The Journey Force 1984 Publicity Photos by Freezz Frame

To keep Journey in the public eye during 1984 when Steve Perry and other band members were off doing solo projects Journey's management licensed a lot of merchandise. Pictures and mugs and anything that you could put a Journey logo on sold like like wild fire.

In 1984 a company called Freezz Frame made some nice 8X10 photos with information about each member on the back. This one here is one of the band except there are 2 members missing a whole year before they really went missing.

Journey's Escape Tour 1981-1982 Tour Book Program part 11; The End

This week is the last pages and back cover of Journey's Escape Tour Program.

In 1982 this tour was the biggest tour Journey ever had. Neal Schon bought a new Ferrari.

Journey hit the mainstream. The awkwardness that always happens when Rock & Roll meets mainstream America. Journey was now on National TV talk shows, local entertainment shows, they were everywhere!

Once the tour was over, the presuure was on for another album. The pressure was intense I'm sure, how do you top "Escape"?  Rarely does a rock & roll band such as Journey reach number 1 on the mainstream album charts.

The tour book shows us all six platinum albums up to 1981!

We end with the back cover which uses artwork created in the late 1970's and was used primarily for the "In The Beginning" compilation.

Join us next week for a post on the Escape Tour Merchandise...

Journey's Escape Tour 1981-1982 Tour Book Program part 10; The Crew

Journey has always had one the greatest Road Crews and band could ever want. This week's pages from the Escape Tour Book is all about Journey's Management and Road Crew.

Walter "Herbie" Herbert started out as a rodeo so he knows what it takes to keep a band on the road and on schedule. He started Journey as manager after working with the road crew with Santana.

John Villanueva was Journey Road Manager for many years was also the one who thought of the name "Journey". Pat Morrow sat in Road Manager chair this time around while John was more in charge.

There have been a couple documentary movies made about Journey's Road Crew. In 1984 NBC films made an excellent documentary titled "Frontiers And Beyond". In 1986 there was another called "The Raised On Radio Tour". They can be found on YouTube.

As the shows were getting bigger and bigger during the Escape Tour is when the road crew started using video projection. The 1982 leg of the tour had huge video projection screens so no matter where you sat, you could see the faces of the band.

Concluded next week...

Journey Force Newsletter from November 1984 Part 3 of 3

This week is the third part of the Journey Force Newsletter dated November 1, 1984.

Since the next Journey album is a few months away, the Task Force asks all it's members to help get Steve Perry's Street Talk music videos more airplay on MTV. That's right, MTV was where you went to watch music videos from all your favorite bands. It was called Music Television. I wish we still something like that.

The Task Force was a concept that I never understood at the time, it never made any sense, who was a part of this force and how do you join? We also get some questions answered as well as instructions about sending the band members Christmas gifts.

Moving to the next page completely dedicated to mailing department codes and change of address forms. This was always a fan favorite at the time. No sense in spending another page telling us about our favorite band.

It's like Christmas all over again as the next page is all about giving a membership to the Journey Force to a friend for Christmas. Luckily I was already a member as no-one ever gave me this as a gift.

The newsletter ends with more pictures of Steve Smith picking the winners for the "Vital Information" contest. Also pictured is Tim, the president of The Journey Force!

Journey's Escape Tour 1981-1982 Tour Book Program part 9; More Band

This week in the Escape Tour Book, or Program, we have a look into the future.

In just 5 years years time, these three members are all that's left of the band. After this tour is when the real friction begins resulting in their own destruction.

Neal Schon jamming in the bathroom before a show. Steve in the recording booth, and Jay just relaxing on a couch before a show. I've always wondered who the person is that's behind Neal in the bathroom.

We also get a full page shot of vocalist Steve Perry playing guitar. He's wearing that famous red shirt from the Departure era. That could even be Gregg Rolie's set-up behind him for all we know.

Great memories from the great "Escape" shows!

Continued next week...

Journey Force Newsletter from November 1984 Part 2 of 3

We start off part 2 of the November 1984 Journey Force Newsletter with Steve Smith thanking everybody for all the birthday cards and messages he received. The pages this week all feature Steve Smith as the winner of the "Vital Information" giveaway is announced.

The beginnings of trouble within the inner circle is showing with the "Steve Perry Street Talk" merchandise items not legally allowed to be sold through The Journey Force. I find it odd because Steve Perry and Journey have the same manager and record label, so it doesn't make sense unless something is going on behind the scenes.

We end this week on the "The Merchandise Pages". Journey did sell some great items back in the day. I really wish I bought more of these items, but I was 20 years old at this time in history and I had to be selective. I would love to have this "Frontiers" satin jacket. I do have the folding sunglasses and the duffel bag.

