Journey (band)

Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco.

Recent

Journey's critical reputation did not improve with the passage of time: The 2004 edition of the Rolling Stone Record Guide mentioned above calls Journey the perfect karaoke act and gives no studio album of theirs more than two-and-a-half stars out of five (the greatest hits albums did fare a little better).

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Although written off by many as a cynical pop act, the band has become a half-ironic, half-reverent touchstone of sorts among some who would have been too young to see their original success, with semi-cultish references ? at least to their greatest hits ? popping up on Family Guy, among other places.

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Journey and Steve Perry gained new attention in the 2000s due to Randy Jackson, who since his Journey involvement had become a successful recording industry figure and then an American Idol judge. Film clips of Jackson with the band on tour were shown, and various contestants on Idol attempted to measure up vocally by singing Journey numbers, exposing the songs to a new generation of listeners. The best remembered of these attempts was Clay Aiken's take on "Open Arms" in a key semi-final round of the show, and later in a duet with fellow Idol Kelly Clarkson on their joint concert tour, but no attempts fully reached the high bar for rock singing set by Steve Perry.

Related Topics:
American Idol - Clay Aiken - Kelly Clarkson

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On January 21, 2005, Journey received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Steve Perry made a surprise appearance at the ceremony. Relations between him and the rest of the group improved, but Perry said there was no chance of rejoining his former band in the forseeable future. Ten current or former Journey bandmates appeared that day, including Perry and the current lineup, plus Steve Smith, Aynsley Dunbar, George Tickner and Robert Fleischman (Gregg Rolie was unable to attend the Star induction ceremony due to prior commitments). Two years before, Journey was inducted into the San Francisco Music Hall of Fame, with Rolie, Cain, Smith, Valory, Schon, Dunbar, Castronovo and Augeri appearing at that ceremony.

Related Topics:
January 21 - 2005 - Hollywood Walk of Fame

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The group's current lineup is Augeri (vocals), Schon (guitar), Cain (keyboards, guitar), Valory (bass), and Castronovo (drums).

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The band is currently embarked on their 30th anniversary tour and are giving away free copies of their new studio album, Generations, to all ticketholders at most concerts. The tour is slated to feature former Journey members ? most notably Robert Fleischman, who performed with Journey on the night of their receiving the Walk of Fame star.

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