Original Journey keyboardist and lead vocalist Gregg Rouliewho played with the band from 1973 to 1980, joined his former cohort on stage Wednesday at their concert in Austin, Texas.
You can see the full list of sets below.
“We have an extra special set tonight,” the guitarist Neal Schon said to the crowd early in the night. “So when we walk off stage at the end of the show, don’t leave.”
Schon kept his word, welcoming Rolie onstage when Journey emerged for their encore. The guitarist credited his former bandmate for taking him under his wing and picking him up in high school when he was 15, “because I wasn’t going to school anyway.”
The band then ripped several cuts from the Rolie era: 1979’s “Just the Same Way” Evolution“Of a life” of 1975 Journey and 1978’s “Feeling That Way” and “Anytime” Infinity. Rolie and Schon also revisited their sharing santana roots by covering “Black Magic Woman” with the help of tourmate and toto guitarist Steve Lukather. They ended their set with the age-old hit “Any Way You Want It”.
“I just mean: fifty years?” Rolie wowed the crowd about her former bandmates. “Fifty years of a band that’s undergoing change, but it’s like a runaway freight train that keeps rolling without brakes.” He also thanked past and present members of Journey and, most importantly, the audience. “Without you guys, this place is empty,” he said.
Watch Gregg Rolie Sound Check with Journey
Schon teased Rolie’s appearance earlier this month when he tweeted that there would be a “special surprise” at the band’s concert in Austin. While some Twitter users hoped in vain for an appearance by the ex-leader Steve Perrymany have correctly predicted an appearance by Rolie, who lives near the capital.
Rolie co-founded Journey with Schon in 1973 and handled lead vocals on the band’s first three albums. He handed over vocal duties to Perry on Infinity and continued to play keyboards with them until 1980, appearing that year on the title track Appropriately Departure and soundtrack album Dream, After Dream. He then handed over his post to the former Babies keyboardist Jonathan Cain.
Journey is currently in the middle of their 50th Anniversary Tour, which went off without a hitch despite the ongoing litigation between Schon and Cain. Schon complaint lodged against Cain last November, claiming the keyboardist “unduly restricted” his access to financial records related to the group’s joint American Express card. Cain counter attack Schon in January, accusing the guitarist of racking up more than $1 million in personal expenses on the card.
As the band members publicly traded barbs and chases before their tour began, Schon also suggests during a composition change. He tweeted a photo of him and Rolie in November with the caption “2 original founding members. I think my brother Gregg Rolie should join us for the 2023 tour. What do you guys think? He’ll spice it up and we’ll have a great variety of songs to choose from. What would you like to hear for the 50th anniversary tour?”
The later guitarist changed tonebut, tell another twitter user that Rolie would join the group “not at this time. Gregg and I intend to shed light on the subject very soon.” When this quote started circulating, Schon responded by Tweeter“It’s going to all media from all your publications today that Gregg Rolie came out. WRONG – where would you get this information? Ex managers? Another publicity stunt.”
Journey’s 50th anniversary tour is currently scheduled through May. The band will revisit the Lone Star State in April to perform at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. Schon suggested on Twitter that Rolie would also make an appearance there.
Travel, 2/22/23, Moody Center, Austin
“Only young people”
Neal Schon guitar solo
“Loving Stone”
“Do not stop Believing”
“Lights”
“Send Him My Love”
“Escape”
“Who’s Crying Now”
“let it rain”
“Love, Touch, Squeeze”
Jonathan Cain solo piano
“Open Arms”
“Faithfully”
“The Girl Can’t Help It”
“Just the Same Way” (with Gregg Rolie)
“Of a Lifetime” (with Gregg Rolie)
“Feeling That Way” (with Gregg Rolie)
“Any Time” (with Gregg Rolie)
“Black Magic Woman” (with Gregg Rolie and Steve Lukather)
“As You Want It” (with Gregg Rolie)
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