Journey Finds Their New Lead Singer

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Now here’s a story that should keep aspiring YouTube performers in front of their video cameras. One of the best-known classic rock groups of all time, Journey, has hired a new lead singer and they found him, yes, you guessed it, on YouTube!

This is the classic “dream come true” story featuring Arnel Pineda, a singer from the Philippines who was singing with a band called The Zoo. A band that was known for singing songs by Journey.

Hearing that name, I would more expect a Scorpions cover band, but I suppose it can work for these guys as well. The name sure didn’t seem to hurt Pineda’s chance to make it big.

Frustrated with the lack of a lead singer after the departure of Jeff Scott Soto earlier in the year, guitarist Neil Schon decided to spend some quality time on YouTube searching for the right singer.After hours of searching and nearly throwing in the towel, Schon stumbled onto the video of The Zoo performing “Faithfully,” and was convinced he had found Journey’s new singer.

As you can see from the accompanying YouTube video of Journey’s new front man, the dude can sing. Although he is not quite the same Steve Perry shoe-in that Steve Augeri was, to my ears he certainly sounds enough like Perry to pull this off.

Pineda comes to the group at the right time it seems. Journey is currently working on a new album that they hope to release sometime next spring or summer.

39 Comments

  1. TONY December 9, 2007 at 12:17 am

    C’MON NEAL….SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE, THERE’S ONLY 1 GUY OUT THERE YOU SHOULD CALL FOR THIS GIG…..HE GOES BY THE NAME……. STEVE PERRY!!! IF YOU GUYS REUNITED, IT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST & BADDEST TOUR/SHOW GOIN’! FORGET VAN HALEN…THE JOURNEY REUNOIN TOUR ’08,W/STEVE PERRY.CAN YOU SAY SOLD OUT!!

  2. Jason December 13, 2007 at 6:56 pm

    Saw them with JSS and it was great this guy sucks

  3. stu December 15, 2007 at 2:16 am

    this guy is the real deal!

  4. Vince Stone December 16, 2007 at 2:15 pm

    Give the guy a chance and let the people of the world be the judge if he has what it takes. If he succeeds then it’s great, if he doesn’t then at least he have the privilege and opportunity to at least try his best. Not all of us have the chance to make it out there. He represents the dream of striving singers all over the world in search for fame and glory. I believe he can do it!!!!

  5. Bob December 18, 2007 at 11:34 pm

    This guy sounds pretty good but the only problem is so did Steve Augeri, Perry’s replacement and where did that go? Their last album sucked big time as we learned that Augeri’s faked his voice to sound like Steve Perry. This guy is doing the same thing and the same results will happen when they make a a recording and tour afterwards, they will suck. I’ve been a Journey fan since the early 80’s and the IS NO replacement for Steve Perry (frontman) or Steve Smith (drummer). You see, one thing that Perry had was total emotion. He felt his music. He made the listening audience join in. It was magical, energetic, alive, exhileration and adreneline filled. NOBODY can replicate that kind of talent.
    It will be another failed attempt at getting a defunct band back together. I wish Steve Perry would swallow his pride and rejoin the band. Yeah, he was fired by the band because of his hip problems then but so didn’t Perry fire Steve Smith and Ross Valery when they made the album Raised on Radio. Perry realized his mistake and on their last album “Trial by Fire” those band members returned. They were a little bitter about the return but chose to come back. If Perry has a little forgiveness in his soul, he’d rejoin the band but he won’t. He’s just plain stubborn and bitter and has carried this on for over 10 years. He broke up with the band before too after 1986 and there was a 9 year hiatus. Perry seems to have relationship problems both in his personal life and professional life. He should grow up, be a forgiving man and make that magic happen again. But he won’t because he’s a single (never married) stubborn, bitter man who enjoys his private life now around his small circle of friends.
    That being said, there will be no more Journey with the original Steve members. All we have now are memories.

  6. Ron December 20, 2007 at 8:35 pm

    I agree with Vince…give Arnel a try. Instead of putting people down when they come in to good fortune, we should congratulate them on their successes. If anyone thinks they can do better, have at it.

