Journey drummer pleads guilty to domestic violence

[Marabelle]

I truly hope that he immerses himself in this new life and allows the transformation to sobriety occur and stick. He might not realize it now but God has given him another chance and blessed him with this great opportunity; it's all up to him to decide what's he is going to do with it. That's what I meant when I say he really can't get involved with others lives; he's got a lot of work to do.

[tater1977]

Sounds like he's trying to keep busy...

Deen Castronovo ‏@DeenTheDrummer ·
I am excited and only slightly nervous to be doing an interview with @Salem_Statesman tomorrow. I'll post it when it comes out

Deen Castronovo ‏@DeenTheDrummer ·
I am doing an interview with @UltClassicRock tomorrow too


Deen Castronovo
Now if I only had a band! I'm open to do some volunteer drum work for a couple charity events in case anyone has one
Deen Castronovo ‏@DeenTheDrummer ·
If anyone has a DV or drug abuser related charity event that needs a drummer you can contact my publicist @CassSmartyPants

[perryfan61]

This man is desperate to keep busy. He knows what happens when he's not. I hope something turns up for him to do, and fast.

[steveo777]

This man is desperate to keep busy. He knows what happens when he's not. I hope something turns up for him to do, and fast.

He's busy. Recovery is a full time job. Someone posted a very recent pic of him at Journey Junkies on FB. If you didn't know what happened, you would think he looked very, very well. His face was clear, his eyes were glowing with life and his smile was at peace. God has blessed this man with another chance and he does not take that lightly. I wish I could find that pic. You guys wouldn't believe how good he looks!

[Marabelle]

Don't you think if it didn't work the first few times why do it again thinking you'd get different results?

[annpea]

He looks good, and healthy in this photo. Maybe it's time for him to get back to work with Journey...

It's not a recent photo. And a photo doesn't prove anything about sobriety anyway. Not sure where the band goes from here.

You're so on point. I didn't think about that.

[tater1977]

DC posted on his tweeter bird, from Halloween...

Deen Castronovo ‏@DeenTheDrummer ·
Me and my Grandson Ashten last night. No that's not our real hair lol

dc5.JPG (33.81 KiB) Viewed 5681 times

- I cropped his gson out of the pic

[The_Noble_Cause]

Just thinking outloud here...imagine if Deen joined Augeri's solo band on drums and vocals? Would be a killer show.

[Archetype]

Just thinking outloud here...imagine if Deen joined Augeri's solo band on drums and vocals? Would be a killer show.

That would be pretty cool. Deen and Steve sound awesome harmonizing on "Higher Place." But I'd like to see Deen get back to his roots a little bit though within the metal community. Megadeth has been bouncing back and forth between Chris Adler and the drum tech lately and they need a full time drummer. Deen would fit the bill well.

[slucero]

This man is desperate to keep busy. He knows what happens when he's not. I hope something turns up for him to do, and fast.

He's busy. Recovery is a full time job. Someone posted a very recent pic of him at Journey Junkies on FB. If you didn't know what happened, you would think he looked very, very well. His face was clear, his eyes were glowing with life and his smile was at peace. God has blessed this man with another chance and he does not take that lightly. I wish I could find that pic. You guys wouldn't believe how good he looks!

if you mean this pic...



pretty sure that's old...


This looks more recent.. he looks pretty gaunt here..

[perryswoman]

I so hope he gets the help he needs. I absolutely love his voice and his drumming. I hope he takes this 2nd chance very seriously. I really believe getting back to work will be the best thing for him.

[steveo777]

This pic.....

[Majestic]

Just thinking outloud here...imagine if Deen joined Augeri's solo band on drums and vocals? Would be a killer show.

That would be pretty cool. Deen and Steve sound awesome harmonizing on "Higher Place." But I'd like to see Deen get back to his roots a little bit though within the metal community. Megadeth has been bouncing back and forth between Chris Adler and the drum tech lately and they need a full time drummer. Deen would fit the bill well.

Not a chance. And I could see what Deen would bring to that show because he drums great and is an amazing singer. The only reason this makes no sense is because what does Augeri bring that Deen hasn't got? No way should Deen sing background vocals for Augeri they are not even in the same league.

[annpea]

This pic.....

