Journey has announced that Deen Castronovo is departing from the group.
The statement attributes health concerns as the reason behind his decision, noting that these issues have caused him to miss two performances mid-show over the past month.
The most recent incident occurred on Tuesday in Boston, when his drum technician, Steve Toomey, stepped in as an emergency replacement midway through the set, Variety reports.
Earlier, on October 8 in Oklahoma, Castronovo exited the stage after only two songs and was hospitalized, with Toomey finishing that night’s show.
Journey then played Thursday in Cleveland with a new drummer, Steve Murphy, and subsequently announced that Murphy would take over Castronovo’s duties on a permanent basis going forward.
“Dear Friends,” the band wrote in a social media post. “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.”
“He has our full support during this time and extends his heartfelt thanks to the fans for the love, encouragement, and kindness he has received.”
The message was also shared on Castronovo’s personal Facebook page.
Castronovo joined Journey in 1998, stepping in for original drummer Steve Smith, who left or was dismissed from the rock outfit on several occasions due to musical disagreements.
Castronovo was compelled to leave the group in 2015 after being charged with assaulting a woman. He later rejoined the lineup in 2021.
