In a recent chat with 105.3 The Bone radio station, Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain discussed the band’s ongoing collaboration with their longtime vocalist Arnel Pineda. The frontman is celebrating his 16th year in the band this year. During the recent interview, Cain clarified that Journey has more years to go with Pineda and that they are really happy with him:
“Yeah, Arnel’s 16 years celebrating — this is his 16th year. [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.”
What Neal Schon Thinks Of Pineda
Pineda joined Journey in December 2007 just a year after Jeff Scott Soto replaced Steve Augeri. Soto lasted a year in the band and Pineda ultimately took his place.
Back in 2022, the guitarist Neal Schon was asked about the experience of working with Pineda. He responded:
“Arnel is just a gem. He’s more amazing right now than he was when I first found him in Manila 15 years ago, when he was homeless and he was in dire straits. I was searching for the new singer for Journey and I chose YouTube to look all over the world for the singer.”
He added that the current singer proved he was the right person for the band:
“When I heard his voice, I knew that he was it — with no other thought. It hit me emotionally in my heart. I went, ‘That is the voice. He is the voice. I know he can do it.’ And so I stuck to my guns, with a lot of resistance from many — from within the band and from management. They all thought I was crazy. I said, ‘I know I’m right. So get him over here.’ We got him over. And he proved that I was right again.”
Steve Perry’s Comments On Pineda
Pineda and the original Journey singer Steve Perry finally met face to face when the band and Perry shared the stage at their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in April 2017. During his acceptance speech, Steve Perry shared his thoughts on his former bandmates and Pineda. Perry said of him:
“I must give a shout-out to a man who sings his heart out every night, Arnel Pineda.”
Though Pineda wasn’t officially inducted with the band, he did join them on stage at the Hall Of Fame ceremony to perform ‘Don’t Stop Believin” and ‘Lights.’