Arnel Pineda celebrated his 57th birthday on September 5 with an Instagram post thanking Journey, his family, and fans for positive messages. He also responded to those comparing him to the band’s ex-vocalist, Steve Perry.
“To the fans, thank you for having me in your life despite the fact that I’m not him and it’s just hard to let go of someone who’s as beautiful as Mr. Steve Perry, the one and only, boys,” the singer said in his video.
He continued, “I love him, to tell you honestly. So, I have no ill feelings to the people who still can’t accept me being with the band. Anyway. It’s okay. Just peace and peace and peace. Any peace out there, alright?”
Perry left Journey after a brief hiatus that followed his degenerative bone condition and hip-replacement surgery. Steve Augeri replaced him as lead vocalist the next year only to leave his place to Jeff Scott Soto in 2006.
Arnel Pineda took on the part in 2007 and remained with the band ever since. Journey released three studio albums with him, the latest of which, ‘Freedom,’ came out in 2022.
Still, some fans believed the vocalist couldn’t match Perry. They commented that Journey wasn’t Journey without its ex-frontman. “Yes, I know that’s why we’re selling out stadiums,” Neal Schon recently replied to those remarks on social media.
Perry reunited with Journey for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. He made an acceptance speech but chose not to perform at the ceremony as he hasn’t ‘been in the band for quite some time.’
Journey is currently set for a fall tour starting on September 6 in Blackfoot, Idaho.
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