it virtually impossible to remove, per the Cleveland Clinic . 

Doctors predicted the child would live for about six months, while his mother, Aynsley Dunbar's former wife, Karen, put together a benefit concert to raise $15,000 for experimental, potentially life-extending treatments. Former Journey member Neil Schon played the show, as did Aynsley Dunbar's New Animals. Sadly, Dash Dunbar died on May 9, 2000.

Arnel Pineda's mother died when he was young

Following the abrupt exit of lead singer Steve Augeri in 2006, Journey needed a new singer, and it needed one fast. Guitarist Neal Schon found himself on YouTube watching videos of bands playing Journey tunes. He found his musician in Arnel Pineda, a Philippines native who by 2007 had spent years performing in bars and clubs in Manila, singing a mix of originals and covers, notably of Journey songs. A big Journey fan, Pineda took up Schon's emailed invitation to audition in San Francisco , and he got the job.

It was a lucky twist of good luck in a life that, to that point, was beset by tragedy and economic struggle. Just after he turned 12 years old, Pineda's mother died from rheumatic heart disease. The family couldn't weather the financial impact, and they split up. "I had to live in Luneta most of the time," Pineda told ABS-CBN News , referring to a city park. "Sometimes I would sleep at my friend's house where they would give me a small cot and I would be feasted on by mosquitos." Determined to stay in school but unable to afford a bus ticket, Pineda would get there each day by holding on to the outside of the vehicle.

Arnel Pineda endured being unhoused and addiction

While sleeping in a park or at a friend's home as a teenager in Manila, Arnel Pineda stayed in school as long as he could. Eventually, he had to drop out and get a job to help his economically devastated family pay its extensive bills. "It was very depressing, but since I was young, I didn't really understand the magnitude of our situation," Pineda told ABS-CBN News .

During his period of housing instability, Pineda sampled drugs and alcohol and got addicted: "To the point that I wished I was dead," he told "TV Patrol World" (via Blabbermouth ). That condition followed the singer into young adulthood and almost broke up his marriage. "It was my wife who saved me," Pineda said. When he was drunk and otherwise intoxicated during a birthday party, his wife told him she'd leave if he didn't find sobriety. "So that woke me up."

Randy Jackson's harrowing weight loss journey

Probably best known for his position as one of the three judges on the long-running TV talent show "American Idol," Randy Jackson had the music industry bonafides to judge aspiring singers. Prior to his debut on the series in 2002, Jackson was an executive at Columbia Records and MCA Records, a producer, sideman, and bassist for Journey. From 1983 to 1986, which coincided with the band's massive commercial success, Jackson played on Journey tours and records, a job he returned to in the 2020s.

In 1999, Jackson visited an emergency room complaining of sweatiness, dizziness, extreme thirst, and fatigue. "A short time later, I got the bad news. 'It's kind of what I thought,' my doctor told me. 'You have type 2 diabetes. Your blood sugar is over 500," Jackson wrote in "Body with Soul" (via Today ). A normal, healthy blood sugar level falls in the low 100s, per WebMD ; consistently or astronomically high numbers indicate type 2 diabetes, a condition by which the body is unable to properly deliver the hormone insulin to process food. Obesity can lead to type 2 diabetes; Jackson said at one point, he weighed more than 350 pounds. Untreated diabetes can lead to complications, including heart disease, kidney failure, and blindness (via WebMD ). To aggressively treat diabetes, Jackson lost more than 100 pounds, attained via gastric bypass surgery.

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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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The Real Reason Of Steve Perry’s Departure From Journey

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Steve Perry’s history with the band Journey is a murky one. Steve has struggled with feelings of being overwhelmed by his fame since the debut and subsequent success of heading the band, Journey. He left in 1997 after feeling deceived by Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain, his bandmates at the time.

It wasn’t the only time, though, that he considered upping and leaving. After Journey’s lengthy tour in support of their commercially successful album Raised on Radio , Perry decided to take a break. Leaving Journey and disappearing for a number of years wasn’t Steve’s only motivation for avoiding the spotlight after his burnout; his departure was complicated by a number of issues in his private life.

“There were just so many things happening to me at the time,” Perry explained in an interview. “During the last years of Journey, my mother had gotten progressively worse, and she passed away while I was doing vocals for Raised on Radio. On top of that, I lost a relationship that didn’t work out.”

