journey steve perry vs arnel pineda

Why Journey’s Arnel Pineda is Incomparable to Steve Perry

Which Journey Singer Is Better?

It was around 1998 when Steve Perry was dropped out as the frontman of one of the greatest classic rock group Journey. Even though Steve Perry was the very reason that the band had its greatest hits and success in the mid-late ’80s, his replacements did well also in the charts and even on tour. In 2007, after Perry left the group there was an immediate replacement and it was Steve Augeri, though due to a chronic throat infection, Augeri was replaced by a Filipino singer Arnel Pineda whom they found on youtube. Journey original members and co-founders, Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain flew Pineda all the way from Manila to the states so he can have his audition for the position as the new frontman of the band, and of course, he won the part.

But why is it that Arnel Pineda is incomparable to Steve Perry? Well to answer that question – Steve Perry is Journey. Steve was the best then, though his voice has changed due to age. Arnel Pineda brings a new life and refreshes Journey songs for this generation of rock fans so that they can experience Journey ‘s music and enjoy it. Journey was Steve Perry but then again, Journey is about its music now and that is why Arnel Pineda is a perfect fit for the band today. There is absolutely no comparison, it was because of Steve Perry why Journey became famous. You might say that Arnel Pineda can take on Perry today, but back in the day though, Steve has so much power and in a more relaxed way – not forced.

As much as the fact that Steve Perry is gone is hard to accept, we have to face it. They needed the replacement and they found a perfect one. Yup, Arnel is great (and no one can say he isn’t) but you can’t just go around saying that he beat the original. He may not be Steve but he does the job pretty well on his own. That being said, let’s just enjoy the music.

What about you, which was the better singer? Tell us what you think.

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13 Things We Learned Hanging Out With Steve Perry

By Andy Greene

Andy Greene

It’s a punishingly hot August day and Steve Perry is tucked into a corner table at a Lower Manhattan Italian spot taking a quick breather between a long round of radio interviews promoting Traces , his new comeback album that he spent the last five years recording in such secrecy that he made everyone on his team sign strict NDAs. He’s no more than two minutes into our conversation, barely enough time to dip a single piece of bread into olive oil and take a bite, when he stands up and announces he has to leave at once. There’s loud dance pop playing on the radio and it’s driving him crazy.

“This is very distracting,” he says, as a large, tattooed bodyguard and two publicists perched near the bar look on. “I’m hearing drums and rhythm. I have a very ADD, multi-track mind and I can’t listen to two things at once. I just hear these electronic drums. Let’s go outside even though it’s going to be a little sticky.”

With the bodyguard in tow, we head onto the street towards a park overlooking the Hudson River. It’s a complete shift from our plan for the afternoon, but Perry has never been one to stick to a script. Ignoring the desperate pleas of his bandmates, management team and fans, he walked away from Journey near the pinnacle of their success in 1987 to live a quiet life free from screaming crowds and record executives thirsty for another hit. And even when Journey-mania returned again in the mid-2000s and “Don’t Stop Believin'” became absolutely inescapable — used everywhere from the The Sopranos finale to Glee  — he refused to emerge from hiding in any way, allowing his former bandmates to reap the hefty rewards by playing about 70 shows a year with a soundalike they plucked from YouTube.

Dressed head-to-toe in black, Perry walks down the city streets, past throngs of tourists that don’t give him a second look, and attempts to explain why he turned in his rock star card over 30 years ago. “It seemed like the only thing I could do to stop some of the badness in my heart and the lack of passion for singing,” he says. “I just had to stop. I was feeling like a forced version of myself, getting into some bad habits and not connecting to my heart. I was completely deep-fried.”

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Rolling Stone published an extensive feature on Perry’s life earlier this month, but there was still a lot we learned that didn’t fit into the piece. Here are 13 of them.

1. He became interested in spiritual matters during his lost years. “I don’t attend any religious practices and I’m not religious,” he explains. “But I’ve devoted a lot of time to people like Joseph Campbell who opened the doors to all the theologists that I have opinions about now. It took a lot of open-mindedness to rewire my thinking about so many things. It needed to happen. They say that every seven years your body completely changes, that every cell in your body is no longer the same. There’s a metamorphoses. And right now, I’m more open-minded to the idea of not knowing the answers to all things.”

