Journey’s Neal Schon recently addressed concerns about the band’s future. He discussed his plans if Journey ends after their final show on November 28th in a statement shared on Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk.
The guitarist was asked about his personal direction if Journey’s Final Frontier Tour concludes as planned. When questioned about potentially forming a different band or variation if November 28th marks the end, Schon outlined his vision for continuing his musical journey.
“Well, you know what? I think that wherever I go, inevitably, I’m taking a big portion of the journey with me, because it’s been my life,” Schon said. “You know, and I’ve been there. I’m the only one left that’s been on every single, you know, tour date that we’ve ever done and every record that we’ve ever made and recorded every song that we’ve ever done.”
Schon emphasized his deep connection to the band. He expressed interest in exploring the jam band scene, which he noted was where Journey originally started.
“And so, I mean, it’s kind of like my baby, you know? I’m gonna take it. I’m gonna do something. I don’t know exactly what I’m gonna do, but I see, you know, I really do like the jam aspect because that’s where the band started,” he continued. “And I can see, like, doing a branch of somewhat, like, what we’re doing now, but maybe even take it a bit further, you know, musically.”
The guitarist also identified a potential market opportunity in the jam band space. He referenced established acts in the genre.
“And, you know, you have the Dead is, you know, not here any longer. There’s a huge audience. You know, you have Phish that’s doing quite well still. You have Dave Matthews that’s in this jam realm, you know? I, I consider myself in that area there and could easily put something together that could take over a big portion of that market,” Schon explained. “I think, you know, it would be like the Dead on steroids, for real. And I’m quite interested in that.”
Despite discussing post-Journey plans, Schon left the door open for the band’s continuation beyond the announced final date.
“No matter what happens with the band as it is right now, could, we could end up, you know, doing a longer farewell tour than what it is right now. I really don’t know. But I know that there’s other places that I can go and that it, it won’t all stop for me,” he concluded.
Schon’s comments come as Journey continues to navigate what appears to be their farewell period. The timeline has evolved significantly since the tour’s initial announcement.
Riff Magazine reported that Journey has extended its Final Frontier Tour with 40 additional North American dates. The expanded tour now includes a November 28, 2026 closer at Chase Center in San Francisco. This extends the farewell timeline by nearly two years from the original November 2024 date Schon referenced in his interview.
The extension of what is being described as the band’s final run of shows suggests that Journey may indeed be taking the “longer farewell tour” approach that Schon alluded to in his comments. This development provides more time for fans to see the legendary rock band perform. It also gives Schon additional opportunities to explore his future musical directions.
The November 28, 2026 date at Chase Center holds particular significance as it brings Journey’s potential final performance back to the San Francisco Bay Area, where the band was originally formed in 1973. This homecoming aspect adds emotional weight to what could be the band’s ultimate farewell performance.
As Journey continues their extended farewell tour, Schon’s vision for a jam-oriented project remains a compelling possibility for the future. His experience as the sole remaining original member who has participated in every tour and recording session positions him uniquely to carry forward the band’s musical legacy in whatever form he chooses to pursue.
