Classic Petra Album

[Shell]

Jonathan, Sue would probably be wise to beware of shady characters prowling around backstage...

Yep, that was a fun weekend in Wisconsin.

[HudsonPethead]

Does anyone know if this new cd will be released by a label or will be independent?

[Drumolator]

I am very happy about the reunion, tour, and new CD, whoever it is. I prefer John's vocals, but Greg is excellent too. I also prefer the music during the John years. Peace and goodwill.

[HudsonPethead]

I am very happy about the reunion, tour, and new CD, whoever it is. I prefer John's vocals, but Greg is excellent too. I also prefer the music during the John years. Peace and goodwill.

I totally agree.

[separateunion]

Does anyone know if this new cd will be released by a label or will be independent?

It's being distributed by companies owned by Sony, so it will be released by a label.

[apollo18cdr]

I'm a long-time lurker to this board, and I've been a fan of the band for much longer than that.

I've read the classic/reunion Petra comments with great interest. I have come to the conclusion that I won't be attending concerts by either incarnation, if for no other reason than the political nature of the entire process. How can a band truly glorify Christ when they can't -- or worse yet, won't -- get past the differences that made classic and reunion versions "necessary" in the first place? Mark Kelly can tour with one version of the band but Ronny Cates won't be included in either. John will play with one drummer but not Louie Weaver. Fans argue vehemently over which lineup was better.

C'mon, people. This isn't supposed to be about the glorification of the men who made up Petra. It's about Jesus, hands down. Of course, this problem certainly isn't limited to Petra. It's absolutely everything that's wrong with contemporary Christian music in general. I'm quite concerned that more than a few artists are going to be surprised when they discover Heaven doesn't require a backstage pass or approval of a public relations representative for entrance.

This is not a viewpoint that I come by lightly. For years, I have loved Petra's music with every ounce of my being. I remember offering a buddy of mine virtually everything I owned to trade for Louie's drumstick that he caught during a concert on the Beat The System tour. For nearly 20 years now, I have been a full-time journalist. The very first paid byline of my career was a story on Bob back in the 1980s, and I was incredibly proud the night he recognized me backstage at a concert a few months later. Finally, I have spent time with John and his son, hosting them at two or three NASCAR races at Nashville Superspeedway. Heck, he even bought me a hamburger once!

Thing is, John asked once if he could pay me back for the NASCAR experience. I told him about my buddy who'd caught Louie's drumstick way back when and said if he could get me one of my very own, we'd be even. John didn't say anything ... got kind of quiet. I guess now I know why.

I don't particularly care what happened between he and Louie. It's really none of my business. My point, I guess, is that I wish that they could come together, tour as one -- Greg X, John, Ronnie, Mark, Louie, Bob and whoever else so chose to participate. As it stands right now, it just seems to me to be a case study in divisiveness.

[Masada1]

Apollo,

I do appreciate your concern about the idea of divisiveness...however, I really don't think that divisiveness has much of anything to do with either incarnation of Petra doing shows this year.

There have been some comparisons between Petra's situation and Van Halen's talked about on this board. I think that's a fairly incorrect analogy for a couple of reasons. First, Van Halen's core has always been Eddie and Alex...supplanted by a few lead singers and a couple of different bassists. Petra, on the other hand, has had a revolving door on membership from day one. It seems to me that it would only be natural for someone who was wanting to put together a line-up of the band to gravitate towards those who were in the group at the same time as they were...hence, Greg partnering with Bob, Louie, Mark and John L. In the same way, it makes sense for John to work with those who were in the latest incarnation of the group. I really don't see it as being a divisive issue so much as logistically natural.

As for people not wanting to work together...personally, I think we on this board have way over-spiritualized this situation. I don't find anywhere in Scripture that indicates that people should be forced to work together when they have expressed a clear preference not to. Yes, we are to LIVE in harmony with one another...that does not mean that we have to WORK together. And, lest we forget it, Petra is not just a ministry...it is how these folks made their living...in other words, a JOB. It seems to me that several people who would seem to have inside information have expressed that John and Louie have no ill will towards one another. That does not mean that they should be forced to work together just because we would like to see it. I once served a UM church that had their senior pastor retire. They brought in someone who had a completely different and in many ways opposite perspective on what the church was and what salvation was. After several months of serving under his leadership, I came to the unfortunate conclusion that I had to separate myself from this situation. A house divided against itself cannot stand. The vision and calling that God gave me was so diametrically opposed to where he wanted to lead the church that it would have been impossible for us to continue in ministry together. Was the situation hurtful? Sure...and initially I suppose there were hard feelings. But, we moved beyond them and God healed that situation. I harbor the man no ill will whatsoever and hope that God will bless his ministry. Does that mean that we will ever be in ministry together? Not likely. And btw, there is a precedent for that sort of thing in Scripture (Paul and Barnabas). A lot of people would like to commentate that either Paul or Barnabas was in the wrong because of the "sharp" disagreement that rose between them. The fact is...Scripture doesn't indicate that either were in the wrong...it simply reports that they separated and pursued their own callings because of a disagreement that took place between the two of them. Seems to me that if it was good enough for Paul and Barnabas...we might actually want to get off the backs of the guys in Petra and stop reading intent into situations where they may in fact be no intent.

