Keeping Petra Alive

[shawnpfan01]

Depending on where it was at, and who would be there, I might consider taking vacation time to attend.

[petranite]

Myth: I hate Petra. I do not hate Petra I believe I am facing reality that the guys will not play together again due to personal issues.

Next if we offered them more money they would"deem it worthy". Ya baby that's what I look for in a "ministry". Again enjoy the music and CD's have a blast watching the videos but seriously people if Brent of all people sayd he's done then man the writing is one the wall for me. Brent is the one person who posts on here that I agree with almost all the time because he doesn't "Over spiritualize" everything throught the eyes of fandom. In fact he constantly tries to reconcile the "ministry" and "business" side of things and at the end of the day Petra is more the later now.

So when Brent said he was done it triggered the same feeling in me. I ernestly am looking forward to hearing new material from John Schlitt as HE is ALIVE.
thank you Edward for restating that they do not owe us an explanation. because they are a private business entity free to make whatever decision they want with their product. I don't take ownership of the band I take ownership of who I will support and invest in and this group of guys no longer deserves that from me until they prove to me the buyer and investor otherwise. Now as for individual people in the band I will take them on a case by case basis. Just like everyone did when it came to David Lichens. We took a long hard look at him and I am now doing the same with the other guys.

Maybe my bluntness or direct approach or whatever turns you off but thats where i'm at.

R.I.P. PETRA

[executioner]

I've been watching the discussions that have taken place here recently about trying to encourage Petra to do some kind of reunion show. Although the situation may seem fairly hopeless when it comes to getting them together for such a concert, I wonder if maybe Petheads aren't going about this the wrong way.

I am forced to think about how fans of Stryper got their band back together. They did it by holding Stryper Expo's that garnered a lot of interest from fans and even drew the interest of band members. This turned out to be quite successful and played no small part in getting them back together. Now I'm not saying the same thing could necessarily happen with Petra, but I do wonder if holding some type of yearly convention that celebrates Petra, might not do some level of good. It would certainly be enjoyable for the fans and would help to keep the memory of Petra and their ministry alive, but it could also help generate renewed interest as well. It worked for Stryper and heck, it even worked for Star Trek.

I think it would be a good idea. Fans could put one together and if it's even half way successful, do it again and keep doing it year after year, so long as it's reasonable to do so. Each year, invite not only the fans, but also send out invitations to any and all who have at any time been a member of Petra to come and join us. Maybe eventually some of them will be willing to not only come, but maybe even to play. You could have other music acts as well. Fans who could do musical tributes to Petra and have praise and worship. There could be trading of fan collectibles, Tables where people could by T-shirts, CDs and whatever else, food of course and whatever other cool things people can think of to make it a fun time.

I don't know, just something to think about. You never know what could happen over time. You'll never know if you don't try.

Bob and the guys know that they still have some fans. It is not a matter of showing proof of fans. It is a matter of willingness to associate and then invest time for one show.

Petra and Stryper really aren't comparable. Petra helped bring rock and roll to the church. Stryper took God rock to the world. BIG difference in fan base and sales. Stryper outsold Petra several times over. So, Stryper still has a demand that is able to sustain them in smaller venues throughout the USA. Petra has no demand for a tour.

If people are going to spend their hard earned money and time to come to a Petra event, it had better be a full blown production. Just looking at products that and chatting is nothing to draw people. We can do all of that on-line.

Actually Petra has still til this day out sold Stryper record wise. I know back in the late 90's Bob Hartman said that Petra has sold over 7M to date. In an interview Michael Sweet did on the Reborn Tour(2005) he said Stryper had sold around 5.5M in total sales.

[executioner]

I know the grieving process is hard but we can't always blame the doctor when the patient dies.
Code Blue.... Code Blue.....

