The pair are battling it out in court again over expenditures
Founding Journey guitarist Neal Schon has publicly responded to Jonathan Cain’s latest lawsuit against overspending while on tour. Over the weekend, the rocker shared lengthy messages on social media, calling Cain’s claims “absolute rubbish” on X/Twitter on Sunday (Aug 11th).
“I don’t know why people believe media. If anything she’s done is make us a lot of money by attaining the trademark her and I did by ourselves any cost quite a lot of money to attain It – both Jon Cain and Arnel Pineda are benefiting from that equally. It’s split in thirds,” he writes.
“We are traveling no differently than we have for many many years, including Jon Cain. He and his wife deciding to take a bus and the 11th hour was his own decision. The rest of the band Arnel and his children, my wife myself, Deen Castronovo, Todd Jensen, Jason, along with crew and Security travel on one jet that was all “approved in our budget” what was also approved in our budget, as we have done for years, my wife and I have great relationships with different managers of hotels. They got us great deals if we want to upgrade all have understood for many years as she travels with me every show it comes out of my pocket in the end, this was also “approved” in our private Zoom meetings with Jon and Paula I do pay for it and always have. This is the second time Jonathan Cain has sued me for the same thing we’ve already been through in court – that case was dropped by both of us. We both agreed to drop and move forward with prejudice. That means that you never open it again.
“Well here we are again. In the middle of a wonderful tour with our good friends, Def Leppard and Steve Miller we do have very good solutions to ease the situation with Jon Cain‘s credit card who set up in his name and instead of the band, although he receives all the rewards. The solution is get rid of the credit card, I let the promoter take on all responsibilities and pay us all individually or equal money and we travel as we wish. Sounds like a good solution, right? Let’s see how this plays out. Then I’ll see you at our next gig. I’ll be kicking some ass.
“Don’t believe all you read in media it’s all manipulated and contrived as they wish it to be. I’m taking a higher road.”
In a Facebook post on Monday (Aug 12th), he said he’ll officially respond to the allegations in court.
“I find Cain’s slanderous allegations are very disruptive and damaging with intent to try to harm me, the band, crew, promoter and the tour. Truly disturbing to hear of Mr. Cain’s filing in the middle of Journey’s very successful Stadium Tour with our good friends Def Leppard. Journey has a great life and I thank the fans for that,” Schon states.
He continues, “Jonathan Cain has created a very hostile work environment for not only myself, but other band members and crew-members. The allegations are false and I intend to prove it in court.
“My answers to Mr Cain’s false allegations and filing will be submitted by 5 PM ET Monday for all to read.
“My focus is, as it always has been, and will be, the music and fans since when I began Journey in 1972, 51 years now for me, I will continue to always do what’s right for Journey in protecting and making good decisions for the band, crew, music and fans. All Journey band members you see on the stage with me I personally hired including Jonathan Cain. I will let the music do the talking.”
As of this writing, it’s unclear if Schon’s lawyers have filed suit.
On July 30th, Cain filed court documents against Schon for “exorbitant and wasteful spending” related to the band’s and crew members’ hotels and airfare while on tour. The lawsuit claims the company, Freedom 2020 Inc., of which both Cain and Schon are 50% owners, has imposed a “reasonable limit of $1,500 per night for hotel accommodations.” The suit claims that Cain and Schon both agreed to the price point, but Schon “has seemingly reneged on such a limitation, and routinely exceeds the limit.”
Cain claims that Schon has spent “up to $10,000 per night for hotel rooms for him and his wife” which were never approved by the organization. Cain’s suit also alleges that Schon and his wife “unilaterally authorize the band’s crew members to stay in hotel rooms in their home cities and when their home is only miles away from the venue, and to fly in business class” and incurred $80,000 of “unanticipated expenses” most recently.
The lawsuit claims that Cain opposes big expenditures, but Schon and his wife “incur significant expenses (in the hundreds of thousands of dollars) on behalf of the company and for their (and various crew members’) use of private jets.” Cain claims that Schon continues to disregard his concerns and “unilaterally expend hundreds of thousands of dollars on behalf of the company so that he, his wife and some of the band’s crew members can travel by private jet during the Freedom Tour.”
Cain also claims that Schon’s spending is not “timely provided” to the company’s business manager and accounting firm. Instead, the invoices are submitted “only days before payment is due,” with Schon demanding that such invoices be “immediately paid.”
The pair are also at war over the company’s American Express card, which has a $1 million limit. Court documents claim the card is in Cain’s name, and not the company’s, but both he and Schon are authorized users with their own cards. The filing claims the company pays its vendors with the card, but Schon’s charges “far exceed” those of Cain’s. The suit claims that the AMEX is solely for company expenses, but Schon and his wife “have used the AMEX for personal expenses” not approved by Cain.
Cain is asking the court to appoint a custodian to act as a third, independent director of Freedom 2020, Inc.
The band canceled its upcoming European and Ireland run after the suit was filed.
Schon and Cain have been embattled in a suit over an American Express credit card for more than a year. The band is currently co-headlining The Stadium Tour with Def Leppard and Steve Miller Band with special guest Cheap Trick.
