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JOURNEY Announces 'Freedom Tour 2023' With Very Special Guest TOTO

One of the most legendary rock bands of all time, JOURNEY has announced the continuation of their highly successful tour with the 50th-anniversary celebration "Freedom Tour 2023" featuring very special guest TOTO . JOURNEY , diamond-selling Rock And Roll Hall Of Famers, will take the stage in 38 cities across North America with their catalog of global chart-topping hits, including "Don't Stop Believin'" , "Any Way You Want It" , "Faithfully" and "Lights" .

Presented by AEG Presents , JOURNEY "Freedom Tour 2023" begins February 4 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, making stops in Austin, Montreal, Memphis and more before wrapping April 25 at the brand new Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, California. The 2023 run includes rescheduled dates in Washington D.C., Hartford, Toronto and Quebec that were postponed earlier this year due to COVID-19.

JOURNEY features founder Neal Schon (lead guitarist), Jonathan Cain (keyboards, backing vocals), Arnel Pineda (lead vocals), Jason Derlatka (keyboards, vocals), Deen Castronovo (drums, vocals) and Todd Jensen (bass).

Says Schon : "We are all thankful and overwhelmed by the success of our JOURNEY 'Freedom Tour 2022' this year and have added a new run of dates for 2023. We are looking forward to hitting the road again with our very good friends TOTO ! Come join us for a special evening full of fun and rockin' good memories. See you soon, friends."

Cain adds: "Excited to perform for our fans as we tour next year with TOTO . The combined hits of both bands represent a couple of decades of excellence that have become a soundtrack for people's lives. The music of JOURNEY along with the music of TOTO is an example of 'certain music' during 'uncertain times'."

Very special guest TOTO , who have collectively streamed more than 3.3 billion plays on Spotify alone based on hits including "Rosanna" , "Africa" and "Hold The Line" , will join JOURNEY on all dates.

TOTO 's Steve Lukather shares: "'On behalf of myself and the band, we are very honored and excited to do this tour with our old and dear friends JOURNEY . Gonna be a great night of music, and as all the guys are lifelong friends... a blast off stage as well."

"Freedom Tour 2023" dates:

February 04 - Allentown, PA - PPL Center February 05 - Charlottesville, VA - John Paul Jones Arena February 08 - Savannah, GA - Enmarket Arena February 10 - Columbia, SC - Colonial Life Arena February 11 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum February 14 - Lexington, KY - Rupp Arena February 17 - Knoxville, TN - Thompson-Boling Arena February 19 - Bossier City, LA - Brookshire Grocery Arena February 22 - Austin, TX - Moody Center February 23 - Lafayette, LA - Cajundome February 26 - Jacksonville, FL - Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena March 01 - Washington, DC - Capital One Arena * March 03 - State College, PA - Bryce Jordan Center March 04 - Hartford, CT - XL Center * March 08 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre March 09 - Quebec, QC - Videotron Centre * March 12 - Toronto, ON - Scotiabank Arena * March 13 - Ottawa, ON - Canadian Tire Centre March 16 - Buffalo, NY - KeyBank Center March 17 - Atlantic City, NJ - Boardwalk Hall March 20 - Champaign, IL - State Farm Center March 21 - Moline, IL - Vibrant Arena at The MARK March 24 - Sioux Falls, SD - Denny Sanford PREMIER Center March 25 - Lincoln, NE - Pinnacle Bank Arena March 28 - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena March 31 - Tulsa, OK - BOK Center April 01 - Memphis, TN - FedExForum April 04 - San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center April 07 - Springfield, MO - Great Southern Bank Arena April 08 - Wichita, KS - INTRUST Bank Arena April 11 - Casper, WY - Ford Wyoming Center April 13 - Boise, ID - ExtraMile Arena April 14 - Spokane, WA - Spokane Arena April 17 - Eugene, OR - Matthew Knight Arena April 19 - Stockton, CA - Stockton Arena April 22 - Bakersfield, CA - Mechanics Bank Arena April 23 - Fresno, CA - SaveMart Center April 25 - Palm Springs, CA - Acrisure Arena

* Rescheduled date

JOURNEY and TOTO previously joined forces for an early 2022 U.S. arena tour.

JOURNEY is continuing to promote its latest album, "Freedom" , which was released in July via BMG . The LP debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Current Rock chart.

The members of JOURNEY celebrated the album's release by kicking off a residency featuring special symphony orchestra performances at the new, state-of-the-art Resorts World Casino in Las Vegas.

As JOURNEY 's legend continues to grow larger and their touring gets bigger, "Freedom" is the band’s first album of new material to be released in eleven years, since 2011's "Eclipse" , and in addition to Schon , along with longtime keyboard player and primary lyricist Cain and Pineda , one more member was recruited for the LP — bassist extraordinaire Randy Jackson , who had played on JOURNEY 's 1986 album "Raised On Radio" .

Inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017, JOURNEY has 25 gold and platinum albums, with total sales adding up to over 100 million albums worldwide, earning the band two Diamond Awards with a third on the way for the "Frontiers" album. JOURNEY has also surpassed one billion streams on Spotify .

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Hugely successful stadium rock outfit, Journey have sold millions of records, after rising to prominence in the 70s and 80s, perhaps best known for their hit single, "Don't Stop Believing."

Journey began life in San Francisco, US, having formed in 1973, spending several years developing their sound and lineup over their early albums. Their initial offerings were moderately successful jazz-rock records, that frequently broke out into instrumental experimentations. The influence of musical prodigy and former Santana guitarist, Neal Schon, was certainly on display, backed by Ross Valory (bass), Aynsley Dunbar (drums) and George Tickner (guitar), although George left after one album. Former Santana member, Gregg Rolie (keyboards, vocals) joined shortly after.

Not finding mainstream success, Journey decided they needed to find a strong vocalist, employing Steve Perry for the role. His presence immediately had an effect, with 1978's "Infinity" selling a million records in just one year. "Evolution" and "Departure" continued this success yet it was with "Escape" that they had created a real hit, featuring three Top Ten singles, "Who's Crying Now," "Don't Stop Believing" and "Open Arms." Journey sold millions of copies of "Escape," topping the charts internationally. 1983's "Frontiers" also spawned a number of hits, with Perry then embarked upon a solo venture, achieving double-platinum sales with 1984's "Street Talk."

Perry returned to Journey for 1986's "Raised on Radio," however the band disbanded shortly after. Perry continued his solo recordings whilst Schon and Cain formed Bad English and created the hit single, "When I See You Smile." In 1996, the band reunited, releasing the widely successful "Trial By Fire," bolstered by the success of the single, "When You Love a Woman." Tours followed, although minus Perry, maintaining the band's popularity.

In 2005, Journey's success was recognized, after receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which was followed by the band embarking on a celebratory 30th anniversary tour. Struggling to find a vocalist who could front Journey, they trialled Jeff Scott Soto before finding Arnel Pineda, a Filipino vocalist who they had discovered on Youtube. He made his debut with the band on 2008's "Revelation," which proved Journey still had songwriting abilities, with the album going Platinum. In 2011, they celebrated their prog-rock roots, blending their early sounds with the arena rock style they had developed into at their peak for the album, "Eclipse" in 2011.

Live reviews

I attended the Journey concert at the Minnesota State Fair on Labor Day 2014. It was supposed to rain that night, but the weather gods must also be Journey fans as it was a perfect evening for a concert. It is funny that a group with members in their 60s and the youngest member being Arnel Pineda at 46 had far more energy than the warm-up band with most members being in their 20s or 30s. I have been a Journey fan for a good 7 years now, and I discovered them by accident while browsing through records at a bookstore. As such, Journey to me means Steve Perry and the first time I saw them in concert last year was with Arnel Pineda and hearing him sing the songs that Perry largely wrote and performed was disorienting. I really enjoy the new album Eclipse, and it wasn’t hard for me to enjoy Pineda as these are his songs to sing and his voice is incredible. This year, I was more accustomed to Pineda and was determined to enjoy myself, and did I ever! The band has a great amount of energy and the crowd responded in kind, singing along to the songs and cheering like crazy. You’ll hear the classics for sure (Don’t Stop Believin’ was really special as the crowd really got loud when singing along to that) and that was really fun to hear, but there were some unexpected surprises as well. Firstly, it was nice to hear some of their new songs like "Ritual" from Eclipse and "Faith in the Heartland" from Generations, all the more so as the economy is not very good and many times the Midwest is considered flyover country by the coastal states. As good as Journey's classics are, I appreciated that they played their new songs too. Let's pray that "City of Hope" and "Tantra" will get stage time next year.