2. He has a crystal-clear memory of the moment they wrote “Don’t Stop Believin.'” “I know everyone has their own opinion about this,” he says. “I don’t know what Jonathan [Cain] thinks, but I remember it starting out in a warehouse in Oakland where we had a rehearsal space. I suggested we needed something with eighths on the piano because I always liked songs that began like that. It flowed from there. We were all in the room. It was me, Jonathan and Neal [Schon]. It was a true group effort. Then I went to Jonathan’s house and we wrote the lyrics together. There’s no one genius to any one moment. If you’re in a band, what you do is a group effort.”

3. Contrary to widespread rumor, he’s never suffered any vocal issues. “I have my vocal box checked all the time,” he says. “I have no nodules on it. I have a really good doctor. She sticks a camera down my nose. I call it the garden hose. It goes down to the vocal chords and then she grabs my tongue and I have to go, ‘Eeeeeee.’ She’s really able to see them well and, knock on wood, nothing wrong with my voice. The only thing is I didn’t really use if for a while, but it’s like working out when you begin using it again.”

4. His mother pushed him return to Journey in 1985 after he’d taken a long break to focus on his solo career. “I was ready to leave the group because she was so sick,” he says. “She couldn’t speak because she’d had so many strokes. She was also pretty quadriplegic at that point, but she loved my music. I asked her what she thought about it, whether I should make another solo record or go back to Journey. She said one word: ‘Journey.’ I went, ‘Are you sure? Mom, this means I won’t be around you much. Again she just said, ‘Journey.’ Then she died during the making of the record. I dedicated it to her.”

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5. The “corporate rock” label that Journey was stuck with still baffles him. “That was amazing to me,” he says. “Any band that came to America, whether it was Led Zeppelin or anybody, would incorporate in order to create a tax shelter and not leave penniless. The way to do that legally is to form a corporation. Everybody did that, but we got stuck with the label. Isn’t that fascinating?”

6. He enjoyed meeting Arnel Pineda at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2017. “He’s a sweet kid,” he says. “We talked for a while backstage. It was really fun.”

7. But he never even considered singing with Journey at the Hall of Fame. “I heard a rumor that the invitation was open,” he says. “But I’m not the singer in the band anymore. Arnel is. He’s been in the band for ten years. I just wanted to come and thank everybody for everything, including Arnel.”

8. He was the last one in Journey to give his approval for The Sopranos to use “Don’t Stop Believin.'” “I wasn’t too excited by the possibility that it might be used when someone is whacked,” he says. “Everyone else was okay with it, but I wanted to know more. So the girl who sub-licenses my music kept on asking David Chase’s people if they could tell us a little more. But since it was the last sequence in the entire show, they were a little tight with information. I told them I wouldn’t say yes unless they told me that nobody got whacked, which is how [Martin] Scorsese would have used it. So I just waited and Thursday afternoon my girl calls and says she just spoke to David Chase’s people and they told me how it ends, but I couldn’t tell anybody. They didn’t tell me the screen turns to black, but they told me everything else. And I said okay that Thursday and it aired on Sunday.”

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9. Baseball gives him the same sort of satisfaction today that he used to get from music. “The electronic aspect of music just started wearing me out,” he says. “There’s not a lot of live musicians being played on the radio anymore. But when I’m watching baseball, these guys walk out there and hit, play, catch, run…I mean, they’re just killing it. There’s no auto-tune for baseball. They have to play. The musicianship of the music industry used to be that way.”

10. If he does tour, expect to hear a lot of Journey songs. “I don’t know if a tour will happen,” he says. “Right now it’s premature to even guess. But there would be no way in the world I’d go out there and not sing Journey music too. It would be solo and Journey together. But those songs are vocally challenging. They’re challenging for Arnel and everyone else. They’re not easy. They were challenging for me when I wrote the damn melodies, but back then I was young and in my olympic singer mode. [Barbra] Streisand lowers the keys when she does her old songs. There’s nothing wrong with lowering a key We’re not spring chickens.”

