George Tickner: A Lifelong Seeker of Harmonic Truth. His Spirit Now Sings with the Stars

George Tickner was an American musician known for his instrumental role as the original rhythm guitarist in the rock band Journey, which would later gain worldwide fame.

Tickner was born on September 8, 1946, in Syracuse, New York. A passion for music was evident in him from an early age. After playing in various local bands during his youth, Tickner moved to San Francisco in the late 60s, where he joined the rock band Frumious Bandersnatch along with Ross Valory and Prairie Prince.

This band was the seed for what would eventually become Journey. In 1973, with the addition of Gregg Rolie and Neal Schon from Santana, the newly-formed band secured a contract with Columbia Records. Tickner was part of Journey's debut self-titled album released in 1975, but he left the band before the release of their second album to attend Stanford University, where he studied medicine.

After leaving the band, Tickner largely stayed out of the public eye. However, his influence on Journey and the San Francisco rock scene is undoubted, with his early work contributing to the band's unique blend of progressive rock and pop that would later lead them to huge commercial success.

Tickner spent his later years practicing medicine and living a quiet life away from the limelight. Despite his brief career in music, he made an indelible mark on rock history. His death on July 5, 2023, deeply affected the music world, which mourned the loss of a humble, yet impactful, pioneer. He is survived by his family, who continue to cherish his memory and the contributions he made to the music world.