Journey Singer Arnel Pineda Says He Tried to Quit Band Twice Due to ‘Intense’ ‘Personal Problems’

NEED TO KNOW

• Arnel Pineda says he tried to leave Journey twice due to personal struggles

• Pineda claims he wasn’t consulted on the band’s extensive tour schedule

• The singer says he remains grateful to his bandmates despite the challenges

Journey is currently in the midst of a massive farewell tour — but if lead singer Arnel Pineda had had his way, there’s a chance the tour may have never come to fruition.

Pineda, 58, opens up to Rolling Stone in a lengthy new feature about how he twice tried to quit the band due to a number of “personal problems,” but was unsuccessful.

“I said to [Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain] I wanted to retire because of my personal problems. No answer,” he said. “Obviously, they don’t want to find another singer.”

A spokesperson for Journey did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Journey performing in Austin, Texas in February 2023.
Credit: Brian Ach/Getty Images

Pineda has been the frontman of Journey since 2007, when guitarist Schon spotted his pitch-perfect version of “Faithfully” on YouTube and invited him to audition for the group. He joined the rockers in place of singer Steve Perry, who exited the band for a second and final time in 1998.

Though becoming the face of one of the world’s biggest bands overnight was a welcome surprise, the 19 years of singing Journey’s operatic hits like “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Open Arms” have taken a toll on Pineda’s voice, and the star has also struggled in the midst of a contentious divorce.

The Filipino singer told Rolling Stone that he’d informed Cain, 76, and Schon, 72, in 2024 that if they were planning farewell dates, they should keep him in the loop, as his personal issues were “getting more intense” and he wasn’t sure that he’d want to commit to a tour.

“I said, ‘I want you to discuss the schedule with me.’ It is what it is now… But then, I was really not happy with how they scheduled this tour. My body has changed,” he said. “I can’t take the cold weather anymore.”

Pineda claims he to Rolling Stone he wasn’t consulted before Journey booked 60 dates on the U.S. Final Frontier tour for 2026, scheduled through August, and 40 more for next year. Schon told the outlet that Pineda can’t up and quit the group, as their touring contract allegedly stipulates that no tour can happen without Pineda.

Arnel Pineda in Solvesborg, Sweden in June 2024.
Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Meanwhile, Pineda explained that much of his conflict stems from his divorce from wife Cherry, with whom he shares two children. The star accused Cherry of adultery in court filings in 2023, which she has denied, whereas prosecutors alleged that she endured “verbal assaults, manipulation and coercive behavior,” which he has denied, according to RS and Manila Bulletin.

“My personal problem really took a toll on me. That’s why I wanted to prioritize my family. It’s not that I hate touring with [Journey]. It’s like the same thing that happened with Steve Perry. He has a hip problem,” Pineda said. “Me, I have a personal problem that’s taking a toll on me. It’s getting in my head, emotionally. I told them that I was a wreck and needed a little more time so that I could fix my family. But I still have to do this.”

Despite the disagreements, Pineda told the outlet that he has nothing but adoration for his bandmates.

“I love the guys. I respect them so much. And I will remain until the last days of my life grateful, and really feeling blessed, for what they’ve done for me,” he said.

Pineda previously offered fans the chance to vote him out of the band if they so pleased after he struggled to hit the right notes during a Journey performance in Brazil in 2024.

Schon reportedly offered his support, commenting on Facebook, “Arnel don’t listen to these blogs… You’ve kicked ass!”

Read the original article on People