Journey Singer Arnel Pineda Invites Fans to Vote Him Out of Band 'for Good' amid Criticism of Rock in Rio Performance

Mar. 15, 2025

Arnel Pineda of Journey performs at at the Rio 2016 Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sept. 15, 2024.Photo:MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty

MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty

Arnel Pineda is leaving it up to the fans.

After receiving criticism for his performance with Journey at Rock in Rio on Sunday, Sept. 15, the vocalist, 57, has allowed fans to vote him out onhis Facebook page.

In a post, Pineda acknowledged seeing a video circulated where he had issues with his ear monitors and struggled to hit the right notes during the performance in Rio de Janeiro.

“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, its in Rock In Rio…,” he wrote. “mentally and emotionally, I’ve suffered already, and I’m still suffering ..but I’ll be OK….”

After sharing “immense gratitude, humility and honor” with fans for attending Journey’s shows this year, he offered to walk away from the band if they voted for him to do so.

“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 1million…I’m stepping out for good..are you game folks?” Pineda added.

Journey guitarist Neal Schon shared his support of Pineda in aFacebook commentabout the criticism.

“Arnel dont listen to these blogs. They are all bought. You’ve kicked ass!” he wrote, perUltimate Classic Rock.

This isn’t the first time Pineda has offered to bow out as lead vocalist.

Pineda, who joined the group in 2007, said in 2014 that he would step back if former singer Steve Perry wanted to reclaim his role.

“I’d be more than happy to give way,” he told the Associated Press via AZ Central, explaining it would allow him more time with his family.

However, he added: “As long as they need me I will be there, I’m never gonna quit on them.”

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From left: Jonathan Cain, Todd Jensen, Arnel Pineda, Jason Derlatka, Journey founder Neal Schon, Journey co-founder Gregg Rolie, and Deen Castronovo perform during the Journey 50th Anniversary Tour at Moody Center on Feb. 22, 2023.Brian Ach/Getty

Brian Ach/Getty

In a 2022 interview withUltimate Classic Rock, drummer Deen Castronovo said that Pineda had been working with a vocal coach to fix a long-standing vocal issue and that adjusting the volume on stage helped.

“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,” he explained.

Castronovo, 60, continued: “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.”

source: people.com