Journey frontman Arnel Pineda has hinted he may be ready to step back from the band after they invited long-time tribute act vocalist Hugo Valenti to sing lead alongside them at two shows in Japan. The move, part of the band's Final Frontier farewell tour, comes as Journey continue a run of shows featuring rotating lead vocals among band members, but Valenti's repeated appearances have fuelled speculation about the group's future line-up.

Valenti, who has fronted Journey tribute bands for 21 years, first joined the band on 29 August at the Mizuho PayPay Dome in Fukuoka to sing "Faithfully", before returning days later at Tokyo's Ariake Arena to perform the same track plus "Keep On Runnin'". Responding to Instagram photos of the Tokyo appearance, Pineda wrote "that's the band right there… now i can step back..congratulations @journeyofficial", prompting fan speculation over his future with the group. The Final Frontier tour began on 28 February in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and is due to conclude on 28 November in San Francisco, the band's hometown; earlier this year former singer Steve Perry denied rumours he would rejoin the band on the tour.