Arnel Pineda admits he nearly quit Journey over personal struggles

Journey’s lead singer, Arnel Pineda, revealed he considered quitting the band twice before their farewell tour.  

In a recent Rolling Stone interview, Pineda, 58, explained personal struggles had made him seriously consider stepping away, but he was never able to carry it out.

According to People.com, Pineda said he informed his co-members, Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain, that he wanted to retire due to personal issues, but received no response. 

He admitted feeling frustrated when emails about the tour schedule were ignored, noting, “As they say, silence can be louder than explaining. Obviously, they don’t want to find another singer.”

He also said that in 2024, he had made Cain, 76, and Schon, 72, aware that he wanted to stay in the loop if a farewell tour was planned. “But I was really not happy with how they scheduled this tour. My body has changed and I can’t handle the cold weather anymore,” he said.

Pineda said he was not consulted before Journey scheduled 60 U.S. dates for their 2026 Final Frontier Tour. Schon responded that Pineda can’t simply quit, as the tour contract requires his participation.

He also said much of his stress comes from his divorce from his wife, Cherry, with whom he shares two children. The divorce included allegations of domestic abuse that he denies. 

Pineda clarified that he doesn’t hate touring with Journey, comparing his situation to former frontman Steve Perry. “He had a hip problem. I have a personal problem that’s taking a toll on me… emotionally. I told them I needed more time to fix my family,” he said. Even so, he acknowledged that he still has to continue with the tour.

Despite the tension, Pineda expressed deep admiration for his bandmates, saying he loves and respects them and will always be grateful for what they’ve done for him.

Journey has been on the “Final Frontier” tour since February 28, 2026, performing at multiple stops across the U.S. and Canada. Schon indicated it could potentially continue into 2027.

Journey became one of the biggest acts of the ’70s and ’80s, defined by Steve Perry’s legendary vocals. Pineda joined after  Schon discovered him on YouTube in 2007 performing a version of “Faithfully.” Pineda was a member of the Filipino band The Zoo before becoming the lead singer of Journey. He replaced Steve Perry who left the band in 1998.