John Arch

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John Arch
John Arch, original Fates Warning vocalist during the Keep It True Festival (Awaken The Guardian album 30th Anniversary Show) in Lauda-Konigshofen, Germany (2016.04.30).jpg
Arch performing with Fates Warning in 2016
Background information
Birth nameJohn Maurice Archambault
Born (1959-05-15) May 15, 1959 (age 65)
Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Genres Progressive metal, heavy metal
OccupationSinger
Years active1982–present
Labels Metal Blade
Member of Arch/Matheos
Formerly of Fates Warning

John Arch (born John Maurice Archambault; May 15, 1959) [1] is an American singer most well known for his work with the progressive metal band Fates Warning.

Contents

Fates Warning

Arch co-wrote the majority of the band's songs with guitarist Jim Matheos, and was the band's sole lyricist. After their third album, Awaken the Guardian , was released, Arch was asked to quit his job or leave the band. Financial obligations made it impossible for Arch to quit his job, and he argued that he had shown 100% commitment to the band throughout the years. However, the band informed him that they had to let him go and started to look for another singer. In one interview with John Arch, he said that he would have quit his job if he were asked, but the rest of the band never asked him to.

Later career

Arch performing with Fates Warning in 2016 John Arch, original Fates Warning vocalist at KIT Festival in Germany, 2016 (2).jpg
Arch performing with Fates Warning in 2016

Arch kept himself out of the metal scene for seventeen years (he currently works crafting custom furniture), with the exception of an audition for upcoming progressive metal band Dream Theater and a few others. He decided to get out of music and pursue other interests. He made his return in 2003, when his EP A Twist of Fate was released. The EP includes musicians Jim Matheos, Mike Portnoy and Joey Vera, all of whom Arch worked with at some point in the past. The EP shows that Arch's vocal ability had not decreased over the years, likely due to his long break from touring. The album contains only two songs, although these total nearly half an hour (one written solely by Arch, one co-written by Arch and Matheos – marking the first time the two wrote a song together since Awaken the Guardian ). [2]

Arch has a naturally high tenor range. He is very proficient at legato when singing.

On January 19, 2011, it was announced that Arch had reunited with Jim Matheos and the rest of the members in Fates Warning (minus Ray Alder) to record a full-length for a new band, simply titled Arch/Matheos. [3] The band's debut full-length album, Sympathetic Resonance , was released on September 9. [4]

Discography

Solo albums

With Fates Warning

With Jim Matheos (Arch/Matheos)

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<i>A Twist of Fate</i> 2003 EP by John Arch

A Twist of Fate is an EP by singer John Arch, released on June 17, 2003 through Metal Blade Records. At the time, the EP was Arch's first musical work in over seventeen years since leaving progressive metal band Fates Warning in 1987, with whom he recorded their first three albums; the last being Awaken the Guardian (1986). Consisting of two tracks, A Twist of Fate features Fates Warning founder and guitarist Jim Matheos, with whom Arch would later release a collaborative album in 2011, entitled Sympathetic Resonance, under the banner of Arch/Matheos. Also among the line-up are Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy and current Fates Warning bassist Joey Vera.

<i>Sympathetic Resonance</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Arch/Matheos

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References

  1. "Eternal Flame – John Arch Interview". fateswarning.info. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  2. Biography – Metal Blade Records
  3. "Former And Current FATES WARNNING Members JOHN ARCH And JIM MATHEOS Join Forces In New Project". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved April 24, 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. "Sympathetic Resonance". metal-archives.com. Retrieved April 24, 2012.