A raging storm in the dark can become a gentle wind in the light. Every human has a chance to change his, or her status in life. I believe he may do well this time. If he keep the faith he has that chance.

[The_Noble_Cause]

The only reason this makes no sense is because what does Augeri bring that Deen hasn't got?

For starters....a band that tours and gets paid.

[Majestic]

The only reason this makes no sense is because what does Augeri bring that Deen hasn't got?

For starters....a band that tours and gets paid.

I don't think that band pays what Deen has in mind. And if Deen wanted to drum and sing in his own band it would most likely become a much bigger draw, and fast. If Augeri can make a living as the former Journey singer who sings a lot of Journey stuff, imagine Deen doing it, if he wanted. Deen can sing Journey songs even better than the current front man, who is pretty darn good at it! Maybe Augeri can play guitars and sing background vocals for Deen. None this will never happen but it make much more sense and the band would sound a lot better and probably be far more successful.

[Archetype]

Deen was officially fired from Journey on August 10th. Pretty sad to read, honestly.

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former ... in-august/

[tater1977]

Deen Castronovo Confirms Journey Firing, Opens Up About Addiction: Exclusive Interview

By Matt Wardlaw November 3, 2015

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/deen-cas ... interview/

This has been a tough year for former Journey drummer Deen Castronovo.

It actually started out on a high note with the release of the debut album by his side band Revolution Saints, a collaboration with Night Ranger’s Jack Blades and former Whitesnake guitarist Doug Aldrich, which was released in February. But things quickly turned dark for Castronovo, who was arrested in June and found himself facing a list of charges including rape, sexual abuse, and unlawful use of a weapon.

After his arrest and eventual indictment, he entered rehab and was later sentenced to four years of probation and has been undergoing domestic violence and drug counseling and working to maintain his sobriety since then.

As he told Ultimate Classic Rock during an interview on Monday (Nov. 2), keeping that sobriety intact is where he is focusing all of his energies.

“I’m not expecting to work for a while and if God opens that door, he’ll open that door,” he says. “But I’m definitely not ready and even if somebody asked me now, I wouldn’t do it. A year from now, I don’t think I would do it. I need some time. I don’t ever want to have this happen again, bro. I never want to do this to my band members, to any band member, any band, any friends of mine, any family — this is something that’s life or death and I really better take it seriously. Drumming right now is a beautiful thing that I love to do, but I’m not ready to put the shoes back on and play. I’m just not ready yet.”

Here’s our full conversation with Deen Castronovo, as he talks about the events of the past year, his current status with Journey and what’s next.

I told a few people that I was going to talk to you and, as you can expect with the news that’s been out there this year, they all kind of had the same reaction. They were going, “Man, why is he doing interviews now?” I think that with all of the negative stuff that’s been out there in recent months, however you frame this up, there’s going to be some folks who are going to think that this is just you taking the opportunity to try and clear your name while the story is still fresh. So, why talk now?

Okay, well, you know, it’s not a question of clearing my name. Now that I’ve gotten treatment and I’ve been in recovery and I’m doing the stuff that I need to be doing, I need to tell my story, how horrible this has been. The disease is evil and if I can help anyone at anytime to not be 51 years old, be in your fifth rehab treatment and lose everything that you frickin’ worked so hard for, man, I’m going to stop it. That’s it. This is nothing to do with P.R.

The statement that I sent out was supposed to basically explain what had happened and to apologize. It’s about making amends to the people that I love and care about: my family, Deidra – you know, the victim – my children and the band and the fans. It has nothing to do with clearing my name, bro. I’ll tell you this – the only thing that’s going to clear up any of my reputation is if I live this for the rest of my life, bottom line. It ain’t gonna be a quick fix, and I didn’t expect a quick fix.

I would have loved to have talked after all of this was done. I would have loved after all of this first started, but I went to jail for 15 days and then went straight into rehabilitation at Hazelden. I wasn’t talking to anyone, but taking care of myself. So this isn’t a P.R. blitz to make me look better. The only thing that will make me look better, bro, is if I live this – and I’m taking it every day, one step at a time. That’s all that matters now.

You were arrested on June 14th. As you look back now, where did the problems begin?

