Debunking Petra Myths

[Boray]

I know that he was proud of what he did at one time. He was the musical focal point in BTS and NOTW. He was the best keyboardist Petra had.

In Beat The System???

[brent]

Period. I love John L, his story and his impact in CCM (especially with Joe English and AKA), but Slick was a better musician and plays with a bluesier soul. You should really check out the vids of him playing the B3 in Nashville. Holy Cow!

[brent]

I think that mostly has to do with the change in producers. Listen to something else where John & Dino Elefante were involved around that time, for example Sweet & Comfort Band - Perfect Timing. That too is quite a change from that groups previous albums and actually more like Back to the Street.

Perfect Timing was a great record. Too bad they quit on that note. But, the world was better musically for it. We would not have had Allies and hundreds of good country songs and country guitar tracks. That said, you are right Boray. This album and band had not paralleled Petra in my head until now. Good call.

[Boray]

Yes, I really like Perfect Timing. It was the only album of them I had heard. I had it on a tape copied from my brother and I had no idea that the Elefante brothers were involved in it until just a couple of years ago. That was cool to find out. And about a year ago, I looked up the other Sweet Comfort Band albums on the net and started listening. From all of their previous record I think I only found totally 2-3 songs that I actually liked. So that record was a radical change. Yes too bad they didn't continue - and on that track.

[executioner]

I liked SCB last 2 albums, but nothing before that. I've noticed that they are doing some touring and could release something new. That would be cool. I would also like to hear something out of Servant & White Heart also.

[brent]

Servant was one of those bands that evolved with the times, and eventually out of my favor. They had allot of turnover too. Unfortunately, one of my favorite band members died. I called Sandie one day and talked to her about what they are doing now, what they thought about the music back then, and if they were interested in authorizing a re-release. I wanted albums that were not available at that time, but I wanted to remix them with them modernizing some of the songs. They were all for it, but the multi-tracks were either non-exsitant or damaged by neglect. Sandie was blown away that anyone wanted that. We spoke as she snacked and washed dishes. It was like chatting comfortably with an old friend. She spoke highly of Petra and D&K and those tours. That's all I have on this one. I loved Servant. They were like Petra, kind of shaking things up, reaching the tokers and calling things as they are, even busting the chops of those preaching the name-it-claim-it stuff. They were real, and you could definitely tell who their influences were. They tipped their hats well.

[executioner]

I saw Servant twice in the early 80's, once with David & the Giants and I believe with D&K. I went away with a feeling like I was with family & friends; you know just very comfortable. You could tell as with Petra, D&K, Bloodgood, Rez and a few others that they were real for Jesus.

[Mountain Man]

The only Servant album I've heard is "Caught in the Act of Loving Him". It has some really good songs, but overall the album has never really grabbed me.

[brent]

Oh man. Rockin' Revival and World of Sand are it for me. I didn't like anything past CITA was not good for me. I WILL say that they did a good job staying relevant stylistically.

[Petrafan327]

I had the honor to talk to Bob Hartman for about an hour after Classic Petra's concert Friday night in Merrit Island Florida, and I had the chance to ask many questions that I had burning in my head for years. Bob was very nice and gave me all the attention I wanted, and very engaged in the "interview". With his permission I will debunk some myths, as said by the man himself:

1. Back To The Street was not writen nor recorded for Greg. It was all done after Greg left with John onboard from the start.
2. John Slick is very proud of his work with Petra, and sees it as a "great acomplishment in his life for God". Bob and him have been in touch regularly.
3. The backward masking in Judas' Kiss was all Bob's idea.
4. Petra used to do backward masking live by: having all members of the band put on masks in the middle of the show and turn their backs to the audience in the early 80s as a parody to the hardliners that were having a witch hunt on them due to Judass Kiss.

There you have it. It was very interesting talking that much with Bob. He is a very intelligent man with a heart for God, and very gracious in the way he treated me and my wife last night. What a blessing. And yes, he still lurks around here, and reads our posts, and our sillyness getting a laugh about our arguments every now and then.

Lol... my dad saw Petra in concert in the early '80s and remembers them doing the "backmasking" with actual masks. Would have loved to see them.

[BriGuyPEI]

My big myth-debunking question would have been around Doug Pinnick/Ty Tabor. I've heard various versions of Doug almost joining/being considered for Petra back in 1980 or so. I'd like to hear the straight story from Bob.

I'd also be curious to know why the GHF line-up went their separate ways.

[brent]

Re: GHF, I think that you would find that time, perspective and grace would reveal two different answers. If you would have asked those guys back in the day, it would have been one answer. If you ask them now, you would probably get another answer, if not a non-answer...cause they have moved on.

Doug filled in while Mark, who took leave to take care of his mother. I think there was someone else who filled in as well. If I remember that, or who told me that, I will update. I have never heard the rumor that Doug was considered to join. That would have been a train wreck.

Ty was not included AFAIK. Ty and Jerry were supposedly used by Greg Volz for a project. That is how they got Doug. Doug and Jerry toured with Phil Keaggy. As per their own video, Ty was booked for a show, his drummer quit, Doug and Jerry were playing the same show, Jerry filled in, then they all became a band. Neither side has suggested that Petra was an option for Doug. The guys worked with Morgan Cryar, co-writing some tunes. They played live with him. When the band and road crew started having sex with people at the Cryar shows, the band was out, there was no hope for them with Star Song. We opened for Cryar when he had the new guys, Vito, (the guy whose house Morgan Cryar broke into to get some music...which pretty much ended his career). There is all kinds of real life stuff that played out. Don't buy into the slick, glossed over wikis.

[Mountain Man]

Vito, (the guy whose house Morgan Cryar broke into to get some music...which pretty much ended his career).

Wow... I've never heard that story.

Seriously, you should write a history of the Christian music industry some time. It would be fascinating to get a glimpse of all the stuff that happens behind the scenes while the performers put on a happy face for the public.

I have a friend who used to work as a promoter throughout Ohio back in the 70's and 80's, and he once told me about how Second Chapter of Acts would throw fits backstage whenever the "love offering" was below their expectations, then they'd go on stage and publicly thank God for the audience's generosity.

[executioner]

Vito, (the guy whose house Morgan Cryar broke into to get some music...which pretty much ended his career).

Wow... I've never heard that story.

Seriously, you should write a history of the Christian music industry some time. It would be fascinating to get a glimpse of all the stuff that happens behind the scenes while the performers put on a happy face for the public.

I have a friend who used to work as a promoter throughout Ohio back in the 70's and 80's, and he once told me about how Second Chapter of Acts would throw fits backstage whenever the "love offering" was below their expectations, then they'd go on stage and publicly thank God for the audience's generosity.

I know I've heard that about 2nd Chapter of Acts. I know when Steve Camp was doing the non profit thing and would come out on stage he would do 4-5 songs which were all focused on giving, then take a "love offering" and then take an intermission; during the intermission they would count up the proceeds behind the scenes and the amount given would determine how many more songs he would come back out and do.
I've got so many stories I could tell about 80's-90's CCM from promoters that I know, that it would really make you think if these artists are in it for the right reasons and are they living the Godly life? There are only a few CCM artists that I've never heard anything bad about from behind the scenes.

[Mountain Man]

Believe it or not, my friend said that Stryper was one of the straightest-arrows early in their career.