Steve Perry: Pop Star Jouney

    The group continued to change and develop their direction. Steve Smith was added to the band in 1978 after the departure of Dunbar. Smith got to know the group while he was touring with Montrose as an opening act to Journey.
    Evolution was Journey's fifth album and it was clear by now that the group was established as a big-league band. The album not only went platinum, but it also spawned Journey's first top 20 single entitled "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'". After selling out major venues all around the world, it was time again to hit the studio to record their next album.
    While the band recorded Departure, their record company released a compilation of early material entitled In The Beginning.

The record focused in on material from Journey, Look Into The Future and Next.
    From a musical standpoint, Departure marked a new beginning for Journey. The next LP they released was called Captured and this was a two-record set that contained previously released songs from the group.
    This brings us to Escape and Journey's future. Long known as one of the hardest-working groups in contemporary rock history, Journey's 1981 tour was as demanding as ever. More than 90 dates were planned for their tours of Japan and the United States.
    While some bands may take their popularity for granted, Journey has never forgotten their loyal audiences. Pat Morrow, road

manager for the group, explains. "When we go to St. Louis, for example, we see the same people who have come to our shows for the last five years. They never become disappointed or disillusioned, because the band pulls out all the stops for their fans, and the band is incredibly consistent in doing so."
This consistency transcends from the band through the entire management organisation. Says Elson, "The band and management treat everyone really well. If it takes a couple more hours to do a job on the road, then it's done, simply because it's felt, and appreciated. Everyone is part of that, and they feel that."
If Journey has their way, everybody is going to be a part of that, and probably sooner than they think.

Journey has continued to change and grow with each successive year and each successive album. With their latest release, Escape, Journey's musical evolution has continued.
    The latest change is the addition of Jonathan Cain, the 28-year-old keyboardist / guitarist / songwriter who rose to popular acclaim with the Babys. Cain replaces founding member Gregg Rolie who, after 12 years of touring and recording with Santana and Journey, has decided to pursue a solo career.
    Cain joins lead singer Steve Perry, lead guitarist Neal Schon, bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith in comprising the new Journey. Cain's virtuoso skills on keyboards, rhythm guitar and vocals creates a dynamic new edge to the solid rock and roll foundation of the group. Considering his contribution of about one third of the songs on Journey's new album, Escape, it's no wonder the band feels they've found an "ace reliever" in Jonathan Cain.
    "The band is high on Jon," says one Journey staffer, "and he's high on the band. It's a whole new feeling with him in the group. It's like a fresh start."
    Cain is equally enthusiastic about recent changes in his career. "It's changed my life. I'm allowed to express my feelings and concepts in the band, and I'm looking forward to being respected in the big leagues as a songwriter and musician. It's been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
    New blood is not the only thing that has Journey and their management excited. The band's new album, Escape, which was produced by Kevin Elson, will help ensure Journey a solid position among the top record-selling acts worldwide.
    Credit for this must go in large part to Elson. Kevin occupies the unique position of producing

Journey's studio projects and acting as sound engineer for the live performances. "There's a spark that we're trying to capture on vinyl," says Elson, "that exists in the live show." Escape, recorded in an unusually brief six weeks, is the result of that attempt.
    "The new album is really different," says lead guitarist Neal Schon, "and we went to extremes we haven't gone to before. We've gone further into hard rock and further into easy listening … I think this album will appeal to a wider spectrum of fans."
    Journey's songs have taken on new style and dimension. From the melodic opening strains of "Don't Stop Believin'" and the classic sound of their recent hit single "Who's Crying Now", to the rockers like "Keep On Runnin'" and "Dead Or Alive", it is obvious that the band has progressed and expanded their former boundaries.
    The story of Journey began in the mid-60s when a youthful teenager named Herbie Herbert managed a band named Frumious Bandersnatch. Ross Valory, who grew up in San Francisco's East Bay, played in that group. In 1968, Gregg Rolie, formerly with William Penn and His Pals, helped a then-unknown guitarist named Carlos Santana put together a group that would subsequently rocket to international stardom. Bandersnatch broke up and Herbie scored a position as production manager for Santana. Valory then went on to play for various Bay Area groups including Steve Miller.
    In 1971, Neal Schon entered into the picture by joining Rolie and Herbert in the Santana band. Schon was at the tender age of 15 and had already been asked by Eric Clapton to join as a member of his band!     Things eventually changed for Santana. The original group disbanded, and, after a national tour

in 1972, it was Herbie Herbert who approached Schon with the idea about putting a band together with Valory and a rhythm guitarist named George Tickner. Prairie Prince agreed to play drums. Rolie was then approached to become the vocalist and organist and their first gig as Journey happened in San Francisco on New Year's Eve 1973.
    After the first two shows, Prince committed himself to join as a member of The Tubes. By early 1974, Aynsley Dunbar agreed to join the band. Their first LP, Journey, was released in early 1975. It marked the beginning of four years of gruelling touring, critical acclaim, and a sufficient amount of FM popularity. Tickner left the group shortly after the first album because he disliked the road.
    The group released two more albums, Look Into The Future in 1976 and Next in 1977, before they decided to change from progressive instrumental rock to a more mainstream sound. For a brief time Journey worked with Robert Fleischman who helped write a song for their Infinity LP in 1978. That album pushed the group into the national limelight. Steve Perry, a native of Hanford, California, was eventually chosen as lead singer. It was obviously the right choice because Steve was the catalyst that gave the band the punch to go over the top.
    Infinity became a key album for the group. Besides adding Perry, the group asked Roy Thomas Baker, then known for his work with Queen, to produce. These changes marked the beginning of a new era for Journey, and also a new band. Two songs off the LP, "Wheel In The Sky" and "Lights" made a good showing on the AM charts and gave the group their first gold and platinum albums.