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Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) by Journey

Songfacts®:

• Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain and lead vocalist Steve Perry wrote this song on tour during a period when two of the band members were going through painful divorces due to the stresses (and temptations) of life on the road. According to Journey's Time3 compilation, with guitarist Neal Schon and bass player Ross Valory going through painful - and expensive - divorces, Perry and Cain thought there should be some way to dredge something positive out of such circumstances. "There's got to be a more soulful way of looking at this," Perry told his collaborator, Cain. The pair worked out the tune in a hotel room using Cain's little Casio keyboard and the entire band worked up the fresh song the next afternoon at soundcheck, inserting the party-finished song into the program that night. "I think he mumbled his way through half the lyrics," said Cain, "but the audience just came unglued." The song was sitting in the band's pocket long before the beginning of sessions for the next album. Released as the first single off Frontiers , it zoomed up the charts to #8 in March 1983.
• This was used in the TV series The O.C. in Season 1 Episode 21 (2004) when Seth and Ryan are on their way to the airport. It also plays in the first episode of the Netflix series GLOW (2017) in a fantasy scene where the main characters battle it out in the wrestling ring. Other uses of the song include: The Simpsons ("All's Fair in Oven War" - 2004) Cold Case ("Greed" - 2004) Yes Man (2008) TRON: Legacy (2010) >> Suggestion credit : Anthony - Hermosa Beach, CA
• When MTV launched in 1981, the race was on to come up with unusual concepts for music videos. Journey staked their claim with the first ever "air band" video. That's right, the group played pretend instruments for much of the clip. Shot on a wharf in New Orleans, it was directed by Tom Buchholtz, who like many music video directors of the time, came from the world of directing commercials. Journey were dragged kicking and screaming into the video era. They knew MTV exposure was crucial for sales, but hated making the videos and left the concepts up to the directors, which is how they ended up on a wharf playing pretend instruments. In the book I Want My MTV by Craig Marks, we learn that lead singer Steve Perry cut his hair shortly before the shoot, and also that there was some drama on the set. Perry brought his girlfriend to the set - the same girl he sings about in " Oh Sherrie " - and she did not want Steve to have another girl playing his love interest in the video. "Sherrie was jealous and possessive," said Jonathan Cain. "There was a big kicking and screaming session. Sherrie was giving Steve a very bad time about that girl." Years later, Beavis and Butt-Head gave it a good mocking.
• A remix by the composer Bryce Miller was used in the trailer for season 4 of the Netflix series Stranger Things in 2022. This version is surprisingly spooky, with the song's refrain sounding like a classic horror movie theme. The song quickly started trending and entered Billboard's Rock Digital Song Sales chart dated April 23, 2022. An extended version of the remix appears at the end of episode 8, "Papa," which sets the stage for a climatic battle. Steve Perry, a big fan of the show, signed off on the project and got involved after hearing a demo of the remix. It was his idea to do an extended version, which appears on the show's soundtrack. As for the significance of the lyrics, Bobby Gumm of the marketing firm that worked on the remix explained : "The characters, at the end of the third season, did all go their separate ways, and even the ones that are still living in the same town have gone their separate ways a little bit. They're in different cliques and things like that."
• Halestorm's vocalist Lzzy Hale covered this song with Daughtry in January 2023. The video for their version wasn't planned. "I don't think either of us, Lzzy or myself, were actually 'dressed' for a video shoot," said Chris Daughtry. "We were basically just trying to get some b-roll to capture the studio experience of recording this track. But when we got the footage back, it was like, 'Well... This looks way cooler than I expected, so... I guess we have a music video now?' Haha. It was the most low-key, low-pressure video I've ever done."
• More songs from Journey
• More songs about marital problems or divorce
• More songs used in TV shows
• More songs in heavy rotation in the early days of MTV
• More songs used on The Simpsons
• More songs used in Stranger Things
• More songs from 1983
• Lyrics to Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
• Journey Artistfacts

Comments: 23

• Jodie from Maryland They deserved a way better video for this great song.
• Montana Julian from Missoula, Mt It just seems to me that the thematic element of Separate Ways(Worlds Apart) musically speaking is a classical piece that I just can’t put my thumb on. Something maybe that Beethoven or Mozart might have done. Anyone else with a background in the classical classics hear what I am hearing?
• Seventhmist from 7th Heaven One of the most powerful songs ever made. Pain and anger in abundance, yet delivered with love and a last desperate touch of hope.
• Marc from -, Md First-ever interview with the girl in this video, including what she's doing now (plus never-published set pics): http://noblemania.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-girl-in-video-separate-ways-worlds.html.
• Nick from Ludlow, Ma I saw on another board about the gif of the opening air band part and searched for years who (At the time, I didn't know who anyone for Journey looked like, I'm a teen) so I saw the video and found out it was this song, I was shocked. I can't believe a song this epic was done so bad in a music video).
• Erica from Pensacola, Fl This is one for the mp3, morning workout/run! Love it!
• Jeff from Boston, Ma If your heart doesn't race when you hear this song you are dead inside.
• Jeff from Boston, Ma I agree the Frontiers album overall was bad, but this is a phenomenal song. If you can't relate to what this song is about, someday you will.
• Josep from Dubrovnik, Croatia Whenever this song comes on the radio, my brother punches my arm in rhythm with the guitar riff. Good times!
• Karen from Manchester, Nh I have to agree with most here...horrible video, but easily one of my favorite Journey songs (right up there with "Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin'"). This is one of those, "put the car windows UP, turn the volume UP, and sing along as loud as you can!"
• Jones from San Antonio, Tx It was a pretty dumb music video, but I love the song!!! -Steve Perry ROCKS!!!
• Chris from Meriden, Ct what makes the song great is the keyboard riff
• Ricky from Bountiful, Ut Holy crud, I laughed so hard I cried when I saw the video! But the song is... Epic. My band is working on a cover.
• Tony from Chicago, Il One of my favorite Breakup songs!!!!!!
• Aldrin from Manila, Philippines nice synthesizer sound accompanied by neil schon's deadly guitar riffs...
• Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, Mi I love the song and video! both mother and I love Journey.It hasn't been the same without Steve Perry.
• Benny from Chattanooga, Tn This is the song where Journey (my favorite band) officially "jumped the shark" God, Frontiers was so bad........
• Sanafabich from Santiago, Chile yeah, cheezy video but still great! you gotta love the 80's!
• Pete from Toronto, Canada this has got to be one of the cheeziest videos ever made! what was the director thinking http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZwAn3qOJU&search=Journey%20Seperate%20Ways
• Sara Mackenzie from Middle Of Nowhere, Fl good song!!!!!!!!!
• Michelle from Anaheim, Ca A long time ago, i was flipping channels in my parents room and on MTV they were showing the video, and little tidbits came up. the director had the band members playing air instruments-air guitar, air keyboards,etc.
• William from Toronto, Canada A good song. The synthesizers really emphasize the theme that the site has posted in my opinion.
• Mercedies from Soldotna, Ak This is one of my favorite journey songs. It's really emotional and the tune is awesome. You can actually feel what the band members are going through. A moving song really, and it's great live. When it's live you feel like you're there.

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Complete List Of All Journey Current And Former Band Members

Feature Photo: Bruce Alan Bennett / Shutterstock.com

I first fell in love with the band Journey when I was in high school and brought the band’s album Infinity when it was first released. Their record company Columbia Records at the time heavily promoted the album. It was Steve Perry’s first recording with the band and Columbia knew they had a hit on their hands. I was blown away by Steve Perry’s voice and completely floored by how great the songs were on the record. Journey became one of the biggest bands of the seventies. They helped define the term “Stadium Rock.” The band has gone through multiple lineup changes over the years.  This article takes a look at the revolving door of musicians who have come and gone as members of the band Journey .

The Orginal Journey Band Members

Neal Schon, born on February 27, 1954, in Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist for Journey. He was one of the founding members of the band in 1973. Over the years, Schon played a significant role in shaping the band’s sound and has appeared on every Journey album to date, from their self-titled debut album “Journey” (1975) to their most recent releases. He primarily plays the electric guitar but has been known to play acoustic guitar and perform backing vocals as well. Schon co-wrote some of the band’s most iconic songs like “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Wheel in the Sky,” and “Any Way You Want It.” Besides his work with Journey, Neal Schon has had a rich solo career and has also been a part of other bands like Santana and Bad English .

Ross Valory

Ross Valory, born on February 2, 1949, in San Francisco, California, is an American musician renowned for being Journey’s original bass guitarist. He joined the band at its inception in 1973 and contributed to albums like “Journey” (1975), “Infinity” (1978), “Escape” (1981), and many more. Valory played both the bass guitar and occasionally provided backing vocals. He was a part of Journey until he was fired from the band in 2020. Apart from Journey, Valory was involved in the Steve Miller Band and also had a side project called “The Vu.”

