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Journey Hires Def Leppard Manager Amid Inter-Band Turmoil

The road warriors go their separate ways with their last co-managers -- themselves -- in favor of Mike Kobayashi.

By Steve Knopper

Steve Knopper

Journey ‘s new manager, Mike Kobayashi , confirmed late Tuesday he was “just hired,” taking over from player-managers Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain after a roller-coaster year.

The classic-rock fixture sold 363,000 tickets and grossed $39.9 million across 42 North American shows on its 2022 arena tour, according to Billboard Boxscore, doubling the revenue pace of its previous headlining tour, in 2017, which grossed $31.7 million over 67 shows.

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Journey’s latest legal clash it’s over the band’s amex card.

The lawsuit, pending in California Superior Court, is one of several legal disputes involving Cain and Schon, one of the band’s founders, and other Journey members in recent years. In 2020, the two musicians sued drummer Steve Smith and bassist Ross Valory , accusing them of improperly trying to take control of the band name; Valory filed a counter-complaint, and the lawsuit ended with a 2021 settlement in which Smith and Valory left the band.

And after Schon and Cain trademarked names of many of the band’s hits, such as “Wheel In the Sky,” former frontman Steve Perry filed an action in U.S. Trademark Court in September to stop the process. Perry cited a long-running band partnership agreement that requires Schon and Cain to get his permission to make these kinds of trademark moves.

Kobayashi, who also manages fellow road warriors Def Leppard , did not respond to requests for further comment on his new position with Journey.

Journey hasn’t had a new hit in decades, but the band remains a top-tier touring act and occasionally scores high-profile synchs in shows like The Sopranos and, last spring, Stranger Things , the Netflix series that revived Kate Bush ‘s “Running Up That Hill” on the charts.

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Herbie Herbert, Longtime Manager of Journey, Dies at 73

The Bill Graham protégé represented the band at its height.

By Roy Trakin

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Walter James “Herbie” Herbert II, a Bill Graham protégé who began as a roadie for Santana and ended up managing Journey for 20 years, died at his home in Orinda, California on Monday, Oct. 25, of natural causes. He was 73.

Herbert is the third Graham business associate to have died over the past few months, following Mick Brigden, the ex-Rolling Stones tour manager who headed the management side of Bill Graham Presents, and Dell Furano, founder of Winterland Productions merchandising, both of whom passed in September. Ironically, Herbert died on the 30th anniversary of Graham’s death, which occurred on Oct. 25, 1991.

A native of Berkeley, California, Herbert was a self-described hippie and unregenerate Grateful Dead supporter who began working for Graham as a roadie for Santana (where he first met future Journey members Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie). He managed Frumious Bandersnatch, a psychedelic San Francisco rock band named after a character from the Lewis Carroll poem, “Jabberwocky,” whose members included soon-to-be Journey stalwarts Ross Valory and George Tickner. Their independently released three-song EP produced a minor underground hit in “Hearts to Cry.”

After leaving Santana, he put together the original Journey line-up in 1973, remaining as manager until 1993. He fully immersed himself in the band’s business, traveling with them as their road manager. A savvy entrepreneur, he established an in-house Nightmare Productions to make the records, pioneering the use of large-scale videos through Nocturne Productions which revolutionized state-of-the-art lighting and sound for the stadiums that bands were now playing, establishing the foundation for today’s live concert industry. An avid San Francisco 49ers fan, he was the first to book rock acts to play halftime shows and had a luxury box right next to owner Eddie DeBartolo’s.

Popular on Variety

As a seasoned businessman, Herbert parlayed Journey’s real estate holdings into a sizable income. With the band’s art director Jim Welch, Herbert’s creative marketing plan used underground artists Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelly, one-word album titles and expert point-of-purchase branding long before it became standard practice in the music business. A reported personality conflict with lead singer Steve Perry led to Herbert leaving the band in 1993.

In a 2017 interview with San Francisco radio station KQED at the time of Journey’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Herbert didn’t hesitate to comment on the band’s increasing dysfunction, pointing to Schon as the divisive factor Steve Perry once was. “It’s a tragedy,” he said. “It’s all rooted in financial issues, and it’s too bad because it could be the undoing of what is a great business.”

