Journey singer Arnel Pineda has placed his fate in the band in the hands of the fans.
The Sampaloc, Philippines-born singer, 57, on Sunday suggested the fans vote if he should remain in the band or not, following a heavily-scrutinized September 15 performance at the Rock in Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Pineda, who has been at the helm of the band since 2007, posted a clip on Facebook in which an ear monitor appeared to malfunction, impacting his performance on the band’s signature hit Don’t Stop Believin’.
Pineda said, ‘No one more than me in this world feels so devastated about this.’
He continued: ‘It’s really amazing how 1 thousand right things you have done will be forgotten just cause of THIS..and of all the place, its in Rock In Rio… mentally and emotionally, I’ve suffered already, and I’m still suffering ..but I’ll be OK….’
Journey singer Arnel Pineda, 57, on Sunday suggested the fans vote if he should remain in the band or not, following a heavily-scrutinized September 15 performance at the Rock in Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Pineda posted a clip on Facebook in which an ear monitor appeared to malfunction, impacting his performance on the band’s signature hit Don’t Stop Believin’
Pineda then made his offer to leave the band if the fans voted him out.
‘So here’s the deal here now..i am offering you a chance now ( especially those who’s hated me and never liked me from the very beginning) to simply text GO or STAY right here,’ he said. ‘And if GO reaches 1million… im stepping out for good..are you game folks? let’s start…’
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Pineda wrapped up in saying, ‘God bless all of you and thank you once again to all of the fans and friends who believed in me.’
Journey guitarist Neal Schon said in the Facebook comment thread, Ultimate Classic Rock reported, ‘Arnel dont listen to these blogs. They are all bought. You’ve kicked a**!’
Pineda said in a 2014 interview with the AP that he would ‘be more than happy to give way’ to the band’s original singer Steve Perry, should he want to come back to the musical ensemble.
‘As long as they need me I will be there, I’m never gonna quit on them,’ he said.
Journey drummer Deen Castronovo told Ultimate Classic Rock in May of 2022 that the vocalist has worked hard to maintain his skills onstage in balancing how he sings in correlation to what he hears while onstage.
‘He’s been struggling, and we brought a vocal coach out who is fantastic,’ said Castronovo. ‘He came out and was coaching Arnel with how to deliver a little bit differently.
Pineda has been at the helm of the band since 2007
Pineda said in a 2014 interview with the AP that he would ‘be more than happy to give way’ to the band’s original singer Steve Perry, should he want to come back to the musical ensemble
Journey guitarist Neal Schon left an encouraging message for Pineda in the thread
A number of people chimed into the thread with supportive messages for Pineda
‘A lot of it was mental as well as physical … 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.’
A number of people chimed into the thread with supportive messages for Pineda, advising him to ‘just ignore the haters’ and focus on ‘those people who truly love and support you.’
Said one user: ‘All entertainers have their haters. There’s a lot of people who love to live in the past. Those people can stay home and you can STAY with Journey.’
Another said, ‘Stay! You are a great singer! Keep the legacy alive!’