He didn’t realize the toll of how problematic his relationships were until Journey went on tour . “So, we went back out on tour to promote ‘Raised on Radio,’ and it was only then that I realized what happened. I had never dealt with any of the personal stuff. It’s so easy to keep busy and not feel what’s going on, especially if you’re in the music business.”

There were up-and-down moments inside Journey, a typical element in every band. We’re still lucky for Perry and his contributions to the group, which produced several classics that are still being listened to today.

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Journey celebrates 50th anniversary: Rock band members then and now

Journey was formed in february 1973 by neal schon, gregg rolie and herbie herbert.

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Journey recently celebrated 50 years since the band first formed.

The band's most well-remembered lead singer, Steve Perry, was spotted on a walk in Los Angeles earlier this month. The 74-year-old was the frontman and prominent songwriter for the band for 10 years alongside Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Ross Valory, Jonathan Cain, Aynsley Dunbar and Steve Smith.

Current members of the band include Schon, Cain, Deen Castronovo, Arnel Pineda, Jason Derlatka and Todd Jensen.

Here is what Journey band members from the Perry era are up to now as the band's 50th anniversary tour comes to a close April 25 in Palm Springs, California. 

STEVE PERRY WOWS CROWD AFTER 19 YEAR ABSENCE FROM STAGE

Steve Perry 

Steve Perry was brought on as a replacement for lead singer Robert Fleischman and was the frontman during the band's most prosperous era. (Shutterstock/SplashNews.com)

Steve Perry joined the band as a replacement for Robert Fleischman, making his debut as the frontman in October 1977. As well as acting as the band's lead singer, Perry also was one of the band's principal songwriters. He was nominated to the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 2020.

Although fans were skeptical of Perry when he first joined the band, he was able to win fans over after the release of his first album, "Infinity," which had a much different sound than Journey had created in the past. They then began getting more radio airplay. He sang lead vocals on the albums "Evolution," "Departure," "Dream, After Dream," "Captured," "Escape," "Frontiers," "Raised on Radio" and "Trial By Fire."

Perry went solo for the first time in 1984 when he released "Street Talk," which sold over 2 million copies and featured the singles "Oh Sherrie" and "Foolish Heart." He was also featured on the 1985 benefit song, "We Are the World." He attempted to reunite with Journey. However, he was caring for his ill mother and couldn't be present for a majority of recording, and the band went on break in 1987 after its "Raised on Radio" tour.

In 1988, Perry began working on a second solo album, which he never released, eventually releasing a successful second album in 1994, called "For the Love of Strange Medicine."

Perry sang lead vocals on the albums, "Evolution," "Departure," "Dream, After Dream," "Captured," "Escape," "Frontiers," "Raised on Radio" and "Trial By Fire." (Michael Putland/Getty Images)

The singer once again reunited with his former band in 1996 to record the very successful album, "Trial By Fire," which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard charts and went platinum by the time the year was over. To capitalize on the success of the album, a tour was planned, but it had to be postponed due to Perry injuring his hip while hiking in Hawaii.

A doctor determined his injury required surgery, but Perry was reluctant to agree to go under the knife. The decision delayed the tour longer than expected, which angered his bandmates. They eventually went on tour without Perry, and he announced his permanent exit from the band.

"I had to have a hip replacement, and the band was telling me when they thought I should do it," Perry said in an interview with MelodicRock.com in 2011. "And I said, ‘Major surgery like this is not a band decision.' I said that I would get it done, but I didn't get it done quickly enough. They just wanted to get on the road, and there was an ultimatum given to me. And I don't respond well to ultimatums."

FORMER JOURNEY FRONTMAN STEVE PERRY REVEALS WHY HE LEFT BAND AT ITS HEIGHT

Following his departure from the band, he released his "Greatest Hits + Five Unreleased" compilation album, which featured songs from his 1988 unreleased album. In 2005, Perry joined a few of his former bandmates when Journey was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2009, he was voted one of the ten greatest rock singers of all time, and Rolling Stone placed him at number 76 in a list of "The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time." 

Perry joined his former bandmates on stage in 2017 for the band's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)

For the next few years, Perry continued singing and writing, appearing on background vocals or on stage with various bands and artists. In 2017, he appeared on stage with Journey for the first time since they were together on the Walk of Fame in 2005 to accept the honor of being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He did, however, opt out of performing with the band.