Herbert also managed the Steve Miller Band and co-managed Swedish groups Roxette and Europe, along with Mr. Big, Enuff Z’Nuff and Journey splinter groups The Storm and Hardline. In the late ‘90s, Herbert moved from behind the stage into the spotlight, recording three albums as Sy Klopps, performing sold-out shows at the Fillmore with a band that included current and former Journey band members Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Prairie Prince and Ross Valory.

Herbert took many lesser-known artists under his wing and was a prominent supporter of the local Bay Area music scene.

“He made so many people’s lives and careers truly better, and as a manager, he always made decisions based on what was for the greater good,” said his wife Maya.

“I’ll cherish all the incredible times and trials and tribulations we experienced together,” Schon posted on Instagram. “Herbie was an incredible hands-on manager and fought like a motherf–er for all of us every step of the way. I can easily say that without his vision there would have never been many of the innovative things that we shared. I hold the greatest times in my heart forever.”

Added his longtime friend, veteran San Francisco Chronicle journalist Joel Selvin: “He had one of those personalities that tended toward teaching, coaching, sharing and encouraging. It was in his DNA. Journey was always Herbie’s idea, it was his band. The musicians didn’t have a vision; they wanted to make money, and Herbie steered them in that direction. He was the complete guiding hand. I always called him the military-industrial complex of rock, and he took that as a compliment. He had an enormous spirit. Seeing him in action was awesome.”

After the recent death of Dell Furano, Herbert posted on his friend’s Facebook page: “The goal isn’t to live forever, it’s to create something that will. That’s what Dell did.”

So, too, did Herbie Herbert, who is survived by his devoted wife Maya, daughters Seaya and Katherine, brother Robert and sister Katherine.

There is a documentary in the works about Herbert’s life that began production before he died. Plans for a memorial celebration will be announced.

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Herbie Herbert, Longtime Manager of Journey, Dead at 73

Herbie Herbert died of natural causes at his California home on Monday

Digital News Writer, PEOPLE

Walter James "Herbie" Herbert II, who managed Journey for over two decades, had reportedly died. He was 73.

Herbert died of natural causes at his home in Orinda, California, on Monday, according to Variety and The San Francisco Chronicle .

The music manager had been suffering from a "prolonged illness," his longtime assistant Maria Hoppe, who is the executive director of Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, told the Chronicle.

Hoppe did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Herbert began his career working for tour promoter Bill Graham, first joining Santana as a roadie before he began managing Frumious Bandersnatch.

After Santana split, Herbert pulled together the original members of Journey in 1973 and remained the band's manager until 1993.

In addition to working with Journey, Herbert managed The Steve Miller Band and co-managed Swedish groups Roxette and Europe. He also worked with Mr. Big, Enuff Z'Nuff, The Storm and Hardline.

Following the news of Herbert's death on Tuesday, tributes poured in from those who knew him best.

"I'll cherish all the incredible times and trials and tribulations we experienced together," wrote guitarist Neal Schon , who met Herbert when he joined Santana. The two would work together again when Schon helped establish Journey.

"Herbie was an incredible hands-on manager and fought like a mother fucker for all of us every step of the way," Schon continued. "I can easily say that without his vision there would have never been many of the innovative things that we shared. I hold the greatest times in my heart forever. My deepest condolences to All that knew him and loved him. God Bless you R.I.P. Herbie with much love respect and admiration."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE 's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.

Herbert is survived by his wife Maya, daughters Seaya and Katherine, brother Robert and sister Katherine.

In a statement to Variety, Maya said that he "made so many people's lives and careers truly better, and as a manager, he always made decisions based on what was for the greater good."

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Herbie Herbert, Longtime Manager of Journey, Dies at 73

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Walter James “Herbie” Herbert II, a Bill Graham protégé who began as a roadie for Santana and ended up managing Journey for 20 years, died at his home in Orinda, California on Monday, Oct. 25, of natural causes. He was 73.

Herbert is the third Graham business associate to have died over the past few months, following Mick Brigden, the ex-Rolling Stones tour manager who headed the management side of Bill Graham Presents, and Dell Furano, founder of Winterland Productions merchandising, both of whom passed in September. Ironically, Herbert died on the 30th anniversary of Graham’s death, which occurred on Oct. 25, 1991.

