# Escape Tour

The Escape Tour was a concert tour by the American rock band Journey in support of their seventh studio album, Escape.

## Background

The tour included six consecutive sold out dates at the Pine Knob Theatre in Detroit, and four straight sold-out shows at the Los Angeles Forum, and Chicago's Rosemont Horizon. Journey also made an appearance on July 2, 1982, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California with Blue Öyster Cult, Triumph and Aldo Nova. The 8+1⁄2-month tour took Journey through Japan and North America.
Point Blank, Billy Squier, the Greg Kihn Band and Loverboy were the opening acts during the tour.

## Reception

Deborah Deasy, a reporter from the Pittsburgh Press, who attended the sold out October 2, 1981 performance, gave criticism toward the band on their deliverance of fast and furious noise, even noting that there was too little 'danceable rock 'n' roll'. The reporter noted on Perry's vocals being grating and overworked, but praised the other members of Journey individually. Deborah cited on the uninspired songwriting and the chemistry, criticizing the band as 'generic rock'. She concluded her review, praising the stage work done by the technical, set and sound designers as well as the surprise fireworks, but also noted on the opening act Point Blank had, criticizing the lackluster lead singer who she claimed was "too impressed with himself". A warmer reception was had by press in the band's hometown of San Francisco, where Chronicle writer Joel Selvin gushed effusively about the band's video monitors, sound and pyrotechnics, adding that Journey delivered a "masterful triple stroke" that "set a new standard in the rock concert arms race" that makes "all that came before" it, "as old fashioned as a Model T."