In 2018, Perry released another solo album, "Traces," which performed well, with a deluxe version debuting in 2019. In December 2021, he released a Christmas album, "The Season," and in 2023 he announced he would be singing background on Dolly Parton's new album.

Perry has a daughter and grandchildren but has chosen not to speak about them publicly to protect their privacy. 

Neal Schon is a founding member and guitarist for the band Journey. (Getty Images)

Neal Schon is a founding member of Journey and is the longest-serving original member of the band. Prior to helping create Journey, he was a member of the band Santana, playing guitar on the albums "Santana III" and "Caravanserai."

He briefly played with the band Azteca before founding Journey with Gregg Rolie and their manager Herbie Herbert. They initially called the band the Golden Gate Rhythm Section, however the name was changed after their roadie John Villaneuva suggested Journey.

Along with playing on the albums "Journey," "Look into the Future," "Next," "Arrival," "Generations" and "Revelation with Journey," Schon also released several solo albums, including "Late Nite," "Beyond the Thunder," "Piranha Blues," "The Calling," "So U" and "Universe."

The guitarist also produced two albums with keyboardist Jan Hammer and was a member of the supergroup Bad English. He also has fostered collaborations with Sammy Hagar as part of Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve and Paul Rodgers. Schon also plays guitar on Michael Bolton's album, "The Hunger.

Schon performed with his band at the 2017 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, where Journey was being honored. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

In 2005, Schon was present at the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony to accept the honor of receiving a star alongside his fellow bandmates. They reunited again in 2017 when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where he and some of the other band members performed.

Schon is performing with Journey for the band's 50th anniversary tour, which also features Toto.

JOURNEY'S NEAL SCHON SLAMS BANDMATES OVER TRUMP MEETING

In September 2011, Schon confirmed his romance with former "Real Housewives of D.C." star Michaele Salahi, while also revealing they dated briefly in the '90s. Just a little over a year later, in October 2012, Schon proposed to her on stage while performing at a charity benefit, and the two were married in December 2013. 

Schon is married to his fifth wife, Michaele Salahi, a former "Real Housewife of D.C." (Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)

Schon was previously married to Tena Austin from 1976 to 1986. He was then married to Beth Buckley from 1987 to 1992, and had two children with her, Miles and Elizabeth, before splitting up. He then married Dina Gioeli from 1993 to 1999, and then Amber Kozan (from 2001-2008), with whom he has two children, Aja and Sophia. He also has a daughter named Sarah.

Gregg Rolie

Gregg Rolie was a member of Santana before forming Journey and was the lead singer on the first two albums. (Getty Images)

Gregg Rolie was a founding member of Santana before branching off to join what would become Journey. For the band's first six albums, he was the keyboardist, and he was the lead vocalist for the band's first two albums. Once Perry joined the band, Rolie sang co-lead on a few songs on various albums.

The musician chose to leave the band in 1980 and started a successful solo career. His first solo album was "Gregg Rolie," and he followed up with "Gringo" in 1987. 

"I left because I didn’t like my life anymore," Rolie told Rolling Stone in 2019. "I’ve said this a million times. And I know there’s people that say, ‘That’s not the reason.’ But I left because I was unhappy with what I was doing in my own life. I loved the management. I loved the music. I loved what we built. I just wasn’t happy, so I had to blow the horn on it and just stop it."

A few years after releasing his second album, Rolie formed another band with Steve Smith and Ross Valory from Journey in 1991 called The Storm. Rolie worked as the keyboardist for this band. The band's eponymous debut album was a huge success, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard charts. It also featured a top 10 hit, "I’ve Got A Lot To Learn About Love."

Rolie left Journey in 1980 and started a solo career before founding another band. (Getty Images)

They did not reach the same amount of success with their second album. It was shelved by their record company before finally getting released in 1996. In 1998, Rolie and a few other members of Santana reunited to form the band Abraxas Pool, ultimately releasing one eponymous album.

Also in 1998, Rolie was inducted, along with the other members of Santana, into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He became a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee in 2017 with Journey.

In 1999, while working on an album with Ron Wikso, they formed The Gregg Rolie Band, which featured Kurt Griffey on the guitar and Wally Minko as a second keyboardist. Together, they released the album "Roots" and a live CD, "Rain Dance," in 2009.

From 2012 to 2021, Rolie toured as a member of Ringo Starr and his All Star Band, during which he sang many of the hits he is known for, including some from his time in Santana. While performing, he also recorded an album with original members of Santana in 2016, "Santana IV."