Gregg Rolie

Gregg Rolie was born on June 17, 1947, in Seattle, Washington, and is an American keyboardist and singer. He was a founding member of Journey and joined the band in 1973. Rolie played keyboards and was the lead vocalist on the band’s first three albums: “Journey” (1975), “Look into the Future” (1976), and “Next” (1977). He left Journey in 1980 to pursue other musical endeavors. Notably, he was a member of Santana before joining Journey and co-wrote and sang lead vocals on classics like “Black Magic Woman” and “Evil Ways.” After leaving Journey, he went on to form The Gregg Rolie Band and also joined Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band .

George Tickner

George Tickner, born on September 8, 1946, in Syracuse, New York, is an American musician who played rhythm guitar for Journey. He was among the original members when the band was founded in 1973 but left shortly after the release of the band’s self-titled debut album in 1975. Tickner contributed to the writing of some early songs but didn’t stay with the band long enough to participate in the more commercial phases of Journey’s career. After leaving Journey, Tickner largely retired from professional music to pursue a career in medicine.

Charles “Prairie” Prince

Charles “Prairie” Prince, born on May 7, 1950, in Charlotte, North Carolina, was the original drummer for Journey when the band was formed in 1973. However, he never officially recorded with the band and left before their debut album was made. He is best known for his work with The Tubes , a San Francisco-based rock band. Though his time with Journey was short-lived, Prince has had a significant career in music, working with artists like Todd Rundgren, and Jefferson Starship, and as a session musician for various other artists.

The Next Phase and Beyond

Aynsley dunbar.

Aynsley Dunbar, born on January 10, 1946, in Liverpool, England, is a British drummer known for his work with various rock and blues bands. He joined Journey in 1974, shortly after the band’s formation, and played on the albums “Journey” (1975), “Look into the Future” (1976), and “Next” (1977). Dunbar’s jazz-influenced drumming style added a unique element to Journey’s early sound. He left the band in 1978 before the band shifted to a more mainstream, commercial sound. Apart from Journey, Dunbar has had an extensive career, playing with artists like Frank Zappa, David Bowie, and Whitesnake.

Robert Fleischman

Robert Fleischman, born on March 11, 1953, in Los Angeles, California, is an American musician who briefly served as Journey’s lead vocalist in 1977. Though he never appeared on any studio albums with Journey, he contributed to songwriting and is credited with co-writing songs like “Wheel in the Sky.” Fleischman was replaced by Steve Perry later in the same year he joined. Outside of Journey, Fleischman had a solo career and was a member of other rock bands like Vinnie Vincent Invasion.

Steve Perry

Steve Perry , born on January 22, 1949, in Hanford, California, is an American singer known for his soaring vocals. He joined Journey in 1977 and quickly became the band’s iconic lead vocalist. Steve Perry played a significant role in Journey’s commercial success and was a key contributor to albums like “Infinity” (1978), “Evolution” (1979), “Escape” (1981), among others. He co-wrote and sang some of Journey’s most famous songs, including “Don’t Stop Believin'” and “Open Arms.” Perry left the band in 1998 due to health issues and to pursue a solo career, which itself has been highly successful, featuring hits like “Oh Sherrie.”

Steve Smith

Steve Smith, born on August 21, 1954, in Whitman, Massachusetts, is an American drummer. He joined Journey in 1978, replacing Aynsley Dunbar, and played on some of their most successful albums like “Evolution,” “Escape,” and “Frontiers.” Known for his technical skill, Smith left the band in 1985 but returned for various stints, the latest being from 2015 to 2020. Outside of Journey, Smith has had a rich career in jazz and has been part of his own jazz fusion band, Vital Information.

Randy Jackson

Randy Jackson, born on June 23, 1956, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is an American musician, best known as a judge on the television show “American Idol.” He joined Journey as a bass player for a short stint during the mid-1980s and played on the 1986 album “Raised on Radio.” Jackson was part of the band’s transition towards a more pop-oriented sound during that period. Besides Journey, he has been an in-demand session musician and has produced and performed with a wide array of artists across genres.

Steve Augeri

Steve Augeri, born on January 30, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York, is an American rock singer best known for his work as the lead vocalist for Journey from 1998 to 2006. He was brought in as a replacement for Steve Perry and featured on albums like “Arrival” (2001) and “Generations” (2005). Augeri co-wrote songs for the band but had to leave in 2006 due to vocal issues. Outside of Journey, he has been involved in other bands like Tyketto and has also embarked on a solo career.

Jeff Scott Soto

Jeff Scott Soto, born on November 4, 1965, in Brooklyn, New York, is an American singer who served as Journey’s lead vocalist for a brief period from 2006 to 2007. He stepped in following Steve Augeri’s departure due to vocal issues but was in the band for less than a year. Though his time with Journey was short-lived, he did perform live with the band during that period. Outside of Journey, Soto has a prolific career, having been a part of bands like Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force and Talisman, as well as a successful solo career.

Deen Castronovo

Deen Castronovo, born on August 17, 1964, in Westminster, California, is an American drummer and vocalist. He joined Journey in 1998, replacing Steve Smith, and contributed to albums like “Arrival” (2001), “Generations” (2005), and “Eclipse” (2011). Besides playing drums, Castronovo also performed backing and some lead vocals during his time with the band. He left Journey in 2015 amidst personal issues. Beyond Journey, he has played with bands like Bad English and Hardline and is known for his work in various other musical projects.

Narada Michael Walden

Narada Michael Walden, born on April 23, 1952, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is an American musician, producer, and songwriter. He joined Journey as a drummer in 2020, replacing Steve Smith. Known for his diverse skill set across genres, Walden has a rich career outside of his time with Journey. He’s a multi-Grammy Award-winning producer and has worked with a myriad of artists including Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Aretha Franklin.

Arnel Pineda

Arnel Pineda, born on September 5, 1967, in Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines, is a Filipino singer and songwriter. He became the lead vocalist for Journey in 2007, discovered by Neal Schon through YouTube videos of Pineda covering Journey songs. He made his studio debut with the band on the 2008 album “Revelation” and has remained with the band since. Outside of Journey, Pineda had been a part of several bands in the Philippines and has a solo career as well.

Jason Derlatka

Jason Derlatka, born on September 8, 1972, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is an American keyboardist, vocalist, and composer. He joined Journey in 2020 as a touring keyboardist and background vocalist. Though he hasn’t been featured on any studio albums with the band yet, he brings a wide range of musical experience to Journey. Derlatka has worked extensively in television, composing music for series like “House” and “Parenthood.”

Todd Jensen

Todd Jensen, born on October 19, 1965, in Portland, Oregon, is an American bassist. Though he never officially recorded with Journey, Jensen was involved as a touring member following Ross Valory’s departure in 2020. Known for his versatility, he has played with various artists and bands spanning multiple genres, including David Lee Roth, Ozzy Osbourne, and Alice Cooper.

Complete List Of All Journey Current And Former Band Members article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023

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Journey Lead Singers In Order: History and Band Members

In this article, we delve into the captivating history of Journey, an iconic rock band that has left an indelible mark on the music industry. From their humble beginnings to their meteoric rise to fame, Journey has mesmerized audiences worldwide with their unique sound and timeless hits. Join us on a journey through time as we explore the remarkable story of this legendary band.

Formation of the Band

Journey was formed in 1973 in San Francisco, California, bringing together a group of highly talented musicians. The founding members included Neal Schon, Gregg Rolie, Ross Valory, Aynsley Dunbar, and George Tickner. With their combined musical prowess and creative vision, they set out to create something extraordinary.

Early Years and Musical Style

During their early years, Journey experimented with a fusion of rock, jazz, and progressive influences, creating a distinctive sound that set them apart from their contemporaries. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1975, showcased their musical versatility and marked the beginning of their incredible journey.

Evolution and Breakthrough Success

In 1977, Journey underwent a significant change that would forever shape its destiny. Steve Perry joined the band as their lead vocalist, injecting new energy and unparalleled vocal range into their music. This lineup change proved to be a turning point for Journey, leading to a series of chart-topping albums and unforgettable songs.

Chart-topping albums and Hit Singles

Journey’s breakthrough came in 1978 with the release of their album “Infinity,” which became a massive success. The album spawned the hit singles “Wheel in the Sky” and “Lights,” propelling Journey into the mainstream spotlight. They continued their winning streak with subsequent albums, including “Evolution” (1979) and “Departure” (1980), which produced hits like “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin'” and “Any Way You Want It.”

