Steve Perry returns to Journey -- sorta

Journey formally announced its new lead singer today -- Arnel Pineda, the vocalist for The Zoo who has been gaining fame on YouTube for his dead-on Steve Perry sound. Pineda was rumored last week to be the band's top choice for a singer.

"It's so exciting to sing with one of the best bands in the world," Pineda said in a statement issued by the band Wednesday night. "It'll be a lot of hard work on my part and I’m actually looking forward to the scrutiny I’ll get from the hardcore Journey fans.  I know they'll expect me to sound exactly like 'the voice' (Steve Perry), but that will never happen.  I know there's only one Steve Perry in this world."

Pineda, a native of the Philippines, replaces Jeff Scott Soto, who was dismissed from the band earlier this year.

Guitarist Neal Schon said he found Pineda by scouring the Internet, eventually uncovering Pineda's version of "Faithfully" on YouTube.

"I thought, 'He can’t be that good.'  But he is that good, he's the real deal and so tremendously talented," Schon said Wednesday night.  "Arnel doesn't sound synthetic and he's not emulating anyone.  I tried to get a hold of him through YouTube and I finally heard from him that night, but it took some convincing to get him to believe that it really was me and not an impostor."

Journey has a new album in the works, with plans for a spring/summer 2008 release.

Check out Pineda's rendition of "Faithfully" below:

Comments

[David Pagano]

He does sound strikingly similar.

Damn, I might just go and see Journey.

[Matt]

Holy cow, he rocks!

[Rob]

Why the hell does Neal Schon keep going for these guys that sound like Steve Perry?
Why can't they just work it out and get Perry back?

[Jeff in Cuba]

After INXS used a reality show to choose a singer, I guess using the Internet was the next logical step.

What ever happened to holding auditions to find the sound you want instead of just reacting to what the blogosphere says they want? Arnel is clearly very talented, and he may be the perfect choice, but the whole thing seems more like "cashing in" than reinvigorating the band. Time will tell.

And in the meantime, YouTube is the 21st century Schwab's Drug Store.

[Marissa]

Rob, crow isn't a tasty treat to eat.

[Carla]

I agree with you Rob... I think Neal is trying to cash in on the SOUND, instead of going for something fresh and new.

With that being said... I guess I have to say I'm more of a Perry fan than a Journey fan!

Good luck to Pineda though... Hopefully this match will work for them, otherwise he might find himself out on his ear, just like Soto.

[proplox]

Why doesn't Neal just join this band, off the guitarist, and really CASH in.

[Brad]

Carla, Jeff - you guys nailed it.

Journey has said (see Steve's earlier blog entry) that they are interested in reproducing the sound of the "millions of units" they have sold. They aren't making new music, they don't want to make new music.

I'm reminded of something I heard Bono say in an interview sometime in the late '90s, when asked why U2 wasn't playing much of their old catalog on their current tour. He said "well, we're a rock band. If we wanted to play the same stuff all the time we'd be a folk band."

[Brad]

While searching the internet for a source for that quote, I came across this Bono quote from the 2006 Grammys:

"U2 is not a rock band. [They’re] more like a folk band. The loudest folk band in the world.”

Whoops. Thanks for selling me up the river, Bono!

[Marissa]

Wow! How absolutely rude that a band would be in it to make money. Of all the nerve!

[Brad]

I just think that a band loses a little something if all they are doing is reliving their glory days, that's all.

[Jeff in Cuba]

Marissa,

I have no problem with bands trying to make money. I just have more respect for bands who try to make that money in a productive, creative fashion.

I guess I wish Journey was looking for someone to create the next great Journey song, not someone to baby-sit the last great Journey song.

And by the looks of it, I fear we have indeed heard the last great Journey song.

[Pat]

They should just get a singer with his own style rather than sounding like Steve Perry. It's kind of an insult, really. This makes Journey nothing more than a glorified lounge act.

[Carla]

Hey Brad...

The biggest problem I have with the Journey of today has mostly to do with Schon. He waits until Perry leaves the band to complain about how much of an a-hole Perry was to work with and how everything had to be Perry's way.

First - I'm sure Schon wasn't whining when he was buying his Lambourgini and Ferrari AFTER Perry joined the band and their record sales sky-rocketed!

Second - If it was so God-awful working with Perry, why is Schon constantly trying to reproduce that sound?

