Journey hires new singer off of YouTube

[jen.n]

http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/32984

Journey hire cover band singer as new frontman
Filipino fan scores gig of his dreams

Dec 6, 2007

Legendary rockers Journey have hired a Filipino fan to front the band after parting ways with Jeff Scott Soto earlier this year.

The band discovered Arnel Pineda, from Quezon City in the Philippines via YouTube, when they saw footage of him singing Journey songs in his homeland with his band The Zoo.

Original frontman Steve Perry was replaced in 1998 with Steve Augeri who was forced to leave the band due to health problems.

But Pineda almost missed his dream job after initially assuming emails from guitarist Neal Schon were a hoax.

“My friend Noel picked up the message on YouTube and told me it was from Neal. I thought it was a hoax so I ignored it. Noel said, ‘what if it really was Neal and he wanted to offer you the chance of a lifetime?’ So I e-mailed Neal back and the rest is history.”

The band are currently working on a new album with producer Kevin Shirley, tentatively scheduled for a spring/summer 2008 release.

[The Ewings Rules]

I love the music from Journey, but with a new lead singer I don't know if it's still the same.

:confused:

[Afton]

Why do these legendary bands keep replacing their singers? Don't they realize it's better to be remembered as great rather than a band who makes numerous pathetic attempts to recapture past glory?

As much as I love ABBA they are damn smart for not doing a reunion. They remain legends because that's how they left the music scene.

Always leave them wanting more ;)

[The Ewings Rules]

Why do these legendary bands keep replacing their singers? Don't they realize it's better to be remembered as great rather than a band who makes numerous pathetic attempts to recapture past glory?

As much as I love ABBA they are damn smart for not doing a reunion. They remain legends because that's how they left the music scene.

Always leave them wanting more ;)

I couldn't say it any better, totally agree with you

[one mighty hobble]

(l) Journey (l) is my favorite band and each time they've replaced singers there has been negatives and positives. No one can replace Steve Perry, but it was his choice to leave. The others shouldn't be penalized from making a living because he split. Fans would rather hear a Steve sound-alike than a totally different voice singing their songs. Steve Augeri was not only an excellent singer but a damn sexy front man too. I pray his health improves.

This new guy has a good voice, but not the stage presence of Steve Perry or Steve Augeri. It's a chance of a lifetime for him, I wish all of them well. For me, I'll stick to my memories of (l) Journey (l) from the 70's/early 80's. Gregg Rollie was always my favorite band member anyway.


See this guy for yourself. The video quality is not that great. He does "Faithfully" better than "Don't Stop Believin":


<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/88nfiZ-yy5Q&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/88nfiZ-yy5Q&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>


<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6HjcCzgCCX0&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6HjcCzgCCX0&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

[BJR]

I think that they hired the wrong singer.

[kassidy_katherine]

I liked that Soto guy...he didn't sound as much like STeve Perry as Steve Auguri did but he did a good job when I saw Journey in New Orleans. This new guy just doesn't do it for me.

Now, if EVER Steve Perry would try to return, I'd hitch hike to wherever he is...he is the epitome of Journey music to me...freakin awesome. What he does with that voice....woowie!!!

[Garrison]

Why do these legendary bands keep replacing their singers? Don't they realize it's better to be remembered as great rather than a band who makes numerous pathetic attempts to recapture past glory?

As much as I love ABBA they are damn smart for not doing a reunion. They remain legends because that's how they left the music scene.

Always leave them wanting more ;)

The difference is that Journey never broke up or stopped touring. One guy left, the rest shouldn't have to give up their livelihood because Steve Perry quit.

Music is a tough business. Journey was probably screwed over in the 80's and they probably need to tour and record to get money.