While guitarist Neal Schon has been occupied with the band Journey for the past 40+ years, he was also an integral member of the original lineup for Santana. With that band’s newly minted Santana IV album (read the review here) and first performance since 1973, it’s safe to say that Schon’s fretwork is in high demand. Considering Journey has a major summer tour schedule ahead, fans have been curious just how long the Santana reunion will last.

Fortunately, Neal Schon answered those questions and more in a new interview with Billboard. In it, Schon talks at length about his renewed passion for the Santana band chemistry, and their future plans for the road ahead. When asked if the band was considering more shows, Schon said, “Definitely. I think that’s just completely inevitable.”

He continues, saying, “It’s like The Force has risen again. There’s so many people who want to hear it, and what I’m hoping is that management opens their minds and eyes and sort of listens to the demand that’s out there. There’s a lot of fire, a lot of legs and a lot of people who want to see us all over the world.” 

While Journey has some big plans for 2016, the band might take a hiatus in 2017 to allow for Schon to work in Santana. “It’s something I really want to do, so maybe we (Journey) take a hiatus for a year,” Schon says. “Arnel (Pineda, Journey’s singer) would like to take some time off, so instead of doing two years in a row of hard Journey, maybe we do one year and we give it a rest and let it sit for a second. Sometimes when you come back it’s really fresh. So put aside some time for me next year because I’m going there and I’m going to do it. It’s a no-brainer for me. It’s something I have to do and it’s something that’s truly got some legs.” 

There’s also talk of recording more music! “When I listen to all the facets that are in that band, rhythmically, and what you can do, I have so many endless ideas,” he says. “You can go anywhere with it — you can go blues, you can go Latin, you can go Caribbean, you can go all African, you can go Cuban. Some bands, when they’re really in tune, it’s just like that. I think it’s a combination of the people that make the chemistry that just things erupt out of. That’s definitely what we have here.”

With great new music and enthusiasm for this classic reunited band, the sky is the limit. It’s an exciting time to be a fan.