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The List of Journey Albums in Order of Release

by Ram · September 22, 2023

Journey Albums in Order: This iconic American rock band, emerged onto the music scene in 1973 in the vibrant city of San Francisco.

Journey, the iconic American rock band, emerged onto the music scene in 1973 in the vibrant city of San Francisco. Founded by former members of illustrious groups such as Santana, the Steve Miller Band, and Frumious Bandersnatch, the band has undergone various transformations over the years while maintaining its core spirit. As of 2021, the lineup featured the indomitable guitarist and vocalist Neal Schon, the longest-serving original member, as well as the talents of keyboardist, guitarist, and vocalist Jonathan Cain, keyboardist and vocalist Jason Derlatka, drummer and vocalist Deen Castronovo, bassist Todd Jensen, and lead vocalist Arnel Pineda.

Journey’s journey to musical stardom encompasses a remarkable timeline of success, with their pinnacle period spanning from 1978 to 1987 when Steve Perry assumed the role of lead vocalist. During this era, the band produced a string of chart-topping hits, including the timeless anthem “Don’t Stop Believin’,” which earned the distinction of becoming the top-selling track in iTunes history for songs not released in the 21st century. Their album “Escape” soared to number one on the Billboard 200, while “Frontiers” continued to captivate audiences in the United States and beyond. With numerous gold and platinum albums, record-breaking sales, and a reputation as one of America’s most influential rock/pop bands, Journey’s legacy is etched in the annals of music history.

Their enduring impact is celebrated globally, and their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 solidified their place among the legends of rock. With a worldwide fan base and an enduring presence on rock radio, Journey’s melodies continue to resonate, ensuring their status as one of the world’s best-selling and most cherished bands of all time.So, if you are a die heart fan of Journey Albums then check out here we have list of Journey albums in order of release so far.

Journey Albums Available on:  Apple Music 

How many albums does Journey have?

The discography of American rock band Journey has released 15 studio albums, five live albums, 11 compilation albums, and 51 singles.

All Journey Albums in Order: Check Out The List of Journey Albums in Order of Release Here!

• Journey — April 1, 1975
• Look into the Future — January 1, 1976
• Next — February 1977
• Infinity — January 20, 1978
• Evolution — March 23, 1979
• Departure — February 29, 1980
• Dream, After Dream — December 10, 1980
• Escape — July 17, 1981
• Frontiers — February 22, 1983
• Raised on Radio — April 21, 1986
• Trial by Fire — October 22, 1996
• Arrival — December 1, 2000
• Generations — August 29, 2005
• Revelation — June 3, 2008
• Eclipse — May 24, 2011
• Freedom — July 8, 2022

Journey Band Albums List

1. journey (1975).

• Of a Lifetime
• In the Morning Day
• To Play Some Music
• In My Lonely Feeling / Conversations
• Mystery Mountain

Released on April 1, 1975, “Journey” marked the debut studio album of the iconic American rock band Journey, distributed by Columbia Records. In contrast to their later works, this album embraced a jazzy progressive rock style, showcasing the band’s instrumental prowess. Notably, it featured rhythm guitarist George Tickner, a unique inclusion in their lineup. Prior to this release, Journey recorded a demo album, featuring the same songs but in a different order and with Prairie Prince as the drummer. Several unreleased tracks, including instrumental pieces and the original title track “Charge of the Light Brigade,” didn’t make the final cut of this foundational album.

2. Look into the Future (1976)

• On a Saturday Nite
• It’s All Too Much
• She Makes Me (Feel Alright)
• You’re on Your Own
• Look into the Future
• Midnight Dreamer
• I’m Gonna Leave You

“Look into the Future,” Journey’s second studio album, marked a shift in the band’s musical direction upon its January 1976 release through Columbia Records. While tempering the overt progressiveness of their debut self-titled album, this sophomore effort still retained elements of experimentation, notably in tracks like the title song and “I’m Gonna Leave You.” The album also featured a cover of The Beatles’ “It’s All Too Much” from the Yellow Submarine film. “Look into the Future” stands out as the longest recorded Journey song. Notably, this album saw the departure of rhythm guitarist George Tickner, leaving behind a lineup that included Gregg Rolie, Neal Schon, Ross Valory, and Aynsley Dunbar.

3. Next (1977)

• I Would Find You
• Here We Are
• Nickel and Dime

“Released in 1977, ‘Next’ stands as Journey’s third studio album, a continuation of their signature sound that melded elements from 1976’s ‘Look into the Future’ with traces of their earlier jazzy progressive rock style. Notably, ‘Next’ marked the end of an era, being the final album to showcase Gregg Rolie as the primary lead singer. The album’s single, ‘Spaceman’/’Nickel and Dime,’ was a notable release. Interestingly, an instrumental track titled ‘Cookie Duster’ was initially listed on early pressings but not included. ‘Next’ reached No. 85 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and witnessed the beginnings of lead vocalist Robert Fleischman’s journey with the band, setting the stage for the group’s evolving musical direction.”

4. Infinity (1978)

• Feeling That Way
• Wheel in the Sky
• Somethin’ to Hide
• Winds of March
• Opened the Door

“Infinity,” the fourth studio album by the renowned American rock band Journey, marked a pivotal moment in the group’s history. Released in January 1978 under Columbia Records, this album represented a significant transition for the band as it introduced the powerful vocals of Steve Perry, becoming their first album with him as the lead singer. Simultaneously, it marked the end of an era, being the final album to feature drummer Aynsley Dunbar. This milestone release showcased Journey’s evolving sound and set the stage for their future successes, laying the foundation for the iconic musical journey that lay ahead.

5. Evolution (1979)

• Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’
• City of the Angels
• When You’re Alone (It Ain’t Easy)
• Sweet and Simple
• Lovin’ You Is Easy
• Just the Same Way
• Do You Recall

“Evolution,” the fifth studio album by American rock band Journey, marked a significant turning point in their career. Released in March 1979 under Columbia Records, this album introduced drummer Steve Smith to the band’s lineup. “Evolution” proved to be their most successful album at the time, peaking at No. 20 on the US Billboard 200 chart and selling three million copies in the US. Produced by Roy Thomas Baker, known for his work with Queen, the album featured the hit “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’,” their first top 20 single, and “Just the Same Way,” which showcased both original lead vocalist Gregg Rolie and Steve Perry. With tracks like “Too Late,” “Evolution” pushed the boundaries of rock ballads, featuring Neal Schon’s impressive guitar work.

6. Departure (1980)

• Any Way You Want It
• Walks Like a Lady
• Someday Soon
• People and Places
• Precious Time
• Where Were You
• I’m Cryin’
• Line of Fire
• Good Morning Girl
• Stay Awhile
• Homemade Love
• Natural Thing
• Little Girl

“Departure,” the sixth studio album by American rock band Journey, made its debut on February 29, 1980, under the Columbia Records label. This album marked a significant milestone for Journey as it became their first top 10 Billboard 200 album, reaching No. 8. Featuring the hit track “Any Way You Want It,” which also made it to the top 25 singles chart, “Departure” showcased a slightly edgier sound due to its unique “live in studio” recording approach. The album included three singles, with “Walks Like a Lady” and a medley of “Good Morning Girl” and “Stay Awhile” also making their mark on the charts.

Notably, this album marked the departure of founding member Gregg Rolie and paved the way for Jonathan Cain to join the band. In subsequent years, “Departure” underwent remastering and reissues to introduce bonus tracks for fans worldwide.

7. Dream, After Dream (1980)

• Sandcastles
• A Few Coins
• When the Love Has Gone
• Festival Dance

“Dream, After Dream,” the soundtrack album by American rock band Journey, accompanies the Japanese fantasy film “Yume, Yume No Ato,” directed by Kenzo Takada. Released in 1980 on Columbia Records, it marked the band’s seventh album and a significant departure from their hard rock sound, embracing their progressive rock roots. The album, with nine tracks, includes vocals on “Destiny,” “Sand Castles,” and “Little Girl,” the latter becoming the B-side of “Open Arms.” This soundtrack also holds historical significance as it was the last studio album featuring founding member Gregg Rolie. While the film remained relatively obscure, the album remains a unique chapter in Journey’s musical journey.

8. Escape (1981)

• Don’t Stop Believin’
• Stone in Love
• Who’s Crying Now
• Keep On Runnin’
• Still They Ride
• Lay It Down
• Dead or Alive
• Mother, Father

Escape, stylized as E5C4P3 on the album cover, marks the pinnacle of Journey’s musical journey. This seventh studio album, released on July 17, 1981, via Columbia Records, soared to the top of the American Billboard 200 chart. A true chart-topping sensation, Escape boasts an impressive quartet of Billboard Hot 100 singles, including the iconic anthem ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ (no. 9), ‘Who’s Crying Now’ (no. 4), ‘Still They Ride’ (no. 19), and the heartfelt ballad ‘Open Arms’ (no. 2). This rock masterpiece also gifted the airwaves with the enduring classic ‘Stone in Love.’ In July 2021, the RIAA certified it as diamond, solidifying its status as Journey’s most successful studio album and second most successful overall, following only behind their Greatest Hits compilation.

