DESCRIPTION:
In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Journey's very 1st performance, on New Years Eve 1973 at Winterland, San Francisco Ca. The band was founded by Manager Herbie Herbert, who built a band around the guitar sound of a then 19 year old Neal Schon, who began his career with Santana, after being offered the opportunity to play with either the legendary Eric Clapton in Derek and the Dominos or Carlos Santana and his self named band.

Chosen to surround Schon's still developing sound were Gregg Rolie (Santana), Keyboards and Vocals Ross Valory (Frumious Bandersnatch, Steve Miller Blues Band, Faun), Bass George Tickner (Frumious Bandersnatch, Faun) Rhythm Guitar and Prairie Prince (Tubes) on Drums.

By early 1974, Prairie Prince opted out of Journey to return to his band The Tubes and Aynsley Dunbar (Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, Frank Zappa, David Bowie) was brought into replace him. This lineup recorded Journey's self-titled debut, which featured the tracks 'Kohoutek', 'Topaz' and 'Of A Lifetime.'

Shortly following the release of "Journey", George Tickner left the band to pursue a Medical career and the band went on until 1977 as a 4 man unit. In those 2 years, Journey released 2 more albums, "Look Into The Future" and "Next", before Columbia Records issued an ultimatum for the band to move more to the mainstream and by the Summer of 1977 the band brought in frontman Robert Fleischman to write and record.for the band's upcoming "Infinity" record.

Throughout the Summer of 1977, Journey opened their shows with tracks from the first 3 records and Robert would come onstage to perform new tracks such as 'Diva' and 'Just Her Way' as well as 3 tracks that would end up on "Infinity", 'Anytime, 'Wheel In The Sky' and 'Winds Of March.'

By the end of 1977, Herbie Herbert had received a tape of a band called Alien Project, who's Lead Vocalist just happened to be a young Steve Perry. Blown away by Perry's vocals and wanting to replace Fleischman who refused to part ways with his current Manager, he arranged to have Perry come onstage during a break while Fleischman was backstage. Although Neal and Gregg were resistent, Herbie told the band that Perry would replace Fleischman and was going to be their new frontman, whether they liked it or not.

No infringement intended. Copyrights held by original artists and label.