The problems began with drug abuse, bro. I mean, the problems began six and a half years ago when Deidra, my fiancee, and I started getting together. I was just starting to dabble in drinking again. I mean, I’ve been on and off the wagon for years. And it’s been a struggle and the band has given me a bajillion chances and I kept screwing those chances up. Finally, it came to a head this year, you know. There’s been a lot of emotional, verbal and physical abuse with D and myself, and it came to a head after this last tour. I hit lower than bottom, and it’s something that I’m going to have to fight the rest of my life.

For you, what were the things that you really had to start working on as you kind of started picking up the pieces?

Well, for me, the first thing I had to start on was working on me, just finding who I was. My identity has been a musician and singer and as the drummer for Journey for 17 years. I was wearing a lot of masks. Deep inside, dude, I was miserable. Not from playing and being a musician, just miserable. I never have felt I was good enough at anything I did – except for playing drums and singing. And it all stems from my childhood.

[The] drug addiction and alcoholism are symptoms of really deep, deep traumatic issues that have happened in my childhood. Heavy stuff that I won’t discuss now, because it’s very personal stuff, but heavy, heavy stuff. And getting into treatment, I mean, first of all, getting into jail – jail saved my life. If it wasn’t for Deidra calling the police and the prosecutors getting me and taking me in, I would be dead. I was on the brink. You know, I was very, very fortunate that I came out of this. And then getting into Hazelden, you know, it changed my life. Jail saved me, and Hazelden changed me.

It’s really scary when you see the word “meth” mentioned in this whole story. That’s a really heavy thing to get into.

Yeah, and it was a 24-day run. I had come off the road and I was on pain medication. I’ve had a hip replacement. I’ve had back surgery, pins in my back and that started two and a half or three years ago when I was on the pain meds. It was just to get through the tours; I needed medication to get through it. Then when I got off the road, I’d just, you know, abuse it. Typical addict, man. We just go after what we go after, and we don’t stop.

So yeah, this last run was a shock to me as well. I never thought in a million years that in 24 days I would destroy everything that meant something to me. Everything. It’s heartbreaking, but you know, I’m alive, bro. Thank God, I’m alive.

Officially, how did all of these events affect your status in Journey? What’s the official status at this point?

I was fired on Aug. 10th. I was terminated. They haven’t released an official announcement but, yeah, I was fired. I was in treatment at the time and I’m grateful that I was in treatment to be able to process that, because that was heartbreaking. But then again, you know, Journey has a stellar legacy and I’ve tarnished that, and they did the right thing. They did what they needed to do. Not because they were punishing me, because it wasn’t about punishing me or wrecking my life. They didn’t do anything of the sort.

They did this because they loved me and they wanted to see me alive. That’s the beauty of it. It wasn’t about, “Oh, let’s just kick him out because he’s a loser and he’s just a drug addict.” They knew that I wouldn’t be able to fix this if I was touring or if I was working with the band, or if I was being pulled back and forth. I needed to have solid recovery and to put this first, and they did the right thing. I mean, it was horrible and it’s heartbreaking, because they’re brothers, but they did the right thing, man. They knew I needed a lot more than just a few months or six months or three months or whatever it was to get this stuff right – because this is not a quick fix.

I know things are complicated as you’re going through something like this. Is it something where they were able to be in touch with you as things were going on? What’s the communication been like?

They had an opportunity. They had the phone number to call me and leave messages at Hazelden. But I never heard from them, and I think they were just giving me the space I needed to keep myself focused. You know, I don’t think it was a personal thing. I’ve gotten a few texts from Neal [Schon] lately, and I got a couple of texts from Jonathan [Cain], but that’s about it.

I actually had to call John Baruck, the manager, and ask on Aug. 10th if I was still in the band and he said, “Well, we’ve decided to terminate you” – and you know, I understand, dude. You know what? My best thinking got me here. Bottom line. My actions and choices have destroyed everything. So, it’s now time to rebuild and, for the first time in my life, I actually like who I am – and I’ve never liked who I am.

As you work to rebuild yourself, where do you see yourself going from here?

Well, as far as playing music, that’s on the backburner and I have no intentions of playing. I don’t know if I’ll ever play again, to be honest with you. I don’t know if I want to. Right now, I have no desire. My desire right now is to be a father and a sober father, obviously – a clean and sober father – and work on myself. I’m taking domestic violence classes for the next nine months, and I’ve been offered to volunteer to talk to juveniles that are dealing and dabbling in drugs and alcohol here in the state. And you know, you don’t want to be 51 and lose everything and that’s what I’ve been telling some of these kids.

