Jonathan Cain has discussed Arnel Pineda’s future with Journey as the band continues its current tour, speaking about the singer’s performance and his own plans for the band, told Ultimate Classic Rock.
Cain had previously indicated he might retire after the tour. He was also asked about Pineda, who had expressed reluctance about joining the band for this leg of touring.
“I can’t speak for him but I think he’s having a good time — probably more than he will admit,” Cain said. “And he’s certainly entertaining the crowd — engaging, running around out there. I think he enjoys connecting with them.”
Cain addressed his own uncertainty about Journey’s future. “When I started the tour I was definitely gonna hang it up, and I still don’t know what I want to do moving forward,” he said. “I’m overwhelmed with the turnout on this tour. It’s so strong.”
The strong fan response has made him reconsider his earlier plans. “The fans have just been terrific. I’ve always looked at it like, well, you’ve got to know when it’s time to walk away, but just judging from this turnout, maybe we think about it,” he added.
Cain explained that the band is taking things one step at a time. “Right now we’re focusing on this tour. We’ve played everywhere we can play, and we’ve really been beating the bushes. I think it’s time for a little bit of a rest, so we’re gonna leave it here and see what happens.”
The comments come as Journey continues its Final Frontier tour.
Pineda’s reluctance to join the tour had roots in his voice and how his body handles cold weather, along with personal issues including a difficult divorce in the Philippines. He attempted to pull out of the farewell tour on multiple occasions. In 2024, he told the band that if they were planning a farewell tour, he needed advance warning because his personal problems were becoming more intense. Journey’s contract with touring company AEG requires that Pineda be part of the tour for it to proceed.
During the first full-band rehearsal, Pineda’s voice was described as stellar throughout the entire session. When asked if he was happy to be there, Pineda responded that he was 60 percent happy, with the other 40 percent of him still in the Philippines. Despite these doubts, he has remained with the band as the tour has progressed.
Cain announced in October 2025 that he would leave Journey after the Final Frontier Tour. The tour began on February 28 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and has drawn packed arenas with two-and-a-half-hour performances. In May, the band added 40 more dates to the schedule, extending through a final hometown show in San Francisco. By now, Journey has completed 110 shows in 2026.
The tour comes after a difficult period for the band, when founding member Neal Schon and Cain were publicly feuding and involved in a legal dispute that was eventually settled. Schon has said that the 110 shows have brought the band closer together. Cain has expressed that he does not want Journey’s legacy to end on a negative note, and both musicians have described improved relations since the tour began.
