How big were Journey in the UK?

[joybringer1]

I have to be honest and admit that I'd never heard of Journey until recent years on the net when they entered my consciousness via rock websites such as this one. There was then such feverish excitement about their mini UK tour that I was curious to see what all the fuss was about and bought myself a ticket. In preparation I bought the Houston DVD and realised I did know some of the songs already. (As an aside this was an absolute revelation to me and since then I have been totally enchanted by Steve Perry's vocals - this being the best live performance I've ever heard).

I was into the rock scene in the late 70s and 80s and I'm wondering how I managed to miss them. Hence my question of how successful they were in the UK at their peak - did they have any hit singles, how well did their albums do, etc.?

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies.

[Citygirl]

Big enough, but not so big everyone knew they existed I don't think.

My dad is a right music fan and he'd never heard of Journey even though he was around when they were. But his friend who is a guitarist had.

I think it depends where you were and what you were into.

[shaggy]

I've been a rock fan since I was 6 or 7. I grew up listening to my brother's record collection of Purple , Sabbath, Zeppelin, Nazareth, Floyd etc. As I got older (into my teens) I started finding out about newer bands like Maiden, Priest, Saxon and of course the offshoots from the then defunct Purple (ie Whitesnake, Gillan, Rainbow). Note that all of these bands are British. We did come across the odd band from the USA in the late 70s and very early 80s that peeked some interest like KISS and Aerosmith, but this was a time when the NWOBHM was very prominent. I didnt come across the Journey name until around mid 80s (84 or 85 time) and basically I knew of one song - Don't Stop Believing. It's very much like we all knew Boston's - More Than A Feeling or Blue Oyster Cult's - Dont Fear The Reaper. The music was there but the music mags we relied on to tell us about the big picture like Kerrang just never really mentioned them in great detail. We did have the Dio's and Alice Cooper's and of course everyone was talking about this hot US band Van Halen. It wasn't until the 86/87 era when glam made a huge impression that many US rock acts started to make it big over here. The LA scene didnt just give us glam it also opened up the doors for other great American acts to make an impression on us. Bands like Y&T, Queensryche, Metallica and Tesla were suddenly filling up our record collections. But for many, Journey was regarded more as a ballad orientated act, ideal for getting all smoochy and horny with a girl to, but not exactly hard rocking. To this day, many in the UK still regard Journey as soft rock and the fact that Steve Perry was long gone by the time they did return to these shores recently was a revelation to alot of people who attended the Monsters Of Rock gig. Aside from the small section of the rock listening crowd, Journey are always going to be labelled "that band that did Don't Stop Believing" and it's shame cos I have listened to alot of their back catalogue and I actually like alot of what they do. Then again, it could be that I'm just getting older and mellower. Oh no, I'm turning into my dad!!! Oh Lord spare me the pipe and slippers - kill me now!!!

[styxman]

I was lucky enough to listen to the Paul Gambaccini show on Saturdays from the late 70's through the 80's and this opened up the American music scene for me, other than this it was the occasional mention in Sounds. Kerrang by the way voted Don't stop, their number one single over here way back then!
Escape - highest position 32 - Frontiers went to No 6, all the others didn't chart above 40 if at all! As far as I'm aware none of the singles made it above 40 or even charted...I'll need to check this one out but it looks that way.
I was lucky enough in the late 70's/80's to see the a lot of Rock bands as most of my friends where into the heavy stuff....bands like Rainbow, Motorhead, Def Lep, (on through the night tour) with a young group called Praying Mantis opening, remember them?They where absolutely shit on the night, nerves had got to them! Then along came Reo to the Manchester Apollo (without trying to find the ticket stub, I'd guess this to be around '83) and that was a great gig. The Canadian group Magnum was also a fav of mine, if anyone can remember they issued a vinyl with a game on the inside, threw it away a few years back now!!
I do remember Sounds issuing an Heavy Metal compilation album over here in the late 70's and this had a Journey and Reo track on it...the Reo was Back on the road again but on this album there was a great track called Armageddon by who I can't remember but it was a good track...anyone know who played this?
Anyway in answer to your question...are they well known in the UK...shit no, only by the diehards. It's funny how somebody as talentless as Britney Spears can be a household name over here and musicians like Journey/Styx get the general response "Who the fuck are they, when they're about" unfortunately for Styx some do remember Babe, what a song to be associated with though!

[joybringer1]

Thanks all of you, that explains why I hadn't heard of them back then. I was curious because watching the Houston DVD and seeing the huge crowd plus SP saying that Escape was at No. 1 made me realise just how big they'd been in the US "back in the day".

