Journey's new singer hopes fans will start believin' in him,

[tater1977]

Journey's new singer hopes fans will start believin' in him, too

By Mike Osegueda McClatchy Newspapers
First Posted: October 09, 2011 - 4:00 pm

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/M ... Y_6254523/

FRESNO, Calif. — He knows. He’s heard the comments and criticism, and he knows there’s nothing he can do to change things.

Arnel Pineda will never be Steve Perry. And for that, some Journey fans will never accept him as the band’s lead singer.

“I just have to deal with it,” says Pineda, on the phone from a tour bus in Southern California. “It’s not going to stop. I understand their sentiment. I myself am a big fan of Perry’s voice.”

On Wednesday, Journey’s “Eclipse” tour rolls into Fresno, where the shadow of Perry looms ever larger — if that’s possible.

Pineda and the rest of Journey will hop on stage at the Save Mart Center and belt out arena rock hits like “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Separate Ways,” not far from where Perry was born and raised.

Minutes after the Fresno date was announced, the debates began — the Perry diehards who decry the “fake Journey” vs. the Journey diehards who think Pineda is the real deal.

It’s not unlike what surrounds Van Halen: Sammy or Dave? You have to pick one.

The man at the center of the Journey debate is humble — even a bit sheepish when talking about it.

“I don’t have a plan to outdo what Perry did,” says Pineda, 44. “It can never be done. I’m just here to interpret what they’ve created. I’m just here to continue it.

“I’m one the biggest Journey fans. I would even step aside if he wanted to come back.”

He could just be coy, but in talking to him, it feels as if Pineda genuinely sees himself as a outsider in all that is Journey — a band whose signature hit, “Don’t Stop Believin’,” has enjoyed a huge resurrection thanks to TV shows such as “The Sopranos” and “Glee.”

It was after “The Sopranos” used the song in its final scene in 2007 that the Journey machine started to chug again. Problem was, the band didn’t have singer at the time.

Perry and the band parted ways after he injured his hip in 1996. Journey waited a year and a half for Perry to get surgery, but ultimately found a replacement and went on tour without him. The two sides never reconciled. Perry — who also had a successful solo career outside of Journey — now resides in Southern California.

It was guitar player Neal Schon who found Pineda. There was no audition. No casting call. Schon found him on YouTube covering Journey songs with his band in the Philippines.

Though Pineda barely spoke English, he had the pipes to channel Perry and Sting with his band The Zoo. That type of mimicry is the norm, he says, in his home country.

“For us Filipinos,” Pineda says. “We see these American and European artists as gods. We look up to them. We copy what they do. They inspire us to be like them.”

That’s why Pineda calls getting the gig with Journey his own “fairy tale.”

He’s a bit of a rock ‘n’ roll Cinderella — having once been homeless, before falling back on the singing he did as a child under the watchful eye of his mother.

His connection with Journey still baffles him some days.

“For me, it’s really weird, like am I really singing with these guys?” he says. “Sometimes I can’t get used to the fact that I’m singing with these guys.”

It was a big adjustment at first, going from being in a cover band to being on a major tour with Journey. The first year, he says, was grueling.

“At first, I was trying to figure out how to do it, how to survive,” Pineda says. “Now that I’ve survived it, I just have to figure out to prolong it.”

Most of that, he understands, falls back to the fans. If they don’t like him — most reviews seem to indicate they do — then maybe Journey is off to find another lead singer.

For now, though, Pineda is just trying to live the words he sings each night. You know, that don’t-stop-believing stuff.

And maybe, just maybe, he can turn some Perry die-hards into believers.

“I’m just trying to do my job night after night,” Pineda says. “I’m just trying my best. If my best is not good enough for the hard-core fans of Journey and Steve Perry, I don’t know what else to do.”

