Journey Rocks Out with New Frontman

Filipino Replaces Lead Singer Steve Perry; "The Early Show"'s Summer Concert Series" Features Band's Old and New Hits

(CBS)  Journey visited "The Early Show" Thursday as part of the Summer Concert Series, performing old hits, such as "Don't Stop Believing," "Any Way You Want It" and "Faithfully," and new songs from their recently released album, "Revelations."

Since forming more than 35 years ago, the rock super group has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide, and produced 18 top-forty singles. And now, the legendary band is enjoying a resurgence.

In an era known for big hair and acid wash jeans, Journey became one of the quintessential bands of the '80s rock 'n' roll movement.

CBS Sunday Morning: "A Journey Back"

Now, the rock stars of yesteryear are enjoying a revival, thanks to the determination of guitarist Neil Schon, who searched high and low for the right voice to fill the void left by singer Steve Perry.

Schon said, "I think what we were looking for was the legacy sound. It's a tenor voice, you know, with soul and emotion and able to sing a ballad."

But with a little help from YouTube, Journey found that soul and emotion halfway around the world in Arnel Pineda, who was singing in a cover band in the Philippines.

Ross Valory, the band's bassist, said, "It's all brand new with this -- this new friend. But it's also like we've returned to where we left off. ... We got the magic back."

As for Pineda, he said when he got the call to join Journey he thought it was one of the weirdest moments of his life.

He said, "(It was a) guitar god calling me, asking me to audition for them."

And why did Journey choose Pineda?

Schon said, "His pipes spoke for himself. I mean, really I heard through the little computer speaker, I heard his voice and I went, 'Wow, that guy has got a serious voice.' And I listened to 40 other clips of him singing everything, and I was like he's got it going on."

"Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez pointed out Pineda sounds a lot like Steve Perry, whom he replaced. Perry left the band after a falling out.

Pineda said he doesn't mind the comparison. In fact, Pineda called Perry his "hero."

"He's one of my influences," Pineda said. "It would be an honor to be in line with him."

[singmeasongap]

Whatever, all i know then and now is They ROCK my World:

October 15, 2009 - LIVE IN MANILA DVD DEBUTS AT # 1 ON THE MUSIC DVD CHART
Film Capturing Filipino Singer's Triumphant Homecoming has 2nd Best Debut Sales Week of 2009

Journey's two-DVD Live In Manila, capturing the band's historic concert in Manila, Philippines earlier this year, debuts at the top of Billboard's Top Music Video Sales chart , marking the first time the band has topped this chart. Journey's 2005 release Live In Houston 1981 - The Escape Tour peaked at number nine.

[62442]

To leftstanding: I think you should consider that one of the reasons why many Arnel fans didn't know about Augeri is because they were too young to know about him. Please do not generalize about us not caring about the music. A lot of us have loved the music but were not too fixated on the artist/band.

And I don't think there's anything wrong about nationalism, what do you expect? Filipinos to love America more than their homeland? What will that make us? That will just give you a different reason to hate on us huh?

Yeah, half of the new AP fans don't own any other album other than Revelation, but my father owns some of their old albums! What can you say about that? I'm sure many of us will not jump ship as soon as Arnel leaves because now that we've come to know and love Journey, we will not let go because the band has earned our deepest respect for them as musicians. Their music is "timeless" and transcends boundaries.

And how dare you bring up our problems as a nation when you do not even know enough about us, our history and culture. Do you know that some of the problems in our homeland were directly inluenced by our colonizers, which include the US?

Is your issue about us not being true Journey fans, or racism, or our nationalism? Can you call us true Journey fans if we do not even care about what Perry fans think? If the issue is not racism, name as many Asian A-listers there are in the international entertainment industry and tell us why there is really no "true" A-lister that is Asian?

