Classic Petra's Facebook

[Shell]

People weren't "fired left and right" Felipe. The majority of them left of their own free will and moved on to other stuff.

[Shell]

I'm not saying anything against Greg, Felipe. If Greg and some of the others choose to work together that's their business. But you seem to assume everyone who left Petra was fired and that isn't the case. And really, I think it's the fans who make most of the drama or they wouldn't be making such a big issue over band members choosing not to work together. As it's been pointed out, it's beating a dead horse. And really, don't we all have people that we would be better off not working with?

[bakersfieldpethead]

I agree a lot with Enosh, but i'm gonna do that from time to time.

I also want to point out a few things. the website may say "Classic Petra" however if you read (the music) section on the site it says "PETRA will be BACK in the studio this summer to re-record a CD" they are going under the name PETRA. You can talk about who owns what, but I will say this dang it, BOB has the right to do whatever he wants with the name Petra, he started the thing, he can do this if he wants to. If Bob calls this PETRA it's PETRA, they were PETRA before John they are PETRA now after John.

I'm not going to spend all my time wondering what John thinks about this, I would think that if John had any concerns or thoughts about it he is either praying or he would say something to Bob about it, or even make a statement in support or against it. But last I checked John is trying to get his solo ministry off the ground.

I Love John, I think that what he has done for Petra is far better than what any one could have asked out of him. The survival of Petra depended on his voice, it was either going to take off or flop but it took off. No one is pushing John to the side. John was called the "Voice of CCM", do you know who was the "Voice of CCM" before John? His name was Steve Archer, alot of people today wouldn't remember Steve Archer, Steve held that title for just a few years in the 80s, being that CCM officialy went under the name CCM in 1979 or 80". As soon as John arrived in PETRA it was all over John took the term and held it for how long? So I think John has gone a long way to make sure his name isn't forgot, he will always be remembered in Christian Music everywhere.

I will also add this as well

We have the chance to see and hear TWO versions of PETRA this year, we have the Greg Volz era and the John Schlitt era now we have the best of both worlds at different events and all we're doing is fighting over needless junk, let's just get over it and praise the Lord with PETRA which ever one you want to see. If you don't want to see the Greg era then don't go, if you don't like the festivals with the 3rd of the "Farewell" line up then don't go.

Bob and Greg came out of the JESUS MUSIC era where it was never about commercialism in the first place, everyone that started in that era was of the mind set that they were winning souls for God and giving praise back to God. We've been fighting over this "who was the better lead singer" thing for years, but guess what? God chose Greg and he chose John to both sing at different times, it was God who appointed those men to come in contact with Bob just like it was God who directed the formation of Petra in the first place, and it isn't up to us to fight and cry about who's better or who should or shouldn't be there because after all PETRA was doing this FOR GOD not for us. It was always a ministry, they have always said that. JOHN says in (Back Stage Page) "We are ministers FIRST, musicians SECOND." So I think we need to stop fighting over it.

PETRA IS BACK!!!!!

[Enosh]

Does anyone else find it ironic that its me and bakes that get all serious to set this straight?

Good post stephen.

Thanks for agreement everyone.

Shell I love ya and while I agree that many members did leave on there own accord. There is record of those who were fired and others who were kinda pushed in the out direction.

It is so good to see louie playinng again. The last few years just weren't petra. It was john schlitt with bob playing guitar. I suppoorted that like everyone else but it wasn't petra.

Heck andband sounded more like petra than petra did. That is why we were told we had to do more of johns solo stuff because management was throwing a cow!

I agree with stephen. This isn't about who's better. Its about the band. Right now I just think that classic petra should be petra.

[Shell]

I understand what you were saying about the band member turnover, Enosh, and I don’t dispute the idea that the two or three new members per album thing likely hurt them. They weren’t all fired as Felipe seems to think is all I was trying to say. A lot of them had to move on to other things to pay the bills, and some of them may have moved on for other reasons. As far as I'm concerned, their trouble began when Johnny L., Ronny and Bob left. I don't think things were the same after that, but that is just my opinion. They've had good people in the band since then, I loved Greg B. and Paul, and Justin was a great drummer. The "Dream Team" will always mean a lot to me. And the "Dream Team" may be different line ups to different people.

Whatever the case, time will tell as you said.

[sue d.]

Enosh wrote:

I'm talking about the past when we it seemed we were getting 2 to 3 new petra members per album. Not the petra hybrid that is the john and bob show with special guest greg bailey from that last album.

Now come on... give Greg a LITTLE more credit that this! Greg's first show with Petra was March 2002 and he played until the early morning hours of Jan. 1, 2006. The man stuck with Petra through some very tough & trying times. He did not quit like the others who joined at the same time. He contributed a great deal to the Farewell acoustic medley, and was also on J&H. Give the man a little credit.

But if you separate yourself from it and read the posts on this board you can clearly see that people are darn confused. Look at the topic page. It is a bunch of confusing posts about multiple incarnations of what was once the greatest band around.

Confusing? Absolutely! This is what I've been saying all along. It's VERY confusing to see TWO versions going at the same time.

