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Complete List Of All Journey Current And Former Band Members

Feature Photo: Bruce Alan Bennett / Shutterstock.com

I first fell in love with the band Journey when I was in high school and brought the band’s album Infinity when it was first released. Their record company Columbia Records at the time heavily promoted the album. It was Steve Perry’s first recording with the band and Columbia knew they had a hit on their hands. I was blown away by Steve Perry’s voice and completely floored by how great the songs were on the record. Journey became one of the biggest bands of the seventies. They helped define the term “Stadium Rock.” The band has gone through multiple lineup changes over the years.  This article takes a look at the revolving door of musicians who have come and gone as members of the band Journey .

The Orginal Journey Band Members

Neal Schon, born on February 27, 1954, in Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist for Journey. He was one of the founding members of the band in 1973. Over the years, Schon played a significant role in shaping the band’s sound and has appeared on every Journey album to date, from their self-titled debut album “Journey” (1975) to their most recent releases. He primarily plays the electric guitar but has been known to play acoustic guitar and perform backing vocals as well. Schon co-wrote some of the band’s most iconic songs like “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Wheel in the Sky,” and “Any Way You Want It.” Besides his work with Journey, Neal Schon has had a rich solo career and has also been a part of other bands like Santana and Bad English .

Ross Valory

Ross Valory, born on February 2, 1949, in San Francisco, California, is an American musician renowned for being Journey’s original bass guitarist. He joined the band at its inception in 1973 and contributed to albums like “Journey” (1975), “Infinity” (1978), “Escape” (1981), and many more. Valory played both the bass guitar and occasionally provided backing vocals. He was a part of Journey until he was fired from the band in 2020. Apart from Journey, Valory was involved in the Steve Miller Band and also had a side project called “The Vu.”

Gregg Rolie

Gregg Rolie was born on June 17, 1947, in Seattle, Washington, and is an American keyboardist and singer. He was a founding member of Journey and joined the band in 1973. Rolie played keyboards and was the lead vocalist on the band’s first three albums: “Journey” (1975), “Look into the Future” (1976), and “Next” (1977). He left Journey in 1980 to pursue other musical endeavors. Notably, he was a member of Santana before joining Journey and co-wrote and sang lead vocals on classics like “Black Magic Woman” and “Evil Ways.” After leaving Journey, he went on to form The Gregg Rolie Band and also joined Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band .

George Tickner

George Tickner, born on September 8, 1946, in Syracuse, New York, is an American musician who played rhythm guitar for Journey. He was among the original members when the band was founded in 1973 but left shortly after the release of the band’s self-titled debut album in 1975. Tickner contributed to the writing of some early songs but didn’t stay with the band long enough to participate in the more commercial phases of Journey’s career. After leaving Journey, Tickner largely retired from professional music to pursue a career in medicine.

Charles “Prairie” Prince

Charles “Prairie” Prince, born on May 7, 1950, in Charlotte, North Carolina, was the original drummer for Journey when the band was formed in 1973. However, he never officially recorded with the band and left before their debut album was made. He is best known for his work with The Tubes , a San Francisco-based rock band. Though his time with Journey was short-lived, Prince has had a significant career in music, working with artists like Todd Rundgren, and Jefferson Starship, and as a session musician for various other artists.

The Next Phase and Beyond

Aynsley dunbar.

Aynsley Dunbar, born on January 10, 1946, in Liverpool, England, is a British drummer known for his work with various rock and blues bands. He joined Journey in 1974, shortly after the band’s formation, and played on the albums “Journey” (1975), “Look into the Future” (1976), and “Next” (1977). Dunbar’s jazz-influenced drumming style added a unique element to Journey’s early sound. He left the band in 1978 before the band shifted to a more mainstream, commercial sound. Apart from Journey, Dunbar has had an extensive career, playing with artists like Frank Zappa, David Bowie, and Whitesnake.

Robert Fleischman

Robert Fleischman, born on March 11, 1953, in Los Angeles, California, is an American musician who briefly served as Journey’s lead vocalist in 1977. Though he never appeared on any studio albums with Journey, he contributed to songwriting and is credited with co-writing songs like “Wheel in the Sky.” Fleischman was replaced by Steve Perry later in the same year he joined. Outside of Journey, Fleischman had a solo career and was a member of other rock bands like Vinnie Vincent Invasion.

Steve Perry

Steve Perry , born on January 22, 1949, in Hanford, California, is an American singer known for his soaring vocals. He joined Journey in 1977 and quickly became the band’s iconic lead vocalist. Steve Perry played a significant role in Journey’s commercial success and was a key contributor to albums like “Infinity” (1978), “Evolution” (1979), “Escape” (1981), among others. He co-wrote and sang some of Journey’s most famous songs, including “Don’t Stop Believin'” and “Open Arms.” Perry left the band in 1998 due to health issues and to pursue a solo career, which itself has been highly successful, featuring hits like “Oh Sherrie.”

Steve Smith

Steve Smith, born on August 21, 1954, in Whitman, Massachusetts, is an American drummer. He joined Journey in 1978, replacing Aynsley Dunbar, and played on some of their most successful albums like “Evolution,” “Escape,” and “Frontiers.” Known for his technical skill, Smith left the band in 1985 but returned for various stints, the latest being from 2015 to 2020. Outside of Journey, Smith has had a rich career in jazz and has been part of his own jazz fusion band, Vital Information.

Randy Jackson

Randy Jackson, born on June 23, 1956, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is an American musician, best known as a judge on the television show “American Idol.” He joined Journey as a bass player for a short stint during the mid-1980s and played on the 1986 album “Raised on Radio.” Jackson was part of the band’s transition towards a more pop-oriented sound during that period. Besides Journey, he has been an in-demand session musician and has produced and performed with a wide array of artists across genres.

Steve Augeri

Steve Augeri, born on January 30, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York, is an American rock singer best known for his work as the lead vocalist for Journey from 1998 to 2006. He was brought in as a replacement for Steve Perry and featured on albums like “Arrival” (2001) and “Generations” (2005). Augeri co-wrote songs for the band but had to leave in 2006 due to vocal issues. Outside of Journey, he has been involved in other bands like Tyketto and has also embarked on a solo career.

Jeff Scott Soto

Jeff Scott Soto, born on November 4, 1965, in Brooklyn, New York, is an American singer who served as Journey’s lead vocalist for a brief period from 2006 to 2007. He stepped in following Steve Augeri’s departure due to vocal issues but was in the band for less than a year. Though his time with Journey was short-lived, he did perform live with the band during that period. Outside of Journey, Soto has a prolific career, having been a part of bands like Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force and Talisman, as well as a successful solo career.

Deen Castronovo

Deen Castronovo, born on August 17, 1964, in Westminster, California, is an American drummer and vocalist. He joined Journey in 1998, replacing Steve Smith, and contributed to albums like “Arrival” (2001), “Generations” (2005), and “Eclipse” (2011). Besides playing drums, Castronovo also performed backing and some lead vocals during his time with the band. He left Journey in 2015 amidst personal issues. Beyond Journey, he has played with bands like Bad English and Hardline and is known for his work in various other musical projects.

