Classic Petra Web Site Updated

[Preacherman777]

The majority of people that might be just finding Petra again and haven't seen or heard anything from the band since the 90's and maybe even the 80's will be turned off by this. If you lose your first impression you've lost it all and that client(fan) most likely will never return. IMO the site should not be up until it is completely ready and looking the way the band deserves.

[executioner]

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I can't imagine losing interest in a band I'm interested in, just because their their website isn't super cool and cutting edge. When I go to a bands website, I'm just looking for information. The bells and whistles don't mean much to me.

Well I'm not talking about you, me, or with anyone that hasn't lost interest with the band over the years, I'm talking about the ones that did. There are more of them then there are of us, so once again Petra is trying to reintroduce themselves to a market that left many, many moons ago and first impression is vital and key for them to give it a second look.
I know the site is far from being finished and once it is fully operational its going look good and be fan/user friendly, but I wonder how many of the fans that haven't been around for a decade or two will see the site how it is as of now and think hmmm why should I comeback again?

[Preacherman777]

Well, and that's where I'm kind thinking we are talking about older fans and I'm just wondering if older fans, people who are say 40-60 are going to be that concerned about how a website looks. Maybe they would be, I don't know. I just know it doesn't make that much difference to me. About the only way it would bother me is if the website was really uninformative or didn't make much sense.

[brent]

Classic Petra IS Petra. Read their history page. It's all lumped together.

"CLASSIC PETRA IS: BOB HARTMAN, MARK KELLY, JOHN LAWRY, GREG X VOLZ AND LOUIE WEAVER.

PETRA IS WIDELY REGARDED AS THE PIONEERING BAND OF THE CHRISTIAN ROCK AND CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC GENRES. FORMED IN 1972, THE BAND TOOK ITS NAME FROM THE GREEK WORD FOR "ROCK". THOUGH FORMALLY DISBANDING IN 2006, INCARNATIONS OF PETRA HAVE PLAYED REUNION SHOWS IN THE YEARS SINCE, WITH THE FIVE MEMBERS WHO SPEARHEADED THE BAND'S RISE TO MULTI-PLATINUM STATUS IN THE 1980'S REUNITING TO TOUR AS CLASSIC PETRA. THAT BAND ALSO RELEASED ALBUMS IN 2010 AND 2011.
OFTEN COMPARED ALONGSIDE MAINSTREAM ACTS SUCH AS KANSAS, FOREIGNER, STYX AND JOURNEY. PETRA WAS UNDOUBTEDLY THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR CHRISTIAN ROCK BAND, WITH EACH OF ITS ALBUMS DURING THAT PERIOD SELLING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF COPIES WHILE THE BAND SOLD OUT ARENAS AND REGULARLY PLACED SONGS AT THE TOP OF CHRISTIAN RADIO CHARTS. WITH ITS LYRICS, MUSIC AND STYLE, PETRA INFLUENCED NUMEROUS OTHER ARTISTS AT A TIME WHEN CHRISTIAN ROCK EXPERIENCED STRONG OPPOSITION FROM MANY CONSERVATIVE PASTORS AND CHURCHES.
IN MORE THAN THREE DECADES, THE BAND EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS LINEUP CHANGES YET RELEASED 20 STUDIO ALBUMS, SELLING NEARLY 10 MILLION COPIES WHILE BEING NOMINATED FOR 13 GRAMMY AWARDS, WINNING FOUR, & WINNING 10 DOVE AWARDS

.
THE BAND'S BIGGEST HIT, "THE COLORING SONG", REACHED THE TOP POSITION ON THREE CHRISTIAN RADIO CHARTS SIMULTANEOUSLY, AND AT ITS PEAK, THE BAND'S TOURS RIVALED AMY GRANT'S IN POPULARITY AMONG CHRISTIAN AUDIENCES. PETRA WAS THE FIRST ROCK BAND INDUCTED INTO THE GOSPEL MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND THE FIRST CHRISTIAN BAND WHOSE MEMORABILIA WAS INCLUDED IN THE HARD ROCK CAFE RESTAURANT CHAIN.
THE BAND ANNOUNCED ITS RETIREMENT IN 2005, LAUNCHING A FAREWELL TOUR THAT WAS RECORDED FOR RELEASE ON CD AND DVD. PETRA'S 33-YEAR CAREER ENDED WITH A PERFORMANCE IN THE EARLY HOURS OF JANUARY 1, 2006. BAND MEMBERS SUBSEQUENTLY REUNITED FOR CONCERTS IN 2007 AND 2010.

