Journey, Heart, Cheap Trick join forces
The first mega-80s tour of 2008 is officially on the books: Journey, Heart and Cheap Trick will do a summer tour together across the United States.
The official word is that Journey -- with new singer Arnel Pineda -- is the headlining act -- but really ... it doesn't matter. This is a great chance to catch three of the best live acts of the 80s on one bill. The tour begins July 9 in Englewood, Colorado, and wraps up Sept. 30 in Los Angeles. And yes -- there's a Tampa date scheduled: July 30 at the Ford Amphitheatre.
Tickets begin going on sale April 5 via Ticketmaster. Check Pollstar.com for a full list of dates. No word yet on when Tampa tickets go on sale or what the price is.
This will be Journey's first U.S. tour with Pineda, the Steve Perry sound-alike who caught the band's attention with his videos on Youtube.com. The band also has a new album -- Revelation -- due out June 3.
Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson -- who probably wince anytime someone on "American Idol" attempts their songs -- will get some additional exposure when then join Bono, Annie Lennox and other musicians and celebrities on April 9 for the fundraiser special "Idol Gives Back." According to Pollstar.com, they'll perform "Barracuda" on the show with Fergie. (Listen to our podcast interview with Nancy Wilson from 2007.)
Do I even need to sell the Cheap Trick angle? Any chance to catch Robin Zander and the gang should not be missed.
[Getty Images]
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
OH wow! This summer just keeps improving. That is, it would if I had friends and money to attend all these killer concerts.
Posted by: Marissa | March 26, 2008 at 08:24 AM
Start donating plasma or delivering pizzas now. I really think this particular concert is the best of the bunch.
Maybe we'll try to put together a special Stuck in the 80s get-together in Tampa before this show. I don't know. I'm open to ideas.
Posted by: Spears | March 26, 2008 at 08:30 AM
I do have 2 kidneys. Survival with one is possible.
I think a jaunt to Tampa is due. Oh, and congratulations to St. Petersburg for being the 10th cleanest city according to Forbes Magazine!!
Posted by: Marissa | March 26, 2008 at 09:01 AM
I looked at the dates listed and I have one question. Why are they only going to the casinos? Biloxi, MS I can sort of understand but Marksville, LA? About the only thing there is the casino and Wal-Mart. I was just there this weekend visiting some of my wife's cousins. Nice people nice place but about an hour or two from anywhere.
The other thing was the "All Four Original Members Of Asia" (that is how it is listed) is supposed to be playing there the end of April.
Just going to such an out of the way place seems kind of strange. Though I am torn between wanting to see the bands and not wanting to support the casino.
Posted by: Rock_Vbrg | March 26, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Well, there goes my concert "budget" for a while... this totally seems like a Don't Miss show.
And seeing as how I just picked up tix for the B-52s/Cyndi Lauper gig (girls' night out!), I think I'm done for a bit.
A SIT80s pre-show/post-show/whenever get-together would be awesome. Although I'm thinking something over at the Hard Rock might be better than say a tailgate. It's gonna be frickin' July in FL, for goodness sake. Hotter than the hinges on the gates of hell will it be.
Posted by: jane | March 26, 2008 at 11:52 AM
This is the first summer concert to catch my interest. Since I trying to sell my house, I'll probably be too busy to go.
Posted by: Bassnote | March 26, 2008 at 12:33 PM
jane-
Elizabethtown?
Posted by: DoctorDrew | March 26, 2008 at 04:53 PM
Ding ding ding -- you are correct, DoctorDrew.
Yay! This totally makes up for my vagueness with the Axe Murderer quote earlier today. Whew. I've still got it -- or a reasonable fascimilie of it, anyway.
Posted by: jane | March 26, 2008 at 05:18 PM
Heart should be the headliner. Regardless...I'll be there.
Posted by: Tonka61 | March 26, 2008 at 10:28 PM
I've got a question? Can anyone tell me why the only band without their original lead singer is the headliner? Cheap Trick has all original members (if I'm not mistaken) and Heart IS the Wilson sisters. Who's original in Journey besides Neil Schon?
Posted by: Tonka61 | March 27, 2008 at 06:28 PM
110,000 Students Singing "Don't Stop Believing".
(Of course, the stundent section wasn't born when the song came out...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6m07ywC2t8
Posted by: David-b | March 30, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Journey without Steve Perry isnt Journey.
Posted by: Cat | April 01, 2008 at 10:52 AM
I will be there, in Bethel Woods NY! This is going to be the most amazing show ever!
Posted by: Carolin | April 05, 2008 at 02:19 PM