Journey singer Arnel Pineda hints at a 'scary' new chapter

KiMi Robinson, USA TODAYWed, April 29, 2026 at 9:08 PM UTC

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Journey frontman Arnel Pineda is getting honest about navigating a "kinda scary" time in his life.

The 58-year-old singer, who joined the San Francisco-born band in 2007, shared a cryptic social media post on April 26, while he's on the road for the group's Final Frontier farewell tour.

In the caption of a video compiling throwback photos of his performances, Pineda kicked off with an apology for "being aloof" toward interview requests in recent years, explaining he didn't mean to convey "disrespect" but rather "there's nothing to tell."

He admitted to feeling "scared" since replacing Steve Perry as lead vocalist and said he "did what's asked of me to do on behalf of the band's legacy." Pineda confessed to "lots of mishaps, stumblings, shameful moments, gigantic self-doubt, imperfections and before we all knew it, 18 and a half years [have] passed."

Guitarist Neal Schon, left, and singer Arnel Pineda of Journey perform on the main stage at the Rock in Rio music festival at the Rio 2016 Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 15, 2024.

Pineda then asked his followers to respect "my privacy as I navigate a new chapter in my life that's still kinda scary coz for me, [it's] unknown." He said he "won't reveal much of what I'm expecting it to be" and mused about "the mystery of living a life in this world we are all in.. well, I'll keep chasing (coz that's what the child in me is telling me to do so)."

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He thanked "the believers," "the non-believers" and "the purist who's consistently dismissed me" alike for their parts in his journey thus far.

"For now, the story will go on, and who knows when it'll stop," Pineda wrote.

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Journey's tour wraps on July 2 in Laredo, Texas, though more shows are expected in 2027. The band's 23-song set list weaves through the band's peak-era '70s and '80s fist pumpers ("Any Way You Want It" and excitable set closer "Don't Stop Believin'") with excavated album tracks both welcome ("Mother, Father") and unnecessary ("La Do Da"), USA TODAY Music Critic Melissa Ruggieri wrote in reviewing their Washington, D.C. performance.

"Pineda's vocals have lost some of their flexibility − he joined in 2007, proving that years of hitting notes mostly showcased by former frontman Steve Perry is a tough task," Ruggieri said. But he benefits from occasional assists from keyboardist Jonathan Cain, keyboardist Jason Derlatka and drummer Deen Castronovo on several songs. Bassist Todd Jensen and founding member/guitarist Neal Schon round out the band's current members.

"Pineda still possesses the capability to hang onto a note," Ruggieri noted, observing that "he seesawed between crazily impressive wailing ['Stone in Love'] and wobbly shrillness ['Faithfully'], his voice sometimes betraying him, but his enthusiasm undimmed."

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