Continued next week...

Journey's Escape Tour 1981-1982 Tour Book Program part 8; More Posters

This week in the Escape Tour Book we have 2 great posters. Combining 2 pages creates the posters. These posters are a huge 14 X 24 inches, big enough to be framed. The first poster is self explanatory while the 2nd one is a great shot from a concert at Calaveras County Fairgrounds, Angels Camp, CA at the Mountainaire Festival where they played with 415, Billy Squire, and Hall & Oates.

The 2nd leg of The Escape Tour started on April 9, 1982 in Fukuoka, Japan at the Sun Palace Hall. This was when the tour was huge. Concert Promoter, Bill Graham, convinced the band to do another round of shows at huge arenas so even more people could experience Journey live! The 1982 leg of the tour ended in July in Honolulu, Hawaii, which seems to be where they like ending the tours.

This was the first year Journey did not go into the studio and record an album, instead everyone was caught up in the huge success of the album. This is when their heads might have started to get a little too big for their britches. The grueling 8 1/2 month tour had taken it's toll on the band...

To be continued next week...

Happy Birthday George Tickner founding member of Journey

George Tyndall Tickner was born in Syracuse, New York on September 8, 1946. Happy Birthday #69!!

George Tickner was a founding member of Journey. He played rhythm guitar and co-wrote many of the songs on the debut album, "Journey", released on April 1, 1975.

George Tickner at the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, 2005.

George Tickner and Ross Valory left the band "Frumious Bandersnatch" to form "Journey" with Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon from "Santana", and Prairie Prince as drummer.

With a new drummer, Aynsley Dunbar, "Journey" released their first album and soon afterwards George left the band to attend Stanford Medical School. on a full scholarship.

George has since kept in contact with Neal Schon, Steve Smith, and Prairie Prince.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GEORGE

Journey's Escape Tour 1981-1982 Tour Book Program part 7; The Band

The 4 pages included this week are all about the rhythm section, Ross Valory and Steve Smith. Each one showcased with their own solo's during The Escape Tour.

Ross Lamont Valory was one of the founding members of Journey. Ross has been the Bass-Guitarist for Journey from 1973-1985, and then from 1995 until now. Ross has also been a member of the groups "Frumious Bandersnatch", "The Steve Miller Band", "The Vu" and "The Storm", with Gregg Rolie and Steve Smith. Ross is one of Rock's greatest Bass players out there.

Inset Text;
Ross Valory - Bass and vocals. The bottom line gentleman of Rock and Roll. A prisoner of his own endless mirth.

Steve Elliott Smith is also known as Jazzmaster Saddler. Steve "Machine Gun" Smith was touring with Ronnie Montrose when he first met the guys in Journey. Steve replaced Journey's original drummer, Aynsley Dunbar in late 1978 and first appeared on the album "Evolution". Steve has been with Journey since 1978 to 1985, then from 1995 to 1997. 

Steve Also enjoys a solo career with his jazz fusion band "Vital Information", and was a member of "The Storm" with Ross Valory and Gregg Rolie. He has also worked as a session musician for many pop acts such as Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Savage Garden and Bryan Adams as well as many jazz artists.

Inset Text;
Steve Smith - Drummer. "Crunch" as he is nicknamed, possesses a rare blend of enthusiasm, love and aggression in his "daily assault" on the drums. He has never ending energy for the tour, the music, and the people on our trek across the many nations of the world.

In my opinion of the six drummers that Journey has had to date, Steve Smith is by far the best drummer Journey has ever had or ever will have. He played with such finesse and passion that he can't be out-done. It is also my opinion that Ross Valory has been Journey's only bass player. The Raised On Radio era was almost a train-wreck with-out these two!

Continued next week...

Journey Force Newsletter from November 1984 Part 1 of 3

This exciting episode of the Newsletter has a lot of different things going on, mostly with other bands, but also some solo projects.

In late 1984,Journey is nowhere near a new album, but the band is found in the audience at a John Waite concert in which Jonathan performed! John Waite and Jonathan Cain were both in "The Baby's" before Jonathan joined "Journey".

Great pictures of the band with members of other bands including "Missing Persons", "Night Ranger", and the original "Van Halen".

"Only The Young" is covered by the group, Scandal, and it is said to be considered for the movie "Vision Quest". The truth is the song was pulled from the album along with "Ask The Lonely" to be used for a movie soundtrack and that didn't happen until almost 2 years after "Frontiers" was released. "Ask The Lonely" found it's movie a lot earlier with "Two Of A Kind" starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John.

