How JOURNEY Classic "Don't Stop Believin'" Became The Biggest Selling Digital Rock Song In History; PROFESSOR OF ROCK Investigates (Video)
October 24, 2022, 2 years ago
Professor Of Rock has released the video below, along with the following message:
"This legendary rock band knew that this song would be really big, so it was perplexing when it finished in third place out of the four singles released from their 1981 blockbuster album, Escape. I’m talking about 'Don't Stop Believin'' by Journey. It was a strange song in that Steve Perry’s immaculately sung chorus doesn’t show up until the last 30 seconds of the song. and Neal Schon has a blazing solo in the first 30 seconds, but its promise would grow over the decades after it was released. When Glee wanted to cover it in their landmark episode, Neal Schon said in our interview he was pretty nervous that it would ruin the song and turn it into Mary Poppins, taking all of the heaviness out of it. Instead, it helped turn it into the biggest selling digital rock single ever. In a star-studded episode including Carlos Santana, Toto, Sammy Hagar and Panic! At The Disco, we get the story from the principal band members of Journey including co-writers Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain, and current lead singer Arnel Pineda."
Journey is continuing their 50th anniversary celebration and has unveiled their 2023 tour dates. The spring leg of the tour kicks off on February 4 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, with stops in Washington, DC, Fresno, CA and more before wrapping in Palm Springs on April 25. Toto will be joining Journey for the newly announced tour dates.
“We are all thankful and overwhelmed by the success of our Journey Freedom Tour 202 this year and have added a new run of dates for 2023,” Journey founder Neal Schoon said in a statement. “We are looking forward to hitting the road again with our very good friends Toto! Come join us for a special evening full of fun and Rockin’ good memories.”
Along with the newly-announced tour dates, several shows that previously needed to be rescheduled, including Washington, DC, Hartford, CO, Toronto and Quebec, have also been announced.
“Excited to perform for our fans as we tour next year with Toto,” Jonathan Cain said in a statement. “The combined hits of both bands represent a couple of decades of excellence that have become a soundtrack for people’s lives. The music of Journey along with the music of Toto is an example of ‘certain music’ during ‘uncertain times.'”
Journey has been celebrating their 50th anniversary all year, the band releasing their newest album, Freedom, earlier this year. Highlights from their ongoing run include selling out Canadaigua, New York’s Constellation Brands on Aug. 8, grossing $753,988, according to reports submitted to Pollstar’s Boxoffice. The band also raked in $906,895 for their two shows at The Theatre at Resorts World Las Vegas on July 22 and 23 and $847,096 at the same venue on July 15 and 16.
“On behalf of myself and the band, we are very honored and excited to do this tour with our old and dear friends Journey,” Toto’s Steve Lukather said in a statement. “Gonna be a great night of music, and as all the guys are lifelong friends… a blast off stage as well.”
Tickets for next year’s shows go on sale starting October 21 at 10 AM, local
Freedom Tour 2023 dates:
February
4 - PPL Center - Allentown, PA
5 - John Paul Jones Arena - Charlottesville, VA
8 - Enmarket Arena - Savannah, GA
10 - Colonial Life Arena - Columbia, SC
11 - Greensboro Coliseum - Greensboro, NC
14 - Rupp Arena Lexington, KY
17 - Thompson-Boling Arena - Knoxville, TN
19 - Brookshire Grocery Arena - Bossier City, LA
22 - Moody Center - Austin, TX
23 - Cajundome - Lafayette, LA
26 - Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena Jacksonville, FL
March
1 - Capital One Arena - Washington, DC
3 - Bryce Jordan Center - State College, PA
4 - XL Center - Hartford, CT
8 - Bell Centre - Montreal, QC
9 - Videotron Centre - Quebec, QC
12 - Scotiabank Arena - Toronto, ON
13 - Canadian Tire Centre - Ottawa, ON
16 - KeyBank KCenter - Buffalo, NY
17 - Boardwalk Hall - Atlantic City, NJ
20 - State Farm Center - Champaign, IL
21 - Vibrant Arena at The MARK - Moline, IL
24 - Denny Sanford PREMIER Center - Sioux Falls, SD
25 - Pinnacle Bank Arena - Lincoln, NE
28 - Wells Fargo Arena - Des Moines, IA
31 - BOK Center - Tulsa, OK
April
1 - FedExForum - Memphis, TN
4 - AT&T Center - San Antonio, TX
7 - Great Southern Bank Arena - Springfield, MO
8 - INTRUST Bank Arena - Wichita, KS
11 - Ford Wyoming Center - Casper, WY
13 - ExtraMile Arena - Boise, ID
14 - Spokane Arena - Spokane, WA
17 - Matthew Kight Arena - Eugene, OR
19 - Stockton Arena - Stockton, CA
22 - Mechanics Bank Arena - Bakersfield, CA
23 - SaveMart Center - Fresno, CA
25 - Acrisure Arena - Palm Springs, CA
Journey's new studio album, Freedom, is available via BMG. Order the album here, and watch the new clip below.
Freedom tracklisting:
"Together We Run"
"Don’t Give Up On Us"
"Still Believe In Love"
"You Got The Best Of Me"
"Live To Love Again"
"The Way We Used To Be"
"Come Away With Me"
"After Glow"
"Let It Rain"
"Holdin On"
"All Day and All Night"
"Don’t Go"
"United We Stand"
"Life Rolls On"
"Beautiful As You Are"
"Beautiful As You Are" lyric video:
"United We Stand" visualizer:
"Don’t Give Up On Us" visualizer:
"You Got The Best Of Me" video:
"Let It Rain" visualizer:
"The Way We Used To Be" video: