Journey Recruit Omar Hakim for Summer Tour Following Drummer’s Arrest

For their next few concerts and their summer tour of Canada, Omar Hakim (pictured above with Neal Schon) will replace Deen Castronovo as Journey's drummer. The change was made due to Castronovo's arrest Sunday (June 14) on charges of domestic violence.

Journey released a statement that reads, "Journey has made the decision to have Omar Hakim play drums for the band’s upcoming U.S. concerts (Hollywood Bowl on Saturday, June 20 and the Stadium of Fire in Provo, Utah on Saturday, July 4), as well as the band's Canadian tour (July 6 – August 3), due to Deen Castronovo’s pending issues."

According to the Statesman Journal of Salem, Ore., Castronovo was charged with fourth-degree assault and ordered not to have any contact with the victim. He was released after posting $20,000 bail. The plea hearing is set for June 30.

Three years ago, Castronovo was brought up on similar charges following a dispute with his girlfriend that turned physical. He was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and mandatory attendance of anger management classes.

Castronovo joined Journey in 1998 following the departure of Steve Smith. Prior to that he had worked with Ozzy Osbourne and been a member of Bad English.

A jazz drummer, Hakim is best know to rock fans for his work on David Bowie's Let's Dance, Sting's The Dream of the Blue Turtles and Dire Straits' blockbuster Brothers in Arms. He also spent several years as a member of the fusion group Weather Report and worked with Miles Davis.

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