Journey’s Jonathan Cain recently opened up about working alongside bandmate Neal Schon despite their ongoing legal disputes. He shared his perspective in an interview with Rolling Stone during the band’s rehearsals before their farewell tour.
The keyboardist explained his approach to maintaining professionalism on stage despite the personal tensions with his bandmate.
“The first time I had to go on the road after he sued me, I asked my lawyer, ‘What do I do?’ And he said, ‘You get onstage and play the music,'” Cain said. “Again, those fans came to hear the music, and not the drama. I come here to put on the best show I can do. That’s what I come here for.”
Cain also addressed his business philosophy and the reasons behind the legal conflicts.
“It is called the music business, and I’m very fiscal about the way I like to do things. I learned from the best managers on the planet, the best accountants on the planet. All I want is to run a smooth ship,” he continued. “Sometimes you have to get someone’s attention and say, ‘Let’s do this the right way, and then it’ll be fine.’ I just want our business to be a good business. That’s it. It’s no power trip for me. I don’t want any drama.”
The legal disputes between the two Journey founding members have been ongoing and complex. They involve significant financial disagreements that have played out in court.
Ultimate Classic Rock reported that in July 2024, Cain filed a lawsuit accusing Schon of spending “up to $10,000 per night” and maxing out the band’s American Express credit card. The lawsuit highlighted the stark differences in how the two musicians approach the band’s financial management. Cain takes a more conservative stance on spending.
The legal battle reached a resolution in August 2024 when Ultimate Classic Rock reported that Cain won the suit. A Delaware court appointed former Vice Chancellor Joseph Slights as a third director for their touring company, Freedom 2020, to break deadlocks between the two bandmates.
WDRV noted that representatives for Cain announced that he and Schon have resolved their legal dispute with regard to appointing an impartial third party to settle any future issues. This arrangement provides a framework for handling disagreements without disrupting the band’s operations.
The tensions between Cain and Schon extend beyond financial matters. Parade indicated that their disputes also involve ideological differences, with Schon expressing exhaustion over the ongoing conflicts. Despite these challenges, both musicians continue to perform together as Journey moves forward with their farewell tour.
