Infinity Tour Explained

Concert Tour Name:Infinity Tour
Artist:Journey
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.

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."[1] 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.[2]

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. 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."

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'. Following the show in the Netherlands, the band embarked on a three-month tour, where they performed as headliners for the first time.[3] 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.[4]

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. 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.

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.[5]

Tour dates

Date[6] ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"
CityCountryVenue
North America
January 20, 1978ChicagoUnited StatesRiviera Theatre
January 27, 1978San FranciscoThe Old Waldorf
January 28, 1978
January 29, 1978
February 10, 1978DavisFreeborn Hall
February 12, 1978ConcordConcord Pavilion
February 17, 1978ArcataEast Gym
February 18, 1978SalinasSherwood Hall
February 19, 1978FresnoSelland Arena
February 21, 1978StocktonStockton Memorial Civic Auditorium
February 24, 1978Santa BarbaraArlington Theatre
February 25, 1978Los AngelesBurt Sugarmans’ Midnight Special
(TV appearance)
February 26, 1978FresnoSelland Arena
March 1, 1978RacineRacine Memorial Hall
March 2, 1978DavenportRKO Orpheum Theatre
March 3, 1978ChicagoAragon Ballroom
March 4, 1978SpringfieldNelson Center
March 5, 1978IndianapolisIndiana Convention Center
March 7, 1978MadisonShuffle Inn
March 9, 1978MilwaukeeRiverside Theater
March 10, 1978DetroitMasonic Temple Theater
March 11, 1978TrotwoodHara Arena
March 12, 1978HomesteadLeona Theater
March 14, 1978TorontoCanadaMassey Hall
March 15, 1978ClevelandUnited StatesCleveland Music Hall
March 16, 1978ColumbusColumbus Veterans Memorial Auditorium
March 17, 1978LouisvilleLouisville Gardens
March 18, 1978EvansvilleEvansville Coliseum
March 19, 1978South BendMorris Civic Auditorium
March 20, 1978SchaumburgB'Ginnings
March 21, 1978UticaUtica Memorial Auditorium
March 22, 1978AlbanyPalace Theatre
March 23, 1978BuffaloNew Century Theatre
March 24, 1978Upper Darby TownshipTower Theater
March 25, 1978New York CityPalladium
March 26, 1978HempsteadCalderone Concert Hall
March 27, 1978BostonParadise Theater
March 29, 1978DuluthDuluth Auditorium
March 30, 1978Saint PaulSt. Paul Civic Center Theater
March 31, 1978Kansas CityMemorial Hall
April 1, 1978St. LouisKiel Opera House
April 2, 1978OmahaOmaha Music Hall
April 3, 1978WichitaPogo's
April 4, 1978TulsaCain's Ballroom
April 5, 1978IndianapolisMurat Temple Theater
April 6, 1978FlintIMA Auditorium
April 7, 1978NashvilleWar Memorial Auditorium
April 8, 1978MurrayMSU Field House
April 9, 1978BirminghamBoutwell Memorial Auditorium
April 11, 1978Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi Memorial Coliseum
April 12, 1978AustinAustin Municipal Auditorium
April 13, 1978ShreveportShreveport Memorial Auditorium
April 14, 1978Fort WorthWill Rogers Memorial Auditorium
April 15, 1978HoustonHouston Music Hall
April 16, 1978New OrleansThe Warehouse
April 18, 1978MemphisEllis Memorial Auditorium
April 20, 1978TallahasseeRuby Diamond Auditorium
April 21, 1978Pembroke PinesHollywood Sportatorium
April 22, 1978TampaCurtis Hixon Hall
April 23, 1978AtlantaFox Theatre
April 25, 1978Virginia BeachRogues' Gallery
April 26, 1978
April 27, 1978NorfolkThe Scope
April 28, 1978New York CityPalladium
April 29, 1978Johnson CityFreedom Hall Civic Center
April 30, 1978HuntingtonHuntington Civic Center
May 1, 1978[7] ToledoToledo Sports Arena
May 3, 1978ClevelandCleveland Music Hall
May 5, 1978RochesterRochester Community War Memorial
May 6, 1978BostonOrpheum Theatre
May 10, 1978Salt Lake CitySalt Palace
May 11, 1978CasperJ Flag Indoor Arena
May 13, 1978BoulderFolsom Field
Europe
May 15, 1978GeleenNetherlandsBurgemeester Damen Sportpark
(Pinkpop 1978)
North America
May 18, 1978TucsonUnited StatesTucson Convention Center
May 20, 1978Long BeachLong Beach Arena
May 23, 1978SeattleSeattle Center Arena
May 24, 1978PortlandParamount Theatre
May 25, 1978SpokaneSpokane Coliseum
May 27, 1978MedfordMedford Armory
May 29, 1978ConcordConcord Pavilion
May 30, 1978San DiegoCalifornia Theatre
June 9, 1978Saratoga SpringsSaratoga Performing Arts Center
June 10, 1978PassaicCapitol Theatre
June 14, 1978Upper DarbyTower Theatre
June 15, 1978PittsburghCivic Arena
June 16, 1978SaginawWendler Arena
June 17, 1978LansingLansing Civic Center
June 18, 1978CincinnatiRiverfront Coliseum
June 24, 1978TorontoCanadaMaple Leaf Gardens
June 30, 1978MilwaukeeUnited StatesMilwaukee County Stadium
July 1, 1978DallasCotton Bowl
(Texxas Jam 1978)
July 2, 1978HoustonThe Summit
July 4, 1978Orchard ParkRich Stadium
July 5, 1978MilwaukeeHenry W. Maier Festival Park
July 8, 1978ChicagoSoldier Field
July 9, 1978Aragon Ballroom
July 11, 1978ClintonRiverview Park
July 12, 1978DetroitCobo Arena
July 13, 1978NashvilleMunicipal Auditorium
July 15, 1978ClevelandCleveland Stadium
(World Series of Rock 1978)
July 16, 1978DavenportCredit Island Park
(Mississippi River Jam 1978)
July 17, 1978La CrosseMary E. Sawyer Auditorium
July 18, 1978SeymourOutagamie County Fairgrounds
July 20, 1978TulsaTulsa Assembly Center
July 21, 1978JacksonCivic Center
July 23, 1978LouisvilleKentucky Fair and Exposition Center
July 25, 1978JacksonMississippi Coliseum
July 27, 1978SpringfieldSpringfield Civic Center
July 28, 1978New HavenNew Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum
July 29, 1978BinghamtonBroome County Veterans Memorial Arena
July 30, 1978PortlandCumberland County Civic Center
August 3, 1978IndianapolisMarket Square Arena
August 5, 1978TiffinSt. John's Hollow
August 6, 1978East RutherfordGiants Stadium
August 8, 1978ChicagoNavy Pier
(ChicagoFest 1978)
August 9, 1978St. LouisKiel Auditorium
August 12, 1978HonoluluNeal S. Blaisdell Arena
August 18, 1978SacramentoCalifornia Exposition & State Fair
August 26, 1978AnaheimAnaheim Stadium
September 2, 1978OaklandOakland-Alameda County Coliseum
(Day on the Green 1978)
Post Tour
November 22, 1978San FranciscoUnited StatesWinterland Arena
(Super Jam II)
December 31, 1978OaklandOakland-Alameda County Coliseum
(Bay Area New Year's Eve 1978)