The Iconic Album: “Escape”

In 1981, Journey released their most iconic album to date, “Escape.” This album elevated their status as rock superstars and solidified their place in music history. Featuring the mega-hits “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms,” and “Who’s Crying Now,” “Escape” became an instant classic, captivating audiences with its emotionally charged lyrics and powerful melodies.

The Power Ballad Era

Journey’s success continued into the mid-1980s, defined by the rise of power ballads that struck a chord with fans worldwide. Songs like “Faithfully,” “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart),” and “Send Her My Love” showcased the band’s ability to create heartfelt and anthemic ballads that resonated deeply with listeners.

A Change in Direction

As the 1990s approached, Journey faced challenges and underwent significant lineup changes. Steve Perry departed from the band in 1987, leading to a period of transition as they searched for a new lead vocalist. Despite these challenges, Journey remained resilient and continued to produce music that captivated its loyal fan base.

Journey’s Enduring Legacy

Although the band’s popularity waned in the late 1990s, their music never faded from the hearts of their dedicated fans. Journey’s timeless classics continue to resonate with audiences of all ages, thanks to their emotional depth, infectious melodies, and inspiring lyrics. Their songs have become anthems for perseverance, love, and the power of music itself.

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)

Lead Singers of Journey

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The Original Journey: Gregg Rolie’s Era

Gregg Rolie, a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, served as the original lead singer of Journey. He began his musical career as a co-founder and lead vocalist of Santana before joining forces with Neal Schon to form Journey. Rolie’s soulful voice and exceptional skills as a keyboardist and harmonicist contributed to the band’s early success. He showcased his talent on albums like “Journey,” “Look into the Future,” and “Next.” However, Rolie transitioned to co-lead vocals when Steve Perry joined the band in 1977.

Steve Perry: The Voice of Journey’s Greatest Hits

Steve Perry, widely recognized as the quintessential Journey lead singer, propelled the band to unprecedented heights during their most commercially successful era. Born with a gift for singing, Perry’s powerful and emotive vocals struck a chord with audiences worldwide. With Perry at the helm, Journey released a string of chart-topping albums, including “Infinity,” “Escape,” and “Frontiers.” Iconic songs like “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms,” and “Faithfully” became anthems for a generation. Perry’s remarkable songwriting abilities and magnetic stage presence contributed to the band’s enduring legacy.

Current Lead Singer: Arnel Pineda

Following Steve Perry’s departure in 1987, Journey experienced a series of lead singer changes. Steve Augeri, known for his vocal range and stage charisma, took over from 1998 to 2006. Jeff Scott Soto briefly joined the band in 2006, leaving his mark with his distinctive style. However, it was Arnel Pineda who breathed new life into Journey as the current lead singer. Pineda’s incredible vocal resemblance to Steve Perry, coupled with his dynamic stage presence, won the hearts of fans worldwide. Since 2008, Pineda has seamlessly integrated into the band, injecting fresh energy and passion into their performances.

Journey’s Enduring Discography: Albums That Defined an Era

Over the past five decades, Journey has released a diverse and extensive discography, showcasing their musical prowess and creativity. Let’s explore some of their most iconic albums:

“ Infinity ” (1978): With Steve Perry as the lead singer, “Infinity” marked a significant turning point for Journey. It featured hit singles like “Wheel in the Sky” and “Lights,” solidifying their place in the rock music landscape.

“ Escape ” (1981): This album became a monumental success, boasting chart-topping hits such as “Don’t Stop Believin'” and “Open Arms.” “Escape” catapulted Journey to international stardom and remains one of their most beloved records.

“ Frontiers ” (1983): Building upon their previous success, “Frontiers” showcased Journey’s evolution with tracks like “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” and “Faithfully.” The album’s polished production and memorable hooks solidified Journey’s status as one of the biggest rock bands of the 1980s.

“ Raised on Radio ” (1986): Released during the band’s final years with Steve Perry, “Raised on Radio” featured a more radio-friendly sound and produced hits like “Be Good to Yourself” and “I’ll Be Alright Without You.” Despite tensions within the band, the album showcased their ability to create catchy, melodic rock tunes.

“ Revelation ” (2008): With Arnel Pineda as the lead singer, “Revelation” marked a new chapter for Journey. The album featured new recordings of their classic hits, reaffirming Pineda’s vocal prowess and rekindling the band’s popularity among longtime fans and a new generation.

“ Eclipse ” (2011): Continuing their musical journey with Pineda, Journey released “Eclipse,” a record that showcased their ability to evolve while staying true to their roots. The album demonstrated their enduring songwriting skills and featured tracks like “City of Hope” and “Edge of the Moment.”

“Escape & Frontiers Live in Japan” (2019): As a testament to their enduring appeal, Journey released a live album featuring their performances of the “Escape” and “Frontiers” albums in their entirety. The release showcased the band’s timeless hits in a live setting, capturing the energy and excitement of their concerts.

Journey’s Impact and Legacy

Journey’s impact on the rock music landscape cannot be overstated. With their infectious melodies, anthemic choruses, and powerful vocals, they carved out a unique sound that resonated with millions of listeners. Their music transcended generations, becoming the soundtrack to countless moments and capturing the hearts of fans worldwide.

Steve Perry’s tenure as the lead singer marked the band’s most successful period, and his distinct voice became synonymous with Journey’s sound. His emotional delivery and ability to connect with audiences elevated their songs to new heights and created an unparalleled legacy.

Arnel Pineda’s addition to the band injected new energy into Journey and allowed them to continue their musical journey. Pineda’s remarkable vocal resemblance to Perry breathed new life into the band’s live performances, earning him a dedicated fanbase and ensuring that Journey’s music lives on.

Journey’s timeless hits continue to be celebrated and embraced today. Songs like “Don’t Stop Believin'” have become cultural touchstones, appearing in films, TV shows, and sporting events, and capturing the imaginations of new generations of listeners.

Journey Band Member’s Ages

Here, is the list of all the Journey member’s ages. It seems like all of the Journey band members are above 50 and below 80.

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Why Journey Performed ‘Separate Ways’ Long Before Recording It

One of Journey ’s best-known songs came together in less than 48 hours.

Released Jan. 5, 1983, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” was a powerhouse track that immediately resonated with listeners. The song was written on the road as Journey, still riding high on the success of their 1981 album Escape , found themselves playing to thousands of passionate fans on a nightly basis.

Despite their popularity, all was not well within the band. Two of Journey’s members, guitarist Neal Schon and bass player Ross Valory, were going through messy divorces at the time. Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain witnessed how the respective breakups were affecting their bandmates and sought to pull creative inspiration from the situation.

"There's got to be a more soulful way of looking at this," Perry reportedly told Cain. The two began working on a song idea, something Journey didn’t typically do while on tour.

"Usually we don't write songs that far in advance of an album," Cain admitted to Hit Parader  in 1983. "But on that occasion, Steve and I were just working an idea backstage and it all came together.”

Listen to 'Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)'

“Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” evolved quickly, with Perry and Cain crafting the song’s basic structure. The tune's captivating synth line was originally formulated on a little Casio keyboard. The musicians were aiming to create something that was “real urgent sounding, but still had rhythm and melody.” In less than a day, they presented the idea to the rest of the band, with the entire Journey lineup then fleshing the song out during soundcheck.

Soon the band opted to add the tune to their set list, even though “Separate Ways” had not yet been recorded, let alone released. Response to the track was electric.

“It doesn’t matter where we put this song [in the set] because it has always had a strong effect on the audience, all the way back to the first time we played it—before it was even recorded,” Schon recalled in 2008 to Guitar World . “It was written on tour and we threw it in the set to see how it would go down. The audience had an amazing reaction to it without even knowing what it was. A big part of Journey’s influence comes from Motown mixed with R&B and blues, and that’s pretty much where ‘Separate Ways’ is coming from. It’s got a heavier guitar than an R&B song, but I think that’s what makes it sound like Journey.”

The band officially released “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” as the lead single from Frontiers on Jan. 5, 1983. The tune quickly raced up the charts, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its accompanying music video earned heavy rotation on MTV – which may not have been a good thing. The clip, filmed on a wharf in New Orleans, was panned for its cheesiness. Everything in the video – from Journey's attire, to the band’s air instrument playing – became fodder for jokes.

Watch the Music Video for 'Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)'

"I'm at a loss to explain that video," Cain admitted in the book I Want My MTV . "I will never live down those air keyboards. No matter what else I've done in my career, sooner or later people find a way to ask me about the 'Separate Ways' video."

Still, the clip did little to dull the popularity of “Separate Ways.” The song remains one of Journey’s definitive tracks and ranks as their sixth most-played song in concert, according to Setlist.fm .