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A native of Berkeley, California, Herbert was a self-described hippie and unregenerate Grateful Dead supporter who began working for Graham as a roadie for Santana (where he first met future Journey members Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie ). He managed Frumious Bandersnatch, a psychedelic San Francisco rock band named after a character from the Lewis Carroll poem, “Jabberwocky,” whose members included soon-to-be Journey stalwarts Ross Valory and George Tickner. Their independently released three-song EP produced a minor underground hit in “Hearts to Cry.”

After leaving Santana, he put together the original Journey line-up in 1973, remaining as manager until 1993. He fully immersed himself in the band’s business, traveling with them as their road manager. A savvy entrepreneur, he established an in-house Nightmare Productions to make the records, pioneering the use of large-scale videos through Nocturne Productions which revolutionized state-of-the-art lighting and sound for the stadiums that bands were now playing, establishing the foundation for today’s live concert industry. An avid San Francisco 49ers fan, he was the first to book rock acts to play halftime shows and had a luxury box right next to owner Eddie DeBartolo’s.

As a seasoned businessman, Herbert parlayed Journey’s real estate holdings into a sizable income. With the band’s art director Jim Welch, Herbert’s creative marketing plan used underground artists Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelly, one-word album titles and expert point-of-purchase branding long before it became standard practice in the music business. A reported personality conflict with lead singer Steve Perry led to Herbert leaving the band in 1993.

In a 2017 interview with San Francisco radio station KQED at the time of Journey’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Herbert didn’t hesitate to comment on the band’s increasing dysfunction, pointing to Schon as the divisive factor Steve Perry once was. “It’s a tragedy,” he said. “It’s all rooted in financial issues, and it’s too bad because it could be the undoing of what is a great business.”

Herbert also managed the Steve Miller Band and co-managed Swedish groups Roxette and Europe, along with Mr. Big, Enuff Z’Nuff and Journey splinter groups The Storm and Hardline. In the late ‘90s, Herbert moved from behind the stage into the spotlight, recording three albums as Sy Klopps, performing sold-out shows at the Fillmore with a band that included current and former Journey band members Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Prairie Prince and Ross Valory.

Herbert took many lesser-known artists under his wing and was a prominent supporter of the local Bay Area music scene.

“He made so many people’s lives and careers truly better, and as a manager, he always made decisions based on what was for the greater good,” said his wife Maya.

“I’ll cherish all the incredible times and trials and tribulations we experienced together,” Schon posted on Instagram. “Herbie was an incredible hands-on manager and fought like a motherf–er for all of us every step of the way. I can easily say that without his vision there would have never been many of the innovative things that we shared. I hold the greatest times in my heart forever.”

Added his longtime friend, veteran San Francisco Chronicle journalist Joel Selvin: “He had one of those personalities that tended toward teaching, coaching, sharing and encouraging. It was in his DNA. Journey was always Herbie’s idea, it was his band. The musicians didn’t have a vision; they wanted to make money, and Herbie steered them in that direction. He was the complete guiding hand. I always called him the military-industrial complex of rock, and he took that as a compliment. He had an enormous spirit. Seeing him in action was awesome.”

After the recent death of Dell Furano, Herbert posted on his friend’s Facebook page: “The goal isn’t to live forever, it’s to create something that will. That’s what Dell did.”

So, too, did Herbie Herbert, who is survived by his devoted wife Maya, daughters Seaya and Katherine, brother Robert and sister Katherine.

There is a documentary in the works about Herbert’s life that began production before he died. Plans for a memorial celebration will be announced.

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Journey Gets New Manager

via Journey / Facebook

Journey’s Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain have handed over their co-managerial duties to new manager Mike Kobayashi.

Last Tuesday, Kobayashi confirmed that he was “just hired” by the two feuding rockers. Kobayashi makes up one-third of CSM Management, a firm that opened in 2018. Its roster includes other rock icons such as Lenny Kravitz, Jeff Lynne, Stevie Nicks, and Def Leppard, the last of which Kobayashi also manages.

Recently, Schon and Cain have been dealing with a highly publicized legal battle. It has something to do with the American Express card associated with Nomota, the company they established in 1998 to handle Journey’s business dealings.

Schon filed a lawsuit against Cain and claimed the keyboardist “improperly restricted” his access to the account and its documents. In return, Cain accused Schon of misusing the card, citing his “excessive spending and extravagant lifestyle.” Schon wrote in a recent social media post:

“All I want to see is our records. Cain is lying as I do not have full access as he states. I’m now a 50% owner. I’m the founder, president, and secretary/manager of Nomota LLC that we started in 1998, and have every right to see what’s gone on in there. … Transparency is all I’m asking for. Is that too much to be asking of a 50/50 partner? ( https://www.algerie360.com ) There’s no skating around this.”