## Tour dates

Over the course of the tour, Journey played the following dates:
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Tickets sold / Available | Revenue |
| Asia ||||||
| July 27, 1981 | Osaka | Japan | Festival Hall | — |
| July 28, 1981 | Nagoya | Japan | Kokai-do | — |
| July 29, 1981 | Tokyo | Japan | Koseinenkin Hall | — |
| July 31, 1981 | Tokyo | Japan | Koseinenkin Hall | — |
| August 1, 1981 | Tokyo | Japan | Nakano Sun Plaza | — |
| August 2, 1981 | Tokyo | Japan | Nakano Sun Plaza | — |
| North America ||||||
| August 15, 1981 | Toronto | Canada | Massey Hall | — |
| August 22, 1981 | Montreal | Canada | Montreal Forum | — |
| August 23, 1981 | Ottawa | Canada | Ottawa Civic Centre | — |
| August 25, 1981 | Portland | United States | Cumberland County Civic Center | — |
| August 27, 1981 | Saratoga Springs | United States | Saratoga Performing Arts Center | — |
| August 28, 1981 | Columbia | United States | Merriweather Post Pavilion | — |
| August 29, 1981 | Yarmouth | United States | Cape Cod Coliseum | — |
| August 31, 1981 | Cuyahoga Falls | United States | Blossom Music Center | — |
| September 1, 1981 | Cuyahoga Falls | United States | Blossom Music Center | — |
| September 3, 1981 | Hoffman Estates | United States | Poplar Creek Music Theatre | — |
| September 4, 1981 | Hoffman Estates | United States | Poplar Creek Music Theatre | — |
| September 5, 1981 | East Troy | United States | Alpine Valley Music Theatre | — |
| September 6, 1981 | East Troy | United States | Alpine Valley Music Theatre | — |
| September 8, 1981 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob Music Theatre | — |
| September 9, 1981 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob Music Theatre | — |
| September 11, 1981 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob Music Theatre | — |
| September 12, 1981 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob Music Theatre | — |
| September 13, 1981 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob Music Theatre | — |
| September 14, 1981 | Clarkston | United States | Pine Knob Music Theatre | — |
| September 15, 1981 | St. Paul | United States | St. Paul Civic Center | — |
| September 16, 1981 | Ames | United States | Hilton Coliseum | — |
| September 18, 1981 | Kansas City | United States | Kemper Arena | 31,373 / 34,331 | $316,591 |
| September 19, 1981 | Kansas City | United States | Kemper Arena | 31,373 / 34,331 | $316,591 |
| September 20, 1981 | Wichita | United States | Levitt Arena | 10,500 / 10,500 | $105,000 |
| September 21, 1981 | Omaha | United States | Omaha Civic Auditorium | 12,000 / 12,000 | $114,000 |
| September 23, 1981 | St. Louis | United States | Checkerdome | 17,517 / 17,517 | $172,206 |
| September 28, 1981 | Terre Haute | United States | Hulman Center | | |
| September 29, 1981 | Rosemont | United States | Rosemont Horizon |
| September 30, 1981 | Champaign | United States | Assembly Hall |
| October 1, 1981 | Cincinnati | United States | Riverfront Coliseum |
| October 2, 1981 | Pittsburgh | United States | Civic Arena |
| October 3, 1981 | Lexington | United States | Rupp Arena | 17,652 / 17,652 | $179,726 |
| October 6, 1981 | Boston | United States | Boston Garden | | |
| October 8, 1981 | Hartford | United States | Hartford Civic Center | 16,198 / 16,198 | $171,975 |
| October 9, 1981 | Syracuse | United States | Carrier Dome |
| October 10, 1981 | Uniondale | United States | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| October 11, 1981 | Providence | United States | Providence Civic Center |
| October 12, 1981 | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum |
| October 13, 1981 | Hampton | United States | Hampton Coliseum |
| October 15, 1981 | Jacksonville | United States | Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 11,512 / 11,512 | $114,530 |
| October 16, 1981 | Birmingham | United States | BJCC Coliseum | | |
| October 17, 1981 | Atlanta | United States | Omni Coliseum | | |
| October 18, 1981 | Columbia | United States | Carolina Coliseum | | |
| October 20, 1981 | Charlotte | United States | Charlotte Coliseum |
| October 21, 1981 | Savannah | United States | Martin Luther King Jr. Arena |
| October 22, 1981 | Lakeland | United States | Jenkins Arena | 20,000 / 20,000 | $199,318 |
| October 23, 1981 | Lakeland | United States | Jenkins Arena | 20,000 / 20,000 | $199,318 |
| October 24, 1981 | Pembroke Pines | United States | Hollywood Sportatorium |
| October 27, 1981 | Knoxville | United States | Knoxville Civic Coliseum |
| October 28, 1981 | Nashville | United States | Municipal Auditorium | 9,900 / 9,900 | $98,460 |
| October 30, 1981 | Memphis | United States | Mid-South Coliseum | 11,632 / 11,632 | $122,136 |
| October 31, 1981 | Mobile | United States | Municipal Auditorium |
| November 1, 1981 | Baton Rouge | United States | LSU Assembly Center |
| November 3, 1981 | Oklahoma City | United States | Myriad Convention Center | 14,735 / 14,735 | $159,357 |
| November 5, 1981 | Houston | United States | The Summit | 34,904 / 34,904 | $377,577 |
| November 6, 1981 | Houston | United States | The Summit | 34,904 / 34,904 | $377,577 |
| November 7, 1981 | Dallas | United States | Reunion Arena | 38,025 / 38,025 | $453,719 |
| November 8, 1981 | Dallas | United States | Reunion Arena | 38,025 / 38,025 | $453,719 |
| November 10, 1981 | Albuquerque | United States | Tingley Coliseum |
| November 11, 1981 | Amarillo | United States | Cal Farley Coliseum |
| November 13, 1981 | Las Cruces | United States | Pan American Center |
| November 14, 1981 | Tucson | United States | Tucson Arena |
