Tickner’s Last Tune: A Journey Cut Short
In a world where rock stars are immortalized, George Tickner, the rhythm guitarist, and co-founder of the legendary band Journey, has dared to be mortal. At the ripe old age of 76, Tickner strummed his last chord, leaving the stage for the final time. The news of his demise was confirmed by Neal Schon, the leader, and guitarist of Journey, who kept the cause of Tickner’s death as mysterious as a backstage pass in true rock star fashion. Listen to a Journey song George Kickner co-wrote off their self-titled debut:
The Final Riff: George Tickner’s Swan Song
Tickner’s contribution to Journey was as significant as a guitar solo in a rock anthem. He lent his talents to Journey’s inaugural studio album, Journey, and was a key contributor to the songwriting process for their second and third studio albums, Look into the Future and Next. However, in a plot twist worthy of a rock opera, Tickner traded his guitar for a stethoscope, leaving the band to attend Stanford Medical School on a full scholarship.
The Road Less Travelled
Tickner’s decision to leave the limelight for the lecture halls of Stanford Medical School is as rare as a drummer keeping perfect time. Not every day, a rock star decides to swap a life of adoring fans and endless touring for textbooks and medical exams. But Tickner isn’t the only one to have made such a drastic career shift. Other musicians, like Jeff “Skunk” Baxter of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers fame, have also left successful music careers to pursue different paths. Baxter is now a defense consultant and chairs a Congressional Advisory Board on missile defense.
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