Jonathan Cain (Journey)
from Rock & Roll High School With Pete Ganbarg
When Jonathan Cain joined Journey in 1980, the band was already successful. But with Cain’s arrival, Journey evolved into something even bigger: one of the defining melodic rock bands of all time. As keyboardist and co-songwriter, Cain helped create some of the most enduring songs in popular music history — including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms,” “Separate Ways,” and “Who’s Crying Now” — while also writing Journey’s iconic road-life ballad “Faithfully” entirely on his own. But Jonathan’s story stretches far beyond Journey. In this episode, we trace his full creative arc: from surviving a devastating childhood tragedy and discovering music as salvation… to his early years with The Babys alongside John Waite… to Journey’s arena-rock peak in the 1980s… to his more recent evolution as a solo artist, author, and faith-driven songwriter. We also discuss Cain’s memoir, Don’t Stop Believin’: The Man, the Band, and the Song That Inspired Generations; the origin stories behind Journey’s biggest hits; the creative chemistry between Cain, Steve Perry, and Neal Schon; and Journey’s current farewell tour. This is a candid and thoughtful conversation with one of the principal architects of arena rock’s golden age.
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