As part of the 2014 hennemusic Rock News Awards, the site is counting down the Top 10 Rock News Artists of the year.
Finalists for the 5th annual hennemusic Rock News Awards are chosen by readers: winners are determined by the combined total page views of the top 50 hennemusic rock news stories of the past twelve months.
The 2014 hennemusic Rock News Awards winners will be announced on Thursday, January 15.
2014 hennemusic Rock News Artist Of The Year – Top 10
10 – PINK FLOYD
09 – JUDAS PRIEST
08 – QUEEN
07 – AC/DC
06 – KISS
05 – GUNS N ROSES
04 – MOTLEY CRUE
hennemusic Rock News Artist of The Year No. 3 – JOURNEY
Journey were busy on the road in 2014, playing an extended summer tour of North America from May to September, but it was former singer Steve Perry’s return to the stage after almost 20 years – and the accompanying/inevitable talk of a reunion – that kept the group in the headlines throughout the year.
Journey started 2014 with news that their 1981 smash, “Don't Stop Believin'”, was named the best song to listen to while behind the wheel according to a survey by Insurance.com, ahead of classics by Queen, AC/DC, Tom Cochrane, ABBA and others.
Former Journey singer Steve Perry made a rare public appearance onstage at the Guitar Center Drum-Off Finals in Los Angeles on January 18 – marking his first performance in almost 20 years. Perry was on hand to perform with friend, drummer Steve Ferrone, who was being inducted into the Guitar Center Hollywood Rock Walk.
At the event, Perry was asked about a possible reunion with guitarist Neal Schon and the rest of the band and his comments at the time drew a great deal of attention – enough to cause band management, singer Arnel Pineda, Schon and, ultimately Perry himself to issue separate statements shooting down any reunion talk.
In April, Schon began previewing tracks from his latest solo album, “So U”, which would see its release in May.
The same month, Pineda revealed plans to release a solo album sometime in the next year.
In May, Journey launched a summer 2014 North American tour with the Steve Miller Band while Schon announced the group were planning to make a new album, their first since 2011’s “Eclipse” release.
Then, on May 25 - Perry made international headlines when he joined alternative act EELS in St. Paul, Minnesota to perform a pair of classic tunes from his old band.
Fan reaction to the singer’s stage return was so huge that Pineda told a fan on twitter that Perry should return to the group, even hinting that we would step aside to make it happen.
Perry joined EELS for a second time in Washington on May 31 and would later play with them again in Los Angeles.
Fan reaction to Perry’s string of shows playing Journey tunes generated sufficient buzz that the singer once again denied any reunion plans with his former group, which he left in 1998.
In July, keyboardist Jonathan Cain said he was thrilled with Perry’s stage return: “When you’re Steve Perry, one of the greatest voices of all time, you should be on a stage where you belong. So, good for him. I’m happy he’s out there flexing his chops.”
Journey wrapped up their summer tour in September and, on October 5, Perry again made headlines when he joined fans for a sing-along of “Don’t Stop Believin’” during game 3 of the National League Divisional Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Washington Nationals in San Francisco.
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Journey will start off 2015 with a return to live action in March when they hit the road for more shows with the Steve Miller Band.
Last week, the group announced their first Las Vegas residency, which will see the group perform 9 shows at The Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino between April 29 and May 16.
See also:
2014 hennemusic Rock News Awards announced
Van Halen and Pearl Jam top the 2013 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen dominate the 2012 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen win two hennemusic Rock News Awards
Guns N’ Roses named hennemusic’s Rock News Artist of The Year
Jimmy Page’s 2011 plans named hennemusic’s Rock News Story Of The Year
