JOURNEY Welcomes Back Drummer STEVE SMITH, Announces Tour With THE DOOBIE BROTHERS

JOURNEY and THE DOOBIE BROTHERS will launch the San Francisco Fest 2016 tour on Thursday, May 12, again bringing together two of the iconic groups that helped define the San Francisco sound. The tour launches at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre in Irvine, California — with concerts scheduled through August 30, and includes special guest Dave Mason. A limited number of VIP packages will be available and include premium tickets, pre-show party, exclusive merchandise and more.

Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Saturday, December 5. A fan pre-sale will be offered starting Monday, November 30.

Neal Schon (founding member and lead guitarist), original member Ross Valory (bass), and longtime members Jonathan Cain (keyboardist) and Arnel Pineda (lead singer), are welcoming virtuoso drummer Steve Smith back into JOURNEY, marking the first time he will perform with the band since 1998. Schon and Smith have always remained close friends and musical collaborators. Smith has lent his incredible talent to several of Schon’s solo albums, including critically acclaimed “The Calling”, and, most recently, “Vortex”.

Schon was thrilled when Smith accepted his invitation to rejoin JOURNEY, exclaiming: “I’m so looking forward to the very exciting 2016 we have planned, starting with my ‘Neal Vortex Schon’ Japan tour in February and then our major summer tour with THE DOOBIE BROTHERS and Dave Mason. We will see you all soon!!!!”

THE DOOBIE BROTHERS‘ Tom Johnston (founding member, vocals/guitar), Patrick Simmons (founding member, vocals/guitar), and longtime member John McFee (guitars/strings/vocals) are adding LITTLE FEAT co-founder Bill Payne to their band on the 2016 tour. Payne performed on many of THE DOOBIE BROTHERS studio albums as well as on the road; a relationship the band is looking forward to rekindling.

“It’s gonna be a great summer for fans of Bay Area music, and for guys like us who have the pleasure of teaming up with our good friends from JOURNEY and the Dave Mason band,” said Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons of THE DOOBIE BROTHERS. “We look forward to taking the stage with JOURNEY. We love their songs, and think we will all complement each other musically. It is going to be a powerful tour. We can’t wait to share it with the fans!”

Tour dates:

May 12 – Irvine, CA – Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
May 14 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
May 15 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
May 18 – Austin, TX – Austin360 Amphitheater
May 20 – Dallas, TX – Gexa Energy Pavilion
May 21 – Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
May 23 – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena
May 25 – Memphis, TN – FedEx Forum
May 27 – Indianapolis, IN – Indianapolis Motor Speedway
May 28 – Kansas City, KS – Sprint Center
May 31 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
Jun. 02 – Birmingham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
Jun. 04 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Jun. 05 – Raleigh, NC – Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
Jun. 08 – Atlanta, GA – Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
Jun. 10 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amp.
Jun. 11 – W. Palm Beach, FL – Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre
Jun. 22 – Bangor, ME – Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion
Jun. 24 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Jun. 25 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Banks Art Center
Jun. 27 – Wantagh, NY – Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
Jun. 29 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Jul. 01 – Virginia Beach, VA – Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
Jul. 02 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Jul. 05 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Jul. 07 – Toronto, ON – Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Jul. 09 – Darien, NY – Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Jul. 10 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Jul. 13 – Syracuse, NY – Lakeview Amphitheater
Jul. 15 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion
Jul. 16 – Burgettstown, PA – First Niagara Pavilion
Jul. 27 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
Jul. 29 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Jul. 30 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Aug. 02 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
Aug. 04 – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
Aug. 06 – Omaha, NE – CenturyLink Center
Aug. 07 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena
Aug. 09 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
Aug. 11 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
Aug. 13 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Aug. 16 – Oklahoma City, OK – Chesapeake Energy Arena
Aug. 17 – Little Rock, AR – Verizon Arena
Aug. 20 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center
Aug. 21 – West Valley City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
Aug. 23 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
Aug. 25 – Ridgefield, WA – Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
Aug. 27 – Las Vegas, NV – Mandalay Bay Events Center
Aug. 28 – Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center
Aug. 30 – Chula Vista, CA – Sleep Train Amphitheatre