Neal Schon Finally Gives In To Jonathan Cain’s Legal Request

Journey’s Neal Schon has agreed to Jonathan Cain’s request for a third-party mediator to help resolve their escalating disputes. This decision follows Cain’s recent lawsuit, filed amid Journey’s ongoing stadium tour with Def Leppard and Steve Miller, seeking to restructure the company that manages the band’s touring operations. Cain and Schon, the only board members of this business entity, have been locked in financial disagreements that now require a neutral intermediary to break tie votes and restore order.

The lawsuit also included surprising accusations of excessive spending by Schon and his wife, Michaele, which allegedly resulted in insufficient funds to pay the band’s production team and crew. Cain’s legal filing described staff departures and conflicts over even minor details, such as deciding who would fill in when their drummer missed a show. The tension between the two bandmates has been brewing for years, with Schon openly acknowledging their ongoing disagreements.

Schon shared in a social media post:

“Anyone who follows Journey will know that Jon Cain and I don’t always see eye-to-eye on everything—or, sometimes, on pretty much anything.
“Recently, Jon Cain made several claims and slanderous accusations about me and my wife – and I can’t stress enough how much it upset me and how wrong they are. I am determined to take the high road and push all this aside for the moment to focus on our fans, the tour, and all who give so much to make things happen.”

Schon emphasized that he was pleased Cain finally recognized the need for change, agreeing with Schon that the current dynamic couldn’t continue. Schon added:

“That’s why I’m so glad that Jon now agrees with me that the current dynamic can’t continue.
“And it’s also why I’m pleased that we’re going to bring in someone impartial to help us resolve our disputes, bring clarity to what we’re doing, and allow us, as a band, to get back to what we should all focus on – making music and performing for our fans.”

Feud Forces Cancellation of U.K. and Ireland Shows

As the feud unfolded, Schon pushed back against Cain’s allegations of overspending, stating that his expenses were “all ‘approved in our budget.'” When fans questioned rumors of spending as much as $10,000 a night on tour, Schon responded in a since-deleted post:

“BS and what do you care? I pay for it.”

Despite the turmoil, Schon asserted his foundational role in Journey, describing himself as “the original and only founder in Journey that’s been there from the very early inception in ’72.” He reminded fans that he has “played on every single show – never canceled once! – and co-wrote and played on every single album,” while also pointing out that he hired Cain in the early ’80s.

In the wake of these legal and financial conflicts, Journey’s fall 2024 dates in the U.K. and Ireland were abruptly canceled. It remains unclear if these issues directly contributed to the cancellations. Journey and Def Leppard, who previously toured together in 2018, will conclude their current tour in early September with performances in Seattle and Denver.