Neal Schon, a band member, wrote on social media: “George…I appreciate the music.
“Journey Junkies, I have some very sad news,” said guitarist and singer Neal Schon in a Facebook post with pictures of Tickner. George Tickner, who played rhythm guitar for Journey’s first three albums and contributed to songwriting on those albums, has passed away. Age-wise, he was 76. Good luck, George, and thanks for the music. We shall always remember you on this page in our tributes.
He stated, “Our sympathies go out to his family, friends, and all former and current band members. “Such tragic news. Really tragic. JJ’s, I believe it’s time for a collective hug! 😭🙏😢🎸💔🎶🕊️”
Dr. George Tickner, please take a lovely rest,” Schon wrote. Thank you for your immeasurable contributions to Journey’s formative years; you will be sorely missed. He quit Journey in order to receive a full scholarship to Stanford University, where he received his PhD. Sir, soar freely above the stars.
Herbie Herbert, the band’s manager, is standing by to welcome you, Schon stated as he concluded the message.
No specific cause of death was given.
Tickner, who was born in Syracuse, New York on September 8, 1946, started his musical career on July 22, 1967, when he performed with the band Frumious Bandersnatch at a festival named The Fantastic Flight of The Mystic Balloon in Lafayette. The band earned notoriety in the San Francisco Bay area.
In order to create Journey, Tickner and Valory joined up with Schon, fellow Santana veteran Gregg Rolie, Ross Valory on bass, and Prairie Prince on drums.
They performed their first public gig on New Year’s Eve in front of 10,000 people at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, according to Variety.
Later, the progressive rock group would develop into one of the 1980s’ top pop-rock performers.
In addition to the band’s second and third albums, Look Into the Future and Next, which have 25 gold and platinum albums, a 15-time platinum RIAA Diamond Certified greatest hits compilation, and classic hits like “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Any Way You Want It” in their wake, Tickner contributed as a cowriter and musician to the band’s self-titled debut album in 1975, which peaked at No. 138 on the charts.
According to Ultimate Classic Rock, Tickner founded a recording studio called the Hive alongside Valory after leaving the group in 1977 to pursue a career in medicine. Tickner obtained a Ph.D. at Stanford Medical School around this time.
According to Music Times, Rolie stated in the liner notes of Journey’s Time3 box set, “He came up with chordings I have never heard.” He would de-tune his strings and create these voicings that no one else could because of his enormous hands.
Tickner and Journey got back together in 2005 for their Hollywood Walk of Fame induction.
