Greg X. Volz
| Greg X. Volz | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gregory Xavier Volz |
| Born | January 12, 1950 |
| Origin | Peoria, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | Christian rock, contemporary Christian music |
| Occupation(s) | singer |
| Instruments | vocals |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Associated acts | Petra, e Band |
| Website | www |
Gregory Xavier Volz (born January 12, 1950) is a Christian rock singer. He is most noted for being the former lead singer of Petra from 1979 to 1985. He also fronted the reincarnated version of the band called Classic Petra from 2010 to 2012.
A self-taught musician by age 13, he started his own band called The Wombats. As he grew up, he went on to share the stage with the likes of Janis Joplin, Chicago and others. He formed a band called Gideon's Bible in Indianapolis. In 1970 he became a born-again Christian. Gideon's Bible fell apart and together with drummer David Eden, Volz formed a new Jesus music band called e Band. The only studio recordings from e can be found on the rock musical two-disc LP Because I Am released in 1973. After they broke up in 1975 Volz moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he worked with legendary guitarist Phil Keaggy. He also performed the lead role in a rock stage musical called Ezekiel. Volz married Becky Britton on December 2, 1973, but ended up divorcing in the late 1990s.
Volz was offered the lead singer position of REO Speedwagon in 1976 but declined due to his Christian faith. Six weeks later he was asked to participate in Petra's second album, Come and Join Us. Although at that time he participated as a guest singer on just three songs, founder/guitarist Bob Hartman (who, at that time, was sharing the lead-singing duties with co-founder/guitarist Greg Hough) offered Volz the full-time position.
His first full-time album with the band, Washes Whiter Than, came in 1979. Never Say Die (1981), More Power to Ya (1982), and Not of this World (1983) followed. Petra then changed sound slightly with new keyboard player John Lawry on 1984's Beat the System and reached the pinnacle of the Volz era. They played 285 dates to 500,000 people overall on the subsequent tour and resulted in a live album, Captured in Time and Space. At the beginning of 1985 Volz was beginning to feel the strain of the heavy performing schedule over the previous four years and his family life was suffering. Volz gave nine-months notice to his band mates that he would be leaving the band at the conclusion of the tour.
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