Journey

Journey is an American rock band from San Francisco, United States, active from 1973 to the present. It begins with former members of Santana, the Steve Miller Band and Frumious Bandersnatch, and is associated with classic rock, hard rock, arena rock, pop rock, progressive rock and AOR. The band forms in San Francisco in 1973 and develops from a progressive rock group into a commercially successful rock and pop act.

Career and sound

Journey’s early material is rooted in progressive rock, and the band later shifts towards more pop-oriented arrangements on its fourth album, Infinity. That change helps establish the sound for the best-known phase of its career. The group’s songs become staples of arena rock and receive heavy rock radio play.

Commercial success and key releases

The band’s biggest commercial period runs from 1978 to 1987, with Steve Perry as lead vocalist. During this era it releases a series of hit singles, including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” which appears in 1981 and becomes one of its signature songs. Other notable releases from this period include Escape, which reaches number one on the Billboard 200 and includes “Open Arms,” and Frontiers, which reaches number two in the United States and number six on the UK Albums Chart. Journey has 19 US top-40 singles, six of them top 10 hits.

The band’s catalogue also includes Greatest Hits, a 1988 compilation that receives 18-times-platinum certification and becomes one of its most successful releases. Journey is credited with 25 gold and platinum albums, has sold over 52 million albums in the United States, and has sold over 100 million records worldwide.

Line-up changes and later years

Journey reunites in the mid-1990s and goes through further line-up changes. Steve Augeri is lead vocalist from 1998 to 2006, and Arnel Pineda takes over from 2007 onward. Other members associated with the group include Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Deen Castronovo, Gregg Rolie, Ross Valory, Aynsley Dunbar, Steve Smith, Randy Jackson, Mike Baird, Jeff Scott Soto, Narada Michael Walden and Chuck Garric. The band’s current line-up includes Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Deen Castronovo, Arnel Pineda, Jason Derlatka and Todd Jensen.

Recognition

Journey ranks at number 96 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. The inductees include Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Gregg Rolie, Ross Valory, Aynsley Dunbar and Steve Smith.

Albums

Journey’s studio albums include Journey (1975), Look into the Future (1976), Next (1977), Infinity (1978), Evolution (1979), Departure (1980), Dream, After Dream (1980), Escape (1981), Frontiers (1983), Raised on Radio (1986), Trial by Fire (1996), Arrival (2001), Generations (2005), Revelation (2008), Eclipse (2011) and Freedom (2022).