[TheOtherMrsPerry]

I love Journey's Classic Music with Steve Perry & was there in the audience to see this performance! My Best Friends & I love Steve Perry!!! Just to see how much, please go to our website:

TheOtherMrsPerry.com

[hapsicordable]

What the hell's wrong with you guys? This is the NEW journey now for the REVIVED JOURNEY band...whatever happens now can never be that close to before...not even the sound...This showed that the band is evolving...Nothing in this world is constant except change...Truthfully, this change is for the BETTER...and beat it!! With such huge talent like Arnel Pineda, as a new addition to the band, we are about to witness a NEW PATH for Journey...Everything NEW is a CHANGE towards a true DESTINY. The FUTURE can only be justified by the PRESENT, for the PAST is done and therefore cannot be altered anymore...PEACE!

[leftstanding]

For the poster crying about racism, when Journey was pushing his story about being homeless from Manila, everyone loved the fact that he was Asian and exotic and all that. When people bring up his accent now, the same people waving their third world flags at concerts want it to be forgotten about that he's not white.
You can't have it both ways.
Augeri was torn apart far worse than Arnel was when he was hired, but most Arnel fans wouldn't know that because they didn't become fans of Journey until Arnel was hired. For them Nationalism is more important than the music and that's a shame.

Half of the new AP fans don't own any other album other than Revelation and will jump ship as soon a Pineda does.

Is that a true fan, who refuses to buy other albums form the band because their favorite singer isn't on them?
I think not.


If you guys spent as much energy on the problems in your homeland as you do worrying about what Perry fans think, the Philippines might actually be able to leave the third world club that it is a member in now.

Racism, the crutch of the poor.

Pathetic.

[SanDieganRocks]

Pathetic there you are! What you said were pure assumptions and NO merits. You do NOT know enough to make such claims. All I say to you is Peace =) . I pity you. Fans are happy, that's all that matters! Send you my love, Give my peace to you! Cheers!

[leftstanding]

A question. With the two or three takes filmed for Don't Stop Believin', Why did they decide to go with the one with the lyrical miscues?
Major Fail there, CBS. There is another performance of that song on youtube that is spot on. Who made the call on airing this one?

[SanDieganRocks]

ok, ok... any sensible person knows enough that with any live performance, anything can happen: miscues, forgotten lyrics, what not. this will (and must) NOT diminish capability of a true, good performer; rather, this is called HUMANITY! Pineda is a normal, human being, just like you and me, capable of mistakes! OTHERWISE, just listen to the record over and over again (Perry's, by the way, and be my guest). Obviously, YOU are NOT a fan! that when you watched this, be it live or on-screen, you were there to FIND mistakes. Who doesn't, anyway? pro or not, famous or not. Don't tell me that mistakes never happened, ever, to Mr Perry himself. If you want entertainment, or if you like the singer, that is NOT and will never be your concern. Big deal! Miscues or not, WON'T diminish the FACT that Pineda is THAT GOOD... otherwise, you won't try to find reason/s to discredit him, you must be SO DESPERATE!. TRUE fans were entertained, felt good, and that's WHAT MATTERS! Why do you even care to watch or visit this site afterall, if you dislike? I'm sorry, but however you ill-criticize (nonsense and no merit), that won't still do it for you. Do us fans a favor: go wrap yourself up, stay in your own narrow world, and just wait for Mr. Perry's record if that's what you want. Afterall, it is your RIGHT, just like others have the RIGHT to be happy with Journey right now. Oh, and one thing: CBS did NOT fail. For one, Early Show must have boosted their ratings for a day, at least, if for that matter. Their FANS are huge: those who have stayed, who have returned, and far MORE NEW ONES. Must be even bigger now. Peace!