Schon also tweeted a photo of himself with co-founding Journey and Santana keyboardist Gregg Rolie, whom Cain replaced in 1980, saying:

“Two original founding members. I think my brother Gregg Rolie should join us for the 2023 tour. What do you think, friends? He will spice it up and we will have a great variety of songs to choose from. What would you like to hear for the 50th-anniversary tour?”

https://t.co/muZwFjOJrX pic.twitter.com/Dmxwf2p2sV — NEAL SCHON MUSIC (@NealSchonMusic) November 25, 2022

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Famed Journey Manager Herbie Herbert Dies At 73

By Andrew Magnotta @AndrewMagnotta

October 27, 2021

Herbie Herbert , who was best known as Journey 's longtime manager, died of natural causes Monday at age 73.

A native of Berkley, California, Walter James Herbert II began his career as a roadie for Santana and later became a protégé of legendary rock promoter Bill Graham . Herbert began managing bands in the early-'70s and helped put together Journey's first lineup around Neal Schon in 1973.

“He made so many people’s lives and careers truly better, and as a manager, he always made decisions based on what was for the greater good,” said his wife Maya in a statement.

Schon added via Instagram: "I'll cherish all the incredible times and trials and tribulations we experience together. Herbie was an incredible hands-on manager and fought like a motherf---er for all of us every step of the way. I can easily say that without his vision there would have never been many of the innovative things that we shared. I hold the greatest times in my heart forever."

Music journalist Joel Selvin of the San Francisco Chronicle — a longtime friend — added that Herbert "had one of those personalities that tended toward teaching, coaching, sharing and encouraging. It was in his DNA. Journey was always Herbie's idea, it was his band."

Herbert looked after Journey's business operations for over 20 years and saw the band grow into one of the highest-grossing arena acts in the world under his watch. He also managed Steve Miller Band , Europe , Mr. Big and Enuff Z'Nuff , among others.

He eventually resigned from Journey in 1993 due to conflicts with Steve Perry , though he retained an interest in the band and continued working through last year.

A documentary about Herbert's life and career began production this year before his passing. His family says they will soon announce plans for a memorial celebration.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Neal Schon (@nealschon)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Herbie Herbert (@herbiethemanager)

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Journey's Neal Schon says he and Steve Perry are 'in a good place' before band's 50th anniversary

On the cusp of turning 50, the band that etched “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” and “Faithfully” into lighters-up lore is entering “a cleaned-up chapter of Journey.”

That’s according to Neal Schon, the band’s ace guitarist, lone original constant and de facto CEO.

Despite decades of fluctuating lineups and  snarly lawsuits among band members , Journey endures.

On July 8, the band released “Freedom,” its first new album in 11 years that also presents the return of Randy Jackson (as in "American Idol") on bass. The 15-song collection is steeped with vintage-sounding ballads (“Still Believe in Love,” “Live to Love Again”) and soaring melodic rockers (“United We Stand,” “You Got the Best of Me”).

Journey – including longtime keyboardist Jonathan Cain,  peppy singer Arnel Pineda , drummer Deen Castronovo and keyboardist Jason Derlatka, adding bassist Todd Jensen for live shows – will hit Resorts World Las Vegas  this month for shows backed by a symphony orchestra before rolling through more arena dates this summer and in early 2023, the band’s official 50th year.

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Journey in pop culture: Quarantined family perfectly re-creates 'Separate Ways' music video at home

Regular road warriors who consistently pack arenas and stadiums – their 27 shows this year grossed $28 million, according to Billboard Boxscore – Journey relies on a solid catalog of mega-hits and a devoted fan base that appreciates the familiarity.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers also received a boost from Netflix’s ’80s-centered “Stranger Things” when the show used “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” in the trailer for the just-ended season, launching the song onto Billboard’s Rock Digital Songs chart. The affable Schon, 68, talked with USA TODAY about the band’s complicated legacy, his relationship with former frontman Steve Perry and plans for Journey's golden anniversary.

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Question: Are you amazed at how the Journey train keeps rolling after almost 50 years?

Neal Schon: It’s quite an accomplishment and I’m very proud of what we’ve done and how we’ve gotten through emotional and personnel changes and survived. It’s pretty mind-boggling but also a lot of hard work.

