Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain has opened up about the physical demands of the band’s ongoing farewell tour and the personal reasons behind his decision to step away, in a candid interview shared on Rock & Roll High School.
Cain spoke candidly about the grueling pace of the tour schedule and what has ultimately led him to conclude that it is time to close this chapter of his career.
“It’s a grind. This is a ‘one off, two on, one off, two on,’ so there’s a lot of that. And so you’re getting consumed getting to the gig, and then playing the gig. And then when we have four shows in a week, it’s pretty grueling. And we’re doing ‘evening with’, so it’s two hours and 15 minutes every night. … There’s no support [act], no. So it makes it doubly hard for Arnel [Pineda],” Cain said.
Beyond the physical toll, Cain also reflected on the broader arc of the band’s legacy and his own evolving musical direction.
“I think the only reason I’m still out here is the fans. It’s time for me to close the chapter, it’s a beautiful time to say goodbye. We are at 45 this year; I’m so honored to celebrate 45. After playing the stadium tour with Def Leppard last year [2024], I just felt like we’ve done it. And we’re just repeating ourselves,” he continued.
Cain also addressed his shift toward Christian music as a creative outlet following his departure from Journey.
“The new albums don’t seem to move the needle. That’s why I’ve gotten into Christian music, because I can still sing a melody there and praise the Lord, and it still gets received. … I’m leaving something behind, and I get to express my melodic and spiritual self there. So it’s a good place for me to be right now,” he added.
Journey is currently celebrating its 45th anniversary, with Cain’s exit expected to follow the conclusion of the band’s farewell tour.
Cain’s comments come as the band nears the end of a long and storied run together, with his departure set to mark the close of a career-defining era for both the musician and the group.
Ultimate Classic Rock reported that Cain plans to leave Journey at the conclusion of the band’s “Final Frontier” tour. The tour is scheduled to wrap up on November 28, 2025, in San Francisco — the city where Journey was originally formed. The finale will bring the curtain down on a tenure that spans more than four decades, closing out what has been one of the most celebrated careers in classic rock history.
Cain first joined Journey in 1981, replacing founding keyboardist Gregg Rolie ahead of the recording of Escape — the album that would become the band’s commercial breakthrough. His arrival marked a pivotal shift in the group’s sound, introducing a piano-driven melodic sensibility that helped define the arena rock era. American Songwriter noted that Cain has since released eight solo studio albums over the course of his career alongside his work with Journey.
His transition away from mainstream rock toward faith-based music has been a gradual but deliberate one. As American Songwriter noted, Cain has been moving his solo work almost exclusively into the Christian music realm since 2016. He has described this direction as both creatively fulfilling and spiritually meaningful.
Blabbermouth reported that Journey announced the “Final Frontier” trek last November, describing it as a “heartfelt goodbye to the fans who’ve been with us.” The tour features Cain alongside other band members in what the group has framed as a proper send-off for one of rock’s most enduring acts.
With the final date now firmly on the horizon, Cain appears at peace with his decision, viewing the farewell not as an ending but as a transition into a new and personally rewarding chapter of his musical life.
