Journey guitarist Neal Schon had serious doubts about bringing the band back together without singer Steve Perry.
"Everything we wrote was wrapped around Steve," Schon said during a telephone interview from Denver, Colo. "But we held an audition, and the second person we found was Steve Augeri."The San Francisco-based Journey -- featuring founding members Schon and bassist Ross Valory with keyboardist Jonathan Cain, new drummer Deen Castronovo and new vocalist Augeri -- will play Franklin Covey Field on Wednesday, Aug. 11. Showtime is 6 p.m. Foreigner will also perform.
"I had my doubts about getting Journey going again," Schon said. "But our 'Greatest Hits' collection has reached black diamond status (selling more than 10 million copies). And we had a short reunion with Steve Perry on 'Trail by Fire,' and it went platinum (selling 1 million copies). So we knew there was interest out there.
"But like I said before, everything was so centered around Steve Perry that I had my concerns."
Then Journey met Augeri, who came from a band called Tall Stories, said Schon. Ironically, that band was considered an East Coast Journey. "I can't believe it was so easy to find Steve. We've been playing for five months, doing five shows a week. And the feedback has been great. Even our die-hard Steve Perry fans have been e-mailing us about how good Steve Augeri is."
Schon was 16 in 1970 when he had to make a choice between playing with Eric Clapton in Derek & the Dominos and sharing guitar licks with Carlos Santana in his band. Schon chose Santana and found himself teamed with keyboardist/vocalist Gregg Rolie.
In 1973, Santana's road manager, Herbie Herbert, decided to form Journey around them. The group included Valory; drummer Prairie Prince, who was replaced by Aynsley Dunbar; and guitarist George Tickner. The band released its self-titled debut in 1975, months after Tickner's departure. Two follow-up albums, "Look Into the Future" and "Next," featured Rolie on vocals. Then in 1977, vocalist Robert Fleischman joined the band but was replaced by Perry.
Another album, "Infinity," featuring the singles "Lights" and "Wheel In the Sky," sold more than 3 million copies. And the band lineup wouldn't change again until the next multi-platinum release, "Evolution." That's when Steve Smith stepped in for Dunbar.
In 1980, Journey unleashed "Departure," the Japanese soundtrack "Dream After Dream," and a live album, "Captured," before another change.
Cain, formerly of the Babys, was hand-picked by the departing Rolie to join Journey. Superstardom came with the albums "Escape" and "Frontiers." When "Raised on Radio" came out, Smith and Valory left. Perry, Schon and Cain carried on, but tensions caused a breakup.
After gigs with Bad English and a couple of solo albums, Schon and Cain called Valory, who had been in the Storm with Rolie and Smith. Perry told Cain he was interested in regrouping with Journey. The result was the platinum-selling 1996 album, "Trial By Fire." Journey earned its first Grammy nomination for the single "When You Love a Woman."
"Steve needed hip replacement," Schon explained. "And we waited two years for him to do it, but he never did."
Cain and Schon decided to move on. In the meantime, Smith left and was replaced by Bad English drummer Castronovo.
"I feel rejuvenated," said Schon. "Steve Augeri is not Steve Perry, but he sings the Journey songs with conviction. And he's winning over our fans."
While the band is enjoying the newfound enthusiasm -- thanks to the song "Remember Me" on the "Armageddon" soundtrack -- there are legal matters on the back burner. Schon said he hadn't talked with Perry since 1997.
"I think the only contact Journey has had with Steve is through our legal counsel," Schon said. " I do believe he wished the worst for us. But if he would have had that surgery, it would be him singing those songs again."