Rolie frequently appears on stage with Schon and the rest of Journey during their 50th anniversary tour. (Rob Loud/Getty Images for Journey)

Rolie reunited with Schon in 2018 to perform some charity shows and occasionally joined Journey on stage during its most recent tour.

The keyboardist married his wife Lori in 1980 after first meeting her while on a flight in 1979. The two have remained together and live in Texas. They have two children together, a son named Sean and a daughter named Ashley.

Ross Valory

Ross Valory was an original member of Journey, which he joined after forming and releasing one album with the Steve Miller Band. (Getty Images)

Ross Valory was an original member of Journey, which he joined after forming and releasing one album with the Steve Miller Band. As a bassist, he has played on all the band's albums, except 1986's "Raised on Radio" and 2022's "Freedom."

During the band's hiatus in the late ‘80s and early ’90s, Valory played on Todd Rundgren's album, "2nd Wind," and released two albums as a member of The Storm, "The Storm," and "Eye of the Storm."

He returned to playing with Journey in 1996 on the "Trial by Fire" album. Valory was kicked out of the band in 2020, and he was once again replaced by Randy Jackson, who also took over for him in "Raised on Radio."

His 2020 exit came on the heels of a lawsuit involving him and Steve Smith, filed by their Journey bandmates Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain. Schon and Cain claimed Valory and Smith attempted to take over Nightmare Productions to gain control of the Journey trademark. 

Journey's management announced the two parties came to a settlement, releasing a statement in April 2021.

Ross Valory, right, was sued by his former bandmate, Jonathan Cain, left, for trying to gain control of the band's trademark. (Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)

"Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain acknowledge the valuable contributions that both Ross Valory and Steve Smith have made to the music and the legacy of Journey," the statement said. "Ross Valory and Steve Smith wish their former bandmates well and much success in the future. Journey looks forward to continuing to tour and make new music for their dedicated fans around the world." 

Valory was once married to Diane Oakes, however the marriage ended in a divorced. He later married his current wife, Mary Valory.

Steve Smith

Steve Smith replaced Aynsley Dunbar as the drummer for Journey. (Getty Images)

Steve Smith replaced Aynsley Dubar as the drummer for Journey, joining the band in 1978 and staying on until 1985. His first album with the band was "Evolutions" in 1979, and he left for the first time following 1986's "Raised on the Radio."

During the band's hiatus, he joined Valory and Rolie in the band, The Storm, appearing on their two albums. He also started a second band, Vital Information, and released several albums with them in that time, including "Vital Information," "Orion," "Global Beat," "Fiafiaga" and "Easier Said Than Done."

He returned to Journey in 1995 for a comeback album, "Trial by Fire," staying on for a few years before leaving a second time after the release of 1998's "Greatest Hits Live" album. He continued to release music with Vital Information, including "Ray of Hope," "Where We Come From," "Live Around the World" and 2017's "Heart of the City."

Smith left Journey and started his own band, Vital Information. (D Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

Smith was also a part of the jazz group Steps Ahead and can be heard playing on their albums "Live in Tokyo," "N.Y.C," "Yin-Yang" and "Steppin' Out." As a musician, he can also be heard on albums for Jeff Berlin, Frank Gambale, Henry Kaiser and Neal Schon.

In 2001, Modern Drummer magazine named Smith one of the Top 25 Drummers of All Time, and the following year he was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame. Starting in 2007, he recorded two albums with Buddy's Buddies, a quintet made up of musicians who once played with Buddy Rich.

In 2017, Smith was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Journey. He performed with Journey during the ceremony.

Smith was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside the other members of Journey. (D Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

Smith was also named in the lawsuit filed against him and Ross Valory when they allegedly tried to gain control of the Journey trademark. Like Valory, Smith was kicked out of the band at this time. 

Jonathan Cain

Jonathan Cain was a member of The Babys before he left to join Journey, taking over the position Gregg Rolie held in the band.  (Getty Images)

Jonathan Cain was a member of The Babys before he left to join Journey, taking over the position Gregg Rolie held in the band. Cain's first collaboration was on the album "Escape." He was also one of the composers of the band's longstanding hit, "Don't Stop Believin'."

JOURNEY'S JONATHAN CAIN RESPONDS TO CEASE-AND-DESIST ORDER, SAYS BANDMATE SHOULD 'LOOK IN THE MIRROR'

One of his most well-known contributions to the band was when he wrote the ballad "Faithfully," a song about what it's like to live life on the road. Cain went on to play the keyboard on the albums, "Frontiers," "Raised on Radio" and "Trial by Fire."

