"The Greater Cause" - John's New CD

[sue d.]

Hehehe... yeah!

.... we don't want Johnny to be working on the docks.... we want him to be SINGING!

Take my hand, and we'll make it - I swear...

Come on, guys - a mere $10 gets you the digital download - you would buy the album anyways, wouldn't you???

[BForm]

Love the new video for The Grafting. It really did come out nice. Get that in the right hands and it could mean a resurgance in sales for that CD, not to mention good promotion for the Kickstarter program.

[johntheumfreak]

$14,515 left to go in less than a month =(

I plan on donating, unfortunately it'll be one of the lower end pledges. Hopefully a lot of people (or just a few with big pledges) will pitch in at the last moment.

[Tutor23]

wow - closing in on $21k. That's a hefty chunk. Still hoping...!
Andy

[sue d.]

Absolutely, Bform. That's what we're hoping!

Andy, keep hoping - keep praying! If everyone would just pledge the $10, which is basically a pre-buy --- we'd get a lot closer!

Today we're at:

225
Backers

$20,605
pledged of $35,000 goal

27
days to go

[sue d.]

We just added a new pledge level that includes an excellent DVD by Rickard Karlsson from Sweden - read the next newsletter from John, below:

----------

We've added a new pledge level that I've been told you'll be very interested in: a 'never before seen' DVD of my tour in Europe!

In 2009 I was on a solo band tour in Europe; while on the Sweden leg, Rickard Karlsson, producer/director/videographer, followed me everywhere, shooting footage of the live concerts, behind the scenes rehearsals, dressing room shots, intimate moments, etc. (it's like our "Backstage Pass" video) ... he even included film from my Head East days, as well as family home video.

Here's a preview of the DVD on my YouTube channel: http://youtu.be/MBFOGWYK474

While I really loved the DVD, I didn't love seeing ME (I didn't like how I looked - I just seemed too out of shape)! My vanity fought releasing this video all the way! However, my team convinced me to offer this DVD as a new reward since we're in the 'final days' and nearing the funding goal.

Please continue to pray and increase your pledge as you are able... we have less than a month to go!

Thank you for your pledges that you've made so far; it's much appreciated!

...John

-------------------

$78 Pledge Tier:
NEVER BEFORE SEEN DVD PACKAGE: GET THE VIDEO PORTRAIT OF MY EUROPEAN TOUR 2009. Follow me on the Sweden leg of the tour, with live music performances of solo & Petra songs, behind the scenes footage, intimate moments, historical photos/videos of Head East and Petra --- and much more!

This is a full packaged DVD, shipped to your home, along with the Limited Edition Autographed Supporter Poster, 2 pre-release autographed CDs, and a Pre-release digital download.

[p-freak]

Why $78? Wouldn't $77.77 have been much more fun?

But of course we're gonna have to go for this. We need this album to happen.

[sue d.]

Oh, that would have been a great pledge amount! lol!

Yes, this album NEEDS to happen. Not only for us to hear a real rocker again from John, but for John's sake as well. He WANTS to give you an awesome rocker, but he just doesn't have the dollars to do it. That's why Kickstarter and the partnership approach.

[zak89]

My brother and I recently signed on (the two 'Klein's on July 4 - Sue, you may or may not remember us from the Portage WI 'Critical Mass' concert, back in 2010, I think, where John performed. We're weren't able to make the concert but our family [cough] invited John and yourself over, though that ended up not working out ).

Really hoping this pulls through for John - I really appreciate his heart in this,

[sue d.]

Yes, I saw your signing on... John was wondering who the two brothers were - I told him I didn't know. Now I do!

I remember the Critical Mass show.... that was in 2007!

Yes, I hope this comes thru for John as well... it HAS to, or you probably won't hear anything from him again. There is no "Plan B."

[LivingRock]

it HAS to, or you probably won't hear anything from him again. There is no "Plan B."

My gosh, John can't just disappear off the scene! We have GOT to do this! Come on people!

[HudsonPethead]

72%
We need this Rock Album!
I can not even imagine the possibility of not seeing John singing again.
Just frustrating!
Let's help people, please.

[sue d.]

You said it - come on, people! Only 233 backers?! Of all the thousands of Petra fans/supporters throughout the world, only 233 thought it important enough to pledge something to John...

I can't imagine John hanging it up either... but the reality is that music is not paying the bills any more. I don't know what he is going to do if this falls through... neither does he.

What's really frustrating right now is that this afternoon someone pledged $4000... and tonight they cancelled their pledge.

John was all excited (as was I and the rest of the gang) and feeling so very good... and now it's gone and the person has not re-pledged. I've not had the heart to call John and tell him.

I hope this was just a mistake by the person and that he wasn't doing this to be mean and misleading... if so, it's really a nasty thing to do.

It's a rather disappointing night....

[Jan]

Sue, exactly. I was so excited to see that today....and just saw that it was gone. I'm praying that God will make it up!

[brent]

That is sad. That is a blow for sure. I feel the pain.2

Unfortunately, there is no money in selling rock CDs. This is the reason why Best Buys are dropping CDs and why they are soon dividing their stores and sub-leasing. Walmarts are reducing CD inventories.

Christian sales have been trending down. Physical sales were down 2.5% in 2009. Downloads were down 4.5% down. The biggest sellers have not been hard rockers. BUT, there have been some big singles that have been driving some people in.

There is still money in concerts. But, 2010 tour revenues were down over 200 million from 2009. Artists should consider downloads as advertising. This is true unless the artist has a backer/label/loan shark.