The beloved Bay Area rock band Journey will provide half-time entertainment when the 49ers face the Detroit Lions in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium.
Journey, fronted by guitarist Neal Schon, keyboardist Jonathan Cain and lead vocalist Arnel Pineda, is one of several acts that will perform before and during Sunday’s game, a press release from the 49ers said.
The performance comes as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band just celebrated its 50th anniversary and joins Def Leppard on a monumental, 23-city stadium tour that kicks off in July.
The slate of entertainment Sunday also features pregame performances by Amp Squad DJs and Northern California-based singer Nate Smith. The National Anthem will be performed by Puerto Rican pop singer Luis Fonsi, and the San Francisco Police Department Color Guard team will present the colors.
The inclusion of Journey allows the band to “deliver another jaw-dropping performance” in the Bay Area, where the band was first formed in 1973, the release said. Schon and Cain also are integral members of this iconic American rock band, which is known for its anthemic classic “Don’t Stop Believin.’” As the release said, they “played key roles in shaping the band’s sound and contributing to its enduring success.”
The outcome of Sunday’s NFC championship game will determine which NFL team advances to Super Bowl LVIII, which is being played at Allegiant Stadium outside Las Vegas on Feb. 11.