11. His time out of the spotlight after he left Journey in 1987 reinvigorated him . “I went back to my hometown and reconnected with old friends,” he says. “I bought a Harley Davidson and rode it around the country roads of my youth. I let the wind hit my face and my hair blowed behind me. There were no helmet laws back then. I disappeared. I went to the fair in the summer. I went to movies. I had dinner with friends. I had relationships. I lived.”

12. Money was never really an issue after he left the band. “I wrote every single song with members of the band with the exception, I think, of one,” he says. “And those songs kept selling. I don’t eat out a lot. I only drive one car a time. I live kind of small, so financially I never really had to work. There were certainly some sweet [royalty] checks as the years went by, but I’ll tell you something else: I was probably one of the only guys who saved his money. A lot of people were living very extravagant lifestyles. I was not raised that way. My grandfather said to me when I was very young, ‘It’s not how much you make, it’s how much you save.’ So I lived small and saved my money.”

13. When pushed, he refuses to make a Shermanesque statement that he’ll never, under any circumstances, return to Journey, even though it’s highly unlikely. “The only thing I’m willing to be definitive about is that at this age I am right now, I have to do things that I feel really great about, that feel life-sustaining and give me passion,” he says. “I really want to continue to move forward. I’m not too excited about going backwards. I’m more excited about moving forward to what is next. I’ve already written a lot more new material, in fact.”

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Arnel Pineda on JOURNEY’s Potential Reunion with Steve Perry and Career Impact

via GIGS / YouTube

In a chat with Rolling Stone, Arnel Pineda, the frontman of the iconic band Journey, shared his thoughts on the possibility of reuniting with the former lead singer, Steve Perry. Pineda, known for his upbeat personality and powerful vocals, revealed his openness to the idea, sparking excitement among fans.

Dreamy Encounter with an Icon: Arnel Meets Steve Perry

Expressing his amazement at the unexpected encounter with Perry, Pineda shared,

“I posted on Instagram that I had waited 35 years for that. It was dreamy. I couldn’t believe I met him since he’s very reclusive and he avoids people.”

Pineda reflected on the profound influence Perry had on him, stating,

“He’s one of my heroes when it comes to singing. I remember back in the ’80s, I would sleep on the bus with my Walkman on in my ears as his voice sang all these favorite songs from Journey.”

  View this post on Instagram Modafinil 5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;”>   A post shared by Journey (@journeyofficial)

A Career Sacrifice for the Love of Perry and Journey

When asked about the possibility of Perry’s return and the impact on his role in the band, Pineda responded,

“I miss them so much together. Every now and then, I watch their videos together. It’s always them with Steve Perry that I watch.”

Acknowledging the sentiment of fans who proclaim, “No Perry, No Journey,” Pineda sympathized,

“I understand it. Where I come from, we’re so influenced by Western music. We loved the originals, if you know what I mean.”

Addressing the potential impact on his career, Pineda shared a surprising perspective,

“That would be OK to me! I’m telling you. That’s how much I adore him and I adore Journey and how much I adore Steve Perry.”

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Retro and Nostalgia Creator (@70sandbeyond)

Anticipation for the Future: Pineda’s Genuine Enthusiasm

Recounting a personal anecdote, Pineda revealed,

“Back in 2005, I resigned from my job in Hong Kong because I lost my voice due to acid reflux. I was telling my friends back then that my only regret was I lost my voice before I had the chance to sing side-by-side with Steve Perry.”

He continued,

“I just wish that one show with him… it would change my life forever. It’s been 30 years now, and the band keeps changing my life in ways nobody would ever guess would happen.”

Arnel Pineda’s genuine admiration for Steve Perry and his eagerness for a potential reunion add a layer of anticipation to Journey’s future. As fans speculate on what could be, Pineda’s words reflect the profound impact that music and collaboration can have on an artist’s journey, transcending the boundaries of time.

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The Reason Steve Perry Decided To Leave His Journey Band Members

• Steve Perry left Journey the first time due to feeling burnt out after their final show in 1987.
• Perry left Journey a second (and final) time because of debilitating pain caused by a reported hiking accident.
• Journey continued without Perry though, finding other lead singers before ultimately reuniting and releasing new music.