Narada Michael Walden

Narada Michael Walden, born on April 23, 1952, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is an American musician, producer, and songwriter. He joined Journey as a drummer in 2020, replacing Steve Smith. Known for his diverse skill set across genres, Walden has a rich career outside of his time with Journey. He’s a multi-Grammy Award-winning producer and has worked with a myriad of artists including Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Aretha Franklin.

Arnel Pineda

Arnel Pineda, born on September 5, 1967, in Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines, is a Filipino singer and songwriter. He became the lead vocalist for Journey in 2007, discovered by Neal Schon through YouTube videos of Pineda covering Journey songs. He made his studio debut with the band on the 2008 album “Revelation” and has remained with the band since. Outside of Journey, Pineda had been a part of several bands in the Philippines and has a solo career as well.

Jason Derlatka

Jason Derlatka, born on September 8, 1972, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is an American keyboardist, vocalist, and composer. He joined Journey in 2020 as a touring keyboardist and background vocalist. Though he hasn’t been featured on any studio albums with the band yet, he brings a wide range of musical experience to Journey. Derlatka has worked extensively in television, composing music for series like “House” and “Parenthood.”

Todd Jensen

Todd Jensen, born on October 19, 1965, in Portland, Oregon, is an American bassist. Though he never officially recorded with Journey, Jensen was involved as a touring member following Ross Valory’s departure in 2020. Known for his versatility, he has played with various artists and bands spanning multiple genres, including David Lee Roth, Ozzy Osbourne, and Alice Cooper.

Complete List Of All Journey Current And Former Band Members article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023

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Brian Kachejian was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx. He is the founder and Editor in Chief of ClassicRockHistory.com. He has spent thirty years in the music business often working with many of the people who have appeared on this site. Brian Kachejian also holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from Stony Brook University along with New York State Public School Education Certifications in Music and Social Studies. Brian Kachejian is also an active member of the New York Press.

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Hugely successful stadium rock outfit, Journey have sold millions of records, after rising to prominence in the 70s and 80s, perhaps best known for their hit single, "Don't Stop Believing."

Journey began life in San Francisco, US, having formed in 1973, spending several years developing their sound and lineup over their early albums. Their initial offerings were moderately successful jazz-rock records, that frequently broke out into instrumental experimentations. The influence of musical prodigy and former Santana guitarist, Neal Schon, was certainly on display, backed by Ross Valory (bass), Aynsley Dunbar (drums) and George Tickner (guitar), although George left after one album. Former Santana member, Gregg Rolie (keyboards, vocals) joined shortly after.

Not finding mainstream success, Journey decided they needed to find a strong vocalist, employing Steve Perry for the role. His presence immediately had an effect, with 1978's "Infinity" selling a million records in just one year. "Evolution" and "Departure" continued this success yet it was with "Escape" that they had created a real hit, featuring three Top Ten singles, "Who's Crying Now," "Don't Stop Believing" and "Open Arms." Journey sold millions of copies of "Escape," topping the charts internationally. 1983's "Frontiers" also spawned a number of hits, with Perry then embarked upon a solo venture, achieving double-platinum sales with 1984's "Street Talk."

Perry returned to Journey for 1986's "Raised on Radio," however the band disbanded shortly after. Perry continued his solo recordings whilst Schon and Cain formed Bad English and created the hit single, "When I See You Smile." In 1996, the band reunited, releasing the widely successful "Trial By Fire," bolstered by the success of the single, "When You Love a Woman." Tours followed, although minus Perry, maintaining the band's popularity.

In 2005, Journey's success was recognized, after receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which was followed by the band embarking on a celebratory 30th anniversary tour. Struggling to find a vocalist who could front Journey, they trialled Jeff Scott Soto before finding Arnel Pineda, a Filipino vocalist who they had discovered on Youtube. He made his debut with the band on 2008's "Revelation," which proved Journey still had songwriting abilities, with the album going Platinum. In 2011, they celebrated their prog-rock roots, blending their early sounds with the arena rock style they had developed into at their peak for the album, "Eclipse" in 2011.

Live reviews

I attended the Journey concert at the Minnesota State Fair on Labor Day 2014. It was supposed to rain that night, but the weather gods must also be Journey fans as it was a perfect evening for a concert. It is funny that a group with members in their 60s and the youngest member being Arnel Pineda at 46 had far more energy than the warm-up band with most members being in their 20s or 30s. I have been a Journey fan for a good 7 years now, and I discovered them by accident while browsing through records at a bookstore. As such, Journey to me means Steve Perry and the first time I saw them in concert last year was with Arnel Pineda and hearing him sing the songs that Perry largely wrote and performed was disorienting. I really enjoy the new album Eclipse, and it wasn’t hard for me to enjoy Pineda as these are his songs to sing and his voice is incredible. This year, I was more accustomed to Pineda and was determined to enjoy myself, and did I ever! The band has a great amount of energy and the crowd responded in kind, singing along to the songs and cheering like crazy. You’ll hear the classics for sure (Don’t Stop Believin’ was really special as the crowd really got loud when singing along to that) and that was really fun to hear, but there were some unexpected surprises as well. Firstly, it was nice to hear some of their new songs like "Ritual" from Eclipse and "Faith in the Heartland" from Generations, all the more so as the economy is not very good and many times the Midwest is considered flyover country by the coastal states. As good as Journey's classics are, I appreciated that they played their new songs too. Let's pray that "City of Hope" and "Tantra" will get stage time next year.

In an age where most “artists” can’t sing a lick without the aid of Autotune, every one of the band members can sing in addition to playing instruments. The drummer, Dean Castronovo (a newcomer to the band in 2001) sang the lead vocals for “Mother, Father” while playing drums at the same time. This song is very difficult as the key is very high and requires a great amount of power and range to express the powerful lyrics. He nailed it! I was not expecting the drummer to sing, but it was an unexpected surprise. Jonathan Cain is a very talented man, as he is not only a great piano player, but can play the guitar and provide vocals as well. He was very impressive singing “Anytime” and his piano portions in “Faithfully” were stunning as always. Ross Valory is the bass man, but can sing backing vocals as well.

Neil Schon is also amazing as his guitar work is legendary. From his “here comes the train” sequence in “Don’t Stop Belevin’” to his more intimate moments in “Who’s Crying Now” or “Open Arms”, he can also sing quite well and you are also treated to his rendition of the national anthem as well as a psychedelic guitar piece that has a bit of Indian sitar mixed in. It was really a trip, and shame on the people who were talking during these moments as they were great to listen to. Arnel Pineda is made for Journey. I must admit that I would love to hear Perry sing these songs, but that’s not going to happen and Pineda is the only other person I can think of that can fill Perry’s shoes. He has a tremendous amount of energy, range, and is very kind and humble and still looks amazed that he is leading a band like Journey. He was homeless for many years in his youth and spent a lifetime covering Journey songs and is now leading them. He appreciated how much the crowd got into the songs and promised to return to the Twin Cities. I’ll be there!

