II Guys on "Total Axxess" Radio Program TONIGHT!

[BForm]

What really bothers me is when you have the talent to rock and draw in non believers, then you decide to mellow out and sing praise music which appeals only to believers...mainly older believers.

CB, have you read your own words? As you said it, this IS what really bothers you. It's not about John's struggles tonight. It's about them not giving you what you want. And in case you haven't noticed, kids, for the most part, are looking for the new and novel; the so-called cutting edge. Most of the kids looking for entertainment are automatically going to write John and Bob off because of their age.

[carol d.]

Yes, I did listen to the entire thing. But several times they broke to play a recorded song from other artists. I'm wondering why they didn't play one of the recorded songs off the CD. There is no way anyone could get a feel for what their only II Guys cd sounds like from one accoustic live performance. If they had played one, I think it would have helped the situation quite a bit. It's over now so there's no sense in getting uptight about it. I'm just curious as to why.

By the way, I don't think we have to put a spin on this interview in order to be Christian in our response. The interview portion was fine. But as a PR opportunity for II Guys it did not go well and we all know it. It's o.k. though. This too will work in some way for their good and God's glory. I'm just very concerned at how tough it seemed to be on John and I really feel bad for him. I'm afraid he will be beating himself up for this for some time. We need to pray for him.

Sorry, I misunderstood your question. I wonder the answer myself. I was not trying to put a spin on it; just stating my perspective. I agree completely that God will use this for good and that we definitely need to pray for John.

[BForm]

No apology necessary Carol. I meant nothing I said harshly either. I just wanted to make the point that we can be totally honest about what happened tonight and still be supportive and compassionate toward John.

By the way, to anyone who feels that maybe John didn't prepare enough for this, we really don't know that. Even big stars have human emotions and can get really flustered. I know what it is like to feel tremendous dread in public situations to the point of losing my ability to think clearly. And if think popular stars don't struggle this, think again.

I hate to compare John to Donny Osmond , but even as a grown man Donny struggled with full scale panic attacks backstage. Do we honestly believe John doesn't know the words for I'm Trading My Sorrows? Good grief, that's one of the most popular 7-11 praise songs. (You know. Same 7 words sung 11 times. )

[Computerbrains]

I consider myself a kid and yes, I want to rock but its not about me - its about wanting to promote an upbeat group to my friends that I can be proud of reguardless of their ages. I will continue to promote old school PETRA cd's (where the lyrics are correct) to my friends and not the lyrically challenged mellowing out II Guys.

[carol d.]

"Never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins." (Native American saying)

[Schlittism33]

I'm downloading the interview right now, but I just wanna come to John's defense for a moment. Forgeting lyrics happens to ALL singers no matter how many times you've practiced a song. I'm a singer myself and when I forget lyrics .. MOST of the time its on a song that I have played forever a million times over - but your mind wonders a little while your singing (atleast mine tends to) If something has been on your mind all day - you dont forget about it when you start singing - especially if its something that is bothering you... I also tend to think ahead in the song (to make sure I've got the lyrics right) and then mess them up by SINGING ahead! ha ha! You also might think "oh its cause Johns getting older" and that might play a role aswell, but heck I'm 19 and forget lyrics!!

Also, John has kept most of his range over all these years... I mean think of that! In the 70s he was belting it out at about 200 shows a year with Head East!! and continued to in Petra for another 20 years!! Alot of singers in their 20s DREAM of having the range that John STILL has!! ... Actually I was just thinking about this subject today ... I bought a dvd of the band Queen .. their frontman Freddie Mercury is often glorified for his vocal talents. . . but yet he struggled with reproducing things he sang in the studio on stage!! and he was in his 30s!!!!! I have heard SEVERAL shows of John singing ... from Head East Live (as well as several "undoctored" audience and soundboard recordings) all the way up to II Guys.. and I can confidently say - I HAVE NEVER HEARD A LIVE SINGER THAT IS AS GOOD AND CONSISTENT AS JOHN SCHLITT!!


-Stephen

[trodLAN]

I have taken the complete audio file offline, as I actually don't think II Guys would appreciate me sharing it
But you can hear some audioclips on total access instead:
http://totalaxxess.com/vault.php?gallery=a,61

[p-freak]

Am I glad that I downloaded the file this morning...

[BForm]

Well CB, believe it or not I kind of agree with you on the song choices on II Guys. In fact, when the cd first came out I mentioned on this board how disappointed I was that we weren't getting original "Bob" music. It's not that Bob didn't make them rock enough. It's just that if he had written them there would have been a whole lot more spiritual depth to them.