  7. norman ocampo December 21, 2007 at 1:39 pm

    give the guy (arnel pineda) a chance who knows, remember miss lea salonga a filipina singer who lead miss saigon for ten successful years in broadway who happened to win a tony awards in her role as miss saigon. arnel carry the hope of the philippine nation. CHEERS

  8. DocHoliday January 5, 2008 at 10:09 pm

    C’mon peeps, this guy is obviously better than Perry, voicewise. His “LIVE” videos on Youtube should be compared to a “LIVE” Perry performance. How about if you guys watch the overrated performance of SP at Budokan Hall in Tokyo which has often been considered as one of the highlights of his career’s pinnacle. If you listen good enough and look closely enough you can see that he’s practically whispering the words and straining his azzzz off just to show some power with neck veins to boot. I’m sorry folks, I used to think he was so good back then but after seeing AP it just doesn’t have the same luster and effect as it used to. AP’s voice simply has that extra ummpph that’s more suited for concerts. And to Bob, if you think this guy’s faking it you’re in for a big surprise. After that Augeri experience, I don’t think Neal would go through all that trouble i.e. immigration visa, plane fares etc., accomodation and all the hassles of bringing a talent from overseas just to hire somebody who’s faking it. On the other hand, to SP’s credit, no one can deny his legacy and track record, his songwriting ability, stage presence etc., things which Arnel has yet to prove and/or exhibit. Only time will tell whether he will blend in and make his own mark with this once in a lifetime chance given to him.

  9. jerry dizon January 9, 2008 at 1:01 am

    Wake up pessimist Journey fans! Don’t dwell in the past! Obviously the original Journey voice “SP” is the past! He’s already retired and cannot possibly return. You can’t force an old, tired mule do a comeback gig. His voice and health are gone. Don’t get me wrong ‘coz I’m a big Steve Perry fan! I love his songs especially Foolish Heart, Don’t Stop Believing, Faithfully, and etc. Arnel Pineda is “now and the future”! Let us respect the great Journey’s decision so that they can continue giving us fans great songs to enjoy! Rock on Journey!!!

  10. Jean Rose January 15, 2008 at 7:09 am

    I suggest that the die hard fans view things objectively. If they remain subjective and refuse to believe that Perry will not reunite with Journey, they will always find a teeny weeny bit of fault in Arnel’s performance. In the very same way, if the tables had been turned, they would have done the same to Steve Perry if he happened to have stepped into the shoes of another icon.

    Steve Perry does not have a problem with Arnel being Journey’s new front man. You can read the evidence at http://www.steveperryonline.net. So, why do these people have to bash at this poor sinegr who had the (mis)fortune of being pitted againt his idol?

  11. may January 21, 2008 at 5:34 pm

    If Arnel is this awesome in all his gig!! What more playing with JOURNEY??!! Finally a young fresh face that will take JOURNEY to the present!!! Steve Perry is legendary, the past…. Arnel is the new voice.. 🙂

  12. giosef January 26, 2008 at 10:33 pm

    Contrary to someone’s commentary- Arnel does not fake his voice to sound like THE voice…
    He has his own voice and that’s what Journey heard and sealed the deal…

  13. Hermie Camero February 2, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    I am an avid fan of Steve Perry. He is one of the best among the great vocalists. But he is gone and I want to see Journey as a group to soar again in the air waves. Arnel Pineda is the man that can propel the group back into the music limelight. Journey is not Steve Perry alone. We have to consider that the other guys are also members of the group and we have to support their decision to hire Arnel as their lead singer. I can not wait for the release of the new album. I will be buying a dozen and will give them as gifts to my love ones. You have my support guys….bring back the glory of rock tunes from the 80’s and 90’s.

  14. Aleli Morse February 7, 2008 at 3:47 pm

    What reunion? If SP will reunite with Journey their concert should be held in senior communities. Journey needs a younger member to attrach the younger generations since SP’s fans are either old or dead. Also, Asia is home to half of the world population, so their “warm bodies” will be felt in all the Journey concert tours; eat your heart out!

  15. Avery Henegar March 2, 2008 at 11:27 pm

    Most of us would love to see Steve Perry come back but like most classic rock bands lead singers come and go but the most important thing is the sound that we hear when we go to see them in concert ,I’m one of the lucky ones that seen Steve Perry and Steve Augeri was good to and by going to see them when they come around with this new singer I’ll go and see them again .What ever happen to Steve Perry is his life and people should respect his wishes and I hope the best in life for him where ever he is and THANKS Steve P for all the time you did spend rockin us .

  16. Jeff Johnson April 5, 2008 at 11:49 pm

    The SP reunion sounds romantic enough but a quick listen to Trial By Fire and the fact that SP is 59 years old makes it not a reality.

