Watch Journey Perform With the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
After all these years, it hardly seems possible that the guys in Journey could have any meaningful milestones yet to cross, but on June 20, they checked another one off the list by performing their first-ever show with an orchestra.
As previously reported, the band opened the Hollywood Bowl's 2015 season with a set accompanied by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra — and although, as the Orange County Register noted, "every Journey song is an anthem already," Journey still poured on the preparation for the show, booking a 12-hour rehearsal while still making time to talk to the press.
Variety reports that all that hard work helped produce historic results for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, whose education and outreach programs benefit each year from the fundraising efforts led during the Hollywood Bowl's opening night. "This year a record $1.6 million was raised; the previous best was $1.4 million in 2011," reads the report. "Last year drew $1.2 million, L.A. Phil reps said."
The Orange County Register's report adds that the evening's set list mixed deeper cuts like "City of Hope" and "Winds of March" in with expected hits like "Faithfully" (which you can watch via the fan-shot footage above), something singer Arnel Pineda explained by telling the crowd, "We are playing for the first time with an orchestra and chorus, so we dug deep for songs that fit, that we haven’t played for a long time."
In addition to marking Journey's first orchestra date, the Hollywood Bowl show also marked their debut with drummer Omar Hakim, who was pressed into last-minute duty for the band's summer tour following Deen Castronovo's recent arrest.
As founding member and guitarist Neal Schon explains, “When I heard about our dilemma with our drummer, I called Steve Smith. But, he was unable to make it as he was touring in Europe. I'm very happy I was able to bring Omar Hakim in to help us pull together a very elaborate and complex show at the last minute. It was a nearly impossible feat, and tall order for anyone, but with Omar’s musical integrity and talent, we pulled it off and had a blast! Glad to know I've still got the ears and now I'm two for two: first was finding Arnel on YouTube and now, recruiting Omar Hakim."
The band acknowledged Hakim on its Facebook page after the show, writing, "We thank you, Omar. You did an amazing job tonight. Looking forward to all the gigs coming up."
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