Legendary Rock Band Is Back on the Charts 53 Years After Forming
Journey's 2026 farewell tour isn't just filling arenas. It's also sending the legendary rock band back onto the charts more than five decades after its formation.
This week, the 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees re-entered Billboard's Artist 100 chart at No. 94, marking another impressive milestone for a band that first came together in San Francisco in 1973. The Artist 100 ranks the week's most popular artists across all genres by combining album sales, song sales, streaming activity and radio airplay.
The return comes as Journey continues its sprawling Final Frontier farewell tour, which recently expanded with 40 additional North American dates after strong ticket demand.
Journey originally formed in 1973 with guitarist Neal Schon, keyboardist Gregg Rolie, bassist Ross Valory, guitarist George Tickner and drummer Aynsley Dunbar, but the band's commercial fortunes changed dramatically after Steve Perry joined as lead singer in 1977.
From there, Journey became one of arena rock's defining acts. Escape topped the Billboard 200 in 1981, while Frontiers followed with another string of massive hits. Songs like "Don't Stop Believin'," "Open Arms," "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" and "Any Way You Want It" have remained radio staples for decades.
Few classic rock songs have enjoyed a second life quite like "Don't Stop Believin'." Released in 1981, the track has become one of the most enduring songs in rock history thanks to its appearances in television, movies and sporting events. Its use in the final scene of The Sopranos introduced it to a new generation of listeners, while later appearances in the pilot episode of Glee and countless arena playlists helped keep it in heavy rotation long after its original chart run.
That staying power has translated into remarkable commercial success. "Don't Stop Believin'" became the first song from the 20th century to be certified 18-times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, reflecting 18 million certified units in the United States. Along with Journey staples like "Lights," "Faithfully," "Wheel in the Sky" and "Stone in Love," it continues to generate hundreds of millions of streams each year, helping keep the band's catalog among classic rock's most popular.
Today's lineup features Schon, Jonathan Cain, Arnel Pineda, Deen Castronovo, Jason Derlatka and Todd Jensen, with the band currently making its way across North America on what is being billed as its farewell run.
The renewed attention appears to be translating directly into chart activity. Along with strong catalog streaming and radio airplay, Journey's ongoing tour has helped propel the band back onto Billboard's Artist 100, more than 53 years after its formation.
The achievement is another reminder that while Journey may be calling this its farewell tour, fans still aren't ready to stop believing.
Related: Journey Fans Push Back After Neal Schon's Steve Perry Comments Spark Fresh Debate
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This story was originally published July 4, 2026 at 1:23 PM.