9. Frontiers (1983)

• Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
• Send Her My Love
• Chain Reaction
• After the Fall
• Edge of the Blade
• Troubled Child

“Frontiers,” the eighth studio album by the American rock band Journey, was released on February 1, 1983, under Columbia Records. Notably, it marked the last appearance of bassist Ross Valory until 1996’s “Trial by Fire.” The album achieved great success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and spawning four top 40 singles: “After the Fall” (No. 23), “Send Her My Love” (No. 23), “Faithfully” (No. 12), and “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” (No. 8). “Frontiers” was later certified six times platinum by the RIAA. Interestingly, the album’s tracklist underwent last-minute changes, with two songs replaced, one of which, “Only the Young,” gained popularity in the movie “Vision Quest.”

10. Raised on Radio (1986)

• Girl Can’t Help It
• Positive Touch
• Be Good to Yourself
• Once You Love Somebody
• Happy to Give
• Raised on Radio
• I’ll Be Alright Without You
• It Could Have Been You
• The Eyes of a Woman
• Why Can’t This Night Go on Forever

“Raised on Radio,” the ninth studio album by the American rock band Journey, made its debut in April 1986 under the Columbia Records label. This album marked a significant transition as it was the first without founding bassist Ross Valory, replaced initially by session bassist Bob Glaub and later by Randy Jackson. Drummer Steve Smith contributed to select tracks but was eventually replaced by session drummer Larrie Londin and later Mike Baird for the subsequent tour. The album was a commercial success, yielding three top 20 singles in the US, including “Girl Can’t Help It,” “I’ll Be Alright Without You,” and “Suzanne.” It reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart and achieved double platinum certification in the USA.

11. Trial by Fire (1996)

• Message of Love
• When You Love a Woman
• If He Should Break Your Heart
• Forever in Blue
• Castles Burning
• Don’t Be Down on Me Baby
• Still She Cries
• Colors of the Spirit
• When I Think of You
• Easy to Fall
• Can’t Tame the Lion
• It’s Just the Rain
• Trial by Fire
• Baby I’m a Leavin’ You
• I Can See It in Your Eyes

“Trial by Fire,” the tenth studio album by American rock band Journey, released on October 22, 1996, marked a significant reunion. It brought together the classic 1981–1985 lineup, which hadn’t recorded together since 1983’s “Frontiers.” Produced by Kevin Shirley, the album featured bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith, rejoining since “Frontiers” and marked the final collaboration with vocalist Steve Perry. Notable tracks include the Grammy-nominated hit “When You Love a Woman” and spiritually-inspired songs. Despite its success, it’s the only Journey album without a supporting tour, due to internal disputes and Perry’s hip injury. “Trial by Fire” reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum.

12. Arrival (2001)

• Higher Place
• All the Way
• Signs of Life
• All the Things
• Loved by You
• Livin’ to Do
• World Gone Wild
• I Got a Reason
• With Your Love
• Lifetime of Dreams
• Live and Breathe
• Nothin’ Comes Close
• To Be Alive Again
• Kiss Me Softly
• We Will Meet Again

“Arrival,” the eleventh studio album by the iconic American rock band Journey, made its debut on April 3, 2001, following a Japanese release in 2000 with one substituted song. This record marked a significant transition for the band, as it introduced new lead vocalist Steve Augeri, taking the reins from the beloved Steve Perry, and featured Deen Castronovo as the new drummer, succeeding Steve Smith. “Arrival” showcased a blend of hard rock influences reminiscent of the band’s ’70s and ’80s material, alongside signature ballads akin to Perry’s style. While commercially successful, peaking at #12 on Billboard’s Top Internet Albums chart, the album garnered mixed critical reviews, with praise for Neal Schon’s guitar work but criticism for its formulaic elements.

13. Generations (2005)

• Faith in the Heartland
• The Place in Your Heart
• A Better Life
• Every Generation
• Butterfly (She Flies Alone)
• Knowing That You Love Me
• Out of Harms Way
• In Self-Defense
• Better Together
• Beyond the Clouds
• Never Too Late
• Pride of the Family

“Generations,” the twelfth studio album by iconic American rock band Journey, marked the end of an era with lead singer Steve Augeri. Released in 2005 on Sanctuary Records, it solidified the line-up that had debuted in 2000’s “Arrival” and continued with 2002’s “Red 13 EP,” featuring Deen Castronovo on drums. A distinctive feature of this album was that all band members shared lead vocal duties, driven by Augeri’s vocal fatigue. Critical reception was mixed, with praise for Augeri’s performance and the band’s diverse musical direction, but uncertainty about the vocal-sharing decision. The album peaked at No. 170 on the Billboard 200 chart, and Augeri left the band during the 2006 tour due to a throat infection, marking the end of an era for Journey’s sound.

14. Revelation (2008)

• Never Walk Away
• Like a Sunshower
• Change for the Better
• Wildest Dream
• After All These Years
• Where Did I Lose Your Love
• What I Needed
• What It Takes to Win
• Turn Down the World Tonight
• The Journey (Revelation)
• Let It Take You Back

“Revelation,” the thirteenth studio album by American rock band Journey, marked a significant chapter in the band’s history as their first featuring lead singer Arnel Pineda. The album boasted 11 new songs and 11 re-recorded greatest hits, all showcasing Pineda’s vocal prowess. Additionally, the North American version included a DVD capturing the band’s energetic March 8, 2008 concert in Las Vegas. Notable singles like “Never Walk Away,” “Where Did I Lose Your Love,” and “After All These Years,” penned by Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain, found success on the adult contemporary charts. The album received positive reviews, lauding Pineda’s vocals and the band’s return to form. A bonus track, “Let It Take You Back,” was included in the European release.

15. Eclipse (2011)

• City of Hope
• Edge of the Moment
• Chain of Love
• Anything Is Possible
• She’s a Mystery
• To Whom It May Concern

Eclipse (stylized as ECL1P53) marks the fourteenth studio album by the iconic American rock band Journey and the second featuring lead singer Arnel Pineda. Released on various dates worldwide in 2011, with the United States and Canada receiving it on May 24, followed by Japan on May 27, the United Kingdom on May 30, and the international release on June 3, this album showcases the songwriting prowess of Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain, with contributions from Pineda. Notably, it stands as the final album with bassist Ross Valory, who departed the group in 2020. ‘Eclipse’ adds another chapter to Journey’s enduring musical legacy.

16. Freedom (2022)

• Together We Run
• Don’t Give Up on Us
• Still Believe in Love
• You Got the Best of Me
• Live to Love Again
• The Way We Used to Be
• Come Away with Me
• Let It Rain
• Holdin’ On
• All Day, All Night
• Don’t Go
• United We Stand
• Life Rolls On
• Beautiful as You Are

“Freedom,” the fifteenth studio album by the iconic American rock band Journey, made its debut on July 8, 2022, under the labels BMG Rights Management and Frontiers Records. Marking a significant change, it stands as the band’s second album without founding bassist Ross Valory, replaced by Randy Jackson, who last appeared on “Raised on Radio” in 1986. Boasting fifteen tracks and a runtime of an impressive one hour and thirteen minutes, it secures the title of Journey’s lengthiest album, excluding compilation records. While lauded for performances and musicianship, the album garnered mixed critical reviews, with attention drawn to production, mixing, and its extended duration.

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Complete List Of Steve Perry Albums And Songs

Feature Photo: Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com

This Complete List Of  Albums And Songs presents the full discography of Steve Perry Solo studio albums. Steve Perry was born Stephen Ray Perry on January 22, 1949, is an American singer and songwriter best known for his work as the lead vocalist of the rock band Journey. His unique vocal qualities and stage presence helped shape Journey into one of the most iconic rock bands in history, creating some of the most memorable ballads and arena rock anthems of the 1970s and 1980s.

Journey Era

Steve Perry joined Journey in 1977, debuting on their fourth studio album, “Infinity,” which included hits like “Lights” and “Wheel in the Sky.” His arrival marked a significant departure from the band’s original progressive rock sound, steering them toward a more melodic rock and pop-oriented style. This change proved successful, as the band released a series of commercially successful albums like “Evolution,” “Departure,” and most notably “Escape,” which featured iconic tracks like “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms,” and “Who’s Crying Now.”

Solo Career

In 1984, Steve Perry released his first solo album, “Street Talk,” which included the hit single “Oh Sherrie” and the ballad “Foolish Heart.” The album was a commercial success and solidified Perry as not only a band frontman but also a solo artist. Despite this success, he returned to Journey and recorded “Raised on Radio” in 1986.

After leaving Journey in 1987, Perry disappeared from the music scene, largely due to health issues and a desire for a break. It wasn’t until 1994 that he released his second solo album, “For the Love of Strange Medicine.” The album didn’t achieve the same commercial success as “Street Talk,” but it received favorable reviews.

In 1996, Perry briefly rejoined Journey to record the album “Trial by Fire,” which spawned the hit single “When You Love a Woman.” However, he left the band again soon after.

Return to Music

After another prolonged hiatus, Steve Perry made a triumphant return in 2018 with the release of his third solo studio album, “Traces.” The album debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart and marked a significant moment in his career, as it was his first studio album in nearly 24 years.