Q: Does the title “Freedom” refer to anything specifically?

Schon: Our ex-manager Herbie Herbert  wanted to call the (1986) “Raised on Radio” album “Freedom” because he always came up with these one-word titles. Steve (Perry) fought him on that and got his way, so we sat on it for many years. When we got through the lawsuit with the ex-bandmates, we made the new LLC Freedom (JN) and when we were tossing around album titles said, why not just call the whole thing “Freedom?" It's for the times right now.

Q: There’s been a bit of a revolving door in the rhythm section. Deen Castronovo is back for the live shows, but Narada Michael Walden played drums on the album, and Randy Jackson is back in the band, at least on record?

Schon: Deen is singing and playing his butt off. He’s such a musical sponge, this guy. He’s been like my little brother for close to three decades and is such a joy to work with. Randy, he’d been working with me diligently this whole time. He’s so many things beyond being an amazing musician and bass player.

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Q: Will Randy play at any of the upcoming live shows or is Todd Jensen handling those duties?

Schon: Randy is still recovering from some surgery and he stays very busy and Todd fits like a glove. Having said that, I think with our 50th anniversary next year, there’s room for everybody to jump in if they want to participate. We did go through an ugly divorce with (Steve Smith and Ross Valory) with the court proceedings (in 2021, Schon and Cain settled a $10 million trademark lawsuit with the band’s former drummer and bassist). But definitely, if Steve Perry wanted to come on and sing a song, yes. If (original Journey singer) Gregg Rolie wanted to come sing a couple of songs, yes. Randy Jackson (can) come sit in on some of the material – he played on a lot of hits on “Raised on Radio.”

Q: Do you talk much with Steve Perry?

Schon: We are in contact. It’s not about him coming out with us, but we’re speaking on different levels. That’s a start, even if it’s all business. And I’m not having to go through his attorney! We’ve been texting and emailing. He’s a real private guy and he wants to keep it that way. We’re in a good place.

Q: Do you think, after 15 years, that people have accepted Arnel?

Schon: I was diligent in that I wanted to show the massive size of our audience, so I hired photogs to come out every show and shoot the audience and show the size of the crowd to make everybody see, what am I missing? From putting up the different photos every night and the reviews from the fans online, I saw very little of “This is not Journey, man.” I think we just shut everybody up.

New JOURNEY Band Biography 'Worlds Apart' Now Available

Time Passages has announced "Journey: Worlds Apart" , the definitive accounting of the "Don't Stop Believin'" hitmakers by award-winning journalist Nick DeRiso . A multiple columnist of the year award-winner with the USA Today network, DeRiso conducted dozens of interviews to compile a book that's not just a biography of JOURNEY — it's a backstage pass.

JOURNEY started as a dream for former SANTANA road manager Herbie Herbert , who thought he could build a blockbuster band out of the remnants of post- Woodstock SANTANA with Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon . Turns out, he could — but it would take a few albums, and the arrival of frontman Steve Perry . By the time Rolie exited at the turn of the '80s, JOURNEY was already a multi-platinum band — and they would only get bigger with the addition of Jonathan Cain from JOURNEY 's former opening act THE BABYS .

Solo projects and long periods apart slowed their momentum until Perry finally left for good in the late '90s. Then JOURNEY was faced with one of its biggest challenges: Whether and how to move forward without the singer who had redefined their sound forever on songs like "Open Arms" , "Only The Young" and "When You Love A Woman" .

The story is guided from their earliest roots by conversations with co-founding members Schon , Rolie and Prairie Prince , along with longtime Herbert confidant Pat Morrow . DeRiso then follows JOURNEY toward pop-culture superstardom through additional talks with later-era collaborators Cain , Steve Smith , Deen Castronovo , Steve Augeri and scores of producers, sidemen, label representatives and acknowledged experts like former Rolling Stone contributing editor David Wild , original MTV VJ Martha Quinn , and longtime San Francisco Chronicle music writer Joel Selvin , the latter of whom covered JOURNEY almost from the beginning.

Along the way, "Journey: Worlds Apart" emerges as the definitive look back at Journey, with deep explorations of every era, every album and every song. Pathway collaborations and key side projects complete this detailed analysis, as DeRiso speaks with John Waite , Jan Hammer , Marco Mendoza , Ron Wikso and others.

