Arnel Pineda is back in town!

The country's pride, Arnel Pineda, the lead singer of popular American rock band Journey, is back in the country after his debut stint abroad.

"I arrived here Wednesday morning, March 12," Pineda told abs-cbnNEWS.com in an exclusive interview inside the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City.

Pineda just arrived from his debut performances as a new band member of Journey in Viña del Mar in Chile and Las Vegas, Nevada.

"I performed with the band in Viña del Mar in Chile then in Santiago. I had two performances in America and two performances in Chile."

Pineda, who hails from Quezon City, left the country to be with his new bandmates at the end of January this year and went straight to Los Angeles, California to rehearse for two weeks, then stayed for a while in San Francisco and went to Chile for his kick-off show.

According to Pineda he will never forget his first appearance as the vocalist of Journey, especially because the show was held in Viña del Mar, known to be solidly for Steve Perry (Journey's lead vocalist until 1998).

"It was a nerve-wracking experience. It feels like it's your first night with your love one after you get married, like that. And I can't believe that they welcomed me especially in Viña del Mar. Solid Steve Perry fans are there, and they embraced me," Pineda said.

High Pressure

Arnel Pineda with Reujen Lista, the new vocalist of "Zoo".

The singer shared that the pressure for his new work is high but his new bandmates were there to support and guide him.

"Of course there's pressure but my bandmates are there to guide me. It's like I came from little league and now I joined a major league. So I'm reaching a different standard.

Pineda added that he is close to all band members: "They are all okay, I talk to all of them."

He also revealed that there were some who threw criticisms against him but for him he took it as part of his work.

"Of course there were criticisms, you cannot please everyone, it's just like that. Actually they are just telling me, reading it to me but I don't mind it since my focus is to work, I just want to work," Pineda said.

He added "so if there are criticisms, what I am doing to correct myself is to watch again my performances."

Pineda is back in the country to stay with his family for Holy Week, after which he is set to go back in the US on March 29 to do one show.

The singer joined his first band at age 15 and has been singing professionally for the past 25 years. His voice also won him the Best Vocalist award at the World Band Explosion in 1987 -- a feat that he repeated the following year.

He has been a veteran of several bands and is a regular in clubs in Makati, Olongapo and Quezon City. His latest band, The Zoo, released its first album "Zoology" under MCA Universal Records last September 2007.

It is Pineda's stint in The Zoo that got him noticed by Journey axeman Neal Schon. Schon said he was looking for a replacement singer on popular video-sharing site YouTube.com when he discovered videos of Pineda and The Zoo singing Journey songs, such as "Open Arms" and "Faithfully".

After this, the band asked Pineda to join them as their vocalist and the rest is history.

Source: ABS-CBNnews.com

Arnel Pineda - The Man!

Hello everyone! Kamakailan lang ay ginanap ang konsyerto ng Journey sa Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon na si Arnel Pineda ang bokalista nito. Pero bago yan nauna ng nagkonsyerto ang grupo noong Pebrero 21, 2008 sa bansang Chile kung saan ginanap ang Festival Viña del Mar. Bagamat baguhan si Arnel Pineda sa bandang ito ay natipuhan agad siya ng mga Chileans dahil sa kanyang angking talento sa pag-awit bukod sa kaboses nito si Steve Perry, na siyang nagpasikat ng maraming kanta tulad ng Open Arms, Faithfully, Don't Stop Believing at iba pa.

Pero ayon sa aking pananaliksik sa iba't-ibang forum at website mayroon pa ring mga die-hard fans ng Journey ang bumabatikos sa grupong ito lalong-lalo na kay Arnel. May ilan, ayaw nila kasi siya ay isang Pilipino, ang iba nama'y nagsasabi na di nya kayang pantayan ang boses ni Steve Perry at ang iba kinukwestyon ang kanyang punto sa pananalita gawa nga ng hindi naman lumaki sa Amerika si Arnel. Sumatutal, di pa rin sila bilib kay Arnel.