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The Journey show is Syracuse NY on August 28 was absolutely fantastic. I had seen them earlier this year and there was some minor sound issues. Not this time. The band hit the stage and rocked the house for about 90 minutes. Their sound was as crisp as their recordings. Neil was incredible as any fan would expect. Dean is a monster on the drums, Jonathan is just so smooth, Ross was as his usual entertaining the crowd with his facial Expressions and Arnel has certainly found a comfort zone and without question is a focal point of the band. When anyone goes to a Journey concert there are high expectations and this concert started fast paced and continued through the night. The band truly rocked the house. They went as far back playing anytime and La Do Da to current release Ritual. The stadium was close to sold out. When 'Don't Stop Believing' started you could hardly hear the back due to the crowd signing along. That's what should happen at one of their shows. The band also expressed their appreciation of the fans. They did not take the crowd for granted. All of the bands members thanked the fans for coming out and Arnel specifically thanked the fans numerous times. The band is not only rocking today like they did 35 years ago, they truly show that they still enjoy it. If you don't have tickets to an up coming show or if you have already seen one of their shows, you should get tickets NOW. This was my second show this year and I would travel again to see them. There was nothing to criticize the band for. They just Came out and nailed it. Great job. Now quit reading reviews and go find where you can enjoy the experience

Not going to lie, I went to a Journey, Steve Miller Band, Tower of Power concert somewhat dreading to see Journey. Like the rest of this world and probably a few more, I have that love hate relationship with Journey's mega hit, sing alongs, and was not too excited to be going to see them. But, a couple of my friends were going and concerts at Shoreline tend to be a good time, so I went along with it. Needless to say, how pleaseanty surprised I was to find myself up dancing and belting the lyrics to songs I had never heard before (you can be sure that when Don't Stop and Anyway You Want It came on I was the loudest one there).

All this coming from the kid who thought it was going to be a real snoozefest. I would categorize this concert as a show to see for the fun and the experience over the music itself. Unless, in some bizarre turn of events, you are in fact a Journey fan, in which case buy your tickets now and throw on that tour t-shirt from the last time they came to town. The lead singer, a short Filipino fellow who apparently they found on tour in South East Asia, will have you wondering if he has been in the band all along with his streaming energy and spot on voice. All in all, a good show to go see with friends. Make sure to get there early and get a good spot to set up shop!

I can't think of anyone who won't have heard the classic hit 'Don't Stop Believin'', and I must say, this was the only track that I was familiar with before seeing Journey live. It wasn't a gig that I had planned on going to, but the experience was just phenomenal. The energy of their performance was just out of this world, especially considering they've been performing for the last 40 years! Each member of the band took a solo which was a really cool moment to give everyone the credit that they deserved, and it was great to be able to applaud each member individually. Even if you don't know the back catalogue of their music, the great 80s vibe is perfect for dancing alone, and the catchy hooks have you singing along before too long, which is what I found myself doing! The balance of the band and vocals complimented eachother well, with neither overpowering the other, making for a great sound in the massive venue, which had great acoustics. Great vocals, band, performance, and tracks. Such a fun night, I would definitely go again, and can say from experience that it really doesn't matter whether you know the music well or not to have a blast!

Arnel Pineda is an amazing addition to Journey. His stage presence is fantastic and he really knows how to interact with the audience. During the first few songs it seemed his voice was drowned out by the music, but the remainder of the concert you could hear him better. The rest of the band is equally talented in each of their respective areas as witnessed by their solo performances. The entire show was fantastic. The only draw back was drunk people in the audience. There was a handicapped women sitting next to us who was unable to stand and the people in front of us refused to sit after multiple times of asking them. A fight started between another audience member due to their lack of consideration. The staff quickly interceded, but didn't have the couple sit down. I think the show should be enjoyed by everyone who purchases a ticket and not by the few who think they are having a private concert just for them. After all, the ticket you purchase is for the seat. You should sit in it, especially if it is interfering with other people's view. Unfortunately this experience overshadowed the otherwise fantastic concert.

I thought nothing could be more exciting than sneaking through a basement window of a university auditorium to see one of the premiere classic rock bands of all-time. It hadn't been 30 seconds after we figured out where there were two open seats when Journey opened their set with "Anyway You Want It" to the roar of the 3,000+ fans in attendance. Guitarist Neal Schon sealed the deal for me with his precise, piercing riffs as the band rocked the crowd with intense energy that the crowd responded to all night. The synchronized lighting system that rhythmically danced with the music for almost every beat contributed to those on the main floor dancing, singing and waving their arms for the entire show while even spectators like us on the risers couldn't help but be out of our seats grooving all night long. Journey is one of those bands that has such polished musically talent that they make the experience of attending a live concert unforgettable. Taking into account the hundreds of concerts I've attended - for pay - this Journey concert will go down in the books as one of the top three...even if it would not have been for free.

Wow, what a tour-de-force of Rock & Roll power...

The Journey, Doobies and Dave Mason show was better than I'd hoped or expected...

I'm a music TV producer and have friends who have played in all of these bands over the years so have seen each group a number of times. I'm loving these super-group mash-ups of recent years and this one did not disappoint me.

I do want to commend the sound crew for the "Journey" set because it was one of the most expert and satisfying live mixes and exhibited real genius in the EQ, and overall artistic treatment.

In recent years I've noticed ( to my disappointment ) more events with inept live sound due to the apparent lack of talent or concern amongst our live-sound mixing communities. Nothing can ruin a great performance easier than a slacker at the board and I'm very happy to report, Journey's sound crew are at the top of their game...

I attended my very first Journey concert last night. Journey with Steve Perry was the very first rock band I truly was enamored with. Sure, the others soon followed, like Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Whitesnake, Guns 'n Roses, Bon Jovi, just to name a few, but none really truly rivaled Journey.

I've always stayed faithful to Journey. The lyrics resonate, the music simply thrills. I'll forever equate "The Voice" with Journey, but I don't mind saying Arnel.... DAMN, you rock! (Neal, glad to see you can still hold your own ;) )

In short, if you are, or have ever been a Journey fan, they will not disappoint.

Saw them in Calgary in 2012 and Arnel had a flu and wasn't even close to top form and the rest of the band had to give him breaks because he was so sick. This time everyone was at their best and it was truly a great show. Very few vocalists sound as good live as they do in a studio, Arnel Pineda is one of them. Neal Schon's solo project wasn't a bad opener, but it didn't exactly get the audience excited either. Overall it was a spectacular show though, I'd see them again without question because of it.

This band just doesn't quit!! Have been going to see them since the70's and they are still o e of the best shows going these days. My daughter is now a big fan. The show last night in Louisville was as good as ever. These guys work hard and it shows in the quality of the show.

Now it's even more fun to watch knowing they are in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame!!!

If they come anywhere around do not miss the show!! I came to this KY show from FL....

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THE LEGENDARY ROCK BAND JOURNEY CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY FREEDOM TOUR 2023

October 17, 2022 – One of the most legendary rock bands of all time, JOURNEY, announces the continuation of their highly successful tour with the 50th Anniversary Celebration Freedom Tour 2023 featuring, very special guest TOTO. JOURNEY , Diamond-selling Rock & Roll Hall of Famers will take the stage in 38 cities across North America with their catalog of global chart-topping hits, including "Don't Stop Believin”, "Any Way You Want It", "Faithfully", "Lights" and more.