In 2022, the tune again gained notoriety when it was used in the trailer for the hit Netflix series, Stranger Things ; “Separate Ways” resonating with a new generation of fans once more.

The Best Song From Every Journey Album

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Journey to the Heart: A Deep Dive into “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”

Exploring the Depths of Journey’s Timeless Classic

Diving into journey’s enduring anthem “separate ways (worlds apart)”: a testament to the band’s undeniable talent and timeless impact on rock music..

When you think of iconic anthems from the ’80s, Journey’s “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” is undoubtedly one that comes to mind. Released in 1983 on their album Frontiers, this powerful rock ballad remains an enduring testament to the incredible talent and versatility of the band.

Journey, formed in 1973 in San Francisco, initially started as a progressive rock band but found their niche in the world of arena rock. The band’s lineup has seen several changes over the years, with notable members including renowned keyboardist Gregg Rolie, virtuoso guitarist Neal Schon, and, of course, the unforgettable voice of Steve Perry. It was the addition of Perry in 1977 that helped propel them to superstardom, with his incomparably emotive range and distinct vocal tone. While Perry has been absent from the band in recent years, his legacy remains a crucial part of what makes Journey so iconic.

“Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” showcases the band’s incredible musicianship and their ability to create memorable melodies, powerful riffs, and heart-wrenching lyrics. Perry’s vocals shine in this song , telling the tale of a couple in the middle of a breakup, with a performance that pierces the soul. The combination of Schon’s soaring guitar and Jonathan Cain’s skillful keyboard work add to the emotional depth of the track, making it a timeless classic. The music video, however, has been criticized for its awkward air instrument performances, which in hindsight, could be considered somewhat endearing in the context of the era’s cheesy music videos.

Journey has received numerous accolades and awards, such as the prestigious Diamond certification for their 1981 album, Escape, and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. They have sold over 75 million albums worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time. Throughout their career, Journey has continued to captivate audiences with their incredible live performances, their ability to create unforgettable anthems like “Don’t Stop Believin,” “Open Arms,” and, of course, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart).”

In conclusion, Journey remains an influential and important band in the history of rock music, with “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” being a prime example of their incredible talent both lyrically and musically. Despite the occasional misstep, like a questionable music video choice, Journey has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the hearts of millions of fans worldwide.

Charting the Journey of “Separate Ways”

“separate ways: a rock ballad’s chart odyssey in the 80s music landscape”.

Released on January 5, 1983, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” quickly became a fan favorite and demonstrated Journey’s prowess in the realm of rock ballads. The song’s chart journey is an interesting tale, displaying both its successes and the changing landscape of the music industry during the early 80s.

Upon its release, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” debuted at number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. With its powerful guitar riffs and unforgettable chorus, the song steadily climbed the charts, ultimately reaching its peak position at number 8 just nine weeks later. Journey’s captivating power ballad remained in the top 10 for a total of four weeks, showcasing its staying power and resonating with audiences across the United States.

The song also found success on other charts, such as the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, where it peaked at an impressive number 3. On the international stage, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” fared well in Canada, peaking at number 12 on the RPM Top Singles chart.

However, not every chart told the same success story for Journey’s classic ballad. In the United Kingdom, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” struggled to find its footing, reaching only number 84 on the UK Singles Chart. This discrepancy in chart performance highlights the varying tastes and preferences of music listeners around the globe.

Despite the song’s mixed chart performance, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” has cemented its place in rock history and continues to be a beloved anthem for Journey fans. Its chart journey not only exemplifies the tumultuous nature of the music industry but also serves as a testament to the power of a well-crafted, emotionally resonant song.

Unlocking the Emotional Depth of “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”

Someday, love will find you Break those chains that bind you One night will remind you How we touched and went our separate ways If he ever hurts you True love won’t desert you You know I still love you Though we touched and went our separate ways

Troubled times Caught between confusions and pain, pain, pain Distant eyes Promises we made were in vain, in vain, vain If you must go, I wish you love You’ll never walk alone Take care, my love Miss you, love

Journey’s “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” features lyrics that dive deep into the emotional experience of love and heartbreak. The song, released in 1983, captures the spirit of the times and resonates with the challenges and uncertainties that marked the early 1980s. With its powerful lyrics and anthemic sound, the song quickly established itself as a rock classic.

The lyrics of “Separate Ways” convey a sense of longing and sadness for a love that has ended but still lingers in the hearts and minds of the individuals involved. The song paints a vivid picture of sleepless nights and the relentlessness of feeling that something is gone. This concept of love as a force that divides yet continues to bind people together, even after they’ve gone their separate ways, reflects the complexities of human emotions and relationships.

The 1980s were a time of change and transition, marked by events such as the Cold War, the rise of technology, and shifting cultural norms. These broader dynamics of the era are echoed in the lyrics’ themes of uncertainty, confusion, and pain. The song’s resolution – that true love will eventually find you and break the chains that bind you – offers a hopeful message amidst the turmoil.

Serving as a testament to the timeless appeal of Journey’s music and lyrics, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” will continue to resonate with fans and listeners for generations to come.

A Visual Journey: The Making of “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” Music Video

“journey’s iconic first music video, ‘separate ways (worlds apart),’ transports us back to the 80s with its passionate performance, bold fashion, and innovative camera techniques, making it a lasting emblem of rock history.”.

The music video for Journey’s 1983 hit “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” is often heralded as a quintessential representation of the 80s music video era. Directed by Tom Buckholtz, the video showcases the band performing on a wharf with lead singer Steve Perry passionately belting out the lyrics, while the rest of the band mimics playing their instruments with no cords or amplifiers present. The video also features a love interest, played by actress Margaret Olmstead.

Interestingly, “Separate Ways” was Journey’s first music video, making the band relatively new to the concept of visual storytelling. With a modest budget and a simple premise, the video was shot in a single day in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band and crew completed the shoot despite freezing temperatures, adding an icy authenticity to the video’s waterfront setting.

Though not as elaborate as some of its contemporaries, the “Separate Ways” video is memorable for its innovative use of camera movement and angles. Buckholtz employed the “Ricochet Zoom,” a technique that involves moving the camera rapidly in one direction and then immediately zooming in the opposite direction. This effect creates a dynamic and energetic visual experience, perfectly complementing Journey’s powerful rock anthem.

Another notable aspect of the video is its strategic use of slow motion. This effect is used to emphasize important moments, such as when Steve Perry throws a handful of sand into the air or when guitarist Neal Schon leaps off a stack of equipment. These striking visuals have contributed to the video’s lasting impact and continued popularity.

Over the years, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” has been celebrated and parodied, with fans and other artists creating their own renditions and tributes. The music video has also been hailed as a nostalgic piece of 80s pop culture, with critics praising its bold fashion choices, such as the band’s infamous red leather pants, and its unabashedly dramatic performance style. In the end, the “Separate Ways” video remains an iconic and beloved artifact of Journey’s storied career.

A Deeper Dive into Jonathan Cain’s Genius

Jonathan Cain, the mastermind behind Journey’s iconic hit “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”, is no stranger to crafting memorable tunes that stand the test of time. As the band’s keyboardist and primary songwriter since 1980, his creative prowess has contributed to numerous Journey classics. Among his many accomplishments, Cain co-wrote the anthemic “Don’t Stop Believin'”, a song that remains a global phenomenon and one of the most downloaded tracks in the digital era. Additionally, Cain’s songwriting credits include other Journey hits like “Faithfully” and “Open Arms”, further solidifying his status as a legendary composer in the music industry. With a talent for creating songs that resonate with listeners across generations, Jonathan Cain’s influence on the rock and roll landscape is truly undeniable.

Awards, Accolades, and Appearances Galore

From billboard charts to glee and tron: legacy, “separate ways (worlds apart)” transcends genres and decades, proving its timeless rock anthem status..

“Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” has certainly made a mark in the history of rock music since its release in 1983. The song peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, showcasing its wide appeal and success at the time. The song also secured a Gold certification by the RIAA in 2019, proving its lasting impact on the music scene.

Throughout the years, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” has been featured in various forms of media, solidifying its status as an iconic track. Fans of the hit TV series Glee would remember the exciting performance of the song in the season 5 episode “New New York” where it was powerfully sung by Lea Michele and Adam Lambert.

The song also made its way into the realm of movies, with the memorable inclusion in the 2010 blockbuster “Tron: Legacy,” where it played a pivotal role in setting the tone for one of the film’s most thrilling scenes. Video game enthusiasts would also recall hearing “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” in the action-packed Saints Row IV game as part of its in-game radio station.

