Showing posts with label Ticket Stub. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ticket Stub. Show all posts

Sunday, April 10, 2022

Journey at the Los Angeles Forum 1983

 Journey played at the Los Angles Forum for 5 days in 1983! It was August 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, and 10th!


Sold Out all 5 days!! 


I share my T-shirt from the event with you now...


I went to the concert for all five days. I always thought it was 5 nights in a row, but this shows that there was a break on August 8th. This was the last time that I saw Steve Perry in concert. (The next time was in person, but that's for another day). I took 5 different friends to the concert. This concert was a huge deal in 1983. I did have some trouble finding people to go with me as my friends were all into new wave, certainly not Journey. Then everyone wanted to go once they played the first night. I was turning people away by the last night.


Here's a copy of my tickets for the first night. $15.00 was a lot of money in 1983, especially for a 20 year old.



Saturday, June 18, 2016

Journey's Concert Ticket Evolution Through Time part 10, Onward

Journey's latest Tour, "The San Francisco Fest 2016", has started off with a Bang! First we get Journey's main drummer back! Steve Smith rejoins Journey after his departure in 1998. He joined the band in 1979 after drummer Aynsley Dunbar left the band.

Steve Smith's drumming is so identifiable to the Journey sound that it's a huge improvement. This tour is the closest Journey has come to sounding like Journey than they have since 1997. The Tour kicked off on April 13, 2016 at Madison Square Gardens in New York City. The following is a ticket stub from April 16, 2016 at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA. The poster for these first three shows can be seen below.

April 16, 2016 at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA with Santana



Next, Journey played the Forum in Inglewood, CA (Los Angeles) with Santana. The the Tour continued on with The Doobie Brothers and special guest Dave Mason  and sometimes Neal "Vortex" Schon starting on May 5 2016 and going through at least September....



Here's a ticket stub from May 20, 2016 at GEXA Energy Pavillion in Dallas Texas. This ticket and video comes courtesy of Brian at bootradr.blogspot.com...

May 20, 2016 at Gexa Energy Pavillion in Dallas Texas



On Sunday, September 4, 2016 at 3:00PM comes the "San Francisco Fest 2016 On The Green" at AT&T Park in San Francisco where all bands including Santana, Journey, The Doobie Brothers, and The Steve Miller Band all on one Stage! There will also be a special guest, maybe even "Neal 'Vortex' Schon"...



I think it's seriously time for Journey to get back in the Studio and record a new album. It would be released in 2017 which would be 6 years since "eclipse" was released. Steve Perry has said on radio that he will be releasing an album in early 2016. Hopefully one way or another we will hear some new music soon.

Rumors still fly about Steve Perry getting back with the band. Of course that's what we need. To come back permanently would mean letting go of Arnel Pineda and releasing a new album, because Steve wouldn't want to sing anything from any album after "Trial By Fire". It seems more likely he could come back for a tour or some shows except for the fact that Steve has made it completely clear that he doesn't like touring. That only leaves a new album to record with the band. I'd go for that, a new Journey album with Steve Perry, yea I could get into that.

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Journey's Concert Ticket Evolution Through Time part 9, Freedom

By 2008 Neal Schon has a new wife and she too likes the internet. She happened across a guy named Arnel Pineda singing some of Journey's hits. Arnel soon becomes Journey's new lead singer and the band re-records 11 of Journey's top singles. This was done for financial reason to cut Steve Perry out of some royalties. The songs lack anything new and are just not as good, then you add a soundalike voice and the results are what you'd expect.

The first album with Journey's new singer is called Revelation. It's the first non-Perry Journey album to actually be really good. This one has some great songs that could have well been a follow up to Frontiers back in 1985. Finally Journey had some good songs to incorporate into the set so it wasn't only just the old greatest hits list. In 2011 Journey released the "Eclipse" album that was over-hyped and under-performed in sales and radio play. The "eclipse" tour of 2011-2012 were the first signs that Arnel's vocals too were starting to wear.

Former Member Steve Smith comes on again as Journey's drummer starting in 2016. Steve Smith was a member from 1979 though 1997 so it's been almost 20 years without him. There is only one more old member they need back in the lineup and that would be Steve Perry. One day it will happen and there will be sold out shows across america once again. The question is when.

