Before Arnel started with them Deen was asked to be the front man. He declined. He'd rather just do a few songs and play drums. He actually sings on pretty much every song anyway (backups). He's a bad-ass!
When Deen sings Perry's vocals on this song and others sucn as Still they Ride, Mother Father, and Patiently, he is having fun, he is relaxed and he is singing from his soul. Deen is blessed with a level of talent that few have. He is not only filling in for the incredibly talented Steve Smith whos drum playing is a part of the trademark journey sound, and he also fills in for Steve Perry tackling some of Perrys most difficult work and doing an outstanding job of both.
It's incredible that a drummer (which requires a physicality and musicianship on its own) can sing a song from probably the most recognizable voice in rock and roll history (with a range that is one of a kind) is ASTOUNDING. Deen, from one drummer to another, that's killer!
Have to say first that Steve Perry will always be my favorite vocalist that Journey's ever had or ever will have, but I'm SO impressed with Deen! And that he can sing while drumming---incredible!
Singing while drumming is like singing while running a marathon. And you aren't the only one. I've known of Deen from his Ozzy days, however the first time I heard him sing a journey song I quite literally fell out of my chair. (was in the process of sitting and completely missed)
Deen is great on the Emotional Ballads! This, Mother Father, and Still They Ride. Arnel is great on the fun songs. Journey is so lucky to have both of these amazing voices.
I saw them a few weeks ago in Shreveport, LA. I was stunned when the drummer started singing. He was great. Arnel was just incredible also. It was quite an experience.
I wager a lot of it is because drumming the whole show and singing more than a couple songs would probably be extremely difficult, plus he's come out and said that he's incredibly shy and the drumset is like his shield.
Holy crap! I I feel like I just discovered a new planet!! Am I like... the last guy in the world to find out how amazing this guy is??! I really like Arnel, but seriously Neal - why even bother looking for new guy when your drummer can sing like that??! Unless he doesn't have the stamina to do it night after night, or the desire to. Is he better than Perry? No. But damn! He's really good!!! Is he better than Arnel? Irrelevant. Arnel = awesome showman/frontman. Deen = awesome drummer!
This is one of my Favorite songs from Journey and Steve perry sings it so wonderful, but Deen just made this his own.. What A Wonderful Voice. Love both of these singers.. Kudos.. why did he not stay with Journey?
I suspect that picture is his son. I'm a drummer who's 5 days into a three week tour, and I miss my son terribly. Thank god for skype. He's 2 1/2 years old, and imitates everything I do on screen.
This astounds me. How aren't people going nuts for Never Walk Away? I can't tell you how ecstatic I felt when I heard that song; it was how I learned of the Revelation album at all, and I couldn't wait for June to come so that I could purchase it.
yes that is true...he was offered the lead vocals but he wanted to be the drummer and sing a few songs instead of a full set...but i have to say out of all their singers..he is the closest to hitting steve perry's voice,amazing singer
To be completely honest, I like them both, Arnel and Deen... I think a fair compromise would be to let Arnel do all the hard rocking songs as that's where his talent seems to lie, and let Deen do the ballads...and hopfully that will begin to please everyone. They'll still get a touch of the old Steve Perry sound a-like nostalgia in Deen and the new evolved hard rocking sound in Arnel... which I tend to gravitate to not just with Journey...peace folks...
Simply amazing Deen. To sing as well as you do is something few can do. To play drums as well as you do is again somethign few can do. To do both at the level that you do is something that is reserved for very elite company. You are truly blessed with amazing talent. Arnel could take a few pointers from you on how to sing trademark Journey songs.
i went to see Journey back a few years ago at the Shoreline Ampitheatre in Cupertino, and that is when Jeff Scott Soto replaced Augeri on the tour. Deen sung a few songs including this one and I was amazed. I think they should contact Steve Smith and bring him back onboard and let Deen take over the singing duties. But I don't think Deen would give up his drums for that. Too bad.
I was a fan of Dean back in the McAlpine\Cacophony years....but now---I understand why Dean is far beyond anything I potentially understood about his talent. He is the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot combined.
