What happened with Greg X Volz???

[CatNamedManny]

What complicated details on music ownership? Except for the few songs the Greg wrote all other songs and entities including the Petra name were and are owned by Bob.

Well, Greg probably wanted to retain the ability to perform Petra-era songs, and Bob probably wanted to retain the ability to play the Volz-owned hits. Both did so frequently in the ensuing decades. I'm not an expert on this stuff, but my understanding was they would have had to pay for each performance, correct? I can't imagine either party felt comfortable enough with their finances to do that.

[blayze5150]

What I recall from back in the day (I was in sixth grade... and a HUGE Christian rock fan), Greg left the band in hopes of Petra and GXV becomming two successful entities. A promotor who went to my church that worked with Petra said that Greg's logic was they could reach twice as many people by splitting up. After "The River is Rising," Greg's career became less successful with each effort (or so it seemed). I also heard a rumor (and I don't know how true this is, but I want to share it because it may be important to the topic) that Greg's camp (not Greg personally) was not as easy to work with as Petra for various reasons that I remember but do not wish to discuss publicly. I do remember that there was some heat between Petra and GXV, but both parties were too much of a class act to go into the details. I think Greg saw an opportunity to branch out from Petra and grow his own success, but whenit didn't pan out that way, he regretted the decision. I think he sees this as a second chance at greatness with Classic Petra (Just my opinion).
These are the memories of a 37 year old who was in Junior high at the time, so...

[brent]

Re: Greg... People. Nobody has it right yet. It does not matter why he left. Let it be. If you want dirt on all of the guys, you will find it, because they are human. The fact is that they are working together again and that in itself is a miracle, considering there was a time when reuniting was impossible for one reason or another. Splitting to reach more people was not it. That was the first time I had heard that one.

Re: Rights, Royalties, etc.... Greg is very good about preserving what is his and so is Bob from what I have been told by the managers of their catalogs throughout the years. There were some albums that they were jipped.

[executioner]

I just feel like it was mostly business related and also from what the 1986 interview shows that Bob was not happy with the production of BTS & CITAS and Bob made the change with JDB and Greg followed JDB.

[sue d.]

Splitting to reach more people was not it. That was the first time I had heard that one.

That's a new one on me as well....

[blayze5150]

As far as what I said about the splitting to reach more people... as an adult, I think that was a way for the guy I knew to make teenagers feel better about a singer leaving a band and being generous. It may have even been said at the time, I don't know. If there is any "dirt" on the band or Greg... I don't want it. I respect these guys a whole lot, and while as humans, I know they are not perfect, you could tell me almost anything about them and it would not do anything to make me admire them any less. Things are just easier for me when I look at the bright side and take them at face value. I was just sharing my fuzzy memories of that time period. I remember feeling a sense of loyalty to Greg at the time, and I though "The River is Rising" was the greatest thing ever. Keep in mind, the only Petra album I had at that time was "Captured in Time and Space." I never bought "Back to the Street" until "This Means War" came out. It all seems kind of silly now, because after "This Means War," John became a hero to me, and still is to this day. I didn't mean to imply that as a solid reason, I was just sharing what was told to me by someone who had met and worked with the band as a promotor (and something I heard a very long time ago). I'm sure the thought of reaching a broader audience crossed someone's mind at some point: it does make sense. I do not know if that came from Greg's camp, Petra's camp, or none of the above: I just remember my friend telling me that. Just making conversation.

[superfly]

I actually do remember hearing the two ministry thing too, but not as a reason for the split but rather a hopeful positive effect of the split. In that light it seems like a totally appropriate thing to say. It may have been mentioned in the CCM article with Petra on the cover in '86, but I was 13 at the time so don't hold me to that.

[Dan]

Greg's story is amazing, that even after 3 marriages God never gave up on him.

I know as a divorced man myself that this has helped me, as I thought that life ended with divorce, it keeps going there is a purpose.

[Jan]

Greg's story is amazing, that even after 3 marriages God never gave up on him.

I know as a divorced man myself that this has helped me, as I thought that life ended with divorce, it keeps going there is a purpose.

Where does he tell that story? I've never heard it from him, and I would love to.

[Dan]

Well it's not part of his testimony, just a fact that has helped me in recent years. When my parents got divorced, then I got divorced I was a mess... I had one Pethead tell me that I can never marry again technically!

[Jan]

Well it's not part of his testimony, just a fact that has helped me in recent years. When my parents got divorced, then I got divorced I was a mess... I had one Pethead tell me that I can never marry again technically!

Too bad. Maybe he will make it a part of his testimony now that they are back together and getting more opportunities to speak. It would show a genuineness that I would love to see in him.

Ouch, I bet that other Pethead wishes he/she could take that back - at least I hope they do! Talk about bad timing. Not exactly the kind of thing you needed to hear while going through crud. Way too heavy of a subject for a flippant answer.

[Shell]

God's grace applies even to divorce. It's sad someone would tell you that when you're going through something so painful.

[Dan]

Yeah I was quoted an old testament passage that backed what they were saying. My ex was sleeping around so I thought I had grounds for divorce in any case, but this person insisted

[Shell]

I do agree with the idea there are Biblical grounds for divorce. I think you should do what you can to save the marriage unless the person is unfaithful (which was the case in your situation) or it's get out or die, but the fact is, that isn't always gonna happen. That's why we need God's grace. They weren't doing you any favors.

[Dan]

Yeah that's right Shell.

I guess what I am saying is many, see no hope.. and can walk so far away. myself I got so lost that I climbed a mountain in the middle bush to find answers... luckily this is were I found God speaks the most and I was able to move on.