Neal Interview (04-02)

[The_Noble_Cause]

Journey's Neal Schon talks Oklahoma roots, future plans
The Oklahoman, April 2nd 2026

Although Journey has embarked on its "Final Frontier Tour," don't stop believin' that founding member Neal Schon plans to keep making music no matter where the journey ends for his legendary, longtime band.

"I'll be like B.B. King; I'll be doing it until the day that I'm not here any longer," said Schon, an Oklahoma-born guitarist, songwriter and music aficionado.

"This is, for me, just another chapter in a book. ... I'm nowhere near done, and so it may be farewell for this entity the way it sits right now. But I know that wherever I go, I'll have Journey with me. I'm a big part of the music: I've been there since the beginning — the only founding member left — and so I'm excited about the tour we're doing now. And I'm excited about the future."

A 2013 Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame inductee, Schon celebrated his 72nd birthday on Feb. 27. The next day, Journey embarked on the first leg of the rockers' farewell trek at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

The "Final Frontier Tour," which is scheduled to keep the hitmakers crisscrossing North America into August, will make a stop in the lead guitarist's native state Friday, April 3, at Paycom Center.

Not only did Journey play a rollicking show at the downtown Oklahoma City arena on its 2022 "Freedom Tour," but also Schon thrilled the ecstatic OKC audience when he proudly announced that he was born just 15 minutes away.

"It's got a very, very special place in my heart. ... I was born there at Tinker Air Force Base," Schon told The Oklahoman from the road in Austin, Texas, where Journey performed March 31 at the Moody Center.

"And every time I come back, I think about it, and I'm like, 'This is quite amazing,' It's a full circle for me."

Ahead of Journey's "Final Frontier" concert in OKC, Schon spoke exclusively with The Oklahoman about his ties to the Sooner State and his pride in counting himself among some of Oklahoma's legendary musicians.

"Coming back there carries some real special meaning for me, and it's just not another show. It's where my life started, so I'm looking forward to seeing my people," he said.

How has Neal Schon connected with his Oklahoma roots?

Along with hailing from what he described as "one of those very musical cities," Schon was born into a musical family. His dad was a big band arranger from Tulsa, and his mom was a singer.

After both his parents decided to take their music talents into the military, Schon made his debut on the great stage of life Feb. 27, 1954, at Tinker.
Although Schon didn't live in the Sooner State for long — his family soon moved to New Jersey and later California — the musician has firmly embraced the state of his birth.

He has been ushered into three halls of fame in his illustrious career: He and the rest of Journey were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, and in 2021, the band's 1981 anthem "Don't Stop Believin,'" which Schon penned with longtime Journey keyboard player Jonathan Cain and former frontman Steve Perry, was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame.

But he noted that his native state was the first to award him hall of fame honors: Schon was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2013.

"(When) we made the visit and saw all the other artists and things that they had donated, I was really kind of blown away. Leon Russell, being a fan of Leon's forever, I wasn't even aware that he was in the hall of fame there," Schon said. "But being a fan of his and the many great songs that he wrote, I was just very honored. To be in this group with Vince Gill and everybody else, it's amazing."

Schon has donated guitars to both the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in Muskogee, which is expected to reopen later this year after an extensive, multimillion-dollar remodel, and the future OKPOP Museum in Tulsa, which is set to make its long-awaited debut in 2028.
"I'll probably have more to give them once it's actually all put together," Schon said.

What can fans expect from Journey's 'Final Frontier Tour?'

Along with speaking to The Oklahoman about his Oklahoma roots, Schon also gave his perspective on Journey's "Final Frontier Tour," which is expected to run through 2027.
Along with Schon on lead guitars and Cain on keyboards and backing vocals, the lineup for Journey's "Final Frontier Tour" includes Arnel Pineda (lead vocals), Jason Derlatka (keyboards, vocals), Deen Castronovo (drums, vocals) and Todd Jensen (bass).

"(For) myself, it's not going to end. It is the name of a tour that was picked out by somebody that is no longer working for us. You know, we went with it at the time, and it stuck," Schon said. "Whether it'll be the final tour ... or not, I really don't know. I don't have that crystal ball. But I know that I will evolve, and some of the people you see on stage will as well."

Despite formidable obstacles from lineup changes to lawsuits to management shakeups, Journey has built a catalog of beloved hits like "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)," "Faithfully," "Lights," "Open Arms," "Any Way You Want It" and, of course, "Don't Stop Believin'" that are being showcased on the "Final Frontier Tour."

"It's the first time that we've been able to headline in arenas without any support. And it's going really great. I love playing longer shows, and so I'm really digging it," he said.

Also known for his work with the Latin-rock fusion band Santana and the supergroup Bad English, Schon co-founded Journey in the early 1970s and has been the only consistent member, having participated in every album and tour to date.

"Wow, there's a lot of memories I have going back that far, of where the music started and where it's at now. And I think that, depending on what type of music you really enjoy as a person, there's a lot sitting there in our catalog," Schon said.

"We're here, I'm here, 53 years later. And how many bands are even together that long, even if they go through personnel changes? ... So, it's wild to be on this long ride."
Journey has earned 19 Top 40 singles, 25 gold and platinum albums and sold more than 100 million albums globally. Their "Greatest Hits" album is certified 15-times platinum, making Journey one of the few bands to ever have been diamond certified. Plus, their song "Don't Stop Believin'" has been streamed over one billion times alone.

"'Don't Stop Believin'' has become something bigger than just a hit. It is something people hold onto during tough times. I've seen so many people write about it as something that helped them get through a tough period ... and it's brings hope," Schon said.

"I like to believe that our music brings a lot of faith and hope in people's lives and eases a lot of tension. I mean, that's what we're supposed to do: Music's supposed to be, like, the healer of everything, and not just coming to play a flashy show for you."

That said, Schon said Journey fans can expect a good time on the "Final Frontier Tour," whether it's their last time to catch the band live or not.

"It's a deeper perspective of all our music. ... Here in Austin, Texas, we pulled out 'Of a 'Lifetime.' And it's funny, it's the 53rd anniversary ... for Journey's first record, and 'Of a Lifetime' was on that record. So, it was the first time we played that in a very, very long time. And people were like, 'Wow,'" he said.

"So, we're digging deep into the catalog. It's a nice, lengthy show. It's a great-looking show, great-sounding show, and we're just having fun with it. We're switching it up a bit night after night, switching out songs. And so, I don't know exactly what we're going to play, but it'll be fun."

Journey's 'Final Frontier Tour'
When: 7:30 p.m. April 3. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Where: Paycom Center, 100 W Reno, downtown OKC.

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/enterta ... a-ds=sophi

[youkeepmewaiting]

More confusing comments from Schon about this not necessarily being Journeys last tour - that fella a constant headache

[The_Noble_Cause]

More confusing comments from Schon about this not necessarily being Journeys last tour - that fella a constant headache

My guess is, he was outvoted on it.
Jon and the (now ex) manager were all for it.