Fans in Tulsa, Oklahoma, got an unexpected pause to Journey’s “Final Frontier” farewell tour on Thursday when longtime drummer Deen Castronovo, 62, experienced a medical emergency onstage. After the band launched into the first two songs, Castronovo left the stage and was escorted to a nearby hospital, as video posted on X shows.
Band members ask for prayers
Keyboardist Jonathan Cain stepped up to the microphone, apologizing for the interruption and urging the audience to keep Castronovo in their prayers. “We’re very sorry,” Cain said. “Please have your prayers ready for Deen Castronovo, everybody. Thank you.” Lead guitarist Neal Schon echoed the sentiment, explaining that the band’s longtime drum technician, Steve Toomey, would fill in while Castronovo received medical care.
Show resumes with a brief intermission
Schon thanked the crowd for their patience, introduced Toomey, and promised the band would be back in about 15 minutes. When the group returned to the stage, lead singer Arnel Pineda offered reassurance, joking, “He’s gonna be fine. Too much Gatorade,” while emphasizing the importance of prayer. The concert continued, and Schon later dedicated the performance to his bandmate, saying, “This concert’s for Deen tonight. I’d love you all to pray for him. Everybody’s been going through a lot. I think he’s going to be fine.”
No details on the cause
The specific cause of Castronovo’s medical emergency has not been disclosed, and Journey’s representatives did not provide further comment when contacted by Fox News Digital. The incident comes as the band pushes through the fall leg of its farewell tour, which began in February and is slated to conclude on November 28 in San Francisco.
Tour background
Journey’s “Final Frontier” tour features Schon, Cain, Pineda, Castronovo, keyboardist Jason Derlatka, and bassist Todd Jensen. Schon has described the tour as a celebration of the band’s music and the generations of fans who have supported them. “The music we’ve created together is amazing. And so, you have to celebrate that music with the fans. The fans are incredible,” he told Rolling Stone.
While the medical scare was unsettling for concertgoers, the band’s quick response and the community’s outpouring of prayer highlighted the close bond between Journey and its audience in Tulsa.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
