Petra was started by Bob Hartman in 1972. Their First Album (Petra), came out in 1974. Bob Hartman was lead vocals along with Greg Hough. Petra's first two albums featured 70's hard rock. After their 2nd album (Come and Join Us), Rob Frazier and Greg X. Volz took over Lead Vocals on Washes Whiter Than in 1979. After that album, Frazier left and Volz took over as the main lead vocalist. This album has a toned down, "Phil Keaggy" kind of sound.
Petra's 4th Album (Never Say Die) came out in 1981, John Slick joined as the keyboardist and Mark Kelly Joined as the Bass, While Hartman (Lead Guitar), and Volz (Lead Vocals), still Remained in the band. Petra started to get back into rock music, and each album gets rockier until "On Fire!"
In 1982, Louie Weaver joined as the Drummer. "The More Power to Ya" album came out that year. It was great, "Not of this World" came out a year later and it sounded almost like MPTY.
In 1984, Slick left and John Lawry joined as the new keyboardist. He was great in the album "Beat the System" and that was one of Petra's Greatest Albums.
In 1985, Petra did their only live album to this date, "Captured in Time and Space". It was their Greatest hits from 1981 to 1984 mostly. After that album, Greg Volz left Petra to be with his family and do a few solo albums.
During the Captured in Time and Space/Beat the System Tour, Bob Hartman met up with John Schlitt and since Bob knew Greg was leaving, he got John to be the lead singer of Petra. I believe that Petra actually technically acquired John Schlitt in 1985, so I put that as his starting year. John's first song was "Alter Ego".
In 1985, John Schlitt became the new lead vocalist. He was great and Petra did great with their album "Back to the Street" in 1986. And in 1987, "This Means War" turned out to be a great album.
In 1988, Petra made their rockiest album ever, "On Fire". "On Fire" was the first album with new bass player Ronny Cates. And it rocked! "Minefield" is Petra's rockiest song; it sounds almost like Heavy Metal!
Petra did a Worship album in 1989 called "Petra Praise 1, The Rock Cries Out". It had some good songs on it, but it sounded different because no one really heard hard rock church music before!
In 1990 Petra made their best selling album, "Beyond Belief". They even won a Grammy for it.
In 1991 "Unseen Power" came out. "Destiny" won a Grammy.
In 1992 Petra remade Petra Praise 1 but in Spanish.
In 1993 Petra had a great album with "Wake-up Call" and won another Grammy. Over the years, the hard rock of Petra started to tone down from On Fire! on.
In 1995 Bob Hartman stopped touring, and John Lawry left the band. Jim Cooper played keyboards on "No Doubt", and Dave Lichens played lead guitar on the No Doubt tour. This album featured an alternative style.
In 1997 Cooper, Lichens and Cates left. Kevin Brandow took over keyboards, Pete Orta lead guitar, and Lonnie Chapin bass. They made Petra Praise 2 (97) and God Fixation (98) with band veterans John Schlitt and Louie Weaver. The music style, based on what was popular, was changing over to contemporary rock.
In 1999 keyboardist Kevin Brandow left and Trent Thomason replaced him. But he only played on tour and soon after Bryce Bell was acquired (2000). Also, the term "Pethead" was invented by John Schlitt which describes all the loyal fans who still follow Petra and regularly visit http://www.thepetrazone.com like me! :)
Petra then came out with their next album, Double Take (2000), which is mostly acoustic remakes of their popular classics like "Judas' Kiss" and "The Coloring Song". Also, two new songs were released: "The Longing" and "Breathe In". Mike Brandenstien was hired to play bass on tour for a few concerts. Kevin Brandow also came back for some concerts too. Pete Orta left to play with Jaci Velasquez.
In 2001, Bob Hartman returned to studio to record "Revival", Petra’s third and latest record. 3 new members, Quinton Gibson (Whitecross) on guitar, Greg Bailey on bass, and Bryce Bell were hired for the Revival Tour.
Before Petra’s next album, Quinton Gibson left the band and Bob Hartman came out of "touring retirement" to start touring with Petra again. He also decided to start recording again on the new album, but not before Louie Weaver, longtime drummer since 1982, was let go from the band. No one has alluded to the reason thus far. So Peter Furler, former front man of Newsboys, came in to replace him as session drummer for the new 2003 album "Jekyll and Hyde" (the long awaited "rocker") while Justin Johnson took over drums on tour for a short while. Bob Hartman decided not to rehire another keyboardist for the "rocker". Then, Petra got their final drummer on board, Paul Simmons, who held his own and added some double bass to songs on tour.
In 2005, Petra ended with a bang recording "Farewell" and releasing a DVD as well in 2006. Special guest ex-Petra members Greg X Volz sang a couple songs and John Lawry also added keyboards to a few songs as well.
Petra decided to call it quits at the end of 2005, after 33 years of amazing music ministry. But since then, there have been several reunion concerts, including a few with the original members of Petra from the early-to-mid 70's. In 2007, there was a semi-reunion with Bob and John as they released a worship album together under the name "II Guys from Petra", with the album title "Vertical Expressions".
In 2010, rumors became reality when it was announced that Petra was reuniting once more with the classic lineup (as opposed to original), which consists of Greg X Volz, Bob Hartman, John Lawry (not John Slick, who was with most of the classic lineup), Mark Kelly, and Louie Weaver. More information about this is to come.
COOL THINGS ABOUT PETRA:
They are the only Christian rock band still recording AND touring from the 1970's.
They have been around since 1974, making this their fourth decade (30 years).
Bob Hartman has been the longest member with Petra to date (even though he is not a touring member now). He played guitar on tour for Petra for 25 years. He has been doing studio work for 30 years.
Petra’s drummer, Louie Weaver, has been in the band longer than any current touring member in the band now, which is since 1982 (20 years). He is the only one to play on any Greg Volz songs!
John Schlitt has been with Petra since 1986 (16 years), the second longest band member in Petra. If it was not for John and Louie, Petra COULD not be considered a "veteran" rock band. But you can also call a band veteran if there are members in it that have been playing for more than 10 years, like Quinton (he played in a band called Seraiah in 1989). Other than that, the only member remotely close is Bryce Bell, who has only been with Petra for 3 years! Let’s pray that Petra is still going to be used by GOD!
Interesting things: Bob Hartman turned 50 in Dec. 1999, and then a month later Greg Volz turned 50, then a month later John Schlitt turned 50! Cool!
Thomasina Green (from the Petra Discussion Zone) was the one responsible for getting Trent Thomason into Petra. Trent did the keyboards for Petra on Double Take, but he had to go back to Australia. The budget of Petra is really low and his family cannot afford to move to the U.S. That is one crisis. Also, Petra is in need of a record company. Bob is the one trying to fix that up.
Well he did. After a really long wait, Bob finally found a good record company that would receive him with open arms (the real thing): INPOP! And I guess Bob was so excited he decided to come back to the studio and record guitar for Petra again!!!
According to Sue at ThePetraZone, Greg X Volz didn't leave Petra, his contract was never renewed!
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