Old Steve Perry Article that reveals he has over 50 songs ready. We'll get 15 of them on October 5, 2018

Here's an old Steve Perry News Article ad I never got around to posting. It reveals that Steve Perry had over 50 songs ready when this news article was found in 2015...

Steve Perry will be releasing his new album "Traces" on October 5, 2018. You can order it on Amazon.com and receive the 10 song version or order from Target and get 5 extra songs for a total of  15. That's 15 brand new songs from Steve Perry!!

Journey's Official Business Statement from the San Mateo Times April, 1974

Here's a real treat! This is the original ad in the San Mateo Times from April 1974. This shows George Tickner seems to be the one that filed the business license for "Journey" back in 1974.

Only four original members of Journey are listed on the license, George Tickner, Neal Schon, Ross Valory, and Gregg Rolie. They must have been the period between Prairie Prince and Aynsley Dunbar as drummer. San Mateo is a small city in Northern California somewhat near San Francisco.

Here is the original ad as it exists, followed by a re-creation that you can read...

The Journey Force Fan Club - 1979 Evolution Publicity Photo

Journey's fan club, The Journey Force, released this publicity photo of Journey showing off their sausages. The photo appeals to both women and men. The band really let's everything hang out for this photo.

This publicity photo was taken to promote the "Evolution" album in 1979. The photo was released through Columbia Records. This was the look of the band from 1979 through 1980. It's very 70's with the tight pants and open chest shirts tied off at the waist. Ross is sporting some nice bell-bottoms too.

Ross Valory, Steve Perry, Gregg Rolie, Neal Schon, Steve Smith

"Evolution" was Journey's fifth studio album and was released on April 5, 1979 by Columbia Records. The album spawned three singles, "Just The Same Way", "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'", and "Too Late".

Journey Force News 1998 - Steve Perry and Steve Smith leave Journey

This is an old text newsletter I received many years ago. I'm not sure of the origin.


May 7, 1998

Singer Steve Perry has announced that he is officially leaving Journey. The split comes in the wake of a January 1998 conversation between Perry and Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain in which it was decided that, if Perry's health issues prohibited him from committing to a tour at that time, Cain and original Journey guitarist Neil Schon would reform the band with a new singer. Drummer Steve Smith has also left Journey. 

Perry became the lead singer of Journey in 1978 and, over the past two decades, sang on the group's ten platinum-plus albums including the 1996 Trial By Fire CD. Journey, with Steve Perry as vocalist, has sold more than 45 million records worldwide. Steve Perry has recently worked with David Foster and Carole Bayer-Sager in writing and recording "I Stand Alone," the principle track for the soundtrack to the animated feature film Quest For Camelot. 

Journey is currently comprised of new lead singer Steve Augeri (formerly of Tall Stories), original guitarist Neal Schon, bassist Ross Valory, keyboardist Jonathan Cain (a 1981 addition), and new drummer Dean Castranova (formerly of Bad English, an 80's "supergroup" which also featured Schon and Cain). The new Journey lineup has already recorded "Remember Me," a track for the soundtrack to the upcoming summer blockbuster film Armageddon; "Remember Me" was written by Neal Schon and Jack Blades and was produced by Kevin Shirley (who also produced Trial By Fire). The Armageddon soundtrack will be released by Columbia Records on June 30, 1998. 

Journey "Remember Me" single front cover

Journey Force Publicity Photo of Jonathan Cain of Journey 1984

Keyboardist/songwriter Jonathan Cain found success in a series of bands ranging from Journey to the Babys and Bad English. Born in Chicago on February 26, 1950, he first emerged fronting the Jonathan Cain Band, which issued one LP, Windy City Breakdown, on the Bearsville label in 1977. A year later Cain replaced keyboardist Mike Corby in the British band the Babys, which scored the hits "Isn't It Time" and "Every Time I Think of You." When the group disbanded in 1981, Cain joined Journey prior to their breakthrough hit Escape, and remained in the band until they broke up after 1986's Raised on Radio. Two years later, he and Journey guitarist Neal Schon teamed with ex-Babys frontman John Waite in Bad English, which scored a pair of major hits -- "When I See You Smile" and "Price of Love" -- before calling it quits in 1991. Cain resumed his solo career with 1995's Back to the Innocence and Piano With a View; after rejoining Journey for their 1996 reunion effort, Trial By Fire he returned with the solo Body Language in 1997. In 1998 Cain and Neal Schon reformed Journey and continue on today.

This publicity photo is taken during the grueling Frontiers Tour in 1983...

Journey Force publicity photo of Steve Perry of Journey in 1984

Here's a great 8X10 publicity shot of Steve Perry of Journey. This was released in 1984 and was from The Frontiers Tour of 1983.

After a few failed attempts at music as a career, Perry was ready to give up until he was given the chance to audition for Journey. They hired Perry and the rest is, well, you know, history. Journey now had a great vocalist – radio success was on the way. Journey’s first album with Perry as lead vocalist was the 1978 release "Infinity," which Journey had its first two charting singles and an album that reached #21 on the Billboard charts. Perry’s place was now solidified.

Perry would go on to record six more studio albums as a vocalist for Journey. Album sales would skyrocket and singles would continue to make their way up the charts. With Steve Perry as a vocalist, Journey sold over 41 million albums worldwide.