  17. TO2 April 10, 2008 at 1:03 pm

    music is a free spitited form of expression. Sp is Sp no matter what nobody can replace this guy. Give AP a chance to express himself in his music and just glide and enjoy your ride to a New JOURNEY.

  18. perrylover April 18, 2008 at 3:42 pm

    I agree with tony;I would pay to see steve perry run with journey in concert again over arnel anytime;I dont care if steves voice isnt as strong as it use to be. I still would love to see a true journey reunion.Anyone else is just an imitation version of steve and I wouldnt give them one dime of my money;Personely if I wanted to see a steve sound alike id rather see evolution.Please steve come back we miss you ..much love.

  19. Jaime Jose April 19, 2008 at 6:08 pm

    i agree with you perrylover…
    but what if…in one of the concerts of the journey, “the voice” suddenly stepped in and you are not there…history unfolded and you are not there!
    if only he remember his humble beginnings(steve perry), maybe then he will see how he affected the world and will affect more if he will gonna be someday…step in!
    I will just “don’t stop believin’, faithfully”! hope you do, too!

  20. courtyardpigeon April 21, 2008 at 3:18 pm

    This guy has great chops, there’s not doubt about it, but he doesn’t have Steve Perry’s range. You can tell this guy’s limits when he hits the SP classic high notes and his voice gets rough. Steve Perry had what was probably one of the best voices in music history, but he’s not coming back. Everyone in the band is either 60, or approaching it and they can’t wait forever. Can Steve still sing? Probably, but who really knows? The problem that I have with this whole thing is that they keep finding Steve Perry wannabes who somewhat look and sound like him instead of getting someone with a different style voice like Van Halen did when they took on Sammy. This makes it really cheesy and cover band-like. It says to me that the band knew that Steve Perry was, and still is their meal-ticket, which makes it all the more ridiculous that they fired him over a bad hip. I might watch this band if they were playing for free somewhere, but I’d never pay $70 to see what is basically a band being a parody of itself. Either get back together with Steve, or come up with something new and original.

  21. courtyardpigeon April 21, 2008 at 3:20 pm

    Don’t forget you are hearing this guy in a bar without a crowd. Who knows if his voice will stand the strains of singing in bigger venues over crowds and live PA

  22. damage April 24, 2008 at 11:52 pm

    Journey without Steve Perry is like Nirvana without Kurt. For those that keep saying “live in the now,” you need to tell that to Schon and yourself. I didn’t want to see Hager sing “Jump” and I don’t want to see Arnel sing Journey. Dave Grohl doesn’t go around singing Nirvana songs.

  23. perrylover May 27, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    In response to Jean Rose comment;I know arnel can perform well and sing great;and even if steve perry dosnt have a problem with arnel steppin in I think it should be what the true journey fans want;they are the ones who literally made journey what journey is today. I think we should have a say in what we want to hear and who we dont!

  24. Donna June 1, 2008 at 8:55 pm

    In response to all the negative comments about the new lead singer,please give a guy chance.. I saw his interview this morning on Sunday morning show with Charles Oscod, Arnel is a very down to earth person he was from a very poor family ….in my opinion someone who tried his best to work hard i have a high respect, He deserve a chance if you don’t like it don’t listen. ……..you go Arnel good luck.

  25. Tony 2Tone June 2, 2008 at 10:17 am

    Saw the Journey performance at Eleen DeGeneres’s show. Arnel rocks and is the real deal. True, nobody can replace SP, everybody knows that. But, Arnel is what Journey needs right now. What Journey is getting is an energtic, warm person who can sing. With Arnel, Journey is going back to it’s traditional sound. The ones that we all Journey fans loved so much and with Arnel he showed that he adds more passion and emotion to the songs more than any other Journey singer, including SP. Just check out the new Journey videos in YouTube.

  26. Sal June 3, 2008 at 5:48 am

    SP is an old fart, he was the voice but had only one voice, This new guy has plenty of reserve voices and have higher range. Can do Led Zep, Styx, Toto, and perhaps 40 plus more voices. How many voices can Perry do? ONE. Maybe none right now.eND OF STORY.

  27. Nik June 3, 2008 at 12:43 pm

    I, too, thought that only SP could lead sing Journey; but I was pleasantly surprised to hear Arnel on CBS Sunday Morning. HE CAN DO SP JUSTICE! Give him a chance, if it’s the original Journey sound you are looking for, this is as close as you’ll probably ever get.