Street Talk

Released 1984

Steve Perry’s debut solo album, “Street Talk,” was released on April 12, 1984, by Columbia Records. This album marked a departure from Perry’s work with Journey, allowing him to explore a more pop-oriented sound. The album was a commercial success, reaching No. 12 on the Billboard 200 and achieving 4× Platinum status in the United States. It spawned the hit single “Oh Sherrie,” which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The album featured Steve Perry on lead vocals, Michael Landau and Waddy Wachtel on guitars, Randy Goodrum on keyboards, Kevin McCormick on bass, Craig Krampf on drums, and Bill Cuomo on synthesizers and programming. “Street Talk” was produced by Steve Perry and Bruce Botnick. The album was recorded at Record One in Sherman Oaks, California, between September 1983 and January 1984.

CD Track Listings:

• “Oh Sherrie” – 3:48
• “I Believe” – 4:12
• “Go Away” – 4:05
• “Foolish Heart” – 3:39
• “It’s Only Love” – 3:47
• “She’s Mine” – 4:26
• “You Should Be Happy” – 3:20
• “Running Alone” – 4:05
• “Captured by the Moment” – 3:47
• “Strung Out” – 3:51

For the Love of Strange Medicine

Released 1994

“For the Love of Strange Medicine” was released on July 19, 1994, by Columbia Records. This was Perry’s second solo album, coming a decade after his debut. The album was not as commercially successful as “Street Talk,” but it did receive favorable reviews and spawned a hit single, “You Better Wait,” which reached No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The album featured Steve Perry on vocals, Lincoln Brewster on guitar, Larry Kimpel on bass, Moyes Lucas on drums, and Paul Taylor and Phil Brown on keyboards. Produced by James “Jimbo” Barton and Steve Perry, the album was recorded at Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, and Wild Horse Studio between 1993 and 1994.

• “You Better Wait” – 4:51
• “Young Hearts Forever” – 4:43
• “I Am” – 4:54
• “Stand Up (Before It’s Too Late)” – 4:52
• “For the Love of Strange Medicine” – 5:19
• “Donna Please” – 4:30
• “Listen to Your Heart” – 3:30
• “Tuesday Heartache” – 6:00
• “Missing You” – 3:43
• “Somewhere There’s Hope” – 6:00
• “Anyway” – 4:22

Released 2018

After a long hiatus from the music scene, Steve Perry made his return with “Traces,” released on October 5, 2018. The album was met with critical acclaim and peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200.

The album featured Steve Perry on vocals, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Josh Freese on drums, Dallas Kruse on keyboards, and produced by Steve Perry and Thom Flowers. The album was recorded at Perry’s home studio in 2018.

• “No Erasin'” – 4:07
• “We’re Still Here” – 4:06
• “Most of All” – 4:23
• “No More Cryin'” – 4:29
• “In the Rain” – 4:06
• “Sun Shines Gray” – 3:56
• “You Belong to Me” – 4:07
• “Easy to Love” – 4:03
• “I Need You” – 2:59
• “We Fly” – 3:56

Traces (Alternate Versions & Sketches)

Released 2020

This album, released on December 4, 2020, is an alternative version of the “Traces” album. It was produced by Steve Perry and Thom Flowers. It was recorded at Perry’s home studio and features Steve Perry performing with a stripped-down setup.

• “Most of All” (Radio Mix) – 3:59
• “No Erasin'” (Acoustic) – 4:09
• “I Need You” (Acoustic) – 3:01
• “No More Cryin'” (Acoustic) – 4:29
• “Most of All” (Stripped) – 4:22
• “We’re Still Here” (Acoustic) – 4:04
• “You Belong to Me” (Stripped) – 4:03
• “Sun Shines Gray” (Acoustic) – 3:54

Released 2021

Steve Perry’s first-ever holiday album, “The Season,” was released on November 5, 2021. The album features holiday classics and aims to capture the spirit of the season.

The album was produced by Steve Perry and Thom Flowers and recorded at Perry’s home studio in 2021.

• “Winter Wonderland” – 3:51
• “The Christmas Song” – 4:16
• “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” – 3:26
• “White Christmas” – 4:00
• “Silver Bells” – 5:02
• “O Holy Night” – 4:42
• “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – 4:26
• “Ave Maria” – 4:43

STEVE PERRY COMPILATION ALBUMS

Greatest hits + five unreleased.

Released 1998

“Greatest Hits + Five Unreleased” was released in 1998 as a compilation album. It includes many of Steve Perry’s hit singles and five previously unreleased tracks.

The album was produced by Steve Perry and various other producers for the original songs. It was recorded at multiple locations over several years.

• “Oh Sherrie”
• “Foolish Heart”
• “She’s Mine”
• “Strung Out”
• “Go Away”
• “When You’re in Love (For the First Time)”
• “Against the Wall”
• “Forever Right or Wrong (Love’s Like a River)”
• “Summer of Luv”
• “Melody”
• “Once in a Lifetime, Girl”
• “What Was”
• “You Better Wait”
• “Missing You”
• “I Stand Alone”
• “It Won’t Be You”
• “If You Need Me, Call Me”

Playlist: The Very Best of Steve Perry

Released 2009

This album, released in 2009, is another compilation featuring the best of Steve Perry’s solo work. It offers an overview of his career in a single disc, without any unreleased material.

Oh Sherrie: The Best of Steve Perry

Released 2010

“Oh Sherrie: The Best of Steve Perry” was released in 2010 and focuses predominantly on his solo career. The compilation includes his greatest hits and some lesser-known tracks.

• “Don’t Fight It” (with Kenny Loggins)
• “Young Hearts Forever”

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

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They are one of the biggest rock bands of all time, and their most famous song is the best-selling digital track from the 20th century. But for Journey, global stardom might never have happened if not for a hard-hitting ultimatum from their record company back in 1977. As the band’s original drummer Aynsley Dunbar recalled: “We were told: ‘Get a singer, get some hit songs or you’re off the label.’”

At that time, the San Francisco-based band had made three albums for Columbia Records, and all three had stiffed. Guitarist Neal Schon and vocalist/keyboard player Gregg Rolie had previously played in Santana , but Journey’s early music, mixing Santana-style jazz fusion and progressive rock, was a hard sell, and Rolie’s voice wasn’t the strongest.

Everything changed when Steve Perry joined the band after they’d tried out another singer, Robert Fleischman. With a richly expressive voice, Perry could hit high notes that other singers could only dream of. His first album with the band, 1978’s  Infinity , reinvented Journey as a mainstream rock act. The album promptly went platinum, and from there, the only way was up.

In the 80s, Journey became one of the biggest bands in America, with the Holy Trinity of AOR albums:  Escape ,  Frontiers  and  Raised On Radio . Perry also had a huge hit in 1984 with his first solo album, Street Talk . But the pressures of fame led Perry to quit the band in 1987, leaving Journey on hiatus until his return in 1995. And when he quit again two years later, he was gone for good.

How to replace the irreplaceable? Journey survived by finding the best Steve Perry impersonators on the planet. They made two albums in the early 2000s with Steve Augeri, formerly the singer in cult AOR band Tall Stories. And in 2007, when Journey’s classic hit  Don ’ t Stop   Believin ’  was featured in The Sopranos - making the song more famous than ever before, and putting the band’s name back in the spotlight - they unveiled a new singer who had been discovered via YouTube.

Filipino Arnel Pineda’s performance of Journey songs in covers band The Zoo was enough to secure him his dream job. He sounds uncannily like Steve Perry, and has now made three albums with Journey, including Freedom , released in 2022.

Perry, meanwhile, had withdrawn from public view for many years after leaving the band. But in 2018 he made a comeback with a solo album Traces , his first full-length recording since Journey’s Trial By Fire back in 1996. And if something had been lost over time - the power he’d had in his youth - it was still, unmistakably, the voice that made Journey the greatest AOR band of them all…

18. Journey: Look Into The Future (Columbia, 1976)

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In the credits to Journey’s 1979 album  Evolution , the band stated, gratefully: “Columbia Records stands alone in the field of developing new artists.” The company’s ‘tough love’ approach certainly worked for Journey, who couldn’t buy a hit record until Columbia ordered them to find a proper singer and write some tunes.

Tellingly, the catchiest number on Look   Into The Future, the band’s second album, is a cover of The Beatles ’ It’s All Too Much . The other tracks run like a loose jam session, veering from prog to psychedelia, jazz to heavy rock. Despite the album’s title, the sound is stuck in the 60s.

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17. Journey: Eclipse (Frontiers, 2011)

Journey got off to a strong start with Arnel Pineda on 2008’s million-selling Revelation, but the follow-up was an outright flop.  Eclipse was by design a heavy, guitar-focused album. As keyboard player Jonathan Cain said: “If people want to hear ballads, they can certainly find them on other records.”

But aside from the opening track, the mighty anthem City Of Hope , there is nothing on this album with the melodic power of a classic Journey banger like Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) . It’s all so much hot air. And if this album’s ballads slipped Cain’s mind, it’s hardly surprising.