In an age where most “artists” can’t sing a lick without the aid of Autotune, every one of the band members can sing in addition to playing instruments. The drummer, Dean Castronovo (a newcomer to the band in 2001) sang the lead vocals for “Mother, Father” while playing drums at the same time. This song is very difficult as the key is very high and requires a great amount of power and range to express the powerful lyrics. He nailed it! I was not expecting the drummer to sing, but it was an unexpected surprise. Jonathan Cain is a very talented man, as he is not only a great piano player, but can play the guitar and provide vocals as well. He was very impressive singing “Anytime” and his piano portions in “Faithfully” were stunning as always. Ross Valory is the bass man, but can sing backing vocals as well.

Neil Schon is also amazing as his guitar work is legendary. From his “here comes the train” sequence in “Don’t Stop Belevin’” to his more intimate moments in “Who’s Crying Now” or “Open Arms”, he can also sing quite well and you are also treated to his rendition of the national anthem as well as a psychedelic guitar piece that has a bit of Indian sitar mixed in. It was really a trip, and shame on the people who were talking during these moments as they were great to listen to. Arnel Pineda is made for Journey. I must admit that I would love to hear Perry sing these songs, but that’s not going to happen and Pineda is the only other person I can think of that can fill Perry’s shoes. He has a tremendous amount of energy, range, and is very kind and humble and still looks amazed that he is leading a band like Journey. He was homeless for many years in his youth and spent a lifetime covering Journey songs and is now leading them. He appreciated how much the crowd got into the songs and promised to return to the Twin Cities. I’ll be there!

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The Journey show is Syracuse NY on August 28 was absolutely fantastic. I had seen them earlier this year and there was some minor sound issues. Not this time. The band hit the stage and rocked the house for about 90 minutes. Their sound was as crisp as their recordings. Neil was incredible as any fan would expect. Dean is a monster on the drums, Jonathan is just so smooth, Ross was as his usual entertaining the crowd with his facial Expressions and Arnel has certainly found a comfort zone and without question is a focal point of the band. When anyone goes to a Journey concert there are high expectations and this concert started fast paced and continued through the night. The band truly rocked the house. They went as far back playing anytime and La Do Da to current release Ritual. The stadium was close to sold out. When 'Don't Stop Believing' started you could hardly hear the back due to the crowd signing along. That's what should happen at one of their shows. The band also expressed their appreciation of the fans. They did not take the crowd for granted. All of the bands members thanked the fans for coming out and Arnel specifically thanked the fans numerous times. The band is not only rocking today like they did 35 years ago, they truly show that they still enjoy it. If you don't have tickets to an up coming show or if you have already seen one of their shows, you should get tickets NOW. This was my second show this year and I would travel again to see them. There was nothing to criticize the band for. They just Came out and nailed it. Great job. Now quit reading reviews and go find where you can enjoy the experience

Not going to lie, I went to a Journey, Steve Miller Band, Tower of Power concert somewhat dreading to see Journey. Like the rest of this world and probably a few more, I have that love hate relationship with Journey's mega hit, sing alongs, and was not too excited to be going to see them. But, a couple of my friends were going and concerts at Shoreline tend to be a good time, so I went along with it. Needless to say, how pleaseanty surprised I was to find myself up dancing and belting the lyrics to songs I had never heard before (you can be sure that when Don't Stop and Anyway You Want It came on I was the loudest one there).

All this coming from the kid who thought it was going to be a real snoozefest. I would categorize this concert as a show to see for the fun and the experience over the music itself. Unless, in some bizarre turn of events, you are in fact a Journey fan, in which case buy your tickets now and throw on that tour t-shirt from the last time they came to town. The lead singer, a short Filipino fellow who apparently they found on tour in South East Asia, will have you wondering if he has been in the band all along with his streaming energy and spot on voice. All in all, a good show to go see with friends. Make sure to get there early and get a good spot to set up shop!

I can't think of anyone who won't have heard the classic hit 'Don't Stop Believin'', and I must say, this was the only track that I was familiar with before seeing Journey live. It wasn't a gig that I had planned on going to, but the experience was just phenomenal. The energy of their performance was just out of this world, especially considering they've been performing for the last 40 years! Each member of the band took a solo which was a really cool moment to give everyone the credit that they deserved, and it was great to be able to applaud each member individually. Even if you don't know the back catalogue of their music, the great 80s vibe is perfect for dancing alone, and the catchy hooks have you singing along before too long, which is what I found myself doing! The balance of the band and vocals complimented eachother well, with neither overpowering the other, making for a great sound in the massive venue, which had great acoustics. Great vocals, band, performance, and tracks. Such a fun night, I would definitely go again, and can say from experience that it really doesn't matter whether you know the music well or not to have a blast!

Arnel Pineda is an amazing addition to Journey. His stage presence is fantastic and he really knows how to interact with the audience. During the first few songs it seemed his voice was drowned out by the music, but the remainder of the concert you could hear him better. The rest of the band is equally talented in each of their respective areas as witnessed by their solo performances. The entire show was fantastic. The only draw back was drunk people in the audience. There was a handicapped women sitting next to us who was unable to stand and the people in front of us refused to sit after multiple times of asking them. A fight started between another audience member due to their lack of consideration. The staff quickly interceded, but didn't have the couple sit down. I think the show should be enjoyed by everyone who purchases a ticket and not by the few who think they are having a private concert just for them. After all, the ticket you purchase is for the seat. You should sit in it, especially if it is interfering with other people's view. Unfortunately this experience overshadowed the otherwise fantastic concert.

I thought nothing could be more exciting than sneaking through a basement window of a university auditorium to see one of the premiere classic rock bands of all-time. It hadn't been 30 seconds after we figured out where there were two open seats when Journey opened their set with "Anyway You Want It" to the roar of the 3,000+ fans in attendance. Guitarist Neal Schon sealed the deal for me with his precise, piercing riffs as the band rocked the crowd with intense energy that the crowd responded to all night. The synchronized lighting system that rhythmically danced with the music for almost every beat contributed to those on the main floor dancing, singing and waving their arms for the entire show while even spectators like us on the risers couldn't help but be out of our seats grooving all night long. Journey is one of those bands that has such polished musically talent that they make the experience of attending a live concert unforgettable. Taking into account the hundreds of concerts I've attended - for pay - this Journey concert will go down in the books as one of the top three...even if it would not have been for free.

Wow, what a tour-de-force of Rock & Roll power...

The Journey, Doobies and Dave Mason show was better than I'd hoped or expected...

I'm a music TV producer and have friends who have played in all of these bands over the years so have seen each group a number of times. I'm loving these super-group mash-ups of recent years and this one did not disappoint me.

I do want to commend the sound crew for the "Journey" set because it was one of the most expert and satisfying live mixes and exhibited real genius in the EQ, and overall artistic treatment.

In recent years I've noticed ( to my disappointment ) more events with inept live sound due to the apparent lack of talent or concern amongst our live-sound mixing communities. Nothing can ruin a great performance easier than a slacker at the board and I'm very happy to report, Journey's sound crew are at the top of their game...

I attended my very first Journey concert last night. Journey with Steve Perry was the very first rock band I truly was enamored with. Sure, the others soon followed, like Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Whitesnake, Guns 'n Roses, Bon Jovi, just to name a few, but none really truly rivaled Journey.

I've always stayed faithful to Journey. The lyrics resonate, the music simply thrills. I'll forever equate "The Voice" with Journey, but I don't mind saying Arnel.... DAMN, you rock! (Neal, glad to see you can still hold your own ;) )

In short, if you are, or have ever been a Journey fan, they will not disappoint.

Saw them in Calgary in 2012 and Arnel had a flu and wasn't even close to top form and the rest of the band had to give him breaks because he was so sick. This time everyone was at their best and it was truly a great show. Very few vocalists sound as good live as they do in a studio, Arnel Pineda is one of them. Neal Schon's solo project wasn't a bad opener, but it didn't exactly get the audience excited either. Overall it was a spectacular show though, I'd see them again without question because of it.

This band just doesn't quit!! Have been going to see them since the70's and they are still o e of the best shows going these days. My daughter is now a big fan. The show last night in Louisville was as good as ever. These guys work hard and it shows in the quality of the show.

Now it's even more fun to watch knowing they are in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame!!!

If they come anywhere around do not miss the show!! I came to this KY show from FL....

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Journey Announce Huge 2023 North American Tour With Toto

Journey and Toto had such a great time touring together in 2022, they're going to do it together again in 2023. The two legendary rock bands will share the stage on the continuation of Journey's 50th anniversary "Freedom Tour."