[steveo777]

Arnel has the heart of a Lion and I think as time has gone on he's earned some respect. Not perfect in any way, but he's got a tough job to do to please Journey fans, but he does what he does with grace. I'm a fan of Arnel, as a person, first, singer second. There is a difference between Neal and Arnel. Arnel is a respectable person, who happens to sing well and Neal is just a douche who can play guitar well. I believe Arnel really has a genuine respect for Steve Perry and is a fan. I've never really heard Arnel have a bad thing to say about anyone. Great humble guy......the "real deal", as far as people go.

[Arkansas]

Like him, or not. Like Revelation, and/or, Eclipse, or not. But any singer in the entire world would love to have his job. I don't think that anyone, not in the biz major, can imagine the pressure from the 'Journey machine', or from all the critics...public, private, or any of us know-it-alls online.

Regardless of whatever opinions, far & wide, AP deserves major respect. Period.


later~

[Michigan Girl]

I'm pretty sure at this stage in the game he has the fans he's going to have, w/Journey anyway.
I think he's an incredible human ...but this article starts off whiny and then ends on a whiny
note too ...pity!!

[Don]

I'm pretty sure at this stage in the game he has the fans he's going to have, w/Journey anyway.
I think he's an incredible human ...but this article starts off whiny and then ends on a whiny
note too ...pity!!

I agree. The fans that are there will be there and the ones who haven't come back aren't going to. A lot of fans are at the gigs because of nostalgia/Glee anyway. They probably could give two shits whether Arnel is a great person or not or even what his name is.
Most just want to have a singalong to DSB and/or hear songs from their high School days.
Four years on, there is no reason to center these 'Band' articles around Pineda being an underdog anymore trying to break out from Perry's shadow. Everything is pretty much settled and people are either on board or they aren't.
People are showing up at the concerts, what more is really needed?

[marco17]

I really didn't see this as any different then what Augeri went through when we was with the band. No matter how good they are, they are always going to be compared to Perry, and either people will accept them or not.

[Gideon]

I'm pretty sure at this stage in the game he has the fans he's going to have, w/Journey anyway.
I think he's an incredible human ...but this article starts off whiny and then ends on a whiny
note too ...pity!!

I agree.

Arnel acknowledges that there are those among us who don't support his time with the band because of allegiance to Perry, claims to understand that point of view, and reaffirms his intent to do his best, come what may.... and that's whining?
Pretty strict standards there.... I wonder what you two would have made of some of Perry's comments over the years.

[Michigan Girl]

I'm pretty sure at this stage in the game he has the fans he's going to have, w/Journey anyway.
I think he's an incredible human ...but this article starts off whiny and then ends on a whiny
note too ...pity!!

I agree.

Arnel acknowledges that there are those among us who don't support his time with the band because of allegiance to Perry, claims to understand that point of view, and reaffirms his intent to do his best, come what may.... and that's whining?
Pretty strict standards there.... I wonder what you two would have made of some of Perry's comments over the years.

whiny ...period!! I don't know what else to do if people don't like me waaa, waaa ...who cares, do your job!!
we're talking about AP ...the past is your problem and AP's, too ...get over it !!

[Gideon]

whiney ...period!!

An ellipsis and two exclamation points to be precise!

I don't know what else to do if people don't like me waaa, waaa ...

I still don't see that as whiny. If he was bitching about it or expressing dismay/outrage with those who didn't like him, then I'd understand.

who cares, do your job!!

That's what he said he was going to do!

we're talking about AP ...the past is your problem and AP's, too ...get over it !!

Just keeping it balanced, MG. Maybe you should tell the Plokkers to pass you some lube?

[Michigan Girl]

And I said he comes across as whiny ...your point!!

[Gideon]

And I said he comes across as whiny ...your point!!

This is a thread was posted in a discussion board. I was posting my look on it and was simply curious as to what led you to conclude what you did.

Is that a problem?

[Michigan Girl]

And I said he comes across as whiny ...your point!!

This is a thread was posted in a discussion board. I was posting my look on it and was simply curious as to what led you to conclude what you did.

