Journey (band)

===1973–1977: Formation, ''Journey'', ''Look into the Future'' and ''Next''===
[[File:Neal Schon.jpg|thumb|left|Neal Schon, the remaining original member of Journey in 2008.]]
The original members of Journey came together in San Francisco in 1973 under the auspices of former Santana manager [[Walter Herbert (manager)|Herbie Herbert]]. Originally called the Golden Gate Rhythm Section and intended to serve as a [[Backup band|backup group]] for established [[Bay Area]] artists, the band included Santana alumni [[Neal Schon]] on lead guitar and [[Gregg Rolie]] on keyboards and lead vocals. Bassist [[Ross Valory]] and rhythm guitarist [[George Tickner]], both of [[Frumious Bandersnatch]], rounded out the group. [[Prairie Prince]] of [[The Tubes]] served as drummer. After one performance in Hawaii, the band quickly abandoned the "backup group" concept and developed a distinctive [[jazz fusion]] style. After an unsuccessful radio contest to name the group, [[roadie]] John Villanueva<ref name="Journey 1983">''Journey: Frontiers and Beyond'' video, NFL Films, 1983.</ref> suggested the name "Journey".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.journey-tribute.com/journey/resources/faq/faq-s2.html |title=Journey FAQ at Steve Lake's Journey Tribute Page |publisher=Journey-tribute.com |access-date=September 10, 2010 |archive-date=September 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923074215/http://www.journey-tribute.com/journey/resources/faq/faq-s2.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfn|Daniels|2011|pp=10–11}}

The band's first public appearance came at the [[Winterland Ballroom]] on [[New Year's Eve]] 1973 to an audience of 10,000. On the following day, the band flew to Hawaii to perform at the Diamond Head Crater to an audience over 100,000 strong. Prairie Prince rejoined The Tubes shortly thereafter; on February 1, 1974, after auditioning up to 28 drummers, the band hired British drummer [[Aynsley Dunbar]], who had recently worked with [[David Bowie]] and had been a member of the second iteration of [[Frank Zappa]]'s [[Mothers of Invention]]. The new line-up made its debut on February 5, 1974, at the [[Great American Music Hall]] in front of [[Columbia Records]] executives, and secured a [[recording contract]] with the label. The band went on to perform at venues around the Bay Area.{{sfn|Daniels|2011|pp=11–13}}

Journey went into CBS Studios in November 1974 with producer Roy Halee to record its debut album, ''[[Journey (Journey album)|Journey]]''. The album was released in April 1975, entering the ''Billboard'' charts at number 138. Rhythm guitarist Tickner left the band (and the music business to study medicine) due to the amount of heavy touring the band was doing in promoting the album, allowing Schon to take on full guitar duties. The band entered the studio again in late 1975 to record ''[[Look into the Future]]'', which was released in January 1976 and entered the ''Billboard'' Top 200 charts at number 100. The band promoted the album with a two-hour performance at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, which later aired on the radio as touring continued to promote the album.{{sfn|Daniels|2011|pp=13–15}}

From May to October 1976, the band went to His Master's Wheels Studios to record its third studio album, ''[[Next (Journey album)|Next]]'', which—like its predecessor—was produced by the band. This album had a much more commercial sound, while keeping the band's jazz fusion and progressive rock roots intact.{{sfn|Daniels|2011|p=17}} The album was released in February and charted on the ''Billboard'' Top 200 at number 85.{{sfn|Daniels|2011|p=19}} However, sales did not improve, and Columbia Records was on the verge of dropping the band.{{sfn|Daniels|2011|pp=22–23}}