-Had to do some sp checking..but left the rest intact-
Journey Ends Tour In Vegas
August 1979
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Being on tour is rather like going to school. For a band, it's a fun-but-demanding sort of job that is undertaken for a period of time.
For Journey, who has been touring Europe and the U.S. since last February, their show at the Convention Center on Aug. 17 (last performance of the tour) will be like the last day of school.
"Oh, there's gonna be some surprises," warns lead singer Steve Perry, "there always is on the last day. Last year, there were pies and all sorts of things thrown. But this year I'll be ready for 'em."
The purpose of the tour was promotion of Journey's latest LP, Evolution, which has been certified platinum.
In Las Vegas, Evolution is in the top ten local record stores surveyed, Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'." the group's latest single from the LP, is in the top 20 at two local FM rock stations.
So, after six years of playing and writing, with nary a hit until Infinity sold platinum. Journey has entered the "big time."
Their six-month tour has been remarkably successful, breaking attendance and marketing records in Detroit's Cobo Hall (home of Bob Seger and some of the world's most discriminating music fans), L.A., Chicago, Miami and Oakland.The reasons for the group's rather sudden success are elusive.
Journey currently consists of five members: Neal Schon on guitar, Ross Valory on bass, Gregg Rolie on keyboards, Steve Smith on drums (replacing Aynsley Dunbar) and Steve Perry doing lead vocals. As musicians, their backgrounds are diverse: Rolie and Schon both played with Santana for a while, Valory came from the '60's Haight-Asbury scene, and Smith has provided the beat for a number of jazz-oriented acts such as Ronnie Montrose and Jean-Luc Ponty, Focus and Phillip Cathrine.
Past diversities aside, the five blend together "like the ingredients in a cake," according to former session musician Perry.
Indeed, their sounds do seem to come together to form a very holistic and self-contained unit. In songs from Evolution such as "Lovin', Touchin'. Squeezin' their vocals seem to mesh bigger than each alone.
Under producer Roy Thomas Baker, who has also produced Queen, Journey's albums have an unmistakably contemporary sound: superbly arranged and technically advanced.
No trip down memory lane, this. It's today's music — and tomorrow's.
Journey has been playing together since 1973. Since then, they have toured extensively and released five albums, averaging one a year. However, Infinity, released in 1978, was their first platinum record. Singles such as "Lights," a tribute to their hometown (San Francisco) and "Anytime" sparked great interest, and put Journey on radio station playlists around the country.
Journey's music is rock 'n' roll '80's-style . Their lyrics are accessible and relevant. This last show of their tour should be, for many reasons, well worth your time. Convention Center Will Host Journey August 17.