16. Journey: Journey (Columbia, 1975)

“A strong beginning” said Rolling Stone magazine of Journey’s debut album. It certainly sounded as if some strong stuff was being smoked when they recorded it. With two former members of Santana in Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie, and an accomplished drummer, Englishman Aynsley Dunbar, who had played for John Mayall , Jeff Beck and Frank Zappa , this was a new band with an impressive pedigree. 

Their musicianship dazzled on the instrumentals Kohoutek and Topaz, the latter written by rhythm guitarist George Tickner, who left the group after this album. But all that jazz-rock fusion showboating wears thin over 35 minutes.

15. Journey: Next (Columbia, 1977)

The band’s third album was the last before Steve Perry joined, and in its opening track from there was a hint of what was to come. Spaceman was a simple ballad, although Perry would never have sung, as Gregg Rolie did, “ I’m a cosmopolitan, right-handed wingless man .”

Another significant track was Hustler , as Journey moved towards a more straightforward hard rock sound, with shades of Deep Purple . And as the band’s first phase ended, they delivered the most bizarre song they ever recorded - People , a trippy number with Schon playing spaced-out licks and Rolie singing like John Lennon .

14. Steve Perry: Traces (Fantasy, 2018) 

“I know it’s been a long time comin’,” Perry sang in the first line of the opening song, No Erasin’ . No shit. The release of Traces came 24 years after his previous solo album, and 22 years since his Journey swan song Trial By Fire .

Perry’s comeback, at the age of 69, was greeted as the AOR equivalent of the Resurrection, and amid such hysteria, Traces proved underwhelming, its blend of soft rock, pop and soul drifting into blandness here and there. But in No Erasin’ , the old magic was still there in what may be the last great song he’ll ever sing.

13. Journey: Generations (Sanctuary, 2005)

Singer Steve Augeri’s first album with Journey, 2001’s Arrival , was the best they ever made without Steve Perry. The follow-up, Generations , also had its moments - notably Faith In The Heartland and The Place In Your Heart , both of which were re-recorded with Arnel Pineda on 2008’s Revelation .

But in 2006 Augeri was out of the band. A serious throat infection had damaged his voice, and he was dismissed amid rumours that he had lip-synced on stage. His exit may have been ignominious, but Augeri’s contribution to Journey’s legacy should not be underestimated.

12. Journey: Freedom (BMG, 2022)

On Journey’s first album in more than a decade, only Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain remain from the band’s glory days. What’s more, two key contributors to this album - bassist Randy Jackson and drummer/songwriter/co-producer Narada Michael Walden - have since departed.

But as our own Geoff Barton stated: “ Freedom  passes the  Classic Rock  AOR test with flying colours.” The opening song Together We Run is quintessential Journey, and the epic Beautiful As You Are delivers a grand finale. And as Schon told Classic Rock , there is more to come. “As long as I’m here,” he said, “we’re gonna keep creating.”

11. Journey: Revelation (Frontiers, 2008) 

Lightning can strike twice. In 2005, Foreigner found in Kelly Hansen a singer whose voice was a close match for that of the great Lou Gramm. And two years later, Journey discovered a young Filipino guy who could sing like Steve Perry.

It was a big ask for Arnel Pineda to make the giant leap from Journey covers band to the real thing, but he performed heroically on the aptly named Revelation - from the triumphant anthem Never Walk Away to the beautiful ballad Turn Down The World Tonight . Revelation became the band’s first million seller without Perry. For Pineda, there was surely no greater vindication.

10. Steve Perry: For The Love Of Strange Medicine (Columbia, 1994)

Perry’s first solo album Street Talk was a huge hit in 1984. Ten years later, his second solo record reached the US top 20 but failed to make much of an impact in a world dominated by alternative rock.

For The Love Of   Strange Medicine  had some fine songs - the dynamic opening one-to punch of You Better Wait and Young Hearts Forever , and the epic title track. But the ballads were unremarkable, and the album, as a whole, was somewhat overwrought and overproduced. Within two years, Perry’s return to Journey yielded the comeback album Trial By Fire . But the reunion wouldn’t last.

9. Journey: Trial By Fire (Columbia, 1996)

The second coming of Steve Perry ended in disappointment. With the definitive Escape -era line-up reunited, Journey should have delivered a great album. They managed only half that. On opener  Message Of Love  and the ready-made wedding song  When You Love A Woman , Journey achieved something close to peak form. 

But the big rock epics,  Castles Burning  and  Can ’ t Tame The Lion , were all bluster. Trial By Fire  hit No.3 in the US, but the band’s comeback tour was aborted after Perry injured his hip in a hiking accident. Tragically, he never sang for Journey again.

8. Journey: Arrival (Columbia, 2001)

They were big shoes to fill, but New Yorker Steve Augeri proved a more than capable replacement for Steve Perry in Journey. With the new singer performing at such a high level, Arrival was the band’s best album since Raised On Radio .

Four tracks came right out of the top drawer: powerful opener Higher Place , one of several songs on the album co-written with Night Ranger’s Jack Blades; Signs Of Life , an anthem for the brokenhearted; and two majestic ballads,  All   The Way  and  Loved By You. Augeri had passed the test. And Journey had proved there was life after Steve Perry.

7. Journey: Departure (Columbia, 1980)

At the dawn of the 80s, Journey still sounded, and looked, somewhat dated. Van Halen ’s  Women   And   Children First  was released in the same month as  Departure  – March 1980. But where Van Halen sounded like the future, with the image to match, Journey were stuck in the 70s. 

But no matter, a great song will always hit the spot, however old-fashioned the delivery. And there are many on Departure, including the jubilant  Any Way You Want It . Departure  was aptly titled. With Gregg Rolie set to quit, this was the last hurrah of the old Journey. Within a year the flares were gone and Journey were setting the template for 80s arena rock.

6. Journey: Evolution (Columbia, 1979)

Steve Perry’s pain was Journey’s gain. The band’s first Top 20 single,  Lovin ’ ,   Touchin ’ , Squeezin ’, was written after the singer saw his girlfriend kissing another guy. Perry described the song as “love justice”, but it was the sweetest kind of revenge; with its slinky blues groove and a killer ‘ na-na-na ’ coda, the song became a genuine rock standard.

Parent album  Evolution  was the second of two that Journey recorded with producer Roy Thomas Baker, whose previous clients Queen are echoed in the knowingly titled pomp-rock fanfare  Majestic . Also featured here is  Daydream , a long-forgotten masterpiece.

5. Journey: Infinity (Columbia, 1978)

Steve Perry was not a unanimous choice as Journey’s new singer. But when Perry presented the bluesy  Lights  to the band, everyone sensed the possibilities. Tellingly,  Lights  was chosen as  Infinity ’s opening track – an introduction to the new Journey – and it remains one of the band’s best-loved songs, as does this album’s  Wheel In The Sky .

Under pressure from Columbia Records, who’d done their bit by hiring Queen’s producer Roy Thomas Baker, the refocused Journey delivered their first set of accessible mainstream rock songs. The payoff was instant.

4. Steve Perry: Street Talk (Columbia, 1984) 

The dreaded solo album signals the end for many a band. Steve Perry returned to Journey after making  Street Talk , but the balance of power had shifted; Perry would remodel Journey’s music on this album’s soul-influenced soft rock.

Perry relished the freedom of a solo project, crafting slick adult pop songs inspired by vintage soul music:  I Believe  a Motown tribute,  Captured By The Moment  mourning Sam Cooke and other lost heroes. The single Oh Sherrie hit number three on the US chart, powering Street Talk  to platinum status. The album is widely acknowledged as an AOR classic.

3. Journey: Raised On Radio (Columbia, 1986)

With Steve Perry heartbroken by his mother’s terminal illness, and bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith leaving due to “creative differences”, 1985 was Journey’s annus horribilis. But out of turmoil came the last classic Journey album.

After Perry’s solo debut  Street Talk  went platinum, the singer took control of the group. Neal Schon was sidelined as Perry’s pop and soul influences prevailed. Raised On Radio  was recorded three times before Perry was satisfied. But every nickel and dime they spent is audible in the deluxe soft rock of  Girl Can ’ t Help It  and  I ’ ll Be Alright Without You .

2. Journey: Frontiers (Columbia, 1983)

After the huge success of 1981’s Escape , Journey hit another home run with Frontiers . The album reached No.2 in the US and included two classic hits:  Separate Ways (Worlds   Apart) , one of the heaviest and most emotive tracks the band have ever recorded, and  Faithfully , the greatest power ballad of all time.

Journey never rocked harder than on  Frontiers , with Neal Schon really ripping on  Edge Of The Blade  and  Rubicon . The album would have been even better if  Ask The Lonely  and  Only The Young , two brilliant tracks, hadn’t been dropped in favour of  Troubled Child  and  Back Talk  the latter a real stinker. (The two discarded songs appeared on the album’s 2006 reissue.)

1. Journey: Escape (Columbia, 1981)

The greatest AOR album of all time, Journey’s first US No.1 made them stadium-filling superstars. And pivotal to its success was their new keyboard player: Jonathan Cain co-wrote every song on  Escape . “What changed about Journey,” Cain said, “is that I started writing about the people that cared about the band.” 

Don ’ t   Stop Believin ’, an evocative tale of ‘ streetlight people, living just to find emotion ’, became an American classic.  Open   Arms  – rejected by his previous band The Babys – was a monster hit. With nine million copies now sold,  Escape  is Journey’s definitive statement.

