Drummer Deen Castronovo rejoins Journey after six-year gap

He will be sharing drummer duties alongside Narada Michael Walden

Journey rejoined by drummer Deen Castronovo
Author: Jazmin L'AmyPublished 30th Jul 2021

Drummer Deen Castronovo has rejoined legendary rock act, Journey, after a six-year gap.

Castronovo will be sharing the drumming duties alongside Narada Michael Walden who joined the group more recently in 2020, according to Journey’s guitarist Neal Schon.

“Ok…double trouble Chicago,” tweeted Schon ahead of their Aragon Ballroom show in Chicago on 27th, featuring a photo of the band’s rehearsal room. He continued by tagging both @NaradaMWalden and @DeenTheDrummer, stating: “The return of Deen Castronovo on drums.” The show preceded Journey’s appearance at Lollapalooza.

The rumours were confirmed in the comments section of a Facebook post that Schon had shared, when a fan inquired about Castronovo’s status in the band: “Deen is gonna play Lollapalooza? Is he back in the band?” To which Schon simply replied: “Yes.”

In another comment, Schon declared: “Deen is back. We are double drummers now with Narada." He added: "They are BOTH PLAYING !!! JOURNEY AS YOU'VE NEVER HEARD US BEFORE !!!!”

Castronovo’s 17-year stint with Journey ended in 2015, and earlier this year he announced his departure from The Dead Daisies in preparation for his back surgery. Replacing him was ex-Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie, Ted Nugent, and Alice Cooper drummer Tommy Clufetos.

Last month saw Journey share a new single, ‘The Way We Used To Be’, which is the band’s first new music since 2011’s full-length release ‘Eclipse’. The track is also the first song to be released under the band’s new line-up that consists of Neal Schon on lead guitar, Johnathon Cain and Jason Derlatka on keyboards, Arnel Pineda on lead vocals, Randy Jackson on bass, and Narada Michael Walden on drums.

‘The Way We Used To Be’ also serves as Walden and Derlatka’s first studio recording with Journey, and Jackson’s first since 1986’s ‘Raised On Radio’. Produced by Narada Michael Walden, the track was worked on in his Tarpan Studios with co-production by Schon and Cain.

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Read more:

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