Sa kabilang banda, kung may bumabatikos mayroon din namang bilib kay Arnel na mga banyaga na walang paki-alam kung siya man ay isang kayumanggi. Nagustuhan nila si Arnel dahil sa kanyang boses na may lalim at makatindig balahibo. Tinatanggap nila si Arnel na walang bahid na pag-aalinlangan gaya ng pagtanggap ng buong grupo ng banda sa kanya. Kaya naman makikita mo sa mukha ni Arnel ang kagalakan dahil sa kabila ng lahat ay marami pa ring sumusuporta sa kanya.

Ang konsyerto sa Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas kamakailan lamang ay gagawan ng DVD/CD at maglulunsad rin ng bagong album ang bandang ito sa darating na Hunyo na pinamagatang "Revelations". Double CD ito na kinabibilangan ng mga bagong komposisyon at ang sinasabi ng ilan ang pagrecord muli ng mga sumikat nilang mga kanta noon na kung saan si Arnel Pineda ang boses. Ang "All These Years" ay isa sa mga bagong kanta ng Journey at ayon sa ilang kritiko maganda ang kantang ito na tiyak papatok sa panlasa sa mga mahihilig sa ballad. Abangan ninyo ang nalalapit na konsyerto ng Journey sa mga bansa sa Europa.

Good Evening Vegas

Narito ang mga piling kuhang larawan sa katatapos lamang na concert ng bandang Journey sa Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas. Maisasalarawan dito kung gaano kasaya ang mga manonood lalong-lalo na ng una nilang marinig ang boses ni Arnel ng Live... Wow, how I wish I was there on that moment. Abangan ang update sa kanilang susunod na concert.

After All These Years - Journey

Ok guys, I will post a video containing the new single of Journey entitled "After All These Years" which debuted in Journey's Vegas concert. I've read a lot of good comments regarding this new track. I like it too and I'm sure when you listen to it you gonna love it. By the way, the new album of Journey is called Revelations and soon to be released this coming June. So watch for it.

Anyway, some fans made a lyrics to it... But it needs to revised or something..



Faded wedding photograph,
you and me in our first steps
the lives of those lost in the sweet abyss,
(line inaudible)
but our love remains the same,
God knows we've had our share of sacred grace.

And I'm proud of all the blessings you have given me,
the mountains we have climbed to get this far,
you learn to take the laughter with the tears,
after all these years.

You made me feel brand new,
after the fights that we go through
Against the odds we never lost our faith
In our hearts we made our home -OR- And a house we made our own (take your pick)
Where our children all have grown
precious moments time can not erase,


We've been livin' up and down the gypsy highways
seasons that we've had to share apart
somehow in my heart I always keep you near me,
After all these years.


After all these years,
You stood by me the days and nights that I was gone
After all these years,
you sacrificed, believed in me, and you stood strong
'cause with our love there's nothing left to fear,
after all these years.

Journey fans review

Here are some reviews and pics from the recently concluded Journey's concert in Las Vegas.

What an awesome show! Just having the cameras there added a little more energy there than normal. The show started with a different intro from Neal than we've heard before, which kicked into Any Way You Want It.
A big suprise for me for the night was throwing in Faith In The Heartland. Arnel did it justice! It was an awesome rendition.
The three new songs played were "After All These Years," "Never Walk Away" (which had some great harmonies!) and "Wildest Dreams." Deen also sang two songs -- "After the Fall" and "Mother Father" -- the latter being spectacular!
Jon's solo had a little bit more a bluesy twist in compared to recent years. Faithfully had a cool video that went along with it that showed Deen with his kid and Neal with his fro!
After Don't Stop Believin, the boys came back to do Be Good To Yourself for the encore. The show seemingly ended after that, but an announcer said that one of the songs had to be redone for the DVD (I believe it was sound problems). So they redid "Wildest Dreams" and then Jon asked "how would you guys like to hear Faithfully again?" \:\) Finally, they ended with "Lovin, Touchin, Squeezin."
With some luck, I was able to meet the band for the first time ever after the show. It was fun to finally meet them. Deen is so funny and friendly! Here is the setlist.