Throughout the '80s, the band Journey enjoyed plenty of success. The band, which consisted of various members depending on the year and pending lawsuits, welcomed Steve Perry in 1977.

At the time, the other members of Journey included Neal Schon, Ross Valory, George Tickner, Prairie Prince, and Gregg Rolie. Though many band members came and went over the years, Steve Perry always seemed like a staple, one of the central attractions as far as drawing crowds (and rounding out the group's vocals).

But by then, Perry had launched a solo act, and at that point, he and Schon weren't getting along very well, either. That resulted in Steve leaving the band (for the first time).

Journey's Legacy Took A Hit After Steve Perry's Reported Lawsuit Against His Former Band Members

Updated April 2024: Many fans were unaware that Steve Perry left Journey because he was dealing with a debilitating degenerative bone condition . It made it hard to do daily routine activities, let alone tour. But, many fans thought that Perry was kicked out of the band so that he could be replaced by Steve Augeri. A fact that the remaining members of Journey denied. They simply believed the music was "bigger than them" and wanted to continue to tour. These days, Journey is still touring, without Perry, with Arnel Pineda on the lead vocals . Tickets are available for their tour, currently taking place in North America.

Why Steve Perry Left Journey The First Time

Steve perry left journey because he was burnt out.

As iHeartRadio explained, Perry was feeling burnt out. He said that he had "an amazing time in an amazing band," but that his last show in February of 1987 with the band had been a turning point of sorts. Setting out on his own, Perry went on to rediscover himself in a way, while his former bandmates went another direction.

Steve did come back later, however, in the early '90s. The guys reconciled, buried the hatchet, and were working on another album together. The band was even about to start touring again when Perry left the group for good.

Why Steve Perry Left Journey A Second Time

Steve perry was dealing with debilitating pain, leading him to leave journey a second and final time.

So what happened that caused Steve Perry to leave Journey a second time, this time for good? He had a good reason: UCR says Steve got hurt during a hiking accident . Rather than undergo hip surgery so that he could get back on stage (and on tour), Steve opted to quit the band. The way UCR tells it, Steve "refused" the surgery and "dredged up" memories of his leaving the band before.

But the way some fans saw it (and clearly the journalists at UCR as well), the move was a power play akin to the one Perry apparently made back in the '80s. His leaving the band at that point was a way to control Journey's fate, the publication suggested. So the second time around, the band cut ties with Perry rather than letting him drag them down.

Is Steve Perry Still Feuding With The Rest Of Journey?

Perry later related that he was both physically ill and "burnt out," noted iHeartRadio , and that after both an illustrious career as a member of Journey and a successful solo run, he was just finished. For the band's part, they soon replaced Perry with a 'soundalike' who did the job well enough, but never propelled the band to the notoriety or net worth of The Beatles .

Journey Got Back Together Without Steve Perry

Journey got back together with steve augeri and steve perry put out new music.

In 1998, the band officially announced that Steve was no longer part of Journey. After that, it would be decades before Steve got back into music again. As iHeartRadio quoted him a few years ago, "I rediscovered my love for music."

Steve released a new album in 2018, including original songs he'd written over the past 30 years. He even included a "reimagined cover" of a Beatles hit, but it wasn't the one John Lennon hated .

Has Steve Perry's Bad Blood With His Former Journey Bandmates Stopped Them From Speaking?

After Steve Augeri replaced Perry for eight years, he too called it quits with Journey. That has not stopped the band from touring, however. The band is currently doing a North American tour with Arnel Pineda on the lead vocals. Tickets are available for purchase for dates around the US.

Source: iHeart Radio

Arnel Pineda

Who Is Arnel Pineda?

After a series of unfortunate events in his childhood, Arnel Pineda found success in Asia as the front man for the group The Zoo. In 2007, he was discovered by Journey guitarist Neal Schon, after a series of YouTube videos were posted of him covering American songs, including the famous hit, "Dont Stop Believin'." In December 2007, Pineda became the new lead singer of Journey. His is noted for having a strikingly similar sound to former Journey front man Steve Perry.

