TAMPA, Florida - Arnel Pineda and his Journey bandmates made a quick visit to Florida for the Republican National Convention.
The band was reportedly paid half a million dollars to play at a private show during the RNC.
Pineda wouldn't confirm the deal, saying he's just happy that he's had had a successful tour.
Mitt Romney's campaign has denied that the presidential candidate had any involvement in paying the band.
The post show concert is a fundraiser for the nonpartisan Creative Coalition, a group advocates for the entertainment industry and has done similar shows at past presidential elections.
Pineda said despite appearing at an RNC function the popular rock band is not making a political statement nor showing which presidential candidate they prefer.
"We're only here for the entertainment, we're not here to support any sides. We're very grateful there's a job for us here and to make a lot of people here through the songs," Pineda said.
This high profile private outdoor concert capped off what's been a crazy week for Pineda and the band. Last Tuesday, the group cancelled a show in Louisiana because of tropical storm Isaac.
Pineda knows how his Louisiana fans feel, his house was flooded during tropical storm Ondoy in 2009 and the recent storms have also reached his backyard.
"Every after summer eto na, hurricane season, just like us in the Philippines, diba parang typhoon season diba. Everybody is worried about their place their place their house. Lalo na if they live in a lower part of the city. So as well as mine. Actually my place is a bit higher nga but yun parin," he said.
Pineda has back to back shows in Kansas and Minnesota this weekend. Next week he heads back to the Philippines for a short break where he will celebrate his birthday and the christening of his newborn.
"I've missed the family, I've missed my wife. I miss the kids, miss my home. It's been a while. I've been away for a month and a half now, more than a month and three weeks to be exact. It's been quite a while so it will be very very good to be home again," he said.
Journey has rescheduled the cancelled Louisiana show for late fall.
Journey had no plans of milling around the convention. After their high profile gig, the group headed back on the road again for a Friday night show in Kansas.
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