Tensions flared within the ranks of the rock band Journey when founder Neal Schon filed a cease-and-desist against guitarist and keyboardist Jonathan Cain after Cain performed the band’s hit song “Don’t Stop Believin” at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago event in November.
According to Variety, Cain spoke through a representative telling Schon to “look in the mirror” if he is worried about a band member “causing harm to the Journey brand.”
In the statement obtained by Variety, Cain had harsh words to say about his former bandmate and the detrimental behavior that Schon exhibited over the years.
“I have watched him damage our brand for years and am a victim of both his–and his wife’s–bizarre behavior. Neal sued Live Nation twice, losing both times, and damaging our ability to ever work with them again; Neal outrageously tried to take away trademarks from Steve Perry; Neal and his wife continually insult the professionalism of numerous accountants, road managers, and management firms with endless legal threats and their bullying, toxic, and incoherent emails; Neal argues online with fans who don’t see eye to eye with him; and Neal and his wife recklessly spend Journey’s money until there is none left for operating costs.
“If anyone is destroying the Journey brand, it is Neal – and Neal alone.”
This statement comes in response to the allegations in the cease-and-desist letter that Cain had been using the band’s name to further his own political positions, which Schon argued was forcing a politicization of the Journey brand. The letter was shared by Variety.
“Although Mr. Cain is free to express his personal beliefs and associations, when he does that on behalf of Journey or for the band, such conduct is extremely deleterious to the Journey brand as it polarizes the band’s fans and outreach. Journey is not, and should not be, political.
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“Mr. Cain has no right to use Journey for politics. His politics should be his own personal business. He should not be capitalizing on Journey’s brand to promote his personal political or religious agenda to the detriment of the band.”
As one would expect, this is not the first time that these two have been at odds. Fox News shares that the two were in a recent legal battle over a band credit card.
“At the time, Cain’s lawyer argued Schon’s access to the corporate account was limited because he charged more than $1 million in “improper personal expenses” to the card.
While the two bandmates spar over legalities, “Don’t Stop Believin” has become a battle cry of sorts for the Trump 2024 “Fix America Again” campaign.
Given Trump’s position as an underdog in the upcoming elections, this song has perfectly explained the key need to Donald, that his followers keep their faith.
Whether the song will continue to be played at Trump event is unclear. That doesn’t mean, however, that the song will cease to be a key cry in the Trump camp for years to come.