#God gave rock and roll to you by petra series#

In the process, Hartman approached Volz for help. Together, the two worked on the band’s third studio album even though there wasn’t a record deal in place yet. With Hough venturing off to form his own band, as well as DeGough doing the same, it was Hartman and newly recruited Rob Frazier on Petra’s roster. They opted for Come and Join Us instead, despite the fact that “God Gave Rock and Roll to You” was the standout single that sparked both the Christian community and the music industry at what felt like unprecedented levels at the time.Įven though Come and Join Us proved to be a commercial failure after it was released in 1977, this still served as a pivotal moment that would shape Petra’s career as a world-class musical act. This included Myrrh’s refusal to name the album God Gave Rock and Roll to You, which was suggested by Hartman.

#God gave rock and roll to you by petra series#

Volz as Hartman felt his own vocal style wasn’t a good fit for the rock and roll genre, even if it was Christian based.įor Petra, recording the album was met with a series of disagreements. Going Through Changesīefore Come and Join Us was recorded and released, Petra underwent some key lineup changes. This was an evangelistic approach that would serve as the boldest statement any Christian-based recording artist would ever produce at the time. It was an album purposely put together to reach an audience that was not self-proclaiming Christians. This was a formula that worked in Petra’s favor going into 1977 when the group recorded and released Come and Join Us. This was only part of the appeal as the talent roster was able to establish they could reach the audience just as efficiently as groups like the Allman Brothers. This was accomplished with “Backslidin’ Blues.”Īs a group, Petra stood out as a rare Christian rock band. Petra, as an album, introduced a series of singles that put Petra on the map as the first contemporary Christian blues recording artist to have a song put on vinyl.

It was also at this time Hartman and Hough shared lead vocalist duties. In 1974, the label released Petra’s debut album and the group was recognized as one of the most radical groups in the music industry at the time. As a counterculture known as the Jesus Movement, musicians like Petra encountered opposition from members of the Christian community who felt God’s Word and rock music had nothing in common with each other.įor Petra, this unique style of theirs won over the attention of Myrrh Records. The late 1960s and the early 1970s was an era that mixed evangelism with rock music as a method to reach out to an audience in the form of what was called Jesus Music. In the beginning, they first played in Midwest venues in their quest to spread the gospel through music. When Petra first came together as a Christian rock group in 1972, the music style was similar to the guitar-favoring eclectic material that was dominant at the time. It was these four men who founded the band we know today as Petra. While there, they met Bill Glover and Greg Hough. When Bob Hartman and John DeGroff met the first time, the two briefly formed the group, Dove before disbanding to attend Bible School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The story about that is covered in Jeremiah 49:18. Once upon a time, it was a thriving city until a series of biblical events turned it into a deserted community. Its location is approximately fifty miles south of the Dead Sea. Among followers of the Holy Bible, they recognize Petra as the city that was carved into sandstone cliffs. Although the group officially disbanded in 2006, there have been reunion shows and a few album releases.

They’re regarded as one of the most popular Christian rock bands in the world. Since 1972, Petra has been regarded as one of the leading pioneers of Christian rock music.