Presented by AEG Presents, JOURNEY Freedom Tour 2023 begins February 4 in Allentown, PA – making stops in Austin, Montreal, Memphis and more – before wrapping April 25 at the brand new Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, CA. The 2023 run includes rescheduled dates in Washington DC, Hartford, Toronto and Quebec that were postponed earlier this year due to covid.

Citi is the official card of the JOURNEY 50th ANNIVERSARY Freedom Tour 2023. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets for theU.S. dates beginning Tuesday, October 18th at 10am local time until Thursday, October 20th at 10pm local time through Citi Entertainment (excluding Canada, Washington DC and Hartford shows). For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com. A limited number of exclusive VIP Packages are also available. These exceptional offers can include an amazing selection of reserved seated tickets, custom merchandise and much more.

Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, October 21 at 10am local time HERE

JOURNEY features Founder,Neal Schon (lead guitarist, ), Jonathan Cain (keyboards, backing vocals), Arnel Pineda (lead vocals) Jason Derlatka (keyboards, vocals), and Deen Castronovo (drums, vocals) and Todd Jensen (bass). Neal Schon, 3x Hall of Fame inductee: Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame. Jon Cain is a recipient of two BMI songwriter awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Journey.

Neal Schon: “We are all thankful and overwhelmed by the success of our Journey Freedom Tour 2022 this year and have added a new run of dates for 2023” says JOURNEY Founder Neal Schon. “We are looking forward to hitting the road again with our very good friends Toto! Come join us for a special evening full of fun and Rockin’ good memories. See you soon Friends.”

Jonathan Cain adds “Excited to perform for our fans as we tour next year with Toto. The combined hits of both bands represent a couple of decades of excellence that have become a soundtrack for people’s lives. The music of Journey along with the music of Toto is an example of “certain music” during “uncertain times”.

Very special guest TOTO, who have collectively streamed more than 3.3 billion plays on Spotify alone based on hits including “Rosanna”, “Africa” and “Hold the Line”, will join JOURNEY on all dates.

TOTO’s Steve Lukather shares, “'On behalf of myself and the band, we are very honored and excited to do this tour with our old and dear friends JOURNEY. Gonna be a great night of music, and as all the guys are lifelong friends... a blast off stage as well.”

FREEDOM TOUR 2023 DATES

February 4 Allentown, PA PPL Center

February 5 Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones Arena

February 8 Savannah, GA Enmarket Arena

February 10 Columbia, SC Colonial Life Arena

February 11 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum

February 14 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena

February 17 Knoxville, TN Thompson-Boling Arena

February 19 Bossier City, LA Brookshire Grocery Arena

February 22 Austin, TX Moody Center

February 23 Lafayette, LA Cajundome

February 26 Jacksonville, FL Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena

March 1* Washington, DC Capital One Arena

March 3 State College, PA Bryce Jordan Center

March 4* Hartford, CT XL Center

March 8 Montreal, QC Bell Centre

March 9* Quebec, QC Videotron Centre

March 12* Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena

March 13 Ottawa, ON Canadian Tire Centre

March 16 Buffalo, NY KeyBank Center

March 17 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall

March 20 Champaign, IL State Farm Center

March 21 Moline, IL Vibrant Arena at The MARK

March 24 Sioux Falls, SD Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

March 25 Lincoln, NE Pinnacle Bank Arena

March 28 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena

March 31 Tulsa, OK BOK Center

April 1 Memphis, TN FedExForum

April 4 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center

April 7 Springfield, MO Great Southern Bank Arena

April 8 Wichita, KS INTRUST Bank Arena

April 11 Casper, WY Ford Wyoming Center

April 13 Boise, ID ExtraMile Arena

April 14 Spokane, WA Spokane Arena

April 17 Eugene, OR Matthew Knight Arena

April 19 Stockton, CA Stockton Arena

April 22 Bakersfield, CA Mechanics Bank Arena

April 23 Fresno, CA SaveMart Center

April 25 Palm Springs, CA Acrisure Arena

*Rescheduled date. ON SALE NOW.

ABOUT JOURNEY

Since the group's formation in 1973, JOURNEY has earned 19 top 40 singles, 25 gold and platinum albums, and has sold over 100 million albums globally. Their "Greatest Hits" album is certified 15 times-platinum, making JOURNEY one of the few bands to ever have been diamond-certified, and their song "Don't Stop Believin'" has been streamed over one billion times alone.

JOURNEY was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017, and 2018's co-headlining tour with DEF LEPPARD was the band's most successful tour to date, landing them in the Top 10 year-end touring chart with more than 1 million tickets sold, and earning them the prestigious Billboard "Legends Of Live" touring award. March 2019 saw the release of "Escape & Frontiers Live In Japan", a live DVD/CD set from their concert at the Budokan in Tokyo featuring the band's first-ever performances of the albums "Escape" and "Frontiers" in their entirety. JOURNEY has also received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame and were inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall Of Fame. Additionally, the band is the subject of the award-winning documentary "Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey" about the band's resurgence upon adding Arnel Pineda as lead singer after JOURNEY Founder, Neal Schon discovered the Philippines native on YouTube.

The members of TOTO are celebrating an accomplishment few bands have achieved in the modern era. Cumulative streams of the ensemble’s repertoire

now exceed 3 billion plays. Amongst the most listened to recordings, “Africa” accounts for over one billion streams at Spotify alone. This year the song was recertified by the RIAA 8X Platinum.

Over the past decade, the band has had a major renaissance in popularity like few bands at this point in their career. The audience is truly multi-generational, becoming younger with each passing year. Joining Steve Lukather and Joseph Williams are band members bassist John Pierce (Huey Lewis and The News), drummer Robert “Sput” Searight (Ghost-Note, Founding member Snarky Puppy, Snoop Dogg), keyboardist Dominique “Xavier” Taplin (Prince, Ghost-Note), multi-instrumentalist / vocalist Warren Ham (Ringo Starr) and keyboardist / background vocalist Steve Maggiora,. This line-up marks the fifteenth incarnation of Toto in consideration of band members or sidemen who joined or exited. Individually and collectively, few have had a larger imprint on pop culture than the members of TOTO. The family tree can be heard on an astonishing 5000 albums that together amass a sales history of a half a billion albums. Amongst these recordings, NARAS applauded the performances with hundreds of Grammy nominations.

With now 45+ years together and literally thousands of credits, including the biggest selling album of all time: Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and accolades to their names, TOTO remains one of the top selling touring and recording acts in the world. They are the benchmark by which many artists base their sound and production, and they continue to transcend the standards set by the entire music community, being simply synonymous with musical credibility. They are pop culture and are one of the few 70’s bands that have endured the changing trends and styles continuing to remain relevant.