In 1983, Kenny Loggins released a duet with Steve Perry called “Don’t Fight It.” The song reached #17 on the Billboard charts. This was probably the first sign of Perry wanting to do something outside of Journey. Later that year Journey would release the album Frontiers. Perry would tour with Journey in support of this excellent album. The tour ran through 1983.

Journey Force Neal Schon 8X10 Publicity Photos from Frontiers 1983

Neal Joseph Schon is an American rock guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist best known for his work with the bands Journey and Santana. He is Journey's last original constant member, having participated in every album and tour to date. He was also part of Schon & Hammer, Bad English, Soul CirkUS, Abraxas Pool, Hagar-Schon-Aaronson-Shrieve, and was also an original member of Hardline.

Neal was born on February 27, 1954 at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, United States and started Journey in 1973 with Gregg Rolie, Ross Valory, and Herbie Herbert.

Here is a great Publicity photo from 1983's Frontiers Tour. These were available through The Journey Force in 1984.

INSERT TEXT;

Admired and respected by his fans as well as his peers. Neal Schon is the quintessential rock guitarist, capable of playing anything and everything. Turning down an opportunity to perform with Eric Clapton, Neal joined Santana instead and then went on to become one of the founding members of Journey. His collaborations with Jan Hammer and Sammy Hagar have broadened his musical horizons, while helping to enhance his creative growth in Journey.

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 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.

The New Journey - 2001's Arrival with Steve Augeri on Vocals

In 1998 Journey released a song on the "Armageddon" soundtrack called "Remember Me".

Journey continued on with a new lead singer, Steve Augeri and a new drummer, Deen Castronovo.

The first album to be released with the new line-up was on April 3, 2001 when Columbia Records released "Arrival", Journey's 16th U.S. album. Actually 17 if you count "In The Beginning".

The album contains 15 songs in the U.S. and 16 songs in Japan. The Japanese release was in late 2000, while the U.S. release was delayed.

The Journey Force sent out many publicity photos at the time. Here are 3 more from my collection...

The New Journey - 2000's Arrival with Steve Augeri

In 1998 after Steve Perry refused to tour, he was replaced by a new vocalist, Steve Augeri.

Steve Augeri came from a manager position at The Gap clothing stores.

Before The Gap, Steve was the vocalist for the band "Tall Stories".

In 2000 the first Journey Album without Steve Perry since 1977 was released in Japan.

It took until April 3rd, 2001 before the USA would see the new album, ARRIVAL.

Here's a Columbia Records Press Release for the album with a biography of the band.

There are many stories as to what went on, but here's Columbia Records version of Journey's biography...

Steve Perry For The Love Of Strange Medicine Post Card / Sticker Promo from 1994

This is the Steve Perry "For The Love Of Strange Medicine" Promo Post Card from Fan Asylum.

The Journey Force had dissolved into a company called "Fan Asylum" which sold merchandise for a number of bands.

Steve Perry's 2nd Solo album, "For The Love Of Strange Medicine", released in 1994, came ten years after his first one, "Street Talk" which was released in 1984.

I received this Post Card in the mail promoting the Release date of the album as July 19, 1994.

The card is also a sticker which peels off the Post Card backing...

1996 TRIAL BY FIRE The Journey Continues...

In April 1996, Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Ross Valory and Steve Smith started recording "TRIAL BY FIRE".

Trial By Fire was Journey's 10th Studio Album and first album after a nearly 10 year hiatus by the band.

This week we have the "The Journey Continues..." Biography. This has a lot of facts and trivia about the band and includes a Journey Discography (to 1996).

Also included is a list of top charting Journey singles.

May the Journey Force be with you...

Journey Force Publicity Photo 1981 continues

In 1981 Journey used 2 different logos.

In early 1981, Journey was still using a logo from the album "Departure" as seen in this photo of Neal and Jay at a Rhinos Softball game...

After "Escape" became huge success and hit #1 the logo changed to the one used on the album "Escape" only tilting it so it is readable as shown in this 8X10 of the band...

Hagar, Schon, Aaronson, Shrieve (HSAS) 1984 Press Release

Back in 1984, Neal Schon went onto a another solo project. This time with Sammy Hagar, Kenny Aaronson and Michael Shrieve.

Their first album together, titled "Through The Fire" was released in 1984 and ended up also being the only album this supergroup released.

They were only together from 1983 to 1984 but here's the Geffen Records press release...

Journey Force 8X10 publicity photos from early 1981

These are some great 8X10 publicity photos from The Journey Force in early 1981.

These photos still use the logo from "Departure".

These are the first publicity stills with Jonathan Cain as a member of the band...

Steve Smith biography and Vital Information press release from 1983

After 20 years Steve Smith finally got the chance to release his first jazz solo project in 1983.

Vital Information is the name of the album and also the band.

Here is the Columbia Records press release and tour schedule, followed by the 8X10 publicity photo, then the biography os Steve and the Vital Information project...

Schon & Hammer "Here To Stay" December 1982

Neal Schon can't stop playing guitar. He always had side projects and still does while being a member of Journey.

One of Neal's projects, with Jan Hammer created an album called "Untold Passion" in 1981.

December 1982 was the release of their second album "Here To Stay" which ended up being their last.

Here's a press release for the second album titled, "Here To Stay"...

Steve Smith Biography and second solo album "Orion" press release.

Here's a great Journey Force press release for Steve Smith's second solo album "Orion"...

It's a great 3 page biography and press release for Steve Smith. It's a great jazz album from 1984.

The album follows the album "Vital Information" released the year before in summer 1983.