ENTERTAINMENT

Journey to perform in Holmdel

By Ed Condran
Correspondent

Journey has been in the news quite a bit lately since the band's ex lead singer Steve Perry made headlines by singing his former band's songs in public for the first time in 18 years.

Journey’s latest release, “Eclipse,” is a straightforward, guitar-driven prog-rock album.

The reclusive Perry surprised the music world by belting out "Open Arms" and "Lovin, Touchin,' Squeezin" with the Eels in Minneapolis recently.

It's been long documented that Journey and Perry went their separate ways in 1997.

"We're happy with Arnel," drummer Deen Castronovo said. "He's amazing."

Castronovo is referring to vocalist Arnel Pineda, known as "The Voice." However, Pineda has given Journey a major boost. He's a singer with a massive set of pipes who Journey fans have embraced with open arms.

While cruising the Internet in 2007, guitarist-songwriter Neal Schon stumbled onto Zoo, a Filipino Journey cover band, which included Pineda.

"We were floored by Arnel," Castronovo said. "But we didn't know if the clip was doctored. We called him in and he was better than he was on YouTube."

The band viewed Pineda as the perfect fit and the Journey faithful have re-embraced the group, which is often performing to packed sheds nearly 30 years removed from its hey day.

"It's something we don't take for granted," Castronovo said. "We know a lot of bands that hit like Journey did during the '80s but are playing to 700, 800 people but we're selling out 80 percent of the amphitheaters we play."

The band still records. Its latest release, "Eclipse," is a straight-forward guitar-driven prog-rock album.

"Neal said that we weren't going to do any ballads with 'Eclipse,' " Castronovo said. "He said Journey has enough ballads, and we made a really rocking Journey record."

The recent tunes are delivered along with old favorites, such as "Faithfully," "Anyway You Want It" and, of course, "Don't Stop Believin.' "

"We can't leave the stage without playing 'Don't Stop Believin,' " Castronovo says. "Fans love that song more than anything else. When we play Detroit and they hear the 'born and raised in South Detroit' part, they go (wild), and that's a great thing. I hope that we'll be playing 'Don't' Stop Believin' ' for a long time."

Castronovo believes the band will be together as long as Pineda is part of the act.

"If he leaves, we're not doing this anymore," Castronovo said. "We're not looking for another singer. We couldn't find anyone like Arnel again. But he's with us, and it's a great time for us."

How can Journey stop since the band crafted the No. 1 song of the last century? (According to the Nielson Company, "Don't Stop Believin' " is the most popular song of the 20th century.)

"That's amazing," Castronovo said. "You think about all of the great bands of the last century — the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the list goes on and on. And then Journey has the top song of the century, unbelievable. We love playing that song and all of the rest of the Journey songs."

Journey

Co-headlining with the Steve Miller Band

WHEN:

6:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 11

WHERE:

PNC Bank Arts Center, Exit 116 off the Garden State Parkway, Holmdel

TICKETS:

$40, $50, $100 and $189

IN

FORMATION

:

732-203-2500