[amwatchingu]

Funny how some deluded fanatics think that Steve Perry owns the band or that they own the band and whatever music Journey produced and will produce. They are musicians. They will continue to make music and enjoy the ride. If you want to be left out still enjoying the former members, go ahead. No one is stopping you. But neither can you stop the other members to continue doing what they love to do. They chose to move on. Some fans went with the ride. Some refuse to do so and insist to live in the past. If you can't move on, just stick to listening to the whatever you want. No one is stopping you so neither should you stop Journey or any perfomer out there to do what they want to to do. Truth is none of the fans have the legal ownership or even authority on any of Journey's songs. If Mr. Perry wants to complain let him speak. If he's coming out with new music, good for him and the fans.

[amwatchingu]

Funny how some deluded fanatics think that Steve Perry owns the band or that they own the band and whatever music Journey produced and will produce. They are musicians. They will continue to make music and enjoy the ride. If you want to be left out still enjoying the former members, go ahead. No one is stopping you. But neither can you stop the other members to continue doing what they love to do. They chose to move on. Some fans went with the ride. Some refuse to do so and insist to live in the past. If you can't move on, just stick to listening to the whatever you want. No one is stopping you so neither should you stop Journey or any perfomer out there to do what they want to to do. Truth is none of the fans have the legal ownership or even authority on any of Journey's songs. If Mr. Perry wants to complain let him speak. If he's coming out with new music, good for him and the fans.

[JRNY2]

socali,
So you think Journey is just a tribute band now eh?? so what makes Steve Perry now? hmmm so if Steve Perry is Journey.. so that makes Steve Perry Journey less singer now (lol) and oh half of the people left the concert early??..well for one thing they have to beat the traffic so they left early so I give that to you ..you got smart on that part lol.. hey socali your dog ate your homework hahaha

[sam-kiley]

bonjour maggie super le look

ça "swing" sur cbs .. avec le debut de la serie de concerts, journey ils sont fabuleux ...arnel pineda a une voix sublime..les accrobaties aussi pas mal...j'étais là a new york city..mdrr

merci de nous faire partager..au revoir

[socali]

Hey gmorals...ignorant,really????...Guess what, Any way you want it...Cain was not even in Journey when that was a hit...how could he write that song??? And as to Mr. Perry's voice... You must not have listen to his solo Strange Medicine CD???!!No voice? Pleeease! Mr. Perry has a new CD underway. ETA Late this year .. What rock have you been under since Trail by Fire....Or did you think Mr. Perry did not have "The Voice" then?
Steve Perry is Journey..Just as much as Schon is. Too bad Journey is just a tribute band now...You can never replace the original...And yes, I saw them live @ the Chricket in SD 2007... over half the people left before the end of the show!!! I was one of them. If it was Mr. Perry on stage "Encore" is the word I'm thinking of...few would have left. So do a bit of homework gmorals before hand...

[SanDieganRocks]

This is a response IN GENERAL: I was there! Traffic was bad, there's too many people. It is customary for people to leave earlier while there's encore due to perceived traffic, most prefer to be ahead. You can judge, any way you want it, it will NOT change the fact that Journey is back and ARNEL PINEDA is here to stay! You are NOT needed! They are selling out concerts, or the least, mostly attended! and a lot original fans who are OPEN MINDED, and who UNDERSTAND TRUE, GOOD MUSIC now appreciate and like Pineda. They see it for themselves, and they come to know it! Now, there WAS NOT so much noise during the time of 3 PREVIOUS Lead Singers! ONLY NOW, for ONE AND ONLY REASON, it is BECAUSE PINEDA is non-white. Would not say non-American, because IF HE HAPPENED to be British, or Australian, or what not, HE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE LIKED BY THE MAJORITY, NO QUESTIONS ASKED! And no more say about the accent, okay? Some has, some had! Celine Dion, Leona Lewis, famous British, Australians singers, they all have accents, but it was NO BIG DEAL, for the VERY OBVIOUS reasons. You call it NOT racist, what it is then? A lot who have attended concerts nowadays have acknowledged how good Pineda is, admitting EVEN BETTER than Perry. The guy obviously is talented HOWEVER, he is NON-WHITE, and so this whole commotion about the whole thing. BIG DEAL! Again, NO NOISE at all like these w/ 3 prev singers. I'd like to think ONLY NOW... aside from the fact Pineda is NON-WHITE, he must be THAT GOOD, for Perry-fans to feel threatened like this. Get over it! Ok if you dislike, but DO NOT ill-criticize. PEACE!

