Journey Legal Drama Escalates Quickly – Neal Responds
Journey guitarist Neal Schon has once again chimed in on the petition filed against him by bandmate Jonathan Cain over what the keyboardist claims are exorbitant charges being racked up on the band’s American Express card. And he’s not shy about it (has he ever?)
Taking to social media, Schon writes, “This just popped up over on my Facebook so I decided to answer honestly … this is from a woman that calls herself Maggie Greene.
“Hey Neal Schon, there’s a lot of rumors about the band living its final days because you and your wife can’t stop spending the band’s money. Is this true?”
“Maggie Greene absolute rubbish,” responds Schon. “I don’t know why people believe media. If anything, what [my wife Michaele‘s] done is make us a lot of money by attaining the trademark. She and I did by it ourselves and it cost quite a lot of money to attain it. Both Jon Cain and [singer] Arnel Pineda are benefiting from that equally. It’s split in thirds.
![Neal Schon of Journey performs onstage during the "Summer Stadium" tour at Truist Park on July 13, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia; Jonathan Cain and Arnel Pineda of Journey perform onstage during the "Summer Stadium" tour at Truist Park on July 13, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.](https://wcsx.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/08/Journey-Cancels-Tour.jpg?resize=1024,774)
“We are traveling no differently than we have for many, many years, including Jon Cain. He and his wife deciding to take a bus at the 11th hour was his own decision. The rest of the band … along with crew and security travel on one jet that was all ‘approved in our budget.’ …
“My wife and I have great relationships with different managers of hotels. They got us great deals if we want to upgrade, [and we have] all understood for many years — as she travels with me to every show — that it comes out of my pocket in the end. This was also ‘approved’ in our private Zoom meetings with Jon and [his wife] Paula. I do pay for it and always have.
“This is the second time Jonathan Cain has sued me for the same thing. We’ve already been through it in court [and] that case [in 2022] was dropped by both of us. We both agreed to drop and move forward with prejudice. That means that you never open it again.
“Well, here we are again, in the middle of a wonderful tour with our good friends, Def Leppard and Steve Miller. We do have very good solutions to ease the situation with Jon Cain‘s credit card who set it up in his name instead of the band, although he receives all the rewards.
Neal Schon Has An Idea For Journey
“The solution is get rid of the credit card. I let the promoters take on all responsibilities and pay us all individually or equal money and we travel as we wish. Sounds like a good solution, right? Let’s see how this plays out. Then I’ll see you at our next gig. I’ll be kicking some ass.
“Don’t believe all you read in media [as] it’s all manipulated and contrived as they wish it to be. I’m taking a higher road.”
What Cain is looking to achieve by filing his in Delaware’s Chancery Court is to appoint a third, independent director to serve with him and Schon on the board of Freedom 2020, Inc., the corporate entity through which Journey primarily conducts the band’s business.
Meanwhile, the tour rolls on with the next show this Monday in Arlington, Texas.