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Very few bands these days last as long as a decade, let alone two or three. But 33 years! Petra has withstood the odds, making music consistently since forming in 1972. Yet no matter who was performing in the group or what contemporary style they were playing at any given time, they remained committed to boldly introducing to listeners of all kinds to Christ. The band ultimately landed in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, sold more than seven million CDs, and won four Grammy Awards and ten Doves. But the band recently announced its plans to call it a day, wrapping up their career with a farewell tour and CD, plus a DVD due in early '06. John Schlitt, lead singer since 1986, and guitarist Bob Hartman, one of the band's founders, recently shared stories from Petra's vast history, the reason for the break-up and tips to rock 'n' roll's new class.

After a long career in Christian music, Petra's John Schlitt (left) and Bob Hartman have decided to call it quits.

How did the Christian music community respond to you in the early days?

Bob Hartman For the longest time, we felt like outsiders. When we first started going to GMAs, it was really dominated by Southern gospel. Contemporary Christian music was coming in with Sandi Patty, Larnelle Harris and Evie. Our style was looked at as being a real offshoot that they didn't want to spend too much time with. We felt sort of on the outside until later on when things began to change.

I think it was a real turning point for us when we won the Dove for "Group of the Year." That was the first time a rock group ever won and kind of announced rock's arrival—Christian rock anyway—because at that point there were contemporary styles, but rock was still sort of outside.

How do you account for Petra's longevity in an era of artist disposability?

Hartman It used to be that Christian artists had longevity, but recently there are so many artists being put forward that they have a much shorter shelf life, and that's a little bit disturbing to me. That hearkens to what secular music does, which is throw darts at a board and see what sticks.

Back in the day when we started, it was really about ministry. There were record companies that actually cared if you had a ministry or not—that you were bringing something to people spiritually that was going to last. I'm not saying nobody in Christian music is like that right now, but even if there are, they're overruled by other things. It's much more about fashion than it used to be.

Your lyrics have always been blatantly spiritual. Why?

John Schlitt The whole reason Petra became a band was for ministry. If you start watering down ministry, then you've watered down your whole purpose and foundation. I still believe that verse about not being lukewarm in your faith because he'll spit you out of his mouth. Man, I don't want to be spit out of God's mouth! I want to be absolutely on fire and be criticized for it, rather than be lukewarm and have nobody know what you're talking about.

Hartman I never thought I'd ever be criticized by Christians for being too upfront with the message! Our struggle when we started was the world saying that. They'd say, "We're not going to play them on our radio station because they're too upfront with their message."

Yet you were still embraced by the secular scene, to some degree, during the '80s and early '90s when you were touring major arenas and amphitheatres.

Hartman I wouldn't call that crossing over. We played big venues because we were drawing big crowds. I think it did a lot for Christian music. People [in the secular music industry] have a respect for numbers, even if the message isn't important to them. I think that's a good testimony for Christian music, especially when the artists go in, are easy to work with, and leave a good mark. I hope we did that.

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