As with any timeless classic, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” has inspired numerous covers and tributes by renowned artists over the years. One of the most notable renditions came from the Swedish pop group A*Teens in 1999, giving the song a fresh, youthful twist. The song has also been covered by In This Moment, an American heavy metal band, as part of their 2010 EP “The Dream – Ultraviolet Edition,” showcasing the versatility of the song across genres.

Overall, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” continues to leave an indelible mark in the world of music and media. Its enduring appeal, coupled with its successful chart performance and numerous appearances in films, TV shows, and games, only adds to the song’s impressive legacy.

Breaking Down the Musical Elements

Diving into the technical aspects of “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart),” we find a song that’s skillfully crafted to deliver an anthemic, arena-ready sound. Written in the key of E minor, the song employs a straightforward chord progression, with the verses predominantly using Em, D, and C chords, and the chorus switching to a G, D, Em, and C pattern. This progression creates a sense of urgency and emotion, which perfectly complements the song’s theme of love and heartbreak.

The tempo of “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” sits at a brisk 128 beats per minute, driving the song’s energy and making it an ideal track for both air guitar enthusiasts and those looking to dance their heartbreak away. The band’s skillful use of syncopation and rhythmic variation adds further excitement to the track, with the drums and bass working in tandem to create a solid foundation for the soaring vocals and blistering guitar work.

Instrumentally, the song is built on a foundation of powerful, yet melodic, guitar riffs and solos, punctuated by the unmistakable sound of the synthesizer. The synth intro, played in unison with the guitar, is one of the most iconic elements of the song, and it continues to be a fan favorite to this day. Combined with the tight rhythm section and Steve Perry’s emotive vocal performance, it’s no wonder this song has stood the test of time.

As for the song’s structure, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” follows a classic verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus format. However, Journey adds their own unique twist with a pre-chorus that builds anticipation for the powerful, sing-along chorus. Additionally, the inclusion of an instrumental break, featuring a blazing guitar solo, showcases the band’s technical prowess and adds further depth to the song.

In conclusion, the technical aspects of “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” contribute significantly to the song’s enduring appeal. From its catchy, anthemic chorus to the masterful musicianship on display, it’s clear that Journey crafted a true classic with this track.

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Song Meanings and Facts

“Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” by Journey 

by George Spencer · Published July 4, 2022 · Updated July 4, 2022

Journey’s “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” is a breakup song, with the title being derived from the vocalist implying the inevitability of he and the addressee going their “separate ways”. That seems to be a foregone conclusion, that this relationship has run its course, even though the verses read like the two of them are still together in a physical sense. But the thesis sentiment is cast into the future, i.e. with Steve envisioning them already being separated and her with another man.

And as far as said sentiment goes, what he is letting the addressee know is that yes, their romance is in fact dead. But that reality is not going to cause him to stop loving her. He appears to imply that their relationship has developed into an intolerably-toxic one. But that understood, he knows that one day, her heart will remember that the feelings they share are genuine. And Steve is confirming that such is indeed the case, that his love for her is “true”. Owing to this, he is also wishing her the best as she goes on her ‘separate way’.

Release Date of “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”

This is a song that originally came out on 5 January 1983, through Columbia Records. It was issued as part of Journey’s album titled “Frontiers”. It served as the lead single from that project.

Song’s Achievements

“Separate Ways” performed impressively on its own, topping US  Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks  chart. Furthermore, it also made it onto the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and Cashbox Top 100.

In 2022,  this song recharted , that time around appearing on the Billboard’s  US Rock Digital Song Sales  list. Well actually in said case, it was a remix of “Separate Ways” which charted, one designed specifically  to be utilized  by one of the most-popular television series of the early 2020s, Netflix’s  Stranger Things .

Credits for “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”

Journey is a band from San Francisco who were really poppin’ around the time this song came out, i.e. throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s. During the “Frontiers” era, the band was held down by vocalist Steve Perry and the following:

• guitarist Neal Schon
• bassist Ross Valory
• keyboardist Jonathan Cain
• drummer Steve Smith

To note, Schon and Cain are still members of the band at the time of this writing.

The writing of “Separate Ways” is credited to Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain. The track’s producers, on the other hand, are Kevin Elson and the late Mike Stone (1951-2002).

Music Video

The music video to this track was filmed in New Orleans, with its director being Tom Buckholtz. 

This clip was Journey’s first in a manner of speaking, i.e. the initial one from the band not to rely on specifically-made visuals as opposed to past-performance footage. Also keep in mind that this was around the time American artists in general began regularly dropping music videos. 

So the clip has its artistic issues which, in hindsight, may seem unintentionally comical – so much so that  Beavis and Butt-Head  gave it a sound mocking (which significantly offended Jonathan Cain) on a 1993 episode titled  Buff ‘N’ Stuff . 

And speaking of MTV, a few years later, in 1999, they also placed the clip on their  MTV 25 Lame (Worst Music Videos)  ranking. But generally speaking the visual has gone down in infamy, with fans of the band understanding that it harps back to a more-innocent era in music video production.

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He finds this girl really beautiful and can’t stop thinking about her. They have several encounters. And Feelings seem mutual. Though it is in vain for obvious reasons. Till one day the encounters endand they are forced to go there separate way. Never

He finds this girl beautiful and can’t stop thinking about her. They have many years of pointless encounters. Feelings appear mutual. Their love is in vain though for obvious reasons. Till one day they are forced to go their separate ways. Never to meet again

beautiful song

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Tags: Jonathan Cain Journey Kevin Elson Mike Stone Ross Valory Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) Steve Perry Steve Smith Tom Buckholtz

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August 4, 2019

 by SMF · Published August 4, 2019 · Last modified September 21, 2022

April 12, 2021

 by Amanda London · Published April 12, 2021

January 4, 2022

 by Amanda London · Published January 4, 2022

Song Meanings & Facts

• Terms and Conditions

author • speaker • "Batman & Bill" character • pop culture archaeologist • he

Saturday, July 13, 2013

The girl in the video: “separate ways (worlds apart)” (1983) and “oh sherrie” (1984).

You are the only person [who] has ever received a response! MTV, VH1 [contacted me and] I did nothing and hoped they thought it was the wrong number! I am an esthetician, teach yoga, never married, no children. Love my animals, planting flowers, and life. Cherish my friends (including Steve) and my privacy. It was so different for us! It was just Love, nothing else!

Real research question: if you know the Annie Hubbard who was in 1984 Night Ranger video “Sister Christian,” pls contact @MarcTNobleman Real research question: if you know the woman — even just her name—in 1986 Cinderella video “Shake Me,” pls contact @MarcTNobleman Real research question: if you know woman—even just her name—in ‘87 Richard Marx video “Should’ve Known Better,” pls contact @MarcTNobleman

30 comments:

Great series! Journey on Beavis and Butthead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6WplQoHeHs

Thanks Michael! Added that link above.

This was awesome to read!

I heard that Sherrie Swafford did in fact get married and had children, something that she had wanted with Steve, but never attained. I heard from various sources that she was very happy living her life with her family and a private life at that.

thanks for sharring that info. i still believe steve perry is the best singer for journey....

Kimberly - are you saying you heard this from people who knew Sherrie?

Kimberly,had heard that Sherrie had married and had kids to0 but that seems to be just like all of the other stuff that comes out of the rumor mill. Since this came from Sherrie, now we know the truth.

Sherrie told the truth...never married, no children, very private. Beautiful inside and out! Fact.

I miss Steve Perry when I heard his music. I love that music and his voice. In the Journey.

Muchas gracias por compartir esta historia.Steve I LOVE YOU.

My dad (at least, his back) appears in the 4th picture. He's the one all the way to the right.

Wow! glad I ran across this...the girl/image in Separate Ways seems kind of straight faced snobbish in the character she portrayed. Margaret Oldsted Menendez seems like the sweetest person you could ever meet, so very down to earth. Being a Journey fan I really enjoyed reading the behind the scenes info. Adding this to my song facts & trivia notes.

I produced the "Oh Sherrie" video and when Steve Perry said he wanted Sherrie, his girlfriend, as "Sherrie," I tried to dissuade him. My experience was that rock stars who did use their girlfriends, went on to hate the video after they broke up with them. In fact, in the first takes of the ending, Steve says to her "I kinda love you" as we went on it became "I kinda like you" (which was used). She was nice and it's still one of my favorite videos I made (and it's "prequel" Strung Out"). I even appear in the "Oh Sherrie" video as the "writer" throwing the script in the air after Steve rebels against the video's concept.

Such awesome era! Thanks for the memories, the Love, the pain, the missing, the aching, the hoping a return...hope you are all happy.

Kimberly Marconi - Margaret Oldsted Menendez, the girl in the video Separate Ways, got married to her high school sweetheart at 21 and they are still married today and they have 4 grown children.