Ticket Prices are roughly $50.00 in 2008 and they reach a whopping $129.00 in 2016 to See Journey with Steve Smith and Santana together. This is an absolute outrage. No wonder Journey can't get back in the limelight, the audience can't afford to go to the shows!

June 17, 2008 - Hammersmith Apollo. London, England

July 27, 2008 - Superpages.com Amphitheatre. Dallas, TX

March 26, 2011 - Arena Movistar. Santiago, Chile

July 21, 2012 - San Manuel Amphitheatre. San Bernardino, CA

October 30, 2012 - Barclays Center. Brooklyn, NY

March 14, 2015 - MidFlorida Credit Union at FL State Fairgrounds. Tampa, FL
Steve Miller Band, Tower Of Power

April 16, 2016 - PPL Center - Allentown, PA - Santana

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Journey's Concert Ticket Evolution Through Time part 8, Voices

2005 was Journey's 30th anniversary since the first album was released! Journey was celebrating their 30th by having every member take a shot at lead vocals on at least one song on the new album, "Generations". This may have been a misfire as most of the songs do not sound like Journey. It is nice to hear the different voices, so maybe if the songs were better it would have a difference. The band also gave the album away at the concerts so there wasn't any reason for anyone to buy it.

Maybe the reason to use all of the bands voices was to cover up what was tragically happening to Steve Augeri. It seems Journey's grueling touring schedules have strained his voice. Unable to finish out the 2006-2007 Tour, he was replaced by Jeff Scott Soto to finish out the Tour. Apparently people didn't really like the different voice and demanded a Steve Perry soundalike. This would be the only Tour for Jeff with Journey as he never became a member of the band.

Ticket Prices continue to rise. By now the lowest ticket price listed here is nearly $40.00. My tickets at the Pechanga Inn were a ridiculous $85.00 each for a show that wasn't any different than the show I saw in 2001. This was the last time that I have seen Journey in concert. The crowd were middle aged fans and then some younger adults who probably don't even know who Steve Perry was. I didn't see many teenagers at the show.

The shows consisted again of the greatest hits from the Steve Perry era. Jonathan still enjoyed being Gregg Rolie while Deen Castronovo sang a few songs to ease the strain on Steve Augeri. Ross Valory always keeps consistent while Neal Schon wails on his guitar, so at least we had that.


September 27, 2005 - Nokia Live Theater. Grand Prairie, TX

October 5, 2005 - Pechanga Resort and Casino. Temecula, CA

July 29, 2006 - Smirnoff Music Centre Dallas, TX - Def Leppard

October 14, 2006 - Hyundai Pavilion at Glen Helen - Def Leppard

March 6, 2007 - Manchester Apollo Theatre. Manchester, UK

March 7, 2007 - Manchester Apollo Theatre. Manchester, UK

March 14, 2007 - Hammersmith Apollo. London , UK

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Journey's Concert Ticket Evolution Through Time part 7, Vacations Over

1996 brought a reunion of Journey. A new album called "Trial By Fire" was released and the band was set for a new concert tour. Everybody except Steve Perry that is. Because Steve refused to tour, the band was left to find a new singer. Neal's wife at the time found a guy named Steve Augeri online that could fit the band and somewhat sound like Steve Perry. It seems Neal owes a lot of his band to his many wives.

"Remember Me" was the first single with the new singer from a movie soundtrack called "Armageddon." That was in 1998 and then came the "Vacation's Over Tour" which was basically a greatest hits show. In 2001 came the first album with Steve Augeri called "Arrival" and the "Arrival Tour of 2001. In 2002 Journey released an EP called "Red 13" which also had a tour following the release. Again, the shows were greatest hits shows form the Steve Perry days. Jonathan also tried his hand at taking Gregg Rolie's vocals on some of the bands older hits.

Journey was in no way bringing in the crowds like they did in their before. It was great to have Journey back and at first everyone was excited but it wasn't the same. Steve Perry was very much a showman that engaged the audience. Steve Augeri stood there on stage, barely moved and sang wonderfully, but the excitement was missing.

Ticket Prices had jumped dramatically in 10-15 years. The lowest ticket price shown here is $21.50 , and most between $40.00 and $60.00 for a band without their real singer! Add the scalping charge and the prices were outrageous. My tickets were $55.00 each face value, so I must have paid at least $80.00 each to see them at the Greek Theatre on August 14, 2001.


