Arnel Pineda apologizes for lackluster performance in Rio, asks if it's time to leave Journey
Arnel Pineda, the Filipino musician who became the frontman of the American band Journey, apologized for his lackluster performance at the Rock in Rio Festival in Brazil, leaving the public to vote on whether he should step out of the band for good.
In a Facebook post on Sept. 22, Pineda first thanked everyone who attended Journey's shows since February.
“This year I appreciate [you all]," he said, "and not only that, everytime that I’m on stage with the band, I feel this immense gratitude, humility and honor."
Pineda then shared a link to a Sept. 21 video uploaded by Behind the Songs, a page with over 430,000 followers, which said in the caption, "Arnel Pineda showed severe vocal flaws in Journey's presentation at Rock in Rio Brazil last Sunday, September 15."
"I am very aware of this," he said. "[N]o one more than me in this world feels so devastated about this."
In the video, Pineda, though off-camera, can be heard struggling to reach the high notes of Don't Stop Believin'.
“It’s really amazing how [one] thousand right things you have done will be forgotten just cause of this and of all the places, it's in Rock In Rio,” he said, adding that he already suffered "mentally and emotionally" and is still suffering.
"But I'll be ok," he said before offering the public a "deal."
“I am offering you a chance now (especially those [who've hated] me and never liked me from the very beginning) to simply text GO or STAY right here,” he said, noting that if "GO" reaches one million, he's stepping out of Journey for good.
"Are you game folks? [Let's] start," he said.
Pineda ended his post by thanking all fans and friends "who believed in me since Day 1."
Fans expressed support in the comments, with much of them asking him to stay.
"STAY, million times STAY!!! You’re a monster singer and amazing person. Period," one user said.
"You’re one of my favorite singers and people. STAY!" another user said.
Journey was formed in 1973 and had a series of lineup changes.
Pineda joined Journey in 2007 and to date, band members consists of him, guitarist/vocalist Neal Schon, keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist Jonathan Cain, keyboard/vocalist Jason Derlatka, drummer/vocalist Deen Castronovo, bassist Todd Jensen. Schon is the last remaining original member.
Journey had its biggest commercial success between 1978 and 1987 when Steve Perry was its frontman.
Its other hits include Open Arms, Any Way You Want It, and Faithfully.