The new batch of dates start Feb. 4 in Allentown, Pa., keeping the bands on the road through the April 25 finale in Palm Springs, Calif. You can see all of the dates, cities and venues listed below. It should also be noted that a handful of shows are ones that have been rescheduled from earlier this year when the band had to postpone dates due to COVID-19.

Journey guitarist Neal Schon says, "We are all thankful and overwhelmed by the success of our Journey 'Freedom Tour 2022' this year and have added a new run of dates for 2023. We are looking forward to hitting the road again with our very good friends Toto! Come join us for a special evening full of fun and rockin' good memories. See you soon, friends."

Keyboardist Jonathan Cain adds, "Excited to perform for our fans as we tour next year with Toto. The combined hits of both bands represent a couple of decades of excellence that have become a soundtrack for people's lives. The music of Journey along with the music of Toto is an example of 'certain music' during 'uncertain times.'"

Meanwhile, Toto guitarist Steve Lukather chips in, "'On behalf of myself and the band, we are very honored and excited to do this tour with our old and dear friends Journey. Gonna be a great night of music, and as all the guys are lifelong friends... a blast off stage as well."

Tickets are expected to go on sale this Friday (Oct. 21) at 10AM local time. Stay tuned to each band's websites for additional ticketing info.

2023 Journey / Toto North American Tour Dates

Feb. 04 - Allentown, Pa. @ PPL Center Feb. 05 - Charlottesville, Va. @ John Paul Jones Arena Feb. 08 - Savannah, Ga. @ Enmarket Arena Feb. 10 - Columbia, S.C. @ Colonial Life Arena Feb. 11 - Greensboro, N.C. @ Greensboro Coliseum Feb. 14 - Lexington, Ky. @ Rupp Arena Feb. 17 - Knoxville, Tenn. @ Thompson-Boling Arena Feb. 19 - Bossier City, La. @ Brookshire Grocery Arena Feb. 22 - Austin, Texas @ Moody Center Feb. 23 - Lafayette, La. @ Cajundome Feb. 26 - Jacksonville, Fla. @ Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena March 01 - Washington, D.C. @ Capital One Arena * March 03 - State College, Pa. @ Bryce Jordan Center March 04 - Hartford, Ct. @ XL Center * March 08 - Montreal, Quebec @ Bell Centre March 09 - Quebec, Quebec @ Videotron Centre * March 12 - Toronto, Ontario @ Scotiabank Arena * March 13 - Ottawa, Ontario @ Canadian Tire Centre March 16 - Buffalo, N.Y. @ KeyBank Center March 17 - Atlantic City, N.J. @ Boardwalk Hall March 20 - Champaign, Ill. @ State Farm Center March 21 - Moline, Ill. @ Vibrant Arena at The MARK March 24 - Sioux Falls, S.D. @ Denny Sanford PREMIER Center March 25 - Lincoln, Neb. @ Pinnacle Bank Arena March 28 - Des Moines, Iowa @ Wells Fargo Arena March 31 - Tulsa, Okla. @ BOK Center April 01 - Memphis, Tenn. @ FedExForum April 04 - San Antonio, Texas @ AT&T Center April 07 - Springfield, Mo. @ Great Southern Bank Arena April 08 - Wichita, Kan. @ INTRUST Bank Arena April 11 - Casper, Wyo. @ Ford Wyoming Center April 13 - Boise, Idaho @ ExtraMile Arena April 14 - Spokane, Wash. @ Spokane Arena April 17 - Eugene, Ore. @ Matthew Knight Arena April 19 - Stockton, Calif. @ Stockton Arena April 22 - Bakersfield, Calif. @ Mechanics Bank Arena April 23 - Fresno, Calif. @ SaveMart Center April 25 - Palm Springs, Calif. @ Acrisure Arena

* Rescheduled date

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Journey to celebrate 50th anniversary with 30 shows in 2024: See where they're headed

Journey is continuing the celebration of its five-decade career with a run of 2024 shows.

The 50 th Anniversary Freedom Tour kicks off Feb. 9 in Biloxi, Mississippi and will play 30 dates in North America through April 29 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. local time on Sept. 29 via ticketmaster.com.

Toto, which supported Journey on their tour earlier this year to celebrate their "Freedom" album, will again join Journey founder, guitarist Neal Scho n, keyboardist Jonathan Cain, lead singer Arnel Pineda, keyboardist Jason Derlatka, drummer Deen Castronovo and bassist Todd Jensen as show openers.

Journey's tour finds the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers tearing through a set list of anthems including "Any Way You Want It," "Faithfully," "Be Good to Yourself" and, of course, "Don't Stop Believin'."

When "Freedom" arrived in July 2022, Schon told USA Today that the album title was originally tapped for the band's 1986 release, "Raised on Radio," but then-singer Steve Perry didn't like it, "so we sat on it for many years … when we were tossing around album titles said, why not just call the whole thing 'Freedom?' It's for the times right now."

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Schon was also sanguine when reflecting on the band’s legacy.

"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," he said. "It’s pretty mind-boggling but also a lot of hard work."

More: Journey co-founder George Tickner dies: 'Fly free above the stars'

Here are Journey's 2024 Freedom Tour dates

*Sioux City on sale Thursday, October  5

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When Steve Perry Played His Last Full Show With Journey

Journey were partway through a U.S. tour when they performed on Feb. 1, 1987 at the Sullivan Sports Arena in Anchorage. So it may even have come to a surprise to them that it was the last show they’d ever play with singer Steve Perry .

When they completed their performance of “Faithfully” that night, they closed the book on their rise to fame. And even though there would be one more album with Perry, and a 10-minute guest appearance at an all-star concert in 1991 , it was the last time he led them through a full performance.

Tensions had been simmering between Perry and guitarist Neal Schon . Following the release of three definitive classic-rock albums – Escape , Frontiers  and Raised on Radio – Journey were undeniably massive. But Perry dismissed bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith before the recording of 1986’s Raised on Radio , and all was still not well.

The singer, who was also producing the album, later said he was “toast” as he dealt with the illness and then death of his mother during sessions. That had led to the breakdown in relations that forced his hand at Anchorage. He refused to continue to the tour, the following shows were canceled and the band went on hiatus.

Watch Steve Perry Perform With Journey on the 'Raised on Radio' Tour

Perry had another argument in his favor: His 1984 solo album, Street Talk , had won him even more personal acclaim, and it could be argued that he didn’t need Journey anymore. The presence of his solo tracks “Strung Out” and “Oh Sherrie” on the Raised on Radio  tour set list suggested he felt he was in a strong bargaining position and that his colleagues accepted that.

When the classic lineup regrouped for 1996’s Trial by Fire , Perry suffered a hip injury that prevented them from touring for 18 months because he didn’t want to undergo the surgery he required. With the clock ticking, the group issued an ultimatum: Have the procedure or be fired. Perry chose the latter option , saying that he felt unduly pressured by his colleagues’ approach, and insisting he’d never work with them again – although he joined them for an award ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005.

Journey continued with Steve Augeri and later Jeff Scott Soto, before hiring singer Arnel Pineda in 2007. Perry dropped off the radar for a long time, before making a well-received comeback – without his former bandmates.

So, for now, it seems that the 21-song show in Anchorage was the last time the Voice would perform a full-length show with the band he helped lift into the stratosphere. As Perry noted in 2014, “I’m not the person I was 30 years ago. That person is gone."

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with Special Guest: TOTO

• Date Feb 17 , 2024

Event Time 7:30 PM

• Doors Open 6:30 PM
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Following the success of the 2023 Freedom Tour, legendary rock band JOURNEY has announced a new round of shows for their 50 th Anniversary Freedom Tour 2024 featuring very special guest TOTO . JOURNEY – Diamond-selling Rock & Roll Hall of Famers – will take the stage in 30 cities across North America with their catalog of global chart-topping hits, including "Don't Stop Believin”, "Any Way You Want It", "Faithfully", "Lights" and more.

Presented by AEG Presents, JOURNEY Freedom Tour 2024 begins Friday, February 9 in Biloxi, MS – making stops Louisville, Omaha, Las Vegas and more. The band will play PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on Saturday, Feb. 17

JOURNEY features founder Neal Schon (lead guitarist), J onathan Cain (keyboards, backing vocals), Arnel Pineda (lead vocals) Jason Derlatka (keyboards, vocals), and Deen Castronovo (drums, vocals) and Todd Jensen (bass). Neal Schon is a 3x Hall of Fame inductee, having been inducted to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame.  Jon Cain is a recipient of two BMI songwriter awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Journey.

