Journey‘s co-founding guitarist and leader, Neal Schon, will auction off 112 electric guitars via Heritage Auction on July 31st. Schon said in the auction’s announcement: “These are guitars I’ve been collecting for a very long time and it’s time to let go of some of my collection to make room for new arrivals.”
According to the press release, “At the heart of this auction is the 1977 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Black Solid Body that Schon used on 1981’s chart-topping Escape. The Paul heard on “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Stone in Love,” “Who’s Crying Now.” The one heard — and seen — during the Escape tour, whose November 1981 Houston stop was originally broadcast on MTV then turned into a best-selling DVD in 2005. All by itself, the band’s performance of “Don’t Stop Believin'” from that show has been viewed more than 122 million times on YouTube.
- UPDATED: Journey tour dates (subject to change):
July 29 – Chicago, IL – Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
July 31 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza
August 20 – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
August 21 – Wantagh, NY – The Tunnel to Towers Foundation Never Forget Concert at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
September 18 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile arena
SOURCE: Press release
FAST FACTS
- Journey‘s Escape was released on July 31st, 1981, peaked at Number One, and featured five hit singles — including “Open Arms” which topped out at Number Two, “Who’s Cryin’ Now” which hit Number Four, “Don’t Stop Believin'” which hit Number Nine, “Still They Ride” peaked at Number 19, and “Stone In Love” which hit Number 13 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart.
- In 2009 the studio recording of “Don’t Stop Believin'” broke records by becoming the only song to have been downloaded two million times and becoming the most downloaded song in iTunes history.
CHECK IT OUT: Journey on November 6th, 1981 performing “Don’t Stop Believin'” live in Houston: