Infinity Tour
{{Short description|1978 concert tour by Journey}}
{{Infobox concert
| concert_tour_name = Infinity Tour
| image =
| image_caption =
| artist = Journey
| location = {{hlist|Europe|North America}}
| type =
| album = Infinity
| start_date = January 20, 1978
| end_date = December 31, 1978
| number_of_legs = 3
| number_of_shows = 127
| last_tour = Next Tour
(1977)
| this_tour = Infinity Tour
(1978)
| next_tour = Evolution Tour
(1979)
}}
The Infinity Tour was a concert tour by the American rock band Journey. The tour was in support of their 1978 album Infinity which peaked at #21 on the Billboard 200.{{sfn|Daniels|2011|p=31}}
Background
Sales for the album and the band's stature began to grow upon the beginning of the tour on January 20, 1978. Throughout March and April, the band would tour with both hard rock bands Van Halen and Montrose. Steve Perry remembered: "Van Halen was the opening act for the tour, they were a brand new band back then. We were doing 3,000-seat auditoriums and they were killing us every night. It was eye-opening. We were keeping up with them, but they were certainly making us be a better band. They were so musically simple."{{cite web |last1=Oliver |first1=Derek |title=Start believin': The story of Journey's Infinity album |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/start-believin-the-story-of-journeys-infinity-album |website=Louder Sound |publisher=Classic Rock Magazine |access-date=March 16, 2021 |language=en |date=August 24, 2018}} Tom Broderick, a sound mixer for Van Halen recalled that the members of Journey were off-put by Van Halen's meteoric performances on tour with them and began to undermine them by sabotaging the PA.{{cite book |last1=Renoff |first1=Gregory J. |title=Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal |date=2015 |publisher=ECW Press |location=Toronto |isbn=978-1-77041-263-7 |page=318}}
The members of Journey would eventually end up meeting Montrose's drummer, Steve Smith, which released reports that there was tensions between Aynsley Dunbar and the band due to the change in music direction from the jazz fusion sound. Aynsley was also noted to have started playing erratically and talking derogatorily about the other members of Journey according to the band's manager Herbie Herbert.{{sfn|Daniels|2011|pp=33–35}} Reflecting on the tensions between Dunbar and the band, Neal Schon commented: "We would talk about it, and he'd say he'd be willing to simplify things. But we'd get out there, and after five shows he wasn't doing that at all."{{sfn|Daniels|2011|pp=33–35}}
The band would fly over to Europe to perform at the Pinkpop Festival in Holland. Critics who had watched the performance criticized the unfamiliar stage equipment, and called the performance 'shallow', commenting that Steve Perry's vocals were barely audible, and Aynsley's drum solo was 'clumsy' and 'boring'.{{sfn|Daniels|2011|pp=33–35}} Following the show in the Netherlands, the band embarked on a three-month tour, where they performed as headliners for the first time.{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Mary |title=Journey Takes Off With Vocalist |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eVVBAAAAIBAJ&dq=journey+tour&pg=PA5&article_id=5262,993604 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |publisher=Harlan Daily Enterprise |date=May 24, 1978 |location=Harlan, Kentucky |language=en}} As part of an artist development program by Columbia Records, the band would later perform a free concert to 33,000 fans at the performing arts center in Saratoga Springs on June 9.{{cite magazine |last1=Kozak |first1=Roman |title=33,000 at Saratoga: Free Rock Gigs in Columbia's Program |magazine=Billboard |date=July 1, 1978 |volume=90 |issue=26 |pages=52; 54 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9CQEAAAAMBAJ&q=33%2C000+at+Saratoga%3A+Free+Rock+Gigs+In+Columbia%27s+Program&pg=PT47 |access-date=March 17, 2021 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en |issn=0006-2510}}
The tour ended on September 2, 1978, which was the last time Aynsley Dunbar performed with the band. Montrose's drummer, Steve Smith, joined the band following Dunbar's departure. His first performance with Journey was in November at Super Jam II.{{sfn|Daniels|2011|pp=33–35}} The band later finished the year with a hometown gig on New Year's Eve with Blondie and Stoneground as supporting acts. It is one of their most successful tours to date, with notable performances like the show in Chicago with The Rolling Stones, the 1978 World Series of Rock Festival with Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Foreigner, and the show in California with Ted Nugent and AC/DC.{{sfn|Daniels|2011|p=37}}