Journey's Escape Tour 1981-1982 Tour Book Program part 6; The Band

The 4 pages included this week are some great shots of Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain.

Neal Joseph Schon first rose to fame as a guitar player for the band, Santana. In 1973 he helped form the band, Journey, with Gregg Rolie and Walter J. (Herbie) Herbert, Ross Valory, George Tickner, and Prairie Prince who was replaced by Aynsley Dunbar.

Neal is one of the best live guitar players of all time. He has played with many bands, and has a successful solo career along side of Journey. The Escape Tour gave Neal to expand his range and play for bigger and bigger audiences.

INSERT TEXT;
NEAL SCHON
Guitars and vocals. A man of obsession! His focus has been the guitar since early childhood. He continues to pay respect to his contemporaries by pursuing that obsession.

Jonathan Leonard Friga, better known as Jonathan Cain first became known as the keyboard player for the band, "The Baby's". Jonathan Cain was noticed by Journey while they were touring together in 1980 on the "Departure Tour" and became a member of the band soon afterwards.

Jonathan also has a full line of solo projects to his name including producing his ex-wife's (Tain Cain) band. Jonathan was also in the band "Bad English" with Neal Schon. 

The Escape Tour was Jonathan's first tour with Journey and always performed a piano solo. He can also be seen playing guitar along side of Neal while playing live. Jonathan co-wrote every song on the Escape album and has been a welcome member ever since!

INSERT TEXT;
JONATHAN CAIN
Keyboards, guitars and vocals. His brilliance and drive has been the perfect addition to Journey. He's also one of the most prolific purveyors of songwriting ability in the business today.

Continued next week...

Journey Force 8X10 Publicity Photos for Live In Houston 1981: The Escape Tour

Journey's most famous and bootlegged Journey concert ever is "Live at the Houston Summit 11-06-81". Finally in November 2005, it was released properly on CD and DVD by Columbia Records.

The concert was recorded November 6, 1981 at the Houston Summit in Houston, Texas. Simulcast on March 20, 1982 on MTV and radio stations across America by way of King Biscuit Flower Hour. (Televisions did not have stereo in 1982 and so this was the only way to achieve a TV broadcast in stereo.)

Were we have 2 of the publicity photos from the release of the album courtesy The Journey Force.

Journey's Escape Tour 1981-1982 Tour Book Program part 5; The Band

A great shot of Steve Perry made into a Poster. Steve Perry joined the band in 1978 when they were trying to extend the vocal range of the band. The balance between Steve Perry and Gregg Rolie's voices is what Journey so special and something was definitely lost when Gregg left the band in 1980. What was gained was one of the greatest song writing teams ever assembled, Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain. You put that with Neal Schon's Guitar playing and you simply have magic.

Steve was main reason reason the band started gaining more success. His flawless voice combined with his excellent song writing abilities made him the star of the band. Being told how great you are can play tricks with your head and so this tour was last time we would hear that impeccably perfect voice the way we've come to love it again. It was this tour, especially with Bill Graham's 1982 big arena leg of the tour that strained his voice beyond repair. Starting with the "Frontiers" album you'll notice a slightly raspier voice coming through, still unmistakably Steve Perry, but yet not quite the same. Still to this day, the greatest singing voice the World has ever seen!

INSERT TEXT;

Lead Vocals. A range that would astound an opera fan and an unsurpassed rapport with every person in the audience. He's a man in love with his craft. The consummate composer, singer and entertainer.

Journey Force Merchandise, The ARRIVAL Sticker from 2001

This Journey "Arrival" Sticker from 2001 came to me through the Journey Fan Club, The Journey Force. These were also available during Arrival Tour.

The Sticker measures 4" X 5" and has a glossy surface. The Scarab logo used is the same one on the US release of the album, except the album has a black background.

The illustration is by Chris Moore under the art direction of David Coleman and Neal Schon.

Journey to Headline at the REDF 2015 Benefit

Journey has always used their Precious Time to help People And Places. Journey has helped out in many benefit concerts over the years. This year they are Headlining REDF's 2015 Benefit on October 22 at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, California.

Please click the link below if you can can help Journey help REDF. You can purchase tickets or become a sponsor. It's a great cause that you can read about lower in this post.

Click Here for the REDF website

Since 1997, REDF, a California-based nonprofit, has led the pioneering effort to create jobs and employment opportunities for people facing the greatest barriers to work—like young people who’ve dropped out of school, people who’ve been in prison or homeless, and those who live with mental health disabilities.  We believe the opportunity to work should be available to everyone, everywhere. We know the power jobs can have in transforming lives and communities. For more information click the link above.