Nick DeRiso is assistant managing editor with Townsquare Media . Time Passages most recently published "Eagles: Up Ahead In The Distance" , the second in a three-book series.

Time Passages, LLC is an independent publishing based near Annapolis, Maryland.

For more information, visit www.timepassages.net .

Coming soon! Posted by Journey: Worlds Apart on  Thursday, December 7, 2023

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JOURNEY Hires DEF LEPPARD’s Manager To Solve Crisis Within The Band

• December 9, 2022
• 2 minute read

Journey  has hired a new manager, Mike Kobayashi, who also manages the iconic rock band , Def Leppard.  (via Billboard )

The group was previously managed by guitarist Neal Schon  and keyboardist  Jonathan Cain.

Journey ‘s management change comes less than two months after  Schon filed a lawsuit against Jonathan Cain  in California state court, alleging that  Cain  set up an  American Express  card without telling  Schon  and that “millions of  Journey  funds have flowed through it.”

Earlier  Jonathan Cain  fired back at Journey’s Neal Schon’s accusations after the guitarist sued Cain over the use of an American Express issued in the band’s name.

Read below what  Cain’s  claims:

“This is a matter that should have been resolved privately, but I am forced to publicly respond now to Neal’s malicious lies and personal attacks on my family and me in an effort to garner public support for his ill-conceived lawsuit, a lawsuit that has absolutely no merit.

“ Neal has always had access to the credit card statements; what he lacks – and what he is really seeking, is the ability to increase his spending limits. Since Neal decided to publicize what is going on, I can tell you we will present the evidence to the court that shows that Neal has been under tremendous financial pressure as a result of his excessive spending and extravagant lifestyle, which led to him running up enormous personal charges on the band’s credit card account.

“When efforts were made to limit his use of the card to legitimate band expenses, Neal , unfortunately, decided to attack me rather than trying to get his reckless spending under control. I am saddened by the situation, for Neal, and for our fans, but since Neal filed a lawsuit, I suspect he will not be able to ignore the court like he has ignored the countless financial advisors and accountants he has fired over the past several years who have tried in vain to help him.”

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Seems like Neil took the American Express logo to heart & ” He never left home without it ” Lol

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Herbie Herbert dead at 73: Manager of famous rock band Journey passes away of ‘natural causes’

• Katherine Schaffstall
• Published : 14:17 ET, Oct 26 2021
• Updated : 15:56 ET, Oct 26 2021

HERBIE Herbert, the manager of the famous rock band Journey, is dead at 73.

The music mogul passed away of "natural causes."

Herbie, who was born as Walter James Herbert II, was a Bill Graham protégé who began his career as a roadie for Santana.

However, he was best known for managing the iconic band Journey for 20 years.

Herbie died at his home in Orinda, California on Monday of natural causes, according to Variety .

Born in Berkeley, California, Herbie first met first met future Journey members Neal Schon and Gregg Roliebegan while working for Graham as a roadie for Santana.

The businessman managed a psychedelic San Francisco-bed rock band called Frumious Bandersnatch, which was named after a character from Lewis Carroll's poem Jabberwocky.

Frumious Bandersnatch's members included soon-to-be Journey musicians Ross Valory and George Tickner.

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The band independently released a three-song EP, which included the minor hit in Hearts to Cry.

Once her left Santana, Herbie put together the original Journey line-up in 1973.

He was a major part of the band's success and remained as their manager until 1993.

Herbie was fully immersed in the band’s business, as he traveled with them as their road manager. 

HERBIE'S IMPACT

In addition to his work as Journey's manager, the entrepreneur established the company Nightmare Productions to make the records.

Through the in-house endeavor, Herbie pioneered the use of large-scale videos and revolutionized state-of-the-art lighting and sound for the stadiums that bands now play.

Many could argue that Herbie left a profound impact on today's live concert industry.

Herbie put his skills as a businessman to use while managing Journey, as he turned their real estate holdings into an impressive income.

With the help of the band’s art director Jim Welch, Herbie's creative marketing plan included underground artists, one-word album titles and expert point-of-purchase branding.

He used the now common tactics long before they were standard practice in the music business.

DEPARTURE FROM JOURNEY

Herbie eventually left his role as Journey's manager in 1993 following a reported conflict with lead singer Steve Perry.

