Oct. 19, 1986: Escape from the music of Journey was impossible in the 1980s. Steve Perry’s soaring tenor was like the Rubik’s Cube — it was everywhere. Journey songs like “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Faithfully” gave the decade a sometimes heavy and often sappy musical backdrop. Never was a band more perfectly matched to an era.
Pittsburgh Press photographer Carol Morton shot this picture of Perry and guitarist Neal Schon during the first of two Journey shows at the Civic Arena in 1986. Playing bass for the band on this tour was Randy Jackson — yes, the same Randy Jackson who’s now an American Idol judge. The ’80s remain with us.
Journey continues to record and perform — minus Perry. New lead singer Arnel Pineda was hired after Schon saw YouTube videos of him singing Journey covers for a band in the Philippines. And the music endures. “Don’t Stop Believin’” was heard in the final episode of the HBO series “The Sopranos” and performed by “Alvin and the Chipmunks” on the 2008 album, “Undeniable.”