I remember talking to a kid at Hazelden, he was 19 and he was pissing and moaning about how, “God, this sucks and I don’t want to be here. I don’t need to be here.” I sat him down and I go, “Bro, do you want to be 51 years old in your fifth rehab stint? Losing everything? Losing a multi-million dollar job and having nothing left? Do you really want to be this? You’d better frickin’ stop it now.” And this kid is still kicking ass – he’s got five days less than I do. I’ve got 125 days today. We keep in contact. He’s doing really good, man. It’s like, you don’t want to be this. Nobody wants to be this. Nobody wants to go through this.

It sounds like, at least once you got out, that you’re able to be with your kids.

Yeah, I see my youngest, Roman, everyday. He’s my priority. You know, I’ve got God, sobriety and my children and my family. Those are my biggest supporters, and it’s great to have my sons look me in the eyes and I’m actually present – not just there. It’s a beautiful thing and they’ll look at me and they’ll say, “I’m proud of you, Dad.” They’re happy for me. They see the real me, and that’s the beauty.

Even the Journey guys, they know the real me. They know that some of those charges were dropped for a reason. They were thrown out for a reason – because they never happened. I’d never have the capacity to do the things that I was charged with. And they were thrown out for a reason. The things that did happen, happened and I do not minimize it at all, Matthew. I mean, it’s horrible.

Domestic violence, obviously is f–king evil and I was a perpetrator, and that’s something that I’m going to learn and grow from with these domestic violence classes. Hopefully, someday, after I get enough knowledge – I mean, I’ve got a ton of knowledge in drug abuse – I can help a kid stay off of that s–t. It’s pretty simple to look at my life and go, “You know what? You don’t want to do this.” But domestic violence, when you’re a perpetrator and you’ve been charged with these things and you’ve dealt with these things, you really need to get to know the knowledge as to why you were doing it. Why was this happening?

Have you been playing music at all yourself?

Not at all. I’ve got a drum set setup in my studio here at home, and I haven’t touched them. To me, there’s more important things in life now. It was great to be in a huge band and it was great to have all of that success and have the money that I had and those things but, you know, when you lose it all, you finally realize what’s important. And what’s important to me is like I said, my kids and my sobriety. It’s going to take a long time.

I’ve got to prove it to not only the Journey fans – or just people, in general. A lot of people have lost faith; . A lot of people don’t believe it. But you know, as long as I’m true to me, all I’ve got to prove it to is my kids, my family, God and myself. If other people don’t believe it, then that’s their right. But I’m not out to please other people anymore. That was my biggest problem is that I wanted everybody to like me and that’s why the masks were all put up, because I hated myself. It’s pretty deep stuff, but I grew a ton at Hazelden. I grew a ton.

Neal’s a guy that you’ve played music with for decades and I’m sure there’s a lot of situations like that where you let people down, where there’s been a long, long relationship like that.

Yeah, I love Neal and that whole band. They’re brothers and, you know, I know they truly care. I mean, I know it beyond a shadow of a doubt. I’ve been in their lives since I was 23, Neal and Jonathan. They’re more like brothers to me than my own family sometimes. They have stuck with me. But they’ve also given me a lot of chances, bro. And you know, I’ve let them down more than once, and they just kind of had to say, “Okay, enough’s enough.” You know, “We love Deen as a human being, not as a commodity. Not as the drummer and the singer that we need.” You know, they love me for me and it was time that they cut ties, so I could actually take care of myself and get myself well – and that’s true love. That’s brotherly love right there.

Do you have a good support system otherwise?

Oh yeah, I’ve got good family and friends here. I’ve got two AA sponsors. I go up and I volunteer at Hazelden once in a while, talk to kids and stuff. And like I said, I’ve got people that really know me. They know the real me, and never gave up on me. Those people, I’m embracing again – because you know, when you’re using and drinking, you isolate. You push all of the people that love you aside. You don’t care. The drugs and the alcohol take over, and you lose yourself. Now that I’m seeing myself again, they’re seeing me again, and it’s beautiful to just go and be with family with no preconceived issues.