Troubled Childhood

Arnel Pineda was born on September 5, 1967, in Sampaloc, Manila, in the Philippines. Throughout his childhood, Pineda endured grave misfortune. When he was just 13 years old, his mother, who was 35 at the time, passed away after a long battle with heart disease. Her medical costs left the family in serious debt, and Pineda's father could no longer provide for Pineda and his three younger brothers, Russmon, Roderick and Joselito.

While relatives were able to take in his brothers, Pineda was left on his own. He spent the next few years homeless, often sleeping outside in public parks and scraping for any food or water that he could afford. When possible, he would stay at a friend's house, who offered him a cot outside. Eventually, Pineda was forced to quit school and take up odd jobs collecting scrap metal and bottles at the pier and selling newspapers to support his family.

Early Career

Pineda's love of music started at a young age. He began singing at just five years old, and had entered many singing contests as a child. In 1982, when he was 15, Pineda was introduced to a local band called Ijos, and was encouraged by his friends to try out as their new lead singer. He sang the Beatles' "Help" and Air Supply's "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All." Although they were concerned with his lack of training, Ijos members were wowed by Pineda's powerful voice, and took him on as the new front man of the band. One of the band member's friends even offered to pay Pineda's salary, 35 pesos a night, out of his own pocket, and Pineda was offered a tiny room to sleep under the guitarist's front stairs.

In 1986, some members of Ijos joined together to form the new pop-rock band Amo. The group found success covering songs by hit groups Heart, Queen and Journey. In 1988, they turned heads when they won the Philippines' leg of the Yamaha World Band Explosion Contest. Although they were disqualified in the finals due to a technicality, the event was broadcast on TV in Asia, widening their fanbase. The band continued performing at popular clubs and arenas around the Philippines.

In 1990, the members re-grouped yet again, under the new name Intensity Five, and re-entered the contest. The band came in as runner up and Pineda won the Best Vocalist Award. After a series of unfortunate health problems in the early '90s, including the brief loss of his voice, Pineda re-emerged in 1999 with a new solo album with Warner Brothers. The self-titled album had several hits in Asia.

After brief stints with a few different bands, Pineda found success again in 2006 with The Zoo, a band that he formed with Monet Cajipe, a guitarist/songwriter who had been in all his bands during over the previous 20 years. The Zoo performed at several popular clubs in the area and, in 2007, released an album by MCA Universal titled Zoology . Soon the band began covering songs by groups such as Journey, Survivor, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles and more, with more than 200 performances uploaded to YouTube.

On June 28, 2007, Neal Schon, guitarist and member of the band Journey, saw a video of Pineda on YouTube and immediately contacted him. The band had been looking for a new lead singer, and Pineda's voice sounded strikingly similar to Steve Perry, Journey's legendary former front man. After speaking with Schon on the phone, Pineda made arrangements to fly to the United States and audition with the band in San Francisco. On December 5, 2007, Pineda was welcomed as the band's new lead singer.

Right away, Pineda went on tour with the band, performing two shows in Chile and two in Las Vegas. Both were a huge success. After a series of guest show appearances and magazine features, Pineda gained popularity within the American public. On June 3, 2008, the newly organized Journey released their first album, Revelation , which came in at No. 5 on the U.S. charts. The album was their highest charting album since Trial by Fire (with Steve Perry), and reached platinum status by October 2008.

Soon after the album's release, the band continued touring around the world with Pineda. The documentary, Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey , slated to be released in 2012, will chronicle the band's "Revelation Tour," and Pineda's first years with the band.

Personal Life

When he is not on tour, Pineda resides in the Philippines with his wife, Cherry, their children, Cherub and Thea. He has two other sons—Matthew, 19, and Angelo, 13—from past relationships.

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Arnel Pineda
• Birth Year: 1967
• Birth date: September 5, 1967
• Birth City: Sampaloc, Manila
• Birth Country: Philippines
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Arnel Pineda is best known as the new lead singer for the rock group Journey.
• Astrological Sign: Virgo
• Nacionalities

CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Arnel Pineda Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/arnel-pineda
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: July 20, 2020
• Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

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ARNEL PINEDA Says STEVE PERRY Is 'The Only True Voice Of JOURNEY'

JOURNEY frontman Arnel Pineda has released a video message for the band's former singer Steve Perry , who will be celebrating his 70th birthday on January 22.