The songs themselves wouldn't be so uninspiring if writers would have just developed them a little more and taken them progressivly deeper. But we live in a culture of 30 second sound bites, campaign slogans and greeting card level theological depth. As Steve Camp says, much of the music of the church today is nothing more than "God is my girlfriend" songs. Or, as RC Sproul once said, "If you can take the name Jesus out and substitute the name Julie and song still makes sense, it doesn't do anything to magnify the glory and majesty of God."

But honeslty CB this isn't the first time they've done a P & R record using the songs popular during that time. Sure PPI and II (but probably not III) had more depth but that's because the music of the church had more depth at that time. (That and Bob would slip little gems in there like Lovely Lord.) We've been getting progressively more basic and progressively more dependent on the "feelings" of worship rather than the deeper truths about God and His glory.

Do I believe it was the best thing for Bob and John to put out a cd using so much of this music? No, I really don't. But I'm not going to get upset about it. I listen to the cd once in a while because it's them and I love their work. But I do admit that I would enjoy it so much more and listen to it more had it been Bob's music.

I have one question for you CB. How did you like Jekyll & Hyde? Lyrically, I felt that CD contained some of Bob's best work ever. What a contrast between that project and what most Christian artists are putting out today.

[brent]

Come on, lets face some facts. I am not being harsh I am being realistic. How can you even think of promoting an album or group if you don't even know the words to one of the few songs you ever penned (Just Reach Out)? I feel bad for John too but how can you let this happen over and over again? **Was there no thought at all put into what songs they would be singing live?** Surely professionals would practice before hand right? Its not like this was an interview that took song requests where perhaps he could be caught off guard. What really bothers me is when you have the talent to rock and draw in non believers, then you decide to mellow out and sing praise music which appeals only to believers...mainly older believers.

I did not hear it, so I don't know how big of a train wreck it was. BUT, let me say that:
1. Writting a song does not equal remembering a song.
a. When you have a song list as huge as Petra's, it will be hard to remember all of them.
b. The older you get, your memory slips a little. I forget what the other things are....
c. When you write a tune, you often do not end up with the same version(s) that you started out with. Most artists have to relearn and rehearse the recorded and released version to play on the road. They forget it (and you have to be a musician to understand) after recording, because so much of it is inspiration at that second. BUT, the 2Guys have had a long time to practice, so this does not apply to them. It does apply to bands recently completing studio projects much of the time.

Come on. It is internet radio. The people here and and maybe three more heard it. No damage done.

[carol d.]

I have taken the complete audio file offline, as I actually don't think II Guys would appreciate me sharing it

Good decision, Trod.

I'm reminded of something a friend once said while watching a baseball game and seeing the replay of a bad play: "I'm glad I don't have a job that when I screw-up it is caught on tape and replayed over and over again."

[carol d.]

Forgeting lyrics happens to ALL singers no matter how many times you've practiced a song... MOST of the time its on a song that I have played forever a million times over - but your mind wonders a little while your singing (atleast mine tends to) If something has been on your mind all day - you dont forget about it when you start singing - especially if its something that is bothering you...

Well said, Stephen. John said something to the effect of having difficulty focusing and his mind being on his new project.

I HAVE NEVER HEARD A LIVE SINGER THAT IS AS GOOD AND CONSISTENT AS JOHN SCHLITT!!

Ditto! John's voice is definitely not "studio made" as some are.

[Computerbrains]

BForm - I thought Jekyll and Hyde was a great cd lyrically and musically and was proud to play it for anyone. I thought the guys were on the right track but that train obviously derailed. Their music would open doors for me but high school kids have no desire to listen to II Guys or even the new mellow JS cd that is coming out. I will be sticking with the likes of Pillar, Red, Day of Fire, and Disciple for my listening pleasure and to get my peers interested. Those groups lyrics and obviously not as powerful as Bob's but its the music that first gets people's attention.

[notunderground]

Ok Computerbrains�you have your eyes on John and John is a human just like you are and humans are going to let us down and so what, everybody does it, is it something new? Hello! So let�s just say John made a mistake and you�ve pointed it out, (he�s been exhorted) ok, now what? Are we just going to discard him as trash or are we going to do like the Bible says and build our brother back up? Or are we going to keep harping on this as a continual dripping on a rainy day. The more you magnify this, the worse it looks. Let it go brother!

[Computerbrains]

notunderground - First off, the last thing I said had nothing to do with John screwing up the lyrics. I was answering a point blank question from BForm. Secondly, this is called a FORUM and therfore I will state my opinion as I please, when I please and you may feel free to do so as well. Finally, I have not discarded anyone as trash. I just find it really sad that when you know you have a problem with lyrics or anything for that matter that you don't strive to correct it. Put the words in front of you on paper so you don't forget them - especially when you are on the radio and no one else can see the paper! We are to learn from our mistakes not repeat them again and again. I am not knocking his voice or talent - we all know he has a great voice and range.