And what incarnation do you think started the reunion thing? It was NOT the classic version. This classic lineup was announce AFTER booked dates with the Farewell guys were posted.

I have no problem with a classic lineup - that's a prior lineup/version that has nothing to do with John, and they can do what they want. But putting it out there in the SAME YEAR, while the Farewell lineup is doing shows is just asking for confusion. That has been my point all along.

There is only one incarnation of petra that (currently) has a game plan. If we have different versions running around calling themselves petra it dilutes the brand and its credability.

I agree. Up until now there was ONE version of Petra 'running around': the Farewell lineup. Dates were booked months ago, and the schedule was posted. The gigs were booked because the band was requested to come to these festivals. John/Bob was giving the promoters/fans what they wanted.

Then, seemingly out of the blue, comes a premature email announcing a classic reunion. I was taken totally by surprise.

What we have now are a group of guys that are holding on to their version of petra. My take is if john wants petra to work with him in it get the dream team together.

John is doing these reunion shows because festivals ASKED Petra to come. He is giving them what they wanted. He is not trying to revive Petra, or milk it for all its worth. He (and Bob) are responding to promoter requests by saying YES.

The question was asked who should use the name.

They're BOTH Petra.

Aside from all this -- in reality, all we have is speculation on what dates/shows may or may not be happening with classic Petra. Nothing is posted & no tour sched is announced yet. So who knows? All this discussion may be null & void if promoters aren't interested - and no one knows if they are or are not at this point. And no one WILL know until the agent lists some firm dates for the public to see.

[brent]

Classic Petra was not a retaliation to the reunion bookings. That's just plain silly. This is something that has been kicked around for a while. I was talking to Louie and Greg about this in 2005 and the idea was not new to them. That logic would not work anyway. If anything, seeing ONLY two whopping shows booked IS justification to start booking a completely different Petra band that people WILL want to see, seeing how numerous resourceful industry folk have "tried to help" the last gen Petra since 2002 and the ship went down. If money behind it in 1998 couldn't help pale a little water from the deck of the boat, exponentially less money and influence now will not raise it from the ocean floor. It's time for a boat that docked to head back to see. Let the sunken ship rest for now.

This isn't too confusing. I think this is hard to accept for those needlessly taking this waaaaaay too seriously and personally.

[petranite]

It's been a while since I've chimed in on this but after reading 5 pages of back and forth I would still jsut like to say that there is still NO OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION OF ANY DATES BOOKED BY CLASSIC PETRA!!!!! Until that happens everybody needs to chill out. Sue is 100% correct in what she has stated multiple times here. John & Bob said YES to some dates that they were not trying to book. Those dates are 100% confirmed and OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED so until something more viable then a flashy webpage happens I will consider the John Schlitt Line-up to be the ONLY OFFICIAL PETRA.

i am not saying classic petra is not going to happen but until it is OFFICIAL John's lineup is the only PETRA. By the way I am sad to see that I am the only one on this board that will be at Johns Athens Illinois show this Saturday.

[Enosh]

Sue

I love greg bailey. He's a great guy. When we were playing with john greg wanted to have his picture taken withus on his camera. He's very humble devoted and a sweet guy. Sue igive him all the credit in the world.

That being said... other than the petheads nobody knows who he is by name. Hey is that the guy from the newsboys? Are the comments I heard in the crowd. People who have seen petra lately know john and bob. They are who people go to see.

So are classic petra supposed to wait until farewell petra has no more chances of doing a show until they announce anything? Come on. Like or not but it appears that something is going to happen with classic petra. It appears that some are trying to downplay it like its not legitimate because of loyalties to john.

That may not be accurate. But it is how it appears. As the joker asked... why so serious? And I would add... why so defensive?

If festivals want farewell petra so be it. Its realistically a 2 guys from petra electric show. If someone books classic petra they are getting petra.

If farewell petra retired why are they even still booking shows? It would never be a safe environment for classic to do anything. Don't say its because its what people want. I would say the people never wanted them to retire in the first place. There was going tobe no record deal and they were able to sell the farewell cd and dvd.

Many here mentioned that they could of gone independant. It was said they didn't want to. There were not enough resources to do it. ...well they recorded and produced the 2 guys album. Sounded plenty good tome. They could of recorded bobs new music and not retired. I would of supported an indie petra. I think others would have too. Then I would say that is petra the old lineup should wait or make it clear they are classic petra. But now...you leave the line...you lose your spot.

I'm not saying they are trying to milk it. But when you retire that's how it makes it look. That's all. Since bob is in both its probably him that make the distinction.

[brent]

+1

[petraman]

+2

[petranite]

Hike

[p-freak]

You have a way of gently reminding us what it's all about again.

[Shell]

Felipe, I don't see anybody whining here. This is a discussion board and Sue and Enosh raised some very valid issues. It's not unreasonable for them to express concern about confusion.

Maybe you should take a look at your own posts about band members choosing not to work together before accusing others of whining. Just a suggestion.

[brent]

I don't know. I love both of those guys. I really like Greg and his heart. Lonnie did some great things for Petra. He was the modern day Ronnie, with energy for days. He had a great testimony and John capitalized on that. Both of them are on equal levels skill-wise IMO.