Of the tour, Neal Schon says, ““We are looking forward to hitting the road again with our very good friends TOTO!  Come join us for a special evening full of fun and rockin’ good memories. See you soon, friends.”

Jonathan Cain adds, “Honored to take our timeless songs on the road with another band whose songs are also timeless, Steve Lukather and TOTO. It will truly be a musical evening to be remembered.”

Special guest TOTO, who have collectively streamed more than 3.3 billion plays on Spotify alone based on hits including “Rosanna”, “Africa” and “Hold the Line”, will join JOURNEY on all dates.

TOTO’s Steve Lukather shares, “"We are thrilled to have been asked to join our dear friends Journey on the road again. We had such a blast the last couple of tours across North America together. Great success and so much fun.  It is truly one big happy family, and it is a great night of music. Can't wait to see you all out there soon in 2024!”

For full tour routing and more information, visit JourneyMusic.com .

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CONCERT REVIEW: JOURNEY & TOTO Take Denver On A Trip Down Rock N’ Roll History (April 11th, 2022)

Monday night at Denver’s Ball Arena felt like taking a big step back in time…and it felt good to me and nearly 20,000 others in attendance. The double bill of Toto and Journey was a smart pairing—two enduring arena rock bands that are both led by masterful, seasoned guitar players, feature a lineup with some unfamiliar faces, and sport a set-list packed with irresistible sing-along anthems, well known catchy rockers and beloved, and soaring ballads.

The nearly sold-out arena was packed to the rafters with nostalgic concertgoers who mostly left their masks behind to bask in the glory of a big night out like they relished in the years before COVID changed our sense of normal. They came to hear the hits from two radio friendly classic rock stalwarts…and they got them in spades. Each band came armed with a winning formula that frankly set them up for an easy win with the eager crowd…as long as they didn’t screw it up.

My least favorite moment of the set was the Beatles cover, “ With a Little Help from My Friends.” Given the time limitations imposed on an opening act, I would have much rather heard an original track like “Pamela,” “Straight for the Heart” or “Alone”, but it resonated with the crowd, who seemed to know the song better than most of the set.

Toto saved their hardest one-two punch for the end, pairing “Rosanna” with “Africa.” The former got everyone up on their feet, singing the catchy chorus and the latter was extended with an extended call and repeat section led by Williams that had everyone singing. Joseph Williams sounded solid and the band was tight. Despite the fact that most of the soul of the previous Toto lineups (Jeff, Mike and Steve Porcaro) are no longer alive or with the band, Luke’s new crew made a convincing case that the show can and still must go on.

Toto Set-list:

Orphan / Hold the Line / I’ll Be Over You / White Sister / Georgy Porgy / I Won’t Hold You Back / Home of the Brave / With a Little Help from My Friends (The Beatles cover) / Rosanna / Africa

Toto Photo Gallery (Images by Alan Cox):

While Toto was well received, there was no mistake from the first notes of the opener that the crowd was here first and foremost to see Journey . As they launched into “Only the Young,” the crowd jumped to its feet and threw their hands in the air in celebration of hearing those oh so-familiar songs they grew up with.

Like Toto , Journey has never been a critic’s darling, but they cracked a code for listeners in crafting blue-collar melodic anthems and ballads that captivated both the guys and the girls. And while the departure of Steve Perry was insufferable for some die-hard fans, the band has managed to overcome numerous obstacles, line-up changes and train wrecks in their personal lives because of two important factors. One, is the songs. They’re lodged in people’s brains, and the tunes are part of the soundtrack of many people’s lives. And two, is Arnel Pineda , who has somehow managed to step into the shoes of an absolutely iconic singer, perform an incredibly difficult catalog night after night, and still bring a charismatic youthful energy and vibrancy to the stage that is undeniable.

Photo by Mark Matson

There are still some who say, “No Perry, No Journey.” But the undeniable truth is that Steve Perry can no longer sing the songs of Journey the way Arnel can. And while there’s been some talk in the past that Arnel was struggling from road fatigue (not unlike Steve Augeri , who was let go because of vocal strains), his performance in the oxygen-thin mile high stadium absolutely accentuated that he truly is an amazing discovery. Quite honestly, he’s mostly the reason Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain can keep their Journey going and playing to packed houses.

That’s not to diminish the roles and merits of Schon and Cain , who remain the dynamic duo of building working class songs that people can’t forget. While the mix of Schon ’s playing was underwhelming at times, Journey is clearly still his stage to shine upon, and to throw his frenetic but melodic playing front and center. Many of his singable solos are essential components of the songs, and he commandingly captivated the audience throughout the night. His wide mouthed grin seemed to suggest he thought they were having a pretty good night as a band—and they were.

The iconic hit, “Don’t Stop Believing,” was front loaded in the set, coming earlier than the all too expected encore (of which there wasn’t one). Journey has plenty of other songs to cap off the night with a bang, and “Any Way You Want It” served the purpose well.

The band broke into an extended jam on the tail end of “Send Her My Love” that was incendiary and a welcome bit of instrumental prowess. I was very disappointed, however, to discover that they had been playing “Escape” on this tour, but dropped it in exchange for “City of Hope.” This to me was like trading a diamond for pretty stone, and I regret not being able to hear Schon ’s memorable solo from that track live.

Schon did, however, play a solid extended solo in “Who’s Crying Now” that helped me get over the unexpected set change. Arnel whipped up the crowd to sing “Woah oo woah oo woah oo whoa” in tandem to Schon ’s spot and it played well to a very vocal crowd.

Drummer Deen Castronovo took the spotlight and lead vocal of “Mother, Father” delivering a stunning performance while managing to pound the drums without it interfering with his singing delivery. Deen was out of Journey for a number of years, but his return is welcome with his powerful, precise hits, and he left no doubt that his vocal abilities are also top notch.

After the rollicking blues number, “Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’,” everyone left the stage for Jonathan Cain to perform a piano solo that was laced with more classical elements. His red grand piano has been a signature visual of the Journey live show, and as he segued into the opening bars of “Open Arms,” the crowd erupted. Girls pulled their guys closer. And while I can honestly say I’ve never loved that song, Arnel Pineda absolutely killed it on that song. Strong, soaring and note for note on the money. It was a remarkable vocal performance that any “No Perry No Journey” fan with an open mind would concede was great.

Cain introduced “Faithfully” with a reference to the sacrifices made of the military, which garnered respectful applause, and Arnel again demonstrated his abilities with an audacious display of control and range.

Journey had a couple new faces in their lineup, namely bass player Todd Jensen and keyboard/vocalist b, who was given the lead vocal duties for “Girl Can’t Help It,” which came off as the saggiest part of the set. Jason ’s voice was competent, but his stage presence was lacking for a lead vocalist, and it seemed like an unnecessary choice when the pipes of Deen and Arnel were available.

Neal Schon then took a guitar solo that meandered a bit between control and chaos, that fired up some fans more when it devolved into the opening of “Wheel in the Sky,” which featured another crowd sing-along chorus that resonated with long time fans. Growing late into the evening, Journey ended with a hit-triplet of “Separate Ways,” “Be Good to Yourself” and “Any Way You Want It.”

It was a night of polished performances by two veteran bands who lack a lot of original members but can still bring solid execution of songs that have stood the test of time. It was, for those in attendance, exactly the way they wanted it. And it’s a tour worth seeing if it rolls into your town.

Journey Set-list:

Only the Young / Stone in Love / Don’t Stop Believin’ / Lights / Send Her My Love / Ask the Lonely / City of Hope / Who’s Crying Now / Mother, Father (Deen Castronovo on lead vocals) /       Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’ / Jonathan Cain Piano Solo / Open Arms / Faithfully / Girl Can’t Help It (Jason Derlatka on lead vocals) / Neal Schon Guitar Solo / Wheel in the Sky / Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) / Be Good to Yourself / Any Way You Want It

Journey Photo Gallery (Images by Mark Matson ):

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Freedom Tour 2024

Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport, Connecticut

Note: Final show of the 2024 North American Freedom Tour with opening act Toto

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• Date February 28 , 2022
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One of the most legendary rock bands of all time, JOURNEY, announces their Freedom Tour 2022, featuring very special guests TOTO. The diamond-selling Rock & Roll Hall of Famers will take the stage in 40 cities across North America with their catalog of global chart-topping hits, including "Don't Stop Believin”, "Any Way You Want It", "Faithfully", "Lights" and more. The tour comes after the band previously announced a brand new six-show Las Vegas residency, running from December 1 to December 11 at the Theater at Virgin Hotels.

