Jon Cain New Interview

[tater1977]

Journey's Jonathan Cain Credits Success to Dad's Support After Tragic School Fire

Posted on Jul 8th 2011 2:10PM by Pat Pemberton


http://www.spinner.com/2011/07/08/journey-tour/


...What do you miss about Steve Perry the most?

His intuition. His sensibility. He had a certain panache and style that I clicked with. And there will always be that chemistry that we had.
It was the most success that I've ever been associated with.

[tater1977]

This would have been the perfect time for the members of Journey to ride the revival of interest in "Don't Stop Believin' " to glory. All they had to do was write a big, melodic anthem to connect with fans who came to Journey late when their signature song started showing up everywhere, from the series finale of HBO's "The Sopranos" to the Journey-loving hit TV show "Glee."



Journey/Foreigner

When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 24. Where: Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. Admission: $44-$265. Details: 877-598-8497, livenation.com.



Instead, they came back with "Eclipse," their heaviest music in ages on a prog-inspired concept album.

We caught up with keyboardist Jonathan Cain, who talked about how the band's new singer, YouTube find Arnel Pineda, shaped the lyrics of "Eclipse" while guitarist Neal Schon shaped the music, along with the "Glee" phenomenon and the inspiration for "Don't Stop Believin'."

Question: I really thought "Don't Stop Believin' " had reached a new peak when I spoke to you in 2008. Kid Rock and Kanye West were doing it in concert. "The Sopranos" had used it. Then, the "Glee" thing happened and that song is everywhere. Again. What is it about the song that has people coming back for more?

Answer: It gives people permission to dream. It says you can go somewhere and be happy. You can take the midnight train goin' anywhere (laughs). That was my father's war cry back when I was down and out, living in LA, trying to find my way. He used to tell me that, on the phone. "Don't stop believin.' " "Stick to your guns." "Hang in there." All that (expletive) that dads say to their distraught, depressed kids. I wrote that chorus and brought it into the guys and trusted that we would write a great song together. And we did.

Q: Did you expect the "Glee" thing to blow up as big as it did?

A: My kids were like, "Dad, this is huge. You have no idea how big this is." They're the ones who pointed out to me, "Look, iTunes downloads. You're No. 1." You kept seeing, on iTunes, kids reaching for the download of that song, whether it was their version or our version. They wanted both versions. Now, "Don't Stop Believin' " is one of the most downloaded songs of the century. That's pretty cool.

Q: You mentioned people downloading both versions. What did you think of the "Glee" version?

A: Well, you know, I thought it served the show. It wasn't really made to be a record. It was made to be heard on a television show that was sort of in the spirit of a glee club or "Fame" or whatever. I liked the way they kicked it around and did the a cappella. We thought it was very creative. I'm actually glad it was kind of removed from what we did. And I breathed a little sigh of relief when they didn't win the Grammy (laughs). I was sitting there at the Grammys thinkin', "Does this mean that we lose recognition for the song 'Glee' won the Grammy for?"

Q: When I first heard "Eclipse," I thought "City of Hope" had a bit of a "Don't Stop Believin' " thing going on lyrically.

A: That was inspired by Manila. I was there with Arnel making "Live in Manila," and what hit me was these kids in the street with no shoes, no food in their belly, living in shanties, smiling and waving at us as we drive by. For the love of me, I couldn't work that out. I'm like, "You kids are unbelievable. You're living in this kind of poverty, and you still have that kind of attitude towards strangers?"

Q: Could you talk about the concept of the album?

A: I read a book that changed my life a few years ago called "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. And there was another one that came out shortly after that, "The Power of Intention" by Wayne Dyer. They described this place where perfection exists for human beings. So the concept of the album is to turn down the noise in your head and try to connect to a deeper place. We get sucked into the Internet and streaming information, and it's time to just unplug and look within. Life is perfect, you know? The Hindus got it right. We've always been a band about the positive things, and I just thought this was something that, at 60 years old, I could write.

Q: You're really embracing your heavier prog-rock side on this one.

A: Neal wanted to just do one stream of thought. And I think at this time in our career, we should be able to experiment. We have enough songs they can download, hit-wise, the ballads and all the stuff we're sort of known for. We've done all that. So if we're gonna make an album, let's do something different. Neal had my back all these years, man. When I brought in "Faithfully," he pulled out a guitar. When I brought in "Open Arms," he played guitar. So I had his back, too. I said, "I'm there for you, bro." That's how we roll. That's why we're partners. We put this thing back together, put it on the tracks, dragged it up the hill and got it running again. It wasn't easy. Back in 1998, we had a lot of non-believers pointing fingers at us, sending hate mail. So we've come a long way. And we have Arnel, whose personality is really plugged into this record in a big way. A lot of what's in "Eclipse" is what Arnel believes about the world and the universe.

