Journey Readies New Album, Tour
The theme of Journey’s 30th anniversary summer tour will tie directly into the title of the veteran band’s 13th album, “Generations.”
“We’ll play songs from the very first record and everything else from there on out, including music from the new album,” guitarist Neal Schon says of the group’s planned three-hour show. “We’re going to be taking fans through a time trip here.”
Taking a page out from Prince’s 2004 Musicology tour, Journey will include a copy of “Generations” with each ticket purchased at most shows on its North American tour. A traditional retail release of the album will follow once the trek is complete. Although the band has spent its entire career on Columbia, it is unknown what label will issue the new set.
The tour, which will open June 26 in Irvine, Calif., will celebrate the anniversary of the band’s 1975 self-titled debut. At this time 29 dates are confirmed for the run, which is expected to stretch into October.
“Generations” was recorded earlier this spring by the band’s current lineup, which is completed by bassist Ross Valory, keyboardist Jonathan Cain, singer Steve Augeri and drummer Deen Castronovo. Augeri has been in the fold since 2001, taking over the frontman role from Steve Perry, who led the band during its most commercially successful years in the late 1970s and 1980s.
As previously reported, the new album was recorded in Sausalito, Calif., with producer Kevin Elson, who was behind the boards for the band’s 1980’s “Departure,” the 1981 smash “Escape” and that year’s live set “Captured.” It’s the follow-up to 2001’s “Arrival,” which peaked at No. 56 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 186,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
“There’s a real sense of harmony and melody on this album filled with heartfelt lyrics,” Cain says. “It has the ballads that people would expect from us and the rock-n-roll that I think has the Journey signature sound to it. I don’t think it’s going to disappoint anyone.”
Here are Journey’s tour dates:
June 26: Irvine, Calif. (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre)
June 29: San Diego (Coors Amphitheatre)
June 30: Tucson, Ariz. (Casino Anselmo)
July 2: Kelseyville, Calif. (Konocti Harbor Resort)
July 7: Muskegon, Mich. (Heritage Park)
July 9: Indianapolis (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre)
July 11: Lansing, Mich. (Common Ground Festival)
July 15: Walker, Minn. (Moondance Jam)
July 16: Chicago (Northerly Island Amphitheatre)
July 17: St. Louis, Mo. (UMB Bank Pavilion)
July 20: Cleveland (Blossom Amphitheatre)
July 22: Goddard, Kan. (Lake Afton Park)
July 23: Kansas City, Kan. (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre)
July 30: Paso Robles, Calif. (California Mid-State Fair)
July 31: Saratoga, Calif. (Mountain Winery)
Aug. 2: Denver (Universal Lending Pavilion)
Aug. 3: Albuquerque, N.M. (Journal Pavilion)
Aug. 9: Sturgis, S.D. (Buffalo Chip Campground)
Aug. 10: Sioux Falls, S.D. (Sioux Empire Fairgrounds)
Aug. 12: Clarkston, Mich. (DTE Energy Music Theatre)
Aug. 13: Twin Lakes, Wis. (Country Thunder USA)
Aug. 17: Kingston, R.I (Ryan Center)
Aug. 24: Toronto (Casino Rama)
Aug. 26: Holmdel, N.J. (PNC Bank Arts Center)
Aug. 27: Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Saratoga PAC)
Aug. 28: Wantagh, N.Y. (Jones Beach Amphitheatre)
Sept. 7: Vienna, Va. (Wolf Trap)
Sept. 8: Kettering, Ohio (Fraze Pavilion)
Sept. 24: Biloxi, Miss. (Beau Rivage Casino)
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