Journey is one of the most iconic and beloved rock bands of all time. Formed in San Francisco in 1973, the band quickly rose to fame with hits like “Don’t Stop Believin'” and “Wheel in the Sky.” Journey is known for their soaring power ballads, intricate instrumentation, and the legendary vocals of longtime frontman Steve Perry.
Though the band has gone through many lineup changes over the decades, Journey continues to tour actively today. However, fans often wonder – does Journey still tour with original singer Steve Perry? Let’s take a closer look at Journey’s touring history and what we can expect from the band in the future.
Journey’s Touring History
During their initial run from 1973 to 1987, Journey embarked on multiple major world tours. They crisscrossed America as well as visiting Europe, Japan, and other global destinations. Some of their notable tours included:
- Infinity Tour (1978) – Supported their Infinity album release
- Evolution Tour (1979) – Supported their Evolution album release
- Departure Tour (1980-81) – Supported their Departure album and included their first arena headlining concerts
- Escape Tour (1981-83) – Massively successful tour supporting Escape, one of their biggest albums. Broke attendance records across North America.
- Frontiers Tour (1983-84) – Supported their Frontiers album release.
- Raised on Radio Tour (1986) – Supported their Raised on Radio album release.
During this period, Journey concerts were known for high energy and expert musicianship. Steve Perry’s soaring vocals were in top form night after night. Full production values brought the band’s hits to life in front of thousands of adoring fans.
Steve Perry’s Departure
Lead singer Steve Perry left Journey in 1987 after the Raised on Radio tour wrapped up. He pursued solo projects while the band continued on with new vocalists. Steve wouldn’t perform with Journey again until a brief reunion in 1996.
Journey found a new lead singer in Steve Augeri and resumed major touring in the late 1990s. From then until the present day, Journey has continued to tour extensively despite various lineup changes. They’ve consistently brought their catalogue of arena rock classics to fans across North America, Europe, Asia, and beyond.
Does Journey Still Tour With Steve Perry?
Steve Perry has not regularly toured with Journey since his 1987 departure from the band. However, he has made a handful of special guest appearances:
- October 1991 – Perry makes a surprise appearance performing “Faithfully” and “Lights” at a Journey tribute concert in Los Angeles.
- May 1993 – Perry performs “Faithfully” with Journey at a Starkey Hearing Foundation event.
- October 2005 – Perry joins Journey onstage in Las Vegas to accept a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- June 2008 – Perry makes a surprise appearance with Journey performing “Open Arms” and “Faithfully” in San Francisco.
Outside of these one-off performances, Steve Perry has not done a full tour with Journey since 1987. Fans hoping for a major Journey reunion tour featuring Perry have been left disappointed.
Does Journey Still Tour Without Steve Perry?
Absolutely! While Steve Perry remains retired from active touring, Journey has never stopped bringing their show on the road.
Neal Schon, founding Journey guitarist, has anchored the live band for its entire lifespan. Jonathan Cain remains on keyboards after joining in 1980. Other current Journey tour members include Arnel Pineda (lead vocals), Randy Jackson (bass), Narada Michael Walden (drums), and Jason Derlatka (keyboards, vocals).
This current lineup tours worldwide nearly every year. Their most recent tour, The Freedom Tour 2022, hit over 40 cities across North America. The band continues to perform hits like “Don’t Stop Believin'”, “Faithfully”, and “Separate Ways” to captive crowds.
Noteworthy Recent Journey Tours
Tour | Year | Setlist Highlights |
---|---|---|
Eclipse Tour | 2011 | “Don’t Stop Believin'”, “Stone in Love”, “Wheel in the Sky” |
San Francisco Fest 2016 | 2016 | “Lights”, “Open Arms”, “Faithfully” |
Las Vegas Residency | 2017 | “Any Way You Want It”, “Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin'”, “Wheel in the Sky” |
50th Anniversary Tour | 2018 | “Separate Ways”, “Send Her My Love”, “Be Good to Yourself” |
Freedom Tour | 2022 | “Only the Young”, “Escape”, “Open Arms” |
Journey shows no signs of slowing down, consistently bringing in crowds of 10,000+ even today. As long as Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain stay on board, fans can expect to see Journey out on annual tours for the foreseeable future.
Will Journey Ever Reunite with Steve Perry?
Rumors of a Steve Perry/Journey reunion surface frequently. With Journey’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, many speculated Perry and Journey’s classic members would perform together at the ceremony. However, Perry did not end up attending or performing.
Perry and Journey’s members have remained amicable over the years. Neal Schon has said the door is always open for Steve to return. However, Steve Perry has not shown interest in returning to the grind of touring and recording new music.
Fans should not get their hopes up for a major Journey reunion tour featuring Steve Perry. Perry himself has said his touring days are behind him. At age 71 and decades removed from Journey, he seems unlikely to pursue arena tours again. However, there’s always a possibility Perry could make a one-off appearance at a special event.
What Does Journey’s Touring Future Look Like?
Journey will continue extensively touring as long as co-founders Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain are actively involved. The band has a passion for playing live and delivering their iconic songs to audiences worldwide.
We can expect a major Journey tour almost annually for the foreseeable future. They will keep hitting all the major markets in North America, Europe, Asia, and beyond. Thanks to the incredible vocals of Arnel Pineda, their live show sounds remarkably similar to the Journey concert experience of the late 70s/early 80s.
Setlists will continue featuring classics like “Don’t Stop Believin'”, “Faithfully”, “Wheel in the Sky” and power ballads such as “Open Arms” and “Lights”. They will mix those hits alongside deeper cuts to reward their most dedicated fans. The musicianship will remain top notch with Schon’s fiery guitar solos accentuating the melodic keyboards and driving rhythm section.
As for special reunions with Steve Perry or other past members, anything is possible but fans probably shouldn’t hold their breath. Based on past decades, it seems unlikely Perry will ever commit to a full tour again.
The occasional one-off performance or appearance is always a possibility. But Journey’s touring future belongs to Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Arnel Pineda and the current stellar live band. They will continue delivering energized arena rock concerts for decades yet to come.
Key Takeaways
- Journey is one of the most popular and enduring touring rock bands, performing since 1973.
- Iconic lead singer Steve Perry left the band in 1987 and only makes rare guest appearances now.
- Journey still tours extensively each year with guitarist Neal Schon and keyboardist Jonathan Cain leading the band.
- Current Journey concerts feature hits like “Don’t Stop Believin’” along with newer songs and deep cuts.
- A full-scale Journey reunion tour with Steve Perry is very unlikely at this point.
- Journey will continue touring annually as long as core members Schon and Cain are involved.
Conclusion
Journey built an incredible legacy over decades of prolific touring and recording. While Steve Perry has moved on, the current lineup keeps the spirit alive with their world-class live shows.
The band still delivers powerful performances of their extensive catalog of arena rock classics. Journey continues evolving their setlist and production to thrill both longtime fans and newcomers.
We can expect Journey to hit the road for big tours each year. Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain remain passionate about playing live, and Arnel Pineda’s vocals satisfy old and new fans alike. Barring another major shift, the Journey concert experience will continue rocking venues everywhere for years to come.