Arnel Pineda on his Brazil performance: ‘So devastated about this’

Arnel Pineda, the Filipino lead vocalist of American band Journey took to social media to apologize over his poor performance at the Rock in Rio Music Festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Arnel began by expressing his gratitude the people who watched and supported their band’s shows since February. 

“This year I appreciate [you all], and not only that, everytime that I’m on stage with the band, I feel this immense gratitude, humility and honor,” Arnel said.

Addressing his poor performance in a Brazil concert, Arnel shared a link to a video shared by Facebook page Behind the Songs and said, “no one more than me in this world feels so devastated about this.”

In the video taken on September 21, Pineda can be heard struggling to reach the high notes of the band’s hit song “Don’t Stop Believin."

“It’s really amazing how one thousand right things you have done will be forgotten just cause of this and of all the places, it's in Rock In Rio,” he said.

According to Arnel, he had already “suffered emotionally and mentally” and asked fans to decide whether he should stay or leave the band for good. 

“I am offering you a chance now (especially those [who've hated] me and never liked me from the very beginning) to simply text GO or STAY right here,” he said.

“And if GO reaches 1 million. I’m stepping out for good. Are you game folks? Let’s start.”

Ending his post, Arnel thanked his fans and friends who have “believed in him” since day one.

Words of appreciation from fans and fellow celebrities flooded Arnel’s comment section, with a lot of them voting for him to stay. 

Pineda debuted as the lead singer of Journey in 2007 after its lead vocalist Jeff Soto left the band. 

— Jade Veronique Yap/LA, GMA Integrated News