Journey – Without Steve Perry – Take the Stage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Steve Perry didn't join Journey for tonight's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performance – but, just as Neal Schon promised, they roared forward without him.
Perry was there as the group accepted this big honor at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., but then left it to Schon to play with Journey's regular working lineup. That includes fellow inductees Jonathan Cain, Steve Smith and Ross Valory – along with current singer Arnel Pineda.
They began the evening with "Separate Ways," the first of two familiar '80s hits. Schon brought out early-era inductees Gregg Rolie and Aynsley Dunbar for "Lights" from 1978's Infinity, Perry's first album with the group. Schon dedicated the song to their former singer, then brought the regular lineup back to finish "Don't Stop Believin.'"
Perry hasn't sung with Journey since 1991, and hadn't mounted a tour since a series of dates in support of 1986's Raised on Radio. They worked together again briefly in 1996, but plans to tour behind the resulting Trial by Fire were called off when Perry was sidelined with hip issues.
Journey eventually moved forward with Pineda, after a few stints with other singers, while Perry hasn't released any new solo music since 1998. He memorably appeared on stage with the Eels, an indie-rock group – but that was back in 2014.
This year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will debut on HBO at 8PM ET on April 29.
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