John Schlitt`s Interview - 20/02/07
Interview by Ezequiel Franco

Ezequiel Franco:
John Schlitt:

How was your first tour with Petra? Tell me about that.
I was super excited, but I was disappointed afterwards because I felt I honestly failed Petra. It had been five years since I last sang, the sound wasn’t quite right for me yet… it took me about six months to really find my singing shoes again. I just praise God that they had the patience to deal with me until I finally became the professional they needed.

Did you ever think that Petra would become the most influential Christian rock band of all times? What do you feel at the thought?
No; never had any aspirations for that. We just took our ministry one day at a time and that’s pretty much all we cared about.

How do you visualize your life at this moment, without being part of Petra?
Uncertain. Scary, yet exciting. Petra was a very important part of my ministry-side of living, and when you leave something that’s been a part of your life for 20 years, it’s quite disturbing in a roundabout way. But doors are opening and God, of course, has a plan. I just have to be patient and take each step as it comes.

In tour with the band, what funny story do you remember?
We were doing a festival in Sweden. There was a gigantic stage, and all of the equipment was underneath. The only thing they had on stage were monitor wedges. With our stage set-up, we never had monitor wedges for the very reason I’m going to tell you. I had these huge super-troopers (lights) shining in my eyes and they are so bright that they blind you. I backed up, and tripped over one of those speakers and fell flat on my behind in front of 6000 people on an empty stage! No where to hide! I got up and was probably the most embarrassed I’ve ever been in my whole life. The band was laughing up a storm, so I had to laugh with them.

I’m curious about something. I see some Wake-up Call tour photos of you playing a guitar? Tell me how that was.
It was OK, but I stopped because I’m a very bad guitar player! There was one song that had two guitar parts. One part wasn’t that hard to play, but I concentrate so much on singing that I never made a big effort to learn the guitar part cleanly. I’m jumping all over the place anyway, so it’s real hard to play when you’re doing that. I’m totally fascinated by people who can play guitar and sing background vocals at the same time.

If you have to choose a special year from 1986 until 2005, in which you were touring, what year would be? Why?
It’s a tie between the Farewell tour in 2005, and the “Why Wait” tour we did with Josh McDowell in the early 1990s – that tour lasted almost three years. But the Farewell Tour was such a joy, being able to play with such great musicians and great men of God. It was almost a gigantic family reunion. I can’t take anything away from the “Why Wait” tour, because it was the same, but it was two different things. The Josh McDowell was a huge tour, and the Farewell tour was more intimate.

How do you feel right now without touring with the band?
I miss it but I’m really enjoying the dates I’m doing with Bob. It’s a lot of fun in a way that’s different from having a band.

How was to meet John Lawry, an old friend, again?
It was great! I loved it. It was so neat to see him again. I run into him every once in a while at our favorite Chinese restaurant on Sundays, but it was neat to be on the same stage with him again and remember how amazing he was on keyboards.

How was your experience singing with Greg X Volz?
It was an honor. Let’s face it – Greg is an amazing singer and it was an honor to be able to sing with him. He did a lot of fantastic work with Petra before I came in, and it was neat to share the stage with him.

John, we know that you decided to dismember because told you “That’s it…” but do you thing that maybe would be a reunion? I ask this because I read an article of the band in which Bob Hartman said “Never say never”. What do you thing about this?
It’s hard to say. I think it’s too soon to even think about a reunion, but you know – God is in charge and if He wants us back together then we will be back together.

What is your favorite song of Petra?
I would have to say “No Doubt.” Or “Prayer” – I really love singing that one, because when it was new I really felt that it was a personal song.

At present, besides music, what do you do with your time?
I like to do my woodworking. I build custom furniture and I’m doing some remodeling and fixing of my house. It keeps me very busy!

Do you plan any new solo album?
Yes! I am in the studio recording my third album as we speak.

Is there any possibility of a solo career?
I think I already have a solo career. I mean, I started with my first album in 1995 and I have been singing in solo concerts even before that. So yes, I will continue being a solo artist.

I know you were with Louie Weaver in a project named “Damage Control”. Could you tell me what this project is about?
This album consists of songs from a 1980s band called "HeartAttack." They are not my songs, but the band asked me to sing their original songs and record them.

What do you remember from the River Plate stadium show? Did you feel welcomed?
Oh, yes! I felt that 96,000 people tried their very best to make us feel that we were Argentinean. We walked away very sad because Petra wouldn’t be in Argentina again.

Do you remember “I Love the Lord” and “I Will Call Upon the Lord”, songs you sang in Spanish that day? What did you feel when you saw and heard that entire people singing with you?
It was a fantastic thrill. I was so happy that I was able to do that for them, to honor their language.

Was it a challenge to sing in Spanish, knowing those songs are from 13 years ago?
No, because I have done it so many times it wasn’t as big a challenge as you might think.

Tell me a memory you have from your visit in Argentina.
Seeing an ocean of people having a great time with us, and letting us know that we were very welcomed.

And last one, John, what would you like to say to every youth reading this right now. Just the words you feel in your heart from God…
I have two messages: to Christian kids – I want them to realize we have a living God and he is for real. He is alive and well, and he is with us. We have every right to be courageous with Him going before us in everything.
To the person who doesn’t know Jesus Christ: you have the right to know him. Right now, the Enemy – the world - is trying to steal that away from you. You have the right to at least hear about the living God who loves you and who has a plan for your life. Give yourself the chance and find out what it’s all about.