Journey’s current frontman Arnel Pineda is offering to leave the band if he gets one million ‘go’ messages.
The rocker took to Facebook to thank his fans that came to the shows since the beginning of the year.
“Once again, thank u so much everyone who came to Journey show since February this year,” the singer wrote. “I appreciate you all so much… And not only that, everytime that I’m on stage with the band, I feel this immense gratitude, humility, and honor… I am very aware of this no one more than me in this world feels so devastated about this… It’s really amazing how 1 thousand right things you have done will be forgotten just cause of THIS… and of all the place, it’s in Rock In Rio…”
“Mentally and emotionally, I’ve suffered already, and I’m still suffering… but I’ll be ok. 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.. And if GO reaches 1 million I’m stepping out for good. Are you game folks? Let’s start,” he finished his statement.
Almost every commenter asked him to stay and wrote long explanations as to why.
Steve Perry left Journey after taking a break due to his bone condition and hip replacement surgery. The next year, Steve Augeri stepped in as the lead singer, but he was replaced by Jeff Scott Soto in 2006.
In 2007, Pineda joined the band and has been with them ever since. Since Perry departed from the band, Pineda has received both love and hate as the new singer.
“To the fans, thank you for having me in your life despite the fact that I’m not him and it’s just hard to let go of someone who’s as beautiful as Mr. Steve Perry, the one and only, boys,” the frontman said in another social media post.”I love him, to tell you honestly. So, I have no ill feelings to the people who still can’t accept me being with the band. Anyway. It’s okay. Just peace and peace and peace. Any peace out there, alright?”
The band apparently no longer has contact with Perry, but they love the current singer.
“Yeah, Arnel’s 16 years celebrating — this is his 16th year,” Jonathan Cain said in an interview. “[It’s] probably the longest tenure of any lead singer for the band. So, he’s been crushing it for us. He’s got his kids on the road with him this time, and he seems really content and happy. And we’re really proud of everything he’s done up to this point. And we see some years left. There’s definitely still some gas in the tank. But we’re very happy with Arnel. He’s amazing.”
Journey kicked off their current tour on September 6 in Blackfoot, Idaho. Their next show is on October 19 in Osaka, Japan, and they will wrap it up on March 12 in Nashville, Tennessee.