Journey vocalist and Filipino singer-songwriter Arnel Pineda has opened about a deeply personal chapter in his life as a global rock star, revealing that he attempted to leave the international band as he struggled with challenges in his personal life.
In an interview with Rolling Stone in late March, Pineda shared that the weight of his personal struggles pushed him to consider stepping away from the band to prioritize his family. Despite reaching out to bandmates Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain, the singer revealed that he did not receive a response regarding his concerns and request to discuss their touring schedule.
“As they say, silence can be louder than explaining. I said to [Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain] I wanted to retire because of my personal problems. No answer,” he said. “Obviously, they don’t want to find another singer.”
The band is currently in the middle of their Final Frontier tour, which began in November 2025 and has taken them across multiple cities in the United States and Canada. According to Neal, the tour could potentially extend until 2027, although no official announcement has been made.
Amid the demanding schedule, the singer-songwriter admitted that he has been struggling physically and emotionally, saying the ‘unhappy’ situation has become increasingly difficult for him to manage. “I said, ‘I want you to discuss the schedule with me.’ It is what it is now. But then, I was really not happy with how they scheduled this tour. My body has changed. I can’t take the cold weather anymore.”
“My personal problem really took a toll on me. That’s why I wanted to prioritize my family,” he emphasized.
Despite these challenges, Arnel clarified that his sentiments were not rooted in resentment toward the band. Instead, he maintained his need for time and space to regain stability.
“It’s not that I hate touring with [Journey]. It’s like the same thing that happened with Steve Perry. He has a hip problem. Me, I have a personal problem that’s taking a toll on me,” he continued.
“It’s getting in my head, emotionally. I told them that I was a wreck and needed a little more time so that I could fix my family. But I still have to do this,” he said.
Even as he opened up about his struggles, he underscored his deep gratitude for Journey and the life-changing opportunity it brought him.
“I love the guys. I respect them so much. And I will remain until the last days of my life grateful, and really feeling blessed, for what they’ve done for me,” he said.
Arnel has been the voice of Journey since 2007, when Neal discovered his performance of “Faithfully” on YouTube. He went on to join the band as the replacement for Steve Perry, who left the group for the second and final time in 1998.
Since then, fans around the world have followed Arnel’s remarkable journey, often praising his striking vocal resemblance to Steve and his ability to carry the band’s legacy to a new generation.