Ross Valory Spills Why He Doesn’t Talk To Former Journey Bandmates Anymore

Despite being one of the founding members of Journey, Ross Valory admits he’s no longer in contact with his former bandmates. Valory was with Journey from the beginning, playing bass from their formation in 1973 until his first exit in 1985. He rejoined the group in 1995 and remained until 2020 when he was dismissed amid some controversy.

During an interview with Total Rock, Valory revealed that he hasn’t kept in touch with most of the band since his departure. Valory shared:

“I haven’t been in touch with anybody except for maybe [former drummer] Steve Smith once in a while.
“Everybody’s moved on with their lives.”

Reflecting on Journey’s Legacy

Valory and Smith were both let go from Journey in 2020 after a legal dispute with bandmates Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain. The pair accused Valory and Smith of attempting a “corporate coup” to take over control of the band’s name, which ultimately led to their dismissal.

“So many people are curious about what went wrong,” Valory reflected. However, he prefers to focus on the positive aspects of his time with Journey. “My point is we should talk about what went right. All those fabulous musicians that have come under that roof over the decades,” he said. Valory also expressed well wishes to the current lineup, stating:

“The band that remains, with Arnel [Pineda] singing and Jonathan and Neal. They continue to this day. I wish them the best.”

What’s Next for Ross Valory?

Since leaving Journey, Valory has moved into solo work, releasing his debut album All of the Above in April. Speaking to UCR, he described the experience as a mix of familiarity and newness. He said:

“There are many aspects of writing, arranging, recording, and promoting that are familiar to me.
“But this time, I’m in the room alone… I waited a long time to do this. Pinch me, that’s all I can say.”