Is that a problem?

And I was posting mine ^^^^^ ...is that a problem?!?!

The article ends with a pitiful negative, on the down side, low, PPM!!
He still does not know how to communicate w/the media, unless sympathy garnering is the plan.
Hang w/Kelly, AP. He knows how to lift the spirits of the reader, make us want to see whats he's
all about ...no pity~parties, let's rock!! The tone of this article is so obvious and in
your face.
As I said, "WA WA!!"

[Gideon]

And I was posting mine ^^^^^ ...is that a problem?!?!

No.
I wasn't trying to get you to change your mind or opinion, I just wanted to know why you thought that way for discussion purposes.

The article ends with a pitiful negative, on the down side, low, PPM!!
He still does not know how to communicate w/the media, unless sympathy garnering is the plan.
Hang w/Kelly, AP. He knows how to lift the spirits of the reader, makes us want to see whats he's
all about ...no pity~parties, let's rock!! The tone of this article is so obvious and in
your face.
As I said, "WA WA!!"

I still disagree, but definitely respect that take on it. Thank you for explaining.

[Michigan Girl]

And I was posting mine ^^^^^ ...is that a problem?!?!

No.
I wasn't trying to get you to change your mind or opinion, I just wanted to know why you thought that way for discussion purposes. .

I know ...I think you were just jonesing for someone to debate/fight with ...I get that way sometimes, it is fun!!

The article ends with a pitiful negative, on the down side, low, PPM!!
He still does not know how to communicate w/the media, unless sympathy garnering is the plan.
Hang w/Kelly, AP. He knows how to lift the spirits of the reader, makes us want to see whats he's
all about ...no pity~parties, let's rock!! The tone of this article is so obvious and in
your face.
As I said, "WA WA!!"

I still disagree, but definitely respect that take on it. Thank you for explaining.

You're quite welcome sir, anytime!!
And no, we will more than likely never agree, and that is so ok w/me!!

[Gideon]

I know ...I think you were just jonesing for someone to debate/fight with ...I get that way sometimes, it is fun!!

Since I've been back from my spat w/ Andrew a year or so back, I've been a lot less inclined to debate. And since problems with Greg and Slucero went down, I've been even less willing to enter the ring for fear of pissing everyone off.

Anymore, I prefer a friendly chat to adversarial discourse.

You're quite welcome sir, anytime!!
And no, we will more than likely never agree and that's it so ok w/me!!

We agree on some of the essentials: Perry is a great singer, Schon's a great guitarist, and Cain is buff and manly?

[Don]

I've never cared for Perry's whining during the BTM program and a few other interviews where he bitched about other stuff, like Survivor copying Journey's style and other silly shit like that. The same with Schon; All the crying about how Perry screwed them over and Journey should have won a few Grammys and yada, yada, yada..cry me a river already.

As far as Arnel goes, we just had the other article a few weeks back where something gets lost in interpretation about him asking Perry fans not to be violent.
That was all fine and dandy but now, another interview dwelling on the negatives when Pineda should be talking about the positives such as the very successful tour the band is having.

It's four years in and while I was initially happy that Pineda is finally getting out there talking to the press, he needs to find a way to remove himself from the Perry debates instead of basically coming off as an apologist for simply doing his job.

I'm sending Arnel back to the doghouse. When it comes to the current Journey members, Cain is the only one that should be allowed to speak EVER.

[Behshad]

Giddy, usually youre great at winning debates, but MG is the clear winner this time. Good luck next time, bud

[DrFU]

I've never cared for Perry's whining during the BTM program and a few other interviews where he bitched about other stuff, like Survivor copying Journey's style and other silly shit like that. The same with Schon; All the crying about how Perry screwed them over and Journey should have won a few Grammys and yada, yada, yada..cry me a river already.

As far as Arnel goes, we just had the other article a few weeks back where something gets lost in interpretation about him asking Perry fans not to be violent.
That was all fine and dandy but now, another interview dwelling on the negatives when Pineda should be talking about the positives such as the very successful tour the band is having.

