The Reason You Haven’t Heard Anything About A Journey Biopic

Journey, a band synonymous with karaoke nights and competitive singing, seems like a perfect candidate for a Bohemian Rhapsody-style stage musical or biopic. They’ve even caught the eye of Anthony Zuiker, the creator of the CSI franchise. But there’s a significant hurdle.

Jonathan Cain shared with Billboard:

“We’ve been down that road. I worked with Anthony Zuiker, who is a huge Journey fan and had ideas to create a play using our songs. But [Steve] Perry shot it down. He didn’t want to know about it.”

Perry’s say is crucial despite his departure from the band over 25 years ago, as he retains the rights to his songs. Cain and Neal Schon sold their shares to Hipgnosis in June 2019 and February 2020, respectively. Cain confirms:

“You can’t use his songs without his permission, obviously.”

Journey is currently on a stadium tour with Def Leppard and Steve Miller. While Cain has mentioned working on a new single, there’s no concrete plan for a follow-up to their 2022 album, Freedom. Schon adds:

“We recorded way more than what ended up on the album, a lot of great stuff that wasn’t used. But the business now is really about live performances and merchandise.”

Despite these roadblocks, Zuiker remains interested in a Journey-related project. Cain reveals, “He came back to me again with a Journey-Cirque du Soleil idea, and we were supposed to get something else with Netflix, with the same producers who did the Arnold Schwarzenegger documentary.” This proposed project could blend Journey’s music with the spectacle of Cirque du Soleil, creating a unique experience for fans.

However, any potential project still hinges on Perry’s approval. Cain says, “Right now, I think that’s in the hands of Steve Perry to say yea or nay.” As long as Perry retains control over his music, any new ventures will require his go-ahead.