Now to Sue... whatever.... I am sick to death of your relentless defense of this issue but guess what who cares about that either. I am deducing from past interviews and inside information on issues between these guys once called Petra. I take the evidence and then come to a decision and guess what I believe there is more evidence to support that PETRA is DEAD then there is to support PETRA is ALIVE. And about the Stryper thing, I'm seeing them on this tour because they are ALIVE and they could put bad blood behind them (ya even Tim Gaines). Is Stryper perfect heck no not at all but can they share a stage for one night ya can they share a stage for an entire tour heck ya. So they can at least do what the Petra guys can't.

I need no convincing of the DEATH by the way. I just didn't cut and run like Brent did I defended my position. As to me spending hours on here, well nice speculation but here is my soundbyte "NO I DON'T" wow a specific answer to a specific criticism and I didn't even need a publicist or manager to defend me. Like me or not agree with me or not I've been more straight with you about this issue then any member of this band.

Oh ya that's right they don't owe us an explenation. We are just fans and the general public. R.I.P. PETRA.......

P.S. looking forward to the new Schlitt album.

Brent cut and run? Right. Where did you get that?

Louie said "Yes". Ronny said "Yes". John L said "Not now too busy". Bob never communicated either way. We all knew John's position (and Sue reinforced it) from the start, but held out for a change of heart. Why talk about something after it is done? Spock would say, "Illogical".

If you have something to say to Brent, email him. He will answer your questions. [email protected]

Now, back to the annual Pet-fest...that is a waste of time. Even Stryper's was not a huge event. It is all about the cash people. If the group could have offered the guys $50-75k, maybe they would have deemed it worthy. It is not enough money for their trouble. If they will not come for $25k then a Petra-fest will not draw them.

I've been watching all these posts closely but have yet to answer to any of them, but I have a question for you Edward.
I don't recall seeing anywhere where it said Louie said "yes, Ronny said"yes" and John L. said "hes too busy" Where are you getting these quotes and lets see them in print.

[Edward]

Brent's conversations with Louie and Ronny on the phone, John L via email, Sue on the phone and no replies from Bob.

Call/email them for yourself and verify that Brent is telling the truth. Louie was on the road I think, so it was harder to get in touch with him. We had to call him. We tracked Ronny down in LA through the organization he works for. John Ls info is on his site. Call or email Sue. That's about all I can say short of giving out personal phone numbers for the whole band, which ain't gonna happen.

Brent did ask Greg Volz if he would be interested in doing a show. Greg said that he and Bob had actually spoken about doing some stuff together (nothing specific or time definitive), but something like a reunion would be too much work for one night. A tour would make it worth it.

BTW, Executioner, we DID post those same words in previous emails here and elsewhere.

[Preacherman777]

Edward - I'm sorry that you feel this idea would be a waste of time, but you appear to be framing it from the perspective of doing it just to get the guys to do a show. I never really stated that as the purpose for doing it, I just said you never know what could happen over time. The purpose for doing this would be to allow Petheads to get together, share their experiences, share their love for the band and what the band has meant to their lives. They can share their collectibles, share photos, videos, music, and whatever else and just have a great time personally fellowshipping with other people who share a similar passion. This is what conventions are all about. If it grows over time it will draw the interest of the people who were involved to come and be a part of it, not to mention gather more fans as well. Again, this is what conventions are all about. Perhaps you don't have experience with such things and the advantage they have over just talking on a message board. Petra was a big deal for many and still is in the hearts of more than few people. Many more than those who frequent the Zone. I think that just maybe, before you go peeing on everyone's parade, you may want to allow people to make up their own minds about whether or not it's a worth while idea.

By the way, why do I get the unrelenting feeling that you and Brent are the same person?

[Shell]

I think we had a debate a long time ago whether Edward and Brent were the same person, but I'm not sure where that thread is or I'd post it.

It's just his opinion, he doesn't have to participate if he doesn't want to.

[Edward]

Edward is not Brent. We are related.

However:

We work in the same studio on the same network.
We work on the same projects.
We do not agree with each other on all things, but do share the same views about Petra. Brent does not post here, but is constantly leaning over and asking "What are they saying now...?" Sometimes I will post his responses.

Any other questions?

[cvs2kids]

Any other questions?

Sure,

Who will win this season's superbowl and what are this friday's wining lottery numbers?