[styxman]

What film did open arms appear in by the way as they also make reference to this on the Houston DVD, never could be bothered to look this one up but I'm interested to know now?

[NealIsGod]

What film did open arms appear in by the way as they also make reference to this on the Houston DVD, never could be bothered to look this one up but I'm interested to know now?

Heavy Metal. Animated flick.

http://www.heavymetalmagazinefanpage.com/movieshm.html

[styxman]

Thanks...that one past me by....is it worth a view?

[NealIsGod]

Thanks...that one past me by....is it worth a view?

I own on VHS, but haven't watched it in 6 or 7 years. It is weird, kind of dated, but worth a look. You must be drinking to really enjoy it.

[styxman]

Any excuse for a drink....I'll add it to my list of things to see before I die!!

[styxman]

Jus for the record some stats!!

UK Journey:

Don't Stop........Reached 62, charted for 4 weeks
Who's Crying Now....reached 46, charted for 5 weeks
Escape...reached 32 and charted for 16 weeks
Frontiers...reached 6 and charted for 8 weeks
Evolution...reached 100 and charted for 1 week (years after it's original release)
Raised in Radio..reached 22 and charted for 5 weeks

As a comparison

Styx:
Babe..reached 6 and charted for 6 weeks
The Best of Times....reached 42 and charted for 5 weeks
Don't let it end...reached 56 and charted for 3 weeks
Cornerstone...reached 36 and charted for 8 weeks
Paradise Theatre...reached 8 and charted for 8 weeks
Kilroy was here...reached 67 and charted for 6 weeks
Caught in the Act...reached 44 and charted for 2 weeks

very much the same...an 80's flash in the pan unfortunately...nothin' likely to enter the charts over here again but there's always a chance something bizare may happen!!


Interesting read at borders this afternoon Cetera, Kiss did rather better but you'll know that already

[SusieP]

But does chart success really reflect the quality of the music?

Sometimes, but maybe not always. Ha ha, we've had some terrible noises in the top ten in the UK over the years, as I'm sure most will agree.

I first heard of 'em in 77-ish (I think - well it IS a long time ago!) and was interested in them even though all the New Wave stuff was raging over here at the time. I can't resist a fabulous guitar and vocal mixed with great tunes.

But it was really Escape that made me realise how good they were.
Paul Gambaccini's American music radio show was one of my favourites, and it's true, it did open up my consciousness to great American bands. His Billboard top 50 was fabulous. I never would have heard that music had it not been for that show.

It's been hard to keep up with Journey until the Internet arrived. But we managed as best we could.
It would have been nice if they'd toured here a bit more, though.

[styxman]

Totally agree, charts count for very little these days, never missed one Gambo show in the 80's, where I went so did the transitor, the show he now has on Saturday night isn't the same, is it?

[SusieP]

Totally agree, charts count for very little these days, never missed one Gambo show in the 80's, where I went so did the transitor, the show he now has on Saturday night isn't the same, is it?

I work Saturday nights, so I don't know, sorry.

The charts these days are a joke.

But we have our memories! and our CD's and now our DVD's!

And since the internet, so much info - it's great!

[mallet]

Morons!! Please read
Ive been here some time now...decided to sign up...this forum is riddled with repulsive, small minded, and small-dicked, (evidently), little toss-pots

I dont know who the moderators are here.. but they should be shot..... the language used here is excessive...and the abuse seems very personal

What Monker says is correct

There seems to be about half a dozen people here who are ignoring Andrew's requests...and plainly just not interested in keeping this forum "clean and informed" they quite clearly are just "taking the piss" out of Andrew..and have no respect for his wishes at all .....

It all makes for pretty pathetic reading, from an "outsiders" point of view.. I think a few have lost the plot here.... the place needs to be "cleansed" of the detritus, .. (I think the word "morons, was used..how apt..as the standard of post here is pretty moronic) and needs to be rebuilt

Adios to some of you I think, when normality returns

[mallet]

Morons!! Please read
Ive been here some time now...decided to sign up...this forum is riddled with repulsive, small minded, and small-dicked, (evidently), little toss-pots

I dont know who the moderators are here.. but they should be shot..... the language used here is excessive...and the abuse seems very personal

What Monker says is correct

There seems to be about half a dozen people here who are ignoring Andrew's requests...and plainly just not interested in keeping this forum "clean and informed" they quite clearly are just "taking the piss" out of Andrew..and have no respect for his wishes at all .....

