“It’s actually fourteen years ago this month. I consider my start (with the band Journey) from the time I was asked to audition.” Arnel Pineda recalls as two of his musician friends work on a Tagalog song they’re about to re-release. 

It’s definitely been quite a ride for Filipino musician Arnel Pineda. In his early life, Pineda was once homeless and would take on the oddest jobs for daily survival. He would shower at gas stations and go to random wakes for free coffee and snacks until eventually joining his first band at fifteen years old. He later worked in Hong Kong for a decade, and then in 2007 that one (now famous) YouTube video of his was discovered while he was singing at a bar in Manila. The same guy who would sing for free food and would ask for free water at gas stations suddenly found himself auditioning to be the lead vocalist for one of the most iconic bands in rock and roll history. He recalls, of his audition, that he brought all his Journey albums to be signed in case he didn’t get the gig. But he did! He booked the gig of a lifetime. A rock and roll fairy tale if you will, Pineda’s first TV appearance as Journey’s lead singer was on the Ellen DeGeneres show, followed by an interview with Oprah, CNN, Rolling Stones and many others. 

At 54 years old Pineda is still actively touring. Journey will be performing at the I Heart Radio festival in Las Vegas on September 18^th along with some of today’s super stars like Billy Eilish, ColdPlay, Dua Lipa and Maroon 5 among others. He also has a US tour this Fall with Filipino rocker Bamboo, followed by Journey’s residency at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas this December. And of course, Arnel’s biopic is in the works, to be directed by Crazy Rich Asians’ acclaimed director Jon M. Chu. 

I sat down with Arnel in Los Angeles a few days after Journey headlined at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago. A major performance in front of a new and younger generation with high praise coming from Rolling Stone magazine: “Arnel Pineda earned audible praise from teens in the back with his festival outfit: flashy sunglasses, bleached white jeans, and a white designer sweatshirt emblazoned with a red apple bearing the Gucci logo.” The sweatshirt was sold out on Gucci’s website a day later according to Pineda’s road manager and stylist, Yul Session. 

Take us back to that feeling when you stepped foot on stage in Chile where you played as Journey’s front man for the first time in 2008.

Definitely & understandably terrified & very nervous, to the point that I told Neal (Schon) that I can’t do it, yet in the middle of those feelings, subconsciously, I kept reminding myself this desire of mine to get this job done cause who gets to get this kind of a ”one in a million chance” to sing for one of the most iconic bands in America?

Journey songs aside, can you tell us a couple of your top favorite songs of all time?

Honestly? Too many to mention…but ok, I’ll mention a few:

Bohemian Rhapsody, Who Wants To Live Forever, Show Must Go On,

Killer Queen, by Queen & most of their other songs

Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight, The End, For No One by The Beatles & most of their other hit songs

Black Dog and Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin

Without You version by Heart

Shape Of My Heart – Sting

And many, many more

You’ve shared the stage with many artists in the past but who else would you love to collaborate with in the future?

Bruno Mars, Ann Wilson, Steve Perry, Bono, Paul McCartney

You have been fortunate to meet many living legends in the music industry and beyond; aside from Steve Perry, name someone you’ve met that made you completely star struck.

Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin

Waiting / hoping for the day to meet Paul McCartney & Sting

In your earlier years as a musician, you worked in Hong Kong for almost a decade. Tell us about that time in your life.

Now that’s my decadent and wanton era…not too proud of a lot things that I did there in HK back then. I was carelessly stupid …I’ve hurt a lot of people too and some are so dear to me. The only best parts of my life there was my night after night of performing with my band mates…my beautiful world but my escape too from all the sins, guilt and anxiety I brought to myself.

What advice would you give to struggling artists who are on the verge of giving up and to those still waiting for their “big break”?

You know what? No one can really tell if it’s your time to shine or fall further…for me the most important thing is not to lose your passion, heart and desire to master your craft, getting the big break or not…

I remember me back in the late 80’s…earning only 10usd a night in Olongapo, Subic Bay…each night, my band mates and I played like we’re not gonna play the next night…and at the end of each night, since we know we gave our best, we were so happy and full.

Life has thrown you a lot of trials and obstacles, from losing your mom at an early age, being homeless and getting into drugs. What are your thoughts as you look back on your complicated past?

I wish I didn’t go through the kind of life I went through. But then again, I guess I have to live the life fate chose me to have to be who and where I am now…I’m still a work in progress… I guess I’ll stay flawed and it’s ok.

To the young lives out there though, do not take for granted your gifts, use it wisely, cause otherwise, you’ll live the rest of your life with a lot of regrets.

In your interview with Oprah, you said your mom was your biggest influence. If you could talk to her right now, what would you say to her?

I’ve told her many, many things then and now…every time that I’m feeling down especially when there’s no one who seems to understand what I’m going through, I talk to her…

The one though that I keep telling her is to stay by my side, be my light and guide me, cause like I said, I’m still a work in progress.

You seem to be a very positive guy. How do you deal with negativity and your detractors?

I just graciously learned the art of tolerance & respecting them trolls’ point of views. Where I am now, I can’t afford to get distracted, there’s too much at stake. My job / my family are more important than their negative opinions about me.

What life lessons have you learned from these past fourteen years as Journey’s lead singer?

It’s the classic “not everything and everyone you meet and feel are real”.

Yeah, call me cynical & yet it didn’t protect me from getting fooled every now & then.

The name of the magazine is “Hiraya” which means fruit of one’s hopes, dreams and aspirations: What do you still hope for, dream of, and aspire to become?

I’m hoping for an unconditional “world peace”. I’m dreaming of a peaceful and united world and I aspire to be with my family living a simple but happy life til the day our Maker claims my life.

Please tell our readers briefly about the Arnel Pineda foundation and where they can know more about it.

My foundation, with the amazing help of our generous donors, we’re able to support at least, for now, thirty five scholars and to those who want to extend their support to my foundation, called Arnel Pineda Foundation Inc please go to Facebook and just type our foundation’s name. Thank you so much in advance.

Photographed by: Francisgum

Styled by: Yul Session #stylebyyul

For Journey tour dates: www.journeymusic.com

Follow Arnel on instagram: @arnelpineda2007