Iconic American band Journey has revealed multiple lineup changes just in time for socially distanced UNICEF charity performance over the weekend.
Former bassist and American Idol judge Randy Jackson and Grammy-winning drummer Narada Michael Walden are both now official band members, with Jackson’s last stint with Journey coming between 1985 and 1987.
Keyboardist Jasin Derlatka has also come on board.
The band’s Neal Schon revealed both new members via Instagram. “Ok Friends word is out ! @yo_randyjackson RJ the Big Dawg is our new Bass player again,” he said.
He followed that up with; “Narada Michael Walden is our new Drummer! Multi talented song writer Producer / Mahavishnu orchestra. The J Boyz will have a new Strut.”
Jackson and Walden replace Ross Valory and Steve Smith, who were both fired from the band earlier this year. Schon and keyboard player Jonathan Cain took legal action against the pair earlier this year for attempting to launch “an ill-conceived corporate coup d’etat” and trying to gain control of the band’s name.
Valory was previously in the band from 1973 to 1985, and then from 1995 until this year. Smith had three separate stints with Journey, and the pair have countersued seeking “past and future compensatory damages”.
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“The Journey name is controlled by Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain,” Cain and Schon’s lawyer has told Rolling Stone. “And for very good cause, they don’t want to perform with Smith or Valory anymore, they don’t want to have anything to do with them, and that’s their right.
“They’re going to go on with Journey, continue with the great success of the past and these two guys are going to get replaced.”
Jackson and Walden joined Schon, Cain and singer Arnel Pineda for a locked-down and socially distanced performance of their iconic 1981 hit ‘Don’t Stop Believin’, with the two new members fitting in perfectly.
The UNICEF We Won’t Stop Fundraising event also features performances by Cher, Eurythmics, Sir Rod Stewart, Sting, Millie Bobby Brown and more. Donations are still being taken here.
Check out ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey for UNICEF:
