Journey member Jonathan Cain filed a lawsuit in July of 2024 against bandmate/lead guitarist Neal Schon alleging that Schon and his wife Michaele had been misusing the band’s funds.
Journey was founded in 1973 in San Francisco and is best known for it’s iconic anthem: Don’t Stop Believin'.” The band is currently on tour with Def Leppard, The Steve Miller Band and Cheap Trick. The legal dispute led to the cancellation of tour dates in the U.K. and Ireland.
Cain and Schon have a company that handles their touring business and they each own 50 percent of it. Cain contends that Schon was spending up to $10,000 a night on hotels while touring and was also using company monies for private jets.
Cain alleges that Schon’s actions have led to issues with paying production employees and the crew. Cain has stated that Schon and he “fundamentally disagree” on how to run the company.
Cain also states that Schoen got the tour promoter, AEG, to give the group a 1.5 million advance for touring expenses. Cain stated that he only asked for a $500,000 advance. Cain also mentioned that their company had an established limit of $1,500 a night for hotel rooms and said that Schon spent up to $10,000 a night.
Schon recently posted on social media that he would now agree to retain an independent third-party mediator since someone was needed to break tie votes between him and Cain.
Schon stated: “I am determined to take the high road and push all this aside for the moment to focus on our fans, the tour and all who give so much to make things happen. That’s why I’m so glad that Jon now agrees with me that the current dynamic can’t continue. And it’s also why I’m pleased that we’re going to bring in someone impartial to help us resolve our disputes, bring clarity to what we’re doing and allow us, as a band, to get back to what we should all focus on—making music for our fans.”
On August 28, 2024 Cain stated that the court in Delaware had appointed an independent director for the company that runs Journey’s business.
Cain’s lawyers stated:
“Mr. Schon is prohibited from unilaterally acting on behalf of the company and all future deadlock between Mr. Cain and Mr. Schon will be broken by the vote of the Custodian. Mr. Cain is elated with the outcome and looks forward to moving beyond this matter so that Journey can continue the band’s 50th Anniversary Freedom Tour.”
After Cain and Schon agreed to the independent director, Cain’s attorney, Kasey H. DeSantis, stated that Schon is “now seeking to inappropriately limit the role of the custodian."
These types of disputes are common and have led to the breakup of many groups in the past. However, with hugely successful groups like Journey, there is a financial incentive to work things out.
GLENN LITWAK is a veteran entertainment attorney based in Santa Monica, CA. He has represented platinum selling recording artists, Grammy winning music producers, hit songwriters, management and production companies, music publishers and independent record labels. Glenn is also a frequent speaker at music industry conferences around the country, such as South by Southwest and the Billboard Music in Film and TV Conference. Email Litwak at [email protected] or visit glennlitwak.com.