You know, it’s not about me being in the band anymore. What can I do for other people and what can people get out of me? The playing field is leveled now. I have nothing to offer anyone but my heart and my authenticity. I have nothing else to offer. I can’t give them money. I can’t get them tickets to shows. I can’t fly them all over the world. This is who I am and this is all I have. Accept me for me, or you don’t have to be here anymore. You know, I’ve learned to draw boundaries, Matthew. That’s huge, because I haven’t been able to for years.

What is it about this bottom that really felt different than the other times that you’ve tried to get clean and get past this?

One word: Consequences. When you’re thrown in jail, that scares you straight. That scares you straight. When you’re charged with stuff that some of the s–t is so heinous and you can’t believe it happened, that scares you straight. Losing your job with brothers that you’ve had for years, scares you straight. Consequences, man. That’s what woke me up. It needed to be this bad in order for me to become the man that I’m supposed to be, that God created me to be. It had to get this bad. Nothing happens on this planet by accident, is what the Big Book says – and it’s right. Nothing happens by accident.

It was horrible, it was traumatic for myself [and] much more traumatic for Deidra and our kids. But you know, the end justifies the means. It happened and it happened for a reason, and I’m grateful daily that it did. A lot of people would be bitter or angry or resentful or pissed off at the world. No way, man. I’m awake now. This is the most awake I’ve been in my life, and I have every intention of making sure that each day I do exactly what I’ve been doing the past 125 days. And you know, it’s one day at a time. I can’t predict the future, but I’m going to make sure that tomorrow when I wake up, if I’m not dead from a heart attack or a plane crash or whatever, I’m going to do the right things. I’m going to make sure that my recovery comes first and that my children are next.

The stuff that’s in place legally, I mean, you lost a relationship in all of this. Is there ever a chance for you to make that right?

You know, the great thing about this is going and doing these domestic violence classes and keeping my treatment up as well, the probation is set up to where that in, I think, six weeks, I’m able to actually talk to Deidra again. After that, they’ll allow me to maybe see her once in a while and then, you know, after counseling and stuff like that, separately – it’s really up to her. It’s up to her. I would love to see her again. You know, I guess I want her to see me as I am now. Because for six and a half years, I’ve been either using or withdrawing or just a dry drunk.

Now, it’s a different thing and I know she’s rooting for me. I know deep down, even though I have no contact with her, I know. I will always love her. No matter what, I will make the proper amends. You know, if it’s just as friends – I’ve known her since she was 14. It’s going to be hard to throw something away that I’ve known pretty much all of my life. She’s a good lady.

[Eric]

I can't begin to explain how much better this makes me feel:

"They know that some of those charges were dropped for a reason. They were thrown out for a reason – because they never happened. I’d never have the capacity to do the things that I was charged with. And they were thrown out for a reason. The things that did happen, happened and I do not minimize it at all"

[perryswoman]

Man I sure wish Deen the best of luck. Will miss him in Journey. That was a really heart breaking read. I sure hope he can keep himself straight. Very, very sad..

[Marabelle]

I'm hoping that someone will tap him on the shoulder and remind him of how to live a sober life each and every day; several times a day. I'm hoping he won't post on this board for years and instead will embrace this opportunity and want to be cognitively clear and wise for the rest of his life. I hope he realizes who are the people who should not be in his life ever again even for an apology. And I hope he realizes it's a disease and an addiction and realizes it does not care what kind of person he has been; it will strip him of everything including his dreams.

[tater1977]

Castronovo: 'I’ve let everybody in the community down'

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/n ... /74886322/

-watch video also

Capi Lynn, Statesman Journal November 3, 2015

Perpetrator, abuser and batterer, these are the painful but deliberate words that Deen Castronovo uses to describe himself.

“It’s my truth, I have nothing to hide,” said the man who played drums for the rock band Journey. “I was a verbally abusive man. I was a physically abusive man.”

Castronovo seemed brutally honest during a no-holds barred interview Monday, Nov. 2, at his oldest son’s home in Keizer, where he has been living since he completed court-ordered drug rehabilitation.

For more than an hour, with no attorney or publicist by his side, Castronovo recounted details of what led up to his arrest for domestic violence charges in June and the subsequent plea deal he accepted from Marion County prosecutors.

He apologized for tearing a tornado-like path of destruction through his family and his community, elaborated on the domestic violence and drug abuse counseling he is undergoing, and then apologized again.