It all makes for pretty pathetic reading, from an "outsiders" point of view.. I think a few have lost the plot here.... the place needs to be "cleansed" of the detritus, .. (I think the word "morons, was used..how apt..as the standard of post here is pretty moronic) and needs to be rebuilt

Adios to some of you I think, when normality returns

Mallet... "Still Green" .....yeah right!!

[styxman]

Morons!! Please read
Ive been here some time now...decided to sign up...this forum is riddled with repulsive, small minded, and small-dicked, (evidently), little toss-pots

I dont know who the moderators are here.. but they should be shot..... the language used here is excessive...and the abuse seems very personal

What Monker says is correct

There seems to be about half a dozen people here who are ignoring Andrew's requests...and plainly just not interested in keeping this forum "clean and informed" they quite clearly are just "taking the piss" out of Andrew..and have no respect for his wishes at all .....

It all makes for pretty pathetic reading, from an "outsiders" point of view.. I think a few have lost the plot here.... the place needs to be "cleansed" of the detritus, .. (I think the word "morons, was used..how apt..as the standard of post here is pretty moronic) and needs to be rebuilt

Adios to some of you I think, when normality returns

Mallet... "Still Green" .....yeah right!!

Yawn. Yawn..Yawn....The mallet I have here is brown so we'll differ on that!!

[mallet]

Ok..Ive an idea... everyone please pm me with the name of one person that should be booted from the forum...

for being abusive...arrogant, pointless, argumentative for no reason other than to be "awkward" etc etc etc

hard isnt it...there are a few candidates right up there...but Im not going to influence the vote !!

You all have one vote..so use it wisely..... anyone voting more than once...well...their vote will be discounted.... u have one week to vote, as from today


Voting is in strictest confidence... so dont be intimidated

result will be passed to moderator.... for action to be taken!!

oh..and I cant be included... Im the administrator of the thing...it just wouldnt be right..besides... there are so many more deserving candidates arent there!!

[SusieP]

Hmmmm was that a thread hi-jack attempt?

Anyway, back on the topic of this particular thread - which hasnt contained any bad language or mud slinging etc -

maybe they weren't as big in the UK as they were in the States because they didn't tour here 'back in the day'?

And Brit tv programmes/music press/radio shows didn't give them any attention at the time. Well, not that I can remember. Maybe I'm wrong.
I know its a long time ago, but I can only really remember Paul Gambaccini playing their stuff, (apart from the 'chart hits' as we've already said.
And any reference to them in the music press was always just a little piece hidden a way somewhere. Never really a big splash made about them.
And didnt the press 'look down' on this type of rock at the time?
Hell, a lot of my friends just dismiss it as 'girly' rock - which is their loss because they miss out on the musical talent of this band, and some great tunes.
I'm glad I found them when I did.
Driving about without Journey on the car stereo wouldn't be so pleasurable.

[joybringer1]

Thanks for the replies and the chart info - I tried to find that on google and failed. I'm guessing I'll have heard some of the songs on the radio back then but without them really registering. That would figure as I don't think the music would have been hard-edged enough for me in my youth - I've mellowed with age! This is the first time I've ever really got into a band (or more specifically a singer) after the event so it's quite a strange feeling. The Houston CD is on constant replay in my car and I'm totally mesmerized by THAT VOICE!

[SusieP]

Thanks for the replies and the chart info - I tried to find that on google and failed. I'm guessing I'll have heard some of the songs on the radio back then but without them really registering. That would figure as I don't think the music would have been hard-edged enough for me in my youth - I've mellowed with age! This is the first time I've ever really got into a band (or more specifically a singer) after the event so it's quite a strange feeling. The Houston CD is on constant replay in my car and I'm totally mesmerized by THAT VOICE!

Me too, THAT VOICE - blends perfectly with THAT GUITAR and THOSE SONGS! I think the radio shows only played Wheel In The Sky, Open Arms, Don't Stop Believin and Who's Cryin Now - I really can only remember hearing those tracks.



And after all these years the blend is bringing pleasure to so many of us.
I think that's a hell of an achievement, and all this 'tapegate' stuff may have muddied the waters a bit, but, it hasn't tarnished Journey - for me anyway.
Their legacy is right there, on CD, DVD and in the memory!

Such talent.
And those DVD's are fabulous for those of us who never got to see the Perry line up live.