While being interviewed by the San Francisco radio station KQED in 2017, Herbie candidly reflected on his departure from the band.

"It’s a tragedy," the businessman said. "It’s all rooted in financial issues, and it’s too bad because it could be the undoing of what is a great business."

Journey wasn't the only band Herbie helped shape, as he also worked as the manager for the Steve Miller Band.

He also co-managed the Swedish groups Roxette and Europe alongside Mr. Big, Enuff Z’Nuff and Journey splinter groups The Storm and Hardline. 

Following news of his passing, Herbie was praised for his impact on the music industry.

His wife Maya said in a statement obtained by Variety: “He made so many people’s lives and careers truly better, and as a manager, he always made decisions based on what was for the greater good."

Journey member Neal also paid tribute to Herbie, writing on Instagram : "I’ll cherish all the incredible times and trials and tribulations we experienced together.

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"Herbie was an incredible hands-on manager and fought like a motherf**ker for all of us every step of the way. I can easily say that without his vision there would have never been many of the innovative things that we shared. I hold the greatest times in my heart forever.”

The manager is survived by Maya, their daughters Seaya and Katherine, his brother Robert and his sister Katherine.

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Coming from San Francisco, California, Journey was formed in 1973. The band was found by members Schon, Ross Valory, Prairie Prince, and George Tickner. Shortly, Gregg Rolie joined the line-up. They recorded “Journey” in 1975. By 1977, the band recruited Steve Perry which led the way to 1978’s “Infinity,” selling millions of copies worldwide. Fast-forward, their album “Escape” led them to the top ranks of pop groups.

Songs “Who’s Crying Now?,” “Don’t Stop Believin’, and ‘Open Arms” hit the Top Ten singles. Despite the success, Journey disbanded. But in 1996, Perry, Schon, Cain, Valory, and Smith planned a Journey reunion, in which they released “Trial by Fire” selling millions of copies. Up to date, the new vocalist for the band is Arnel Pineda since 2008.

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Journey: Band Members and History

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For over 40 years, Journey has been one of the greatest classic rock bands of all time. The band has released 23 albums and 43 singles since 1975 and has reached worldwide album sales totaling more than 75 million. 

But how exactly did Journey come to be? The San Francisco band got its start in 1973. Santana's former road manager, Herbie Herbert, recruited two of that band's members (Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon) and former Steve Miller Band bassist Ross Valory to form the Golden Gate Rhythm Section—the band that later became Journey.

The original Journey band members included Gregg Rolie on vocals and the keyboard, Neal Schon on guitar and vocals, George Tickner on guitar, Ross Valory on bass and vocals, and Prairie Prince on drums. 

Their first album was released in 1975 and established the band's jazz-influenced progressive rock sound. After several personnel changes, Steve Perry signed on as lead vocalist, launching the band's greatest period of commercial success from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s. Many people remember Steve as the face of the band.

The Best Album

The group's seventh album, Escape,  produced three hit singles and sold over 9 million copies. In addition to its commercial success, the album also received critical acclaim that has eluded them through most of their existence. Arguably, the most popular song put out by Journey is "Don't Stop Believin'." Originally released in 1981, the song became a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at No. 9. The song has been used in near countless films in American TV and cinema including  Monster, Glee , the season finale of  The Sopranos , and  Rock of Ages. 

Journey Band Members Over the Years

In 2005, the band (along with original members Schon and Valory) marked its 30th anniversary with the release of its 23rd album,  Generations  and an anniversary tour, at times featuring some of the many former members of the group. In December 2006, Jeff Scott Soto replaced Steve Augeri as lead vocalist. Soto had been filling in for several months after Augeri was sidelined with a chronic throat infection. Soto was replaced a few months later by Arnel Pineda , vocalist for a Filipino cover band who was hired as a result of a video he posted on YouTube.

The band has been on a journey as it has evolved from past members including Steve Perry to its current members. 

Past Journey band members include the following:

• Steve Perry (1977-1998)
• Aynsley Dunbar (1974-1978)
• Robert Fleischman (1977)
• Steve Smith (1978-1985, 1995-1998)
• Randy Jackson (1985-1987)
• Steve Augeri (1998-2006)

Current Journey band members:

• Neal Schon - guitar (1973-present)
• Jonathan Cain - keyboards (1980-present)
• Ross Valory - bass (1973-1985, 1995-present)
• Arnel Pineda - vocals (2007-present)
• Deen Castronovo - drums (1998-present)

Fun Facts About Journey

• Journey music has been part of the animated TV shows South Park and Family Guy, and movies Caddyshack and BASEketball.
• The group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005 and was inducted into the San Francisco Music Hall of Fame in 2003.
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Why Journey Never Accepted the ‘Corporate Rock’ Tag: Book Excerpt

An expansive new biography of Journey is on the way from UCR assistant managing editor Nick DeRiso that promises to delve into " every era, every album and every tour ."