Presented by AEG Presents, the Freedom Tour 2022 begins February 22 in Pittsburgh, PA – making stops in Los Angeles, Dallas, Nashville and more – before wrapping May 11 in Hartford, CT. Very special guest TOTO, who have collectively streamed more than 3.3 billion plays on Spotify alone, will join JOURNEY on all remaining dates beginning in San Diego on April 7.

JOURNEY are one of rock music’s most influential icons, and they are set to deliver a brand-new album, FREEDOM, in 2022. This summer, the band headlined the Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago, uniting thousands of fans across generations with their decade-spanning setlist of beloved anthems. The group also rocked Central Park with “Anyway You Want It” and “Don’t Stop Believin’” at We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert, in addition to honoring 9/11 first responders at the Tunnel to Towers concert in August. JOURNEY features founder Neal Schon (lead guitarist), Jonathan Cain (keyboards, backing vocals), Arnel Pineda (lead vocals) Jason Derlatka (keyboards, backing vocals), and Deen Castranovo (drums, backing vocals).

“It’s that time - time to get back to where we are used to being - on Stage!” says Neal Schon. “We are looking forward to shifting into high gear and bringing you the best show possible. The band is running on all 12 cylinders and very excited! Please come and join us once again for an evening full of rocking stage connection fun. See you soon Friends.”

TOTO’s Steve Lukather shares, “'On behalf of myself and the band, we are very honored and excited to do this tour with our old and dear friends JOURNEY. Gonna be a great night of music, and as all the guys are lifelong friends... a blast off stage as well.”

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Charles Kelley of Lady A opens up about his journey to sobriety: "I can't really say I'm sorry enough"

By Gayle King , Analisa Novak

May 10, 2023 / 8:13 AM EDT / CBS News

Lady A, the chart-topping country music trio, has been making music together for 17 years. However, in August of last year, the group postponed their tour to allow bandmate Charles Kelley to seek treatment for alcohol abuse. 

Kelley, who has won seven Grammys with Lady A, revealed exclusively to "CBS Mornings" that behind the scenes, his relationship with alcohol was taking a turn for the worse. 

"I remember joking, you know, with buddies," Kelley said. "I was like, 'Yeah, I'm definitely a functioning alcoholic.' And I said, 'I know I'm gonna have to stop at some point, but that's not today.'"

"And that was always kind of my little joke. It was, like, that tells you I kinda knew," Kelley said. 

Kelley said his bandmates, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood, were also aware of the problem, and first addressed it five years ago. 

"It was the first time that they had really, you know," Kelley said. "We would have shows where they're like, 'Hey man, you might have had a little too much to drink that night.' I was like, 'Okay, well, has it affected how hard I work? Has it affected the shows?'"  

He recalls being dismissive to their concerns and quick with his words, leading to emotional and verbal outbursts. Although he did not engage in physical altercations, he recognized that his behavior was influenced by alcohol. 

Kelley also revealed how his drinking affected their seven-year-old son, Ward. 

"Cassie [Charles' wife] would tell me some stories about how little things that Ward would say that I didn't even know he was noticing. You know, 'Daddy's talking a little funny,' or, 'You and Daddy argue a lot,'" he said. 

Kelley said that hearing that his son noticed his drinking "crushed" him, because his son is the most important thing in his life. 

He told "CBS Mornings" he had tried to quit before, but had never tried going to rehab because he was scared, and associated rehab to those who have a serious problem with alcohol — not realizing that there are different ways that alcohol can impact people's lives. 

"What I've learned is, there's degrees of alcoholics," Kelley said. "You know, I think that's one of the things too that I want to even share is, like, just because you're not living on the street, or you're not waking up in a bush, like some stories you may hear, it can get there." 

However, this time Kelley decided to give rehab a chance for a month, and it worked for him. He credits a number of different tools in his success including attending "a lot of group meetings with other alcoholics," and having a case manager, as well as a device he blows into every morning and every night. 

He said this work is not just for his own wellbeing, but also for his wife, his band, and everyone else to know that he is checking alcohol.  

"Slowly, but surely, that has built the trust back that eventually I think that won't be a necessity," Kelley said. 

Kelley's wife Cassie said that the experience was difficult but ultimately worth, because the journey, as she learned, is just as much hers as it is his.  

She was surprised to learn about the amount of work she had to do when Kelley was in rehab. Initially, Cassie was upset and thought, "'You [Charles] did this. And now I have to do all of this work, too.'" 

However, she said she later realized that alcoholism is a family disease that affects everyone in the family system. She explained that she could have chosen not to do the work, but would have had to live with the unhealed trauma. 

Their marriage, and Kelley's drinking, came to a head during a trip to Greece. Kelley said he got into an argument with Cassie and turned off his phone, disappearing for the night and drinking with strangers. When he returned the next morning, Cassie told him he needed help and was planning to meet with a divorce attorney. The incident was a turning point for Kelley, who realized he needed to deal with his alcoholism. He flew directly to treatment, crediting his wife for pushing him to seek help.  

"It just makes me feel so grateful at how close I came to losin' it all," Kelley said. "And I think the thing that's hard is to know how much it affected Cassie the most, and my band, and the people around me. And how much it emotionally kinda wrecked them for a while. And that, I can't really say I'm sorry enough. And it's just gonna take time to rebuild that."  

Kelley's road to recovery includes therapy sessions with his group. Lady A launched their latest tour at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville last month, featuring Kelley's original song "As Far As You Could," which he refers to as his goodbye letter to alcohol. 

Kelley said he is now sober and healthy, grateful for the support he's received from his bandmates, family and fans.  

"I feel a lot of love," Kelley said. 

If you or a loved one is experiencing a problem with alcohol, help is available via the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

Gayle King is co-host of "CBS Mornings."

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Taylor Swift fans drop surprising ‘Eras’ tour Paris cost truth bomb

C ertified Swiftie Wenfei Xie, a Kansas City, Mo. doctor met a fellow fan when she attended the superstar’s concert in her hometown last year. And from there began a journey of intricately organized spread sheets and plans to see Swift at her Paris La Défense Arena concert, Rolling Stone reported.

Xie was surprised that buying tickets to the Paris concert of the Chairman of The Tortured Poets Department cost much lower in the US. She started out with just one VIP suite for herself and a some of her college friends. From there, she ended up booking 12 VIP suites for three nights for 291 people, most of whom members of a physicians’ group of Facebook.

The Eras Tour and ticketing

The Swiftie doctor told the magazine, “It’s really cool to meet other people who are similar to you and bond over your love of Taylor Swift.”

As to the cost, she said it may be expensive, “but it’s all relative.” Xie explained that if you really want to see Swift in concert and you end up taking a vacation while you’re at it, you spend either less or just as much as you would in the US. StubHub and its fees add up, and you might not even get good seats.

Even though Xie arranged the trip for a small conference worth of people, she didn’t profit off it. Each attendee paid the face value of €1,700 for suite access. This included champagne, food and most importantly, private bathrooms. And just to compare, if they had done this in either Miami or New Orleans, it would have cost them $5,000 to $8,000 each. And that’s without food and/or drinks.

Swifties in Paris

When asked why she did it, Xie responded, “How many time in your life do you have an opportunity like this? To bring so many cool people together and see what kind of joy that it brings them has been really cool.”

She and the group aren’t the only international fans who went to Paris for the opening of Swift’s European tour. More than 25% of her Paris show tickets were bought by Americans, according to París La Défense Arena CEO Frédéric Longuépée’s interview with NBC News.

A lot of Swift fans were unable to see her US summer dates. Others had difficulty buying tickets for the upcoming North American leg of the tour. Those tickets cost thousands on StubHub.

Resale laws: US vs Europe

However, in France, resale laws keep ticket inflation at bay, which meant fans can spend their money on airline tickets and hotels to attend the Eras Tour abroad. For many fans, the flight tickets were cheaper than US domestic flights. And the number of hotels available in Paris meant there were many affordable options to choose from.

France has a law that prohibits sporting and cultural event tickets to be sold above face value. Ticketmaster France’s seller-to-seller reseller platform is governed by these restrictions.

The rules state, “You may not list resale tickets for a price above the face value of the primary tickets, except with the agreement of the event organizer which you will be informed of when you offer resale tickets for sale on the resale platform.”

Live Nation, Ticketmaster and the US Senate

This is a stark difference from the US, which has greatly encourage many Swifties to travel internationally for her Eras Tour. Billboard reported last week that European countries such as France and Germany, have strict caps on ticket resale. This means very little incentive for scalpers since they can’t mark up the tickets as much as they think customers want to pay.

In the US, no such laws exist. Brokers and scalpers insist that the concert tickets are theirs to do with as they please, and that means they can sell it for however much they want. American reseller platforms don’t have any incentive to cap their prices since they make more when demand rises.