Q: Did you say you got hate mail?

A: Yeah (laughs). For putting the band back together. There were certain people that didn't want us to carry on without Steve (Perry). I had to change my phone number. There are still people beating us up on the Internet. That's why we shut down the forum. We couldn't stand it anymore. No matter what we did. You can't make everybody happy. We just put our head down and went forward. We said, "This music is bigger than all of us." That's how we felt. We said, "You know what? We'll prevail. We'll bet on these songs." So Neal and I stuck our necks out and we were right.


Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/mus ... z1Rq9E0rNO

[Archetype]

Sounds like Jonathan and Neal have a terrific relationship

[Red13JoePa]

Love the attitude.
Long live the Schon/Cain partnership.

[Jana]

Love the attitude.
Long live the Schon/Cain partnership.

Ditto.

[The_Noble_Cause]

We put this thing back together, put it on the tracks, dragged it up the hill and got it running again. It wasn't easy. Back in 1998, we had a lot of non-believers pointing fingers at us, sending hate mail. So we've come a long way...That's how we felt. We said, "You know what? We'll prevail. We'll bet on these songs." So Neal and I stuck our necks out and we were right.

Yea, we tend to forget that starting out with SA in 1998 they were just doing theatres and whatnot.

[Red13JoePa]

We put this thing back together, put it on the tracks, dragged it up the hill and got it running again. It wasn't easy. Back in 1998, we had a lot of non-believers pointing fingers at us, sending hate mail. So we've come a long way...That's how we felt. We said, "You know what? We'll prevail. We'll bet on these songs." So Neal and I stuck our necks out and we were right.

Yea, we tend to forget that starting out with SA in 1998 they were just doing theatres and whatnot.

Aw it was brutal. They were playing fairs and theaters. ZERO label push of Remember Me and Aerosmith instead got shot into orbit with that damned Don't Want To Miss A thing song....Remember CRUSHED that thing qualitywise

[AR]

I liked this part.

Q: Did you say you got hate mail?

A: Yeah (laughs). For putting the band back together. There were certain people that didn't want us to carry on without Steve (Perry). I had to change my phone number. There are still people beating us up on the Internet. That's why we shut down the forum. We couldn't stand it anymore.

[steveo777]

I liked this part.

Q: Did you say you got hate mail?

A: Yeah (laughs). For putting the band back together. There were certain people that didn't want us to carry on without Steve (Perry). I had to change my phone number. There are still people beating us up on the Internet. That's why we shut down the forum. We couldn't stand it anymore.

I'll bet they really wish they could shut this place down.

[Tito]

This place will shut down....when Journey retires. There will be nothing left for this genre after that. So, they will get their wish but it won't be until they are gone. No one wins.

[Greg]

I liked this part.

Q: Did you say you got hate mail?

A: Yeah (laughs). For putting the band back together. There were certain people that didn't want us to carry on without Steve (Perry). I had to change my phone number. There are still people beating us up on the Internet. That's why we shut down the forum. We couldn't stand it anymore.

So they did get my emails!

[Gideon]

Great to see Cain loyal to Neal and respectful to Perry.

[tater1977]

Journey members don't stop believin', can't stop rockin'



9:02 PM, Jul. 13, 2011

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/art ... op-rockin-

Legendary.

Probably the best word to describe keyboardist Jonathan Cain’s piano riff in Journey’s classic song “Don’t Stop Believin’.”


The early ’80s smash and modern day classic is the highest selling digital song not written in this century and still holds its ground as a top digital seller in the midst of current Billboard hits. Maybe its relevance has been revived because of recent placement on TV shows such as “Glee” and “The Sopranos;” however, there’s also just something intangible about a timeless hit.


Cain, 61, said the hit song was created in an improv session. He then mentioned he initially wrote the lyrics for “Faithfully” on a napkin, creating yet another of the band’s dozen-plus hit songs.


The Chicago native never lost his swagger, even through the departure of original Journey frontman and famed vocalist Steve Perry.


Instead, Cain and his remaining band members searched for new vocalists, most recently settling on Philippines native Arnel Pineda — a singer the band discovered on YouTube in 2007 — who has strikingly similar vocals to the band’s original lead man.


Pineda’s vocal punch has reignited the pioneers of arena rock as they continue to tour Perry-less, hitting Rock USA in Oshkosh Friday night, still in the good name of Journey.