Available for ordering now , 'Journey: Worlds Apart' features dozens of interviews with key contributors including Neal Schon , Gregg Rolie , Jonathan Cain , Steve Smith, Deen Castronovo , Steve Augeri and others. Among those offering wider perspective are collaborators like John Waite , Prairie Prince, Jeff Scott Soto, Marco Mendoza and Jan Hammer, as well as stalwart road manager Pat Morrow, former 'Rolling Stone' contributing editor David Wild, original MTV VJ Martha Quinn, album-cover artist Stanley Mouse, and Joel Selvin, the longtime San Francisco music writer who covered Journey almost from the beginning.

The group started as a dream for former Santana road manager Herbie Herbert, who thought he could build a blockbuster band out of the group's post-Woodstock remnants with Rolie and Schon. Turns out, he could – but it would take a few albums, and the arrival of frontman Steve Perry . When Rolie exited at the turn of the '80s, Journey was already a multi-platinum band – and they would only get bigger with the addition of Cain from Journey's former opening act, the Babys .

Then critics began describing Journey as "corporate rock." In the following excerpt from 'Journey: Worlds Apart,' DeRiso sorts through how that happened with Cain, Wild and others:  

By the time Journey released Frontiers , they were as much a company as a band. Manager Herbie Herbert founded related subsidiaries to handle every aspect of their recording and touring operations. The vested members voted on major decisions board-room-style.

Then critics began using the label “corporate rock” as a cudgel against Journey.

Herbert was helping to rearrange the DNA of rock, bringing in business concepts to a culture that had essentially run on nothing more than sex, drugs and a few power chords. The members of Journey were partners in these commercial entities, but they weren’t equals. The vision, everyone openly admitted, was all Herbert’s.

“Not many managers started out as roadies, you know, and went through every phase of show business,” Jonathan Cain said. “Herbie had this extraordinary ability to start out as Neal Schon’s roadie and end up with a PA company, then a lighting company. Then he has this vision of video, and brings video into rock. He was an extraordinary man.”

Herbert delved into the finest details, like a shaggy-haired walking spreadsheet. Still, to some critics, it was all starting to sound more like Wall Street than Haight. A rising group of younger acts like the Ramones tried to push back, too.

Yet millions of record buyers, radio listeners, and concertgoers remained stubbornly immune to these criticisms. As decades passed, some of the same pundits would admit that they had treated the band unfairly. Time offered new perspectives.

“In that period between when I was like a young, asshole Rolling Stone writer trying to have whatever I perceived, rightly and wrongly, as credibility, I had a few experiences,” said David Wild, who later wrote the liner notes to the platinum-selling 2001 hits package The Essential Journey . He realized, for instance, that their album image choices tended to make Journey seem more faceless.

“I think there is something about the name, which seems generic and new age,” Wild said. “Like, did they ever have an album cover that had them on it? You know, the branding of it was like Yes in a different, earlier era. It was not a cult of personality; they weren’t cool with the cool crowd, for a large part of their career. There are just some bands that are more the people’s choice. But that being said, the longer I live, the more I respect people who were just simply great.”

Journey Ultimately Had the Last Laugh

Journey’s best-selling singles endured. Even songs that had not been huge hits found their place on movie soundtracks, TV shows, radio programs, and countless playlists. Genres rose and fell as time went on, even as a long-awaited critical evaluation led to Journey’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

“You know, music went to flannel rock, it went to grunge rock. Rock ’n’ roll went through a lot of different phases,” Cain added. “But calling Journey corporate rock was just ridiculous because we just played a lot of shows. We wrote music that was all over the map — so did the Beatles. So what, you know? The critics just loved to hate Journey for a while. But I knew it was gonna be a passing phase, because the songs were mightier than their pen.”

The Best Song From Every Journey Album

Gallery Credit: Nick DeRiso

You Think You Know Journey?

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