Journey’s Tulsa concert took an unexpected turn when drummer Deen Castronovo suffered a medical emergency, prompting the band to pause its performance and ask fans to keep him in their thoughts.
The 62-year-old musician was taken to a hospital, leaving his bandmates to decide how to proceed with the show.
Rather than cancel the performance outright, Journey arranged for another drummer to step in, while guitarist Neal Schon dedicated the concert to Castronovo.
Journey’s Jonathan Cain Urges Fans To Pray For Deen Castronovo
The seriousness of the situation became apparent when Journey stopped performing at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Thursday night, shortly after completing its second song.
The musicians left the stage, and keyboardist Jonathan Cain returned to address the audience, explaining that the band was waiting to see how the situation developed.
Cain apologized to concertgoers and expressed hope that the interruption would be temporary.
In a video shared on X by Tulsa World sports reporter Erik Bailey, he said, “It’s an unfortunate situation. We’re very sorry. We’re hoping it’s only a delay, but please — I’m sorry. Don’t worry.”
Cain then appealed to the crowd, saying, “Have your prayers ready. Have your prayers ready for Deen Castronovo, everybody. Thank you.”
Journey Replaces Castronovo With Drum Technician Steve Toomey
Guitarist Schon later returned to the stage with an update, revealing that Castronovo had been taken to a hospital.
Schon also confirmed that the concert would continue following a brief break, with the band’s drum technician, Steve Toomey, stepping in behind the kit.
Schon reassured the audience about the replacement, saying, “He’s very good.” He also apologized for the disruption, adding, “We love you all. We’re very sorry for the inconvenience.”
According to Tulsa World, Journey resumed the performance after a pause of only about eight minutes, rather than the announced 15-minute break.
Current lead vocalist Arnel Pineda also asked the audience to pray for Castronovo as the concert continued.
Journey’s Schon Dedicates Tulsa Concert To Deen Castronovo
Castronovo remained on the band’s mind throughout the performance. After Journey played “Lights,” Schon addressed the audience again and dedicated the concert to his bandmate.
“This concert is for Deen,” Schon told the crowd, once more asking fans to pray for him. He also acknowledged that the band had been dealing with a difficult period, saying, “Everybody’s been going through a lot.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Castronovo’s condition, Schon offered a hopeful update to those gathered at the venue.
“I think he’s going to be fine,” he said, although no further medical details were provided in the report. The interruption came as Journey continued its touring schedule.
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Journey Postpones Two Farewell Tour Shows After Illness Hits Touring Camp
Earlier this year, Journey’s touring schedule faced another disruption, with illness within the band’s touring camp forcing the postponement of two concerts on its Final Frontier farewell tour.
According to The Independent, the band’s April 8, 2026, performance at Casey’s Center in Des Moines, Iowa, and its April 9 show at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, were both postponed.
In a social media statement, the Des Moines venue attributed the change to “illness within the Journey band camp.”
The Lincoln concert was postponed for the same reason, leaving fans in both cities waiting for revised performance dates.
The promoter also expressed its intention to bring Journey back to Des Moines, saying, “The band looks forward to returning to Des Moines to deliver an unforgettable performance for fans as part of their Final Frontier Tour.”
The postponements affected a farewell tour that began in late February 2026 and was expected to continue into 2027.
Journey’s Houston Rodeo Performance Was Halted By An Electrical Fire
Illness isn’t the only reason Journey’s live performances have had to be interrupted or postponed.
As New York Post reported, at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on March 14, 2025, an electrical incident beneath the stage abruptly ended the band’s sold-out concert while the musicians were performing their signature hit, “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
The sound cut out during the song, and the stage’s video displays also went dark. Lead vocalist Pineda initially waved toward the sound booth, apparently trying to understand the problem. After several minutes, the band left the stage and walked out of the arena.
An announcer subsequently told the audience that due to an electrical fire, the show couldn’t continue. Fans had continued singing along for roughly 20 seconds after the music stopped, and some initially expected the performance to resume. It did not.
Journey had performed “Only the Young,” “Be Good to Yourself” and “Stone in Love” before the interruption, meaning the band was only four songs into its set.
RodeoHouston organizers described the incident as “an unforeseen electrical incident under the stage area” and apologized to concertgoers. They said they would provide information about refunds and rescheduling options.
