Posted in: Musicouching by Jeremy Mailman on June 19th, 2010 | 29 Comments
The new Journey band with their newfound lead singer Arnel Pineda continues to plot one of the greatest band comeback in rock music history. An electrifying new album is set for release in early 2011 and lead guitarist Neal Schon reveals some of the details.
After their successful 2008 Platinum-selling album “Revelation” and sold-out concerts during their tour in 2009, the classic rock band Journey with founder and lead guitarist Neal Schon follows it up yet with another new album for release in early 2011. Their Revelation album was not only a huge success in the U.S. but in 6 other countries as well making it to the top of the charts. The album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) in 1998.
In an interview with Classic Rock Magazine, Neal said,” We did really well the last time we toured in the UK (2008), also playing at Download (2009), so we’ve taken the rest of the year off to prepare this new CD. Things are on the up-and-up for us over there. It’s great to know that doors are finally opening.”
Doors are finally opening for Journey after Neal Schon discovered a goldmine while surfing the Internet desperately looking for a new lead singer. Filipino Arnel Pineda, whose voice is somewhat similar to their former lead singer Steve Perry, got a wide vocal range with a crisp, emotional, rocky voice. Pineda appears to be a better and versatile performer than their former Perry replacements – Steve Augeri and Jeff Scott Sotto. The ‘new voice’ Pineda was so much energy on stage during their Revelation tour in Latin America, Europe and the U.S. and the fans loved him.
“We’re going to be here (in the studio) for a little bit over a month,” Neal said, ”Overdubs and vocals are going really well….The material is extremely strong..”
The band’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” has been officially recognized as the most downloaded song of all time bigger than any songs by Led Zeppelin or The Beatles.
“The promoters are keen to have us back as headliners, and we’re excited to be coming as part of our next world tour,” said Neal.
In an interview during the recent Winter NAMM show in Anaheim, Schon talked briefly about his vision of the upcoming Journey record planned for release early 2011. He reported that they’re not going for radio-friendly hits this time around and he and Jonathan Cain will be working on a “conceptual record” that’ll be more musically adventurous than their previous albums.
In other reports, Neal said that aside from Jonathan Cain’s music writing, Arnel wrote some songs for the new album, “Arnel has got some great ideas. He’s really good with melody and lyrics. We’re going to make a rocking record.”
“I think it’s going to be a very musical record and I have a cool thing to write about. But I don’t want to reveal too much because somebody will steal it. But it’s a one title, like most of our records are, and it’s a very deep subject – real stuff,” Neal said.
Arnel Pineda’s revealing performances in two of the world’s rock capital at the Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium and at the Download Festival in Donington Park, England in 2009, might have given the idea for the band’s ‘rocky’ concept in their new album for 2011. In the midst of the heavy metal bands performing at the two rockfests, comebacking Journey with Pineda’s big rocky voice performed very well. Schon had been saying that they have found the band’s missing link in Arnel since Perry left the band.
Kevin Shirley, the band’s producer, reported in his blog that the studio recording is going very well and slammin’ 11 tracks were already recorded, “Neal is hell bent on rockin’ out and he’s quite a force to reckon with when he sets his mind on something… Arnel has been writing and singing up a storm.”
Shirley described the new Journey album as “the same deal, recording-wise, the difference is in the details. The new songs are very, very creative and rocking…. there is a theme to the entire album which is very sexy and very rocking – more will be revealed…”
It’s a one-word album title said Neal. Any guess?
Likha June 20th, 2010 at 5:04 am
Great.. a highly anticipated album.
Dave June 20th, 2010 at 8:41 am
Be there in Download UK or any part of Spain with 5 friends next year! Hasta Luego….
scarabgatorisgay June 23rd, 2010 at 11:56 am
Thats great news!! I can’t wait for their new album and the documentary! and now the Rocky soundtrack! wow!!! Things are really looking good for Journey since Arnel joined them!! I love Journey specially Arnel!!
albertits1 June 25th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
la ka uragon!!!
Gabriela Lucha June 30th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Great news!
jerome vallo July 1st, 2010 at 8:36 pm
an album that will make the world rockin\’ with heart and soul…i love JOURNEY…the spirit of voice and emotions.AP…long live\’\'\’
rocksteady September 10th, 2010 at 12:48 am
i think based on this interviews from neal schon this might come to be more modern than the previous album which has 80’s flavor flowing. i can’t w8t for radio station to play this songs i may think this would be a hit. hope to they add some pop and ergetic flavors gogo neil,pineda,cain, castronovo, and valory.
HOPE black eyed peas SUCCESS this tym.
YOOOHHH
JC1979 October 11th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
He said it’s rocking so it could be Journey “OverDrive”, no more pop stuff. He said it’s musical, so it might include some blues, some jazz, some classical, some country, some world music, some metal, some reggae, some Ramones?
