June 08, 2008
John Schlitt The Grafting interview June 5th 2008
by Ron Hollywood

Ron Hollywood and John Schlitt in 1997 during Unfit For Swine.

John Schlitt is without a doubt the the artist and human being I respect 110% on every level. From his friendly manner and heartfelt laughter, his uplifting music and voice, to his ministry and love for the Lord. He’s also someone who inspires me and makes me look more to Jesus. That being said this was one of the best and longest interviews I’ve ever done and well worth every second.

It’s been a real family affair hasn’t it with Dan Needham and your daughter Kari being so involved with The Grafting.
Absolutely! I’ve got my son-in-law producing, writing over half the material along with some friends and a bit from myself. Dan really came in and saved it. Then my daughter came in singing background vocals and doing all the artwork. It’s just one of those things where you say “Thank you Lord.” I love it.

So how did the origin of The Grafting come about?
My last solo record came out in 1996 and then right after that I took over the ‘live’ portion of Petra. That was a 24-hour 7-day a week job where I never had anytime to do anything but that so my solo career took a big dive. Being in Petra with such wonderful songwriters like Bob (Hartman)and John (Lawry) I never felt the need to write songs myself. Then when Petra ended Bob and I went out with a praise and worship project called 2 Guys From Petra. Then after that I was thinking someone with my experience and the fact that God gave me a voice to worship him, well how can I do that efficiently.

I realized people who still want to hear me have new concerns, new problems in life, things like raising their children right. Don’t get me started because I’ll probably be able to write another solo album right now on what I just said. It’s exciting to reach people of all generations but what do I reach them with. What do I say? It was very important for me to relate to where I was at personally. I’m a grandfather and have a family that’s important to me. I work with Food for Hungry that’s important to me. Seeing my Lord Jesus ridiculed in my own country while phony Gods are lifted up on pedestals really irritates me. Just faith, why aren’t we walking stronger. I just praise God that the 10 songs on The Grafting really hit home and were exactly what I wanted to say. Even though I didn’t write it, my son-in-law did he knew exactly where I was in life and what I wanted to say. He captured it perfectly. I loved the production sounds he was coming out with from the studio. There was no one else I wanted to work with. I told him to not change his style or direction, but here’s the subject matter I want to sing about. It was a very exciting adventure. I think it’s one of the best albums I’ve ever done.

I say in my review of The Grafting that Dan has a real future as songwriter for other artists.
Absolutely. I’ve been saying that to him for years. Dan has quite a career going now. He plays drums for Amy Grant when she tours. He’s got a bright future and I’m very proud of him.

Now with with the success of a film like Juno about a girl giving up her child for adoption it seems like a real perfect time for this message in the song The Grafting.
I have not seen the film but I like the theme of it and it seems to go right along with the title song The Grafting. The song is not really singing the praises of adoption so much as it was singing the praises of the courage of the girls who give those babies a chance. I have five adopted grandkids myself. I work with Mercy ministries where Dan and Kari found their adopted children from. In the United States today society tries to make it so easy way for pregnant girls to choose death rather than life. For those who choose that way they pay for it their whole life with hurt. It really takes a lot of love from Jesus Christ to heal.

So let’s talk about your solo career. I’d love to hear more about your past albums Shake and Unfit For Swine.
Shake was total blessing. I had been in Petra for some time, but now I had some things I wanted to say. It was very successful and I was very pleased with it. The only thing was I got some criticism it sounded like Petra and that bothered me. I understood from the standpoint that it was a rock album and of course my voice was identified with Petra.
Unfit For Swine came along and I tried to get as far away from the Petra sound as possible. It was a bit darker and some of the best material I’ve ever done. It just wasn’t being recognized. I’m disappointed it was one of my failures. It’s hard to be negative about a record just because it didn’t sell. I love songs like Need I Remind You or even the first single God Is Too Big. I took some chances and thought we did a great record. About the same time Petra came back into place for me.

Did you see your picture in GQ a few years back?
(Surprised) Whaat?! No, I did not know. I was the before picture right? (laughing)

GQ did a report on a Christian rock festival a few years back where Petra were performing and your picture was there in the pages of GQ.
I believe I heard something about a secular magazine doing a report on that, but I had no idea it was GQ. I finally made it? (laughing) You mean I’m good-looking?

What is your most memorable Spinal Tap moment?
You just had to ask that didn’t you? About a month before the end of Petra we were invited to play Argentina for an audience of almost 100,000 people for a revivalist friend of ours. The audience is building up in anticipation to see us and we’re ready to come out on stage when all of a sudden our manager comes up and says “Bob, they’ve plugged your equipment into a 240 system and it’s blown everything out!” We finally get everything straightened out where Bob just plugged into his amps.

Right about as we’re starting the show our drummer, Paul Simmons, who can really play. His legs are just… anyway the first beat he hits goes right through the drum head. Thank goodness he had another drum head but he had to play the whole show with one leg doing double kicks.

In front of a stadium of people we’ve got a guitar player with no effects and not feeling too great and a drummer with one drum head. So I’d say that is pretty Spinal Tap.

