Neal Schon On Cain’s Allegations: “Absolute Rubbish”

Journey guitarist Neal Schon recently broke his silence on the latest lawsuit filed against him by his bandmate Jonathan Cain. Cain alleges that Schon has irresponsibly spent the band’s money without proper approval. Schon, however, firmly dismisses these claims as “absolute rubbish,” defending his actions and shedding light on the situation.

The tension between the two bandmates is nothing new. Earlier this month, Cain sued Schon for overspending on the band’s credit card, particularly on private jet travel and expensive hotel rooms. According to Cain, these expenses far exceeded the agreed-upon budget, with hotel costs allegedly reaching up to $10,000 per night. Cain insists that these extravagant charges were made without his consent, despite being an equal partner in the company that manages the band’s touring finances.

This isn’t the first time such allegations have surfaced. The duo had a similar dispute in 2022, which was resolved earlier this year. However, the recent lawsuit indicates that their differences are far from settled.

Schon took to social media to address a fan’s concern that his actions might lead to the end of Journey. The fan reportedly questioned whether the rumors about the band’s financial troubles were true, specifically citing Schon and his wife Michaele’s alleged spending habits. Schon’s response was unequivocal: “Absolute rubbish,” he declared on X. He expressed frustration that people tend to believe the media and assured fans that the band’s finances are in order.

He explained that the band, including Cain, has been traveling in the same manner for years. According to Schon, Cain and his wife decided at the last minute to travel by bus, a choice he emphasized was entirely their own. He clarified that the rest of the band, including singer Arnel Pineda, drummer Deen Castronovo, and others, continue to travel by jet, as approved in their budget.

Addressing the accusations of overspending on hotel rooms, Schon revealed that he has cultivated strong relationships with hotel managers over the years, often securing special upgrade deals. He assured that these upgrades are paid for out of his own pocket, as has been the practice for years.

“This is the second time Jonathan Cain has sued me for the same thing,” Schon noted, referencing their previous legal battle. He explained that the earlier case was mutually dropped, with both agreeing to move forward without reopening the issue. Yet, despite this agreement, the same accusations have resurfaced amid their ongoing tour with Def Leppard and Steve Miller.

In a final remark, Schon proposed a potential solution to avoid future conflicts over finances: “Let [the] Promoter take on all responsibilities and pay us all individually or equal money and we travel as we wish.” He suggested that this could prevent further disputes over the use of the band’s credit card.

Journey’s current tour is scheduled to continue with a show in Arlington, Texas, and is set to conclude on August 25 in Los Angeles. Despite the ongoing legal drama, Schon remains focused on delivering outstanding performances, telling fans, “I’ll be kicking some ass.”