By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
UPDATE: Editor’s note: Corrected Neil Schon to Neal Schon. Thanks to reader Ana for the heads up.
WHO would have thought YouTube would make for a good audition tape?
As reported by Blabbermouth, the band Journey found a new lead singer in Arnel Pineda. Simple story, really. Arnel’s band The Zoo posts videos of them covering Journey songs on YouTube, Neal Schon (guitarist for the real Journey) sees them and boom!, somebody’s dream comes true.
Here’s the story in Neal’s own words:
“I was frustrated about not having a singer so I went on YouTube for a couple of days and just sat on it for hours. I was starting to think I was never going to find anybody. But then I found The Zoo and I watched a bunch of different video clips that they had posted. After watching the videos over and over again, I had to walk away from the computer and let what I heard sink in because it sounded too good to be true. I thought, ‘he can’t be that good.’ But he is that good, he’s the real deal and so tremendously talented.
Spicing up the story further, it was one of Arnel’s bandmates who saw Neal’s message on YouTube and immediately SMSed him about it. Who would have thought, right? But they did fire Neil an e-mail and the rest is history.
Arnel becomes the latest Journey front man after Jeff Scott Soto, Steve Augeri and of course, Steve Perry. The band is currently working on an album due ‘08. Check out this video of Arnel and his band during a local gig.
11 Feedbacks on "Filipino singer’s journey to Journey comes true"
LCA
Congratulations to Arnel Pineda. Journey was my favorite band but that was when their lead singer was Steve Perry. I felt my hair in my arms standing as I was reading this blog. Its as if, if I were given a chance to work with Journey, my life is already complete.
I hope Arnel’s tenure will last longer than Steve. God Bless!
RannyLS
As a saying goes ” do everything right and everything will fall into the right order”. He’s always a great singer with great attitude with regards of his career, so I’m not really surprised. I wish him well and his guitar player Monet (who is very dear to me) the best of everything. - RannyLS (Hong Kong Musicians Union Chairman 2006-2007)
Cris
He’s really good!
Ardie
Dreams really do come true. Atta boy, Arnel, show them what you really got. It’s been a long while since ‘Caljam’ days isn’t it? We will be looking forward to Journey’s tour with you here in Canada (and the rest of the world).
Vicx
Now that i have seen Pineda’s video i can understand why Neal Schon’s jaw might have dropped to the floor lol. Great gadzooks, Journey???!!!! thats awesome! way to go arnel! show ‘em the stuff pinoy singers are made of.
Ronnie Pineda
This is awesome news! I hope Journey will make it’s way here for Arnel’s “homecoming”
Ana
Hi,
Just a spelling correcting: It’s Neal Schon, not Neil Schon.
Regards!
jmark
i’ve been waiting for the official announcement since november..
now it’s out im waiting for their concert with arnel..
Richard
I’m sorry…I can not see this guy fronting Journey.
Noti
DESTINY!!!… keep your feet on the ground arnel….:-) goodluck !
ndcinco
Arnel P. has the voice of Steve Perry and equally very very POWERFUL!
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