Last year, the US Senate issued a subpoena to Ticketmaster parent Live Nation after the company refused to cooperate in an investigation to its ticket pricing . The investigation was prompted by the exorbitant prices of Swift’s The Eras Tour tickets on the website.

The issue is the so-called dynamic pricing. Essentially, this means that ticket prices change due to external factors such as market demand, season and supply changes. It boils down to companies like Ticketmaster charging more for tickets if there are many who want to buy.

In the US, and in many other countries except select territories in Europe, gone are the days of a set price when it comes to concert tickets. You could be waiting in line — virtually or in person — and the prices would change drastically by the time you have your card or cash in hand to pay.

Xie had the right idea. If you have the money — and most fans nowadays do because they save up for at least a year — might as well attend your favorite artist’s concert abroad. Not only do you get cheaper ticket and better seats, you get to have a vacation as well.

If you don’t have the money, there’s always streaming . Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) is available to stream on Disney+.

The post Taylor Swift fans drop surprising ‘Eras’ tour Paris cost truth bomb appeared first on ClutchPoints .

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Rock royalty reunite: def leppard and journey announce 2024’s biggest summer stadium tour.

THE BANDS WILL BE JOINED IN VARIOUS CITIES BY ROCK LEGENDS:  STEVE MILLER BAND, HEART & CHEAP TRICK  

(December 7, 2023) – Two of rock's most iconic and influential bands, JOURNEY and DEF LEPPARD, have announced next summer’s hottest co-headlining stadium tour.  The bands will join forces to conquer stadium stages across North America in 2024. This legendary collaboration promises a musical journey like no other, igniting the hearts and souls of fans and delivering a night of unforgettable rock anthems. The 23-city tour kicks off on July 6 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO, while making stops at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN; SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA; Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL; JOURNEY’s hometown of San Francisco, CA at Oracle Park and more before wrapping up in Denver, CO at Coors Field on September 8. An all-star lineup of bands will vary by city to round out an evening of rock music with performances by: Steve Miller Band, Heart and Cheap Trick. Fans can check local markets for their lineup. The tour is presented by AEG Presents.

Registration for access to presale tickets opens on Thursday, December 7 at 10 AM ET / 7 AM PT.  Sign up at www.defleppardjourney2024.com . 

Citi is the official card of the tour and cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Wednesday, December 13 at 10 AM Local time through the Citi Entertainment program (for complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com ). 

General public onsale is Friday, December 15 at 10 AM Local time. 

DEF LEPPARD will offer a variety of VIP experiences for fans to take their concert experience to the next level.  VIP experiences vary but may include a premium seat, personal photo with the band, exclusive merchandise and more.  Check local tour listings for offerings.

A limited number of exclusive JOURNEY VIP packages will also be available. These exclusive offers can include an amazing selection of reserved seated tickets, custom merchandise and more.

Mark your calendars, the JOURNEY x DEF LEPPARD 2024 Stadium Tour will combine timeless classics and chart-topping hits, celebrating the enduring spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. From anthems that have stood the test of time to the latest and greatest hits, fans can expect a setlist that transcends generations, showcasing the unparalleled talent and mastery of both of these Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted bands.

Said Joe Elliott of DEF LEPPARD, "  DEF LEPPARD and JOURNEY will be reuniting and hitting the road together for the Summer Stadium Tour with Steve Miller, Cheap Trick & Heart on select shows, which makes for an amazing night of music ! Having just completed a sensational 18 month run promoting our Diamond Star Halos album, we shall hit the boards running with a brand-new stage show and set of songs that will celebrate specific parts of our history.  We may even have a surprise or two up our sleeves … so, wanna join us !??! … See you in the summer !” 

“We are thrilled to be back on the road in 2024 with so many good friends as part of this tour.  No matter which city you come to this will be an amazing night of music!” said JOURNEY. 

DEF LEPPARD released their critically and commercially acclaimed 12th studio album Diamond Star Halos in 2022, which charted all over the world including a top 5 and top 10 in both North America and the U.K. They followed that release with Drastic Symphonies in May 2023, featuring Def Leppard’s greatest produced tracks dramatically reimagined, via the band teaming with London’s iconic The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road. The album spent 15 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Current Classical Chart.  In early 2023, the band scored a U.K. No 1 Netflix film with their cameo in acclaimed movie Bank Of Dave . The band also embarked on a sold-out stadium tour across North America with Mötley Crüe in 2022, selling over 1.3 million tickets. In 2023, the tour wowed audiences throughout Central and South America, U.S., Japan, Australia and Europe including a stop at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London. 

JOURNEY features founder Neal Schon (lead guitarist/backing vocals), Jonathan Cain (keyboards, backing vocals), Arnel Pineda (lead vocals), Deen Castronovo (drums, vocals), Jason Derlatka (keyboards, vocals) and Todd Jensen (bass). Neal Schon is a 3x Hall of Fame inductee, having been inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Jon Cain is a recipient of two BMI songwriter awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of JOURNEY.  Most recently JOURNEY has been playing sold out arenas on their FREEDOM Tour and looks forward to summer-sized Stadium shows.

STADIUM TOUR 2024 DATES

DATE                           MARKET          VENUE                                    JOINED BY

July 06, 2024               St Louis, MO    Busch Stadium                        Cheap Trick

July 10, 2024               Orlando, FL     Camping World Stadium         Cheap Trick

July 13, 2024               Atlanta, GA      Truist Park                               Steve Miller Band

July 15, 2024               Chicago, IL      Wrigley Field                           Steve Miller Band

July 18, 2024               Detroit, MI        Comerica Park                         Steve Miller Band

July 20, 2024               Nashville, TN   Nissan Stadium                       Steve Miller Band

July 23, 2024               Philadelphia, PA Citizens Bank Park                  Steve Miller Band

July 25, 2024               Hershey, PA    Hersheypark Stadium              Steve Miller Band

July 27, 2024               Pittsburgh, PA PNC Park                                 Steve Miller Band

July 30, 2024               Cleveland, OH Progressive Field                    Heart

Aug 02, 2024                Toronto, ON     Rogers Centre                         Heart

Aug 05, 2024                Boston, MA     Fenway Park                            Heart**

Aug 07, 2024                Flushing, NY    Citi Field                                  Steve Miller Band

Aug 12, 2024                Arlington, TX   Globe Life Field                       Steve Miller Band

Aug 14, 2024                Houston, TX    Minute Maid Park                     Steve Miller Band

Aug 16, 2024                San Antonio, TX Alamodome                             Steve Miller Band

Aug 19, 2024                Minneapolis, MN Target Field                             Steve Miller Band

Aug 23, 2024                Phoenix, AZ     Chase Field                             Steve Miller Band

Aug 25, 2024                Los Angeles, CA SoFi Stadium                           Steve Miller Band

Aug 28, 2024                San Francisco, CA Oracle Park                           Steve Miller Band

Aug 30, 2024                San Diego, CA Petco Park                               Steve Miller Band

Sep 04, 2024                Seattle, WA      T-Mobile Park                          Cheap Trick

Sep 08, 2024                Denver, CO      Coors Field                              Cheap Trick

**Copromoted with Live Nation

ABOUT JOURNEY Since the group's formation in 1973, JOURNEY has earned 19 top 40 singles, 25 gold and platinum albums, and has sold over 100 million albums globally. Their "Greatest Hits" album is certified 15 times-platinum, making JOURNEY one of the few bands to ever have been diamond-certified, and their song "Don't Stop Believin'" has been streamed over one billion times alone.   JOURNEY was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017, and 2018's co-headlining tour with DEF LEPPARD was the band's most successful tour to date, landing them in the Top 10 year-end touring chart with more than 1 million tickets sold, and earning them the prestigious Billboard "Legends Of Live" touring award. March 2019 saw the release of "Escape & Frontiers Live In Japan" , a live DVD/CD set from their concert at the Budokan in Tokyo featuring the band's first-ever performances of the albums "Escape" and "Frontiers" in their entirety. JOURNEY has also received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame and were inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall Of Fame . Additionally, the band is the subject of the award-winning documentary "Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey" about the band's resurgence upon adding Arnel Pineda as lead singer after JOURNEY Founder, Neal Schon discovered the Philippines native on YouTube .