About AEG Presents

Combining the power of the live event with a focus on true artist development, AEG Presents is a world leader in the music and entertainment industries. Operating across five continents, the company has an unparalleled commitment to artistry, creativity, and community. Its tentpole festivals and multi-day music events — which include the iconic Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and the legendary New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival alongside British Summer Time at Hyde Park, Stagecoach, Hangout Festival, Electric Forest, and Firefly — continue to set the bar for the live music experience. AEG Presents promotes global tours for artists such as The Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran, Elton John, Taylor Swift, Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, Kenny Chesney, Paul McCartney, and Katy Perry, in addition to — through its network of clubs, theatres, arenas, stadiums and renowned partner brands such as The Bowery Presents, Concerts West, Frontier Touring, Goldenvoice, Madison House Presents, Marshall Arts,

Messina Touring Group, PromoWest Productions, and Zero Mile Presents — creating and developing an unmatched infrastructure for artist development and audience reach. More information can be found at www.aegpresents.com.

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All Upcoming Events

The Venue at Thunder Valley Casino Resort | Lincoln, CA

Latest setlist, journey on september 8, 2024.

The Summer Stadium Tour 2024

Coors Field, Denver, Colorado

Note: Final show of the Summer Stadium Tour 2024 with Def Leppard

JOURNEY Introduces New Bassist TODD JENSEN At Las Vegas Residency Kick-Off

Legendary rockers JOURNEY kicked off their month-long Las Vegas residency on Wednesday, December 1 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels.

Filling in on bass for JOURNEY for the six shows is Todd Jensen , a veteran musician who has played for various artists, including the bands SEQUEL , HARDLINE and HARLOW , as well as David Lee Roth , Ozzy Osbourne , Steve Perry , Alice Cooper and Paul Rodgers . Also part of JOURNEY 's current lineup is returning drummer Deen Castronovo , who shared the drum duties in the band earlier this year with Narada Michael Walden . Walden , bassist Randy Jackson and keyboardist/backing singer Jason Derlatka all joined JOURNEY last year following the band's acrimonious split with drummer Steve Smith and bassist Ross Valory . Jackson — who previously played with JOURNEY during the mid-1980s — was forced to miss all the recent gigs because he is reportedly recovering from back surgery. Prior to the residency, Jackson had been replaced at JOURNEY 's 2021 shows by Marco Mendoza , who had played several shows in 2019 with Castronovo and JOURNEY guitarist Neal Schon under the "Neal Schon's Journey Through Time" banner.

JOURNEY has four more Vegas shows left in its residency: December 7,8,10, and 11.

In June, JOURNEY shared a new single, "The Way We Used To Be" . The song was the multi-platinum band's first new music since 2011's album "Eclipse" , and the first track released by the band's revamped lineup. "The Way We Used To Be" marks Walden and Derlatka 's first studio recordings with the band, and Jackson 's first since 1986's "Raised On Radio" . The song was produced by Narada Michael Walden at his Tarpan Studios , with co-production by Schon and Cain .

Since the group's formation in 1973, JOURNEY has earned 19 top 40 singles, 25 gold and platinum albums, and has sold nearly 100 million albums globally. Their "Greatest Hits" album is certified 15 times-platinum, making JOURNEY one of the few bands to ever have been diamond-certified, and their song "Don't Stop Believin'" has been streamed over one billion times alone.

JOURNEY was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017, and 2018's co-headlining tour with DEF LEPPARD was the band's most successful tour to date, landing them in the Top 10 year-end touring chart with more than 1 million tickets sold, and earning them the prestigious Billboard "Legends Of Live" touring award. March 2019 saw the release of "Escape & Frontiers Live In Japan" , a live DVD/CD set from their concert at the Budokan in Tokyo featuring the band's first-ever performances of the albums "Escape" and "Frontiers" in their entirety. JOURNEY has also received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame and were inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall Of Fame . Additionally, the band is the subject of the award-winning documentary "Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey" about the band's resurgence upon adding Arnel Pineda as lead singer after founding member Neal Schon discovered the Philippines native on YouTube .

JOURNEY will team up with Billy Idol and TOTO for a North American tour in February, March, April and May.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Journey (@journeymusicofficial)

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Journey Reveal Lineup Changes, Randy Jackson’s Return

By Daniel Kreps

Daniel Kreps

Journey ‘s Neal Schon announced a pair of lineup changes — including the return of bassist and American Idol judge Randy Jackson — Saturday following an alleged coup attempt by the band’s now-former bassist and drummer.

“Ok Friends word is out!  @randyjackson RJ the Big Dawg is our new Bass player again,” Schon wrote on social media, adding that Grammy-winning drummer Narada Michael Walden had also joined the latest Journey incarnation.

Jackson previously served as Journey’s bassist in the mid-Eighties, appearing on the band’s 1986 LP Raised on Radio . The new lineup made their debut Saturday with a socially distanced performance of “Don’t Stop Believin’” as part of the UNICEF Won’t Stop fundraiser concert.

“Journey is an ever-changing unstoppable force,” Schon added on Twitter. “This is a completely new chapter for us and can’t wait to get to it!”

Fans will have to wait a little longer to see Journey’s new lineup in action after the band canceled their summer tour with the Pretenders due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In March, Journey fired their longtime bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith after the two allegedly attempted to orchestrate a “malicious and very ill-conceived” coup attempt to wrestle control of the Rock Hall-inducted group’s copyright away from Schon and Jonathan Cain; Valory and Smith later countersued their former band mates.

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“The Journey name is controlled by Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain,” a lawyer for Cain and Schon told Rolling Stone at the time. “And for very good cause, they don’t want to perform with Smith or Valory anymore, they don’t want to have anything to do with them, and that’s their right. They’re going to go on with Journey, continue with the great success of the past and these two guys are going to get replaced.”

Valory, a co-founding member of Journey, was previously fired by the band in 1985 ; at that time, he was also replaced by Jackson.

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How Journey’s Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain Finally Mended Fences

Journey continues to celebrate their 50th anniversary during ongoing dates with Toto , followed by a mammoth summer stadium tour  featuring Def Leppard and Steve Miller Band . They're doing so with a renewed brotherly bond between co-founding guitarist Neal Schon and longtime keyboardist Jonathan Cain .

As drummer Deen Castronovo tells UCR, Journey's main songwriters found a way to "mend the fences" thanks to "communication" which allowed the pair to sort out festering differences for the greater good of the band and their continuing legacy.

Castronovo spoke about this turn of events during a Zoom conversation from Philadelphia on an off-day. He also discussed the upcoming shows with Def Leppard and the recent release of Against the Winds , the newest album from his band Revolution Saints .

The current Journey tour with Toto seems like it's been really fun. Oh dude, of course they’ve been incredible. Neal told me yesterday that out of all of the shows, there’s only three that aren’t full sellouts, there are like maybe 30 or 40 tickets left in those three arenas. So we’re doing great, man. The tour’s going great, Toto is amazing. It’s just been incredible. We’re sounding great and the band’s getting along amazing again. We’re having a good time. You can see it on stage. We’re having a blast.

That's really great to hear. I don't know what turned the tide, but it's good that things have changed. You know, Jon and Neal, I think it was all about just communication. Having those guys sit down. You know, with Michaele [Schon] and Paula [White-Cain], actually the wives helped a lot. It was bringing them in and just going, “Guys, talk this out.” This is too big, too beautiful and too great to see it flushed down the toilet. Mend the fences. Now, we’ve got Michaele – and Paula, Jon’s wife, it’s all four of them, co-managing this band and it’s working. They’re getting along and they’re working together. It’s one jet again instead of two. They’re running it like a business. That’s what it should have been. There was a lot of turmoil in both camps and nobody was talking. That was the problem. Now, they’re all talking and communicating and it’s working great. You know, Paula’s a great businesswoman. She’s smart. Smart with money. Michaele is a people person and she’s got the gift of gab. We just do our jobs. We go out and play and it works! Man, it’s great. I’ve got to give all four of them credit.

