K1017 Artist – Journey

The phases of Journey.  They all seem to rotate around former lead singer Steve Perry.  There’s the pre-Steve; The Steve; and After Steve.  Originally called the “Golden Gate Rhythm Section, members of Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch intended to be a “backup” group for established bands in the San Francisco area.   

They had a radio contest to find a name, but that failed, and roadie John Villaneuva suggested Journey.  It stuck, and the Pre-Steve Journey was born.  They had a few albums but their Jazz Fusion sound wasn’t catching on, so they changed to a Boston/Foreigner type sound with lead singer Robert Fleischman.  They went on tour and had a hit with “Wheel in the Sky” but the sound wasn’t quite right yet.  Late in 1977 they hired Steve Perry to sing lead and The Steve area began.

Mega hits followed…”Lovin, Touchin, Squeezin”, “Anyway You Want It”, “Who’s Cryin Now”, “Don’t Stop Believing”, and “Open Arms” just to name a few.   They toured and released successful albums through 1987, when Steve wanted to focus more on Steve.  A few members, Neal Schon and Johnathan Cain teamed up with former Baby members to form Bad English.

Journey got back together in 1995 but broke up again in 1997 after Steve Perry hurt his hip in Hawaii and turned down an opportunity to do a tour.

Schon & Cain found a new lead singer, Steve Augeri, in 1998 and the After Steve era began.  Journey toured with the other Steve until he left in 2006.   In 2007 Filipino singer Arnel Pineda, of the cover band “The Zoo” was hired after Neal Schon saw him singing on YouTube. 

Hear classic Journey on K1017!