Entertainment · Music · 1 hr ago
Deen Castronovo steps away from Journey to focus on his health
Deen Castronovo is stepping away from Journey during the band's tour to focus on personal health matters.
The longtime drummer had a medical emergency onstage during a concert in Tulsa, Oklahoma, last month, then returned to perform a few nights later.
Journey says Castronovo has its full support as he takes time to address his health.
Steve Murphy will join the band for the rest of November; he has worked with acts including Alan Parsons Project and Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Journey's North American tour is scheduled to end on November 28 in San Francisco.
The band plans to continue its tour without Castronovo, though it has described this run as a farewell outing and recently said its members hope to keep touring for a long time.
Deen Castronovo is stepping away from Journey to focus on personal health matters.
The band said Steve Murphy will join for the remainder of November.
Castronovo had medical emergencies during Journey performances in Tulsa and Boston.
He returned to the stage after the Tulsa incident before leaving during the Boston show.
Journey’s North American tour is scheduled to end in San Francisco on November 28.
- Who
- Deen Castronovo, Journey’s longtime drummer, is stepping away; Steve Murphy will take his place for the remainder of November.
- What
- Castronovo is leaving the tour to focus on personal health matters.
- When
- The announcement was published on November 13 and 14, 2026.
- Where
- The change affects Journey’s North American tour.
- Why
- The band said Castronovo has personal health matters requiring his attention.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Castronovo suffered a medical emergency during Journey’s show in Tulsa and was taken to a hospital.
Castronovo returned to the drums when the tour resumed in San Antonio.
Castronovo left the stage during Journey’s Boston show, and the band continued with drum tech Steve Toomey.
Steve Murphy joined the tour in Cleveland.
Journey announced that Castronovo was stepping away to focus on his health.
Journey’s tour is scheduled to end with a show in San Francisco.
- Drummer stepping away
- Deen Castronovo
- Replacement drummer
- Steve Murphy
- Tour stop
- Cleveland, November 12, 2026
- Final scheduled show
- San Francisco, November 28, 2026
- Earlier medical emergency
- Tulsa, October 8, 2026
2 sources
What people are saying
After careful consideration and an extensive year of touring, our talented, longtime drummer Deen Castronovo has decided to step away to focus on personal health matters that require his attention.
We’re going to see what happens as this progresses
What began as ‘The Final Frontier’ now feels more like ‘The Long Goodbye.’