READ MORE: How Did Journey Survive Their 50th Anniversary Tour?

Journey has done a good amount of shows with Toto at this point. It seems like there's a good bond there. Musically, the package fits. The musicianship in both bands is stellar. Watching Luke [ Steve Lukather ] every night, it’s unbelievable. Then, I get to play with Neal, another unbelievable player. You know, it’s the greatest players in the [same] area. It’s a dream come true. It’s a really great package and there’s not a lot of them out there. So it’s pretty cool to see two bands that have that pedigree and resume going out and doing what we’re doing together. It’s been great.

I've always been impressed with how you honor the different drumming eras of Journey with your playing. I knew Aynsley [Dunbar] 's stuff from the earlier records, but I didn’t get into him until later on, really. Infinity is when I heard him play, but I didn’t know the stuff before. Once I heard Infinity , I went back and got the three earlier records with Aynsley really tearing it up. It’s just amazing. He’s a British drummer and he’s got that British feel. Great backbeat and an amazing player. Then, of course [Steve] Smith , he’s a god to me. I knew him on the records, but then I heard Captured and went, “Oh-oh-oh- ohhhh !” This is all new information that I’d never heard before! I just picked right up on that, because I was a Neil Peart and Peter Criss fan. So I heard Smith, then I heard [Terry] Bozzio. I was seeing where those guys all got their stuff and that changed my whole drumming perspective. Even Mike Baird, when he played with them for [the] Raised on Radio [tour], it was just the biggest, widest pocket on the planet. He’d lay it down. Him and Randy Jackson? Unbelievable. What a great duo those guys were.

Listen to Journey's 'La Do Da' From 'Captured'

What songs were challenging initially when you first joined the band in the '90s? It’s funny, it was “Don’t Stop Believin’.” I thought Smith was playing it like this [Castronovo demonstrates the drumming technique]. I had no idea about anything open-handed! I said, “Well, I need to know ‘Don’t Stop Believin’” and he starts giggling. He’s like, “It’s open-handed. The high hat’s here and you’re doing all of this stuff here.” It took me a little while. There’s three different parts to that. It’s not just the same thing. The first part is just the toms, then the tom with the ride cymbal and then the tom with a different ride cymbal pattern on the toms. I had to learn it. It was great because I knew most of the other stuff, but it was his feel and just his emotion when he plays. He’s got such a swing to his playing. For me, you know, I was a rock guy. I was like, “Okay, I swing like a brick!” [Laughs] So I had to learn that feel and I learned all of that from Smith, just listening to Steve.

READ MORE: Why Journey Never Accepted the 'Corporate Rock' Tag

I sat there for maybe an hour, working on two or three songs and then we were trading fours and he was just wiping the floor up with me. It was unbelievable. I’m like, “What are you doing there with that cymbal thing?” He took some lessons from a guy named Freddie Gruber. Neil Peart took lessons from him as well. It’s all about motion and not playing through a drum, but instead, bringing the sound out of a drum. You know, pulling it out instead of pushing it in. So I learned a lot. But he was doing this stuff and he’s like, “Well, can you do that? Let me go slow.” He’d show it to me and I’d be like, “I can’t do that.” [Laughs] I guess if I took enough time and really studied it – like, sat down with Smith for six months every day, for six hours a day, I could play that kind of stuff. But he’s just so amazing, man. He’s still my all-time favorite drummer. There’s nobody that touches him in my book. There really isn’t.

These current shows with Toto will be good fuel for the summer stadium tour with Def Leppard. Oh dude, it’s gonna be great. For me, this is my first stadium tour with Journey. We’ve done stadiums before, but not an entire tour. The last time I did an entire tour of stadiums was with Vasco Rossi in Italy, doing venues like San Siro – sold out three nights in a row, 100,000 seats a night. That was the last time and that was ’96, ’97. So this is going to be really cool. And I haven’t been with the Def Leppard guys since 2006, that’s when I toured with them – and that was great as well. You know, they’re great guys and they’re funny. Joe Elliott is a kick in the pants, man. He’s hilarious. Very dry British humor and you’ve got to have thick skin! [Laughs] But he’s hilarious – totally awesome. Then, you’ve got Rick Allen, who I really respect and admire as a person. Not just as a player, but as a person. He’s a really spiritually sound guy. I love the man. Good person.

READ MORE: When Journey Stopped Making Videos

I haven't spoken with you about Revolution Saints since you got Jeff Pilson and Joel Hoekstra into the band . Now you're two albums in and on the way to three with those guys. You know, I was nervous, obviously, eecause Doug [Aldrich] , Jack [Blades] and I had a wonderful chemistry [for the first three albums]. Jack was our fearless leader and it felt great. The camaraderie was so beautiful. So when they left, I’m like, “Okay, who are we going to get with that camaraderie, that feel and that chemistry? That’s going to be tough.” You can get the greatest players in the world, but if there’s no chemistry, it’s kind of pointless. But I’ve known Jeff from our tours with Foreigner and Journey. I knew Joel from the tours with Night Ranger and Journey. So we had that friendship. It was like, “Great, I know these guys are wonderful people.”

Their playing speaks for itself. They’re great players. I mean, they throw down. Doug has a raw, John Sykes kind of vibe. Joel is a little more smooth, but he’s still got that vibe. He throws down. It’s two different guitarists, but they’re very similar. Joel fits really well. Jeff, of course, he’s so prolific – great songwriter, great vocalist. He’s got that thing. We lock in really well. We haven’t played any shows live and I’m really curious to see what that’s going to be like, because I want to, but it’s the schedules, man. You know how that is. I’m with Journey. We’re gone until November. Chances are, we’ll be back out again in January, like we usually do. This is how we keep food on the table. I’m hoping that there will be some time for Revolution Saints to play live. But again, Jeff’s out with Foreigner and Joel’s got his projects – Whitesnake and all of that stuff. It’s going to be tough, but I’m sure someday, it’s going to happen. It can’t not, because I’m going to make it happen.

Listen to Revolution Saints' 'Fall on My Knees'

The Best Song From Every Journey Album

Gallery Credit: Nick DeRiso

You Think You Know Journey?

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"I have stood on stage during some difficult situations": Journey's Jonathan Cain on band animosity, the long life of Don't Stop Believin', and why they don't play Germany

AOR giants Journey are currently on tour, and will bring the show to the UK for the first time in over a decade later this year

Considered to be a true kingpin of 1970s American hard rock, Journey need no introduction. Don’t Stop Believin’ might be more than four decades old now, but the song has brought the San Franciscan band a whole new level of fame in recent times. Below, we catch up with Jonathan Cain, who co-wrote it with guitarist Neal Schon and former singer Steve Perry.

