Journey tribute band Voyage recently took to social media to announce the departure of their longtime vocalist, Hugo Valenti, after 20 years with the group. The news sparked rumors and fan speculation about Valenti’s future, particularly regarding a potential role with the real Journey band.
In their statement, Voyage shared, “Our journey together has been memorable, and we wish him nothing but success in all his future endeavors.” The band went on to express excitement about their next chapter, stating, “Our commitment to delivering an authentic Journey experience remains stronger than ever. We’re excited for you to witness this new chapter in our story, and we’re beyond grateful for your continued support.”
The band teased the announcement of their new vocalist, which was soon revealed to be Pedro Espada. A subsequent post introduced Espada with a black-and-white video of him performing Journey’s iconic 1983 hit “Faithfully.”
Fans were quick to speculate about the reasons for Valenti’s departure, with many suggesting that he might be replacing Arnel Pineda as Journey’s lead vocalist. Though no official confirmation has been given by either band, one fan commented, “Wouldn’t it be wild if Hugo left to join the real Journey band?” Another fan asked, “So, is Hugo going to Journey? That would be amazing!”
Some fans even speculated that Valenti might have been a potential candidate for Journey after Steve Perry’s departure. One user noted, “Hugo doesn’t struggle to hit any notes. He tried out for Journey after Steve Perry left. Neal [Schon] said he looked and sounded too much like Steve Perry. I think Neal likes all the attention on him.”
Meanwhile, Arnel Pineda has faced criticism for his performances with Journey, particularly after a Rock in Rio show where technical difficulties affected his performance. Despite the criticism, Pineda has made it clear that he has no intention of leaving the band, even challenging fans on social media to comment “go” if they want him to step down.
As for the future of Voyage, the band has not yet explained the reasons behind Valenti’s departure. What is clear, however, is that the tribute band will kick off their next tour on January 24 in Bethlehem, PA, with Pedro Espada taking over as the lead vocalist.