Haven't they already been doing that...well at least they did in a couple of the 2008 concerts when Deen sang Mother, Father while Arnel was taking a short break...
this guy can really sing and able to hit high notes way better than arnel. the only thing that makes arnel unique is his voice texture that probably captured neal schon's interest.
i know alot of people judge Journey and compare steve perry to the others but in my opinion alot of their signature sound comes from neil schoens great guitar playing also
I hope they'll come to realize that Deen's voice suits Journey's songs better than Arnel's voice, not to discredit Arnel in any way. Arnel has amazing talent and an extraordinary voice too. Deen should be the lead singer IMO.
I hate negative feedback..... Deen has 2 major talents how many drummers can play and sing. Ya Steve can sing but Deen is right along beside as far as singing talent goes he has a powerful voice......and let's face it, Arnel can hit those high notes too. :O)
No disrespect to the new singer, Arnel, but if the two Steve's (Perry or Augeri) aren't going to be there, Deen has a brilliant voice and easily captures the heart and soul of Journey. All Neal had to do was look over his shoulder to see the new lead singer...sittin' right there behind the drums.
The photo is one of his sons. Not sure if it's the teenager (also a drummer) or the baby. He has stage fright but doesn't mind singing under the cover of his drums. He is a fantastic singer and drummer!
I heard about this. Had to see it. They dont need a front man. Fuckin incredible but I've moved from being a singing drummer to a singing Bassist so I can get out front . Eric Craig "The Eric Craig band"
I grew up in the same neighbor hood as deen in Keizer, hung with him as a young teen a few times. He used to have a band where he was the lead singer and drummer then too....check out his kid kyle Castonovo
So Deen must be the voice behind Pineda (on harmonies/backing vocals) on those 11 re-recordings of classic Journey songs (originally sung by Steve Perry -- should have been left alone)? I knew I heard someone with a better voice and higher vocal range than Pineda, but I thought they cheated and mixed in Perry's voice for lift and sustain on the higher notes. If Don Henley could drum and sing at the same time, so could Deen!
Wonder if the problem is that visually it is difficult to both drum and have the same impact on the audience from behind the kit as a frontman does. Phil Collins ended up in front of the mike as he got more popular, Karen Carpenter did the same. May be difficult to connect with the audience when there is no one 'up front' when doing an entire concert that way...
@cohen11731 the only reason i can think of that they got Arnel was because Dean prolly didn't want to sing on a nightly basis. he is really better than Arnel though. and in my honest opinion, Steve don't have alot on him in the way of vocal talent. Dean can belt these songs as good as Steve, all while playing the drums. AMAZING TALENT!!!
@joanantoja de hecho si estuvo cantando en Journey por un par de shows, pero no era de su completo agrado y tambien necesitaban un ''front man'', por ello buscaron otro vocalista
alright so maybe deen has stage fright but did you ever think maybe the reason or another reason he doesn't wanna front the band is because he loves playing drums?
@xenocentricism While I have no desire to ever see anyone but Perry sing these songs, I agree with you that no one should be bashing Arnel for simply making music, working hard to support his family, and being a decent, humble, guy. And Deen is very talented, & doing a creditable job. He just isn't Perry. Bottom line, I don't think anyone should be chastised for loving music & plying their craft. But the magic created by Perry not only in singing, but in the songwriting chemistry just isn't here
Primer video que veo a Deen Castronovo cantando yo me pregunto si canta bien porque no lo pusieron como cantante y baterista si tiene una voz magnifica ya el registro vocal de esta cancion es demasiada alta y se la banco bien el chavon con la cancion le salio PERFECTO
Journey needs to have DPA, Neuman or Crown make a special headset mic for Deen regardless of the cost so that he can get more of the thickness and richness of a large diaprham studio condensor mic and have exceptional resistance to bleed through from the drums and cymbals, and Deen would sound simply amazing. Add this one to the list of songs that Deen outshines Arnel on.
I agree Quint- Deen has a very good voice good range and much better tone than the new singer-Though people have given me negative marks i did say that Deen is much better than Arnel whats the problem there- he interprets Journey songs better than any other singer theyve had-i guess some people cant take honesty and live in denial what i like about Deen is that he sounds enough like Perry to make the songs work without copying Perry-the new singer sounds nothing like Perry and has bad tone-
I also think the sound quality makes a difference...because I've observed in some videos where Arnel was singing and I said to myself WTF...the sound was just crappy, and it others he just blew me away. But as you say, each to his own...and yep I also listen to Steve Perry and have nothing against him..but his time with Journey has passed...the group has chosen to evolve in a slight different direction...still wanting the Perry sound yet not wanting it from what I can see..
