Rock fans in Houston got a serious shocker Friday night not the good kind. Journey was rocking out at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo doing their thing and then BAM silence. Mid-song. During "Don't Stop Believin'" of all songs! Turns out an electrical fire decided to crash the party and cut the concert short. Let's break down what happened at this crazy Rodeo Houston show.
"Don't Stop Believin'" Interrupted: How Electrical Fire Forced Journey to Exit Stage Suddenly
Picture this Journey is belting out their mega-hit "Don't Stop Believin'" the crowd is singing along everyone's having a blast. Then suddenly the music just stops. Dead silence. One minute Neal Schon is shredding guitar Arnel Pineda is hitting those high notes and the next thing you know the sound cuts out completely. Video footage from fans shows the exact moment it happened speakers went silent stage visuals went dark and confusion rippled through the 70000+ crowd at NRG Stadium.
Initially folks weren't sure what was going on. Some concert goers said the announcer came on saying it was a power outage and that Journey would be back. But then things got real. Witnesses saw band members leaving the stage and staff rushing around with fire extinguishers near the drum area. Shortly after the official word came down the concert was cancelled due to an electrical fire under the stage. Yikes!
Rodeo Houston quickly took to social media to announce the cancellation citing an "unforeseen electrical incident". They apologized to fans for the major bummer and promised updates on rescheduling or refunds. Safety first of course but still what a way for a concert to end especially during THAT song.
From Confusion to Concern: Fan Reactions Range From Disappointment to Relief After Journey Fire Scare
You can imagine the reactions. At first some fans thought the sudden silence was part of the show maybe some dramatic pause or something. When it became clear it wasn't the singalong continued for a bit proving just how iconic "Don't Stop Believin'" really is. But soon disappointment set in as the cancellation announcement was made. People were bummed no doubt especially those who came specifically to see Journey rock out at Rodeo Houston.
However pretty quickly disappointment shifted to concern and understanding. Once the news of the electrical fire spread fans started expressing relief that everyone was safe. An electrical fire in a packed stadium is no joke and things could have been much worse. People on social media commented they were glad no one was hurt and that safety is the priority. Many fans praised Rodeo Houston's quick response and communication even though it meant the concert was over.
Some fans even joked about the irony of the situation. Imagine the power going out during "Don't Stop Believin'". You really can't make this stuff up!
Rodeo Houston Responds: Warren Zeiders Show Goes On and Updates for Journey Ticket Holders Coming Soon
Rodeo Houston wasted no time getting things back on track. The very next day Saturday they announced that the scheduled Warren Zeiders concert would proceed as planned. They assured everyone that the stage was operating normally and all activities at the stadium and grounds would continue. Good news for folks with tickets for Saturday and a sign that the electrical issue was contained.
For those who had tickets to the cancelled Journey concert Rodeo Houston promised more information soon about rescheduling or refunds. They are still assessing the situation and working on the next steps. So if you were there on Friday keep an eye on Rodeo Houston's social media for updates. They are committed to making things right for the Journey fans who missed out on the full show.
Journey's 50th Anniversary Freedom Tour: Band Continues On Despite Houston Hiccup
Even though the Houston show got cut short Journey's 50th Anniversary Freedom Tour is still going strong. This tour is a huge celebration of their amazing five-decade career. They kicked things off in February and are touring across North America with dates scheduled all the way through April.
Toto is joining them as an opener on this tour making it a double dose of rock legends for fans. Journey founder Neal Schon keyboardist Jonathan Cain lead singer Arnel Pineda and the rest of the band are still set to perform at upcoming dates. Their next show is scheduled for Sunday in California so it looks like they are ready to keep on believin' and rocking despite the unexpected fire incident in Houston .
Key Takeaways: Journey Concert Cancellation at Houston Rodeo
- Concert Cancellation: Journey's Rodeo Houston concert on Friday March 14th was abruptly cancelled mid-performance.
- "Don't Stop Believin'" Interruption: The electrical fire occurred during their iconic song "Don't Stop Believin'".
- Electrical Fire Under Stage: The cause was an unforeseen electrical incident under the stage area.
- Safety First: Concert cancelled for safety reasons no injuries reported audience and band members safe.
- Rodeo Houston Announcement: Official cancellation announced on social media with apology and promise of updates on refunds/rescheduling.
- Warren Zeiders Show Proceeds: Saturday's Warren Zeiders concert went on as scheduled stage operating normally.
- Fan Reactions: Mixed reactions from disappointment to relief and understanding for safety concerns.
- Journey 50th Anniversary Tour Continues: Houston cancellation is a one-off event tour will continue as scheduled.
The Show Must Go On (Safely): Rodeo Houston and Journey Bounce Back After Fire Scare
So while it was definitely a dramatic night at Rodeo Houston thankfully everyone is safe and sound. Journey's concert got cut short but the important thing is no one was hurt and the situation was handled quickly. Rodeo Houston is back up and running and Journey is ready to keep bringing the rock to fans across North America. Sometimes unforeseen things happen even electrical fires during epic concerts. But as the song says "Don't Stop Believin'" and in this case don't stop rockin' (safely of course!).