Great article, Thank You!

What town was she living in when her and Steve dated?

Fun Fact, Margaret's sister-in-law, Barbara Menendez (Ganucheau) has just written a cookbook of New Orleans recipes done vegan. Called Vegan Dawlin'.

Did anyone ever tell you you look just like Gene Wilder?

I always loved Steve & Sherrie together as a couple 💖 They were so in LOVE with each other & they always looked so happy! 💖2018: they are both single..I wonder if there's ANY chance of a Steve/Sherrie reunion?!😊

i thought of it a hundred times.. maybe they could rekindle the sweet moments they had back then.. love might just be one the air again, and there's nothing wrong with it...

Steve's new album "Traces" is absolutely great,Finally he is back and oh a tour would be so great hes around 70 years old now but watching his new videos he sure doesn't look it, oh a fun fact in his video no more cryin the younger lead guitarist is Clint Eastwood son cant remember his first name though,anyway this was a great read

Sherrie was from Bakersfield, Ca. Her parents were next door neighbors of my mother's. She was already out of the house but would visit her parents and younger sister. Steve Perry came with her as well. After one of these visits her parents showed us a picture of Steve, Sherrie and them together. Her parents eventually moved from their house on Driller Ave but continued to send my mother a Christmas card every year.

No offense to anyone, but the Sherrie video is much better. It's funny, I also liked Sherrie's hair better than the short hair look (which was super hip at the time) in Separate Ways. Hadn't seen the Sherrie video in a long time. Wish I could go back to 1984 again. Some really interesting tidbits in the article & comments. Thanks everyone for your information.

I would love to know when sherrie's birthday is I tried to Google it but it's very difficult to find

I'd love to go back again to 1984 too! Love you Steve Perry! 😘😘❤️

Omgosh I came here specifically looking for the separate ways haircut ! I was describing to a younger person how cool it was and how I always wanted that haircut every time I see the video. I wonder why Margaret didn't like it.

Oh me too, I wish I could have been in a video with Steve. At least meet him..

You are so lucky to have met and worked with Steve perry . I love him. I miss him with journey but he will be forever my favorite person

Sherrie sounds like she was a real handful, but Margaret is truly a class act. This was a fun read.

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Journey's 'Separate Ways' Video: The Band Speaks About Filming The 'Cheeseball' Video

Senior Entertainment Writer, The Huffington Post

In 1983, to promote their hit single "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)," Journey shot their first scripted music video that wasn't just remastered concert footage (or in-studio footage). If the goal was to make a great music video, that did not happen. If the goal was to make one of the cheesiest music videos ever put to film -- a video so infamous that, almost 30 years later, we're still talking about it -- then, yes mission accomplished.

Journey guitarist Neal Schon and keyboardist Jonathan Cain are in New York, along with new frontman Arnel Pineda, to promote the Tribeca Film Festival documentary "Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey" -- the story of how Pineda went from YouTube to the new lead singer of Journey. The full interview will publish next week, but this reporter couldn't resist asking Schon and Cain about their experience air guitaring through what might be one of the most ridiculous videos of all time (if you believe Beavis and Butthead, that is).

Thirty years later, people still watch the video for "Separate Ways." Schon: I like the song, I don't know about the video.

Cain: It's campy, for sure. It's so bad, it's cool.

What was going through your head when you were filming that? Schon: Well, it was the beginning of the video era. I think we made that video for, like, $5000. You know, nobody was spending big money on videos, for one.

Cain: Here's a funny story: When we were going through the actual storyboards, Steve Perry was there -- and he wasn't down with it. And his girlfriend, Sherrie, was not down with it. And there was this whole thing about, "You're going to have a slut in your video?"

Schon: And she had to be a not-a-good-looking one.

Cain: So Sherrie, from "Oh Sherrie," was like, "You're really going to have this girl in your video?" So Steve was getting pressure from her. And, in the end, I think [the band's manager] Herbie Herbert had to talk to Steve and go, "Come on, let's just do this. We're down here in New Orleans, we don't have any other ideas, let's just go do this." And his whole thing was, "We're not actors! We're performers!"

Schon: Actually, he was correct. The best footage that we have of us is from JFK stadium, live. We always had live footage and it looked natural.

Right, the "Don't Stop Belivein'" video is still great, which is live footage. Cain: Steve had a lot of trepidation about that whole idea of making that video. And I had trepidation about playing the "air" stuff. Really? We're going to "air" perform? So I was like, "Oh, Jeeze, we're going to get killed. They're going to kill us." And Beavis and Butthead kicked us for two years.

Schon: I think their version is the best.

Cain: I remember calling Herbie, "Can't we do anything about this, Herbie? Look what they're doing!" And he said, "Look at Kip Winger." Poor Kip. Beavis and Butthead, now look where they are now.

They're back. Cain: They're back, yeah. Anyway, it was a funny time. I think we did three for one: It was $10,000 and we got three videos out of it.

It would have been great if, while you were filming, someone would have told you, "this video is going to live forever." Schon: Better that way than not ever seeing it at all.

Cain: It does look really campy, you know? Like we did it on purpose or something.

Schon: It's cheesy, definitely.

Cain: It was just cheeseball, from beginning to end. I can still see Steve Perry at the meeting going, "No!" and then Sherrie looking at him.

Then he said "I'll have to write her a song after this because she's so mad"? Cain: And so he did [laughs].

Mike Ryan is senior entertainment writer for The Huffington Post. He has written for Wired Magazine, VanityFair.com and GQ.com. He likes Star Wars a lot. You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter

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Journey’s Neal Schon v. Everyone: Will Band Members Go ‘Separate Ways’?

The band is fighting over a member's Mar-a-Lago performance, suing over the group's Amex account, and hiring and firing managers. But it's still filling arenas.

By Steve Knopper

Steve Knopper

Early in Journey ’s 2022 arena tour, lead guitarist Neal Schon became convinced people were out to get him. So he stationed two off-duty police officers outside his dressing room, according to sources familiar with the tour. And at a Florida show last spring, Schon and his wife, Michaele , sent an assistant into keyboardist Jonathan Cain ’s dressing room to snoop around — to find what, the sources have no idea.

Trending on Billboard

Journey’s Latest Legal Clash? It’s Over The Band’s Amex Card

From the outside, Journey’s business might seem easy — perform hits like “Wheel in the Sky,” “Any Way You Want It” and “Who’s Crying Now” in arenas and watch the money roll in. Most of those guitar-piano-and-whoa-oh-oh classics are from the ’80s, when Journey dominated rock radio and MTV, scoring eight multiplatinum albums and six top 10 Billboard Hot 100 singles, and becoming a bridge between ’70s regular-guy bands like Boston , Styx and Kansas and the more dangerous-looking Bon Jovis and Mötley Crües of subsequent years.

Journey has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide, according to a recent lawsuit involving the band, and Billboard Boxscore reports a career gross of more than $352.5 million on sales of 7.6 million tickets. Journey has also cleaned up on synch licensing for decades — the iconic final scene of The Sopranos in 2007 famously used “Don’t Stop Believin,’ ” and the band’s songs have appeared in Caddyshack (“Any Way You Want It”), Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (“Faithfully”) and last year’s season of Stranger Things (“Separate Ways [Worlds Apart]”). And the group’s 2022 tour was one of its biggest ever, nearly doubling the pace of its previous standalone tour in 2017, which took 67 shows to gross $31.7 million.

Recently, though, simmering, passive-aggressive, behind-the-scenes tension between Schon and Cain has blown up into dueling lawsuits and cease-and-desist letters, including one over Cain’s performance at Mar-a-Lago. Journey is hardly the only group to tour and make albums amid acrimony between band members; examples include Sam & Dave , The Kinks and Van Halen . But Journey’s personality conflicts have spread to its business far more than most, and sources say the Schons have run off business and road managers, accountants and longtime band members. In February, Journey’s longtime bank, City National, cut ties with the band, according to sources, hampering the group’s ability to easily pay its day-to-day touring expenses. Even Journey’s official webpage abruptly stopped operating for several weeks in early February before it recently reappeared.

At the Jan. 27 opening show of Journey’s 2023 arena tour, which runs through April, Cain and Schon stood at least 20 yards apart at all times, on opposite sides of the stage at the Choctaw Grand Theatre in Durant, Okla. The 3,000 fans singing along to hit after hit clearly energized the band, especially frontman Arnel Pineda , who sprinted and twirled around the stage. But Cain and Schon barely looked at each other, even when Cain sang these lines from “Faithfully,” the 1983 hit he wrote: “Circus life under the big-top world/ We all need the clowns to make us smile/ Through space and time, always another show.” Another show: Check. Circus life: Check. Shared smiles: Absent.