"To the one-of-a-kind and only true voice of JOURNEY , happy, happy birthday!" Pineda said in an Instagram video that had the hashtag #HappyBirthdayStevePerry. "Thank you for your voice, Steve ," Pineda added.

This past fall, Pineda told the Arizona Republic that he was thrilled to meet Perry at the group's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction in April 2017.

"Like I claim on my [ Instagram ] post, I waited 35 years for that," Pineda said. "And, of course, it was one of the most momentous days of my life. It's like meeting the pope, you know? He's one of my heroes when it comes to music — one of the few singers that I have adored all these years, along with Robert Plant and Ann Wilson ."

Asked what he and Perry talked about that day, Pineda laughed and said: "Oh, just some random things, you know. We were just talking about the gig — How is it? How do I feel? And he joked to me, saying, 'Are the boys treating you nice? If not, I'm gonna call them and straighten them out,' you know?"

Although Pineda did not get inducted with his bandmates, he did get up and join them at the Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, singing "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Lights" . He was talked into appearing by JOURNEY 's manager John Baruck .

"For the record, I never really wanted to be there because I respect Mr. Steve Perry so much and I think that Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction, that's for them, you know?" Arnel said. "It's for the band and not for me. I was really adamant about not being there.

"And then it was so gracious for Steve Perry that he doesn't want to sing and said that it should be me that should be singing with the band," Pineda continued. "I said, 'It's not right. It should be them playing together and singing together. I was kind of shaky. I mean, how would you feel when your hero is watching you singing his legacy?"

Last year, Perry told SiriusXM that he didn't perform with JOURNEY at the Rock Hall ceremony because he is "not in the band. I haven't been in the band for quite some time," he explained. " Arnel 's been in the band for almost 10 years, I think. He's a sweet kid — he's a wonderful kid. He sings his heart out every night. It's his gig."

As for meeting Pineda before the induction, Perry said: "There was something endearing about the way he looked at me. He was meeting, like, a grandfather. [ Laughs ] He's got the gig. It's his gig. He's doing great."

According to Deadline , Arnel 's life story will be the subject of a new movie, to be helmed by "Crazy Rich Asians" director Jon M. Chu .

Born in the Philippines, Pineda has been fronting the legendary rockers since 2007 when JOURNEY guitarist Neal Schon discovered him leading a Manila cover band on YouTube .

View this post on Instagram #HappyBirthdayStevePerry A post shared by arnel c. pineda (@arnelpineda2007) on Jan 17, 2019 at 4:07pm PST

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Arnel Pineda Says Steve Perry Can Have His Journey Job Back

Journey singer Arnel Pineda -- who just months ago vehemently denied rumors he was looking to leave the group -- has once again raised eyebrows by publicly stating that former singer Steve Perry "should come back" and "take over his righteous place" fronting the band.

After Perry performed with the Eels on Sunday (the inside story of which can be found here ), a fan tweeted the YouTube video to Pineda, who engaged the woman in conversation.

"He should come back. His voice us still there..missed that voice." He later added , "He can take over too. It's his righteous place anyway..wanna see them happy together."

This echoes words Pineda made back in April when he announced that he was recording a solo album. “I’d be more than happy to give way," he said , adding, "As long as they need me, I will be there. I’m never gonna quit on them.”

On Tuesday, he tweeted , "Let me be clear. I took Journey's leap of faith coz they generously gave it to me. Yet, I'll never be addicted to fame."

Pineda hopes to have his solo album out later this year. He was rumored to have been wanting out of Journey back in February, citing the demands that their touring schedule places on his family. However he quickly sent Ultimate Classic Rock a statement denying those reports on February 7. It read:

“I am as happy to be in Journey today as I was when I first joined the group. Next to my family in Manila, Journey is my family. When I’m not working, I spend time at home with my wife and kids, and my Foundation. Now, I am busy preparing for our tour with Steve Miller Band and Tower of Power. I wish whoever is making up these lies would put their time to good use and stop spreading these false stories.” – Arnel Pineda

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JOURNEY Drummer on Arnel Pineda’s Recent Vocal ‘Struggles’: “He’s Not A STEVE PERRY Clone”

• May 12, 2022
• 2 minute read

With JOURNEY releasing new album this year, all eyes are on their singer Arnel Pineda.