It's four years in and while I was initially happy that Pineda is finally getting out there talking to the press, he needs to find a way to remove himself from the Perry debates instead of basically coming off as an apologist for simply doing his job.

I'm sending Arnel back to the doghouse. When it comes to the current Journey members, Cain is the only one that should be allowed to speak EVER.

PR 101: be positive, take reponsibility, give credit, leave doors open, and never complain about your job!

[jestor92]

Arnel Shut up and learn the fucking lyrics to your new songs. Shit if you could remember the lyrics the band might be playing Tantra instead of La Do Da No one cares if you like being compared to Perry or don't like being compared to Perry it's part of the job. No one cares about Journey making new music these days, you've had your 15 mins of fame thanks to Oprah. Now learn the music and sing the fucking songs the way they're meant to be sung. Watch Foreigner and any other band you guys tour with and see what a real front man looks like because the only person who you might have more stage presence than is Steve Augeri.

Arnel has a great set of pipes, I just don't think he really knows how to use them. My biggest complaint is that when he tries to sing the old songs high notes and even some of the new matierial he sounds like shit when he's doing it. When he just lets it rip (Rocking ending of She's A Mystery) he sounds great.

[Rick]

Arnel Shut up and learn the fucking lyrics to your new songs. Shit if you could remember the lyrics the band might be playing Tantra instead of La Do Da No one cares if you like being compared to Perry or don't like being compared to Perry it's part of the job. No one cares about Journey making new music these days, you've had your 15 mins of fame thanks to Oprah. Now learn the music and sing the fucking songs the way they're meant to be sung. Watch Foreigner and any other band you guys tour with and see what a real front man looks like because the only person who you might have more stage presence than is Steve Augeri.

Arnel has a great set of pipes, I just don't think he really knows how to use them. My biggest complaint is that when he tries to sing the old songs high notes and even some of the new matierial he sounds like shit when he's doing it. When he just lets it rip (Rocking ending of She's A Mystery) he sounds great.

Nobody in the audience, save for a very, very few know the lyrics to Tantra, either.

[jestor92]

Arnel Shut up and learn the fucking lyrics to your new songs. Shit if you could remember the lyrics the band might be playing Tantra instead of La Do Da No one cares if you like being compared to Perry or don't like being compared to Perry it's part of the job. No one cares about Journey making new music these days, you've had your 15 mins of fame thanks to Oprah. Now learn the music and sing the fucking songs the way they're meant to be sung. Watch Foreigner and any other band you guys tour with and see what a real front man looks like because the only person who you might have more stage presence than is Steve Augeri.

Arnel has a great set of pipes, I just don't think he really knows how to use them. My biggest complaint is that when he tries to sing the old songs high notes and even some of the new matierial he sounds like shit when he's doing it. When he just lets it rip (Rocking ending of She's A Mystery) he sounds great.

Nobody in the audience, save for a very, very few know the lyrics to Tantra, either.

They should be happy about that

[Ehwmatt]

Arnel Shut up and learn the fucking lyrics to your new songs. Shit if you could remember the lyrics the band might be playing Tantra instead of La Do Da No one cares if you like being compared to Perry or don't like being compared to Perry it's part of the job. No one cares about Journey making new music these days, you've had your 15 mins of fame thanks to Oprah. Now learn the music and sing the fucking songs the way they're meant to be sung. Watch Foreigner and any other band you guys tour with and see what a real front man looks like because the only person who you might have more stage presence than is Steve Augeri.

Arnel has a great set of pipes, I just don't think he really knows how to use them. My biggest complaint is that when he tries to sing the old songs high notes and even some of the new matierial he sounds like shit when he's doing it. When he just lets it rip (Rocking ending of She's A Mystery) he sounds great.

Like I said, Arnel to me resembles a young athlete who has LOADS of talent but doesn't have the in-game smarts/instincts to use them the right way/put it all together.