Journey are currently on tour in the US with Def Leppard , with an 11-date arena tour lined up for the UK and Ireland later in the year. Tickets for all shows are on sale now . 

Official verification is still required, but Forbes magazine recently claimed that Don’t Stop Believin’ is the most popular song of all time, so congratulations for that.  

There are many, many, many great songs in our time, and that distinction is such an honour. And of course being on the road, the accolade was also pretty timely for us. 

Steve Perry, one of the song’s co-writers, said he was “emotionally stunned” by the news. He’s been out of Journey since 1998. Do you or the rest of the band have much contact with him these days? 

Not really, though I know him vicariously through my son-in-law Trev Lukather [son of Toto guitarist Steve] who gives me up updates. Trev often says: “Someday I’ll get you together with Steve over a cup of coffee,” to which I reply: “Send him my love” [a reference to the song Send Her My Love from Journey’s 1983 album Frontiers ]. Steve has been active singing backgrounds on people’s records, and he was on Dolly Parton’s record [ Rockstar ]. It’s good to see that happening. 

As part of the band’s ongoing fiftieth anniversary celebrations, Journey’s upcoming UK tour is their first visit here since 2013.  

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That’s a long time! It’s been too long. We were caught up touring here [in the US]. We would ask our management, and they’d tell us there has to be a demand. We know full well that places like Germany are not our market. Even when we go there, nobody comes. Our true fans are in the UK, and when we looked into things it was time to bring the lads back.

It’s difficult to believe that Arnel Pineda, Journey’s current vocalist, has been in the band since 2007. 

After sixteen years Arnel is no longer the new guy. I call him The Crusher, because every time we throw him a challenge he crushes it. I still remember when we played with Def Leppard and it was the first time Joey [Elliott] had heard him. Joey looked at me, raised an eyebrow and said: “Woah, that kid can sing.” Steve Perry will always be recognised as the architect and the voice, but Arnel is the keeper of our legacy. We’re awfully proud of him.

Many of Journey’s songs are very demanding to perform, and the burnout rate of the band’s past singers speaks for itself, and yet Arnel is still doing great. 

We brought in a voice expert from LA to work with him. This guy brought in a kind of metal straw that allows the vocal cords to warm up without putting strain on them. I was sceptical, but this thing really works. It’s genius. 

Special guests on the upcoming tour are the acclaimed Illinois power-pop quartet Cheap Trick, who celebrate their own fiftieth anniversary this year. How well do you know those guys? 

I toured with them a lot in my band The Babys – Cheap Trick and The Babys was a hot ticket back then [at the end of the 70s]. It was always wall-to-wall young girls. John Waite [Babys frontman] was such a huge fan, he would always want to stay on at the venue and watch Cheap Trick. They made us realise we had to step up to the next level. 

There has been some well-publicised animosity within Journey [in 2022 Neal Schon filed a Cease And Desist order against Cain, whose wife, the televangelist Paula White-Cain, is the former US president Donald Trump’s spiritual advisor, after the Journey man performed Don’t Stop Believin ’ at the White House]. How does that manifest itself while the group is on tour?  

We take all of that down a notch for the sake of the band. The music is louder [than the negativity]. No matter who has said what, or anything that’s going on in the background, it’s all about bringing the best show that you can bring. 

Do the protagonists have separate dressing rooms on tour these days? 

[Side-stepping the question] It doesn’t mess with our chemistry. I have stood on stage during some difficult situations. But once you get up there and start playing those songs, all of us in the band are where we are supposed to be. It would be selfish [to let personal issues] affect the show. We owe our fans more than that. Our fans are everything. 

How many songs from Journey’s current album Freedom will be on the set-list for this tour?  

Right now we’re only playing one [ Let It Rain ], but we are working on a new, new song, and if we can get that up to speed we may be playing that one too. We’ll see. 

When you say ‘new, new’ you mean completely unheard, and maybe something that could be on the next album?  

Brand new, right out of the box. If it gets accepted then who knows… it might be a single.

Can you share the title?  

[Slightly warily] It’s called This Town . It’s about the fans. That fifty-year relationship we’ve had with them. We wrote it about their loyalty. The hook is: ‘ Tonight, it’s all about this town .’ 

Are you currently working on and stockpiling material for what would be a follow-up to Freedom ?  

I don’t know yet. It’s so tough out there. We had hoped for better results with Freedom , even though it was cut-and-paste, a bit of an experiment during covid. The covid song I wrote with Neal, The Way We Used To Be , was tongue-in-cheek all the way, and we weren’t able to release it in time, so it didn’t get much love. I heard a lot of bad covid songs – I mean some really bad ones – so we needed to do something that was really slick. That’s when I had the idea of two lovers not being about to see one another. 

What do you think of the special attention that Don’t Stop Believin’ receives, especially after its connection to a brand new audience after it appeared in the US TV series Glee , ahead of all the other songs in Journey’s catalogue?  

I don’t think that’s strange. It’s always been a special song to me because it gives us all permission to dream. When I first joined the band, my message to them was that we needed to write a song that spoke to the fans. Don’t Stop Believin’ was a conscious attempt for Steve and I to bring them into our song. There’s a lot of smalltown girls and boys out there wanting to get on to the midnight train to anywhere. And you know that we broke all of the rules with that song? 

In what way?  

Well, the chorus only happens once, and it comes right at the end. And Neal solos even before Steve sings. And yet it became the most downloaded rock song of all time. 

Who was the most surprising person to tell you that they dug Don’t Stop Believin'?  

Bruce Springsteen. There was a charity gala, and Bruce, Elton Joh n and Lady Gaga sang it on stage somewhere. It’s out there on the net somewhere, you can check it out.

Dave Ling was a co-founder of Classic Rock magazine. His words have appeared in a variety of music publications, including RAW, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Prog, Rock Candy, Fireworks and Sounds. Dave’s life was shaped in 1974 through the purchase of a copy of Sweet’s album ‘Sweet Fanny Adams’, along with early gig experiences from Status Quo, Rush, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Yes and Queen. As a lifelong season ticket holder of Crystal Palace FC, he is completely incapable of uttering the word ‘Br***ton’.

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Deion Sanders Reportedly Told Colorado Marching Band Not to Play Fight Song After TDs So His Son’s Own Song Could Be Played Instead

Rebecca S. Gratz/AP

Deion Sanders has reportedly done away with the Colorado band’s tradition of playing the fight song after touchdowns in favor of his son’s own song.

The Buffaloes lost 28-10 to Nebraska on Saturday night. Following the team’s poor effort, writer Jake Shapiro published an article about the team’s lack of “fight” for 104.3 The Fan . According to Shapiro, that even goes as far as the playing of the fight song:

Sanders’ team didn’t take the time to learn the 35-word fight song, in which the last five words are all the same—fight. We saw no fight when Colorado tried to defend a large lead against Stanford in 2023. And there was very little fight while the team lost seven of their last eight games. A year later and the offensive line still doesn’t fight for each other. A year later and the fight song doesn’t even play in the stadium after the quarterback throws a touchdown. Deion Sanders told the band they couldn’t play if his son Shedeur Sanders scores a touchdown so that the loudspeaker can play a recording of his son’s song “Perfect Timing.”

