Journey started as the Golden Gate Rhythm Section in 1973 with the intent to act as a backup band for artists performing in the California Bay Area. After a concert in Hawaii, they ditched the idea of being a backup band and renamed themselves “Journey.”

The founding members were all in earlier acts like Santana, Frumious Bandersnatch, and The Tubes and included:

• Lead guitarist Neal Schon
• Bassist Ross Valory
• Keyboardist and lead vocalist Gregg Rolie
• Drummer George Tickner
• Rhythm guitarist Prairie Prince

Steve Perry, the most famous vocalist of Journey, did not join the band until 1977.

Between 1973 and the present day, Journey has hosted a large number of lead singers. The first lead singer of Journey was Greg Rolie, initially of Santana. Steve Perry, the most famous lead singer, joined in 1977 and continued with the band until 1987. He’s returned as the lead singer several times since.

Other lead singers for Journey include Arnel Pineda, Robert Fleischman, Steve Augeri, and Jeff Scott Soto.

Steve Perry first left Journey in the late 1980s to pursue a solo career. However, he never reached commercial success as a solo artist and reunited with his band mates in 1996 to record the "Trial by Fire" album.

Soon after rejoining Journey, Perry discovered that he had a hip condition that needed surgery, but he wanted to pursue alternative treatments. This would have meant that Journey would have been unable to tour, so his band mates gave him an ultimatum: unless he sought surgery, he would have to leave so that another singer could step in and prevent any more tour delays. In 1998, Perry announced that he was permanently leaving Journey, but in 2020 it was revealed that he’s been paid as a member of the band for years even though he hasn’t performed with them in nearly 20 years.

"Journey" is a name coined by the band's roadie John Villanueva. Originally called the Golden Gate Rhythm Section, the band members decided to run a radio contest for their new name. Not loving any of the entries, Johnny suggested “Journey” as their name, and everyone loved it. The name otherwise has no real symbolic or metaphoric meaning or significance.

Journey is one of the greatest classic rock bands in history. Originally, Journey was known to be a progressive rock band but has since expanded into other sub-genres of rock such as:

1. Hard rock
2. Pop-rock
3. Soft rock
4. Heavy metal
5. Jazz fusion
6. Classic Rock
7. Progressive Rock (Prog-rock)

You have all the freedom to creatively dress up for a Journey concert. If you have any Journey t-shirts or other merch, you should definitely wear them to the show. Journey concerts can be hours long, so it's best if you wear comfortable shoes and avoid hoodies, jackets, or other items unless you know it’s going to be a cold or rainy outdoor show.

A Journey concert’s length depends on how many opening acts there are before Journey plays. However, the main act usually lasts between an hour and an hour and a half. Other factors like the venue and tour lineup may also affect the concert's length as well.

Although Journey is one of the most crtically acclaimed rock and roll bands of the last half century, selling millions of albums worldwide and earning dozens of accolades, the band has only been nominated for a Grammy once. In 1997, Journey's hit single "When You Love a Woman" was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, but it lost to "Free as a Bird" by The Beatles.

Nonetheless, Journey has received many other accolades including an induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005 and the prestigious "Legend of Live Award" at the Billboard Touring Awards in 2010.

Even though Journey first became eligible for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, the band was not inducted until 16 years later. Pat Monahan inducted Journey into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 saying in part that "[Journey] didn't even need lyrics. That's how badass this band is."

Other Class of 2017 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees included Joan Baez, Electric light Orchestra, Pearl Jam, Nile Rodgers, Tupac Shakur, and Yes.

Journey has had 2,160 concerts.

Journey is most often considered to be Rock, Hard Rock, Classic Rock, Progressive Rock, Soft Rock, Album Oriented Rock (AOR), Mellow Gold, and Arena Rock.

The next Journey concert is on June 04, 2024 at Helsinki Ice Arena in Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland.

The last Journey concert was on April 29, 2024 at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States. The bands that performed were: Journey / Toto.

The songs that Journey performs live vary, but here's the latest setlist that we have from the April 20, 2024 concert at Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center in Charleston, West Virginia, United States:

1. Only the Young
2. Guitar Solo
3. Stone in Love
4. Keep On Runnin'
5. Don't Stop Believin'
6. Lights
7. Send Her My Love
8. Who's Crying Now
9. Just the Same Way
10. Escape
11. Let It Rain
12. Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'
13. Piano Solo
14. Open Arms
15. Faithfully
16. Girl Can't Help It
17. Guitar Solo
18. Wheel in the Sky
19. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
20. Be Good to Yourself
21. Any Way You Want It