Judas Kiss Live: Greg X Volz / John Schlitt

[executioner]

It's true. Geddy Lee from Rush hasn't been able to hit the high notes of his youth for quite a long time now! I saw them in the mid-80s, and he was already singing songs like the Temples of Syrinx without the high notes.

It makes you wonder if singers just aren't thinking about the future when they record songs with those super high notes like that in their younger years. Or maybe it's a matter of, if you've got it, use it...and if you're still around in 20 or 30 years, worry about it then!

I'd guess it's probably some of both...and to be honest, I'm okay with that. It's so cool to hear them blast out those high notes on the record, even if they can't now.

I'm assuming some of you may have gotten some of Volz's solo albums from the 80s...the cover version he did of Dream On where he just absolutely nails that super high note...that's the stuff of legends!! I actually just found the single on iTunes...I'm gonna have to download it as I think I either lost or sold that CD. You can actually hear that part of the song right at the end of preview.

Sorry but he clearly butchered Dream On!!!!!

Okay, the arrangement maybe, but the vocals were awesome...I'd love to hear his vocals over Aerosmith's music!

Not me!! Steven's style is clearly what makes that song an instant classic; Greg's vocals seemed forced and just to smooth for that song. IMO the smoothness of Greg's vocals have always been a downfall with me. I know some if not most disagree with me but Greg's voice is NOT rock; it's clearly in the pop realm.
Petra is and means rock and Classicpetra is pop with some rock mixed in. Greg's strength is in the songs Grave Robber, MPTY, BTTR, and such. I'm sure he did a great version of All Over Me live.

[Jan]

Not me!! Steven's style is clearly what makes that song an instant classic; Greg's vocals seemed forced and just to smooth for that song. IMO the smoothness of Greg's vocals have always been a downfall with me. I know some if not most disagree with me but Greg's voice is NOT rock; it's clearly in the pop realm.
Petra is and means rock and Classicpetra is pop with some rock mixed in. Greg's strength is in the songs Grave Robber, MPTY, BTTR, and such. I'm sure he did a great version of All Over Me live.

I agree with this. It's like David Phelps when he did a Foreigner song; he has a fabulous voice, but the song was totally wrong for him.

I LOVED Aerosmith mostly because of Steven's voice/style.

[Jan]

Thats the problem, when singers come in to their 40s and 50s. Look at Michael Sweet or all die other Bands from the 80s like Europe etc...

Mark Farner's still got his chops at 58 (now he's 62). He sounds slightly out of breath but still good.
http://youtu.be/HI7j-0GNX20

[DeSoto]

Thats the problem, when singers come in to their 40s and 50s. Look at Michael Sweet or all die other Bands from the 80s like Europe etc...

Mark Farner's still got his chops at 58 (now he's 62). He sounds slightly out of breath but still good.
http://youtu.be/HI7j-0GNX20

Right, but he seems to have a higher voice than other singers...

[Muleya]

Well, I was never an Aerosmith fan in the first place...enjoyed a couple of their songs, but never enough to buy any of their music. In fact, by the late 80s I was completely tired of Aerosmith becuase the radio stations just played them to death!

And I have to completely disagree on Volz having a rock voice...I love the way he sings rock and roll....Adonai, It Is Finished, Judas Kiss, Bema Seat! Awesome!! I agree his vocals are smooth (what I love about them), but I disagree that it sounds forced...to me it sounds like it's just flowing. Steven Tyler's voice, on the other hand, definitely sounds forced when he's trying to push out those high notes (and he really fails to hit that highest one, but I guess it's "close enough for rock and roll!") But when Volz hit's that same note it sounds practically effortless...like he's saying "I'm only getting warmed up here! Bring it on!"

Anyway, different strokes for different folks!

[petraman]

Saw Rick Springfield a couple yrs. ago, 60 yrs old and still sings, looks and jumps around stage like he's 40.

[BForm]

I've always had a problem with the "Greg doesn't have a rock voice" argument. What, in order to sound rock you have to sound rebellious? As in the angry, out of control kind of rebellion that characterizes the world?

I've grown to love John's voice but, sorry guys, won't be many angels in heaven singing in a style that prematurely destroys the vocal chords.

[Timbo]

Maybe not, but if they did it would sound awesome.

I would say what defines a rock voice is the raspy-ness. Thats always what has appealed to me. John Schlitt, Bryan Adams, the Journey guy. Greg does nor have a rock voice. Bob admitted this on the revival dvd. That said, he has an unbelievable voice for his age. This new classic petra live record blows me away. He really hasn't changed. Awesome!

[Muleya]

If you said that Greg doesn't have a metal voice, there I'd agree with you. Obviously he's not Joe Elliott, Don Dokken or David Coverdale, all of whom have great voices, too.

But we're not talking metal here, we're talking rock. Chuck Berry was the father of rock and roll. The Beatles are rock and Paul McCartney's got a pretty smooth voice. Boston is rock and Brad Delp's voice is about as smooth as Volz...and in my book he's another excellent rock singer.

So, while you're entitled to your opinions, you can't say he doesn't have a rock and roll voice.

[Timbo]

Actually I can say he doesn't have a rock and roll voice. That would be what my opinion is. Right? The question is am I correct or not. And since this is not an issue of absolute truth, then all we have to go on is the opinion of the majority. So if most people feel he has a rock and roll voice, then I am wrong. According to the majority.

Either way. He has an incredible voice and it is indeed suited for these songs. And since they are rock songs then I guess I am indeed wrong. He does have a rock voice. So are we saying there can be different types of rock voices? hmm......

[Boray]

Why does it matter? Why must everything be put into categories?

That Greg X Volz was/is the singer of the biggest Christian rock group ever, kind of evidently makes him a rock singer, doesn't it? : wink :

[rexreed]

Petra with Greg reminds me of Foreigner and Survivor and even Loverboy. All are rock bands, so Greg has a Rock and Roll voice. FACT.

[Muleya]

Actually I can say he doesn't have a rock and roll voice. That would be what my opinion is. Right? The question is am I correct or not. And since this is not an issue of absolute truth, then all we have to go on is the opinion of the majority. So if most people feel he has a rock and roll voice, then I am wrong. According to the majority.

Either way. He has an incredible voice and it is indeed suited for these songs. And since they are rock songs then I guess I am indeed wrong. He does have a rock voice. So are we saying there can be different types of rock voices? hmm......

I guess it comes down to semantics. When you state, "He doesn't have a rock voice" it comes across a little different than "I don't think he has a rock voice" or "IMO he doesn't have a rock voice". So I guess we were just kind of talking past each other.

Sorry, dude! It's all good!!

[r_karlsson22]

Greg used to be able to do a pretty respectable version of this song, but now days he really struggles with the high notes. I prefer John on this one!

I have to agree with you Tr! I choose John's versions of the song all the time. Although, I'm looking forward to see the classic lineup in Sweden this summer!

[Timbo]

5 years TRodland posted an audio file of judas kiss when the Farewell Petra was in Norway. I have to say quality wise it is the best version of John sing that song. I like it better than the vertical expressions one because the guitar solo is killer. VE version is just missing something. Can't put my finger on it. Anyway, on the Norway version, John can't hit the notes on the 2nd verse, so I brought the song into audacity and patched in the same line from the fist verse. Sounds great. I actually patched it into my Farewell cd right after Creed as they performed it in the show when I saw them in Fort Wayne back then. This is my favorite version of JK. I took the original Greg recording and speed up the tempo to be more in line with the speed of how they play the song now a days. That sounds better too.