Prior to "Raised on Radio," Cain reunited with his former Babys bandmates and formed Bad English, releasing two albums before breaking up in the early 90s. 

Cain wrote a memoir about his experience as a member of Journey in 2018, called "Don't Stop Believin': The Man, the Band, and the Song That Inspired Generations." (Brandon Williams/Getty Images)

Along with his albums with The Babys, Bad English and Journey, Cain recorded eight solo albums, including "Windy City Breakdown," "Back to Innocence," "What God Wants to Hear," "Bare Bones" and "More Like Jesus." He has primarily focused on making Christian-based faith music since 2016.

In 2018, Cain published a memoir, "Don't Stop Believin': The Man, the Band, and the Song That Inspired Generations," about his time as a member of Journey.

Cain married his first wife, singer Tane McClure, for which he wrote the song "Faithfully" before calling it quits. 

In 1989, he married Elizabeth Yvette Fullerton, and together they had three children — a daughter Madison and twins Liza and Weston. The two divorced in 2014 after 25 years of marriage. In 2015, Cain married his third wife, a minister named Paula White. 

Jonathan married his third wife, Paula White, in 2015. (Vincent Sandoval/WireImage)

Cain and Schon are currently at odds and are in a legal battle over a shared American Express account. 

Aynsley Dunbar

Aynsley Dunbar was the second drummer for Journey, taking over for Prairie Prince. (Getty Images)

Aynsley Dunbar was the second drummer for Journey, taking over for Prairie Prince, and played a big part in co-writing their first four albums, "Journey," "Look Into the Future," "Next" and "Infinity."

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Additionally, Dunbar played drums on albums for artists such as David Bowie, Lou Reed, Herbie Mann, Mick Ronson, Nils Lofgren, Ian Hunter, Sammy Hagar and Pat Travers.

Dunbar later joined Jefferson Starship and stayed with the band for three albums, including "Freedom at Point Zero," "Modern Times" and "Winds of Change." He then joined the band Whitesnake and stayed with them for two albums, including their eponymous record, which featured hits like "Still of the Night" and "What Is Love," and the album "1987 Versions."

Throughout the mid-90s, Dunbar played with some of the era's most notable bands and artists, including Aerosmith, Queen, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Pat Travers and Van Halen.  

Dunbar was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, along with other members of Journey. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

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Aynsley has three children, Gretchen, Bibs and Taylor. In 2000, his 5-year-old son Dash died of brain cancer. 

In 2005, Aynsley and the other members of Journey were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In April 2017, Dunbar and the band were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for their contribution to the music industry.

Lori Bashian is an entertainment production assistant for Fox News Digital. 

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Journey frontman Arnel Pineda breaks silence over band feud

Lead singer of American rock band Journey , Arnel Piñeda , can no longer hold back from talking about the feud between two of his bandmates that broke out earlier this year and became public.

Tension continues to brew within the band up to now amidst Journey's ongoing 50th anniversary Freedom tour , fueled further by misleading reports spreading like wildfire across social media.

Arnel, who is not involved in the legal financial dispute between guitarist Neal Schön and keyboardist Jonathan Cain , found himself caught up in another issue after the Facebook post of Neal's wife Michaele Sch ön made the rounds online.

She shared (published as is), "TWO BAND MEMBERS of the Journey current LINE UP ARE 'adamant NO' against Gregg Rolie to return.

"Neal Schön and Gregg ROLIE will be somewhere Together at least one time this Year in Honor of what they began in 1972 .

"Faith, let’s ask God to find a way for them. let’s pray for forgiveness for those who hurt Gregg ROLIE and hope they learn what spirituality is someday .We all love you !!"

After the post went viral, fans were prompted to theorize that the two band members opposing Gregg Rolie's return are Arnel and Jonathan.

Read also: Arnel Pineda reacts to those tagging him as "new voice" of Journey; earns praise from the band's fans

Airing his side for the first time, Arnel took to Twitter on January 13, 2023: "you people are unbelievable…

"whoever’s spreading rumor about me regarding the #GregRollie issue?are maliciously ignorant..im not gonna stoop down to your level.."

Then again on February 5, 2023, he dropped two posts addressing the negative press he continues to get to this day.

