Journey Drummer Deen Castronovo Exits Mid-Tour to Focus on His Health

Journey drummer Deen Castronovo is stepping far from the band’s goodbye trip to handle his health, the group revealed Friday (Nov. 13).

“After cautious factor to consider and a substantial year of touring, our skilled, long time drummer Deen Castronovo has actually chosen to step away to concentrate on individual health matters that need his attention,” the band stated in a declaration. “He has our complete assistance throughout this time and extends his wholehearted thanks to the fans for the love, motivation, and compassion he has actually gotten.”

Steve Murphy will take control of for the rest of November. The New York drummer has actually formerly dealt with the Alan Parsons Project, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Christopher Cross and Jack Bruce.

The statement follows a scare last month, when Castronovo was assisted offstage and required to health center after 2 tunes at Tulsa’s BOK Center on Oct. 8. He returned 2 nights later on for a complete program in San Antonio, and guitar player Neal Schon stated at the time that he was “back in unusual type.” Neither the band nor Castronovo has actually divulged information of the health problem.

Castronovo, 62, initially signed up with Journey in 1998, changing Steve Smith, and used 5 albums before leaving in 2015. He returned in 2021, at first along with Narada Michael Walden, and ended up being the sole drummer after Walden’s 2022 departure. He likewise sings, periodically taking lead vocals, and has actually had fun with Bad English, Hardline and Ozzy Osbourne.

His exit comes near completion of a long year on the roadway. The Final Frontier trip, promoted by AEG Presents, released Feb. 28 in Hershey, Pa., with a preliminary 60 North American dates, before the band included 40 more for the fall. The existing leg started Sept. 12 in Los Angeles. Keyboardist Jonathan Cain has stated the run marks his own goodbye chapter with the band, which likewise includes creator Neal Schon, vocalist Arnel Pineda, keyboardist Jason Derlatka and bassist Todd Jensen.

The trip continues Saturday (Nov. 14) at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., and covers Nov. 28 at San Francisco’s Chase.

Journey’s business peak featured 1981’s Escapethe band’s only No. 1 album on the Billboard 200. It produced 4 Hot 100 hits, consisting of “Open Arms,” their highest-charting single at No. 2, “Who’s Crying Now” at No. 4 and “Don’t Stop Believin'” at No. 9– a tune that long outlived its chart go to end up being the band’s signature.

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