Mark Kelly (born June 28, 1956; age 68) is an American musician and bassist. He was the bassist of Petra from 1981 to 1988. From 2010 to 2012, Kelly reunited with Bob Hartman and other former members of the band to perform under the name of Classic Petra.
Biography[]
Mark Kelly was born on June 28, 1956 in Enid, Oklahoma. He attended various universities where he majored in vocals and music.
Petra[]
Kelly met Bob Hartman and John Slick at a Bible study and was asked to join the band. His first album with the band was Never Say Die, which was released in 1981. He also alternated lead vocals with lead singer Greg X. Volz on the song "Disciple", which was part of their next album More Power to Ya.
During his time with Petra, Kelly recorded six more albums, also providing background vocals. For the recording of Beat the System, producer Jonathan David Brown decided not to use Kelly and drummer Louie Weaver, going instead with synthesized bass and drums performed by Carl Marsh.
After the recording of their next studio album, Back to the Street, Kelly compared the experience with that of Beat the System saying:
"This was a band album. Beat the System was a producer's album ... I didn't play a lick on the last one, and Louie [Weaver] didn't play a lick of drums. Not only did each member play his respective instrument on each cut this time, but we were allowed input even at the mixing stage -- in total contrast to Beat the System -- and that was really exciting. There was so much more a sense of unity like, 'Hey, we're all in this together.'"
Back to the Street was produced by brothers John and Dino Elefante, instead of Brown. Kelly recorded one more album with the band, but left in 1988.
Reunited with Petra[]
In 2010, Kelly reunited with Bob Hartman and former Petra members John Lawry, Greg X. Volz, and Louie Weaver to perform under the name of Classic Petra. The band released an album titled Back to the Rock that year. The next year, they released a live version of the album. Classic Petra toured North America and Europe from 2010 to 2012.
Albums[]
with Petra[]
- Never Say Die (1981)
- More Power to Ya (1982)
- Not of this World (1983)
- Beat the System (1985) in credits
- Captured in Time and Space (1986)
- Back to the Street (1986)
- This Means War! (1987)
with Classic Petra[]
- Back to the Rock (2010)
- Back to the Rock Live (2011)