He wrote (published as is), "m with the band to sing the legacy..if some of them are tired of me being with them,with all means,they can fire me anytime..

"and don't lecture me about spiritual BS..#walkthetalk"

His follow-up tweet read: "all i know? is #ivepaidmydues so stop reminding me where i came from..coz it's in my heart everyday..

"you just don't pay attention..im not a slave..im a human being like anybody else..

"#wrongiswrong #rightisright that simple.."

In an attempt to quash the worsening band conflict, Arnel once again tweeted three days later on February 8, 2023: "so much hatred people..we're on the brink of WWIII..

"lets just spread LOVE...

"don't you think its better to die being loved that being hated? [heart emojis]"

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Why Did Journey Break Up?

While the news of the split initially led to speculation that Journey had disbanded, it was later clarified that the band would continue, albeit with new members. The recent split may have represented a significant change for Journey, but it has not signaled the end of the band. 

The Split and the Legal Dispute

Related posts:.

The legal dispute over the ownership of Journey’s name has been ongoing for some time. The band’s lead guitarist, Neal Schon, accused Valory and Smith of attempting to steal the name. 

The situation escalated, and Schon eventually fired Valory and Smith . The firing of two founding members sent shockwaves through the music industry and left fans wondering about the future of Journey.

The Addition of New Members

The addition of Randy Jackson and Narada Michael Walden to the Journey lineup has been a source of excitement for fans. Jackson, a former American Idol judge and bassist, has had a successful career in the music industry. 

Walden, a Grammy-winning drummer, has worked with numerous artists over the years. The addition of new members brings fresh perspectives and energy to the band, and fans are eager to hear what they bring to the table.

Journey’s split and subsequent addition of new members have been a significant event for the band and their fans. While the legal dispute over the band’s name and the departure of two founding members may have been a source of concern for fans, the addition of new members has injected new energy into the band.

Journey Featured Image by: Travis Shinn , CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

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

J ourney fans soon will get the chance to hear an updated version of one of the band’s deep cuts sung by none other than Steve Perry himself! The ex-Journey frontman has revealed that he’s recorded a new rendition of his old group’s 1986 song “It Could Have Been You” with the new group The Effect.

The track will be released as a digital single on Tuesday, May 7, and can be pre-saved now. The Effect is band that features guitarist Trevor Lukather, son of Toto’s Steve Lukather, as well as Phil Collins’ son Nic on drums, Toto keyboardist Steve Maggiora, and vocalist Emmett Stang.

[RELATED: The Effect Featuring Sons of Phil Collins and Toto’s Steve Lukather Come Closer to Releasing Debut Album]

Perry explained in a social media post how the collaboration came to be.

“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 rough,” he noted. “I’ve known Trevor 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.”

Perry continued, “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 in me from years ago!”

[RELATED: Former Journey Singer Steve Perry Shocked by Recent “Don’t Stop Believin” Milestone]

The legendary singer then noted that the “very powerful reimagined version” of “It Could Have Been You” will be available on May 7 via “all [socials] and streaming.”

Trevor Lukather Also Posted About the Collaboration

Trevor Lukather also told the story about how his band came to work with Perry on the track in his own social media post .

“Steve and I go way back. Other than my Pop, SP has been a mentor to me,” Trevor wrote. “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.’”

Lukather then explained that he asked Perry if he would sing on a version of the song if The Effect recorded it, “and he said yes.” The guitarist said the band then hit the studio to record the track with Stang laying down a lead vocal to “present to [Perry] our vision of what we had in mind.”

Lukather said he was thrilled at Perry’s enthusiastic reaction to hearing the playback of the track.

“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,” he shared. “I think our neighbors thought it was the Northridge earthquake all over again.”

Lukather added, “The power of Steve’s vocals is on another level. One of a kind. That’s why he’s the GOAT.”

He concluded his note by thanking Perry “for not only for the honor, but for your belief in us and what we do. That is never taken for granted!”

Incidentally, Lukather also has a familial connection to Journey—he’s married to Jonathan Cain’s daughter Madison.

More About The Effect

The Effect has already released a few singles, and are in the process of preparing its debut album. The band will be opening a series of U.S. concerts for Billy Idol in May, and also will be supporting Toto for a run of European shows in June and July.

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

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

The post Steve Perry Has Recorded a Deep Cut Journey Cover with the Sons of Toto and Genesis Members appeared first on American Songwriter .

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