That information will surely add to the wave of backlash Shedeur has already faced since Saturday’s loss. In addition to walking off the field before the game even ended, the 22-year-old spoke about his team’s struggles in a way that many interpreted throwing his teammates under the bus.

Founder of classic rock group accused of backtracking in court by band’s keyboardist

• Published: Aug. 28, 2024, 11:07 a.m.

Neal Schon, the lead guitarist of Journey, performs during a concert at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 6, 2022. AP

• Kaylyn Greene | [email protected]

Journey members Neil Schon and Jonathan Cain are still dealing with the band’s legal issues, and new details regarding the bandmates’ court case have been revealed.

In a new filing , Cain’s attorney, Kasey H. Desantis, says Schon is now backtracking on their agreement to fix the band’s financial deadlock, calling this “inconsistent with respondents prior communications with the court and Discovery Facilitator Joseph Slights explicitly agreeing to the appointment of a third, deadlock breaking director.”

“On Sunday evening, it became apparent that Mr.Schon is attempting to backtrack on his agreement for the Court to appoint a custodian to serve as a third, deadlock-breaking director of Freedom 2020, Inc., and is now seeking to inappropriately limit the role of the custodian,” the filing reads.

“This is inconsistent with Respondent’s counsel’s prior communications with the Court and Discovery Facilitator Joseph Slights explicitly agreeing to the appointment of a third, deadlock-breaking director.”

Schon made a statement on Facebook last week, explaining that he and Cain don’t always get along, but he was willing to take the “high road” and fix their issues for the fans’ sake.

“Anyone who follows Journey will know that Jon Cain and I don’t always see eye-to-eye on everything. Or, sometimes, on pretty much anything,” Schon wrote. “Recently, Jon Cain made a number of claims and slanderous accusations about me and my wife – and I can’t stress enough how much it upset me and how wrong they are.”

“I am determined to take the high road and push all this aside for the moment to focus on our fans, the tour, and all who give so much to make things happen,” Schon wrote. “That’s why I’m so glad that Jon now agrees with me that the current dynamic can’t continue. It’s also why I’m pleased that we’re going to bring in someone impartial to help us resolve our disputes, bring clarity to what we’re doing, and allow us, as a band, to get back to what we should all focus on – making music and performing for our fans.”

In early August, the two bandmates asked a Delaware judge to help resolve their financial deadlock and, more recently, agreed to bring in an impartial person to fix the ownership issue within the band’s legal entity, Freedom 2020.

According to court filings, Schon is the president of Freedom 2020, a company created to handle the band’s tour-related finances. He and Cain each have a 50% stake in the company.

Before the August filing, Cain filed claims against Schon for overspending back in July, saying that Schon misused the band’s AMEX card.

The July court filing claims that Schon “has blown past a $1,500-per-night hotel fee cap, maxed out an American Express card with a $1 million limit, unilaterally chartered private jets, hired a close friend as unnecessary extra security, and blocked efforts to pay the band’s debts,” according to reports from BloombergLaw.

The band founder was accused of spending up to $10,000 on hotels for his wife and crew members and “hundreds of thousands of dollars” on private jets, reportedly for him, his wife, and his company.

Journey had been on tour to celebrate its 50th anniversary on tour but recently announced the cancelation of United Kingdom dates due to ongoing legal issues.

The band was able to play for the Hershey audience in July alongside rock legends Deff Leppard and The Steve Miller Band.

Stories by Kaylyn Greene

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Richard Carpenter Is Still Playing the Carpenters’ Hits

As pianist, arranger, and singer of soft rock duo the Carpenters , Richard Carpenter, alongside his singing and drumming sister Karen , dominated the charts in the ’70s. Hits like “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “(They Long to Be) Close fo You” and “Superstar” made them one of the best-selling bands of all time, with 12 Billboard top 10 hits and millions of albums sold. But following Karen’s tragic death in 1983, Richard stepped back from the limelight. What has he been up to in the decades since?

Early Carpenter years

Older than Karen by four years, Richard Carpenter was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1946, where he and Karen spent their early years. In 1963, the family relocated to the Los Angeles suburb of Downey, California, to aid Richard in his nascent career music career — he was considered something of a child prodigy and could already play multiple instruments.

After the siblings banded together to create a few bands that didn’t quite go anywhere, like the Carpenter Trio and Spectrum, they formed the Carpenters in 1968, and were signed to A & M Records, where they released their debut album, Offering, better known as Ticket to Ride , in 1969. Though the album got some chart traction, it was nothing compared to 1970’s Close to You , an instant blockbuster that sold millions of copies . Though many of the Carpenters’ hits were covers, Richard wrote a number of their songs, including “Top of the World;” he also produced and arranged the lush, multi-tracked arrangements of each song that became the band’s sonic signature.

Karen Carpenter, Richard Carpenter, 1971. Raphael/TV Guide/Courtesy Everett Collection

The Carpenters spent the rest of the decade working: touring the world, frequently appearing on TV, and releasing 10 studio albums between 1969 and 1981, as well as countless live recordings. But the demands of stardom placed tremendous strain on the pair: Richard became addicted to Quaaludes over the course of the ’70s, kicking his habit in 1979, and Karen developed anorexia nervosa, which despite treatment, took her life in 1983.

Life after Karen’s death

After Karen’s death, Richard remained active in the music industry, both releasing solo albums and producing other performers for A & M Records. In 1983, he released the Carpenters album Voice of the Heart , which included tracks cut from previous recording sessions with Karen; the following year, he released the Carpenters Christmas album, An Old-Fashioned Christmas . Also in 1984, Richard married Mary Rudolph, with whom he would go on to have five children.

Richard Carpenter with his wife and daughter at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards. Hulton Archive/Getty

In 1986, he released his first solo album, Time , which included new songs and collaborations with Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warwick . Despite his distaste for participating in public conversation about his sister’s death, in 1988, he was a producer on the made-for-TV movie The Karen Carpenter Story; as he told the Los Angeles Times at the time, he was hesitant to make the film, but “If it has to be made, we’re the people who should be making it.” The film included two previously unreleased Carpenters tracks; those songs appeared on the 1988 Carpenters outtakes collection, Lovelines .

Richard’s next solo album, 1997’s Pianist, Arranger, Composer, Conductor , looked back towards his career with Karen, featuring new arrangements of the pair’s hits. But it failed to make much of a splash.

In the 2000s, Richard underwrote the Richard Carpenter Scholarship Competition in Thousand Oaks, California, for young singers, dancers and musicians.

In 2008, Carpenter planned a comeback. “It’s a different business. Music is a different world from when Karen and I were signed by Herb Alpert in 1969,” he said in an Associated Press interview at the time. “But I feel I have some talent.” He planned to release a Carpenters tribute album, a Christmas album, and then a solo album.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Richard Carpenter (@richardcarpenterofficial)

The only one of those that seemed to materialize was 2021’s Richard Carpenter’s Piano Songbook , which again saw him revisiting Carpenter’s hits.

Today, Richard can periodically be seen playing live with his children,  who perform a mix of Carpenters tunes and standards with him as the Carpenter Family Singers.

She was under the care of psychotherapist Steven Levenkron.

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