George Tickner Dies

The mist is slowly lifting, The sound of life misplaced your mind, You’re sitting, spellbound through out time, I hope that you remember what you find, Singin’ more of a lifetime

George Tickner was actually a founding member of Journey but left the band early in their career before they achieved mainstream success. He was born on September 8, 1946, in Syracuse, New York. He played rhythm guitar and was part of the original lineup of the band.

Prior to Journey, Tickner performed with Faun on their 1972 self-titled set and was part of the band Frumious Bandersnatch which also included future Journey bassist Ross Valory[1]. In 1973, he also played as part of the band on a Jerry Garcia / Mel Saunders collaborative project.

Journey Junkies, I have some very sad news. George Tickner, Journey’s original rhythm guitarist and songwriting contributor on their first three albums, has passed away. Godspeed, George… Thank you for the music.

Neal Schon

The Frumious Bandersnatch EP was pressed in a limited quantity of 1000 copies on extremely dark purple colored vinyl, which can be seen only when it is held up to the light. Coming out on their own Muggles Gramaphone Works label, it has no cat#, even in the vinyl trail-off. It has always been held in very high esteem among collectors of garage and psych. I feel their music is indeed, quite extraordinary, though I can’t give any of the tracks more than four stars. They have that distinct west coast sound, to be sure, and all three of these songs feature great guitar. They are also big fans of change-ups, with the two better cuts shifting gears throughout. To my ears, track A2 is the weakest, though still pretty good. It takes a page out of The Dead’s book with nice vocal harmonies and guitar. Both of the other tracks wail and shouldn’t be missed by fans of the genre.

It was during 1973 that Tickner and Valory would join Santana’s Neal Schon[2] and Gregg Rolie[3]and The Tubes’ Prairie Prince[4] in the initial Journey lineup, playing their first public performance at the Winterland Ballroom on New Year’s Eve 1973. After the release of Journey’s debut album, he left the band to pursue his Ph.D. in medicine at Stanford University Medical School on a full scholarship.

Upon Tickner’s departure, Journey lead guitarist Neal Schon took over all of the band’s guitar duties, until Jonathan Cain[5] (keyboards/rhythm guitar) joined in 1981.

He received writing or co-writing credits on “Of a Lifetime,” “Topaz” and “Mystery Mountain” off their 1975 debut, “You’re on Your Own” and “I’m Gonna Leave You” off the Look Into the Future album and “Nickel and Dime” off of Next. Tickner remained in close contact with his former bandmates.

He and Valory co-founded a recording studio called The Hive and performed together, alongside fellow Journey alum Stevie ‘Keys’ Roseman[6], in the band VTR. They released an album, Cinema, in 2005. Tickner later reunited with Journey when the band received its star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005.

George Tickner died on Thursday, July 5, 2023, at the age of 76. “RIP George you now fly with the Angels,” Schon wrote on Twitter. He also added on Facebook: “Rest peacefully, Dr. George Tickner … you will be missed immensely. Thank you for your incomparable contributions to Journey’s early years.”

Footnotes
  1. Ross Valory is a renowned American musician best known as the bassist and one of the founding members of the rock band Journey. Born on February 2, 1949, in San Francisco, California, Valory played a crucial role in the band’s rise to fame. He joined Journey in 1973 alongside guitarist Neal Schon, keyboardist Gregg Rolie, drummer Prairie Prince, and guitarist George Tickner. Valory’s melodic and versatile bass playing contributed to the band’s distinctive sound, characterized by infectious hooks and soaring harmonies. He remained an integral part of Journey throughout their successful years, contributing to hit albums like “Infinity” (1978), “Escape” (1981), and “Frontiers” (1983). Despite a brief departure from the band in the late ’80s, Valory rejoined Journey and continued to perform with them until 2020, leaving a lasting impact on the band’s legacy. [Back]
  2. Neal Schon is an accomplished American guitarist, songwriter, and founding member of the iconic rock band Journey. Born on February 27, 1954, in Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Schon showcased his musical talent at a young age, joining Santana at the age of 15 and making notable contributions to their albums. In 1973, he co-founded Journey with fellow musician Gregg Rolie, and together they crafted the band’s signature sound. Schon’s extraordinary guitar skills, marked by his melodic solos and technical prowess, became a defining element of Journey’s music. He played a vital role in the band’s success, co-writing many of their chart-topping hits and contributing to their acclaimed albums like “Escape” (1981) and “Frontiers” (1983). Schon’s dynamic and passionate guitar playing continues to captivate audiences, solidifying his status as one of rock music’s most influential guitarists. [Back]
  3. Gregg Rolie, an accomplished American musician and singer, played a significant role in the early success of the rock band Journey. Born on June 17, 1947, in Seattle, Washington, Rolie co-founded Journey in 1973 alongside guitarist Neal Schon. As the band’s original lead vocalist and keyboardist, Rolie contributed to their distinctive sound and helped shape their musical direction. He played a key role in writing and performing some of Journey’s early hits, including “Lights” and “Feeling That Way.” Rolie’s soulful vocals and skillful keyboard playing were integral to the band’s sound during their formative years. In addition to his work with Journey, he had previously been a member of Santana and was part of several of their acclaimed albums. Rolie’s contributions to Journey laid the foundation for their later success and solidified his status as a respected musician in the rock genre. [Back]
  4. Prairie Prince, born Charles Lempriere Prince, is an esteemed American drummer who played a significant role in the early days of the rock band Journey. Born on May 7, 1950, in Charlotte, North Carolina, Prince joined Journey as their drummer when the band was formed in 1973. His energetic and versatile drumming style added a dynamic element to the band’s sound. Prince contributed to Journey’s self-titled debut album in 1975 and the subsequent album “Look into the Future” in 1976. While his time with Journey was relatively short-lived, Prairie Prince’s drumming skills and contributions during the band’s early years were essential in shaping their musical identity. [Back]
  5. Jonathan Cain, born on February 26, 1950, in Chicago, Illinois, is an accomplished American musician and songwriter best known as the keyboardist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Journey. Cain joined Journey in 1980, replacing founding member Gregg Rolie, and quickly made a significant impact on the band’s sound. His melodic keyboard work and songwriting skills played a crucial role in Journey’s evolution toward a more commercially successful and radio-friendly sound. Cain co-wrote several of Journey’s biggest hits, including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms,” and “Faithfully,” which became anthems of the ’80s rock era. His contributions contributed to the band’s success and helped solidify their place in music history. Jonathan Cain continues to be an integral member of Journey, contributing his musical talents to their ongoing journey. [Back]
  6. Stevie “Keys” Roseman did briefly join Journey as a keyboardist after Gregg Rolie’s departure from the band. Following the “Departure” tour, Rolie left Journey to focus on his family and pursue solo projects. To record a studio track for the band, Stevie “Keys” Roseman was brought in as a temporary keyboardist. However, it’s important to note that Roseman’s time with Journey was relatively short-lived, and he did not have an extensive tenure with the band. [Back]
Further Reading
Sources

Author: Doyle

I was born in Atlanta, moved to Alpharetta at 4, lived there for 53 years and moved to Decatur in 2016. I've worked at such places as Richway, North Fulton Medical Center, Management Science America (Computer Tech/Project Manager) and Stacy's Compounding Pharmacy (Pharmacy Tech).

Leave a Reply

Discover more from Doyle's Space

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading