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Petra > Band Biography

Petra was established in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1972 as the result of the collaboration between four Christian Training Center college students - Bob Hartman (guitar, vocals), Greg Hough (guitar, vocals), John DeGroff (bass), and Bill Glover (drums). Petra performed primarily in the midwest during its first few years of existence; coffeehouses, churches, high schools, colleges, and city parks were among the first "venues" in which the band performed. Following the concerts, Petra shared the Gospel with those in attendance. During its early years, the band endured much criticism and faced protestors who claimed that its brand of music was "of the Devil." Nonetheless, by 1973 Petra secured a recording contract with Myrrh Records; the band's eponymous debut - recorded in two weeks' time and on a low budget of $900 - was released the following year. The slow sales of Petra did not hinder the band's growing reputation for its live performances, and despite much opposition from select groups, Petra began to have a lasting impact on the lives of many people. By 1977, Petra released Come And Join Us. For the band's sophomore effort, Bob Hartman recruited Greg X. Volz as a guest vocalist. In addition to providing background vocals throughout the album, Volz provided lead vocals for the tracks "Woman Don't You Know" and "God Gave Rock And Roll To You." Volz's collaboration on Come And Join Us marked the beginning of a long-term relationship with Petra: he was invited to become a permanent member of the band and served as lead vocalist until 1985. Due to the disappointing sales of Come And Join Us, Petra was released from its contract with Myrrh. The band forged on, constantly performing throughout the country, thus solidifying its musical identity and honing its craft. Within two years, Petra relocated to Nashville, TN and signed with StarSong Records to release its third album. Washes Whiter Than was released in 1979, providing the band with its first radio hit - "Why Should The Father Bother" - and paving the way for the future of the band. Prior to the release of Washes Whiter Than, Petra experienced the first of many lineup changes that would plague the band for years to come. Nonetheless, Petra proved its dedication to its ministry and music, and continued to press onward. Petra's well-earned "breakthrough" success began with the release of 1981's Never Say Die, which featured the hit singles "For Annie" and "The Coloring Song." Other highlights and concert favorites from Never Say Die included "Chameleon," "Angel Of Light," and "Without Him We Can Do Nothing." Never Say Die also signaled the beginning of a collaboration with producer Jonathan David Brown, who produced each of Petra's next four subsequent releases. As Petra's popularity increased, so did the length of its tours. In 1982, Petra performed over 160 concerts, taking only five weeks off during the summer months to record its fifth studio release. Released in late 1982, More Power To Ya contained the radio hits "Judas' Kiss", "More Power To Ya", "Road To Zion", and "Stand Up". In addition, More Power To Ya was the first Petra recording to chart within the Top 10 on Billboard's Top Contemporary Christian charts, peaking at the #4 position in 1983. Longtime drummer Louie Weaver - affectionately known as the "Mickey Mouse drummer" - joined the ranks of Petra in time for More Power To Ya and its corresponding tour; Weaver remained with the band for more than 20 years. Petra toured extensively throughout 1983, performing over 150 concerts. In August, the band took six weeks off from its touring schedule to complete its sixth studio recording, Not Of This World. Similar in style with its predecessor, Not Of This World peaked at the coveted #1 position on Billboard's Top Contemporary Christian charts, and yielded the hits "Grave Robber" and "Not By Sight". By November 1984, Petra completed and released Beat The System, which marked a change in the band's musical direction. With its heavy reliance upon keyboards and synthesized percussion, Beat The System revealed a technically proficient and modern Petra. Despite the departure from the band's trademark musical style, Beat The System topped Billboard's Top Contemporary Christian charts, due in part to the strength of the hit singles "Beat The System" and "Adonai". A year of transition, 1985 brought forth a major change for Petra: Beat The System was the band's final studio collaboration with vocalist Greg X. Volz, who left the band following its Beat The System Tour (and subsequent official live release, Captured In Time & Space) to pursue a solo career. Petra did not waste any valuable time in its search for a new vocalist; by the end of the year, former Head East vocalist John Schlitt was confirmed as the band's replacement for Greg X. Volz. With the addition of John Schlitt and his distinctive vocal style, Petra was a renewed musical vehicle. At the time, no one could possibly know what God had in store for the band over the course of the next several years. Released in 1986, Back To The Street was John Schlitt's debut as lead vocalist for Petra. A pivotal point in the band's recording career, Back To The Street marked a transition in Petra's musical direction toward a heavier, guitar-dominated rock sound. John Elefante (former lead vocalist for Kansas) and Dino Elefante produced Back To The Street, the first of many Petra releases to feature the brothers' distinct production stamp. In addition, Back To The Street continued Petra's charting success, peaking at #4 on Billboard's Top Contemporary Christian charts and producing the hit single "Thankful Heart." Other noteworthy songs included "Back To The Street" and "Shakin' The House". Petra's ninth official studio release revealed a fresh, revitalized, newly-transformed band. From a lyrical standpoint, 1987's This Means War! was a concept album of sorts, focusing primarily on prayer and the ongoing spiritual battle between good and evil. Musically, the band had successfully implemented a harder edge, with guitar featured more prominently in the mix than previous releases. Peaking atop the Top Contemporary Christian charts, This Means War! produced the hit rock anthems and concert staples "This Means War!" and "He Came, He Saw, He Conquered", while the softer "Don't Let Your Heart Be Hardened" also received a generous amount of airplay. On Fire! continued with and expanded upon the musical direction of its predecessor, revealing more of a raw, hard rock edge to the band's style. The opening three tracks - "All Fired Up", "Hit You Where You Live", and "Mine Field" - were among the heaviest of the band's repertoire at the time. The ballad "First Love" proved to be a radio staple, which helped propel On Fire! to the #3 position on the Top Contemporary Christian charts. Other album highlights included "Counsel Of The Holy", "Stand In The Gap", and "Homeless Few". On Fire! was the band's final official studio recording to be released by StarSong Records; Petra signed with Word shortly following its release in 1988. Not afraid to experiment, Petra decided to try something different upon signing to Word Records: to create an album of modern praise songs, custom-tailored to fit Petra's guitar-laden rock sound. The final result - 1989's Petra Praise: The Rock Cries Out - was a huge success, earning Petra its first RIAA-certified Gold Album, awarded for sales in excess of 500,000 copies. For Petra Praise: The Rock Cries Out, Petra recorded its own versions of many of the popular praise songs at the time, including "King Of Kings", "The Battle Belongs To The Lord", "Salvation Belongs To Our God", "I Will Call Upon The Lord", "We Exalt Thee", and several others. The album also included two original tracks: "I Love The Lord" and "The King Of Glory Shall Come In", both penned by Bob Hartman. Petra Praise: The Rock Cries Out peaked at #2 on Billboard's Top Contemporary Christian charts, and also earned the band its first Dove Award, for Recorded Music Packaging of the Year. In 1992, Petra released a Spanish version of the album, titled Petra En Alabanza, for which John Schlitt's vocals were re-recorded in Spanish. Beyond Belief, the band's twelfth official studio release, was released in 1990 at the peak of its recording career. The album topped Billboard's Top Contemporary Christian charts and yielded four hit singles - the midtempo rockers "Creed" and "Beyond Belief", plus the ballads "Love" and "Prayer". Other noteworthy tracks included "Armed And Dangerous", "I Am On The Rock", and "Underground". In addition, Beyond Belief was certified Gold by the RIAA, earned the 1990 Grammy Award for Best Rock/Contemporary Gospel Album, and earned four Dove Awards. Unseen Power continued with a musical direction similar to Beyond Belief, although keyboards were featured more prominently, as evidenced with tracks such as "Hand On My Heart" and "In The Likeness Of You". Among others, the more uptempo tracks "Destiny", "Dance", and "Sight Unseen" remain as concert favorites, appearing frequently within the band's set lists. Like its predecessor, Unseen Power peaked at the #1 position in the charts and earned the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Rock/Contemporary Gospel Album. For Wake-Up Call, Petra once again experimented with its style, slightly modifying its sound as established on its previous recordings. Released in late 1993, Wake-Up Call revealed a more "southern rock" guitar tone, while the drums sounded more natural, as opposed to the tightly produced, highly polished sound from the previous releases. Wake-Up Call peaked at #2 on the charts, propelled by the strength of the singles "Praying Man" and "Just Reach Out". Other stand-out tracks included "Good News", "Strong Convictions", and "Sleeping Giant". The album earned Petra its third Grammy Award (Best Rock Gospel Album, 1994) and eighth Dove Award (Rock Album, 1994). Following the tour in support of Wake-Up Call, Petra experienced a major change in its lineup. Desiring to spend more time with his family, founding member and guitarist Bob Hartman announced his retirement from touring. He continued