[jestor92]

Arnel Shut up and learn the fucking lyrics to your new songs. Shit if you could remember the lyrics the band might be playing Tantra instead of La Do Da No one cares if you like being compared to Perry or don't like being compared to Perry it's part of the job. No one cares about Journey making new music these days, you've had your 15 mins of fame thanks to Oprah. Now learn the music and sing the fucking songs the way they're meant to be sung. Watch Foreigner and any other band you guys tour with and see what a real front man looks like because the only person who you might have more stage presence than is Steve Augeri.

Arnel has a great set of pipes, I just don't think he really knows how to use them. My biggest complaint is that when he tries to sing the old songs high notes and even some of the new matierial he sounds like shit when he's doing it. When he just lets it rip (Rocking ending of She's A Mystery) he sounds great.

Like I said, Arnel to me resembles a young athlete who has LOADS of talent but doesn't have the in-game smarts/instincts to use them the right way/put it all together.

In that idea you have bolded, I think it's along the lines of a once promising prospect who had loads of talent, but missed the boat on the timing to really put it together. A player who will put together a few good years, but not come close to their potential. Arnel is 44-45 years old. He's not young by any means and the band isn't getting young, hell even Neal's groupie action isn't young anymore They needed him to be the seasoned vocalist to really catapult them back into the spotlight. Unfortunetly for him and them, 2 subpar albums later and the only thing that seems to really be generating any interest in the band is the guitarists sexcapades.

[steveo777]

Arnel Shut up and learn the fucking lyrics to your new songs. Shit if you could remember the lyrics the band might be playing Tantra instead of La Do Da No one cares if you like being compared to Perry or don't like being compared to Perry it's part of the job. No one cares about Journey making new music these days, you've had your 15 mins of fame thanks to Oprah. Now learn the music and sing the fucking songs the way they're meant to be sung. Watch Foreigner and any other band you guys tour with and see what a real front man looks like because the only person who you might have more stage presence than is Steve Augeri.

Arnel has a great set of pipes, I just don't think he really knows how to use them. My biggest complaint is that when he tries to sing the old songs high notes and even some of the new matierial he sounds like shit when he's doing it. When he just lets it rip (Rocking ending of She's A Mystery) he sounds great.

Like I said, Arnel to me resembles a young athlete who has LOADS of talent but doesn't have the in-game smarts/instincts to use them the right way/put it all together.

In that idea you have bolded, I think it's along the lines of a once promising prospect who had loads of talent, but missed the boat on the timing to really put it together. A player who will put together a few good years, but not come close to their potential. Arnel is 44-45 years old. He's not young by any means and the band isn't getting young, hell even Neal's groupie action isn't young anymore They needed him to be the seasoned vocalist to really catapult them back into the spotlight. Unfortunetly for him and them, 2 subpar albums later and the only thing that seems to really be generating any interest in the band is the guitarists sexcapades.

That point is arguable. The music climate for this genre has changed. I think both of these albums are excellent and on par with what we bought in the 80's, but hey, it's not the 80's anymore and culture has changed. (read-people buy pure crap today, which sells millions)

[Behshad]

Arnel Shut up and learn the fucking lyrics to your new songs. Shit if you could remember the lyrics the band might be playing Tantra instead of La Do Da No one cares if you like being compared to Perry or don't like being compared to Perry it's part of the job. No one cares about Journey making new music these days, you've had your 15 mins of fame thanks to Oprah. Now learn the music and sing the fucking songs the way they're meant to be sung. Watch Foreigner and any other band you guys tour with and see what a real front man looks like because the only person who you might have more stage presence than is Steve Augeri.

Arnel has a great set of pipes, I just don't think he really knows how to use them. My biggest complaint is that when he tries to sing the old songs high notes and even some of the new matierial he sounds like shit when he's doing it. When he just lets it rip (Rocking ending of She's A Mystery) he sounds great.

