NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� The long, riding road once more beckons for the members of iconic Is it the band’s final journey together?
The last leg of what is being billed as their kicks off in September in Los Angeles and what likely will be an emotional homecoming is at the end of it 鈥� in
鈥淚鈥檓 sure it鈥檚 going to be somewhat emotional because that鈥檚 where it all started,鈥� says co-founder and lead guitarist 鈥淚 know the audience is going to be off the hook.鈥�
The band has plenty of dates before that finale, with stops in Phoenix, Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Detroit, Boston, Cleveland, Denver and Las Vegas, among others.
The tour’s last show in San Francisco will cap more than 100 concerts this year, and the band frequently plays for more than two hours, adding deep cuts 鈥� like the spacy, melodic 鈥淥f a Lifetime鈥� from the early 鈥�70s and songs from the album 鈥淩aised on Radio鈥� from the 鈥�80s 鈥� to the reliable hits, like 鈥淔aithfully.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 loving it because it鈥檚 the type of show I鈥檝e been wanting to do with Journey,鈥� says Schon, who is frustrated when the band is lumped in with other ’80s bands like REO Speedwagon, Styx or Foreigner.
鈥淚 always felt like even though all those bands have contributed something that a lot of people like, we were much different. I thought musically we could go any place that we wanted to. And so now we鈥檙e doing that, finally.鈥�
Expect hits and album tunes alike
Journey has had six Top 10 hits on the Billboard singles chart 鈥� including 鈥淥pen Arms鈥� and 鈥淲ho鈥檚 Crying Now鈥� 鈥� and eight albums in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200, including the 1981 No. 1 鈥淓scape.鈥�
Fans can expect to hear those hits as well as Journey’s enduring anthem, 鈥淒on鈥檛 Stop Believin,鈥欌�� which Schon wrote with keyboardist Jonathan Cain and then-lead singer Steve Perry.
It has shown up in the Broadway show 鈥淩ock of Ages,鈥� the cut-to-black the TV show 鈥淕lee,鈥� Brad Pitt鈥檚 鈥淢oneyball,鈥� the movie 鈥淢onster鈥� and the Democratic National Convention roll call in 2024. Journey returns to the road this fall after a summer in which 鈥淒on鈥檛 Stop Believin鈥欌�� was heard at the World Cup and as the the NBA crown.
鈥�’Don鈥檛 Stop Believin鈥�’ has surpassed our expectations,鈥� says Cain. 鈥淓very band wishes they had one and we have one. So, I guess that鈥檚 our 鈥楬ey Jude鈥� calling card. So we鈥檒l take it.鈥�
In addition to Schon and Cain, the current Journey lineup includes singer Arnel Pineda, keyboardist Jason Derlatka, drummer Deen Castronovo and bassist Todd Jensen. Cain, Derlatka and Castronovo pick up the mic to give Pineda a break on some songs.
Band members say they look out and see five generations attending their shows. 鈥淚 like to say Journey is certain music in uncertain times,鈥� Cain says. 鈥淛ourney is a soundtrack to a lot of people鈥檚 lives.鈥�
Future is uncertain for band members
The band, born in San Francisco in the days of vinyl, have endured through huge changes in the music business 鈥� CDs, Napster, digital and streaming. Schon, who cut his teeth playing with Carlos Santana, remembers Journey in the early days opening for Kiss, Jeff Beck and Cheech and Chong
Touring seems to be the only way for most bands to make any money since each streaming song earns them a fraction of a penny. Journey has leaned into the tour, sometimes hitting three cities in one day.
鈥淚 feel bad for the new generation,鈥� says Cain. 鈥淚 remember when I got a big old fat royalty check and they were playing our songs on the radio and that a new album meant you would sell more tickets. Not so today.鈥�
The end point 鈥� Nov. 28 at the Chase Center 鈥� looms, but the band isn’t sure what that night will include. 鈥淚t鈥檒l be fitting to end there for sure,鈥� says Cain. 鈥淲ho knows who鈥檚 going to show up? I don鈥檛 know. There might be a reunion of sorts, I hope.鈥�
After that, the band isn’t certain. 鈥淭he future kind of remains up in the air really,鈥� says Cain. Schon agrees but isn’t ready to make predictions.
鈥淚鈥檓 not nearly done with what I want to do,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 think there鈥檚 many great opportunities in the future. Whether or not it鈥檚 with everybody that鈥檚 here right now, I鈥檓 not certain.鈥�
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