"Being with Members of Journey...a brotherhood"
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 2:19 am...says Pineda in this latest article. Hmmmm
http://www.mb.com.ph/ENTR20080117114573.html
Pinoy breakout star Arnel Pineda sets his goals
Yugel Losorata
Another Filipino is set to shine in the international scene as band vocalist Arnel Pineda was tapped to join veteran American rock band Journey.
The act behind the hits "Open Arms" and "Don’t Stop Believing" is now recording a new album with the Pinoy guy for release certainly within the year.
"I promise I’m gonna make you all proud. I’m not gonna fail you," uttered the 40 yearold belter to Filipino fans while at the hot seat in front of press and supporters gathered at Hard Rock in Makati last Friday. His "big break" of landing the precious Journey post once famously occupied by bigname Steve Perry has attracted even CNN which animatedly reported how he got into the band.
"I’d hope to be one of the biggest crusaders for the Filipino cause and tell them (foreigners) that Filipino musicians are one of the bests in the world," he shared.
As expected, he treated the presscon crowd with a stunning live performance of Journey songs that included "Faithfully." Arnel’s rendition of this song which was posted over the YouTube by one Noel Gomez is said to have attracted Journey guitarist Neal Schon who asked the Filipino to audition for his globally acclaimed group.
Arnel, with his TV director-manager Bert de Leon, went to San Francisco, USA last August to try his luck. On December 5 he was officially named as the act’s new lead singer.
The former ‘dyaryo-bote’ boy who grew up in Sampaloc, Manila started singing at 15 and joined a showband called Ijos which would transform into the AMO Band of the 80s. Later in life he found himself flying back and forth to Hong Kong and Philippines to hope for the big break.
Leading to his catch of a lifetime, Arnel was discovered by de Leon who then formed cover band Zoo with him as lead singer. Late last year, the group released an album under MCA Music called "Zoology" and came out with the carrier single "Gimik."
Out of "Zoo" and into a new journey
With Arnel leaving his post for Journey, a new singer in Reujenson Lista has replaced him. But he is still heard singing in the band’s latest single, "Pain In My Heart" which is a revival of the 90s hit song penned by Zoo guitarist Moneth Cajipe. A video of the song quite serving as a touching farewell of Arnel has premiered on MYX last Sunday.
"Being with members of Journey is more of a brotherhood just like my relationship with Zoo. They’re friendly and have no rockstar attitude," he revealed to the media.
He added, "I wasn’t very confident during the audition but I realized I should just enjoy the moment. My break is really about a Filipino who made it in Journey."
Arnel related that he was the second guy to audition for the vacated role and the very first Asian to have been given such opportunity.
Producer Kevin Shirley, currently recording with Arnel, is said to have described the recording sessions as "wonderful and successful" and noted, "I was stunned at Arnel, who is a monster vocalist. He is the real deal. I think he is ‘the business!’ — the guy can really sing! He handles the ballads with so much heart, and belts the rockers as hard, and melodically as anyone I have heard."
For the record, Journey has replaced its vocalist a number of times. Steve Augeri, who sang for around eight years with the group, experienced vocal problems because of throat infection, while the most recent one, Jeff Scott Soto, was sacked after the band decided ‘to move in a new direction.’
Arnel will tour with the rest of Journey, namely, Jonathan Cain, Deen Castronovo, Ross Valory, and Schon. They will be doing four shows in Chile from February 17 to 25. A European tour will start May 24 in Sweden and ends on June 15 while the US Tour begins on July 4 and goes till September. The last months of the year will see the veteran power ballad group going to Japan, Australia and possibly, the Philippines.
Formed in San Francisco in 1971, Journey was originally called the Golden Gate Rhythm Section and served as backup group for other artists. In 1977, the band, already called Journey, hired Perry, the voice behind the classic "Foolish Heart", as new lead singer. Perry helped the band became a pop act which resulted to their fourth album "Infinity" reaching No. 21 on the charts and gave the band their first RIAA-certified platinum.
"I’m longing to meet Steve Perry,’" admitted Pineda, not related to Black Eyed Peas’ Allan Pineda who have also given the country a major honor with his colorful stint abroad.
"I never see this coming and I’m hoping my experience would open a big door for aspiring musicians. This is my chance to be a torch bearer for Filipinos. Dala ko dito ang fire ng Filipino spirit."