“This is not about clearing my name,” he said. “The only way I’m going to get my family’s trust back is to walk the walk. I’ve let everybody in the community down, everyone who ever put any faith and trust in me.”

Castronovo issued a public apology on Friday, Oct. 30, through an entertainment publicist, and then offered the Statesman Journal an opportunity to be the first to interview him in person.

“I want to talk to my community, that’s important,” he said. “I have to live here. I’ve lived here all my life. My children have gone to school here. My children have friends here.

“They deserve to be apologized to. I’ve got to make it right now, no matter what it takes or what it costs.”

Castronovo was sentenced Oct. 12 to four years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to two counts of fourth-degree domestic violence assault, two counts of domestic violence menacing, one count of unlawful use of a weapon and one count of coercion.

The charges stemmed from an incident in June, the culmination of a volatile 6 1/2-year relationship with the victim, his former fiancée, whom Castronovo admits he emotionally, verbally and physically abused.

He said he will forever be indebted to her for calling police that day. Out of respect to her as a victim, we attempted to reach her before this column published but were unsuccessful.

Castronovo realizes there will be detractors, those who question everything he says or does as a calculated move to salvage a successful and lucrative music career. Before landing the gig with Journey in 1998, he played drums for the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Bad English.

“If somebody really wants to show that they’ve changed, they don’t need the publicity,” said Jayne Downing, executive director of the Center for Hope & Safety, a local nonprofit that serves victims and survivors of domestic violence. “They just do the right thing.”

Trista Davis, program manager at Solutions Domestic Violence Intervention Program Inc., agreed.

“Because domestic violence happens in the secrecy of the home, an apology to the public isn’t where his change needs to be made,” Davis said. “The public wasn’t the one he hurt. It was his partner.”

On the other hand, because Castronovo is a celebrity, every sordid detail of his case was published and broadcast nationally. Why shouldn’t he get the same attention while he learns how to stay sober and stop his abusive behaviors? Of course, if he relapses or violates probation, we should hold him accountable for that, too.

"Because he is who he is, perhaps it's a great opportunity to educate other people," Davis said.

Castronovo is 127 days sober today. He completed a 75-day inpatient treatment program at the Hazelden Springbrook campus in Newberg, part of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. That was court-ordered.

What wasn’t was him voluntarily signing up for an intensive 18-month post-treatment program that includes random urinalysis and daily breathalyzers, which he pays for. Four times a day he blows into a hand-held breathalyzer with embedded camera that captures an image of him for identity verification and wirelessly transmits data to an online portal.

“If I screw up, my probation officer will know,” said Castronovo, who also is participating in a 12-step recovery program and attending regular meetings.

Sobriety has been a challenge for him for years.

When I first met Castronovo in 2009, at the main branch of the Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Marion and Polk Counties, he was forthright about previous substance abuse and shared that he had been clean and sober for two years. He talked about how drugs had cost him a marriage and damaged his relationship with his family, including his two sons, at the time ages 18 and almost 4.

“For me to give back to the community helps me keep my sobriety,” he said that day.

Castronovo has been a major benefactor for the Boys & Girls Club, both as a donor and a mentor. He outfitted a room full of musical instruments and studio quality recording equipment and has been an inspiration for many youths who participate in the Journey to Music program.

Now he’s not sure where he stands with the organization.

“I’ve had no contact with them,” he said. “I’ve let them down and disappointed a lot of people.”

During his treatment at Hazelden Springbrook, he tried to set an example for younger patients and gave them this warning: “You don’t want to be 51 and in your fifth stint of treatment and you’ve lost everything.”

It wasn’t Castronovo's first time at Hazelden. He was there around 2000, but lasted only nine days.

“I had consequences this time, severe consequences,” he said. “Jail and losing my job.”

He did spend 15 days in jail, which he said scared him straight, and he did lose his job. On Aug. 10, while still in rehab, he received a phone call from the band manager. Journey fired him.

“They had to,” Castronovo said. “They have an impeccable legacy, and I tarnished that. They didn’t fire me to punish me. They fired me because they love me and they wanted me to get help. They knew I couldn’t do it and be on the road.”

He is using the time to heal and to reclaim his identity, which in the past has been tied to being a rock star.