[skeezix06]

They were good.

[SkirtLifter]

by SeektheTruth September 3, 2009 4:34 PM EDT
""With all due respect, Journey was quite a good band years before Steve Perry joined them. Gregg Rollie had an great voice (and an outstanding harmonica-playing ability) that carried the band through its formative years. Neal Schon and Ross Vallory were, are, and always will be the the core of Journey regardless of who is the lead singer. Without them, we wouldn't have even had a band named Journey and Steve Perry would have been another lounge singer in the outskirts of Las Vegas.""
___________________
I concur.
1. Journey
2. Look into the future
3. Next

I always thougt 'Midnight Dreamer' and 'I'm Gonna Leave You' were perfect B2B the way they did it.

[leftstanding]

Journey and Perry helped each other from being lost in mediocrity. The three albums listed above sold less than 500 thousand copies combined.
Journey was about to be dumped from their record label, that's why Perry was brought in to save them.
Albums sold with Perry = 55 million
Albums sold without Perry = 2.5 million
Top 40 hits with Perry in the band = 18
Top 40 hits with Perry not in the band = 0
Perry and Journey together is were the band's success was found.
As Neal Schon said, and I quote,
"In Journey, all the hit songs we had were based around Steve Perry's vocals."

[s_sherifa]

Too much music, please stick to the news.
Thank you

[SeektheTruth]

then stop clicking on music-related links...hello?

[SunDog8259]

I like the old songs. I caught some of the "Journey" performance when switching the channel from GMA -- I thought it was good. The audience seemed to be getting into it too.

[sddemocrat]

I have several of Journey's earlier albums and I love their unique sound. Steve Perry is a one of a kind frontman. I haven't heard the new Journey sound, however I hope that people will give it a chance. There will only be one Steve Perry and the new frontman has a lot to learn and a legend to live up to.

[ROBACA]

Pineda is a perfect replacement for Steve Perry. He sounds just like him.

[dicrum]

Sorry but I still love the original Journey. Good luck to the new band but I did not think the new guy sounds like Steve Perry or will ever be him. The songs did not have Steve from the heart.

[philosopher6]

dicrum,

FYI, Perry is NOT the original singer of Journey...shows how Perryloons are IGNORANT of the Journey Band's history...lol!!!

[RmDee]

A few truly great vocal performances around in 2008, but Arnel takes the prize - simply because he delivered big time under huge pressure from all sides. He had to live up to Journey fan expectations...he had to replay the faith the band showed in him....he had to overcome the unpopular decision to let 2 previous vocalists go...one of his first shows was broadcast live across the world and he had to deliver live on his first grueling US tour. And on top of that he had to re-record a dozen of the band's legacy tunes. My hat goes off to Arnel for delivering on all fronts and staying humble despite having monster talent- MelodicRock

Journey ?Revelation?
Album of the Year #2
Best AOR Album - # 1
Song of the Year #3 ?Never Walk Away?
Best Ballad #1 ?Turn Down The Light? & # 13 ?After All These Years?
Vocalist Of The Year ?Arnel Pineda?
Double Platinum and counting
Top 20 Band Concert Earner and Sold out Venue

God Bless Journey... Peace

[Henri_Rochard]

Did Steve Perry write any of Journey's hits ?? You can always replace a band member, but never a composer.

[SeektheTruth]

Steve Perry helped Jonathon Cain write Open Arms, but I think that's about it....sorry to disappoint

[leftstanding]

Perry wrote or co-wrote 17 of Journey's 18 Top 40 hits.
Cain wrote or Co-wrote 14 of them.