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Freelance writer for Classic Rock since 2005, Paul Elliott has worked for leading music titles since 1985, including Sounds, Kerrang!, MOJO and Q . He is the author of several books including the first biography of Guns N’ Roses and the autobiography of bodyguard-to-the-stars Danny Francis. He has written liner notes for classic album reissues by artists such as Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy and Kiss, and currently works as content editor for Total Guitar . He lives in Bath - of which David Coverdale recently said: “How very Roman of you!”

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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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Neal Schon Shares Why Steve Perry’s Last Journey Album Flopped

via Professor of Rock / Youtube

For the most dedicated fans of the popular American rock band Journey, the 1996 album Trial By Fire , could be characterized as a nostalgic return to the band’s peak from the 1980s. 

Regrettably, the music on this album harks back to the band’s post-fame ’80s era rather than their superior sound from the late ’70s before they achieved fame. Nonetheless, it marked the first time in twelve years that the original five-member lineup responsible for Journey’s greatest success reunited to create an album.

So when Journey fan and podcast host Gary Cooper Stuckey took to Twitter to discuss Trial By Fire and remind people of how good it was, Neal Schon replied and shed light on the reasons why the last album which featured vocalist Steve Perry may not have received the recognition that many believe it deserves.

“I think mainly because we couldn’t support it,” the guitarist briefly explained the ‘failure’ of the 27-year-old album.

Trial By Fire didn’t get the support it deserved

Schon was referring to how the band failed to accompany Trial By Fire with a tour, which is something all of their other albums had.

The podcast host recently brought attention to the album’s significance with a tweet: “The Journey reunion album and the last one with Steve Perry, ‘Trial By Fire,’ was released 27 years ago today. This album deserves a lot more credit than it has received. Go back and listen to the tracks ‘One More’ and ‘Trial by Fire’… Phenomenal! What is your favorite from the album, and don’t say all of them!”

This tweet prompted a response from Schon, who revealed the primary reason for the album’s underappreciated status was the lack of a supporting tour.

However, what prevented them from touring? It appears that Perry’s hip injury and the ensuing internal disputes prevented the band from a decision.

I think mainly because we couldn’t support it — NEAL SCHON MUSIC (@NealSchonMusic) October 22, 2023

Perry hurt his hip which led to the disruption of tour plans and the singer’s departure

Trial by Fire is the sole Journey album that did not have a corresponding supporting tour. This omission stemmed from internal disagreements regarding a tour originally slated for the summer and fall of 1997. And it’s all due to Perry hurting his hip while on a Hawaii trip in 1996.

This led to the discovery of a degenerative bone condition requiring hip replacement surgery. This health issue not only delayed the album’s release but also derailed any tour plans.

As the band waited for Perry’s decision regarding a potential tour, other members pursued solo projects, and their patience wore thin over time. Eventually, Perry announced his departure. Rumors circulated, with some attributing Perry’s exit to Schon.

However, in a 2003 interview, Schon dismissed these claims, stating that the decision for Perry to leave the band was not his: “Steve Perry was an amazing singer, and I hope to hear from him again. I hope that he puts out a solo record because I know a lot of people miss his vocals, and everybody blames me for him not being in this band, but I just got to laugh at it because it really wasn’t my decision for him not to be in this band.”

Steve Perry of Journey performing at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois, May 21, 1982. Photo by Paul Natkin. pic.twitter.com/SyBpbmViJG — Classic Rock In Pics (@crockpics) July 25, 2023

The former Journey vocalist later shared his perspective on the entire situation in an interview with GQ Magazine in 2008. Perry revealed that former bandmate Jonathan Cain had frequently inquired about his health and when he would be ready to resume touring. 

These inquiries didn’t particularly bother Steve. However, when Cain disclosed that they had been holding auditions to replace him with other vocalists, it marked a breaking point for Perry.

“Jon was telling me, ‘We want to know what you wanna do. We’ve tried out a few singers. And we need to know what you wanna do.’ I said, ‘You’ve tried out some singers?’ And he said yes. His exact words were, ‘You’re some big shoes to fill, but we wanna get out there. We wanna know when you’re going into surgery because we want to tour.’ And you know, I didn’t feel like major surgery was a band decision,” the rock singer shared.

Following this conversation, Steve Perry promptly contacted his lawyer to initiate a separation from Journey. He was disheartened by the band’s quest for alternative vocalists, especially considering that it was initially Perry who had wanted the band to reunite for new projects. 

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Journey's Neal Schon says he and Steve Perry are 'in a good place' before band's 50th anniversary

On the cusp of turning 50, the band that etched “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” and “Faithfully” into lighters-up lore is entering “a cleaned-up chapter of Journey.”

That’s according to Neal Schon, the band’s ace guitarist, lone original constant and de facto CEO.

Despite decades of fluctuating lineups and  snarly lawsuits among band members , Journey endures.

On July 8, the band released “Freedom,” its first new album in 11 years that also presents the return of Randy Jackson (as in "American Idol") on bass. The 15-song collection is steeped with vintage-sounding ballads (“Still Believe in Love,” “Live to Love Again”) and soaring melodic rockers (“United We Stand,” “You Got the Best of Me”).

Journey – including longtime keyboardist Jonathan Cain,  peppy singer Arnel Pineda , drummer Deen Castronovo and keyboardist Jason Derlatka, adding bassist Todd Jensen for live shows – will hit Resorts World Las Vegas  this month for shows backed by a symphony orchestra before rolling through more arena dates this summer and in early 2023, the band’s official 50th year.

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Regular road warriors who consistently pack arenas and stadiums – their 27 shows this year grossed $28 million, according to Billboard Boxscore – Journey relies on a solid catalog of mega-hits and a devoted fan base that appreciates the familiarity.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers also received a boost from Netflix’s ’80s-centered “Stranger Things” when the show used “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” in the trailer for the just-ended season, launching the song onto Billboard’s Rock Digital Songs chart. The affable Schon, 68, talked with USA TODAY about the band’s complicated legacy, his relationship with former frontman Steve Perry and plans for Journey's golden anniversary.

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Question: Are you amazed at how the Journey train keeps rolling after almost 50 years?

Neal Schon: It’s quite an accomplishment and I’m very proud of what we’ve done and how we’ve gotten through emotional and personnel changes and survived. It’s pretty mind-boggling but also a lot of hard work.

Q: Does the title “Freedom” refer to anything specifically?

Schon: Our ex-manager Herbie Herbert  wanted to call the (1986) “Raised on Radio” album “Freedom” because he always came up with these one-word titles. Steve (Perry) fought him on that and got his way, so we sat on it for many years. When we got through the lawsuit with the ex-bandmates, we made the new LLC Freedom (JN) and when we were tossing around album titles said, why not just call the whole thing “Freedom?" It's for the times right now.

Q: There’s been a bit of a revolving door in the rhythm section. Deen Castronovo is back for the live shows, but Narada Michael Walden played drums on the album, and Randy Jackson is back in the band, at least on record?

Schon: Deen is singing and playing his butt off. He’s such a musical sponge, this guy. He’s been like my little brother for close to three decades and is such a joy to work with. Randy, he’d been working with me diligently this whole time. He’s so many things beyond being an amazing musician and bass player.

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Q: Will Randy play at any of the upcoming live shows or is Todd Jensen handling those duties?

Schon: Randy is still recovering from some surgery and he stays very busy and Todd fits like a glove. Having said that, I think with our 50th anniversary next year, there’s room for everybody to jump in if they want to participate. We did go through an ugly divorce with (Steve Smith and Ross Valory) with the court proceedings (in 2021, Schon and Cain settled a $10 million trademark lawsuit with the band’s former drummer and bassist). But definitely, if Steve Perry wanted to come on and sing a song, yes. If (original Journey singer) Gregg Rolie wanted to come sing a couple of songs, yes. Randy Jackson (can) come sit in on some of the material – he played on a lot of hits on “Raised on Radio.”

Q: Do you talk much with Steve Perry?

Schon: We are in contact. It’s not about him coming out with us, but we’re speaking on different levels. That’s a start, even if it’s all business. And I’m not having to go through his attorney! We’ve been texting and emailing. He’s a real private guy and he wants to keep it that way. We’re in a good place.

Q: Do you think, after 15 years, that people have accepted Arnel?

Schon: I was diligent in that I wanted to show the massive size of our audience, so I hired photogs to come out every show and shoot the audience and show the size of the crowd to make everybody see, what am I missing? From putting up the different photos every night and the reviews from the fans online, I saw very little of “This is not Journey, man.” I think we just shut everybody up.

13 Things We Learned Hanging Out With Steve Perry

• By Andy Greene

Andy Greene

It’s a punishingly hot August day and Steve Perry is tucked into a corner table at a Lower Manhattan Italian spot taking a quick breather between a long round of radio interviews promoting Traces , his new comeback album that he spent the last five years recording in such secrecy that he made everyone on his team sign strict NDAs. He’s no more than two minutes into our conversation, barely enough time to dip a single piece of bread into olive oil and take a bite, when he stands up and announces he has to leave at once. There’s loud dance pop playing on the radio and it’s driving him crazy.