It was reported by the band that Pineda has been struggling with live shows and the problem has been resolved by recruiting a vocal coach to help Pineda adopt a more efficient approach to singing.

This was addressed by drummer Dean Castronovo in a new interview with Ultimate Classic Rock .

Here’s what Dean said:

“He’s been struggling, and we brought a vocal coach out who is fantastic. He came out and was coaching Arnel with how to deliver a little bit differently. A lot of it was mental as well as physical, but once we got [a new] soundman and once things got turned down and he was able to hear, [everything was different]. To think that he’s been struggling with this for 14 years, he said. I had no idea. I think it was something that he didn’t know if he had the liberty to say, ‘Hey, I need to fix this’ or ‘You guys need to try something different here,’ either get a new soundman or whatever. But once we got this guy, Tom, everything changed. He’s a different guy. [Pineda’s] a different guy. Oh, my God, it blew us away. I think it’s been 15 shows since that [change], and every night, he sounds amazing.

“Before, he was always trying his best and he would get there, but it was just him not being able to hear. Once they got that fixed, you can see the weight lifted off the kid. He’s just happy again. He and I are goofing around onstage, probably more than we should. [Laughs] We were goofing off all night because it’s just like a weight has been lifted. To have that kind of pressure stuck on you and not knowing what to do, it’s like, ‘How come I can’t do this?’ That’s what it took.”

Dean further talked about Pineda’s vocals on the upcoming album, saying:

“It’s definitely not your typical Journey [music] or ‘Escape’, ‘Frontiers’, or even ‘Revelation’. Arnel’s vocals on this … . There are songs on there, I was listening and going, ‘Who is that singing?’ I really did. I forget what the song was, but [I thought] that doesn’t even sound like Arnel, because he took it to a totally different place. I never knew that he could sing like that. He had that really bluesy, thick and syrupy blues thing. He’s really come into his own. It sounds amazing. He’s definitely not the Steve Perry clone. He’s made this stuff his own.”

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46 comments.

There will never be anyone that can sing anywhere near as good as Steve Perry. I don’t care what sound man or voice coach you have!!!

Steve Perry is gone!! Move on people!!….

Yeah he is GONE he ABANDONED Journey

He didn’t abandoned Journey. His hips were done he couldn’t tour anymore. We are not in the band so really we only know what we hear. Let’s be honest Journey is no angel they smuggled Perry in when their lead singer went to washroom to hear him sing then gassed the original singer lol

you are right without Ariel Journey can’t survive.

He didn’t at all he had health issue and the band got rid because Perry couldn’t tour at the time. In any profession no matter what it is health comes first, Perry did the right thing for himself

No, Steve Perry will always be Journey

Perry can never be Arnel too!

Of course I know that Steve is American Portuguese and Arnel is Filipino 🤣

I’m a Steve Perry fan but I wonder if he can still sing the way he used to sing now that he’s old. I doubt it! 🤔😏

Steve Perry is still Steve Perry. a very distinctive voice in the likes of Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra et alia

also we don’t call people “old”

with respect to a very talented gifted kind singer like Steve Perry, his voice is still there at an older age 🙏

Your musical evolution might stagnate if you insist on adhering to outdated principles, refusing to embrace change even when your favored artist is no longer capable of providing entertainment through singing and performing.

Hahahahaa! Nah ! Steve is super …. But Arnel has been putting it out there for waaay longer than Steve ever did…Steve eft in his own to “Make it bigger” on his own… No need bash Arnel or anyone who admires Steve just as much as Arnel does…. Just saying facts…

Every singer and everyone of us is unique. There will never be another Steve Perry the same way that there will never be another Arnel Pineda. No one can force you or me what to like. But you should learn to appreciate singers or friends who love the music of Journey especially knowing how hard it is to sing.. so do not put them down especially if they are doing a decent if not better because of your loyalty to SP as a personal preference. Go take a hike sonewhere else if you don’t like the the journey now

Amen to that

YOUR PERRY ABANDONED JOURNEY.. AND THERE’S PINEDA THAT CAN’T SING LIKE YOUR PERRY BUT BETTER THAN YOUR PERRY!

