APRIL 17TH, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GUITAR LEGEND NEAL SCHÖN‘S VIDEO “WHAT YOU WANT” FROM FORTHCOMING STUDIO ALBUM WITH MARCO MENDOZA AND DEEN CASTRONOVO HAS EXCLUSIVE WORLDWIDE PREMIERE ON ULTIMATE CLASSIC ROCK TODAY
(New York, NY) – Neal Schön fans can click here to check out the exclusive worldwide premiere of the video for “What You Want” on Ultimate Classic Rock. The smoking new track/video is taken from the forthcoming jazz and blues-inspired hard rock studio album, SO U, and includes vocals by bassist Marco Mendoza and Schön, as well as drummer Deen Castronovo. SO U features Schön along with Mendoza (Black Star Riders, Ted Nugent, Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy) and Castronovo (Journey, Ozzy Osbourne, Steve Vai, Hardline) splitting vocal and writing duties, with many of the tracks also co-written by Night Ranger/Damn Yankee’s songwriter, singer and bassist Jack Blades.
Of the new album, Ultimate Classic Rock raved, “”SO U stands tall as one of the finest albums that Neal Schön has released to date. The combination of Schön with Deen Castronovo and Marco Mendoza is a potent triple threat which delivers on every level. With nine tracks spread over 51 minutes, SO U never overstays its welcome and the typically diverse blend of material will strongly resonate with fans of Schön‘s previous work, most notably Santana and Journey. I’ll be standing by and waiting for a sequel.” SO U will be available on May 19th in North America via Frontiers Records. The album can be pre-ordered now via iTunes, Amazon and via the Journey online store; those who purchase SO U now via iTunes will receive “Exotica” as an instant gratification track.
Best known as the founding member and lead guitarist of Journey, Neal Schön has enjoyed a remarkable career as one of rock n’ roll’s top virtuosos, with a hand in creating some of the most popular songs of all time. Beginning his career 45 years ago in the San Francisco Bay area, the 15-year-old guitar prodigy left home to join Santana. Schön moved on in 1973 to form Journey. With Journey and other projects, he has earned 19 Top 40 singles and 25 platinum and gold albums, was awarded the prestigious “Legend Of Live Award” at the 2011 Billboard Touring Awards, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005 and was individually inducted into his native state’s Oklahoma Music Hall Of Fame in 2013. Along with Journey band members Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain, Schön is responsible for co-writing “Don’t Stop Believin’,” the 20th century’s most downloaded song. As the only member to record on all of Journey’s albums, Schön continues with the band today in its latest incarnation.
In addition to 6 solo albums and 14 studio albums with Journey, Neal Schön has also performed with Joe Cocker, Sammy Hagar, Paul Rodgers, Larry Graham, Betty Davis, Michael Bolton, fusion legend Jan Hammer, Hardline and supergroup Bad English, as well as a variety of side projects. His latest instrumental solo album, THE CALLING, released in 2012 via Frontiers Records, won rave reviews from fans and the media alike, with Vintage Guitar declaring “THE CALLING is a fine piece of work demonstrating that Schön still has it going on – and then some…The songs are strong and his guitar tones are absolutely luxurious.” In demand as one of the leading guitarists of his generation, Schönalso worked with Gibson to manufacture his own limited edition “Neal Schön Signature Model Custom Les Paul” guitar, but now uses custom PRS Neal Schon LTD Private Stock guitars, made especially for Neal by Paul Reed Smith.
