Journey Island in Second Life:
ROCK ON!
By Dreamingen Writer, Correspondent
Just a small town girl, livin in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin anywhere
Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train goin anywhere...
 —Journey,
“Don’t Stop Believing,” 1981
Among American rock bands, very few have such a devoted fan base as Journey. At the height of their popularity in 1981-1982, Jonathan Cain, Ross Valory, Neal Schon, Steve Perry, and Steve Smith released the album Escape, including the classic song “Don’t Stop Believing.” The album went nine times platinum.
Long-time fan Farrokh Vavoom of Second Life compares the fan base to a large family, “I have been wanting to build a sim that has a real connection to a large family. A place that people would come back to again and again.”
The result? Journey Island, a meeting place for fans, where—with a little luck—you may run into the core of the 2008 Journey lineup, virtual versions of Neal Schon, Ross Valory and Arnel Pineda still going strong. Visit Journey Rock Band (129, 197, 41) in Second Life.
Farrokh, owner of www.industrial-design.com, proposed an island for the fans, “The band really did not know much about SL so I tried to describe in a way that would make sense. They said go for it.”
Farrokh and his real life wife Argus Collingwood launched Journey Island in January 2008 along with a new website and forum. During their first week, they had hundreds of fans signing up. According to Farrokh, “almost 500 unique visitors have visited the island. Many of whom are brand new to Second Life!”
Journey has gone through several incarnations since its inception in San Francisco in 1971. This is reflected in an outdoor gallery on Journey Island with a series of placards depicting each and every band member on the “journey” of Journey. And what a long strange trip it’s been, to quote another famous American rock band.
The current lineup: Neal Schon (guitar), Jonathan Cain (keyboards), Ross Valory (bass), Deen Castronovo (drums) adds the new lead singer, Arnel Pineda. He replaces Jeff Scott Soto, who “parted ways” with the band earlier this year after stepping in for Steve Augeri, who had to leave the band in 2006 for medical reasons, according to the Journey web site.
Deen Castronovo (drums), Neal Schon (guitar), Jonathan Cain (keyboards), Ross Valory (bass), and Arnel Pineda (vocals)
The original band was called the Golden Gate Rhythm Section, a backup group for Bay Area artists. The band rapidly evolved a unique jazz-fusion style and first appeared as “Journey” at the famous Winterland Ballroom on New Year’s Eve, 1973. Along with Escape (1981), some of their better-known albums include Journey (1975), Infinity (1978), Evolution (1979), Frontiers (1983), Trail by Fire (1996), and Generations (2005).
 A complete discography is available on Wikipedia.
In 2005, the band was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame and embarked on a 30th anniversary tour. Generation was their twelfth full-length studio album.
And how is the band reacting to their new Second Life (SL) presence? According to Farrokh, “This is a perfect fit for Second Life and very exciting. Neal Schon, Ross Valory and Arnel Pineda have all made appearances on the island in public which is a first in itself for SL. No other band has done it. Fan reaction is just wild!”
“They pretty much invented the high tech arena shows that are common today with huge sound systems and advanced video screens, and robotic lighting,” says Farrokh, “This was an easy next step for a band as forward-looking as Journey.”
And the fan base? “I can’t tell you how many people come in and say wow! That song is by Journey? People are discovering music that they never realized was done by this band with over thirty years of history,” says Farrokh.
Farrokh’s company is dealing with the legal and royalty issues “right up front.” He says they have a rights-managed radio station on the island and track everything that is played.
Many indie artists perform in SL on a nightly basis. Several big name acts have also streamed into SL, most notably Suzanne Vega. Will Journey perform in SL? Speaking for the band, Farrokh says, “I can see some live events, but no live concerts unless it’s an extension of a RL [real life] concert. The cost would be prohibitive.”
And undoubtedly the number of sims to accommodate the fan base would bring Second Life severs to their knees.
As an early adopter of Second Life, Journey is breaking new ground for a big-name act. A virtual 3D meeting place for fans, and a place to chill, Journey Island promises to be a popular Second life destination. Farrokh captures the spirit of the venture, “We kept it about the art and music of Journey and did not stray, but we also had fun and incorporated many of the visual icons and art associated with this band.”
The Journey Island build itself was a collaborative effort. Farrokh had an initial idea which he ran by Argus and their good friends Jocelyn Sands, a well known DJ in SL, and her husband Adrian Harbinger who is a real-life sculptor. They started building in a very free form manner and let it flow. Farrokh did the terraforming, community planning and building designs. Adrian did all the sculptures. Jocelyn and Argus designed the Album Areas and landscaped the island.
About the Journey Island Build Team
Avatar Farrokh Vavoom and his real life (RL) and SL wife, Argus Collingwood, have owned and operated the two-sim Nanogunk Village for over a year. They offer many services to the SL community. These include building, planning, photography, interior decorating, video, DJ services, and entertainment events.
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