“This is very distracting,” he says, as a large, tattooed bodyguard and two publicists perched near the bar look on. “I’m hearing drums and rhythm. I have a very ADD, multi-track mind and I can’t listen to two things at once. I just hear these electronic drums. Let’s go outside even though it’s going to be a little sticky.”

With the bodyguard in tow, we head onto the street towards a park overlooking the Hudson River. It’s a complete shift from our plan for the afternoon, but Perry has never been one to stick to a script. Ignoring the desperate pleas of his bandmates, management team and fans, he walked away from Journey near the pinnacle of their success in 1987 to live a quiet life free from screaming crowds and record executives thirsty for another hit. And even when Journey-mania returned again in the mid-2000s and “Don’t Stop Believin'” became absolutely inescapable — used everywhere from the The Sopranos finale to Glee  — he refused to emerge from hiding in any way, allowing his former bandmates to reap the hefty rewards by playing about 70 shows a year with a soundalike they plucked from YouTube.

Dressed head-to-toe in black, Perry walks down the city streets, past throngs of tourists that don’t give him a second look, and attempts to explain why he turned in his rock star card over 30 years ago. “It seemed like the only thing I could do to stop some of the badness in my heart and the lack of passion for singing,” he says. “I just had to stop. I was feeling like a forced version of myself, getting into some bad habits and not connecting to my heart. I was completely deep-fried.”

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Rolling Stone published an extensive feature on Perry’s life earlier this month, but there was still a lot we learned that didn’t fit into the piece. Here are 13 of them.

1. He became interested in spiritual matters during his lost years. “I don’t attend any religious practices and I’m not religious,” he explains. “But I’ve devoted a lot of time to people like Joseph Campbell who opened the doors to all the theologists that I have opinions about now. It took a lot of open-mindedness to rewire my thinking about so many things. It needed to happen. They say that every seven years your body completely changes, that every cell in your body is no longer the same. There’s a metamorphoses. And right now, I’m more open-minded to the idea of not knowing the answers to all things.”

2. He has a crystal-clear memory of the moment they wrote “Don’t Stop Believin.'” “I know everyone has their own opinion about this,” he says. “I don’t know what Jonathan [Cain] thinks, but I remember it starting out in a warehouse in Oakland where we had a rehearsal space. I suggested we needed something with eighths on the piano because I always liked songs that began like that. It flowed from there. We were all in the room. It was me, Jonathan and Neal [Schon]. It was a true group effort. Then I went to Jonathan’s house and we wrote the lyrics together. There’s no one genius to any one moment. If you’re in a band, what you do is a group effort.”

3. Contrary to widespread rumor, he’s never suffered any vocal issues. “I have my vocal box checked all the time,” he says. “I have no nodules on it. I have a really good doctor. She sticks a camera down my nose. I call it the garden hose. It goes down to the vocal chords and then she grabs my tongue and I have to go, ‘Eeeeeee.’ She’s really able to see them well and, knock on wood, nothing wrong with my voice. The only thing is I didn’t really use if for a while, but it’s like working out when you begin using it again.”

4. His mother pushed him return to Journey in 1985 after he’d taken a long break to focus on his solo career. “I was ready to leave the group because she was so sick,” he says. “She couldn’t speak because she’d had so many strokes. She was also pretty quadriplegic at that point, but she loved my music. I asked her what she thought about it, whether I should make another solo record or go back to Journey. She said one word: ‘Journey.’ I went, ‘Are you sure? Mom, this means I won’t be around you much. Again she just said, ‘Journey.’ Then she died during the making of the record. I dedicated it to her.”

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5. The “corporate rock” label that Journey was stuck with still baffles him. “That was amazing to me,” he says. “Any band that came to America, whether it was Led Zeppelin or anybody, would incorporate in order to create a tax shelter and not leave penniless. The way to do that legally is to form a corporation. Everybody did that, but we got stuck with the label. Isn’t that fascinating?”

6. He enjoyed meeting Arnel Pineda at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2017. “He’s a sweet kid,” he says. “We talked for a while backstage. It was really fun.”

7. But he never even considered singing with Journey at the Hall of Fame. “I heard a rumor that the invitation was open,” he says. “But I’m not the singer in the band anymore. Arnel is. He’s been in the band for ten years. I just wanted to come and thank everybody for everything, including Arnel.”

8. He was the last one in Journey to give his approval for The Sopranos to use “Don’t Stop Believin.'” “I wasn’t too excited by the possibility that it might be used when someone is whacked,” he says. “Everyone else was okay with it, but I wanted to know more. So the girl who sub-licenses my music kept on asking David Chase’s people if they could tell us a little more. But since it was the last sequence in the entire show, they were a little tight with information. I told them I wouldn’t say yes unless they told me that nobody got whacked, which is how [Martin] Scorsese would have used it. So I just waited and Thursday afternoon my girl calls and says she just spoke to David Chase’s people and they told me how it ends, but I couldn’t tell anybody. They didn’t tell me the screen turns to black, but they told me everything else. And I said okay that Thursday and it aired on Sunday.”

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9. Baseball gives him the same sort of satisfaction today that he used to get from music. “The electronic aspect of music just started wearing me out,” he says. “There’s not a lot of live musicians being played on the radio anymore. But when I’m watching baseball, these guys walk out there and hit, play, catch, run…I mean, they’re just killing it. There’s no auto-tune for baseball. They have to play. The musicianship of the music industry used to be that way.”

10. If he does tour, expect to hear a lot of Journey songs. “I don’t know if a tour will happen,” he says. “Right now it’s premature to even guess. But there would be no way in the world I’d go out there and not sing Journey music too. It would be solo and Journey together. But those songs are vocally challenging. They’re challenging for Arnel and everyone else. They’re not easy. They were challenging for me when I wrote the damn melodies, but back then I was young and in my olympic singer mode. [Barbra] Streisand lowers the keys when she does her old songs. There’s nothing wrong with lowering a key We’re not spring chickens.”

11. His time out of the spotlight after he left Journey in 1987 reinvigorated him . “I went back to my hometown and reconnected with old friends,” he says. “I bought a Harley Davidson and rode it around the country roads of my youth. I let the wind hit my face and my hair blowed behind me. There were no helmet laws back then. I disappeared. I went to the fair in the summer. I went to movies. I had dinner with friends. I had relationships. I lived.”

12. Money was never really an issue after he left the band. “I wrote every single song with members of the band with the exception, I think, of one,” he says. “And those songs kept selling. I don’t eat out a lot. I only drive one car a time. I live kind of small, so financially I never really had to work. There were certainly some sweet [royalty] checks as the years went by, but I’ll tell you something else: I was probably one of the only guys who saved his money. A lot of people were living very extravagant lifestyles. I was not raised that way. My grandfather said to me when I was very young, ‘It’s not how much you make, it’s how much you save.’ So I lived small and saved my money.”

13. When pushed, he refuses to make a Shermanesque statement that he’ll never, under any circumstances, return to Journey, even though it’s highly unlikely. “The only thing I’m willing to be definitive about is that at this age I am right now, I have to do things that I feel really great about, that feel life-sustaining and give me passion,” he says. “I really want to continue to move forward. I’m not too excited about going backwards. I’m more excited about moving forward to what is next. I’ve already written a lot more new material, in fact.”

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The Real Reason Steve Perry Left Journey

For years, Journey singer Steve Perry used to wear a necklace of a gold musical eighth-note. In 2018, he explained to Rolling Stone it was a gift he received from his mom when he was 12 years old.

"She always believed in me. I wore it for years and years, but hung it up in May of 1998, just after the band and I legally split and I had a complete contractual release from all my obligations to the band and label."

Perry fronted Journey to its greatest commercial success in the '80s, catapulting the band to arena rock stardom through the likes of "Open Arms" and "Don't Stop Believin'." However , by 1987, even with the triumph of Raised by Radio tour, the band was greatly fractured and went on hiatus for nearly ten years. 

As time heals all wounds, Perry reunited in the mid-90s with bandmates Jonathan Cain, Ross Valory, and Steve Smith. Now under the management of Irving Azoff, Journey released Trial by Fire. The Recording Industry Association of America certified the album platinum and the Recording Academy nominated one of its hit singles, "When You Love a Woman," for a Grammy.

Through pain, Steve Perry came back to music

Just before tour arrangements could be made, Perry collapsed while on a hike. He learned he needed hip surgery due to a degenerative bone condition. The band could not wait for Perry to heal, and so he was replaced by Steve Augeri and later Arnel Pineda .

For years, Perry's surgery explained his reason for officially leaving Journey. But in 2018, he made a revelation. Ahead of the release of his solo album Traces , Perry admitted his actual motive.

"The truth is, that I thought music had run its course in my heart," Perry said. "I had to be honest with myself, and in my heart, I knew I just wasn't feeling it anymore."

Perry , in soul and spirit, was tired. But like any true rockstar, he could not be away from the limelight too long. Traces allowed Perry to find music again. In a promise to his late girlfriend Kellie Nash, who died in 2012 from breast cancer, this was the moment he stopped isolating himself from the world. 