“The only time I felt self-worth was playing the drums,” he said. “I used to live for cars, touring, playing, the big houses — meaningless crap. I’m happier now.”

For his recovery's sake, he has had to let go of the shame and the guilt of being a batterer.

“I know I will never downplay or minimize what I did, but I have to forgive myself,” Castronovo said. “It doesn’t have to be a lifetime pattern. People can change.”

One of the conditions of his probation is that he undergo 36 weeks of domestic violence counseling, and he is four weeks into it. He attends a men’s group on Saturday afternoons.

What he’s already learned is that he cannot blame the 24-day methamphetamine binge that led up to his arrest, or a previous addiction to pain medication after hip replacement and back surgery.

“Domestic violence is really a choice, and it is calculated,” he said. “The drugs and the alcohol exacerbated it immensely, but there’s no excuse for what I did. I deal with it every day, and it’s deeper than regret or remorse.”

Realizing that is just the first step in the eyes of domestic violence advocates like Davis and Downing.

“Substances don’t create belief systems,” said Davis, who works at a different counseling center than the one Castronovo attends. "Somebody can work on sobriety and over time they may feel pretty good, but their belief system and their behaviors and their thinking is still there.

“True change takes between three to five years to measure.”

[perryfan61]

Hip replacement and back surgery, which left him addicted to pain medication. I had no idea any of this was happening.....but then again, how would I?

I sincerely hope he can turn his life around, and if that means getting away from the music business, then that's what he'll have to do. I wish him true success.

[yogi]

Im not making excuses for anybody but this happens so often that you would think that the medical community would be wiser.

There are more drug addicts now because their own doctors got them hooked on a legal prescribed drug following surgery. This is happening in all walks of life from athletes to CEOS and in many cases its totally avoidable.

The patient may have to endure far more pain in the beginning, they may be in more pain as they heal but its a whole lot better than being a drug addict after they have recovered from their injury/surgery.

Its tragic that our society has allowed this to happen and the medical community often is responsible.

[JBlake]

He looks good, and healthy in this photo. Maybe it's time for him to get back to work with Journey...

It's not a recent photo. And a photo doesn't prove anything about sobriety anyway. Not sure where the band goes from here.

Old picture for sure.

[JBlake]

Hip replacement and back surgery, which left him addicted to pain medication. I had no idea any of this was happening.....but then again, how would I?

I sincerely hope he can turn his life around, and if that means getting away from the music business, then that's what he'll have to do. I wish him true success.

Hip replaced? That's a major surgery. Must have been in some type of accident since he's really not that old to be wearing out a hip already.

[FamilyMan]

Hip replacement and back surgery, which left him addicted to pain medication. I had no idea any of this was happening.....but then again, how would I?

I sincerely hope he can turn his life around, and if that means getting away from the music business, then that's what he'll have to do. I wish him true success.

Hip replaced? That's a major surgery. Must have been in some type of accident since he's really not that old to be wearing out a hip already.

Neither was Perry. Apparently, singing in Journey's upper register causes hip damage.
But on a serious note, it's great to see Deen on the other side of all this. He sounds like his head is in the right place and priorities are in order. But man - the lack of contact from the band is hard to understand.

[Archetype]

Hip replacement and back surgery, which left him addicted to pain medication. I had no idea any of this was happening.....but then again, how would I?

I sincerely hope he can turn his life around, and if that means getting away from the music business, then that's what he'll have to do. I wish him true success.

Hip replaced? That's a major surgery. Must have been in some type of accident since he's really not that old to be wearing out a hip already.

Neither was Perry. Apparently, singing in Journey's upper register causes hip damage.
But on a serious note, it's great to see Deen on the other side of all this. He sounds like his head is in the right place and priorities are in order. But man - the lack of contact from the band is hard to understand.

I seem to remember Jeff Scott Soto taking issue with how impersonal the band members of Journey are towards each other.

[perryswoman]

I am remembering the same. Sad really. I'm sure Deen's feelings are hurt but only had positive things to say about the band members. That's the kind of person he is.

[perryfan61]

I am remembering the same. Sad really. I'm sure Deen's feelings are hurt but only had positive things to say about the band members. That's the kind of person he is.

Once you've left Journey, you are off their radar immediately. No matter how long you were there, they seem to forget you, and move on without looking back. Must be very hard for all those once in the band.