which petra?

[RockOn]

Yep...I asked that too.

According to Sue, the last incarnation...Bob, John, Greg and Paul.

Sounds good to me!

[adrinux]

"The last incarnation" is what sounds funny to me


They shouldn't say they ware retiring once they are still doing concerts around.

But, on the other side, let them keep playing!

[sue d.]

Petra IS retired, and they're not doing any more concerts. This is a special event, a "legends" concert, and Petra has a definite right to be part of it.

But the band is not planning on reuniting or doing other concerts or tours.

[davealward]

Let me start by saying that I am a huge Petra fan, and will buy probably anything Schlitt/Hartman continue to put out. I will also go see them again if they come to my area no matter what they call themselves.

However, this whole retirement thing was a misnomer in my opinion. It's kind of like Larry Norman doing a final farewell concert annually. When i went to the Petra Farewell tour i really thought that would probably be the last chance to catch Schlitt and Hartman together. That made it special.

Sue, i do agree they are legends, but i think they should have waited a while to appear at such an event. Let the anticipation build a while.

DeGarmo and Key did it right. They retired and very seldom have played live since. Finally, recently they were honored at an event (ASCAP) for a visionary award, and played two songs together with their main band lineup. Props to D and K.

Petra really never has 'retired'. We were always told Petra was a ministry, not the people in it. Vertical Expressions is more or less Praise 4.

All this being said, i continue to enjoy the guys music and ministry.

[adrinux]

davealward, I agree with you totaly.

When I heard of Petra's farewell I thought they would "die" to the music scene, of course, doing some very local things, but not recording albuns and playing "frequently".

I DO NOT have anything against it. But when I tell my friends that I am a Petra fan and show them the last album (V.E.), I'd prefer say that it's a Petra album than to have to explain all the history and say that is it not a Petra album, it is a... 2 guys from petra album...

[Schlittism33]

I have NO complaints on the reunion show. Like Sue said, they have every right to be there! and for a young fan that only got to see Petra for the first time and LAST on the Farewell Tour. Two Years till a reunion is long enough!!! lol Plus it will be great for the guys! I'm sure John and Bob miss the other guys and it will be cool to get to share such a special event - and nobody here can tell me they have any complaints about getting to see Petra again????

I'm just looking forward to seeing Christian Rocks greatest band one more time... and if a second or third chance comes along.. GREAT!!!

I'm already countin down the days till July 29!!


-Stephen

[adrinux]

Petra... can't see myself without the greatest band of the world.

If I lived near them, I would go to EVERY concert!

[sue d.]

When i went to the Petra Farewell tour i really thought that would probably be the last chance to catch Schlitt and Hartman together.

John and Bob really thought it would be the last time they would play together also.

You have to understand - the II GUYS thing was NOT anything pre-planned or thought out ahead of time in any way, shape or form. It happened totally by 'chance' - and you KNOW there IS NO SUCH THING as chance.

If we're in Him, the Lord will direct our lives - if we're sensitive to where He's leading. And the Lord has been in charge of this all the way.

You've read what's on the CD:

At the time of Petra's retirement at the end of 2005, the future was unclear for Bob and John. Both were pursuing other ventures outside of the music business when Bob received an invitation from Canada to lead worship for a youth retreat. Bob immediately thought of teaming with John, much to the delight of the sponsors. As Bob began arranging popular worship songs for the duo to perform, it became obvious that it wouldn't be much harder to make an album together. After several months of work it was time to christen the new venture. Should they call themselves Bob and John...or Schlitt and Hartman? They elected to call themselves what they suspected people would call them inevitably..."Oh...that's two guys from Petra"!

At the same time - totally by 'chance' - I got a request for an acoustic show with John - but he doesn't play anything. Bob didn't know about my request, I didn't know about his - but God certainly did - and that's how the concert portion of this was born.

God is not a God of waste. HE put Petra to rest, but he did not retire John and Bob. He had his plans...

Dave, you also wrote:

Sue, i do agree they are legends, but i think they should have waited a while to appear at such an event.

Define "a while." What's an appropriate time frame to wait? Two years? Ten years? Fifteen years? Who is to say there would even BE another event like this?

D&K did what they felt was right for them.
John and Bob are doing what they feel the Lord is telling them to do.

[davealward]

Sue, thanks for your thoughtful comments. Let me state that i am not in any way saying John and Bob were lying to us. I think what i'm getting at is that even Christian artists need to be very careful how they market things. I know there were probably a lot of petra fans who drove long amounts of time to get to a farewell show and spent money on merchandise thinking it would be the end. Some of those people maybe really couldn't even afford to go or to buy stuff, but did do to the 'special, unique' opportunity.

It would be my hope that no Petra show in the future will be marketed as the final one. As we are seeing, they will never say never till God says so. Thus the legends show.

As for the timing, it seems pretty quick to me, but maybe it's a matter of opinion. Bands such as D and K, and Whitecross have waited longer and i have respect for that.

As for the moniker 'Legends', Schlitt and Hartman yes for sure. Paul and Greg are great musicians and neat to watch, but a true Legends Petra lineup would include members such as Lawry who were there much longer. Nonetheless, i would attend the show if i lived closer!

[Michael]

see this thread for more about this.