Band Bio
The scarab beetle was thought by the ancient Egyptians to symbolize rebirth, renewal and regeneration. It has also become a fitting symbol for Journey, a band that began as jazz-rock rhythm group and eventually went on to release 18 records, garner over 50 million in sales and become one of the biggest and most enduring rock bands in the world.
Former Santana members Gregg Rolie (keyboards) and Neal Schon (guitar) formed the band in 1973 in San Francisco, adding bassist Ross Valory, guitarist George Tickner and drummer Prairie Prince. Their style was progressive jazz-rock, with improvised solos and extended instrumentals. They released three albums on Columbia Records (the self-titled Journey in 1975, Look Into the Future, 1976 and Next, 1977).
In 1974, Prairie Prince was replaced by Aynsley Dunbar on drums and George Tickner left in 1975 to attend medical school. Lead vocals were handled for a short time by Robert Fleischmann. Ex-Alien Project singer Steve Perry joined the group for the release of the highly successful Infinity in 1978. The album marked the band’s transformation to a more definitive rock sound, and generated the hits Wheel In the Sky, Lights and Anytime. Aynsley Dunbar left Journey in 1979, replaced by Steve Smith on drums.
That same year saw the release of Evolution, which gave the band it’s first top twenty hit, Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’. 1980 brought the release of Departure, followed by Captured, which hit number 9 on the charts. Founding member Gregg Rolie left the group prior to the release of Captured. His replacement was former Babys’ keyboardist, Jonathan Cain. Cain brought a new dimension to the songwriting for the group and 1981’s Escape debuted at number one and stayed on the charts for more than a year. Escape also gave Journey three top ten singles: Who’s Cryin’ Now, and two of the band’s signature songs, Don’t Stop Believin’ and Open Arms. The next album, Frontiers, stayed at number two on the charts for nine weeks and saw the hits Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) and Faithfully.
Bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith left Journey prior to 1986’s Raised On Radio. The group was joined in the studio by bassist Bob Glaub and veteran Nashville drummer Larrie Londin, and both in studio and on tour by bassist Randy Jackson and drummer Mike Baird.
In 1996, Schon, Perry, Cain, Valory and Smith reunited to record Trial by Fire, an album which debuted at number three. Steve Smith left the band again, to pursue a still-successful jazz career, and was replaced by ex-Bad English (where he worked with Schon and Cain) drummer, Deen Castronovo. Steve Perry developed a debilitating hip condition, which forced him to retire from the band. He was replaced by Tall Stories vocalist, Steve Augeri. Augeri’s first recording with the band was the song Remember Me, for the soundtrack of the movie, Armageddon. In 2001, the band released Arrival, which was Augeri’s first full recording with Journey, and in 2002, the four song cd Red-13 was recorded.
The band set out on a successful 56 city Arrival 2001 World Tour, introducing fans to the new members of the band, Steve Augeri and Deen Castronovo. The Under the Radar tour in summer of 2002 gave the band a chance to showcase some of the music from Red-13. On the road again in 2003, Journey teamed up with rock legends Styx and REO Speedwagon for a summer Main Event tour, followed in the fall by a solo An Evening with Journey outing. Summer 2004 saw Journey delighting fans once again with their Summer Detour, including dates in Japan.
For Journey, the Egyptian’s sacred scarab has been the icon for a band that has seen over thirty years of creative energy transformed and renewed time and again. It has been a remarkable Journey: recording, touring and performing to enthusiastic fans around the world.