Arnel Pineda

Journey guitarist Neal Schon searched through dozens of cover bands and hours of YouTube clips looking for the band’s new singer when he stumbled upon clips from a cover band called Zoo. Their singer had great pipes and deftly managed a range of material including signature Journey songs like “Faithfully.” The thing is, the band was based in Manila. Schon was in genuine awe of Zoo’s singer Arnel Pineda and wanted to fly him in for an audition, but other band members were more skeptical—keyboardist Jonathan Cain patronizingly wondered if the singer even spoke English. But the humbly born Pineda passed the audition and became the lead singer for a rewired band that sells out arenas around the world.

Pineda grew up in poverty, and one point he and his brothers were homeless, sleeping on the streets of Manila. But in the early 80s, Pineda started getting gigs as a singer in cover bands, which brought in enough money to get his family a small apartment. This took him only so far. After 15 years of toiling in small venues, his vocal cords frying from bad technique, he was ready to give up when he got the call from Schon.

The rise from cover band obscurity to fronting a veteran rock act is the meat of this documentary, but that inspirational arc peaks 15 minutes into a two-hour film. The band is where the money is, and the marquee name threatens to derail the proceedings but never quite succeeds. Don’t Stop Believing is inspiring despite issues with pacing, which will be more pronounced for those not inclined to think about Journey. Fortunately, Pinoy director Ramona Diaz, whose previous film was a 2005 documentary about Imelda Marcos, brings it back to Pineda and his roots.

Still, some of the most interesting threads are just touched upon. Journey’s American fans have largely embraced Pineda, though there has been resistance as well – just read some of the comments on his YouTube clips. Pineda briefly laments that when his big break as a singer finally came, it was in a job that required him to be someone else: Steve Perry. What is the balance between finding your personal voice and doing a job? Pineda collaborated on some of the songs on the band’s latest album, but the Journey lead singer gig is in some ways akin to a highly paid Elvis impersonator. This sense of rock and roll ventriloquism goes both ways, as Cain and Schon, tailor a new song for the singer whom they credit with rejuvenating their career: “City of hope.” You can feel the triumph of Don’t Stop Believing even if the last time you gave any thought to Journey was during the Sopranos finale.

View the trailer.
Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey screens Monday, June 18 at 7 p.m. at the AFI Silver Theatre 1. Appearing live at the premiere will be director Ramona Diaz, producer Capella Fahoome, Journey band member Neal Schon and journalist Jose Antonio Vargas. Journey lead singer Arnel Pineda will appear via Skype.