For all rock bands that aspire to become huger than huge, thereby creating the mystique of being guided by some sinister empire plotting every diabolical move, very few actually manage to pull it off.
Back in the early-to-mid '80s, though, Journey was one such band.
By 1983, not only were their albums and singles high atop the US charts, their likeness were emblazoned upon everything from t-shirts, hats and bumper stickers to video games. At one point, they sold more concert tickets albums, and merchandise than any other band on the planet. With the success being gradual, this enabled them to build a huge organization to grease the squeaky wheels and keep the money coming in. It wasn't just an organization, though. To band manager Herbie Herbert, it was a family full of devoted longtime employees, of which more than a few had been working with the band's manager, Herbie Herbert, from as far back as his days schlepping equipment for Santana.
At one point, the band's organization was so large that it occupied a huge building in Northern California that is now a foreign embassy. The band was making more money than they could count. Escape had been a monster of an album that placed the band atop the rock & roll mountain. They were kings of the hill, but not at all ready to rest on their laurels.
With the release of their next album, Frontiers, the band and their management wanted to raise the stakes. This album would be better than any previous Journey album. Therefore, this tour would have to be bigger and better than any previous Journey tour. To document the tour, the band formed a partnership with none other than NFL Films. Best known for creating the gripping and superbly narrated (by John Facenda) NFL highlights features, NFL Films' veteran camera crew would follow Journey across the country, filming the tour from start to finish, culminating with a huge, sold out show in front of 80,000 fans at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia.
The intent, of course, was to capture the bigger-then-life quality of Journey, but to also put faces with the music. Fans recognized Steve Perry, of course, but the documentary would hopefully shed a little spotlight on low-key guys like Steve Smith and Ross Vallory.
For NFL Films, capturing the action taking place within a packed stadium was nothing new and, truth be told, I suspect that Journey proved no different than most championship teams. They were a well-oiled machine firing on all cylinders, taking no prisoners, and leaving it all on the field, so to speak.
Whether you're a fan of the band or not, the resulting documentary, Journey: Frontiers And Beyond, is a riveting, highly-watchable look at one of rock's biggest bands. This wasn't just five guys playing rock music; this was an army of eighteen-wheelers and busses loaded to the rafters with soldiers eager to do battle. Each with their own responsibilities, none any more or less important than the rest and all playing a key part in putting on one of the hugest rock & roll shows of all time.
Sadly, this documentary has not seen a proper re-release in the digital age and is something very few seem to remember at all. Thanks to YouTube, though, we at He's A Whore are proud to present "Frontiers And Beyond" in its entirety. Do yourself a favor and check it out. You'll thank me later.
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