Les Dudek: The Forgotten Journey Guitarist

Les Dudek’s time with Journey was remarkably brief—lasting only “about two hours,” as he humorously revealed to Guitar World. But his impact on rock was far from fleeting. When Journey’s founding manager, Herbie Herbert, approached him, Dudek had already carved out a spot in the industry with his guitar work on iconic tracks like the Allman Brothers Band’s “Jessica” and “Ramblin’ Man.”

Dudek’s Short-Lived Journey Moment

At that time, Herbie Herbert was building a new “super band” around ex-Santana members Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon, and Dudek’s talent seemed like a perfect fit. Intrigued, he joined the lineup, which included bassist Ross Valory and drummer Aynsley Dunbar. “We jammed for a couple of hours doing some cool fusion stuff. It was great,” Dudek said, recalling their brief but powerful session together.

The Decision That Changed It All

After jamming with Journey’s early lineup, Dudek left to keep a meeting with Columbia Records right across the street. He didn’t know that the president and vice-president of Columbia were about to offer him a solo deal on the spot. “I went from not knowing how I was going to pay my rent to having to decide: Do I go with Journey or a solo deal with Columbia?” Dudek recalled. Choosing the solo path was no small decision; Journey was poised to rise to rock stardom, eventually gaining multi-platinum fame with Steve Perry.

For Dudek, however, the Columbia deal felt like hitting the jackpot. His debut and follow-up albums may not have topped the charts, but his Ghost Town Parade album reached No. 100 in 1978, allowing him to pursue his own creative path. Meanwhile, Journey exploded onto the scene, becoming one of rock’s biggest acts. While Dudek’s solo releases may not have achieved the same commercial success, he felt no regret. “It’s like the best Cinderella story ever told in the music business,” he said, reflecting on how the decision paved a unique way for his career.