Journey drummer Deen Castronovo spoke to Ultimate Classic Rock and revealed the significant bond behind Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain’s reunion and reconciliation.
According to Deen, the leading role in reconciling these two Journey members was played by the duo’s wives. He said:
“You know, Jon and Neal, I think it was all about just communication. Having those guys sit down. You know, with Michaele [Schon] and Paula [White-Cain], actually the wives helped a lot. It was bringing them in and just going, ‘Guys, talk this out.’ This is too big, too beautiful, and too great to see it flushed down the toilet. Mend the fences. Now, we’ve got Michaele – and Paula, Jon’s wife, it’s all four of them, co-managing this band and it’s working. They’re getting along and they’re working together. It’s one jet again instead of two.”
Deen also mentioned that the duo’s wives contributed to managing the band’s affairs and added:
“They’re running it like a business. That’s what it should have been. There was a lot of turmoil in both camps and nobody was talking. That was the problem. Now, they’re all talking and communicating and it’s working great.”
He also highlighted that Jonathon Cain’s wife, Paula, understands money, indicating she plays a crucial role in the band’s business matters. He said:
“Paula’s a great businesswoman. She’s smart. Smart with money. Michaele is a people person and she’s got the gift of gab. We just do our jobs. We go out and play and it works! Man, it’s great. I’ve got to give all four of them credit.”
Deen’s Favorite Drummers To See As A Role Model
In the rest of the interview, the Journey drummer also talked about significant drummers who have influenced him. Listing Neil Peart and Peter Criss first, the drummer caused a bit of surprise with the people he added to the list afterward.
He stated:
“I was a Neil Peart and Peter Criss fan. So I heard Smith, then I heard [Terry] Bozzio. I was seeing where those guys all got their stuff and that changed my whole drumming perspective. Even Mike Baird, when he played with them for [the] Raised on Radio [tour], it was just the biggest, widest pocket on the planet. He’d lay it down. Him and Randy Jackson? Unbelievable. What a great duo those guys were.”
Click here to read the entire interview.
