“I Don’t Know if I Want To Go With You”: Why Journey’s Singer Tried To Skip the Band’s Final Tour

While exploring a career in the music industry in the 1980s, Arnel Pineda’s life took a drastic turn in 2007. Performing cover songs from Journey, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, and more, the singer caught the attention of Neal Schon. It was only a matter of time before Pineda found himself doing more than covers as he became the band’s lead singer. Although a highlight of his career, Pineda recently admitted he nearly quit the band before their final farewell tour. 

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Speaking with Rolling Stone, Pineda attempted to back out of the tour on multiple occasions. According to the singer, his decision had nothing to do with the band. Instead, he often struggled with his voice. If that wasn’t enough stress for a singer, Pineda was also dealing with a difficult divorce that came with more than a few heinous allegations. 

Discussing his mental state at that time, Pineda explained, “Back in 2024, I said to [the band], ‘If you’re planning to do a farewell tour, you better tell me, because my issues and my personal problems are getting more intense, and I don’t know if I want to go with you’. 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. I can’t take the cold weather anymore.”

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Arnel Pineda Only Received Silence From Journey

Having struggled with his voice in the past, Pineda decided to plead his case on the touring schedule. After sending an email to the band about his concerns, the singer was shocked to receive nothing but silence. “As they say, silence can be louder than explaining. I said to them I wanted to retire because of my personal problems. No answer. Obviously, they don’t want to find another singer.”

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With Pineda receiving no answer, he pushed forward with the tour, ultimately choosing to stay with the band. Looking back at that crucial time, the singer insisted his hesitancy came from his divorce. “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. Me, I have a personal problem that’s taking a toll on me. It’s getting in my head, emotionally.”

Despite the personal turmoil and physical strain, Pineda stayed the course. As Journey prepares to close out its legendary run, the singer remains committed to finishing what he started.

(Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images)