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.