Livin' Just to Find Emotion

David Hamilton Golland is a historian, professor, and writer with a wide background in twentieth-century social and cultural history. He is dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Monmouth University and founder of The Journey Zone (journey-zone.com), the leading source for all things Journey over two decades. Connect with David on Twitter (@DHGolland) and visit his website (davidgolland.com). He lives in Middletown, New Jersey.

• Box Office: The Portuguese CousinOpening ActsFirst Set“To Play Some Music,” 1973-1976:“Wheel in the Sky,” 1977-1978Drum Solo: Aynsley Dunbar“Someday Soon,” 1979-1980“Escape,” 1981-1982Keyboard Solo: Jonathan Cain“Separate Ways,” 1983-1987Second Set“Running Alone,” 1987-1994“One More,” 1994-1997Drum Solo: Steve Smith“Signs of Life,” 1998-2003“Don’t Stop Believin,’” 2003-2007Guitar Solo: Neal Schon“After All These Years,” 2007-2017Encore“Castles Burning,” 2018-2023Backstage: AcknowledgementsAppendix: Band Members, by AlbumIndex

The single most downloaded song on the internet from the 20th century isn’t one by the Beatles, Prince, or Madonna. It’s the signature song of one of rock’s most enduring acts: Journey. “Don’t Stop Believin’” transcended its early 1980s roots and became an inspirational anthem for sports teams, start-ups, people fighting life-altering ailments, and more. The band’s long and complicated history, with its myriad stylistic and lineup changes, is the subject of historian and lifelong fan Golland’s book. Refreshingly, this is not the standard band biography. Golland brings an academic approach to the subject, placing Journey within its proper historical musical context. Though it is clear that Golland loves Journey’s music, he also provides an overdue critical take on the group’s overall sound. He also discusses issues of musical influence versus appropriation. It is rare, and valuable, to find such insight in books like this. Readers don’t have to be Journey fans to appreciate this cerebral approach to a biography about the band. For casual readers and scholars alike.