Information

Box office score data

Date
(1978)! scope="col" style="width:13em;"
CityVenueAttendanceGross
February 21Stockton, United StatesCivic Auditorium3,669$25,109[8]
July 13Nashville, United StatesMunicipal Auditorium9,900$70,364[9]
July 15Cleveland, United StatesCleveland Stadium60,505$672,964
July 25Jackson, United StatesColiseum10,116$62,213[10]
July 27Springfield, United StatesCivic Center9,789$67,836
July 28New Haven, United StatesColiseum10,590$76,580
July 30Portland, United StatesCumberland County Civic Center9,100$67,950
August 9St. Louis, United StatesKiel Auditorium8,050$59,607[11]
December 31Oakland, United StatesOakland-Alameda County Coliseum12,988$136,887[12]

Personnel

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Oliver . Derek . Start believin': The story of Journey's Infinity album . Louder Sound . Classic Rock Magazine . March 16, 2021 . en . August 24, 2018.
  2. Book: Renoff . Gregory J. . Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal . 2015 . ECW Press . Toronto . 978-1-77041-263-7 . 318.
  3. News: Campbell . Mary . Journey Takes Off With Vocalist . January 18, 2022 . Harlan Daily Enterprise . May 24, 1978 . Harlan, Kentucky . en.
  4. Kozak . Roman . 33,000 at Saratoga: Free Rock Gigs in Columbia's Program . Billboard . July 1, 1978 . 90 . 26 . 52; 54 . March 17, 2021 . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. . en . 0006-2510.
  5. McDonough . Jack . Talent in Action: Journey, Sandy Welch . Billboard . February 11, 1978 . 90 . 6 . 36–37 . December 13, 2022 . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. . en . 0006-2510.
  6. Web site: Journey's Past Tour Information. www.journey-tribute.com. 2020-08-30. 2018-07-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20180708192244/http://www.journey-tribute.com/journey/resources/tour_info_past.html. dead.
  7. News: Music: Next Week . January 31, 2021 . Toledo Blade . April 28, 1978 . P-3 . en . Journey: In concert with guest star Ronnie Montrose, Toledo Sports Arena, Monday at 8..
  8. Top Box Office . Billboard . March 11, 1978 . 90 . 10 . 48 . February 12, 2022 . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. . en . 0006-2510.
  9. Billboard Top Box Office . Billboard . July 29, 1978 . 90 . 42 . February 13, 2021 . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. . en . 0006-2510.
  10. Top Box Office . Billboard . August 12, 1978 . 90 . 32 . 59 . February 12, 2022 . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. . en . 0006-2510.
  11. Top Box Office . Billboard . August 26, 1978 . 90 . 34 . 82 . February 6, 2022 . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. . en . 0006-2510.
  12. Billboard Top Box Office . Billboard . January 13, 1979 . 91 . 2 . 38 . February 6, 2022 . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. . en . 0006-2510.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Infinity Tour".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.