At 40, Arnel has taken the internet age in giving sense to the cliché that life begins at such period in a man’s life. He also gives hope to dreamers out there that it’s never too late to achieve something this big. His mantra, "Don’t Stop Believing," (also the title of a Journey song that refreshed the band to many when it was played to end "The Sopranos") is simply in tune with the music of Journey.
http://www.mb.com.ph/ENTR20080117114573.html
Pinoy breakout star Arnel Pineda sets his goals
Yugel Losorata
Another Filipino is set to shine in the international scene as band vocalist Arnel Pineda was tapped to join veteran American rock band Journey.
The act behind the hits "Open Arms" and "Don’t Stop Believing" is now recording a new album with the Pinoy guy for release certainly within the year.
"I promise I’m gonna make you all proud. I’m not gonna fail you," uttered the 40 yearold belter to Filipino fans while at the hot seat in front of press and supporters gathered at Hard Rock in Makati last Friday. His "big break" of landing the precious Journey post once famously occupied by bigname Steve Perry has attracted even CNN which animatedly reported how he got into the band.
"I’d hope to be one of the biggest crusaders for the Filipino cause and tell them (foreigners) that Filipino musicians are one of the bests in the world," he shared.
As expected, he treated the presscon crowd with a stunning live performance of Journey songs that included "Faithfully." Arnel’s rendition of this song which was posted over the YouTube by one Noel Gomez is said to have attracted Journey guitarist Neal Schon who asked the Filipino to audition for his globally acclaimed group.
Arnel, with his TV director-manager Bert de Leon, went to San Francisco, USA last August to try his luck. On December 5 he was officially named as the act’s new lead singer.
The former ‘dyaryo-bote’ boy who grew up in Sampaloc, Manila started singing at 15 and joined a showband called Ijos which would transform into the AMO Band of the 80s. Later in life he found himself flying back and forth to Hong Kong and Philippines to hope for the big break.
Leading to his catch of a lifetime, Arnel was discovered by de Leon who then formed cover band Zoo with him as lead singer. Late last year, the group released an album under MCA Music called "Zoology" and came out with the carrier single "Gimik."
Out of "Zoo" and into a new journey
With Arnel leaving his post for Journey, a new singer in Reujenson Lista has replaced him. But he is still heard singing in the band’s latest single, "Pain In My Heart" which is a revival of the 90s hit song penned by Zoo guitarist Moneth Cajipe. A video of the song quite serving as a touching farewell of Arnel has premiered on MYX last Sunday.
"Being with members of Journey is more of a brotherhood just like my relationship with Zoo. They’re friendly and have no rockstar attitude," he revealed to the media.
He added, "I wasn’t very confident during the audition but I realized I should just enjoy the moment. My break is really about a Filipino who made it in Journey."
Arnel related that he was the second guy to audition for the vacated role and the very first Asian to have been given such opportunity.
Producer Kevin Shirley, currently recording with Arnel, is said to have described the recording sessions as "wonderful and successful" and noted, "I was stunned at Arnel, who is a monster vocalist. He is the real deal. I think he is ‘the business!’ — the guy can really sing! He handles the ballads with so much heart, and belts the rockers as hard, and melodically as anyone I have heard."
For the record, Journey has replaced its vocalist a number of times. Steve Augeri, who sang for around eight years with the group, experienced vocal problems because of throat infection, while the most recent one, Jeff Scott Soto, was sacked after the band decided ‘to move in a new direction.’
Arnel will tour with the rest of Journey, namely, Jonathan Cain, Deen Castronovo, Ross Valory, and Schon. They will be doing four shows in Chile from February 17 to 25. A European tour will start May 24 in Sweden and ends on June 15 while the US Tour begins on July 4 and goes till September. The last months of the year will see the veteran power ballad group going to Japan, Australia and possibly, the Philippines.
Formed in San Francisco in 1971, Journey was originally called the Golden Gate Rhythm Section and served as backup group for other artists. In 1977, the band, already called Journey, hired Perry, the voice behind the classic "Foolish Heart", as new lead singer. Perry helped the band became a pop act which resulted to their fourth album "Infinity" reaching No. 21 on the charts and gave the band their first RIAA-certified platinum.
"I’m longing to meet Steve Perry,’" admitted Pineda, not related to Black Eyed Peas’ Allan Pineda who have also given the country a major honor with his colorful stint abroad.
"I never see this coming and I’m hoping my experience would open a big door for aspiring musicians. This is my chance to be a torch bearer for Filipinos. Dala ko dito ang fire ng Filipino spirit."
At 40, Arnel has taken the internet age in giving sense to the cliché that life begins at such period in a man’s life. He also gives hope to dreamers out there that it’s never too late to achieve something this big. His mantra, "Don’t Stop Believing," (also the title of a Journey song that refreshed the band to many when it was played to end "The Sopranos") is simply in tune with the music of Journey.
