The Petra Zone

You know we should all feel fortunate that Petra lasted as long as they did. I know that at one point in the early 90s...probably around 1990 or 1991 that Petra was considering calling it quits and their management was looking for a band that could fit their sound style and go with it.

Around that same time a band from Lexington, Kentucky called "Shophar" was picking up steam. They had just recorded an independent CD and wer very ministry oriented. They didnt' want to sign a major label because they didn't want to quit playing for "the small youth group."

Anyway, I overheard someone with Shophar talking about Petra's management expecting Petra to retire in a few years and that Shopar could possibly carry the flame. Now, I AM NOT SAYING that Shophar would have been the "new Petra," but it's interesting to see how things went.

Shophar by the way broke up in the spring of 1992. They were a superb group. They had tremendous talent and had a passion for ministery. Their guiatarist, Jeff Calhoun went on to play for Al Denson.

I'm not sure about shophar..never heard of them..but I know song wondered if HALO was going to carry Petra's torch in the early 1990's. Thye were founded by Bob and he hooked them up with the Elefantes. They had a great song in "My Buddy".

I know the members of Shophar very well.

kngser88 wrote:I'm not sure about shophar..never heard of them..but I know song wondered if HALO was going to carry Petra's torch in the early 1990's. Thye were founded by Bob and he hooked them up with the Elefantes. They had a great song in "My Buddy".

Didn't HALO pretty much disappear after their second album? I never heard anything from them after that.

The problem with that period in Christian music is that the Elefantes seemed to be producing for a ton of bands, and they all started to sound the same after a while, so it was very hard for a group like HALO to really stand out.

Brighton, Mastedon, Guardian...all kinda interchangeable.

Yeah those bands did sound a lot alike. Part of that was that the Elefantes were singing back up on all of those albums, and of course they were Mastedon. Mastedon's Lofcaudio album was an incredible album. That's another one I'd like to find on CD.

Halo disbanded after their second album..however their lead vocalist, Scott Springer recorded one solo album a few years later that had a slightly more AC sound than that of Halo's second disc. Their guitarist, Barry Graul has played for everyone from Whitecross, DC Talk to Mercy Me since. Not sure what the bass player ever did. I liked their sound.

By the way, what is John Elefante doing now anyway? I thought he was supposed to release another solo "greatest hits" called DUST IN THE WIND this year?

Wow Shophar. Jeff Calhoun is still around. He leads worship and is the emcee at the Newsong Music Festival in Leithchfield, Kentucky every August. Great Festival for 20 years and around 7-10,000 people.


the website is www.newsongmusicfestival.com

I have the Mastedon Cd and Halo CD. Contact me at tomtsc@bellsouth.net.

Don't leave out the Rock Power Praise Vol 2 Christmas Produced by the Elefantes, by Pakaderm records. Great Christmas CD if you like the sound of Mastedon. I also have this cd in my collection.

i don't see anyone carrying Petra's torch.

Neither do I. The only way a band can carry the torch would be by way of ministry, not by way of music. I replied to your e mail unlost.

The music industry has changed. Bands are pretty much disposable these days. Back when Petra got its start, labels were interested in career acts, popular bands that would have a longterm appeal, and they spent the money promoting their popular artists. These days, it's not unusual for a "career" to last a single CD (two, if the artist is lucky!).

I really think 3rd Day is the closest we'll see to the "next Petra".

I don't anyone would carry "Petra's torch" now. Back in the 90s right around "Beyond Belief" or "Unseen Power" had they disbanded maybe.

However..as far as a band being as popular or similar in terms of musical style or ministry, I would say Third Day is probably the closest. Some of the guys in Third Day said in an interview once when they started, they wanted to the be "the next Petra." Some would argue now that Third Day is or could be more popular than Petra. Let's just see if they last as long.

Man, I would love to get my hands on any of the Mastedon cds. Mine were lost during a series of moves and I can't find them online or anywhere.