Thursday night in Tulsa, Journey fans watched something nobody expected two songs into the show. Drummer Deen Castronovo was rushed offstage with a medical emergency. Keyboardist Jonathan Cain told the crowd to“have your prayers ready”while drum tech Steve Toomey climbed behind the kit and finished the concert. It was a tense night for everyone in the building.
Two nights later in San Antonio, Castronovo was back. Not for a song or two, either. The drummer played the entire 29-song set and handled lead vocals on several tracks, just like any other night on the“Final Frontier”farewell tour. He also posted a message thanking fans and bandmates, adding,“Tulsa, I’m so sorry I couldn’t finish the show with you all.”
The North American leg of the farewell tour continues through November 28 in San Francisco, which means plenty of fans still get their chance to see this lineup. After a weekend like this one, those tickets just got a whole lot more interesting.
Have you ever seen a band recover from a mid-show emergency? Tell us your concert war story in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.