Classic rockers Journey have invited former frontman Steve Perry to join them on tour - but insist he'll never take over from his replacement.
Arnel Pineda was spotted by Neal Schon, Ross Valory, and Jonathan Cain in an online video, performing with his Journey cover band in the Philippines, and signed to the real thing, where he has become a fan favourite.
But guitarist Schon insists Perry would still be welcome onstage if he wanted to join the band as a special guest on tour.
He says, "Arnel is totally down, and such a humble human being, that he would be overjoyed if Steve wanted to walk on stage and sing with us... I've always let the door open (for him). I made it a point, the last time I saw and even spoke to Perry - when we received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
"There were so many rumours going around that I hated him and that I'm the one that kicked him out of the band and blah blah blah, this and that. I wanted to make sure that people saw me asking him right there: 'If you ever feel like you would like to, and you'd like to come on stage, it's always an open door. Just come and jam. There's no pressure. We're not trying to get you back in the band. But if you just feel like having a blow and you wanna come by and sing, it's there.'"
Perry quit the band in 1998 and keyboard player Cain doesn't expect his former frontman to rejoin the band on tour.
He tells Artisan News, "He really sealed the deal back in 98 and said, 'Don't expect anything from me, y'know, we're done. You and I are done.'
"I know that he's quite happy with the life he has and it's pretty rigorous out here. What we do is very rigorous, and he doesn't need it."