Trending: Fans Can Vote This Legendary Rock Group’s Frontman Out of the Band

Social media recently blasted Journey lead singer Arnel Pineda’s performance during the band’s Rock in Rio appearance in Brazil. And apparently, Pineda is taking those criticisms to heart. The vocalist is giving his detractors the opportunity to permanently oust him from the legendary classic rock outfit.

Journey Frontman Was “Devastated” By Fans’ Reaction

In a Sunday (Sept. 22) post to his Facebook page, a “devastated” Arnel Pineda informed fans that he was “very aware” of the video currently making the rounds on social media. The footage shows Pineda fumbling the high notes during the band’s Saturday (Sept. 21) performance of their signature 1981 hit “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

“so here’s the deal here now..i am offering you a chance now ( especially those who’s hated me and never liked me from the very beginning) to simply text GO or STAY right here,” Pineda wrote. “and if GO reaches 1million… im stepping out for good..are you game folks?”

Pineda, 57, replaced Jeff Soto as Journey’s frontman in 2007. He rose to prominence in his native Philippines during the ’80s before forming The Zoo in 2006.

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Should He Stay Or Should He Go, Now?

Journey has cycled through six frontmen throughout their 50-year reign. Although Steve Perry helmed the band at their commercial peak, Pineda is actually their longest-tenured lead singer.

One Journey fan pointed to Pineda’s longevity as proof of his staying power. “I adore Arnel Pineda,” they wrote on X/Twitter. “I’m told he is an extremely nice guy and I know he is incredibly talented… Fans can be cruel. ‘Stay’ or ‘Go’ STAY is the only correct answer!”

https://twitter.com/tongzhi_michael/status/1838414498698252471

Both Journey drummer Deen Castronovo and lead guitarist Neal Schon have vehemently defended their bandmate against “the trolls.” In an impassioned Facebook post, Castronovo praised Pineda for rising “to the challenge of Journey’s catalog, NIGHT after NIGHT, YEAR after tiring YEAR!”

https://twitter.com/Napolous/status/1837892201168154823

“The voice is a BIOLOGICAL INSTRUMENT, subject to weather, fatigue, virus, bacteria, jet lag etc,” wrote the 60-year-old drummer. “Sometimes it DOES NOT, CANNOT or WILL NOT cooperate when needed. So, what’s the point of hammering a human being over something they have no control over??”

Featured image by Antonio Lacerda/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

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