IN NOVEMBER 2010, A RESURRECTED FORM OF THE BAND'S MID-1980S LINEUP, USING THE NAME CLASSIC PETRA, RELEASED A CD TITLED BACK TO THE ROCK FEATURING NEW MATERIAL AND RE-RECORDINGS OF HITS FROM THAT ERA.
THE BAND RELEASED A COMPANION LIVE CD AND DVD IN 2011. CLASSIC PETRA WILL ONCE AGAIN TAKE TO THE ROAD (AND THE STUDIO) IN 2012 AS THE BAND COMMEMORATES THE 40TH YEAR IN ITS GROUNDBREAKING HISTORY."

[sue d.]

THE FIVE MEMBERS WHO SPEARHEADED THE BAND'S RISE TO MULTI-PLATINUM STATUS IN THE 1980'S

Which albums went platinum?? When?

[rexreed]

Kinda like how Coke ended up as new Coke, but that was too different so they eventually brought old Coke back but they called it Coca Cola Classic. Then one day they just switched it back to Coke or Coca Cola without telling anyone. Not a complete parallel but close.

[BForm]

Well I'm not talking about you, me, or with anyone that hasn't lost interest with the band over the years, I'm talking about the ones that did. There are more of them then there are of us, so once again Petra is trying to reintroduce themselves to a market that left many, many moons ago and first impression is vital and key for them to give it a second look.
I know the site is far from being finished and once it is fully operational its going look good and be fan/user friendly, but I wonder how many of the fans that haven't been around for a decade or two will see the site how it is as of now and think hmmm why should I comeback again?

The primary reason why fans would come back is because the band is back. Remember, this isn't a case of fans that have left the band but fans that felt they lost the band they loved when GXV left. I know many of you don't believe it but I've met many that loved Volz era Petra that felt like they were listening to a completely different band when John came on board. Many of them never could get the excitement back and simply moved on.

I will say this, and I hope you are still reading Dean. The new site needs to avoid being to modern in it's appearance. Since it's unlikely that Classic Petra is going to connect with a large new audience, you need to tug at the hearts of people that want to reconnect with years gone by. Though new photos of the guys need to be a part of it, there should be a heavy dose of nostalgia; old photos, old T shirt designs, album covers. You need things that make fans say "Oh, I remember that!" Get them longing for one more glimpse of the past and a chance to hear the band they loved one more time. Ultimately I think the success is going to depend on finding ways to reach fans of this era that are not on the Petra zone or listening to Christian radio.

[BForm]

THE FIVE MEMBERS WHO SPEARHEADED THE BAND'S RISE TO MULTI-PLATINUM STATUS IN THE 1980'S

Which albums went platinum?? When?

Good grief!!!! I'm sorry Sue but I think your ongoing badgering over this issue is tacky and unprofessional for someone who is supposed to be a pro. The expression "spearheaded" means they were the leading force, they paved the way, started the motion. Get a grip already!

[sue d.]

I know the definition of 'spearheaded.'

I'm SERIOUSLY asking!

If the platinum albums they're talking about were albums that JOHN was on - and I'm assuming they are - I need to know and update his site:

http://johnwschlitt.com/fans/awards.htm

Right now I have two that are listed as GOLD, not platinum.

Don't be so quick to accuse, bform.

[BForm]

That may be, but your history on this issue would suggest otherwise. From the very beginning when Classic Petra was first announced you publicly voiced frustration that John was out of the loop and wasn't told soon enough. From there it's just continued on with one comment after another casting doubt on the integrity of the entire group whenever a new thread was started. It's always been frustrating to me that an official booking agent would publicly voice this stuff.

