The Petra Zone

I'll be working on this book about Petra for the next year or so. If anyone would like to contribute, you are welcome. I will need archive pics, I have some but I want this to be the definitive collection, must have for every Petra fan, similar to The Beatles Anthology book. I always thought Petra deserved an anthology book because to me they have been as influential and relevant, or more than any secular band for that matter. So your help will be apreciated.

Coolness, i'm in.

You would probably need to dig into the archives of the record companies. They undoubtedly have lots of promotional photographs and other material. And you would need to do lots and lots of interviews with (former) members. I always wanted to do something like this, but since I\'m more of an academic writer, it wouldn\'t be very interesting. And since I don\'t live in the States it would be very expensive for me to travel around and do interviews with people and visit archives of record companies. The majority of the sources you would need to access are in the United States and difficult to access from Europe.

Do you have any experience as a writer?

I am more of an analytical writer. I am a physician, and I have written tons of essays and several scientific papers. And my wife is an artist, art educator, curriculum developer and working on her masters in theater, and has lots of experience as a writer and as a playwrite. My mom is an attorney and will help too in the writing, plus on the legal aspects of publishing.

this sounds great! I was only thinking about how cool it would be to have a book out . There is a few out on Van Halen and Motley Crue called 'Visual History' or maybe like the latest Stryper book or even Kisstory......sounds like a great idea. Donforget the Australian tours!

I have Aussie pics!

mate cant wait! Cool!

Might want to run this by Bob Hartman first. I seem to recall him once saying that if there was ever going to be a book about Petra that he would write it.

There's always unofficial biographies out there, but you are right, I was not going to do anything without Bob's blessing.

So is the proper abbreviation JTT&S or just JTTS? And do we add :TPS at the end or just leave it off?

Are you still working on this book? It sounds like a great project! What will it be like? A historical biew of the band?

JTTS:TPS it is.

At Research, copyrigths and consultation stage at this time.

I'd be happy to help with any writing/editing, as needed. Hit me up if you're so inclined.

Why do a book? What is left to tell? Everyone knows the story, because Bob and the boys have been tellin' it for decades. I think that unless messy minutia is divulged, there really isn't anything more a book can add. Then there is the big question: Who is going to buy it and how are they going to know about it? If Petra is having a hard time being seen themselves right now, how will a book about the band that is having a hard time getting gigs going to get sold? Would you not want the people to give money to the band directly? Just a thought.

You are right. Why waste my time in a band that hardly anybody remembers. A band that the music industry has little respect for. But also a band whose founder(s) problably have little interest if any to preserve its heritage for future generations to enjoy. I always got frustrated about the many times I asked Bob in person over the past 15 years about how great it would be for Petra to do an Anthology like The Beatles did. I always thought Petra had enough history, footage, music and street cred to get it done. Bob always said somrthing like: " I'll talk to the producers and see I we can put something together". One day he said he would ask to have unreleased Live Footage from years ago bundled with the Farewell DVD; never happened. So I guess it will all be a tremendous waste of time.

By the way, the current Classic Petra, 20+ dates so far on the tour, are a pretty darn good number of dates, more than I ever thought possible. And more are coming!