  28. bassplayer June 6, 2008 at 8:17 am

    Having spent a lot of time in the Philippines , I know they are an articulate , and fun loving people , not wealthy monitarily , yet wealthy in their joy of life . The way Arnel sings sends chills down my back , he is totally awesome , (and this from a Steve Perry follower )and I fully support him , and the band in there decision . Sana nasa mabuti kang kalagayan Arnel , and mabuhay !!!

  29. danny jones June 11, 2008 at 11:15 pm

    I agree with Sal. This guy is awesome…he can sing almost everything. Imitator? Give me a break. A guy that can sing aerosmith, styx, led zep, air suppy and heart????lol. Listen to the song on youtube ” the search is over” by survivor under zoobandrocks. This guy is kind of drunk and it’s his last song and belted it out like it’s nothing. I don’t think SP can imitate those songs.I already bought six ticket for the July 16th concert here in Los Angeles.Where is SP anyway??? I watch BON JOVI live on VIP suite at Staples Center…They don’t sound that good no more. I’ll pay double to see Journey anytime. 🙂 🙂 🙂

  30. Linda June 12, 2008 at 5:19 pm

    As I Listen, dance,and sing here to Journey’s new DVD AND watch Arnel I am awed at his performance. He can easily sing, sounding like my fave lead singer of all times, SP. Just got the new Revelation CD today..fair priced at Walmart, includes two CDs and a DVD of one of their concerts. Been going down memory lane here and thankful for Arnel and Journey puttin it out there!
    Journey Fan From Way Back!Linda

  31. Jeff Parel June 15, 2008 at 5:14 pm

    In this week’s ranking, Journey’s Revelation fanpack went #5 in Billboard’s top album chart (all genres). The album also took several top positions in other categories (even #1 in rock indie) on its debut week. It proves something very clear about AP’s role in keeping the Journey legacy alive.

  32. James July 8, 2008 at 11:01 am

    Watched the new Journey on VH-1 Classic this past weekend. I was very impressed. Still not the same without SP no matter how you slice it. No doubt the new guy can sing and cover all the tunes and the best replacement so far IMO. SP brought song writing to the table and ability to write those hooks we all love. It is more than singing alone and let’s see what this new guy brings to the table. I’m hoping for new and fresh songs that are a hit today. New album is doing well thus far which is a great start!

    Still to me, Journey is SP. Without him before success, they did not go far, and without him after success they have not gone far. New album at least brings hope.

  33. Will February 2, 2009 at 7:48 am

    Look the guy is good he can sing a ton. But for journey he is not the right fit. My biggest complaint is you can here the Asian accent when he is singing some of the songs and te pronuceation of some words is off. That being said it really throws off the original Journey sound. Other than that the guy can really sing. He would be good in a karoke bar or a cover band not the real band. If it wasnt for the accent he would be a perfect fit, but there is nothing he can do about that now is there.

  34. Janet February 4, 2009 at 8:59 pm

    I was riding in my brother’s truck and he was playing Journey. I was singing along as I always do with those great Journey oldies. My brother turns the radio down and says “You know they got a new lead singer for the band.” Since I absolutely love Steve Perry’s voice, and I was unaware that he had left the group, I immediately said “Oh hell no, they can’t replace Steve, the band isn’t going to last, fans don’t like change!” Then my brother says “This is the new guy singing.” I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t notice the difference in their voices until I stopped to really listen and even still, it is soooooo close that no appreciation for the music is lost.

  35. john August 18, 2009 at 3:18 pm

    Just saw them at the Indiana State Fair….it’ll be the last time I do. This new lead singer can’t speak english and messed up many songs. UGG…Please fix it as I have been a fan for many years!

  36. pete e. casino October 19, 2009 at 9:00 am

    The best Journey lead singer ever have … very powerful voice…
    Steve Perry is nothing or other guys that replaced him …

  37. sandra si November 8, 2009 at 2:03 am

    I’m in LOVE with this new guy, his cute, sings like Steve what else do you want?

  38. Enio Marini (Connecticut) March 29, 2010 at 1:16 pm

    It can never be Journey without Steve Perry or Steve Smith
    No matter who tries to replace them exspecially Steve Perry!!!

  39. avery November 24, 2013 at 10:09 pm

    Look Journeys been my favorite band since I was little. and no one can replace steve Perry. EVER!!!! people always ask me, ‘why don’t you go to one of the concerts?’ Why would? the only person who can sing the main role is Steve Perry. He’s the only guy I’ll go and see. My dream is too go see Journey… the original band. the one and only.

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