"I found myself with not only just a broken heart but an open heart," Perry told Billboard . "And from that came rock and roll."

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When Steve Perry Played His Last Full Show With Journey

Journey were partway through a U.S. tour when they performed on Feb. 1, 1987 at the Sullivan Sports Arena in Anchorage. So it may even have come to a surprise to them that it was the last show they’d ever play with singer Steve Perry .

When they completed their performance of “Faithfully” that night, they closed the book on their rise to fame. And even though there would be one more album with Perry, and a 10-minute guest appearance at an all-star concert in 1991 , it was the last time he led them through a full performance.

Tensions had been simmering between Perry and guitarist Neal Schon . Following the release of three definitive classic-rock albums – Escape , Frontiers  and Raised on Radio – Journey were undeniably massive. But Perry dismissed bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith before the recording of 1986’s Raised on Radio , and all was still not well.

The singer, who was also producing the album, later said he was “toast” as he dealt with the illness and then death of his mother during sessions. That had led to the breakdown in relations that forced his hand at Anchorage. He refused to continue to the tour, the following shows were canceled and the band went on hiatus.

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Perry had another argument in his favor: His 1984 solo album, Street Talk , had won him even more personal acclaim, and it could be argued that he didn’t need Journey anymore. The presence of his solo tracks “Strung Out” and “Oh Sherrie” on the Raised on Radio  tour set list suggested he felt he was in a strong bargaining position and that his colleagues accepted that.

When the classic lineup regrouped for 1996’s Trial by Fire , Perry suffered a hip injury that prevented them from touring for 18 months because he didn’t want to undergo the surgery he required. With the clock ticking, the group issued an ultimatum: Have the procedure or be fired. Perry chose the latter option , saying that he felt unduly pressured by his colleagues’ approach, and insisting he’d never work with them again – although he joined them for an award ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005.

Journey continued with Steve Augeri and later Jeff Scott Soto, before hiring singer Arnel Pineda in 2007. Perry dropped off the radar for a long time, before making a well-received comeback – without his former bandmates.

So, for now, it seems that the 21-song show in Anchorage was the last time the Voice would perform a full-length show with the band he helped lift into the stratosphere. As Perry noted in 2014, “I’m not the person I was 30 years ago. That person is gone."

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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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After 20 Long Years Away, Steve Perry Finally Joins Journey Onstage

photo credit: rockaxis.com.co

Reunited And It Feels So, So Good

We’ve spent the last 20 years hoping, praying, pleading – even appealing to Steve Perry directly through the likes of Journey guitarist Neal Schon and even Carlos Santana to rejoin Journey, if only for a little while. As news of Journey’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame came to light late last year, the possibility of a Steve Perry reunion was closer to us than it had ever been but the former Journey frontman’s famed reticence when it came to anything related to his old band forced us to be realistic and prepare for the very real possibility that he wouldn’t show for Journey’s big moment.

Against all odds, however, Steve was there for Friday night’s festivities , just as excited to reunite with his former friends and bandmates as he was gracious to the legions of fans who propelled Journey to the top of the food chain and into rock and roll legend.

While Perry ultimately decided against performing with Journey and left the honor to current singer Arnel Pineda – who got his wish and finally met his idol for the very first time Friday night – his acceptance speech reflected a lifetime’s worth of love and gratitude to his bandmates as he gushed about their respective talents and thanked them individually and by name for “all the music we’ve written and recorded together.” Lastly, for the Journey fans who stopped believing that Steve heard them and cared, he had this to offer:

“You put us here,” he said. “We would not be here had it not been for you and your tireless love and consistent devotion. You never have stopped. I’ve been gone a long time, I understand that, but I want you to know that you’ve never not been in my heart.”

What a magical night! There’s no indication that Steve will ever be involved with Journey again, but who knows? It’s been an impossible year full of impossible events, and to forget that anything is possible would be absolutely foolish. Congratulations, Journey!

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Chris Piner

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Appearing to embrace all styles of music like heavy metal, pop rock, and rhythm and blues, Aerosmith sold over 150 million albums thanks to hits like “Angel”, “Rag Doll”, and “What It Takes.” During their time on stage, the band even landed a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After spending nearly six decades touring the world, the band decided to celebrate its rich history with one more tour. Kicking off their Peace Out farewell tour, Aerosmith and Steven Tyler had no idea that their performance on September 9th would be their last time on stage together. 

While just another concert at the time, Aerosmith took the stage after a video showcased their long history in music. And as for the concert, Tyler seemed to be in prime shape as he dominated songs like “Back in the Saddle.” Even during the encore, Tyler performed iconic songs like “Dream On” and “Walk This Way.” While any of those songs would be a great performance to end a career on, Tyler’s last song on stage was not from the band’s discography but “Happy Birthday to You.” 

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Wanting to celebrate guitarist Joe Perry turning 73 years old, the band decided to surprise him with a giant chocolate cake. And given Tyler’s talent, he was sure to take charge when it came to singing “Happy Birthday to You.” With the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York packed with fans, Tyler apparently injured his voice during the concert. 

[RELATED: The Aerosmith Song Steven Tyler Believed Would Make Them Famous and Helped Get the Band Signed, “Mama Kin”]

Aerosmith Thanks Fans For Helping The Band’s Dreams Come True

While fans believed Tyler just needed some time off to recover, Aerosmith shocked the music world when they announced their retirement. On August 2nd, the band revealed, “ As you know, Steven’s voice is an instrument like no other.  He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury.  We’ve seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side. Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible. We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision – as a band of brothers – to retire from the touring stage.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aerosmith (@aerosmith)

Aerosmith ended their message with a final thank you. “Thank you to you – the best fans on planet Earth.  Play our music loud, now and always.  Dream On. You’ve made our dreams come true.”

(Featured Image via Rob Latour/Shutterstock )

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Def Leppard, Journey, and Steve Miller Band bring familiar fanfare to Fenway Park

T here’s nothing quite like the retirement of your city’s most famous rock group to put the summer’s umpteenth co-headlining tour into perspective.

It’s not that Def Leppard, Journey, and the Steve Miller Band needed Aerosmith to step back in order to pack Fenway Park for their “Summer Stadium” tour Monday night — they didn’t. It’s just that every time one rock titan hangs up their guitars for good, it’s easier to appreciate the groups who are still on the road, even if they’re battling a show-threatening setback onstage. But we’ll work up to that.

To make ample room for the rock triple-header, Steve Miller Band’s midnight toking and similar activities were rescheduled to 5:30 p.m. to open the night — “It’s early for us too,” Miller noted, almost self-consciously.

The space cowboy’s got an avuncular flair for storytelling these days, regaling the audience with stories about Eminem, who sampled “Abracadabra” on his newest record, and his godfather, Les Paul, to whom he dedicated “Jet Airliner.” Most impressively, the mighty wingspan of “Fly Like an Eagle” hasn’t diminished over the years, and Miller’s gloriously reverbed riffs took flight with ease as the highlight of his set, with the palpable, infectious sway of “Rock’n Me” marking a close second.

Journey swiftly roared into what sounded like a well-mastered greatest hits album, for better or for worse. While meticulously polished to match the band’s recorded sound across every power ballad, their set lacked many memorable off-script moments. Then again, few stage antics could top current singer Arnel Pineda’s gobsmacking ability to mime the vocal range of former Journey frontman Steve Perry. Pineda delivered every hook as if he wrote it himself, even fully owning “Don’t Stop Believin’,” guiding that rocket-launcher of tireless optimism over the Green Monster and into the stratosphere.

As the evening’s anchor band, Def Leppard promised to pour some kerosene on their catalog in honor of the 40th anniversary of their hit album “Pyromania.” Yet it quickly became apparent that the band’s own “Rocket” was faltering mid-flight, as lead singer Joe Elliott struggled to hit his raspy high notes.

After a satisfactory but noticeably off blitz through songs like “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop),” “Foolin’,” and new single “Just Like 73,” (a surprisingly seamless fit among the “Pyromania” pile-on) Elliott revealed that he was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection just 30 hours prior to the show. Instead of canceling the gig, he enlisted the crowd’s assistance for the stripped-down — and vocally vulnerable — portion of the set, namely the chorus of “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak.”

“Can’t wait to see this on YouTube, [expletive] hell,” Elliott muttered after his explanation, but otherwise maintained a steely cool in the face of his illness, mustering the remainder of his voice for a finale of glam-metal GOAT tunes: “Rock of Ages,” “Photograph,” “Hysteria,” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me.”

It was a rollickingly imperfect conclusion to the evening, albeit a familiar one. But when slapped with the reality that no farewell tour is guaranteed, an evening with three iconic bands becomes a luxury, no matter how well-worn the material.

DEF LEPPARD AND JOURNEY: THE SUMMER STADIUM TOUR

With Steve Miller Band

At Fenway Park, Monday

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How the USWNT Returned to the Top of the Sport

With a gold medal win at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Emma Hayes (and Triple Espresso) more than make up for USWNT’s disappointing 2023 World Cup performance

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The Olympic women’s soccer tournament is one of the most grueling events in the entire world of soccer, and the United States women’s national team looked every bit like they were playing their sixth game in 17 days during the opening 45 minutes against Brazil in Saturday’s gold medal game.

