Journey fans at the Houston Rodeo experienced an unexpected turn of events on March 14, 2025, when the band’s performance was abruptly cut short due to an electrical fire beneath the stage. The incident unfolded as the band delivered their iconic hit "Don't Stop Believin'", which had the crowd of nearly 72,000 enthusiastically singing along before chaos ensued.
Initially, the audience thought the dramatic blackout—just about 30 seconds after the song began—was part of the show. Confusion spread throughout the venue when the stage lights went out and eventually, entertainment staff had to make urgent appearances to escort the band members to safety. The fire, reportedly right under drummer Deen Castronovo's drum riser, disrupted the performance just five songs in, leading officials to declare it unsafe for the show to continue.
Castronovo recounted the scene on social media, saying, "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! #dontstopbelievin God bless you all!" His words provided some comfort to fans who were understandably disappointed.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo released a statement regretting the unforeseen event: "Due to an unforeseen electrical incident under the stage area, we regretfully announce the cancellation of tonight's Journey concert. We sincerely apologize to all fans for this disappointment." They promised to work diligently to assess the situation and provide updates about rescheduling options and refunds.
This wasn't just any concert; Journey's appearance was one of the top-selling shows for the 2025 Houston Rodeo, which had made headlines following their last performance there where they attracted 72,109 paid attendees. Following the fire, the venue has announced refund options, stating fans can either receive their original ticket price back or donate the amount to support the mission of funding Texas youth and education.
Many attendees echoed their dismay on social media platforms, expressing how they never expected to endure such chaos at what was anticipated to be one of the highlights of the Rodeo season. Some continued to sing the lyrics of "Don't Stop Believin'" even as the lights went out, waiting to see if the blackout would soon be resolved.
While the night didn't go as planned, fans have been encouraged to keep their spirits up as Journey has assured them of their return. The incident is likely to become part of the band's lore, with fans recalling the night the music was halted but left hopeful for another performance soon. The response to this incident has shown both the band's dedication to their fans and the Rodeo's commitment to ensuring safety during such large-scale events.
With Journey at the helm, fans expect to see them again soon—after safety assessments have been completed and the venue improves measures to prevent such incidents from reoccurring. Meanwhile, facial rollercoaster of emotions felt by attendees will leave lasting memories, questioning if they’ll recount how they were there the night the show was cut short amid flames and fright.