Reception
Reviewing the January 27–29 performances at the Old Waldorf, Jack McDonough noted the band as one of the most exciting English-influenced bands in San Francisco which was becoming extremely popular. He praised the band's sound as melodic, with an "enveloping rainbow feel", sounding almost a lot like both Queen and The Beatles, with a variety of songs from the album Infinity and the albums before. He took notice on the audience, which each show drawing out 3,600 fans.{{cite magazine |last1=McDonough |first1=Jack |title=Talent in Action: Journey, Sandy Welch |magazine=Billboard |date=February 11, 1978 |volume=90 |issue=6 |pages=36–37 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6yMEAAAAMBAJ&dq=journey+concert+talent+in+action&pg=PT35 |access-date=December 13, 2022 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en |issn=0006-2510}}
Tour dates
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of 1978 concerts ! scope="col" style="width:12em;"|Date{{Cite web|url=http://www.journey-tribute.com/journey/resources/tour_info_past.html|title=Journey's Past Tour Information|website=www.journey-tribute.com|access-date=2020-08-30|archive-date=2018-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708192244/http://www.journey-tribute.com/journey/resources/tour_info_past.html|url-status=dead}} ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"|City ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"|Country ! scope="col" style="width:16em;"|Venue |
| January 20, 1978
|Chicago |rowspan="23"|United States |Riviera Theatre |
| January 27, 1978
|rowspan="3"|San Francisco |rowspan="3"|The Old Waldorf |
| January 28, 1978 |
| January 29, 1978 |
| February 10, 1978
|Davis |Freeborn Hall |
| February 12, 1978
|Concord |Concord Pavilion |
| February 17, 1978
|Arcata |
| February 18, 1978
|Salinas |Sherwood Hall |
| February 19, 1978
|Fresno |Selland Arena |
| February 21, 1978
|Stockton |Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium |
| February 24, 1978
|Santa Barbara |Arlington Theatre |
| February 25, 1978
|Los Angeles |Burt Sugarmans' Midnight Special |
| February 26, 1978
|Fresno |Selland Arena |
| March 1, 1978
|Racine |Racine Memorial Hall |
| March 2, 1978
|Davenport |RKO Orpheum Theatre |
| March 3, 1978 |
| March 4, 1978 |
| March 7, 1978
|Shuffle Inn |
| March 9, 1978 |
| March 10, 1978 |
| March 11, 1978 |
| March 12, 1978
|Leona Theater |
| March 14, 1978
|Canada |
| March 15, 1978
| rowspan="49" |United States |
| March 16, 1978
|Columbus Veterans Memorial Auditorium |
| March 17, 1978 |
| March 18, 1978 |
| March 19, 1978 |
| March 20, 1978
|B'Ginnings |
| | |
| March 22, 1978 |
| March 23, 1978 |
| March 24, 1978 |
| March 25, 1978 |
| March 26, 1978 |
| March 27, 1978 |
| March 29, 1978 |
| March 30, 1978
|St. Paul Civic Center Theater |
| March 31, 1978 |
| April 1, 1978 |
| April 2, 1978 |
| April 3, 1978
|Pogo's |
| April 4, 1978 |
| April 5, 1978 |
| April 6, 1978 |
| April 7, 1978 |
| April 8, 1978 |
| April 9, 1978 |
| April 11, 1978 |
| April 12, 1978 |
| April 13, 1978 |
| April 14, 1978 |
| April 15, 1978 |
| April 16, 1978 |
| April 18, 1978 |
| April 20, 1978 |
| April 21, 1978 |
| April 22, 1978 |
| April 23, 1978 |
| April 25, 1978
|rowspan="2"|Virginia Beach |rowspan="2"|Rogues' Gallery |
| April 26, 1978 |
| April 27, 1978 |
| April 28, 1978
|New York City |Palladium |
| April 29, 1978
|Johnson City |Freedom Hall Civic Center |
| April 30, 1978
|Huntington |Huntington Civic Center |
| May 1, 1978{{cite news |title=Music: Next Week |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qAtPAAAAIBAJ&q=journey+concert&pg=PA22 |access-date=January 31, 2021 |publisher=Toledo Blade |date=April 28, 1978 |page=P-3 |language=en |quote=Journey: In concert with guest star Ronnie Montrose, Toledo Sports Arena, Monday at 8.}}
|Toledo |Toledo Sports Arena |
| May 3, 1978
|Cleveland |Cleveland Music Hall |
| May 5, 1978
|Rochester |Rochester Community War Memorial |
| May 6, 1978
|Boston |Orpheum Theatre |
| May 10, 1978
|Salt Lake City |Salt Palace |
| May 11, 1978
|Casper |J Flag Indoor Arena |
| May 13, 1978
|Boulder |Folsom Field |
| May 15, 1978