[styxman]

Yes, Touring has a lot to do with it, builds a fanbase and get's word about, as for the Houston DVD when I get to work I plug in the laptop and on it goes, that the good thing working on your own, no bosses to tell you what you can or can't do. I've got to get me a Yellow T shirt like Perry's

As for the Hi-jack...I was thinking that mayself, nothing bad on this thread but it looks like he's doing it to every thread, don't know about you two but I'm not taking part in it...no way, as everyone fits in here in their own individual way, back to work!

[SusieP]

Yes, after I made the hi-jack comment, I realised that the same message has been posted on just about every thread in this forum. Talk about blanket coverage!

I hope Andrew returns from his holiday well rested, because he has a lot of 'interesting' posts to trawl through.


I shall continue to ignore the hi-jacking ones. I think it's the best way.
I'm here for information about Journey, not to fight.

Bye for now.
Good luck with the yellow t-shirt hunting!

[Citygirl]

You have to remember that while there are some rock fans in the UK, the 80s was very much for cheesy pop here. Across the pond was probably more rock while here was cheese.

But then I'm only going by what my auntie and uncle, who were teenagers at that time, have said. I wasn't born til 87

[MartyMoffatt]

You have to remember that while there are some rock fans in the UK, the 80s was very much for cheesy pop here. Across the pond was probably more rock while here was cheese.

But then I'm only going by what my auntie and uncle, who were teenagers at that time, have said. I wasn't born til 87

I'm not sure I entirely agree with that. The late 70's and early 80's was a very fruitful period for rock music as well as that cheesy pop (which I absolutely loathed, by the way). Bands like Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Dio, Saxon, Diamond Head, UFO, etc etc, as well as the older leviathans Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd (all of these British bands) were very successful during that time, if not in terms of chart success, certainly in terms of sold out shows and tours.

Overseas bands like AC/DC (adopted Brits) and Rush were also hugely successful on the live circuit. One thing common to all these bands was that they tended to sound much heavier live than on record, and certainly a heavier sound was in favour in the UK - the NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) had a big following, resulting in influential magazines like Kerrang springing up. An unfortunate consequence of this is that softer more melodic rock got a lot less exposure. The arrival of Punk in 1977 meant that it simply wasn't cool to listen to ballady stuff, and that's certainly how band's like Journey would have been perceived at the time, except in a few pockets of more enlightened listeners.

I hasten to add that at no time did rock music ever enter the mainstream in the UK. Top of the Pops was infatuated with the New Romantic movement and very rarely featured rock bands. We had one two hour rock show on the radio each week (The Tommy Vance show), and that was about it in terms of media exposure, so unless a band gained a following via the grapevine or through palying live they had little chance of really making it over here. And as we know, Journey wouldn't tour outside of the US.

Marty

[Citygirl]

Cheers Marty. You've just said what I was trying to say but didn't know enough to go into it like that.

[SusieP]

You have to remember that while there are some rock fans in the UK, the 80s was very much for cheesy pop here. Across the pond was probably more rock while here was cheese.

But then I'm only going by what my auntie and uncle, who were teenagers at that time, have said. I wasn't born til 87

I'm not sure I entirely agree with that. The late 70's and early 80's was a very fruitful period for rock music as well as that cheesy pop (which I absolutely loathed, by the way). Bands like Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Dio, Saxon, Diamond Head, UFO, etc etc, as well as the older leviathans Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd (all of these British bands) were very successful during that time, if not in terms of chart success, certainly in terms of sold out shows and tours.

Overseas bands like AC/DC (adopted Brits) and Rush were also hugely successful on the live circuit. One thing common to all these bands was that they tended to sound much heavier live than on record, and certainly a heavier sound was in favour in the UK - the NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) had a big following, resulting in influential magazines like Kerrang springing up. An unfortunate consequence of this is that softer more melodic rock got a lot less exposure. The arrival of Punk in 1977 meant that it simply wasn't cool to listen to ballady stuff, and that's certainly how band's like Journey would have been perceived at the time, except in a few pockets of more enlightened listeners.

I hasten to add that at no time did rock music ever enter the mainstream in the UK. Top of the Pops was infatuated with the New Romantic movement and very rarely featured rock bands. We had one two hour rock show on the radio each week (The Tommy Vance show), and that was about it in terms of media exposure, so unless a band gained a following via the grapevine or through palying live they had little chance of really making it over here. And as we know, Journey wouldn't tour outside of the US.

Marty

Spot on, Marty!

I wish they had toured here then. It's a great sadness to me that they didn't.
I'm sure I'm not the only one. It annoys me that so many people haven't a clue who this band were/are. And it annoys me when they are dismissed as girly rock by those who have heard of them but aren't fans.
But, hey, it's their loss. Those people don't know what they are missing IMO.