Like I said, Arnel to me resembles a young athlete who has LOADS of talent but doesn't have the in-game smarts/instincts to use them the right way/put it all together.

In that idea you have bolded, I think it's along the lines of a once promising prospect who had loads of talent, but missed the boat on the timing to really put it together. A player who will put together a few good years, but not come close to their potential. Arnel is 44-45 years old. He's not young by any means and the band isn't getting young, hell even Neal's groupie action isn't young anymore They needed him to be the seasoned vocalist to really catapult them back into the spotlight. Unfortunetly for him and them, 2 subpar albums later and the only thing that seems to really be generating any interest in the band is the guitarists sexcapades.

That point is arguable. The music climate for this genre has changed. I think both of these albums are excellent and on par with what we bought in the 80's, but hey, it's not the 80's anymore and culture has changed. (read-people buy pure crap today, which sells millions)

No its not and even if it was you'd still lose that argument!

[Ritchie]

I really didn't see this as any different then what Augeri went through when we was with the band. No matter how good they are, they are always going to be compared to Perry, and either people will accept them or not.

Augeri and his fans got their feathers ruffled...Pineda and his fans got gang raped from all angles.

[Ehwmatt]

Arnel Shut up and learn the fucking lyrics to your new songs. Shit if you could remember the lyrics the band might be playing Tantra instead of La Do Da No one cares if you like being compared to Perry or don't like being compared to Perry it's part of the job. No one cares about Journey making new music these days, you've had your 15 mins of fame thanks to Oprah. Now learn the music and sing the fucking songs the way they're meant to be sung. Watch Foreigner and any other band you guys tour with and see what a real front man looks like because the only person who you might have more stage presence than is Steve Augeri.

Arnel has a great set of pipes, I just don't think he really knows how to use them. My biggest complaint is that when he tries to sing the old songs high notes and even some of the new matierial he sounds like shit when he's doing it. When he just lets it rip (Rocking ending of She's A Mystery) he sounds great.

Like I said, Arnel to me resembles a young athlete who has LOADS of talent but doesn't have the in-game smarts/instincts to use them the right way/put it all together.

In that idea you have bolded, I think it's along the lines of a once promising prospect who had loads of talent, but missed the boat on the timing to really put it together. A player who will put together a few good years, but not come close to their potential. Arnel is 44-45 years old. He's not young by any means and the band isn't getting young, hell even Neal's groupie action isn't young anymore They needed him to be the seasoned vocalist to really catapult them back into the spotlight. Unfortunetly for him and them, 2 subpar albums later and the only thing that seems to really be generating any interest in the band is the guitarists sexcapades.

That point is arguable. The music climate for this genre has changed. I think both of these albums are excellent and on par with what we bought in the 80's, but hey, it's not the 80's anymore and culture has changed. (read-people buy pure crap today, which sells millions)

Interesting argument coming from one who just last week tried to refute my claim that Arrival is an excellent album by comparing its sales stats to Revelation's.

[Gideon]

Interesting argument coming from one who just last week tried to refute my claim that Arrival is an excellent album by comparing its sales stats to Revelation's.

+1.
I really wish people would stop referencing sales in discussions concerning quality.

[brywool]

I'm pretty sure at this stage in the game he has the fans he's going to have, w/Journey anyway.
I think he's an incredible human ...but this article starts off whiny and then ends on a whiny
note too ...pity!!

...right....



Perry is the KING of whiny interviews.... oh wait, Jon's kind of a crier isn't he?
Jon's probably got him beat, but not by much "I never felt I was part of the band... boo hoo".
Perry comes off as psychologically damaged and paranoid.

But man, Arnel is ALWAYS respectful, ALWAYS gracious to Perry's fans and his legacy.
Not whiny at all. Respectful.

[Gideon]

oh wait, Jon's kind of a crier isn't he?.

I've never understood why he was harassed around here for crying about a terminally ill kid.