Journey’s founding guitarist Neal Schon took to Twitter over the weekend to announce that bass player Randy Jackson and drummer, Narada Michael Walden will join the band.
This will be a return engagement for longtime American Idol judge Jackson, who was a member of Journey from 1985 to 1987. He also recorded on their 1986 Raised on Radio album.
Walden is a renowned, singer, songwriter, and producer who has drummed in Mahavishnu Orchestra and alongside Jeff Beck, Tommy Bolin, and Robert Fripp.
Earlier this year, Ross Valory, who played bass for Journey from 1973 until 1985 and again beginning in 1995… As well as Steve Smith, who has served three stints as the group's drummer since 1979, were both fired.
Court documents filed by a lawyer representing Schon and keyboardist Jonathan Cain accused the fired duo of launching an “ill-conceived corporate coup d'etat” in an effort to take control of the band's name.
Last month, Ross Valory countersued Schon and Cain, charging them with breach of contract and emotional distress.
Valory is seeking “past and future compensatory damages,” as well as asking a judge to decide who has the right to use the band's name going forward.
Until they were forced to cancel their tour due to the pandemic, Journey was set to tour with the Pretenders this year.