Speaking of big concerts tell me more about Farm-Aid 1992.
Oh no! You saw that?! (laughing)And you still want to talk to me? Be honest now, how was the sound?
Uh… not that good. Something was definitely off.
The sound was so bad. Destiny was absolutely horrendous. Creed was okay.

Being at such an event did you get to mingle with John Mellencamp, Neil Young or any of the other performers.
I’ll tell you a story. There was one performer (which shall remain nameless) who came into our dressing room totally drunk out of his mind. Bob was a huge fan of this guy’s music. This guy sees Bob’s Zion guitar and goes right over to it and wants to try it. You have to understand Bob doesn’t let anybody touch his guitars. He then tells this performer “Sure go ahead and try it.” He does and the whole time I’m scared that he’s so drunk he’s going to drop the guitar. Thankfully he didn’t. He was then whisked off to go play his set which was amazing. Then we had to follow that.

I remember standing there before we played and a bunch of people in the crowd asking us who we were. I said “We’re Petra, a Christian band!” They were like “Oh cool!” And they were just drunk like no tomorrow. It was a very strange time but that’s where you go. I mean Jesus went to be with tax collectors and prostitutes. Overall being there at Farm-Aid was fun and rewarding. We just did our thing and got out of there.

Speaking of that era I’ve recently come into contact with one of your former bandmates, Ronny Cates, (Petra bassist from 88-96).
Oh Ronny?! God bless him, he’s been really sweet. He’s still involved in the music system and I’d almost say a politician when it comes to music.

He’s been gracious enough to provide us with three questions for you.
(laughing) Oh no, I’m a little scared now.

Here’s what Ronny has asked.
John, sometimes we, as artists and songwriters, hear from people that our songs really encouraged them, helped them think about life differently, or ministered to them. What is a song that has really been special to you? Perhaps it is one that literally moves you to tears. Maybe it is one that encourages you. (I’m not suggesting that it should be a Petra song).
That’s a very cool question. Prayer is a song that brought me to tears. I remember singing that in front of 4 or 5,000 people and it was very relevant to me. It was the most tear jerking song I’ve ever done.

What moment in your life cemented your desire to use music as your means of conveying your beliefs as a Christian?
When I heard Petra for the first time. I realized I could use a music style I loved to convey the message I loved and it made total sense to me. Petra was the band that said to me “It can be done.”

When you travel to different countries to share your music and testimony, do you have to give special consideration to the culture of that country as you talk? I’m not referring to the language barrier. I am referring to how open you can or cannot be with your words. For instance, in your travels to India, did you have to cater your message for the culture of people you were speaking to?
Yes, I have to be understanding to different cultures. I can say one thing and it could come across totally different to them, especially if you don’t understand their culture. At the same time I’m not trying to compromise my message I’m trying to be efficient.
Especially from my India trip which is fresh. I mean I wasn’t ever not going to say “Jesus is Lord.” but I might have had to come across differently in understanding their culture. I had to make sure when I said something it didn’t mean something else.
Ronny, you little thinker. These are such good questions.

We are seeing so many bands have successful reunions like The Police, Van Halen, Genesis, etc. I and many Petra fans would be curious if you’d ever consider doing a reunion with the Petra line-up of 88-92(Cates, Hartman, Schlitt, Lawry, Weaver).

Here’s what Ronny Cates said about a reunion with that lineup.
I would, without a shadow of doubt, be very interested in being a part of that lineup again. It would be an honor.

John, I ask you the same question would you be interested in doing a reunion with that lineup yourself?
As much as I would love to see it that won’t happen. Since Ronny left things have changed. We’re all doing different things these days. I’m not saying never because nothing is never. I just can’t believe that it would ever happen.
For me I’d love to be a part of the last Petra line-up from the farewell tour. That could happen because we left with the option of always doing something to further the body of Christ.

Take a Pick

If you could play an instrument would you pick keyboards or drums.
keyboards

Sandi Patti or Twila Paris.
Twila Paris

Do you look more like Joe Elliot (Def Leppard) or Kevin Sorbo (Hercules).
Kevin Sorbo. I can see that.

Classical or jazz?
Classical

Steve Perry or Dennis DeYoung?
Steve Perry, in a heartbeat.

Comedy or drama films?
Comedy.

Beyond Belief or Backstage Pass movie?
That’s hard to say but I’d go with Beyond Belief because there’s more ministry to it.

Festival shows or small intimate shows?
Festivals. It’s more exciting.

For news, tour dates and more check out
John Schlitt’s official site

Check out the site of Food For The Hungry
which works in more than 26 developing countries. They provide disaster and emergency relief, and implement sustainable development programs to transform communities physically and spiritually.

Also check out Mercy Ministries
For over 25 years, Mercy Ministries has provided hope and healing to generations of desperate young women who are seeking freedom from life-controlling problems such as: drug and alcohol addiction, depression, eating disorders, unplanned pregnancies, physical and sexual abuse, self harm.

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