Any Journey fans out there? I came across this amazing "feel good" story this morning while surfing the web. Ever since lead singer Steve Perry injured his hip in 1996, the famous rock band Journey has been looking for a lead singer. One day, frustrated band member and lead guitarist, Neal Schon, was cruising Youtube and stumbled upon a Filipino rock band called the "Zoo" where lead singer Arnel Pineda was belting out Journey songs.
Several months later Pineda was signed as the new lead singer for Journey! When I watched his Youtube I was totally blown away! Here's Journey with their new band member, Pineda, singing Faithfully!
You know what! Pineda has got the whole dang package! Powerful vocals, personality, talent, looks and awesome stage presence. Dude, you are super talented in your own right!
So move over American Idol, Youtube is finding those "Diamonds in the rough"!
Great story and incredible voice! Thank you for posting the video. :-)
ReplyDeleteDo you know what happened to Pineda's band after he starting singing with Journey?
Hi Maria, good question. I had read somewhere that when Pineda went to San Francisco to audition for the band members in Journey, his old band members from Zoo were supposedly starting to look for a new lead singer to replace him.
ReplyDeleteNot sure how true that is. Pineda was definitely the "star" of their band. Hopefully it's true and they are still together because I thought they were actually pretty good.
Glad you enjoyed the video and story. :)
Hi, I've really enjoyed catching up with all your latest travel on here.
ReplyDeleteLove your pictures!
Hi Leslie, thanks so much for your comments. I've been enjoying your digital scrapebooking on your blog. I'm trying to learn how to do some of it too, because it looks so cool.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, after reading some of the things you wrote and I think it was Girasoli too, I made sure to visit Torcello last November when I went to Venice. It was an amazing experience Can't thank you and Girasoli enough for putting it on my radar.
Thanks again for your comments.
Hi Kathy,
ReplyDeleteI just read in Wikipedia that the band has a new lead singer so they are still together. When I have a little free time I'll check YouTube to see if there's a recent video of The Zoo.
BTW, my husband and I are again looking at traveling to Spain instead of Turkey. For some strange reason I can't get the motivation to plan a trip to that part of the Mediterranean. I told him all I want to do is go to Italy! We'll see what happens.
I looked at your Spain blog and saw the video of the Flamenco dancer. He's awesome!
Hi Maria, thanks so much for telling me that Zoo found a new lead singer and that they are still together . I'm also curious about what they sound like now? I bet their new lead singer is going through the same things that Pineda went through filling Steve Perry's shoes.
ReplyDeleteI've now seen several YouTube videos of the "new" Journey with Pineda performing in a concert in Chile and I have to say that they are pretty awesome. I checked their tour schdule and they will be coming to do a concert here in Southern California. Yippee!
I've heard some wonderful things about Turkey, but still it's not Italy, so I can totally understand where you are coming from. Each year, it is a constant struggle deciding where I want to go. I can only afford one big trip a year, so my decision on where to go has to really count. I think Spain is the right decision for me this year. I've been wanting to visit there for a long time. I can't remember what inspired me, it was probably something I read or saw on Slow Travel.
That's so cool that you're thinking about Spain again! The more I read about Spain the more I'm becoming fascinated. There's so many influences. Very interesting history. How long has it been since you've been back?
I love that Flamenco dancer too. I looked at a bunch of videos with beautiful costumes and dancers, but when I stumbled onto this video I said now that's what I'm talking about . . . a simple, sweat dripping, super talented, passionate performance. If I saw that performance live, I would be satisfied and thrilled.
I can't wait to hear what you and your husband decide to do. I'm sure you'll find that inspiration for your trip somewhere and you will know that it is the right decision for you both.
Well, today I happen to be off from work and I get to do a little catching up. I think I'll re-read Doru's report and Jaime & Geoff actually wrote a very good report too!
Thanks again for the scoop on the Zoo. Maybe, I'll do a bit of youtube surfing today too. I love having an extra day off. And another bonus is that this Friday is 4th of July so I'll have another day off! Whoo hoo! :)
Hi Maria, wow, I just re-read my loooong reply. I guess I can be a bit chatty when I'm not rushing out the door to work. Sorry about going on and on like that! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy,
ReplyDeleteI also saw that video on a music festival in Viñas del Mar in Chile and thought it was awesome. How cool that you will get to see them when they come to southern CA.
About Turkey, I’ve read some fabulous stuff in ST written by Diana and Jane and I’d love to go there but I just can’t seem to decide on where to stay and what to see. Going to Italy feels like going home. I’m very comfortable there knowing the language and having been raised in a culture that has many similarities with the Italian culture. I feel the same way about Spain.
My last trip to Spain was in May, 1981. For three years we had a VW camper bus parked in Barcelona and we’d go on 3-5 week trips once a year. On that last trip we sold the VW to a couple from Argentina and they spent a year traveling throughout Europe and they wrote to us from Turkey.
We went to a Flamenco show in a small theater house in Sevilla. I have somewhere a picture of my son when he was 2 years old, watching the show and clapping very hard at the end. He loved the show so much that he stood the whole time so he could watch it.
Having a day off at the start of the week is wonderful! And so much more when Friday is a holiday. I hope you had a fabulous and relaxing day!
I loved reading you reply and it wasn't long, it was very interesting! :-)
Hi Maria, wow . . . you have quite the travel experience. A VW and going on 3-5 week trips for three years. How fun! And you're still in touch with that couple who now lives in Turkey. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteReading your story about watching a flamenco show in Sevilla, I couldn't help but remember the photos you posted recently on your son's birthday! I had an immediate visual of your son at two years old dancing to Flamenco music. So Cool! I hope you can find that photo and post it sometime.
It's been awhile since you've been back to Spain then. I wonder if it has changed a lot since you were last there in 1981. Would be interesting to find out?
I'm not even Italian but I love everything about Italy. I would be so happy and content to return to Italy every year myself. But at the same time, I want to see other places. I just try not to stay away from Italy for more than two years max!
BTW, did you see that thread on ST about airfares. They are saying that prices could continue to rise, which is forcing me to settle my travel dates sooner than I'm prepared to. Just wanted to give you a heads up.
I think you have quite the decision to make. Sometimes when I am undecided about things, I usually end up trusting my instincts. It's worked so far. But then I've only been traveling regularly since 2005. :)
Thanks, I did have a nice relaxing day. Hope you have a nice week and if I don't touch base with you before the weekend have a safe and great 4th of July!
Kathy,
ReplyDeleteCheck my blog, I posted four pictures of the Flamenco show we saw in 1981. You can see my son standing in one of them.
I have a busy couple of days ahead so Happy 4th!
Hi Maria, I just left a second comment on your blog. Thank you soooo much for taking the time to find those great family photos. The expression on your son's face is priceless. That must have been so cute watching him excited and enjoying the show like that. I bet he was tapping his little feet along with the dancers. Too cute!
ReplyDeleteI have booked marked the name of the venue (Los Galos) because I so happen to be planning on staying in an apartment in the Santa Cruz neighborhood, because it is so highly recommended on Slow Travel. What a coincidence that the very theatre house that you went to in 1981 is going to be in the same location/neighborhood. Or maybe it was fate! :)
Well, you've definitely got me more excited over my trip and I am so pumped to see Spain. I have a meeting tomorrow and my co-worker is bringing me her Spain photos to look through.
Have a wonderful 4th of July! And thanks so much again. Your blog entry and sharing your family photos was so just so awesome!
Thank you Maria!