to compose music for and play guitar on future Petra releases, and also served as executive producer for the band's recorded output. Meanwhile, vocalist John Schlitt became responsible for the band's touring lineup and assumed control of its concert performances. No Doubt - the first Petra album to feature the newly revamped lineup - was released in 1995, and continued the band's charting successes. Producing the single "No Doubt", the album peaked at #2 on the Top Contemporary Christian charts, and also peaked at the #18 and #91 positions on the respective Heatseekers and Billboard 200 charts. As with its previous releases, Petra slightly modified its style to remain contemporary with the changing musical trends of the time. Part of No Doubt embraced a more stripped-back, alternative approach, while upbeat tracks such as "Heart Of A Hero" and "Right Place" embraced the band's rock roots, simultaneously utilizing fresh, modern production qualities. Other album highlights included "Enter In" and "Think Twice". In an effort to remain current with the contemporary alternative music style of the time, Petra once again slightly altered its sound, a gradual change that began with No Doubt. This gradual change in style continued over the course of the next several years, as evidenced with Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus, released in 1997. As the title suggests, Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus was the band's second release to consist entirely of modern praise and worship songs, and included such favorites as "Lord, I Lift Your Name On High", "I Love You, Lord", and "Ancient Of Days", among others. "We Need Jesus" featured special guests John Elefante (ex-Kansas) and Lou Gramm (ex-Foreigner), who shared lead vocal duties with John Schlitt. Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus continued Petra's charting success: in 1997, it peaked at #2 and #155 in Billboard's Top Contemporary Christian and The Billboard 200 charts, respectively. In addition, Petra Praise 2: We Need Jesus earned Petra its tenth Dove Award, for Praise & Worship Album of the Year. God Fixation, released in 1998, fully realized the band's shift toward a more stripped-back, alternative rock style. The lyrical themes employed throughout God Fixation are of a more personal nature as compared with previous Petra recordings; highlights included "If I Had To Die For Someone", "Hello Again", "A Matter Of Time", and "St. Augustine's Pears". Petra's final recording with longtime label Word Records, Double Take was released in 2000. For Double Take, the band revisited many of its classic songs - including "Judas' Kiss", "Beat The System", "This Means War", "Beyond Belief", and several others - and recorded them in a more modern, stripped-down setting. The album also featured two new songs, with "The Longing" and "Breathe In". Double Take peaked at #34 on the Top Contemporary Christian charts, and earned the band its fourth Grammy Award, for Best Rock Gospel Album. Following the release of Double Take, Petra signed with Inpop Records, co-founded by Peter Furler of the Newsboys. The band's first release with Inpop - 2001's Revival - marked a drastic change in musical direction for Petra. Produced by former members of Sonicflood, Revival was the third Petra release to consist of modern praise and worship songs, and boasted a multi-layered sound which combined elements of dance, electronic, and modern rock music. Because of the stylistic change employed throughout Revival, many longtime fans were disappointed with the result, and begged for a new "rock" record. Released in 2003, Jekyll & Hyde marked a return to Petra's rock roots, arguably the heaviest release of the band's 30-year career. Petra's twentieth official studio release, Jekyll & Hyde also featured the return of Bob Hartman as the band's guitarist, both for the album and subsequent tours. Jekyll & Hyde earned much critical acclaim and peaked at #22 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart in 2003. Highlight tracks included "Jekyll & Hyde", "All About Who You Know", "Stand", and "Test Of Time". Petra announced in May 2005 its plans for retirement at the conclusion of the year, and booked a Farewell World Tour. In September, official plans were unveiled for a final CD and DVD release. Filmed and recorded before a live audience in Franklin, TN on Tuesday, October 4, 2005, Petra: Farewell will be released on CD on November 22, with the DVD to be released sometime in Spring 2006. The concert featured special guest appearances from former Petra vocalist Greg X. Volz and keyboardist John Lawry. As the year draws to a close, Petra will leave behind an eternal legacy of ministry and three decades' worth of powerful music. While it is impossible to know exactly how many lives have been touched by the band's music and ministry during its career, Petra has undeniably impacted the lives of millions, and has inspired several generations of Christian musicians - rockers who will be responsible for carrying the torch that Petra helped to ignite 33 years ago. Christopher L. Bayda October 2005