Wondering what’s the big idea he’s keeping a secret.
Amalie Rae October 11th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
I am highly excited about this new album and soon to be tour. I an 19 years old and LOVE Journey and have not had the opportunity to see them in concert yet.
JC1979 October 12th, 2010 at 10:45 am
Since “Revelation” was a success, and this new record will be a departure from a Journey norm and a rocking one, it should be called: “Rev-o-lution!” rev for rev up the engine, revolution for it being something new for the band and the word has likeness to Revelation spellingwise.
Alan October 15th, 2010 at 12:00 am
im a big fan of journey since the 80’s and in the late 80’s i saw their new lead singer Arnel Pineda in CalJam Olongapo City, shook hand with him and his former band. I definitely going to the journey concert tour next year hope they’ll have one again here in San Diego Ca.
liit October 15th, 2010 at 11:38 pm
Waiting for a year is not fhat easy after all those excitement in2009. Feels so good just hearing anything about :Journey’
jim henry October 27th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
wow this new Journey album sounds very kicking n ROCKING TO THE MAX i have been a journey fan since the mid 80’s and i love their music whether if it was with Steve Perry or with the new awesome leader singer Arnel Pineda
steven Kadel November 25th, 2010 at 3:27 am
“Reincarnation”
ging November 29th, 2010 at 9:30 am
can’t wait…wooohooo!!!!
donenyo November 29th, 2010 at 9:33 am
it’s gonna be rockin’ awesome…will definitely get tix to their concerts, yey!
Gab November 29th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Neal Schon’s gold find in Pineda will find them getting more closer to Rock’s Hall of Fame. I want to see them in the Grammy Awards next year. With the way the band is going, it is a must to let Arnel re-record their other great hits for the new generation of Journey fans.
Ben December 4th, 2010 at 2:08 am
Its a new Journey now. Perry has retired, will never come back and just a historical figure now. The Journey style and the songs are still there. Neal Schon and the rest of the gang must move on and continue to please the fans and the new generation of fans. They must sound new again and they have found the perfect replacement and the good thing is – he sounds better.
Tami Leigh December 6th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Ben, I do understand where you’re coming from. Journey would have melted away into obscurity without the one talent that put them on the map. I’ve tried, I haven’t found anything new from them that would warrant any time or effort on my part. I wish the band well, but now they’re ‘better’ you’re kidding me, that isn’t possible and hasn’t been since ‘98.
Ben December 6th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Tami, just enjoy Perry’s old records and tapes. Its your choice. Journey is not about one singer. Journey is about music.I love more Josh Groban’s version of White Christmas than Bing Crosby’s. lol
Stephen Roberson December 7th, 2010 at 8:31 am
Reflections – that’s my guess
Bud December 8th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
I love Pineda’s voice quality more than Perry’s. More manly and rockish. Long live Journey!
anonymous February 1st, 2011 at 7:40 am
There comes a point when a singer hits a note too high that a man starts sounding like a girl. Pineda’s high notes are just fine, difficult for most singers yet still sounding like a man.He also does not use falsetto in the high notes. His vocal range is unbelievable. No wonder he can sing any song effortlessly. I have also noticed that his live performances are just as clear and powerful as the recordings. Hard to find a singer who can be that consistent.
jessie February 3rd, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Cant wait your new album for 2011 we watch most of your video the world tour we wish to have you guys Journey to perform here in China hope we can get your contact about your info on booking ahead here in China..
God bless you guys long live!!!
from here mixklub@gmail.com
Hadassa February 10th, 2011 at 9:13 pm
tengo 15 y soy fan desde hace poco pero ya espero con ansias el nuevo album creo que arnel pineda es buenisimo en voz y en cuerpazo aunq es chaparrito bueno eso qe lo qe importa es que ya viene ese new album ya no puedo esperar ojala y sea lo suficientemente bueno aunqe se extraña a steve perry pero q se puede hacer algo muy bueno seria qc juntaran steve y arnel seria algo genial impresionante no creen?
Hadassa February 10th, 2011 at 9:18 pm
I LOVE JOURNEY IM A BIG FAN I HOPE THAT THIS YEAR I HAVE A CHOICE TO ASSIST AT ANY CONCERT BECAUSE ITS AWE SO NICE!!!
victor February 19th, 2011 at 4:16 am
We are really waiting for Journey here in San Francisco, Awesome Arnel P !!!!!!!!
Tammie September 1st, 2011 at 12:04 am
This Journeyholic will enjoy this album just as I have enjoyed the rest. Who’s the best “JOURNEY”
June November 7th, 2011 at 2:18 am
All i can say is journey is one of the best band in the world, clean music and neil schon ur one of the best man.more power and im lookin to watch ur concert soon.