____________________

Neal Schon has been litigious for years. In 2007, he sued his ex-wife’s mother-in-law for blogging that he didn’t pay child support. The mother-in-law, who has since died, said she didn’t say that and the case was eventually dismissed. (After the publication of this story, Schon texted to point out that he had sued The Daily Mail for running a story based on the blog that referred to Schon as a “deadbeat dad,” which led to a settlement with terms that included a public apology from the British tabloid. “It was all false and damaging,” Schon said by text.) In 2019, he sued Live Nation, then-promoter for the band. And in 2020, along with Cain, he sued then-Journey drummer Steve Smith and bassist Ross Valory .

That lawsuit settled in April 2021 , for undisclosed terms, and Smith and Valory soon left the band, leaving Schon and Cain to publicly turn on each other in the months that followed. In October, Schon sued Cain in Superior Court in Contra Costa County, Calif., for “improperly” refusing him access to a corporate American Express account representing “millions in Journey funds.” In Cain’s Jan. 13 response, he accused Schon of “completely out-of-control” spending, charging the band’s American Express card for what Cain said were $1 million in personal expenses, including — in a single month last spring — $104,000 for jewelry and clothes, $31,000 to the Bergdorf Goodman department store and $54,000 toward his insurance premiums.

The dispute between Schon and Cain even involves Trump. Cain is married to the ex-president’s spiritual advisor, Paula White-Cain , and he performed “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” at Mar-a-Lago. He also appeared at a Las Vegas “Evangelicals for Trump” event three months before the 2020 presidential election. In December, Schon sent a cease-and-desist letter that called Cain’s Mar-a-Lago performance “deleterious to the Journey brand as it polarizes the band’s fans and outreach.” (Cain declined to comment and Pineda did not respond to interview requests.)

Journey Band Members Agree to Settle $10 Million Lawsuit and Go ‘Separate Ways’

This combative back-and-forth might suggest the central tension in Journey is between Schon and Cain, the remaining members of the group’s megastar era. But numerous music sources who have worked with the band over the years say the lead guitarist is obsessed with controlling the band with Michaele, a fan since childhood, who took an interest in Journey’s affairs soon after their 2013 wedding. The actual conflict, they say, isn’t Schon vs. Cain, but rather Schon vs. everyone. “He’s just an impossible human being,” says an industry source, who has worked with the band. “Jonathan, he’s a good guy: ‘I wrote “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” and I’m blessed.’ Neil’s just ‘I’m a superstar.’ ”

The source refers to a 2018 Tampa Bay Times concert review in which critic Jay Cridlin praised the band’s onstage tribute to the late Aretha Franklin . Schon directly emailed Cridlin afterwards, demanding he change the review — it was Schon who orchestrated the Franklin tribute, not the entire band, as Cridlin had reported. In a Times story he published later about his exchange with Schon, Cridlin wrote, “It seemed odd that Schon would go out of his way to make sure readers knew his bandmates had nothing to do with it.”

The son of a professional singer and a jazz saxophonist and composer, Schon was a teenage guitar hotshot in the early ’70s, when Eric Clapton invited him to jam with Derek and the Dominos onstage at Berkeley Community Theatre, near his home in the Bay Area. Word got around, and both Clapton and Carlos Santana made offers to Schon to join their bands. At 17, Schon picked Santana, then in its post-Woodstock prime, before forming Journey in 1973.

Four years later, frontman Steve Perry ushered Journey into its FM-radio golden age. Perry became the face of the band as Cain underpinned the songwriting with Broadway-style piano and melancholy verses, and Schon electrified the earworms, matching every catchy chorus and Perry high note with a melodic guitar solo.

Over the years, as happens with many successful rock bands, Journey’s business grew into a jigsaw puzzle of financial deals worked out over decades of negotiation. Perry, who quit for good in 1997, landed a deal in which he still makes 1/41 of the band’s net income from recording royalties and touring, after management fees and other expenses. Which means he pocketed roughly $400,000 in 2022 from Journey’s tour alone, according to sources, while sitting at home making TikToks about how much he loves Harry Styles . The remainder is then split among Schon, Cain and Pineda, a cover band singer from the Philippines, whom Schon discovered on YouTube in 2007.

In the early 2010s, according to sources, Schon became more litigious and started spending more money, when he became serious with the former Michaele Ann Holt, whose Oakton, Va., high school friends in the ’80s called her Rock Chic Miss, according to Washingtonian . A Journey superfan and once a Real Housewives of D.C. cast member, Michaele first became famous with her ex-husband, Tareq Salahi , as the White House gate-crashers who joined former President Barack Obama’s 2009 state dinner without an invitation. Two years after that, Salahi reported his wife missing to the police and appeared on TV, begging for her return. “I swear to God, I’m missing my wife,” he said through tears. “This is not a joke.”

It came out later, in Salahi’s divorce filings, that when he made that plea, he neglected to mention that he had already received a call about his wife’s whereabouts. It came from Neal Schon. As Washingtonian reported, Schon told Salahi, “This is Neal. I am fucking your wife.”

In 2013, Neal married Michaele, in a pay-per-view wedding that cost viewers $14.95. One of the three dresses Michaele wore was by Oscar de la Renta. Neal wore a long black coat without a tie. Sammy Hagar and Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir attended. So did Omarosa Manigault , the Apprentice villain who later worked in — and still later turned against — the Trump Administration. The San Francisco wedding, held in a white tent, had a winter-wonderland theme, with 36 crystal chandeliers and a four-foot-tall, berry-and-custard white cake. Paying customers could watch for up to 12 hours — more than six times the length of a typical Journey concert. Journey performed, of course, and a portion of the pay-per-view gross went to typhoon relief, a cause Pineda favored. The wedding cost between $1 million and $3 million, according to music-industry sources familiar with the band’s finances.

Journey Takes a Break From Feuding, Returns for Harmonious Concert at Oklahoma Casino

After Michaele left Salahi for Schon, the couple began getting Journey’s publicists to work for them. Emails from the time show Neal and Michaele calling and emailing a publicist late at night, to tweak language and order photos for press releases about Michaele’s divorce. When a publicist responded to an 11:30 p.m. email by saying his business hours were 9 to 5, Neal responded, “sorry we didn’t fit into your biz hours. Lol.” At one point, the publicist emailed, “I rarely answer calls from numbers I don’t have saved. Michaele’s 12:28 a.m response: “Are you still up?”

After she married Schon, ​​Michaele gradually became more involved in various aspects of Journey’s business: She asked to be copied on all band-related emails, according to multiple sources, and sometimes responded by CC’ing as many as 15 other addresses, including those of attorneys and other band employees.

In early 2021, after Smith and Valory settled their lawsuits and left the band, Schon became Journey’s manager.

By the time Schon started managing Journey, he and Michaele had spent six years scrutinizing trademarks and merchandise and ticket sales. And they came to one conclusion: Journey was getting screwed. That meant everyone had to go, so Schon fired or sued managers, accountants, bandmates and promoters, some of whom had worked with the group for decades. John Baruck , who managed the band for 20 years and oversaw its 2017 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the hiring of Pineda as lead singer and the band’s post- Sopranos renaissance? Gone. Peter Mensch , also one of Metallica ’s managers at Q Prime? Gone. Smith and Valory? Gone, when Schon and Cain jointly sued them for $10 million, claiming the two “launched a coup” to take control of the Journey name and “set themselves up for retirement.”

“I took the bull by the horns and started cleaning things up,” says Schon, 68, with matter-of-fact rock star charm on Zoom audio last summer, throwing in a “ha!” or two to illustrate the absurdity of the music business. “It was a mess, I have to tell you, business-wise. It was set up to be chaotic, so you would never be able to have a clue of how messed up it was.”

Schon and Cain took over as Journey’s co-managers in early 2021, splitting the standard 15% fee. (Cain shared some of his 7.5% with Pineda, according to sources.) The idea was to bring order to the business chaos. “I believe the government calls it ‘chaos merchants,’ ” Schon says, in a charming non sequitur, with a soft-spoken laugh. But Schon also created chaos of his own, sources say.

In 2019, the Schons filed a lawsuit against Live Nation, which promoted Journey’s tours, after Michaele alleged that a security employee at the band’s show at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind., “violently assaulted” her and threw her into a PA system while she was taking photos near the stage. ( Video on YouTube that seems to show the incident includes no evidence of violence, but it’s blurry, distant and missing several crucial seconds of the alleged confrontation.)

The Schons fired three different law firms that represented them in that case, including one that cited an “irretrievable breakdown of the attorney-client relationship.” They also stopped responding to discovery requests and court orders, prompting an Allen County Superior Court judge to mandate a court appearance. When they didn’t show up, the judge held the Schons in contempt and dismissed the suit last March.

