Neal Schon Explains Why They Don’t Talk Politics
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 07: 2017 Inductee Neal Schon of Journey attends the Press Room of the 32nd Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on April 7, 2017 in New York City. The event will broadcast on HBO Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 8:00 pm ET/PT (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
Journey’s Neal Schon has stated distinctively that he never incorporates music with politics.
From the podcast White Line Fever, a recent interview went down asking the guitarist about his professional relationship with Jonathan Cain, the band’s keyboardist, who he reportedly shares different outlooks in political and religious terms.
The two have quarreled in the past publicly about several topics, as well as the incident that occurred in 2018 who involved Cain, singer Arnel Pineda and then-bassist Ross Valory. They visited the White House, where the group was photographed with former President Trump.
The one who conveyed about invocation at Trump’s inauguration was Paula White, Cain’s minister wife, who also served as chair of the evangelical advisory board during his administration. Schon said:
“The answer to that question is to leave it alone.
“I mean, honestly. I think that everybody is entitled to their opinion or what they think is correct for themselves. None of us ever agree — not just Jon, but many other people that I know. So I keep my political views to myself.”
In a 2018 interview with Rolling Stone, Cain clarified that the visit to the White House was not an endorsement of Trump, noting that even before the visit, Journey had been “friends” with the former White House press secretary for Trump, Sarah Huckabee Sanders. He said at that time:
“For me, it was a historical chance to go, and it wasn’t political.
“I’m a history buff and was dying to see where all this history took place. I know Arnel [Pineda] wanted to meet the Filipino lady [Cristeta Comerford] that has worked as a chef there for 20-something years. And Neal and I weren’t on speaking terms during that time. He was bashing me, so I didn’t think he would want to come. That’s all.”
While, in the interview with White Line Fever, Schon noted that his focus has always been on music. He explained:
“I obviously have made it very clear, even years back, that I don’t agree with mixing politics with music or [mixing music with] religion.
“I think music is for everyone — of every religion. If you’re a Democrat, Republican, whatever. It’s music — it’s for the world. So you have to leave it alone. … And I do nothing but write music with Jon. That’s it.”
Meanwhile, Journey are currently on tour in support of their recently released album, Freedom.
