The tensions between Journey members Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain have escalated significantly. Schon has filed a cease-and-desist order against Cain over the keyboardist performing Journey songs at political events.
According to Variety, Schon’s legal reps sent a cease-and-desist letter to Cain’s legal reps taking issue with the keyboardist recently performing “Don’t Stop Believin’” at a gala event hosted at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla. This event took place over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and featured Cain performing the Journey hit and being backed up on vocals by a number of people, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kimberly Guilfoyle and Kari Lake.
The cease-and-desist letter states, “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.”
Furthermore, the letter adds, “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.”
Schon has since taken to Twitter regarding this legal matter. He shared, “Now he’s claiming I keep loosing [sic] in court ?!? Inf—ingsane. Get off the Kool-Aid. Wow lies after lies. I’ve won one case in court with Cain and the residing one has not been heard yet. Was trying to get in sooner than the court date. Judge did not feel it was an emergency. Zero ruling.”
The guitarist then shared a YouTube video of a Journey interview and wrote, “Have a listen right around 9:25mins. Jonathan Cain himself talking about politics and religion not a good idea with our music. One word -hypocrite – just have a listen.”
Have a listen right around 9:25mins. Jonathan Cain himself talking about politics and religion not a good idea with our music. One word -hypocrite – just have a listen https://t.co/fUUYrQcLeq https://t.co/ynxfNxTfsE
— NEAL SCHON MUSIC (@NealSchonMusic) December 22, 2022
Schon then continued and took aim at Cain’s wife, televangelist Paula White, who served as the spiritual adviser to President Trump. He wrote, “This was just written on my FB by a fan. I don’t know what you’d expect from people who are married to outright Christofascists that don’t think gay people should be allowed to exist.”
This was just written on my FB by a fan. I don’t know what you’d expect from people who are married to outright Christofascists that don’t think gay people should be allowed to existhttps://t.co/UtVEiRYl5W
— NEAL SCHON MUSIC (@NealSchonMusic) December 22, 2022