Journey became one of the biggest bands in music history. Journey’s super stardom in the eighties proved that music could be bigger, better, and very successful. After a hiatus, the band regrouped in 1996 for a new album and tour. All was looking good until Steve Perry injured his hip while hiking in Hawaii. The band had to make a decision. Do they wait until Perry has had surgery and delay the promotional push of their latest album, or should they move on without him? Since Perry could not give a definitive answer to when he would be better, the band decided to find a new front man.
1998 and beyond
With Steve Perry out, Journey began looking for another front man. They found it in Steve Augeri. Formerly of bands Tyketto and Tall Stories, Augeri was a perfect fit vocally. The new lead singer understood he had some big shoes to fill. In the documentary Vh1 Behind the Music: Journey, Augeri says, “Steve will always remain in the fans hearts as being someone very special, who sang very special songs to them. So, my approach, is to see if we can go forward (vh1behindthemusic).” Augeri and the rest of the band went forward with two new albums: Arrival (2001) and Generations (2005). Arrival created a hit on the Adult Contemporary chart called “All the Way” and later embarked on their 30th anniversary tour with Generations, however, the continuity of the band was set to be in limbo again.
Augeri began experiencing voice problems in 2003 and the band was accused of using pre-recorded vocals to cover. He was eventually dropped from the band during a tour with Def Leppard (the band said it was due to vocal problems). Augeri admitted in an interview with Rock Show Critique that he had vocal issues from excessive touring and had caught a rare infectious disease, “…When we traveled in the southwest of the country I somehow picked up this incredibly rare infectious disease. It was so bad that they gave me an extremely high dose of antibiotic. The cure was almost as worse as the illness. I was nearly paralyzed from the antibiotics. So that was the beginning of the end. There was never time to recuperate. I never quite was a hundred percent. One day it just came to a boil. I needed to rest and they needed to keep on going. When I started with them in ’98 we were playing 1500-seaters. We had worked our way up through the years back to where they were in arenas, the big sheds and outdoor venues and playing 70,000 seat festivals. Basically the guys just weren’t ready to stop and I just needed to. I couldn’t persuade them to slow down the locomotive, it was on its way. So I had to step off and I have no regrets…(rockshowcritique) ” Journey wanted to continue. They needed to continue.
Arnel Pineda Years
Continuity of the band moved along briefly with Jeff Soto, however, he didn’t sound much like Perry and fans were dissatisfied. They were without a front man once again and to add insult to injury, the show The Sopranos ended their run with Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’”. The popularity of Journey was everywhere from Glee, to karaoke, and even Rock of Ages (rollingstone). Journey had to find a new front man if they were going to not only appease the fans, but also continue what they loved.
The band searched a variety of singers and eventually turned to YouTube to see what they could find. Journey located Jeremey Hunsicker from the Journey tribute band Frontiers and was ready to sign him, however, the opportunity never manifested. With no lead singer signed, Neal Schon returned to YouTube and discovered videos from a band called Zoo (rollingstone). Their lead singer Arnel Pineda could sing a variety of music styles, but seemed to really soar when he sang Journey. Pineda met with Schon in California and the rest is history. Pineda was announced as the new front man to Journey in 2006 making his debut in Brazil in 2008.
Debuting as the new lead singer for one of America’s most-loved bands was definitely a proving ground for Pineda. Journey released their fourteenth studio album Revelation and doubts of his ability to fill the spot were no more. Revelation landed at number five on the Billboard 200 and took the number one spot on the Independent Sales Chart (everymansjourney). The album also garnered platinum certification. The band followed up Revelation and its subsequent tour with another album titled Eclipse in 2011, which reached number thirteen on the Billboard 200 chart. Journey was back and better than ever.
Journey has remained a steadfast display of perseverance in the music world. Multiple member changes can cripple a band to the point of entire dissolution, however, Journey was determined to survive. Survival was found in lead singer Arnel Pineda and the magic that Journey carried throughout its various incarnations kept them doing what they love for over forty years.
-Jenna Jakes, WOGB
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AOTM: From Golden Gate Rhythm Section to Super Stardom, Journey Proves Successful, Part 1
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