"I was literally on fire for 4 ½ songs." Journey drummer Deen Castronovo has lucky escape as blaze breaks out below stage

Jonathan Cain, Todd Jensen, Deen Castronovo, Arnel Pineda, Jason Derlatka, and Journey founder Neal Schon perform during the Journey 50th Anniversary Tour at Moody Center on February 22, 2023 in Austin, Texas.
(Image credit: Brian Ach/Getty Images for Journey)

Journey had to cancel their show in Houston, Texas, this weekend after just five songs when an electrical fire broke out below the stage area.

The band were performing at the RodeoHouston event at NRG Stadium and had just started playing their massive hit Don't Stop Believin' when the sound at the venue abruptly stopped.

As the band left the stage, staff with fire extinguishers rushed to the drum riser. An announcement was made shortly after, telling fans the band would not return as an electrical fire had damaged equipment.

You may like

Drummer Deen Castronovo wrote in a social media post that he had a lucky escape.

Castronovo says: "Hey, Houston. An act of God tonight. Fire broke out underneath the stage – right under my drum riser!

"I was literally on fire for 4 ½ songs, all the power cables melted, and the show was a bust! That doesn't mean we won't be back soon, because we love you all – and we will return. God bless you all!"

Organisers RodeoHouston later shared a statement saying fans would hear from them soon about refunds or a rescheduling of the show.

The statement reads: "Due to an unforeseen electrical incident under the stage area, we regretfully announce the cancellation of tonight's Journey concert.

"We sincerely apologise to all fans for this disappointment. Our team is working diligently to assess the situation, and we will provide updates regarding rescheduling options and or refunds as soon as possible."

There were no reports of any injuries as a result of the fire.

Posted by DeenCastronovoOfficial on 

Stef wrote close to 5,000 stories during his time as assistant online news editor and later as online news editor between 2014-2016. An accomplished reporter and journalist, Stef has written extensively for a number of UK newspapers and also played bass with UK rock favourites Logan. His favourite bands are Pixies and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Stef left the world of rock'n'roll news behind when he moved to his beloved Canada in 2016, but he started on his next 5000 stories in 2022. 

Read more
David Draiman of the band Disturbed performs during The Sickness 25th Anniversary Tour at Little Caesars Arena on March 10, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.
Disturbed pyrotechnics damage famous Chicago Bulls championship banners during hometown show
Tommy Lee
"Right now nobody gives a flying **** when your record drops or the next concert is!" Motley Crue's Tommy Lee isn't impressed by tone-deaf musicians self-promoting while Los Angeles is burning, but there's a plot twist
Ace Frehley of Kiss
“I should have been dead that night!”: Ace Frehley looks back on Kiss' wild on-stage mishaps, including the trick that doctors warned could have left him in a wheelchair
Jane's Addiction press short, torn
The blow that ended it all: How the return of Jane's Addiction was floored not by musical differences, but by a punch thrown by their singer
Firefighters battle flames during the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. A fast-moving wildfire ripped through an affluent neighborhood in Los Angeles, forcing thousands of people to evacuate as the region braced for a brutal wind storm that could last well into the weekend.
Primus guitarist Ler LaLonde's home decimated by California fires
A view of the destruction in Malibu
Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith loses Malibu home to Los Angeles wildfires
Latest in
Jonathan Cain, Todd Jensen, Deen Castronovo, Arnel Pineda, Jason Derlatka, and Journey founder Neal Schon perform during the Journey 50th Anniversary Tour at Moody Center on February 22, 2023 in Austin, Texas.
"I was literally on fire for 4 ½ songs." Journey drummer Deen Castronovo has lucky escape as blaze breaks out below stage
Kraftwerk – Autobahn 50th anniversary
“To listen now is to be dazzled by how many of its ideas were embraced and expanded by key artists… its ripples today dominate modern music”: Kraftwerk’s 50th anniversary edition of Autobahn
Rush posing for a photo in 2007
Rush got emails "from all kinds of drummers" minutes after the death of Neil Peart
Radiohead
Are Radiohead getting ready to do something big in 2025? A new business linked to the band members' names suggests so
Peter Baumann
"Instrumental music is an expression that words can never capture." Former Tangerine Dream member Peter Baumann to release first new solo album for nine years
David Draiman of the band Disturbed performs during The Sickness 25th Anniversary Tour at Little Caesars Arena on March 10, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.
Disturbed pyrotechnics damage famous Chicago Bulls championship banners during hometown show
Latest in News
Jonathan Cain, Todd Jensen, Deen Castronovo, Arnel Pineda, Jason Derlatka, and Journey founder Neal Schon perform during the Journey 50th Anniversary Tour at Moody Center on February 22, 2023 in Austin, Texas.
"I was literally on fire for 4 ½ songs." Journey drummer Deen Castronovo has lucky escape as blaze breaks out below stage
Rush posing for a photo in 2007
Rush got emails "from all kinds of drummers" minutes after the death of Neil Peart
Radiohead
Are Radiohead getting ready to do something big in 2025? A new business linked to the band members' names suggests so
Peter Baumann
"Instrumental music is an expression that words can never capture." Former Tangerine Dream member Peter Baumann to release first new solo album for nine years
David Draiman of the band Disturbed performs during The Sickness 25th Anniversary Tour at Little Caesars Arena on March 10, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.
Disturbed pyrotechnics damage famous Chicago Bulls championship banners during hometown show
Gene Simmons of KISS performs during KISS: End of the Road World Tour at Madison Square Garden on December 01, 2023 in New York City.
Cloudy with a chance of hard rock. Watch Kiss star Gene Simmons take a stint as a weatherman on Los Angeles TV station