As part of the 2013 hennemusic Rock News Awards, the site is counting down the Top 10 Rock News Artists of the year.
Finalists for the 4th annual hennemusic Rock News Awards are chosen by readers: winners are determined by the combined total page views of the top 50 hennemusic rock news stories of the past twelve months.
The 2013 hennemusic Rock News Awards winners will be announced on Friday, January 17.
Rock News Artist of The Year No. 7 – JOURNEY
Journey began 2013 with Neal Schon launching two signature guitar models through Paul Reed Smith (details here).
The band toured endlessly throughout the year, with an early mix of US, New Zealand, Australian and Japanese dates taking the band through the spring.
In early March, the documentary - "Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey" – was released On Demand. The film tells the story of how the classic rock band found singer Arnel Pineda online and brought him into the group.
The fans’ connection to former lead singer Steve Perry remains strong, with ongoing hopes that a reunion may happen at some point.
In June, Perry revealed that he underwent treatment for skin cancer.
"Three weeks ago a routine mole was taken off my face and the lab report came back Melanoma skin cancer,” wrote Perry on his Fan Asylum page. “I've had two surgeries in two weeks to remove all the cancer cells and I've been told they think they got it all and no other treatments are required." (read more here.)
Perry’s news brought a reaction from Schon, who extended an olive branch by reaching out to Journey’s former frontman, who left the group in 1998 (info here).
A springtime UK tour was followed by a run across North America that extended into early fall.
Schon was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall Of Fame on August 23 in Tulsa, prior to Journey’s concert at The Joint Hard Rock Event Center. The only constant member of Journey, Neal was born at Tinker Air Force Base located southeast of Oklahoma City (more details here).
On August 28, Schon brought former bandmates Carlos Santana and Gregg Rolie on stage to perform, marking the former Santana members first appearance together in more than 40 years (video here).
In November, Journey donated $350,000 to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to aid the Philippines in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan.
The announcement was made by the band’s Filipino lead singer Pineda in an effort to support relief in his homeland (info here).
Journey’s final headlines of 2013 were focused on Schon’s wedding to fiancée Michaele Salahi, which was offered to fans via pay-per-view and, later, on demand.
The event featured performances by Journey and Tower of Power (here).
As for 2014, Journey have announced a summer North American tour with the Steve Miller Band and Tower Of Power; shows start in mid-May – check out the schedule here.
2013 Rock News Artist Of The Year – Top 10
08 – BLACK SABBATH
09 – STONE TEMPLE PILOTS
10 – DEF LEPPARD
See also:
2013 hennemusic Rock News Awards announced
Van Halen dominate the 2012 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen win two hennemusic Rock News Awards
Guns N’ Roses named hennemusic’s Rock News Artist of The Year
Jimmy Page’s 2011 plans named hennemusic’s Rock News Story Of The Year
