The group started out as more of a prog-rock band with the vocals downplayed. For their first three albums, Gregg Rolie was their singer as well as their keyboard player. Their label, Columbia wasn't happy with their poor sales numbers, and pushed the group to get tighter and more radio-friendly. Adding Steve Perry did the trick; he joined for their fourth album, Infinity, and set them on a course for stardom. Rolie left in 1981.
They broke up in 1987 and re-formed in 1996 for the album Trial By Fire. Perry developed a degenerative hip condition which prevented the band from touring for the album, but against his wishes, the band went on without him, touring with Augeri instead.
A wildly popular band, Journey was often dismissed by critics as disposable pop. Grammy voters clearly disdained them, giving them only one nomination (Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "When You Love A Woman" in 1997 - they lost to "Free As A Bird" by The Beatles). They were eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, but weren't let in until 2017, when it was abundantly clear that people were still listening to Journey and would be for quite some time.
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