There are select bands from the ’70s and ’80s (i.e. Van Halen, Def Leppard), including Journey, that can still play major venues 30 years after their “heyday.” How is that possible?


I think it has to do with the fans. … They grew up listening to us and they want that music again because they’re not satisfied with the other stuff that’s out there. Britney Spears and Lady Gaga ain’t cuttin’ it. Know what I mean? It’s not a diet for everyone. … Maybe they’re reliving some of the good times in their lives when they come. We all have the little mid-life crisis thing and your favorite songs you grew up listening to make you feel good. … I think the bands are still great performing bands. They all know what their fans want. They’re very professional and they can all play, unlike a lot of bands today. You hear their records; then you go see ’em live and you go, that doesn’t even sound clo


How do you feel about the resurgence that Journey’s experienced with a younger generation?


It’s like a shot in the arm. It’s adrenaline. … We’ve been seeing younger fans over the years anyway, but having your song in “Rock of Ages” and “Glee” and “The Sopranos,” it fuels interest. We’ve been seeing the kids come with the parents, though. We put this band back together in ’98 without he who shall not be named (Steve Perry), and we saw that right away. The parents were bringing their kids to the shows, so we’ve always been sort of a family-oriented rock act to go see. They knew there wasn’t gonna be any expletive language. We’re not F-bombin’ on the microphone and stuff like that. It’s no Sammy Hagar show. …


I don’t know how many times I’ve seen parents bring their kids to our shows, going, “This is a rock show. This is my kind of rock.’’ And the young girls are bringing their moms because their moms confessed they never could come see us because their parents wouldn’t let ’em come. … So it’s basically a daughters hide your mothers tour (laughs).


You wrote the main melody for “Don’t’ Stop Believin’.” At that time, did you think that riff had the potential to become one of the greatest piano riffs of all time?


You know, we backed into that song. I brought the chorus in. It’s something my father used to say to me. It was his war cry when I was starving in L.A. and he was in Chicago sending me money to hang out. I had fallen on rough times there for a while and I needed a little pep talk and he used to say, “Jon, don’t stop believin’. Remember? We said this was gonna happen for you.” The greatest show for me was when I came back to Chicago with Journey and we played that song live. (My father) was there with a look in his eyes like, (expletive) he did it. It came full circle for my pops and me. …


For that song, I thought, “Well I think (Steve) Perry will get this. I think he’ll like this melody.’’ So he said, “These chords are great. Let’s just make a verse out of ’em, and Jon, you just play the piano like you do and then I’ll sing something.’’ So basically that verse is just the chords with me doing my Jonathan Cain thing. … Really, truly that was a magical year for me. I made my first million dollars and a No. 1 album. It was just mind-boggling to say the least. I remember every second of it. (Laughs.)


Journey never toured to support the 1996 album “Trial by Fire.” Do you think the band missed out on something there?


Yeah, we missed out on about 35 million (dollars). (Laughs.) Yeah, we did. Sure. It was unfortunate. Just one of those circumstances. We couldn’t put our finger on it. Steve (Perry) had these health issues that wouldn’t leave him alone and they were pretty debilitating. He was in pain one week, and then he’s OK, and then he’s in pain, and it was just comin’ and goin’ all the time. Neal (Schon) and I were just, whatever. We make this album, it sells platinum, we get nominated for a Grammy and then we’re told there’s no tour. There’s no nothin’. So we sit and wait for two-and-a-half, three years, make the call and say what do you wanna do? We’ve gotta do something and (Perry) said, “I don’t wanna do anything,” and that’s when Neal looked at me and went, wait a minute. We can’t do this. This is not how it’s supposed to end. You and I wrote two-thirds of these songs. We have a certain amount of ownership, so let’s investigate. So we did. We went off, tried different things. The two of us really just got in my studio and wrote for three months solid. We just wrote songs ’cause we wanted to make sure that we still had the writing part to make Journey happen. We lifted our heads up after three months of writing and had 20 songs that sounded like, guess who?


Do any of the band members keep in contact with Steve Perry?


We have tried and tried to reach out to him and we get crickets. It’s all through the managers and lawyers right now, but we wish him the best. He’s been agreeable to most projects that come through, and he’s a silent alumnus, I guess.


How long do you expect to keep touring and making new albums?


I look at the Rolling Stones and say, if they can do this, we can do this. It’s just gotta be fun and you wanna feel like you mean something out there. And thanks to all this great stuff from the little song that could, it’s really helped us out a lot. We’re grateful and humbled by it all really and glad we made it.

