Rock · Arena Rock
From San Francisco prog rock to arena anthems.
The biography
Journey is an American band formed in San Francisco in 1973 by Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon, who had come from Santana. Their early work was progressive rock and did not bring major success. The turning point came when Steve Perry became the lead singer in the late 1970s, and the band’s sound shifted toward radio-friendly rock. The album Departure (1980) brought “Any Way You Want It,” and Escape (1981) became the band’s commercial peak, with “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Open Arms.” The album Frontiers (1983) brought “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” and “Faithfully,” keeping the band’s place as a major touring act.
What defines Journey is a combination of a high, clear vocal, memorable melodies and a sound built for large rooms. Their songs are easy to sing along to, but they are also carefully built, with guitar and keyboard lines that support the vocal rather than competing with it.