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“The front row was always diehard Journey fans and they would flip me off”: The story of Journey’s lost singer and the classic song he helped write
Before Steve Perry became the voice of Journey, the San Francisco band briefly had another singer, Robert Fleischman, whose short but pivotal stint has largely been forgotten. Recruited by manager Herbie Herbert to give the previously faceless progressive rock group a stronger identity, Fleischman fronted Journey for only a matter of months in the mid-1970s before departing acrimoniously, yet he left a lasting mark on the band's sound and legacy.
Fleischman joined after original vocalist and keyboard player Gregg Rolie had fronted the band, and he co-wrote the future hit Wheel In The Sky, a song credited with steering Journey towards the more accessible, hard rock direction that would define their success under Perry from 1977 onwards. His exit followed a falling-out with Herbert, who bluntly described him as "a pain in the ass – a pampered poodle of person." Despite the brief and difficult tenure, including hostile reactions from die-hard fans in the front rows of early shows, Fleischman's contribution helped shape the band's evolution into one of rock's biggest acts.
In short
- Robert Fleischman briefly fronted Journey before Steve Perry joined in 1977
- He co-wrote future hit single Wheel In The Sky
- He left after clashing with manager Herbie Herbert
Explained simply
Journey is one of rock's biggest bands, known for their massive success from the late 1970s onwards. The band's rise to fame was shaped by several singers in its early years, and their story cannot be properly understood without knowing about those early figures.
Robert Fleischman fronted Journey for just a few months in the mid-1970s, after the band's original singer departed. During this brief tenure, he co-wrote Wheel In The Sky, a track central to Journey's shift towards the harder, more accessible rock sound that would define their later commercial success.
Fleischman's tenure ended acrimoniously following disputes with management and negative audience reactions. His contributions to the band's musical direction have largely been forgotten, overshadowed by Journey's later commercial success.