Another happy Journey anniversary

OCT. 22, 1981 ... Lakeland Civic Center, Lakeland, Fla.: Journey with special guests Loverboy.

This is the concert that basically started Stuck in the '80s, gang, so I celebrate it each year with the usual traditions (the wearing of a pitifully undersized jersey concert shirt, followed by the inhaling of Chicken McNuggets, a strawberry shake and a big ole bag of stink-weed).

No, no. I'm kidding on that last part (it was a chocolate shake.) JOKE! I was 14 years old, so no illegal substances were involved. Instead, what I got was Steve Perry and Co. on their Escape tour -- probably the most surreal and perfect concert experience ... at least to someone without a driver's license.

Here's my retro-review of the concert that changed everything.

GENERAL ADMISSION: In those days, if you want a front-row seat just get there early and run to the stage when the doors opened. (Send a friend to buy your concert shirt.) And yeah, there are no seats. So enjoy standing up for the next 5 hours or so.

WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND: At that point in time, we'd maybe heard one Loverboy song on the radio -- Working for the Weekend. I'm not even sure their names were on the ticket stub (which cost about $12 back then). But the boys from Canada made a quick impression. I'm pretty sure they convinced half the audience to buy a Loverboy disc within the following 48 hours.

'THIS IS MY ESCAPE:' Per tradition, Journey opened with the title cut of the new album -- Escape. Not a memorable song per se. But I still get chills hearing it today. The next song -- Line of Fire, complete with a pyrotechnic explosion instead of a gunshot at the big moment halfway through.

DON'T STOP BELIEVING: Another Journey tradition -- changing the lyrics to their signature hit to reflect whatever town they're playing that night. "Just a city boy, born and raised ... right here in Lakeland."(FYI, nobody would make the mistake of calling Lakeland an actual city.)

PRESERVED FOREVER: The Escape tour lives on, thanks to a Steve Perry-produced DVD of the tour's stop in Houston, just a mere week after the Lakeland show. Yes, I own it. (And yes, I'll be watching it again today.)

WHY I REMEMBER THE DATE: October 22 also happens to be the birthday of Momma Spearsy, who was kind enough to let me attend what would become my first concert. Every year on this date, I call her in the morning and ask if she remembers the day of the Journey concert. She merely responds: "I just remember it made you so happy." Thanks and happy birthday, Mom!

[Listen to our podcast interview with Journey bassist Ross Valory, whose fly is open in the publicity photo above]

Comments

[Dr. Dim]

To pick up on something Rick said...
ARMADILLOS!

[Neil]

Spears, that is a very disturbing picture of Journey that you posted. Besides them all having really tight jeans, especially around the groin area, it appears that Ross Valory has his zipper open or maybe I am just seeing things.

[Eric62]

Lakeland Civic Center..what a barn, eh? I too was there, along with the woman I would marry five years later, though I wouldnt meet her for another three.

Best concert at Lakeland, though? Springsteen on The River tour. We went without tickets and found tons of scalpers, desperate to sell after the first song. We walked in with floor level seats at nearly 25 percent less than face value. Three hours later, we were sweaty, hoarse and happy.

[Marissa]

ewwww That photo just ain't right.

[DC]

What an awesome memory, Steve. I almost got teary when you're mom said "I just remember it made you so happy". (verklempt!)

[Rick]

Wow, those are some snug jeans. (I didn't know Neil Schon was Jewish.)

[Tonianne]

Out of *all* the photos you could have chosen, you chose that particular one because why?

I'm just curious. And frankly, a tad disturbed by the open barn door.

To say the least.

[Melissa]

I never got to see Journey in concert but I did see Loverboy. I remember they sounded just like their album.

Ah, general admission. I'm sure they still have that but there is no way I'd go wait outside HOURS before the doors opened anymore. Only shows I got front row on - Stray Cats and David Bowie.

[CHAD]

well that was very nice of her to let you go see journey on her day. you had journey on your first concert, i had KISS on the dynasty tour for my first. i didn't catch journey till the raised on radio tour in 1986. i've saw them a few times since they reunited w/o steve. journey is always a good show, just wish i could've seen them this past tour. oh well, maybe next summer, if they tour.