December 15, 1998 - Sarovan Theater. Fresno, CA

December 20, 1998 - Theater of the Clouds. Portland, OR

June 13, 1999 - Blockbuster. Camden, NJ - Foreigner

July 25, 1999 - Starplex  Amphitheater.  Dallas, TX - Foreigner

June 12, 2001 - New Orleans Arena. New Orleans, LA - Peter Frampton, John Waite

August 14, 2001 - The Greek. Los Angeles, CA - Peter Frampton, John Waite

August 15, 2001 - The Greek. Los Angeles, CA - Peter Frampton, John Waite

August 23, 2002 - Konocti Harbor Resort Amphitheater  Kelseyville, CA

September 1, 2002 - Mahoning County Fairgrounds. Canfield, OH

June 8, 2003 - Smirnoff Music Center. Dallas, TX - REO Speedwagon, STYX

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Journey's Concert Ticket Evolution Through Time part 6, Insanity

The momentum that had been building for Journey first got derailed with a Journey release that was't Journey, at least not all the way. Steve Perry released a solo album called "Street Talk" which sold as well as any Journey album so he was all of a sudden a star. This meant that he was in control of Journey. This is when all logic was thrown out so that Steve Perry could turn Journey into his next solo project.

The album and Tour is called "Raised On Radio," the only other Journey album title since "Look Into The Future" to be more than one word. Founding member, Ross Valory, and Steve Smith were fired by Steve Perry and replaced with studio musicians. When it came time to tour, Randy Jackson and Mike Baird were brought in for Bass and drums. This band no longer sounded like Journey and they sure didn't like Journey either.

After the many delays and only having one song on that album that actually sounds like a Journey song, "Be Good Yourself", the band set off on Tour. The shows were big, the video projection was better than ever, but some the audience had lost interest in Journey by now. The shows were hardly Journey shows, with all the added songs from solo projects and adding an Elvis Presley tune it didn't sound much like Journey. The 1986 band didn't resemble the 1970's version of the band at all.

When the Tour was over Steve Perry decided to stop and he went into seclusion and wouldn't be seen with Journey until 1991. Finally in 1993 Steve Perry was no longer a member of the band and Herbie Herbert would no longer be their manager.

October 1, 1986 - Freedom Hall. Louisville, KY - Glass Tiger

October 26, 1986 - Meadowlands Arena. E. Rutherford, NJ - Glass Tiger

December 10, 1986 - The Summit. Houston, TX - Glass Tiger

December 27, 1986 - Long Beach Arena. Long Beach, CA - Glass Tiger


1994 marks the year of the return of Steve Perry. Steve released his second album titled "For The Love Of Strange Medicine". The album wasn't as successful as 1984's "Street Talk" but Steve did Tour this time around. Steve Perry toured through 1994 and 1995 while Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain worked on other projects including "Bad English" and "The Storm".

January 11, 1995 - Steve Perry - Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, OR

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Journey's Concert Ticket Evolution Through Time part 5, New Frontiers

The Frontiers Tour of 1983 was the biggest audience Journey ever brought in. The shows were sold out everywhere! Journey was a household name by this time. Children, teenagers and adults all liked this band! Only the biggest venues in each city were used and the Video Projection that Herbie Herbert created was used again. They were even renting it out to other bands.

The shows were incredible! The band even played an original keyboard instrumental to kick off the shows. It was called "Elmo's Theme. It would also play at the end of the fireworks at the end of the shows. Songs added to the setlist were Neal Schon and Jan Hammer's single "Lies" as well as the Kenny Loggins/Steve Perry hit, "Don't Fight It". The shows became a mostly "Escape" and "Frontiers" with the bands older staples used as encores, like "Any Way You Want It", "Wheel In The Sky", "Lights", and "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'".

As Ticketron continued to corner the market, prices were really gauged at this time. Face value of the tickets hadn't gone up this year, but you were very lucky if you could get a ticket for $30.00. Ticket agencies started popping up in malls where you could buy tickets, choose the seats you wanted and paid a huge service fee resulting in tickets costing anywhere from $30.00 to $100.00 per ticket or more. I like to call these places scalping agencies and my favorite was "Good Time Tickets" on Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. They seem to always have the best seats.

