Journey Keyboardist Leaving Band to Focus on Christian Music

Jonathan Cain cites divine inspiration for his solo Christian music venture as Journey embarks on farewell tour.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain has announced he will be leaving the iconic San Francisco rock band after their upcoming farewell tour to focus on creating solo Christian music. Cain says he felt a calling from God to pursue this new creative path, with several faith-based songs already written for an upcoming EP and a full album in the works.

Why it matters

Cain's departure marks the end of an era for Journey, one of the most successful rock bands to come out of the San Francisco music scene. The band's hits like "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Any Way You Want It" have become stadium anthems, and Cain's departure raises questions about the band's future and whether former frontman Steve Perry may rejoin for the farewell tour.

The details

Cain says his decision to leave Journey was inspired by a 2024 disaster relief trip to North Carolina after Hurricane Helen, where he felt a divine calling to create Christian music. He has already written six tracks for an upcoming EP called "Only a Prayer Away" and has a full album of roughly 15 songs ready to go. Cain hopes to market his new music to churches to use as worship pieces and eventually work on film scores.

  • Cain's new EP "Only a Prayer Away" is set to be released on February 27, 2026.
  • Journey's farewell tour, called the "Final Frontier Tour", is set to kick off on February 28, 2026 in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

The players

Jonathan Cain

The keyboardist for the rock band Journey, who is leaving the group after their farewell tour to pursue a solo career in Christian music.

Journey

The iconic San Francisco rock band known for hits like "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Any Way You Want It".

Steve Perry

The former frontman of Journey, who guitarist Neal Schon has approached about potentially rejoining the band in some capacity for their farewell tour.

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What they’re saying

“God wouldn't leave me alone. The songs kept coming. It really is a labor of love. I welcome it, because it's my creative juice. It's who I am as a person.”

— Jonathan Cain, Keyboardist, Journey (Ultimate Classic Rock)

“The music of Journey belongs to the people. I had a long time to contemplate what I wanted to do … You've got to at some point say enough's enough. It's a grind, man. I just feel like this tour is a beautiful closing chapter. I want to focus on celebrating the music and the audience who stayed with us for generations.”

— Jonathan Cain, Keyboardist, Journey (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

Guitarist Neal Schon has already approached former Journey frontman Steve Perry about potentially rejoining the band in some capacity for their farewell tour, which will feature 100 shows over the next two years.

The takeaway

Cain's departure from Journey marks the end of an era for one of San Francisco's most iconic rock bands, but it also signals his own spiritual awakening and desire to pursue a new creative path in Christian music. While the band's future remains uncertain, their farewell tour will give fans one last chance to celebrate the music that has defined generations.