In early 2020, Schon and Cain filed their California Superior Court lawsuit against Valory and Smith, claiming the duo’s “coup” to take over one of the band’s business entities, Nightmare Productions Inc., “placed their own greed before the interests of the band, sowing discontent and discord, jeopardizing the future of Journey.” In a counter-complaint, Valory said Schon and Cain were “deceptive, misleading and false,” and that he and Smith tried to protect Journey from their bandmates’ attempts to trademark logos and song titles to use on merchandise for Schon’s side project, Neal Schon Journey Through Time, which toured briefly in 2019. (Valory, who is no longer in the band, did not respond to interview requests; reached on his cellphone, Smith said, “No, I won’t do a phone interview on or off the record, and if you don’t mind, I have to go.”)

Journey Hires Def Leppard Manager Amid Inter-Band Turmoil

After Schon’s enthusiastic Zoom interview last summer, he declined all further requests to comment. Skip Miller , his attorney, responded to an email list of questions by saying, “Please be advised that your email, and the questions and matters therein, are largely incorrect.” He would not specify which parts were incorrect, but said: “As the band’s founder and leader, Mr. Schon puts Journey above all else. Unlike another band member, he doesn’t think Journey should be involved in politics on any side, red, blue or whatever.” Later, he added, “For Neal Schon, it’s all about making great music for Journey’s fans.”

Journey’s blockbuster 2022 ended with Schon suing Cain, his final remaining bandmate from the “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” years. Schon v. Cain , the legal dispute over the band’s American Express account, is pending in California Superior Court, and representatives for both sides would not comment. By early December, Def Leppard manager Mike Kobayashi confirmed Journey had hired him to take over management from Schon and Cain.

By early February, sources say, Kobayashi was no longer manager.

Over Zoom last summer, Schon says he became suspicious of the people handling Journey’s affairs before he started doing it himself. At one point — he won’t give the date or context — he asked band accountants how many fans attended each amphitheater show he played. “You did OK,” came the response, according to Schon. “You didn’t do as well as two years ago, when you had 19,000. You had 18,500, or 17,000.” His conclusion: The band’s representatives were lowballing him.

So, Schon says, “I would pay guys in the parking lot and say, ‘How many cars are here tonight?’ And they’d say ‘Dude, they’re plus-five miles out’ — that means about 23,000. With a band like Journey, that has hits like Journey has, you can’t just try to squash them down in a box and make them believe that they’re no longer big.”

During Journey’s business purge of the last few years, one of the managers Schon fired was Irving Azoff , the uber-manager who represents the Eagles , John Mayer , Jon Bon Jovi , Gwen Stefani and others. Azoff wouldn’t comment for this story, but in his lawsuit against Live Nation, Schon says he developed a “medical condition” and criticizes Azoff for nixing “continued off-duty law enforcement protection” for the Schons during the band’s tour. In exchange for forgoing personal security, Azoff agreed to provide the Schons with private-jet transportation, according to the lawsuit. (Neither Azoff nor Baruck — Azoff’s former college roommate, who worked at his management company for years — would comment.)

Azoff’s team, Schon says on Zoom, “ended up doing some great things,” but frustratingly kept the band in amphitheaters when he insisted to managers for years that Journey should be headlining arenas. “What I did was follow my gut instinct, and it was just time to move on,” he says. “We tried Q Prime for a second, and it seemed like it was going to be alright, but, you know, politics come into play.” (A rep for Q Prime declined to discuss Journey.)

By then, Schon thought, “We don’t need these guys, man,” as he remembers telling Cain. “I swear to God, I’m mostly doing everything, anyway.”

Over the last few years, as Schon and Cain managed Journey, they had help from CAA agent Jeff Frasco and AEG Live CEO Jay Marciano . (Neither would comment for this story.) On Zoom, Schon lists Journey’s switch from sheds to arenas as his top accomplishment as manager, and some in the concert business agree. “It’s a much bigger statement for a band to headline an arena than a single day at an amphitheater,” says New York promoter John Scher , who booked the band in the ’80s. “Could they be doing better with a different manager? They seem to be doing OK now.”

Schon’s other business priority is Journey trademarks. He says he was amazed to learn that since 1973, Journey hadn’t trademarked its name or logo, despite selling T-shirts for years at venues, as well as retailers from Walmart to Neiman Marcus. After the Schons realized this, in 2019, Neal and Cain registered 20 of the band’s song titles with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, for use on T-shirts, caps and hoodies. (Since Journey’s songs and the recordings are already protected by copyright, this would only cover the song titles for use on merchandise.)

“I’d introduce myself to the CEO and I’d say, ‘I’m Neal Schon, the founding member of Journey, and I now own the trademark for all Journey material. And you guys have kind of gotten yourself in a weird position here, because you’ve been selling tons of Journey merchandise for decades, and we’re seeing peanuts, and I’d like to have an electronic audit,’ ” Schon recalls. “Then a legal team would get on the phone with myself and my wife and they’d say, ‘Well, you know, we weren’t really selling it under the name Journey.’ And I’d go, ‘Well, that’s kind of laughable. I have boxes and cases of stuff in my living room and it’s just from your store and it all says Journey on it.’ ” (A Walmart spokesperson said the company was “not aware of any unlicensed Journey-branded products being sold by Walmart.” A Neiman Marcus spokesperson said he would “need to look into” Schon’s claims, then didn’t respond to follow-up inquiries.)

In fact, the Journey “mark” has been the subject of many years of negotiation among past and present band members. In 1985, the band’s company Nightmare Productions licensed it to a separate partnership, Elmo Partners — Perry, Schon and Cain — according to the complaint in Schon v. Valory .

Ex-Journey Frontman Steve Perry Files to Block Former Bandmates’ Song Title Trademarks

In a September filing to cancel the trademarks with the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office’s trial and appeal board, Perry declared that Schon and Cain sold the rights to the songs they co-wrote and once owned. As of 2019, according to Merck Mercuriadis , CEO and managing partner of U.K. song-investment firm Hipgnosis, his company owns all recording royalties and publishing that previously belonged to Schon, Cain, Valory, Smith and Herbie Herbert , an early longtime manager who died in 2021. Perry argued that Schon and Cain no longer retained the standing to trademark the songs. Plus, the trio’s 1985 Elmo agreement requires “unanimous agreement and consent” among Schon, Cain and Perry to use a trademarked song for T-shirts or other products.

In his filing to cancel the Schon-Cain song trademark action, which cost him $12,000 in fees, Perry accused the duo of making knowingly “false or misleading” statements. In January, Perry abruptly dropped the motion to cancel the trademarks. Schon used the occasion to rip his current bandmate — Cain — on Twitter: “So much for [Cain] trying to throw me under the bus as he claimed I was blatantly trying to rip off [Perry] while collecting the checks for the very diligent work my wife and I did to protect our Merch.”

While federal trademark registration can be important, Journey already had other ways to assert its rights to logos or song titles associated with the band that appear on merchandise. The band could have protected its holdings through “common-law rights,” says Michael N. Cohen , a Beverly Hills, Calif., an intellectual-property lawyer who specializes in trademarks and represents classic rock bands: “Just by virtue of using the mark, you’ve acquired some degree of rights, but those rights are limited.” In other words, Journey has always had the right to make merchandise deals — just by being Journey.

With Kobayashi gone, Schon seems to have taken over again as manager — with the help of Michaele, whom he recently praised on Instagram for serving as the band’s road manager in 2022, even though the band employed experienced road managers throughout the tour. (Kobayashi didn’t respond to requests for comment.)

By February, Journey may have also lost its bank, and with it the ability to easily pay employees and cover expenses on the road. (A representative from City National declined to comment.) As manager, though, Schon understands an important thing about Journey: If the band puts out a new album every now and then — like last year’s Freedom , which didn’t do nearly as well as its classic ’80s material — the arena dates will keep rolling in.

“Let’s be honest: There’s no new Journey fans,” says Brock Jones , a veteran Nashville and Philadelphia promoter and consultant. “It’s about playing the right markets, playing the right rooms, pricing the right tickets and making sure the package is correct.”

At the Choctaw Grand Theatre, before boisterous fans singing along to every “na-na,” Cain manned his red piano at stage right, while Schon soloed constantly at stage left. After the finale, “Any Way You Want It,” the six band members lined up and group-hugged and fist-bumped, happy to perform again after several months off for the holidays. But Cain and Schon stood at opposite ends of the line. They did not hug each other. They did not bump fists with each other. Finally, Schon bounded off-stage — by himself.

Additional reporting by Bill Donahue.

Journey’s 10 Best Songs

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