|Geleen |Netherlands |Burgemeester Damen Sportpark |
| May 18, 1978
|Tucson |rowspan="15"|United States |Tucson Convention Center |
| May 20, 1978
|Long Beach |Long Beach Arena |
| May 23, 1978
|Seattle |Seattle Center Arena |
| May 24, 1978
|Portland |Paramount Theatre |
| May 25, 1978
|Spokane |Spokane Coliseum |
| May 27, 1978
|Medford |Medford Armory |
| May 29, 1978
|Concord |Concord Pavilion |
| May 30, 1978
|San Diego |California Theatre |
| June 9, 1978
|Saratoga Springs |Saratoga Performing Arts Center |
| June 10, 1978
|Passaic |Capitol Theatre |
| June 14, 1978
|Upper Darby |Tower Theatre |
| June 15, 1978
|Pittsburgh |Civic Arena |
| June 16, 1978
|Saginaw |Wendler Arena |
| June 17, 1978
|Lansing |Lansing Civic Center |
| June 18, 1978
|Cincinnati |Riverfront Coliseum |
| June 24, 1978
|Toronto |Canada |Maple Leaf Gardens |
| June 30, 1978
|Milwaukee |rowspan="33"|United States |Milwaukee County Stadium |
| July 1, 1978
|Dallas |Cotton Bowl |
| July 2, 1978
|Houston |The Summit |
| July 4, 1978
|Orchard Park |Rich Stadium |
| July 5, 1978
|Milwaukee |Henry W. Maier Festival Park |
| July 8, 1978
|rowspan="2"|Chicago |Soldier Field |
| July 9, 1978
|Aragon Ballroom |
| July 11, 1978
|Clinton |Riverview Park |
| July 12, 1978
|Detroit |Cobo Arena |
| July 13, 1978
|Nashville |Municipal Auditorium |
| July 15, 1978
|Cleveland |Cleveland Stadium |
| July 16, 1978
|Davenport |Credit Island Park |
| July 17, 1978
|La Crosse |Mary E. Sawyer Auditorium |
| July 18, 1978
|Seymour |Outagamie County Fairgrounds |
| July 20, 1978
|Tulsa |Tulsa Assembly Center |
| July 21, 1978
|Jackson |Civic Center |
| July 23, 1978
|Louisville |Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center |
| July 25, 1978
|Jackson |Mississippi Coliseum |
| July 27, 1978
|Springfield |Springfield Civic Center |
| July 28, 1978
|New Haven |New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| July 29, 1978
|Binghamton |Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena |
| July 30, 1978
|Portland |Cumberland County Civic Center |
| August 3, 1978
|Indianapolis |Market Square Arena |
| August 5, 1978
|Tiffin |St. John's Hollow |
| August 6, 1978
|East Rutherford |Giants Stadium |
| August 8, 1978
|Chicago |Navy Pier |
| August 9, 1978
|St. Louis |Kiel Auditorium |
| August 12, 1978
|Honolulu |Neal S. Blaisdell Arena |
| August 18, 1978
|Sacramento |California Exposition & State Fair |
| August 26, 1978
|Anaheim |Anaheim Stadium |
| September 2, 1978
|Oakland |Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum{{ref|1|1}} |
| November 22, 1978
|San Francisco |Winterland Arena{{ref|2|2}} |
| December 31, 1978
|Oakland |Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum |
Information
- {{note|1|Note 1}} Aynsley Dunbar's final performance with Journey.
- {{note|2|Note 2}} Steve Smith's debut performance as Journey's drummer.
= Box office score data =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of box office score data with date, city, venue, attendance, gross, references ! scope="col" style="width:9em;"|Date ! scope="col" style="width:13em;"|City ! scope="col" style="width:19em;"|Venue ! scope="col" style="width:9em;"|Attendance ! scope="col" style="width:7em;"|Gross ! scope="col" style="width:5em;" class="unsortable" |{{Abbr|Ref(s)|References}} |
| February 21
|Stockton, United States |Civic Auditorium |3,669 |$25,109 |
| July 13
|Nashville, United States |Municipal Auditorium |9,900 |$70,364 |
| July 15
|Cleveland, United States |Cleveland Stadium |60,505 |$672,964 |
| July 25
|Jackson, United States |Coliseum |10,116 |$62,213 |
| July 27
|Springfield, United States |Civic Center |9,789 |$67,836 |
| July 28
|New Haven, United States |Coliseum |10,590 |$76,580 |
| July 30
|Portland, United States |Cumberland County Civic Center |9,100 |$67,950 |
| August 9
|St. Louis, United States |Kiel Auditorium |8,050 |$59,607 |
| December 31
|Oakland, United States |Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum |12,988 |$136,887 |
Personnel
- Steve Perry – lead vocals
- Neal Schon – guitars, backing vocals
- Ross Valory – bass, backing vocals
- Gregg Rolie – keyboards, lead and backing vocals
- Aynsley Dunbar – drums, percussion
- Steve Smith – drums, percussion
References
{{reflist}}
=Sources=
- {{Cite book
| last = Daniels
| first = Neil
| title = The Untold Story of Journey
| location = London
| publisher = Omnibus Press
| year = 2011
| isbn= 978-1-84938-657-9}}
{{Journey (band)}}