Image: Instagram/@arnelpineda2007
Arnel Pineda remains humble and unassuming despite his success as the frontman of famous rock band Journey. Pineda recently took to his social media to address some sentiments of fans regarding Steve Perry, Journey’s former lead singer, and his return to the stage this 2018 after being out of the spotlight for many years.
Perry, dubbed as “The Voice” in the music scene, decided to permanently leave Journey in 1998. Perry was then replaced by Steve Augeri, formerly of Tyketto and Tall Stories, as the new lead singer of Journey. This, however, only lasted until 2006. Pineda didn’t come into the scene until 2007 when he was hired by Journey after seeing him cover songs of the band on YouTube.
Today, Pineda remains as Journey’s lead singer. It’s no secret, too, that Pineda is still the same staunch fan of Perry, taking to his Twitter last Aug. 15 to pay homage to the band’s original singer by sharing Perry’s latest album.
“Watch out now tweetyfwends,” Pineda wrote after sharing Perry’s latest album, “Traces”, to be released this October. “From the man w/ #TheVoice I so adore…”
watch out now tweetyfwends 😜
from the man w/ #TheVoice i so adore … pic.twitter.com/zUf3Fm64qE— Arnel Pineda (@arnelpineda) August 14, 2018
Some netizens reacted to Pineda’s tweet, with a certain Rebecca (@shroats) telling Pineda that he is now the voice of Journey.
“Steve Perry was the voice of Journey while he was with them,” wrote the netizen on the same day.
“He left. YOU are the voice of Journey now. It’s your time to shine.”
https://twitter.com/shroats/status/1029485636787601410
Pineda, however, told the commenter that he prefers to be a messenger than a legacy.
“Forgive me but I have to disagree with you,” Pineda wrote back. “I’d prefer me a #messenger to a #Legacy.”
forgive me but i have to disagree with you..id prefer me a #messenger to a #Legacy https://t.co/160PxzvHx9
— Arnel Pineda (@arnelpineda) August 14, 2018
Another netizen, a certain Karen (@karendunna), told Pineda that he should’ve been included when Journey was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last April 2017. It’s known that Perry reunited briefly with the band for the induction, although chose not to perform with them in respect of Pineda.
“Agree 100 [percent] and I think @arnelpineda also should’ve been inducted into the RRHOF,” wrote the netizen. “He earned it with dedication, a love for the music and delivering it to the fans with his heart, soul and genuine spirit.”
Pineda, however, replied to the fan by asking her not to push too hard, saying he is happy just being able to perform with the iconic band members.
“Ooopps… let’s not push that too hard my friend… I’m happy enough that I am a part of these bunch of #RockAndRollHallOfFamers…”
ooopps..lets not push that too hard my friend..im happy enough that i am a part of these bunch of #RockAndRollHallOfFamers ..👌 https://t.co/xWPa9NUf6t
— Arnel Pineda (@arnelpineda) August 14, 2018
Meanwhile, Pineda shared on his Twitter on Aug. 20 that he can never mimic Perry’s voice. This was after another netizen, a certain Diane (@dianet1954) told him that he should sing his own way without mimicking Perry.
As Pineda explained, “All I was doing all these years w/ @JourneyOfficial was singing this unique #Soul he left behind w/ the band.” JB
and if you could listen carefully,i can never ever mimick #TheVoice ..all i was doing all these years w/ @JourneyOfficial was singing this unique #Soul he left behind w/ the band.. https://t.co/b9RLzUVDnT
— Arnel Pineda (@arnelpineda) August 19, 2018
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