ABOUT DEF LEPPARD

With more than 110 million albums sold worldwide and two prestigious Diamond Awards in the U.S., 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame® inductees Def Leppard - Joe Elliott (vocals), Phil Collen (guitar), Rick Savage (bass), Vivian Campbell (guitar) and Rick Allen (drums) — continue to be one of the most important forces in rock music. Over the course of their career the band has produced a series of classic ground-breaking albums that set the bar for generations of music fans and artists alike. The group’s spectacular live shows and arsenal of hits have become synonymous with their name, leading Def Leppard to be heralded as the world’s greatest live rock band. Def Leppard’s influential career includes numerous hit singles and ground-breaking multi-platinum albums—including two of the best-selling albums of all time, Pyromania and Hysteria, capturing the group’s legendary tracks, bringing together classic Leppard hits such as “Rock of Ages”, Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Foolin.”  For the first time, in January 2018 Def Leppard debuted their full recording catalog worldwide via streaming and download platforms. As they did with the original release of their records, Def Leppard dominated the worldwide charts again, which found their albums charting in the iTunes Top 10 in more than 30 countries, including Hysteria at #3 in the US, and #5 in the UK (36 years after the album had charted at No 1 in the Billboard charts).  Def Leppard also had the #1, #2 and #3 records on the US catalog albums chart. The band have gone on to amass a staggering 5.5 billion streams since 2018, reaching a younger 18-44 demographic that now represents 58% of their fanbase. Additionally, the band have garnered an impressive 15 million followers across their social media platforms. In May 2022, Def Leppard released their twelfth studio album Diamond Star Halos. The album debuted at #1 on the Apple and Amazon Music charts. The album also scored a Top 10 debut on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart, marking the band’s eighth Top 10 album of their career, and garnered a #1 debut on Billboard’s Hard Rock chart. Diamond Star Halos had numerous Top 10 chart entries globally including a Top 5 debut in the UK. This has been followed by their 13 th studio album “Drastic Symphonies” with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2023. The album charted at no 4 in the UK album charts – their highest UK chart entry in over 32 years. Following the close of their historic 2018 co-headline stadium and arena run in North America, Def Leppard sold more than 1,000,000 tickets, a massive feat in today’s touring world. Def Leppard & Mötley Crüe topped that number yet again with another sold out North American stadium run in 2022 selling over 1.3 million tickets. As always, the group continues pushing the boundaries with their electrifying live shows. 

ABOUT STEVE MILLER

Steve Miller has been a monumental presence on the American music scene for more than half a century. Miller’s Greatest Hits 1974-78 received the RIAA Diamond Award with sales of more than 15 million copies. It is among the 25 best-selling albums of all time. At the start of his career, Miller became a mainstay of the San Francisco music scene that upended American culture in the late 1960s. Beginning in the 1970s, Miller crafted a brand of pure pop that was polished, exciting, and irresistible — and that dominated radio in a way few artists have ever managed. Hit followed hit in what seemed like an endless flow: “The Joker,” “Take the Money and Run,” “Rock’n Me,” “Fly Like an Eagle,” “Jet Airliner,” and “Abracadabra,” among them. In recent years, Miller has fully immersed himself in the blues and its many byways. At the request of Wynton Marsalis, he is defining a blues pedagogy for Jazz at Lincoln Center where he has curated and headlined shows that explore the history of American music and the profound connections between the blues and jazz. He is also a member of the visiting committee of the Department of Musical Instruments at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This past September, the 2016 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and 2022 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee released J50: The Evolution of The Joker to mark the 50th anniversary of the release of multi-million seller, iconic album, and single “The Joker.” With each listen the beauty and immediacy of his work, at its most playful or most serious, is palpable. Whether he was riding the top of the charts or traveling the endless blue highways of American music, one can hear him playing and singing with conviction and precision, passion, and eloquence, and making music that is at once immediately accessible, thrillingly alive in the present, and more than able to stand the test of time.

ABOUT CHEAP TRICK

Cheap Trick, the iconic rock band hailing from Illinois, has been rocking stages and winning over fans with their timeless sound for over five decades. Known for their electrifying live performances, catchy melodies, and innovative songwriting, Cheap Trick has become a staple in rock music history. With hits like “I Want You to Want Me”, “Dream Police”, “The Flame”, and “Surrender,” this legendary band continues to inspire and entertain audiences with their signature blend of hard rock and power-pop sensibilities. Cheap Trick is part of the very fiber of American music, inspiring and delighting generations with their unique union of massive melodies and razorblade riffs, their own special brand of mischievous wit and maximum rock ‘n’ roll. The band was formed in1973 by guitarists Rick Nielsen, bassist Tom Petersson, and drummer Bun. E Carlos. One year later, Robin Zander joined the group. The current lineup consists of Nielsen, Petersson and Zander. Both Nielsen and Zander’s sons joining as guest members when the band tours. Cheap Trick released their self-titled debut album in 1977. Later that year, they found success in Japan with the release of their second album, In Color. They achieved mainstream popularity in the US in 1979 with the triple-platinum live album Budokan and a Top 10 single, a live recording of “I Want You to Want Me.” More success followed with the album Dream Police In 1979, which reached number 6ontheBillboard 200.Theband experienced another resurgence in late eighties when they topped US charts with power ballad “The Flame.” Cheap Trick maintain an almost constant touring schedule, having performed live more than 5,000 times since their formation. They have sold more than 20 million albums and built a dedicated cult following. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, where the original four members performed.

ABOUT HEART

Heart, featuring Nancy Wilson, Ann Wilson, Ryan Waters, Ryan Wariner, Paul Moak, Tony Lucido, and Sean Lane, will perform a very special concert to close out 2023. In a career spanning over five decades, Heart has sold more than 35 million records and performed over 2,500 shows worldwide for millions. “Barracuda,” “Crazy On You,” and “Magic Man” are among the many songs that now reside in the pantheon of Rock’s greatest hits.

ABOUT AEG PRESENTS

Combining the power of the live event with a focus on true artist development, AEG Presents is a world leader in the music and entertainment industries. Operating across five continents, the company has an unparalleled commitment to artistry, creativity, and community. Its tentpole festivals and multi-day music events — which include the iconic Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and the legendary New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival alongside British Summer Time at Hyde Park, Stagecoach, Hangout Festival, Electric Forest, and Firefly — continue to set the bar for the live music experience. AEG Presents promotes global tours for artists such as The Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran, Elton John, Taylor Swift, Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, Kenny Chesney, Paul McCartney, and Katy Perry, in addition to — through its network of clubs, theatres, arenas, stadiums and renowned partner brands such as The Bowery Presents, Concerts West, Frontier Touring, Goldenvoice, Madison House Presents, Marshall Arts, Messina Touring Group, PromoWest Productions, and Zero Mile Presents — creating and developing an unmatched infrastructure for artist development and audience reach. More information can be found at www.aegpresents.com. 

For the tour:  Kristen Foster [email protected] / Olivia Tavernier [email protected]   

For DEF LEPPARD:  Carleen Donovan / [email protected]

For Steve Miller Band/Cheap Trick:  Ken Weinstein / [email protected]

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What to Know About Xi Jinping’s Trip to Europe

The Chinese president this week will be visiting France, Serbia and Hungary. His trip comes at a time of tensions with many European countries over trade and accusations of Chinese espionage.

By Emma Bubola

This week, for the first time in five years, President Xi Jinping of China is visiting Europe, with stops in France, Serbia and Hungary.

Mr. Xi’s trip comes at a time of tensions with many European countries over China’s support for Russia in the face of its war in Ukraine, its trade practices and its apparent espionage activities . The trip will also test Europe’s delicate balancing act between China and the United States.

Mr. Xi hopes to head off a trade war with the European Union as frictions rise over exports of Chinese electric vehicles and diminished market access for European companies in China. Mr. Xi will also encourage President Emmanuel Macron of France to pursue greater autonomy from the United States in a bid to weaken Washington’s global dominance.

Here is what we know about Mr. Xi’s trip, which began Sunday.

What is the significance of Mr. Xi’s itinerary?

The three countries Mr. Xi will be visiting, experts say , to varying degrees embrace China’s push for a redefined global order. All have to some extent questioned America’s postwar ordering of the world, and are eager to bolster ties with Beijing.

Hungary has close ties to China and is keen to attract Chinese investments in areas like electric car and battery manufacturing as Chinese producers expand beyond Asia. Serbia, too, has warm relations with Beijing and has secured billions of dollars in Chinese investment.

Mr. Xi’s first stop is France, where Mr. Macron recently said that Europe “must never be a vassal of the United States,” and has cast France as a bridge between the “Global South” and Western powers.

Despite his courting of Beijing, Mr. Macron has said he is still closer to its ally, the United States, than to China.

“I prefer to choose my relationship with the United States, with China, rather than have it imposed on me by one of the two parties, either pushing me in one direction or pulling me in the other,” he said in an interview with The Economist magazine. But, he added: “Very clearly, we are not equidistant. We are allies of the Americans.”

