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During
its initial 14 years of existence (1973-1987), Journey altered
its musical approach and its personnel extensively while becoming
a top touring and recording band. The only constant factor was
guitarist Neal Schon, a music prodigy who had been a member
of Santana in 1971-1972. The original unit featured Schon, bassist
Ross Valory, drummer Prairie Prince (later replaced by Aynsley
Dunbar) and guitarist George Tickner (who left after the first
album). Another former Santana member, keyboard player and singer
Gregg Rolie, joined shortly afterwards.
This lineup recorded "Journey" (1975), the first of three jazz-rock
albums. By 1977, however, the group decided it needed a strong
vocalist/frontman and hired Steve Perry. The results were immediately
felt on the fourth album, "Infinity" (1978), which sold a million
copies within a year. By this time, Dunbar had been replaced
by Steve Smith. "Evolution" (1979) was similarly successful,
as was "Departure", after which Rolie was replaced by Jonathan
Cain. Following a live album, "Captured" (1981) Journey released
"Escape", which broke them through to the top ranks of pop groups
by scoring three US Top Ten hit singles: "Who's Crying Now,"
"Don't Stop Believin'" and "Open Arms".
The album topped the charts and had sold nine million copies by
1996. "Frontiers" (1983), featuring the hit "Separate Ways",
was another big success, after which Perry released a double-platinum
solo album, "Street Talk" (1984). When the group got back together
to make a new album, Valory and Smith were no longer in the
line-up and "Raised on Radio" (1986) was recorded mainly by
Schon, Perry and Cain, who added other musicians for a tour,
following which Journey disbanded. Perry went into a prolonged
period of self-reclusion, while Schon and Cain formed Bad English
with vocalist John Waite.
In 1996 Perry, Schon, Smith, Cain and Valory reunited to release
"Trial By Fire", which entered the US chart at number 3. The
following year Deen Castronovo (ex-Bad English) replaced Smith
and vocalist Steve Augeri (ex-Tall Stories) replaced Perry,
after health problems sidelined the singer.
Vocalist, Steve Augeri first recorded with Journey for the band's
1998 contribution to the Armageddon soundtrack - "Remember Me".
The soundtrack, which hit #1 on the Billboard charts, was certified
triple platinum.
The band's 18th release, "Arrival" debuted in the spring of
2001 and the group launched their incredibly successful 56-city
Arrival 2001 World Tour.
Throughout the summer of 2002, Journey again brought its live
show around the USA during their "Under The Radar Tour". It
also gave the band an opportunity to showcase music from their
new EP, "Red 13", released in the same year.
In 2005 Journey are back with the new studio album recorded
during February and March 2005 at the Record Plant in Sausalito,
CA where the band recorded 1986's "Raised on Radio". The title,
"Generations", represents the constancy of Journey's followers
- old and new - throughout the past 30 years. "There's a whole
new generation that has become fans of ours", according to bass
player Ross Valory.
The band turned to an old friend, Kevin Elson, to produce "Generations".
He's the man responsible for the band's multi-platinum "Escape",
"Departure" and "Frontiers" albums, as well as their double-platinum
"Captured" live album. Famed producer Michael Fraser (Metallica,
AC/DC, Aerosmith) was later enlisted to team up with Elson to
engineer the sessions.
With new song like "Faith In The Heartland", "Place In Your
Heart" and "A Better Life", "the band has come full circle"
according to Jonathan Cain. "We've been going in different directions
in the past. I think it embraces the elements of Frontiers again,
our rock roots, with a bit of a soul sound to it. We've also
got a song about the soldiers over in the Middle East called
'Out Of Harm's Way.' The band certainly has a concern and respect
for what they're doing".
In an interesting twist, "Generations" will be the first Journey
album in which all the band members get a shot at being the
frontman. "Everyone is singing at least one, if not two songs
on the new album", says Valory, "we've been doing that on the
past few tours and the audiences love it. We're spreading the
talent around. I like to think of it as a blossoming of new
singers who've just been playing their instruments before".
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