Journey is bringing original singer Gregg Rolie back into the fold for a 2023 tour

Present and former Journey members Greg Rowley (left), Steve Perry, Neil Schon and Ross Valory attend the band’s induction into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 2017. Photograph: Kevin Mazur 2017

a visitauthentic vocalist and keyboardist, Greg Rowley She’s set to hitch the band when it kicks off subsequent month on its “Freedom Tour 2023” in North America, in accordance with guitarist Neil Schon — the primary time he is carried out with the diamond-selling Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in additional than 4 a long time.

The thought to deliver Rolie again into the fold started in November when Sean posted a photograph of himself with the keyboard participant on social media with the caption, “Two authentic founding members. I believe my brother Greg Rolie ought to be a part of us on the 2023 tour. What do you assume, buddy? Will you?” dazzles her and we’ll have an enormous number of songs to select from.”

in Fb share On Wednesday, January 4, Shawn confirmed that Rowley can be becoming a member of the tour. Responding to a fan’s remark asking in regards to the proposed reunion, he mentioned, “You may meet him.”

A former Santana member with Sean, Rolie was a part of Journey’s The unique lineup — which additionally featured guitarist Ross Valory and drummer Ainsley Dunbar — in 1972.

The Journey line-up, with Rolie on vocals, would document three best-selling albums. Confronted with the lack of their document label, the group was satisfied in 1978 to recruit vocalist Steve Perry. Subsequent albums by the band yielded the hits “Do not Cease Believin'”, “Lights”, and “Faithfully”.

Set to hit 38 cities throughout North America, Freedom Tour 2023 kicks off February 4 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, with scheduled stops in Austin, Memphis, Washington, D.C., and extra earlier than wrapping up on April 25 in Palm Springs. The closest Bay Space date might be at Stockton Area on April nineteenth.

Journey’s present touring line-up contains Sean, keyboardists Jonathan Cain and Jason Derlatka, vocalist Arnel Pineda, drummer Dean Castronovo, and guitarist Todd Jensen.

1978 Flight: Ainsley Dunbar (left), Ross Valory, Steve Perry, Neil Shawn and Greg Rowley. Photograph: Michael Butland/Getty Photographs 1978

Sean didn’t say if Rolie will return as a full-time member of Journey or make a cameo. Cain, who changed him because the group’s keyboard participant in 1980, continues to be a member of the band and might be on the tour as nicely.

However Cain and Schon are at present entangled in a lawsuit over the band’s funds, and final month, Schon despatched the keyboardist a stop and desist letter after he carried out “Do not Cease Believin'” at a Donald Trump occasion in March. -a-Lago in November. Paula White, Cain’s spouse, served as a religious advisor to the previous president.

“Though Mr. Kane is free to precise his private beliefs and associations, when he does so on behalf of Journey or for the advantage of the band, such conduct is extraordinarily detrimental to the Journey model as a result of it polarizes the band’s followers and outreach,” Sean’s letter learn. The journey will not be and shouldn’t be political.

“Mr. Cain has no proper to make use of Journey for politics,” he added. “His politics must be his personal private affair. He mustn’t exploit Journey’s model to advertise his private political or non secular agenda on the expense of the band.”

Rolie lately toured with Ringo Starr’s All-Star Band.




  • Eidin Vaziri

    Aydin Vaziri is a pop music critic for the San Francisco Chronicle. E mail: avaziri@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MusicSF

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