New releases, music videos and album news — indie, rap, rock and pop. Always covering Ren, Chris Webby, Sam Tompkins, bbno$, CHINCHILLA, Muse, Yungblud and more.
Journey seemingly walk back on retirement plans despite announcing farewell tour
Developing story first seen 11 hours ago
Journey founder Neal Schon has signalled the band may continue performing, a change in tone after they announced a farewell tour last year. He said recent shows and the response from fans had brought the group closer together, and that what began as “The Final Frontier” now felt more like “The Long Goodbye”. Journey have not announced specific plans beyond their scheduled dates.
Schon said the band had completed 110 shows in 2026, playing two and a half hours each night in their longest-ever performances. The main tour is due to end on 28 November in San Francisco, with one 2027 festival appearance listed for 27 April at Stagecoach in California. The comments follow drummer Deen Castronovo’s hospitalisation after falling ill during an October concert in Tulsa; the band continued its remaining shows.
- Sources
- 2
- Outlets
- 2
- Left · Centre · Right
- 0 · 0 · 0
In short
- Neal Schon suggests Journey may keep performing after the farewell tour.
- The band completed 110 shows in 2026.
- No further dates have been confirmed.
How this story developed
- 15 minutes ago Journey founder Neal Schon has suggested the band may continue playing after previously announcing a farewell tour, saying the experience of performing together and the response from fans have changed how the group sees its future.
- 1 hour ago Journey founder Neal Schon has signalled the band may continue performing, a change in tone after they announced a farewell tour last year.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Continuing after a farewell tour was announced could respect the renewed energy the band says it has found on stage and the fans who still want to see them perform. If the musicians remain willing and able, treating the tour as a long goodbye rather than a fixed end lets them decide their future on their own terms.
The case against
A farewell announcement creates reasonable expectations for fans, crew and others planning around the band’s final dates, so extending the run could make that commitment seem uncertain. After an exceptionally demanding schedule and a band member’s hospitalisation, supporters of ending the tour may also argue that rest and health should take priority over further performances.
Explained simply
Journey are an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1973. Guitarist Neal Schon is the group’s only founding member still in the line-up, while singer Arnel Pineda and drummer Deen Castronovo are among its current members. The band is known for songs including “Don’t Stop Believin’”.
Journey have toured for decades, with changes to their line-up over the years. A farewell tour is presented as a final series of live shows, so suggestions that the band might keep performing raise questions about what “farewell” means for the group and its fans.