Before Mr. Xi’s visit, Chinese diplomats expressed hopes that ties between France and China would be at the forefront of China’s relations with the West .

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, the E.U.’s executive branch, joined talks on Monday with Mr. Xi and Mr. Macron in Paris.

This year is also a symbolic one for China and the three countries.

It is the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France and the 75th of those with Hungary.

This year is also the 25th anniversary of the NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, during the Kosovo war, which killed three Chinese journalists and set off angry protests at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Chinese authorities have continued to point to the bombing as a sign of NATO aggression and an example of why Russia was justified in feeling threatened before it decided to invade Ukraine.

When was the last time Mr. Xi visited Europe?

Mr. Xi’s last European visit was in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic, which he spent hunkered down in China, leaving the country’s borders for the first time in the fall of 2022 .

The 2019 trip included a flashy ceremony in Rome to celebrate Italy’s participation in China’s Belt and Road global infrastructure project, which is aimed at expanding China’s influence abroad. France rolled out the red carpet for Mr. Xi in Paris and signed more than a dozen commercial and governmental treaties worth billions of euros, even as Mr. Macron warned that “China plays on our divisions” and that “the period of European naïveté is over.”

Mr. Xi also visited Greece , where he pledged his support to the country in its struggle with Britain to obtain the Parthenon sculptures known as the Elgin Marbles .

How is the relationship between Europe and China?

Since Mr. Xi’s last visit, there has been a widening rift in the relationship between China and much of Europe. The coronavirus pandemic , Beijing’s embrace of Russia and its repression of ethnic minorities, and a surge in Chinese exports have generated backlashes against China in many European countries.

China has quintupled car shipments to foreign markets in recent years, and the European Union has recently adopted a more confrontational tone over China’s trade practices. E.U. authorities have opened an investigation that could result in limits on Chinese solar exports, and have taken preliminary steps toward restricting trade with Chinese goods that include electric cars, wind turbines and medical devices.

Italy has also told China that it would no longer participate in its Belt and Road Initiative, and last month, six people in Europe were charged with spying for China in the span of a week, in a sign that European countries are stepping up their response to Chinese espionage.

At the same time, European nations vary in their views on how to engage with Beijing and benefit from economic opportunities there, and some are fearful of any imposition of European tariffs.

Mr. Macron and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany also think that China’s leverage will be critical in bringing an end to the war in Ukraine.

David Pierson contributed reporting from Hong Kong, and Aurelien Breeden from Paris.

Emma Bubola is a Times reporter based in London, covering news across Europe and around the world. More about Emma Bubola

China's Xi celebrates warm Hungary ties on last stop of Europe visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Hungary Thursday seeking a "new journey" with Beijing's closest European Union ally amid Beijing's divisions with the West over the Ukraine war and global trade.

Issued on: 09/05/2024 - 03:32 Modified: 09/05/2024 - 12:15

The state visit to Hungary is the last leg of Xi 's European tour, his first to the continent since 2019.

In recent years, the Central European country of 9.6 million people has attracted a flood of major Chinese projects, mostly related to the manufacture of electric vehicles and batteries.

Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok warmly received Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan with military honours in the courtyard of the presidential palace in Budapest on Thursday morning.  

The Chinese leader arrived in the Hungarian capital on Wednesday night after wrapping up his visit to Serbia , and later attended a state dinner with Prime Minister Viktor Orban .

Budapest was decked out with Chinese flags and placed under tight security, while Tibetan flags were hidden from sight. 

In an op-ed published in Hungary's pro-government Magyar Nemzet daily ahead of his arrival, Xi praised a "long-standing friendship" he described "as mellow and rich as Tokaji wine", referring to the renowned Hungarian vineyards region.

"We have gone through hardships together and defied power politics together amid volatile international situations.

"Our bilateral relationship is at its best in history, and has embarked on a golden voyage... On the new journey of the new era, China looks forward to working closely with our Hungarian friends," he wrote.

Deepening ties          

Frequently at loggerheads with Brussels , Orban has been pursuing an eastwards foreign policy since his return to power in 2010, seeking closer economic ties with Russia , China and other Asian countries.

The nationalist premier remained committed to his strategy even as tensions between Western nations and Beijing increased over human rights violations, the Covid pandemic, trade and Russia's invasion of Ukraine .

Xi's three-day visit to Hungary marks 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Since Hungary began to promote itself as a global hub for EV manufacturing in 2022, several new Chinese businesses have sprung up all over the country.

According to the Hungarian government, the two countries are expected to sign at least 16 different agreements promoting their cooperation in rail and road infrastructure, nuclear energy and the automotive industry.

Xi will meet Orban for talks later on Thursday before delivering a statement to the press.

The Chinese leader is due to leave Hungary on Friday afternoon.  

Message to Europe        

Earlier this week, the Chinese leader kicked off his trip in France , a visit that was cordial but also highlighted tensions between Beijing and the EU over the war in Ukraine and global trade.

While French President Emmanuel Macron pressed a message to Beijing not to support Russia's war against Ukraine and to accept fairer trade, Hungary will provide "a friendlier destination for Xi", said political scientist Ja Ian Chong of the University of Singapore.  

In Hungary, a country with close ties to both Moscow and Beijing, Xi will be able to "avoid tough conversations and awkward questions", he added.

Both countries have called for a peaceful settlement of Russia's war in Ukraine. 

"Hungary provides a diplomatic win for Xi, showing his warm ties with an EU member state that will still roll out the red carpet for Chinese investment," said Xiaoxue Martin, a researcher at the Clingendael China Centre.  

"Xi's message to the rest of Europe: this is how China would like to be treated in Europe," she added.

 On the streets of Budapest, Hungarians were divided over the visit. 

"Money does not smell, as they say, so other countries would welcome the kind of investment that is going to happen here, even in Western Europe I assume," said 52-year-old security manager Laszlo Toth. 

But Tibor Hendre, head of the Tibet Support Association, said he was worried that Hungary was "getting into... a debt trap, from which we cannot really escape".

Software engineer Dezso Bereknyei, 46, said that "financial benefits" appeared to be driving the cooperation, and were "coming before environmental protection".

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Some Distant Shore

When | Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th June

Price | £30 per person, Under 25s £20 per person

Guest Arrival | From 7.45pm for an 8pm start , please meet in the atrium to begin your tour

Duration | Approx 2.5 hours

Where | Titanic Belfast – featuring The Grand Atrium, The Ship of Dreams and The Titanic Suite

Join us for a special evening as we take you on a journey of emigration and exploration through an eclectic and exciting mix of choral music from across the last few centuries.

During this 2.5 hour performance, guests will be transported on a physical and emotional journey, whilst getting to experience three of Titanic Belfast’s most architecturally inspiring and immersive themed spaces – The Grand Atrium, The Ship Of Dreams (normally exclusive to the Titanic Experience ) and The Titanic Suite featuring the Grand Staircase.

Performed by Northern Ireland chamber choir Cappella Caeciliana under the musical direction of Matthew Quinn, this beautiful performance draws upon music and poetry from Celtic, Scandinavian and American folk traditions as well as from traditional choral repertoires.

Act One will commence in The Grand Atrium exploring the hopes and aspirations of emigration while considering what or who you leave behind, with pieces such as Lovland’s beautiful ‘Sleepsong’’ and ‘The Parting Glass’.

Continuing the journey, guests will move to the spectacular Ship of Dreams gallery, part of our reimagined Titanic Experience , which explores the hopes and dreams of the passengers on board heading to New York to start a new life. Watch out for some special musical nods to RMS Titanic in this atmospheric Act Two!

Following a short interval with drinks and panoramic views over the iconic Titanic Slipways, the evening will come to a crescendo by the opulent Grand Staircase in the Titanic Suite . Centring around the ‘Songs of Farewell’ by C. H. H Parry, Act Three will offer a musical exploration of metaphysical poetry from Henry Vaughn and John Donne. 

Guests will receive a complimentary drink on arrival, with a choice of wine, beer or sparkling elderflower pressé. Refreshments will also available to purchase during the interval.

About Cappella Caeciliana

The ensemble has appeared on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, Radio Ulster, BBC TV, RTÉ and ITV and have performed works by Handel, Fauré and Elaine Agnew with the Ulster Orchestra and recently shared the bill with Andrea Bocelli in Belfast. Founding members of the choir, The Priests, continue to support Capella’s many and varied activities.

Matthew Quinn is a Northern Irish conductor, composer and singer who was appointed Musical Director of the choir in 2022.

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