Things aren’t going well for legendary rock band Journey. Last month there was a lawsuit launched by one band member (Jonathan Cain) against another (Neil Schon) over maxing out the company credit card, and now singer Arnel Pineda looks ready to leave the band.
Over the weekend, Journey performed in front of 100,000 fans at Rock In Rio in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and let’s just say Pineda wasn’t in fine form. Judging by video posted online, the singer really struggled to hit those high notes of Steve Perry’s during the set.
And now it appears he is ready for fans to decide if he remains in the band.
Following the concert, Pineda posted a message to Facebook, acknowledging his lacklustre performance and apologizing to fans.
“i am very aware of this- no one more than me in this world feels so devastated about this…” Pineda wrote. “its really amazing how 1 thousand right things you have done will be forgotten just cause of THIS..and of all the place , its in Rock In Rio… mentally and emotionally, ive suffered already,and im still sufferring..but i’ll be ok..”
Pineda then left his future up to his fans, asking them to vote if he should stay or leave Journey.
“so here’s the deal here now..i am offering you a chance now ( especially those who’s hated me and never liked me from the very beginning) to simply text GO or STAY right here..
and if GO reaches 1million…
im stepping out for good..are you game folks?
let’s start…”
So far, Pineda’s post hasn’t reached the kind of numbers that will decide his fate. Just over 7,000 comments have been posted, with the majority of them being in favour of him staying.
Rumours have circulated for years that Pineda has wanted out of his role as frontman for Journey. Just last year, amidst more inner-band turmoil, Pineda addressed the drama, writing on Twitter, “m with the band to sing the legacy..if some of them are tired of me being with them,with all means,they can fire me anytime.. and don’t lecture me about spiritual BS..#walkthetalk.”
See the video and the Facebook post below.