The Journey tribute band Voyage recently announced on social media that they have parted ways with their vocalist of 20 years, Hugo Valenti, which sparked rumors among fans.
“Our journey together has been memorable, and we wish him nothing but success in all his future endeavors,” the band wrote in a message.
With new vocalist soon to be revealed, they continued, “Our commitment to delivering an authentic Journey experience remains stronger than ever. We’re excited for you to witness this new chapter in our story, and we’re beyond grateful for your continued support.”
Voyage later introduced Pedro Espada as Valenti’s replacement in a follow-up post, which included a black-and-white video of him performing Journey’s 1983 hit, ‘Faithfully.’
Fans began speculating about the reason behind Valenti’s departure. A theory suggested he might replace Arnel Pineda as the lead vocalist for Journey, though there has been no official confirmation from the band.
One fan commented, “Wouldn’t it be wild if Hugo left to join the real Journey band?” while another asked, “So, is Hugo going to Journey? That would be amazing!”
Delving into the rumor, a comment read, “Hugo doesn’t struggle to hit any notes. He tried out for Journey after Steve Perry left. Neal [Schon] said he looked and sounded too much like Steve Perry. I think Neal likes all the attention on him.”
Arnel Pineda has faced criticism during his time with Journey, especially after a Rock in Rio performance where he struggled with an ear monitor issue. Despite this, Pineda has not mentioned plans to leave the band. Following the criticism, he even issued a challenge on social media, stating he would leave if one million people commented ‘go.’
The reasons behind Valenti’s departure from Voyage and whether he might join Journey remain unclear. Meanwhile, Voyage gets ready to begin their next tour with Pedro Espada on January 24 in Bethlehem, PA.