Just my two cents...

[CatNamedManny]

How can a band truly glorify Christ when they can't -- or worse yet, won't -- get past the differences that made classic and reunion versions "necessary" in the first place?

As has been mentioned previously, this seems to contradict the biblical example of Paul and Barnabas splitting after the first missionary journey. And you seem particularly upset about the John/Louie split (which has nothing to do with Classic Petra), but what about Bob and Greg getting back together after Greg left the band? Does Petra get any credit for that? And I'm not clear what differences you feel made the Classic Petra version necessary. It really has nothing to do with whatever Bob and John are doing and what band members they choose to use (or not use) in whatever festivals they play.

Finally, I count roughly two dozen people who toured with Petra since 1972. That doesn't count background vocalists and studio musicians who actually did the work on the albums we enjoy today; otherwise the number is probably topping 30. So I'm genuinely confused as to why certain examples of members leaving the band so concern you. Petra obviously cannot tour with 25 members (six separate bassists, seven keyboardists, four drummers, Bob and six complementary guitarists, etc. I guess Bob, Greg, John and Rob Frazier could alternate vocals for their relevant songs when Rob isn't playing keyboards and guitar.). This iteration happens to be the band that toured together during Petra's first wave of popularity, the band that is captured on video in CITAS, the band that recorded what at the time was the most popular Christian rock album ever made in Beat the System. It's not like Bob picked out his favorite members, told the rest to jump in a lake, and plans to make millions while the rest weep in their poverty.

I genuinely do not understand the desire by some to turn Petra into more than it was -- a group of godly but imperfect men trying to advance the Kingdom the best they could while making a living with the gifts God provided them. It's really that simple.

[Masada1]

Very well said, Manny...

[executioner]

Does anyone know if this new cd will be released by a label or will be independent?

It's being distributed by companies owned by Sony, so it will be released by a label.

All indications show it will be on a label, but just because its being distributed by Sony or one of their companies doesn't mean it will be on a label.

[Tutor23]

Well said, Manny. I was sorry about the rift between John and Louie myself, but I echo your sentiment that Petra is made up of imperfect men and operates in fallen world. Stuff happens. That "stuff" doesn't negate all they've done. The truly remarkable thing is that God finds ways to work effectively through imperfect human beings, as we all are!

Andy from Indiana

[gman]

Something that's being danced around, I think. Louie doesn't have to play with John, or anyone else. It's been said that they don't hate each other, they have just decided not to play together. The thing to note, though, is that Louie is not doing occasional shows, which is what John's Petra is doing now. Such shows are costly and a hassle to pull off, with little financial upside. Stryper had to bail out on a couple festivals because it was too much of a disruption to their schedules, and they ultimately would have lost money doing it. Louie has to work and can only take time off to play if it is going to be financially viable for him, if it is going to cover his losses from not working. ClassicPetra is obviously viable for him or he wouldn't do it. Even if he wanted to play with John, or was invited to play, he might not be able to do it.
I think more is being made of these situations than needs to be. It would seem Louie is playing with classic Petra because he will be compensated enough to cover the loss of income while he is touring. It would be diffifult for him to do one-offs with John, Viktor, or anyone else.
Also, I'm sure these types of conflicts are common in churches across America, and people agree to not work together. They don't hate one another, or refuse to associate with one another, they just agree that it would best, for personality clash or some other reason, that they not work together.
In a perfect world, we would all gel with each other and it would be all love all the time. A certain husband and wife in the bible kinda wrecked that for the rest of us.

GMan

[Masada1]

Hey, Andy...I'm a Hoosier too! I live on the east side of Indy. Nice to see another Pethead from the Hoosier state!!

[Masada1]

Also well said, gman!

[brent]

+2 to gman.

I see this over spiritualizing of Petra and it makes me sad that some do not get it STILL. Petra is not a church. Petra is not a ministry. They do not have a board of directors, deacons, bishops/pastors, non-profit status, etc. They are not structured like a ministry. They are not represented as a ministry. They DO ministry....and will only do it if MONEY is involved. They don't play for free. They aren't willing to play for free. They are Christian musicians that play music for a living...or try to part time.

John doesn't have to do what he doesn't want to do. Louie doesn't have to do what he doesn't want to do. They are not un-Christian, out of Gods will, etc by not playing together. I think that it is silly and darn near senseless to toss out Petra because two people will never share the same stage, all because you don't get your way. Waaaaaaaa. There are more people than Louie that will never return. Why not get upset about those people?