| November 15, 1981 | Phoenix | United States | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| November 21, 1981 | San Diego | United States | San Diego Sports Arena |
| November 22, 1981 | Inglewood | United States | The Forum | 70,000 / 70,000 | $729,018 |
| November 23, 1981 | Inglewood | United States | The Forum | 70,000 / 70,000 | $729,018 |
| November 24, 1981 | Inglewood | United States | The Forum | 70,000 / 70,000 | $729,018 |
| November 25, 1981 | Inglewood | United States | The Forum | 70,000 / 70,000 | $729,018 |
| November 29, 1981 | Fresno | United States | Ratcliffe Stadium |
| November 30, 1981 | Daly City | United States | Cow Palace | 41,710 / 41,710 | $443,346 |
| December 1, 1981 | Daly City | United States | Cow Palace | 41,710 / 41,710 | $443,346 |
| December 2, 1981 | Daly City | United States | Cow Palace | 41,710 / 41,710 | $443,346 |
| December 3, 1981 | Pocatello | United States | Minidome |
| December 4, 1981 | Seattle | United States | Seattle Center Coliseum | 44,910 / 44,910 | $538,920 |
| December 5, 1981 | Seattle | United States | Seattle Center Coliseum | 44,910 / 44,910 | $538,920 |
| December 6, 1981 | Seattle | United States | Seattle Center Coliseum | 44,910 / 44,910 | $538,920 |
| December 7, 1981 | Portland | United States | Memorial Coliseum |
| December 8, 1981 | Portland | United States | Memorial Coliseum |
| December 10, 1981 | Oakland | United States | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum |
| December 11, 1981 | Daly City | United States | Cow Palace |
| December 12, 1981 | Daly City | United States | Cow Palace |
| December 21, 1981 | Honolulu | United States | Neal S. Blaisdell Arena |
| December 22, 1981 | Honolulu | United States | Neal S. Blaisdell Arena |
| Asia ||||||
| April 9, 1982 | Fukuoka | Japan | Sun Palace Hall |
| April 11, 1982 | Kyoto | Japan | Kyoto Kaikan |
| April 12, 1982 | Osaka | Japan | Festival Hall |
| April 13, 1982 | Osaka | Japan | Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium |
| April 14, 1982 | Nagoya | Japan | Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium |
| April 16, 1982 | Tokyo | Japan | Nippon Budokan |
| April 17, 1982 | Yokohama | Japan | Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium |
| North America ||||||
| April 23, 1982 | Vancouver | Canada | Pacific Coliseum |
| April 25, 1982 | Edmonton | Canada | Northlands Coliseum | 17,178 / 18,117 | $214,787 |
| April 26, 1982 | Calgary | Canada | Stampede Corral | 7,500 / 7,500 | $101,105 |
| April 28, 1982 | Winnipeg | Canada | Winnipeg Arena | 14,646 / 17,230 | $172,116 |
| April 30, 1982 | Toronto | Canada | Maple Leaf Gardens | 12,792 / 19,307 | $151,146 |
| May 1, 1982 | Buffalo | United States | Memorial Auditorium | 17,293 / 17,293 | $176,046 |
| May 3, 1982 | Boston | United States | Boston Garden | 31,000 / 31,000 | $371,242 |
| May 4, 1982 | Boston | United States | Boston Garden | 31,000 / 31,000 | $371,242 |
| May 6, 1982 | East Rutherford | United States | Brendan Byrne Arena | 41,224 / 41,224 | $482,646 |
| May 7, 1982 | East Rutherford | United States | Brendan Byrne Arena | 41,224 / 41,224 | $482,646 |
| May 8, 1982 | Landover | United States | Capital Centre | 18,896 / 18,896 | $200,109 |
| May 10, 1982 | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum | 37,226 / 37,226 | $441,203 |
| May 11, 1982 | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum | 37,226 / 37,226 | $441,203 |
| May 13, 1982 | Richfield | United States | Richfield Coliseum | 37,221 / 37,221 | $465,262 |
| May 14, 1982 | Richfield | United States | Richfield Coliseum | 37,221 / 37,221 | $465,262 |
| May 15, 1982 | Detroit | United States | Joe Louis Arena | 39,900 / 39,900 | $461,316 |
| May 16, 1982 | Detroit | United States | Joe Louis Arena | 39,900 / 39,900 | $461,316 |
| May 18, 1982 | Louisville | United States | Freedom Hall | 19,400 / 19,400 | $217,548 |
| May 19, 1982 | Indianapolis | United States | Market Square Arena | 18,178 / 18,178 | $197,945 |
| May 21, 1982 | Rosemont | United States | Rosemont Horizon | 73,080 / 73,080 | $865,833 |
| May 22, 1982 | Rosemont | United States | Rosemont Horizon | 73,080 / 73,080 | $865,833 |
| May 23, 1982 | Rosemont | United States | Rosemont Horizon | 73,080 / 73,080 | $865,833 |
| May 24, 1982 | Rosemont | United States | Rosemont Horizon | 73,080 / 73,080 | $865,833 |
| May 27, 1982 | Denver | United States | McNichols Arena | 33,900 / 36,000 | $424,301 |
| May 28, 1982 | Denver | United States | McNichols Arena | 33,900 / 36,000 | $424,301 |
| May 29, 1982 | Salt Lake City | United States | Salt Palace | 26,259 / 26,318 | $244,222 |
| May 30, 1982 | Salt Lake City | United States | Salt Palace | 26,259 / 26,318 | $244,222 |
| June 2, 1982 | Portland | United States | Memorial Coliseum |
| June 3, 1982 | Portland | United States | Memorial Coliseum |
| June 4, 1982 | Portland | United States | Memorial Coliseum |
| June 12, 1982 | Dallas | United States | Cotton Bowl | 64,945 / 70,000 | $1,199,310 |
| June 13, 1982 | Houston | United States | Astrodome | 65,000 / 65,000 | $1,160,504 |
| June 26, 1982 | Oakland | United States | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 57,500 / 57,500 | $957,851 |
| July 2, 1982 | Pasadena | United States | Rose Bowl | 83,214 / 90,000 | $1,373,031 |

## Personnel

* Steve Perry – lead vocals, keyboards, piano
* Neal Schon – lead guitar, backing vocals
* Ross Valory – bass, backing vocals
* Jonathan Cain – keyboards, piano, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
* Steve Smith – drums, percussion