There’s more drama with Journey to report. After Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain mended fences and came together in 2020 when now former members Ross Valory and Steve Smith tried to take control of the band, Schon is reportedly suing Cain over “improperly restricted” access to the group's American Express account.
In documents filed in Northern California’s Contra Costa County, Schon's lawyers are claiming, "This action is brought to turn the lights on, so to speak, and obtain critical financial information Schon has been trying to obtain but has been denied.”
Back in 1998, Schon and Cain established Nomota, a limited-liability corporation to handle the band's business. Though they were equal partners, Cain set up Nomota’s American Express account “without Schon’s consent or knowledge, with only Cain as the account holder.”
Though Cain and his representatives indicated Schon would be given access, that apparently has not come to be the case. Schon's lawyers said that he “must have unfettered access to Nomota’s records so that he can oversee and manage Nomota/Journey... The AMEX account is a Journey account, not a personal account of Cain... Millions in Journey funds have flowed through this AMEX account.”
Schon said he can’t “determine the portion of Journey’s profits to which he is entitled as the founder and president of Journey...”
He added, “Cain is interfering with Journey, refusing to respond to booking opportunities, blocking payment to band members, crew and vendors, refusing to execute necessary operating documents, and in other ways as well. Cain has obstructed Schon from viewing expenses incurred by Cain and his touring party on band tours.”
He also said, “Cain has further refused to deal with critical, time-sensitive touring contracts for Journey’s 2023 tour and ensure payment for band members and crew, who Cain contends are ‘non-essential. Schon believes those band and crew who are crucial to the band’s success should be paid. Cain’s conduct is inexplicable.”
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 3rd. There’s no word if this legal action will interfere with the band's tour, which is supposed to begin on January 27th in Durant, Oklahoma.
You’ll recall back in September, former lead singer Steve Perry filed a petition against Schon and Cain to cancel trademark registrations for 20 songs he participated in writing.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]