Choose a side already! Either stop resting on your laurels and create something fresh and new or shut up, bite the bullet and beg Perry to return!

Wow... guess I had some deep down issues on this subject. But I'm not bitter... no, not me! OKAY, I'm climbing down off my soap-box now and going back to work!! :)

[Mariel]

I just wish Arnel the best of luck, BUT, and this is a big but, definately Schon and Cain are still looking for the missing element they lost way before May 1998. (Official date Perry ended relationship with Journey) Nothing says it better than part of their statement "With Arnel’s soaring tenor, Journey returns to our heritage sound.”

With all due respect, when you write some of the most powerful songs ever written and you have the voice to make them everlasting in the hearts of millions and the emotion to make them transcend like Perry did because they were part of him, there is no way someone else, tenor or not can achive the same popularity and well erned place in rock history.

I wish I am wrong but I think the "new" material about to come out it is going to try to replicate what was back in the early 80's and once again it is going to be a big dissapointment and they will continue making money by being the opening act and playing in small venues throughout the US.

[Carla (Nashville, TN)]

Well said Mariel!

unfortunately some of you never heard of arnel sing other songs by led zep,aerosmith,axel,toto etc.

[LoveJourney!]

Once Steve Perry left Journey that was it for me. Love Journey forever but only with Steve Perry. Steve Perry is Journey, if he wasnt they wouldnt keep getting these wanna be sound alikes, frankly they might as well just stop it. A band that doesnt support its band mates is lame, period! Look at Def Leppard!

Journey is not Journey with Steve Perry! Neil and Co just keep riding the coattails of the greatest rock vocalist of all time. The new guy is fine, so was Augeri and so was Soto but they are not Steve Perry. They should have waited for him as long as it took or moved on with something new.

[JoeBlow39]

"With all due respect, when you write some of the most powerful songs ever written and you have the voice to make them everlasting in the hearts of millions and the emotion to make them transcend like Perry did because they were part of him, there is no way someone else, tenor or not can achive the same popularity and well erned place in rock history."

I couldn't have said it better; but, at the same time, if you've listened to the new CD, Arnel is definitely his own person. He has a beautiful voice that is all his own; and his own unique personality. I say, why not bring back the glory days of Journey from the 80's? If that's what the other band members wanted to do, so be it. I loved that time, I'm an 80's child! That was the sound that I loved, and that's why I stopped buying their albums after Perry left.

But this new guy is different, and the music is outstanding...I'd definitely go to a Journey concert. Still, never will there be a substitute for Perry - he's an unforgettable vocal icon.

[don]

Although Journey have become their own greatest tribute band I have to say that Arnel sounds great and is his own man. I will be trying to go see them next month. Face it, people WANT the singer of Journey to sound like Steve Perry and I have no problem with that. Steve Perry will never rejoin Journey, there is too much bad feelings amongst all of the members. They have never touched on everything but it will never happen so enjoy what we have. Or don't. Whatever makes you happy.

[JoeBlow39]

Word.

[mueller]

Pineda sounds like Perry? umm.. no..Pineda has a strong natural soaring tenor voice while Perry sang with his falsettos soulfully and beautifully.

And after listening to the re-record classics, I have to say Pineda gave it a new flavor that's different from Perry. Both version are super great but different.

[billy]

"Journey is not Journey with Steve Perry! Neil and Co just keep riding the coattails of the greatest rock vocalist of all time. The new guy is fine, so was Augeri and so was Soto but they are not Steve Perry. They should have waited for him as long as it took or moved on with something new"

Journey is great again.
Greatest rock vocalist?? who says.
The new guy's voice is better than Augeri and Soto and probably better than Perry when he was younger. @41 years old this little dude has a great voice.
Wait for Perry? Perry pulled out once before. How long?

[gina]

I just wonder why steve does not come out in his own concert? I love his voice, and many of his songs. I would definately see him!!

[Leon]

Arnel is just singing how he really sings..and knows the songs, he's not trying to be steve perry how can you guys judge a really good person? just because he sounds or sounds a little like SP doesnt mean he's immitating the guy..

[Marques]

Why doesn't Journey just fix things up with Steve Perry and go back to being one of the greatest rock bands? They are just putting this Steve impersonators, that is pathetic! You guys were a band, don't just go for the hot dogs when you can have filet mignon!!