Intro (new Neal solo)
Any Way You Want It
Only The Young
Stone In Love
Ask The Lonely
Wheel In The Sky
Who's Crying Now
Faith In The Heartland
Lights
After All These Years
After The Fall (Deen on vocals)
Never Walk Away
Piano Solo
Open Arms
Mother Father (Deen on vocals)
Wildest Dreams
Separate Ways
Escape
Faithfully
Don't Stop Believin
--
Encore:
Be Good To Yourself
Wildest Dreams
Faithfully
Lovin Touchin Squeezin

Hello Folks, Let me give you a quick run down of the PH concert. I got there around 5:30 PM, chatted with friends from this website. Stryder gave away journey t shirts and badges. Frank also had badges made and the Chile Concert DVD. I provided the glowsticks, I don't think some of them made in the show because they were in cannisters. Nevertheless there were plenty of them. Ate buffet and headed to the concert. Nikkspar was 2 rows in front of me. Concert was a success. They sang 3 new songs from their album the revelations. Security was very tough as they didn't allow any cameras or recorders. I had my NIKON D70 with me with my 300 mm zoom lens, my sony compact HDD video recorder. I was able to sneak them in. Last three songs I was able to record them, loved the song lovin', touchin', squuezin'. I was able to take plenty of pictures too. The show was almost 3 hours, he had to sing faithfully again because he adlib some parts and hit low notes, but it was still terrific. The re do was magnificent. End of concert we went to menzannine (hope i spelled it right), houstontex, stryder and some of the people here were there. They wouldn't let arnel out. I was able to sneak in for for 2 minutes with my fake badge but the kick me right out when they saw it. Well it was my B day too, too many people and can't get to arnel. My wife asked arnel if we could take pictures together as my B day present he said, ofcourse. clicked some pictures, he gave me a hug and he said SALAMAT SA SUPORTA PARE , (thanks for your support my friend), all I could say was " I LOVE YOU MAN " a little embarassing but it was well worth my time. I will upload the videos and pictures either tonight or tomorrow. I did one already

A New Journey

Journey is an American rock band originating in San Francisco, California.

The band has gone through several phases since its inception by former members of Santana. The band's greatest commercial success came in the late 1970s through the early 1980s with a series of power ballads and songs such as "Don't Stop Believing", "Any Way You Want It", "Faithfully", "Open Arms", "Separate Ways" and "Wheel in the Sky".

Journey has been eligible for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame since 2000, but as of 2008, they have yet to be inducted. Gregg Rolie is currently the only member of Journey who has been inducted into the Hall of Fame, as a member of its parent band Santana.

Current members

* Neal Schon - lead & rhythm guitars, backing vocals, lead vocals (1973-1987, 1991, 1995-present)
* Ross Valory - bass, backing vocals, lead vocals (1973-1985, 1995-present)
* Jonathan Cain - keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (1980-1987, 1991, 1995-present)
* Deen Castronovo - drums, percussion, backing vocals, lead vocals (1998-present)
* Arnel Pineda - lead vocals (2007-present)

Former members

* Gregg Rolie - keyboards, lead vocals, backing vocals (1973-1980)
* George Tickner - rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1973-1975)
* Prairie Prince - drums, percussion (1973-1974)
* Aynsley Dunbar - drums, percussion (1974-1978)
* Robert Fleischman - lead vocals (1977)
* Steve Perry - lead vocals (1977-1998)
* Steve Smith - drums, percussion, backing vocals (1978-1985, 1995-1998)
* Randy Jackson - bass, backing vocals (1982-1983, 1985-1987)
* Larrie Londin - drums, percussion (1985-1986)
* Mike Baird - drums, percussion (1986-1987)
* Bob Glaub - drums, percussion (1986)
* Steve Augeri - lead vocals, occasional rhythm guitar on tour (1998-2006)
* Jeff Scott Soto - lead vocals (2006-2007)