With JOURNEY releasing new album this year, all eyes are on their singer Arnel Pineda.
It was reported by the band that Pineda has been struggling with live shows and the problem has been resolved by recruiting a vocal coach to help Pineda adopt a more efficient approach to singing.
This was addressed by drummer Dean Castronovo in a new interview with Ultimate Classic Rock.
Here’s what Dean said:
“He’s been struggling, and we brought a vocal coach out who is fantastic. He came out and was coaching Arnel with how to deliver a little bit differently. A lot of it was mental as well as physical, but once we got [a new] soundman and once things got turned down and he was able to hear, [everything was different]. To think that he’s been struggling with this for 14 years, he said. I had no idea. I think it was something that he didn’t know if he had the liberty to say, ‘Hey, I need to fix this’ or ‘You guys need to try something different here,’ either get a new soundman or whatever. But once we got this guy, Tom, everything changed. He’s a different guy. [Pineda’s] a different guy. Oh, my God, it blew us away. I think it’s been 15 shows since that [change], and every night, he sounds amazing.
“Before, he was always trying his best and he would get there, but it was just him not being able to hear. Once they got that fixed, you can see the weight lifted off the kid. He’s just happy again. He and I are goofing around onstage, probably more than we should. [Laughs] We were goofing off all night because it’s just like a weight has been lifted. To have that kind of pressure stuck on you and not knowing what to do, it’s like, ‘How come I can’t do this?’ That’s what it took.”
Dean further talked about Pineda’s vocals on the upcoming album, saying:
“It’s definitely not your typical Journey [music] or ‘Escape’, ‘Frontiers’, or even ‘Revelation’. Arnel’s vocals on this … . There are songs on there, I was listening and going, ‘Who is that singing?’ I really did. I forget what the song was, but [I thought] that doesn’t even sound like Arnel, because he took it to a totally different place. I never knew that he could sing like that. He had that really bluesy, thick and syrupy blues thing. He’s really come into his own. It sounds amazing. He’s definitely not the Steve Perry clone. He’s made this stuff his own.”
27 comments
There will never be anyone that can sing anywhere near as good as Steve Perry. I don’t care what sound man or voice coach you have!!!
Steve Perry is gone!! Move on people!!….
Yeah he is GONE he ABANDONED Journey
He didn’t abandoned Journey. His hips were done he couldn’t tour anymore. We are not in the band so really we only know what we hear. Let’s be honest Journey is no angel they smuggled Perry in when their lead singer went to washroom to hear him sing then gassed the original singer lol
Perry can never be Arnel too!
I agree!!!
Of course I know that Steve is American Portuguese and Arnel is Filipino 🤣
I’m a Steve Perry fan but I wonder if he can still sing the way he used to sing now that he’s old. I doubt it! 🤔😏
Once Neal stopped drowning everyone else out…….
Arnold is no Steve Perry and never will be
Schwarzenegger?!? Of course not!😂
I totally agree, he isn’t a Steve Perry clone, he’s a Steve Perry impersonator.
I won’t even watch any of Journey’s video’s or listen to any of the music post Perry !!!! Journey is dead to me !! R.I.P Journey !!!
So?
Let’s hear it for Journey’s sake and how he’s changed his singing approach!
Haters, (or more like racists?) your idol (Steve Perry) has long been done. Gone. Move on.
How the hell is this racist? Stop being a Dumb A**?
They should have released an album a long time ago instead of sticking him with Perry music. He needs his own sound, his own music to make popular, not be forced to ride on Perry’s coattails. Neil Schon is the jerk here.
Chicago, VanHalen to name a few, changed to fit their lead singers. Journey needs to as well.
No…..He is not…That is not the issue … Arnel IS Arnel who has shown his admiration for Steve…..in person…. and does this job he was hired to do….. Does it with love and strives to do the the Very best that one can… remember that there was a long search for Steves position. Which has allowed Journey as a band to continue doing what they love to do…. Sharing their Music….. and Paying the bills, raising their families….. enjoying life, bringing happiness to thoses whom have llve for Journeysʻ Music……
Very well said!
To all you nay sayers with out Arnel the Journey would have come to an end as it did when they flew to the Philippines to get him. Deen is the only other person that can carry that band vocally. Steve is 74 if you still like the magic of the Journey experience Steve can not do what Arnel does every night!
we just need to broaden our mind.
Steve will also be criticized if he will sing for Journey now and not able to deliver fans expectation
What is the name of the new vocal coach? Would love to look him up on YouTube or somewhere on the Internet?
We already pass that level of Steve Perry thing.. that’s given no one like him.. at this stage of their career they don’t need him anymore.. and Perry’s ok with that! He’s just receiving all the royalty of his songs forever..
Arnel does his best to sing these songs and has 3 X the vocal ability that the modern day Steve Perry has. That being said 70’s 80’s Steve Perry is something nobody can sound like these days. Give Arnel a chance….After All These Years is one of my favorite Journey songs of all time…..
Arnel Pineda best ever
Arnel is a Filipino and its not his fault his talent was seen to replace the main vocalist who left. In fairness to Arnel he’s got what it takes otherwise this Journey group has long been disbanded
Dean the drummer should be out of the band!!!