[Gideon]

Another great interview. Liked that TBF was getting some attention.

[Red13JoePa]

How long do you expect to keep touring and making new albums?


I look at the Rolling Stones and say, if they can do this, we can do this.

Yikes cuz it's looking like the Stones have rolled their last thanks to WWIV busting out over Keith's book.

[Arkansas]

Sorry, but that Stones' comparison is flat out dillusional.


later~

[Gideon]

Sorry, but that Stones' comparison is flat out dillusional.


later~

Journey was putting out album after album even if they were commercial failures and their concert revenues haven't suffered. So.... where's the delusion?

[stevew2]

This place will shut down....when Journey retires. There will be nothing left for this genre after that. So, they will get their wish but it won't be until they are gone. No one wins.

then Friga gets to suck a dick {again}

[Tito]

This place will shut down....when Journey retires. There will be nothing left for this genre after that. So, they will get their wish but it won't be until they are gone. No one wins.

then Friga gets to suck a dick {again}

Who let this asshole back on? Andrew, re-suspend him please.

[stevew2]

This place will shut down....when Journey retires. There will be nothing left for this genre after that. So, they will get their wish but it won't be until they are gone. No one wins.

then Friga gets to suck a dick {again}

Who let this asshole back on? Andrew, re-suspend him please.

Ill hunt you and Terry Funk down. Hows that Windy Cities Cd holdin up?

[Don]

He’s been agreeable to most projects that come through, and he’s a silent alumnus, I guess....

I wonder what the projects are that Perry hasn't been agreeable to.

[Arkansas]

Sorry, but that Stones' comparison is flat out dillusional.


later~

Journey was putting out album after album even if they were commercial failures and their concert revenues haven't suffered. So.... where's the delusion?

Journey could never even think about being The Rolling Stones' roadies.
Like them or not, The Rolling Stones are one of the biggest rock bands, et al, in history.
Journey doesn't compare. Period.


later~

[steveo777]

Sorry, but that Stones' comparison is flat out dillusional.


later~

Journey was putting out album after album even if they were commercial failures and their concert revenues haven't suffered. So.... where's the delusion?

Journey could never even think about being The Rolling Stones' roadies.
Like them or not, The Rolling Stones are one of the biggest rock bands, et al, in history.
Journey doesn't compare. Period.


later~

I'd rather hear Journey music today, rather than hear Jagger sing at his age. If I had an opportunity to see the Stones I'd pass.
15 years ago I would have seen them in a heartbeat.

[Arkansas]

Sorry, but that Stones' comparison is flat out dillusional.


later~

Journey was putting out album after album even if they were commercial failures and their concert revenues haven't suffered. So.... where's the delusion?

Journey could never even think about being The Rolling Stones' roadies.
Like them or not, The Rolling Stones are one of the biggest rock bands, et al, in history.
Journey doesn't compare. Period.


later~

I'd rather hear Journey music today, rather than hear Jagger sing at his age. If I had an opportunity to see the Stones I'd pass.
15 years ago I would have seen them in a heartbeat.

I prefer Journey too. But if given the opp to see the Stones...I'd go in a heartbeat.
Why? Because it's the Rolling F'ing Stones!


later~

[steveo777]

Sorry, but that Stones' comparison is flat out dillusional.


later~

Journey was putting out album after album even if they were commercial failures and their concert revenues haven't suffered. So.... where's the delusion?

Journey could never even think about being The Rolling Stones' roadies.
Like them or not, The Rolling Stones are one of the biggest rock bands, et al, in history.
Journey doesn't compare. Period.


later~

I'd rather hear Journey music today, rather than hear Jagger sing at his age. If I had an opportunity to see the Stones I'd pass.
15 years ago I would have seen them in a heartbeat.

I prefer Journey too. But if given the opp to see the Stones...I'd go in a heartbeat.
Why? Because it's the Rolling F'ing Stones!


later~

Alright, point taken!
I guess we'd all go see Perry too.

[Gideon]

Journey could never even think about being The Rolling Stones' roadies.
Like them or not, The Rolling Stones are one of the biggest rock bands, et al, in history.
Journey doesn't compare. Period.


later~

You didn't quite catch the context in which the reference was made, did you?

[Saint John]

This place will shut down....when Journey retires. There will be nothing left for this genre after that. So, they will get their wish but it won't be until they are gone. No one wins.

then Friga gets to suck a dick {again}

Who let this asshole back on? Andrew, re-suspend him please.

Ill hunt you and Terry Funk down. Hows that Windy Cities Cd holdin up?

Knock it off, you two!