[Edward]

We live in KC. We think the Chiefs will NOT be in the Super Bowl. Not this year. We think the Royals will not make it to the play-offs or World Series.

Who lives in Dallas? What is your situation there? Anyone see the kickers nailing the video screens? Funny.

The winner of the lottery will hold ticket number 666193.

[gman]

The Royals need to apply for some Stimulus money.

A reunion or covention almost needs to be done with with several veteran acts and some big money sponsors.

I think there will be some sort of reuniting of the band, or various members of the band, somewhere down the line unexpectedly. Whiteheart put a lineup together for an award show awhile back. Something will come up and Bob and John will put something together.

[Edward]

Whoever said Stryper only sold 5 million is incorrect or heard that number incorrectly.

Stryper's complete catalog has not been tracked. This has been a documented issue for them. The albums that were tracked (everything from the second one on) total over 8 million sales in the US alone. Petra has done 7+ million world wide. BIG difference.

[epdc]

Of course edward and brent are not the same person!!!!! they are different personalities in the same body hehehehehehehe j/k.

I agree with what preacherman777 said. The times I went to pethead conventions (let me see, twice in wisconsin, one in franklin TN and to one show in phoenix), is like, the concert lasted for what? 2 hours maybe? then you hang out with the band not longer than an hour if you are lucky. But the whole hanging out with the other petheads? A DAY OR TWO and let me tell ya, honestly, I have enjoyed way more to hang our with the petheads than with the band members LOL, if you see the farewell DVD in the interview to fans section, I appear there and I mention that it is not only about talking about petra but talking about Jesus, the Bible, about our lives and it is an amazing experience.

I believe those once a year convention could work. BUT, listen BUT it should be plan and really plan. Something that worked the two times I went to wisconsin was that sue like mentioned the concert date almost a year ahead so many petheads could attend.

This is a thing that has to be planned and organized, it could take months, even more than a year but if it`s well made, I believe it could work. Of course it has to be planned like "ok, what would we do in a convention?", all that has to be planned, even the money issues.

[Vic]

I've been watching the discussions that have taken place here recently about trying to encourage Petra to do some kind of reunion show. Although the situation may seem fairly hopeless when it comes to getting them together for such a concert, I wonder if maybe Petheads aren't going about this the wrong way.

I am forced to think about how fans of Stryper got their band back together. They did it by holding Stryper Expo's that garnered a lot of interest from fans and even drew the interest of band members. This turned out to be quite successful and played no small part in getting them back together. Now I'm not saying the same thing could necessarily happen with Petra, but I do wonder if holding some type of yearly convention that celebrates Petra, might not do some level of good. It would certainly be enjoyable for the fans and would help to keep the memory of Petra and their ministry alive, but it could also help generate renewed interest as well. It worked for Stryper and heck, it even worked for Star Trek.

I think it would be a good idea. Fans could put one together and if it's even half way successful, do it again and keep doing it year after year, so long as it's reasonable to do so. Each year, invite not only the fans, but also send out invitations to any and all who have at any time been a member of Petra to come and join us. Maybe eventually some of them will be willing to not only come, but maybe even to play. You could have other music acts as well. Fans who could do musical tributes to Petra and have praise and worship. There could be trading of fan collectibles, Tables where people could by T-shirts, CDs and whatever else, food of course and whatever other cool things people can think of to make it a fun time.

I don't know, just something to think about. You never know what could happen over time. You'll never know if you don't try.

An expo is actually a great idea. Why? Coz its more or less a ready and instant market. It will definitely attract those pursuing solo careers and others like other former band members, and cover bands. If well publicized, it can be a headline grabber and will draw (the deserved) media attention to Petra, thus increase chances of a reunion.

Much as many of us would like to see the dream team together, it's good to have a open mind, lower expectation and elicit participation from all former members of Petra regardless of their significance. The heartbeat of an expo is informality, receptivity and goodwill and this is much more powerful than a full blown concert.

Again, lowering expectation is good for health- on a light note. Remember its all about generating renewed interest, and not a direct means of getting them on stage again.