[rexreed]

Well I'm not talking about you, me, or with anyone that hasn't lost interest with the band over the years, I'm talking about the ones that did. There are more of them then there are of us, so once again Petra is trying to reintroduce themselves to a market that left many, many moons ago and first impression is vital and key for them to give it a second look.
I know the site is far from being finished and once it is fully operational its going look good and be fan/user friendly, but I wonder how many of the fans that haven't been around for a decade or two will see the site how it is as of now and think hmmm why should I comeback again?

The primary reason why fans would come back is because the band is back. Remember, this isn't a case of fans that have left the band but fans that felt they lost the band they loved when GXV left. I know many of you don't believe it but I've met many that loved Volz era Petra that felt like they were listening to a completely different band when John came on board. Many of them never could get the excitement back and simply moved on.

I will say this, and I hope you are still reading Dean. The new site needs to avoid being to modern in it's appearance. Since it's unlikely that Classic Petra is going to connect with a large new audience, you need to tug at the hearts of people that want to reconnect with years gone by. Though new photos of the guys need to be a part of it, there should be a heavy dose of nostalgia; old photos, old T shirt designs, album covers. You need things that make fans say "Oh, I remember that!" Get them longing for one more glimpse of the past and a chance to hear the band they loved one more time. Ultimately I think the success is going to depend on finding ways to reach fans of this era that are not on the Petra zone or listening to Christian radio.

So you think the classic Petra site should look like they did circa 1982? Maybe in the style of a bbs- yeah and Dean can be the sysop? I think that is ridiculous. Make sure all the pictures look like they were taken with a Kodak disk camera- all videos should be produced analog in 4X3 and all new music needs to sound like it did back in the day!

[bakersfieldpethead]

Wow BForm, take it easy. Sue's not attacking anyone nor is she trying to cause a problem. I agree if there has been any updates on the sales of Petra albums, it's good to have the details to update John's career stats.

Let's not get out of hand with this, this is about Classic Petra's website for starters.

and BForm, if you think that Petra needs to keep their website un-modern looking because the older fans wouldn't understand it? Check out LoveSong's Official Website http://www.thelovesongband.com/ Hey BForm, same older fans that loved Petra way back, also like LoveSong.

[p-freak]

Petra doesn't have any platinum albums. They have two gold albums: Praise 1 and Beyond Belief (you can check the RIAA database at riaa.org). Petra doesn't have a Multi-Platinum status. Then you need to have sold more than 2,000,000 copies of an individual album. They don't even have a Platinum award.

I don't know about European platinum status. You don't need as many sales as in the US to get platinum status in many European countries. I can try and find some info, but don't think any other countries than Germany or UK could have generated enough sales. I think platinum in the Netherlands is only 50,000 copies, but then still I can't imagine they sold that many albums.

So it is a mistake in the bio.

[executioner]

Petra doesn't have any platinum albums. They have two gold albums: Praise 1 and Beyond Belief (you can check the RIAA database at riaa.org). Petra doesn't have a Multi-Platinum status. Then you need to have sold more than 2,000,000 copies of an individual album. They don't even have a Platinum award.

I don't know about European platinum status. You don't need as many sales as in the US to get platinum status in many European countries. I can try and find some info, but don't think any other countries than Germany or UK could have generated enough sales. I think platinum in the Netherlands is only 50,000 copies, but then still I can't imagine they sold that many albums.

So it is a mistake in the bio.

Thanks Pfreak, I thought PP2 went gold also? I've seen somewhere that Petra has 3 gold albums, but I guess I could be wrong just like the press release. Isn't anybody proof reading any of this stuff before its being released? This is embarrassing that they can't get their facts straight.

[executioner]

That may be, but your history on this issue would suggest otherwise. From the very beginning when Classic Petra was first announced you publicly voiced frustration that John was out of the loop and wasn't told soon enough. From there it's just continued on with one comment after another casting doubt on the integrity of the entire group whenever a new thread was started. It's always been frustrating to me that an official booking agent would publicly voice this stuff.

I think she is like me and just wants them to get their facts straight. IMO if you can't get it straight don't put it in an official press release. Do you know that these releases are given to promoters and venues to try to generate business and they can and will charge more because hey this the original lineup and they sold this many more albums.