A 74 years Old Perry vs Arnel Now ! Ha ha ha You make me Laugh about 30 kilos!😅🤣

Absolutely correct!

Once Neal stopped drowning everyone else out…….

Arnold is no Steve Perry and never will be

Schwarzenegger?!? Of course not!😂

I totally agree, he isn’t a Steve Perry clone, he’s a Steve Perry impersonator.

Really people? C’mon, don’t be too harsh on Arnel. It’s never been his interntion to impersonate or clone Steve Perry. He didn’t even apply to be a band member. He was discovered because they clearly saw his talent!

Steve Perry got hurt. His hips were giving him trouble. The group is not the same anymore. Steve Perry made Journey. Without his voice, journey would not be the same.

I won’t even watch any of Journey’s video’s or listen to any of the music post Perry !!!! Journey is dead to me !! R.I.P Journey !!!

Let’s hear it for Journey’s sake and how he’s changed his singing approach!

Haters, (or more like racists?) your idol (Steve Perry) has long been done. Gone. Move on.

How the hell is this racist? Stop being a Dumb A**? They should have released an album a long time ago instead of sticking him with Perry music. He needs his own sound, his own music to make popular, not be forced to ride on Perry’s coattails. Neil Schon is the jerk here. Chicago, VanHalen to name a few, changed to fit their lead singers. Journey needs to as well.

No…..He is not…That is not the issue … Arnel IS Arnel who has shown his admiration for Steve…..in person…. and does this job he was hired to do….. Does it with love and strives to do the the Very best that one can… remember that there was a long search for Steves position. Which has allowed Journey as a band to continue doing what they love to do…. Sharing their Music….. and Paying the bills, raising their families….. enjoying life, bringing happiness to thoses whom have llve for Journeysʻ Music……

Very well said!

To all you nay sayers with out Arnel the Journey would have come to an end as it did when they flew to the Philippines to get him. Deen is the only other person that can carry that band vocally. Steve is 74 if you still like the magic of the Journey experience Steve can not do what Arnel does every night!

we just need to broaden our mind. Steve will also be criticized if he will sing for Journey now and not able to deliver fans expectation

What is the name of the new vocal coach? Would love to look him up on YouTube or somewhere on the Internet?

We already pass that level of Steve Perry thing.. that’s given no one like him.. at this stage of their career they don’t need him anymore.. and Perry’s ok with that! He’s just receiving all the royalty of his songs forever..

Arnel does his best to sing these songs and has 3 X the vocal ability that the modern day Steve Perry has. That being said 70’s 80’s Steve Perry is something nobody can sound like these days. Give Arnel a chance….After All These Years is one of my favorite Journey songs of all time…..

Arnel Pineda best ever

Arnel is a Filipino and its not his fault his talent was seen to replace the main vocalist who left. In fairness to Arnel he’s got what it takes otherwise this Journey group has long been disbanded

Dean the drummer should be out of the band!!!

If you are a fan of journey you dont have to spoil or critic anyone when one man out and another one comes in. You must be thankful that somebody like arnel pineda saves to continue the existence of the band journey. When you criticise this guy, who are you? And I challenge you to audition to fill-in the missing guy and replace Arnel Pineda. Can you?

I agree. Arnel Pineda is special. He’s voice is original.

Journey is dead or never exist, you’re old enough .. Arnel is very amazing voice & pilipino singer, without arnel journey band are never heard.

Racist go to hell. Nobody & nobody is perfect in this world. You must be thankful that Arnel Pineda a Filipino singer came to your band to continue your shows for your fans. His voice is fantastic like Steve Perry alive.

Move on people, just enjoy the music

You may crush Mr. Pineda, but you cannot break his spirit! Yes, he’s an outsider, and he doesn’t need to endure your tirades. Fire him! Let him go. Better yet.

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