At halftime, manager Emma Hayes doubled down on her chosen starting XI and made no changes despite a first half that saw Brazil outshoot the United States 8-2 and miss multiple big scoring chances. Throughout the tournament, Hayes maintained that her approach to stick with the starters would pay off. The performances across 120 minutes in the quarterfinal and semifinal weren’t exactly a ringing endorsement of Hayes’s process, but the moment of individual brilliance in extra time of each match helped the United States persevere into the final. In a low-scoring sport decided on the tiniest of margins, the Americans’ elite defense meant that they’d probably only need one more moment to win the gold. In the 57th minute , the goal came, even if the decisive pass wasn’t intended for the eventual goal scorer.

Korbin Albert’s through ball in behind the Brazilian backline appeared to play in Sophia Smith, but Smith knew she was in an offside position and couldn’t play the ball. Smith and teammate Trinity Rodman had already had their decisive, match-winning goals earlier in the knockout stage.

The USWNT needed one more shot to complete the “Triple Espresso,” a self-given nickname for this newly formed attacking trio of Mallory Swanson, Rodman, and Smith. Swanson needed her goal. It wasn’t Smith’s turn.

Swanson had made a similar run to Smith from the left wing, only Swanson was in an onside position. She collected the ball and then finished with her right foot across the face of the goal to give the United States the opening, winning, and golden goals at the 2024 Olympics. After a bronze medal in Tokyo in 2021 and the worst-ever American result at the World Cup last summer , the United States faced an existential crisis about whether the rest of the world had truly caught up to them in talent and on-field performance in women’s soccer.

The United States struggled through the World Cup in 2023 and didn’t get the required game-changing performances to squeak past competitive opponents. Facing an even tougher struggle at these Olympics—given the compressed schedule, extended minutes, and condensed rosters—it’s not clear that the United States played much better collectively. But they had the high-end game changers and difference makers to overcome some inconsistency and reclaim their perch at the top of the sport.

There were moments of brilliant attacking team play throughout the group stage. In the opener, the USWNT thrashed Zambia 3-0, highlighted by the “ Trin Spin ,” a nickname for Rodman’s dazzling abilities with the ball at her feet that led to the opening goal. They then handled Germany 4-1 in the second group match.

Once the knockout stage began, though, it became an ugly battle for survival, summed up perfectly by NBC broadcaster Jon Champion during the broadcast following Rodman’s left-footed wonder goal in extra time against Japan.

“Amidst a morass of muddling mediocrity and frustration, a special moment. Twenty-two-year-old Trinity Rodman, take a bow,” Champion said .

An American team that appeared stuck between generations at the last two major international tournaments has now fully turned the page to the new era—spearheaded by the American trident of three attackers. Combine Triple Espresso with superstar defender Naomi Girma, and the United States has a core of stars that either weren’t on the roster or weren’t regular starters when the USWNT won the World Cup in France in 2019, but will lead the squad for the next half-decade, starting with the gold medal in Paris on Saturday .

We’ll never know what the USWNT might have done last summer Down Under with this version of Smith, Rodman, and Swanson playing together. Former manager Vlatko Andonovski didn’t have the luxury of starting the front three that made the United States so much more dynamic in this tournament. The trio scored 10 of the USWNT’s 12 goals across six matches in these Olympics . Swanson’s left knee injury last spring left her out of the World Cup and meant that the United States rode with aging Alex Morgan as the striker, with Rodman and Smith flanking her. Morgan didn’t score a goal in four matches in the tournament, and while Rodman and Smith showed flashes, neither looked as complete, confident, or polished as they did in this tournament.

That World Cup in Australia and New Zealand was a dreadful live viewing experience for anyone stateside who sacrificed sleep to tune in. The USWNT’s final group stage match against Portugal kicked off at 3 a.m. Eastern time . After 90 minutes without a goal, the Portuguese came within inches of knocking the USWNT out of the tournament when their stoppage-time attempt deflected off Alyssa Naeher’s post.

After the match, Carli Lloyd called the post the “player of that match.” The performances in the group stage were nowhere near the standard the USWNT had set by winning the 2015 and 2019 World Cups.

After 120 minutes without a goal in the round of 16 (which began at 5 a.m. Eastern on a Sunday morning), the United States lost on penalties to Sweden and were out of the World Cup before most Americans even got out of bed that morning. The USWNT rewarded their dedicated stateside fans with no goals in the final two matches en route to the earliest exit in American history. USWNT legend Megan Rapinoe came off the bench to try to conjur up some magic with her skilled left foot, but she missed her penalty , a symbolic end of that era of the women’s national team.

Even with the team’s overall failure Down Under, weak points were identified, and strengths emerged that ultimately became the core of this gold medal in Paris. Andonovski’s seat was already warm entering that World Cup after the United States underperformed and settled for bronze at the Olympics in Tokyo. Once they lost to Sweden, he didn’t have a seat at all. He resigned less than two weeks following the defeat, and the United States Soccer Federation had to act quickly to get a new manager and prepare for the Olympics less than a year later.

The U.S. went for arguably the biggest coaching name in the sport to lead the world’s most successful international team. Hayes agreed to become manager in November but wouldn’t join until after completing the club season with Chelsea in the Women’s Super League. Hayes’s first match was June 1 , the first of two consecutive friendlies against South Korea. Her most significant decision was whether or not to take Morgan on the 18-player Olympic roster. Morgan was an unused substitute in the June 1 match and then played 61 minutes in the June 4 match. Morgan didn’t make the Olympic roster , which meant the USWNT fully embraced Triple Espresso in France.

The Americans still had the always reliable Naeher in goal, who stood tall with massive saves in the closing minutes of both the semifinal and the final as the United States bunkered in to try to protect its slim 1-0 leads. Naeher is one of three players who played in the World Cup final in 2019—along with Crystal Dunn and Rose Lavelle—who were regular starters in these Olympics. Naeher was celebrated for her 100th career appearance for the USWNT in an Olympic send-off friendly against Mexico on July 13.

The USWNT underperformed at the World Cup, but it wasn’t because of the defense, which conceded just one goal and 1.4 expected goals in four matches. Hayes has managed 10 games, including the six at the Olympics, and the Americans have conceded two goals .

Girma is the defense captain. She is a 24-year-old center back who was named NWSL Defender of the Year in 2022 and 2023. After the semifinal win, Hayes called Girma the “best defender I’ve ever seen.”

“I’ve never seen a player as good as her at the back,” Hayes said. “She’s got everything, poise, composure, she can defend, she anticipates, she leads.”

Girma had a couple of rare missteps in the early minutes of the final and was fortunate to see the offside flag go up when Brazil appeared to grab the lead in the 16th minute. From that point forward, the San Diego Wave superstar didn’t put a foot wrong. She led the United States in ball recoveries in the semifinal , and defensive midfielder Sam Coffey did in the final .

Coffey is one of the newcomers to this squad that didn’t make the World Cup roster last summer. Now, she’s a mainstay in the defensive midfield. Coffey was suspended for the quarterfinal against Japan after two yellow cards in the group stage, but she played every minute of the other five matches she was available to play in. Midfield has been the United States’ biggest question mark at this tournament. In the match against Japan, the Americans had plenty of defensive possession but offered minimal thrust into the attacking penalty area.

There was far too much sideways passing, as evidenced by this chart of all USWNT passes before the 70th minute. The goal ultimately came from Dunn, a left back, playing a direct diagonal forward pass to Rodman, bypassing the midfield and letting her cook. Although the midfield still was inconsistent in the final two matches, the winning goals in the semifinal and final came from clever midfield movement and forward passing. In the semifinal against Germany, Coffey received the ball from Girma, turned, and immediately played a forward pass into Swanson between the lines. Coffey earned a hockey assist when Swanson eventually played in Smith for the winning goal.

Hayes made the decision to drop Lavelle in favor of Albert in the final. Lavelle ended up an unused substitute, and the 20-year-old Albert notched the game-winning assist on the through ball and led the Americans with five tackles won in midfield. Once they lost midfielder Catarina Macario to right knee irritation two weeks before the Olympics, the USWNT knew it would need Hayes to find the right combinations to help bring the nation back to its height at the top of the sport.

The new American manager made a bet on her starting XI by playing them almost exclusively without a ton of bench contribution. She gambled that Triple Espresso would have enough attacking output, and they rewarded her with 10 goals. She changed how the Americans played tactically, focusing more on controlled possession and fewer direct attacks. It’s been only 10 matches, but the United States looked for a star manager and hired the consensus best women’s club manager in Hayes, and the symbiotic relationship culminated in the gold on Saturday. The United States was hardly dominant like it has been in past tournaments, but Hayes worked her way to the top of the sport and has now helped push the USWNT over the line .

Hayes is English, but her coaching origin story involves years of cutting her teeth at the collegiate level in the United States and a shaky stint in the NWSL. After 12 years of club success at Chelsea, she returned to America to bring immediate triumph.

“I’ve been at a club for 12 years where I’ve had huge success,” Hayes said . “But I was desperate to do well for this country.” When asked about that sense of desperation, Hayes responds, “I love America. It made me. And I always say that. It definitely made me.”

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