Journey stopped its concert in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Thursday night after drummer Deen Castronovo reportedly suffered a medical emergency onstage. Keyboardist Jonathan Cain addressed the crowd from the stage as the band paused the performance, and the show resumed after a break with Castronovo’s drum tech, Steve Toomey, behind the kit.
Jonathan Cain said from the stage: “We’re going to see what happens as this progresses. 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. Have your prayers ready. Have your prayers ready for Deen Castronovo, everybody. Thank you.”
The incident marks the latest health scare for a drummer whose long history with Journey has already included several dramatic turns, and it comes as the band continues a busy touring schedule across North America.
Castronovo played drums and sang backing vocals for Journey from 1998 to 2015, and he later rejoined the band, returning to the lineup well before the Tulsa show. His tenure made him one of the longest-serving drummers in the group’s history, spanning six studio albums.
The 62-year-old drummer was helped off the stage and taken to a hospital after the band had finished its second song of the night, with guitarist Neal Schon confirming the hospitalization from the stage.
Castronovo’s 2015 departure from Journey followed legal and recovery issues, and he has spoken publicly about his sobriety in the years since. Reports on the Tulsa incident noted that no official update on his condition had been released at the time of writing.
Schon also thanked the crowd for its patience and gave a nod to Toomey, who filled in on drums. “Give a big hand for Steve Toomey. We’ll be back in about 15 minutes,” Schon said. He later told fans, “He’s going to be fine,” per the same report.
The concert took place at the BOK Center in Tulsa on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, as part of the band’s 2026 tour, listed as the Final Frontier Tour. The Tulsa date followed a stretch of shows that included an Oct. 4 stop at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota.
