Journey drummer Deen Castronovo hospitalized mid-concert in Tulsa

Journey drummer Deen Castronovo was taken to a hospital Thursday night after he was helped off the stage two songs into the band’s concert at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A band representative said the show paused for about 20 minutes before it resumed with his drum technician filling in.

The representative told Variety that Mr. Castronovo, 62, “wasn’t feeling well two songs in” and was transported to the hospital to be checked out. No details about the cause of the emergency or his condition had been released as of Friday morning, KRMG reported.

With the band offstage, keyboardist Jonathan Cain told the audience that the drummer was having a medical emergency and asked fans to “have your prayers ready for Deen Castronovo.” The Tulsa World reported that about 10 minutes passed before guitarist Neal Schon returned to say Mr. Castronovo had been taken to the hospital and that drum technician Steve Toomey would take over. The show resumed about eight minutes later with “Ask the Lonely.”

Band members voiced optimism as the night went on. Mr. Schon told fans, “I think he’s going to be fine.” Mr. Cain later credited Mr. Toomey with saving the night, according to the Tulsa World.

Mr. Castronovo first joined Journey in 1998, was reported to have been let go in 2015 and rejoined in 2021, Variety reported. He previously played with Mr. Schon and Mr. Cain in Bad English from 1987 to 1991.

Journey is scheduled to play Saturday at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, according to the band’s tour schedule. The Final Frontier farewell tour is set to end Nov. 28 at Chase Center in San Francisco, the band’s hometown. It was not immediately clear whether Mr. Castronovo would be able to perform.