Oh, Sherry, the band was starting to break at the seams. Steve Perry started using his own transportation, no longer riding with the rest of the band to the shows. The shows themselves were always great and exciting, but they seemed more formulaic. They didn't veer much off the prepared set list. Steve Perry's talking to the audience seemed very much rehearsed and not as authentic as previous tours. The band members were having babies and raising families by this point. The band wanted to slow down and enjoy the success by spending time with their families.

March 2, 1983 - Budokan Hall. Tokyo Japan

April 6, 1983 - Devaney Sports Center, U Nebraska. Lincoln NB - Bryan Adams

April 9, 1983 - Hulman Center. Ind. St. U., Terre Haute, IN - Bryan Adams

April 21, 1983 - The Omni. Atlanta, GA - Bryan Adams

May 2, 1983 - Capitol Center. Largo, MD - Bryan Adams

June 1, 1983 - Market Square Arena, Indianapolis IN - Bryan Adams
June 5, 1983 - Hollander Stadium, Rochester, NY - Bryan Adams

July 16, 1983 - Mid-South Coliseum. Memphis, TN - Bryan Adams

August 5, 1983 - Los Angeles Forum. Los Angeles, CA - Bryan Adams

August 7, 1983 - Los Angeles Forum. Los Angeles, CA - Bryan Adams
The "Frontiers" album had two shining tracks suddenly removed before it went into mass production and replaced with lesser songs. "Ask The Lonely", and "Only The Young" were held back and later used in movie soundtracks.

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Journey's Concert Ticket Evolution Through Time part 4, The Big Escape

This is the big one. Journey's Escape Tour which started in July 1981 saw the biggest growth in audience of any Journey Tour when it ended in December. The audience kept getting bigger and bigger. There were sold out shows across the Country and Internationally as well. This was due to the heavy airplay radio was giving the new songs. The "Escape" album became the number one selling album in America the week of September 12-19, 1981.

Gregg Rolie left the band after the "Departure Tour" of 1980. His replacement was Jonathan Cain who comes from a band called "The Babys". Jonathan Cain's live shows with an audience were at the The Ventura County Fairgrounds and the shows at Calavaris County Fairgrounds in Angel Camp. This was the "Captured Tour" or "Pre-Escape Tour" one month before the album was released.

The face value of the concert tickets were anywhere from $10.50 to $17.50. Unless you camped out in front of the venue the prices you were paying more like $30.00 or more per ticket.

Not only did Jonathan Cain co-write very song on the "Escape" album, he also co-wrote the two songs used on the Disney movie "Tron" Soundtrack. "Only Solutions" is a great rare Journey pop song. "1990's Theme" is a keyboard instrumental. Jonathan Cain and Steve Perry together wrote some of Journey's most popular songs. When working with Neal Schon, the three were absolute magic.

Finally at the end of 1981, with the Tour behind them and their highest success beyond their wildest dreams were achieved so they decided to take a rest. Concert promoter Bill Graham personally asked the band if they would be interested in a big Stadium and Arena tour to even bigger audiences. The answer was no. 

June 9, 1981 - Seaside Park. Ventura County Fairgrounds. Ventura, CA - 415, Billy Squier

September 3, 1981 - Poplar Creek Music Theater, Hoffman Estates, IL.

September 25, 1981 - JFK Stadium. Philadelphia, PA – The Rolling Stones, George Thorogood

December 6, 1981 - Center Arena. Seattle, WA - Red Rider


Bill Graham didnt give up and to convince the band that everyone who paid for a ticket would have a great seat no matter where they sat, the video projection system was developed. From now on there would be giant video screens showing you close angles of the band, so anyone could now see their faces from their seats. Journey was the first band to use video projection during their shows. It was far out of sync, (their was a delay in the video so it didm't match the audio) and it was still great! This also made the shows slightly more intimate again, something the band really liked.

May 6, 1982 - Meadowlands Arena. East Rutherford, NJ - Greg Kihn Band

May 15, 1982 - Joe Louis Arena. Detroit, MI - Greg Kihn Band

May 24, 1982 - Rosemont Horizon. Chicago, IL - Greg Kihn Band

June 12, 1982 - Texas Jam. Cotton Bowl. Dallas, TX
Point Blank, Joan Jett, Sammy Hagar, Santana

June 26, 1982 - Oakland Coliseum Oakland, C
Day On The Green - Santana/Toto/Gamma/Tubes

July 2, 1982 - Rose Bowl. Pasadena, CA - Blue Oyster Cult, Triumph, Aldo Nova