Skillet (band)
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| Skillet | |
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 Skillet performing at a promotional acoustic show in Denton, TX in 2006
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
| Genre(s) | Christian rock Alternative rock Hard rock |
| Years active | Since 1996 |
| Label(s) | Ardent INO Records Lava/Atlantic Records |
| Website | Official site |
| Members | |
| John Cooper Korey Cooper Ben Kasica Jen Ledger |
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| Former members | |
| Trey McClurkin Ken Steorts Kevin Haaland Lori Peters |
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Skillet is an American Christian rock band, formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1996. The band consists of John Cooper (lead vocalist, bassist), his wife Korey Cooper (guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist), Ben Kasica (guitarist), and the newest member Jen Ledger (drummer). Skillet has released seven studio albums, the latest two receiving Grammy nominations: Collide and Comatose.[1] Over the past 13 years, Skillet has spanned many different genres, including hard rock, industrial rock, and symphonic rock.
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[edit] Band history
[edit] Early years (1996-1999)
Skillet formed in 1996 with two members: John Cooper, former vocalist for Seraph, and Ken Steorts, former guitarist for Urgent Cry. The two bands met through touring together, but those bands disbanded soon after, so John and Ken's pastor encouraged them to form their own band as a side-project. [1] Coming from different styles of rock music, they decided to name the experiment Skillet. Soon afterwards Trey McClurkin joined the band as a temporary drummer. Skillet was only together for a month when they received interest from major Christian record label ForeFront Records. In 1996 they released a self-titled debut Skillet. It was received, and the trio continued to write new material as they toured the United States.
Skillet recorded their follow-up album throughout 1997, entitled Hey You, I Love Your Soul, which was released in April 1998. Their second effort was a change in style from the band's first release. With this release, Skillet would abandon their post-grunge approach for a lighter alternative rock that was more dependent on John's keyboard playing. His wife Korey was enlisted soon after to play keyboards live in order to alleviate John's live performance duties.
[edit] Invincible, Ardent Worship and Alien Youth (2000-2002)
Shortly before the band began recording for their third album, Invincible, Steorts left the band to be with his family, and Kevin Haaland joined the band as their new guitarist. Korey Cooper joined the band permanently and played keyboards for the recording of Invincible. Because of this change, the musical style on Invincible changed to a more electronic sound.[2] Soon after the release of Invincible in early 2000, Trey McClurkin parted ways with Skillet, and Lori Peters filled the drummer's position. Invincible would be Skillet's best selling record thus far.
The band released their first worship album, and fourth album overall, Ardent Worship in fall of 2000. The band kept much of their sound from Invincible on their next album Alien Youth.[2] With little time between touring and recording, Skillet released Alien Youth in 2001, which was the first album that John Cooper took on production duties. Before the release of Alien Youth, Haaland left the band, and Ben Kasica took over on guitar. The first single, the title track, was a major hit in the Christian market and drove Skillet into their first headlining shows.
[edit] Collide (2003-2005)
In 2003, Collide was released by Ardent Records. It caught the attention of Andy Karp, the Head of A&R of Lava Records, and in 2004 the rights to Collide were bought by Lava Records, a division of Atlantic Records. On May 25, 2004, Collide was re-released under Lava Records, with an added track, "Open Wounds". Collide was yet another musical shift for the band. Citing Linkin Park and P.O.D. as inspiration for the musical shift on Collide, Cooper said "Well I’m one of these song writers, everything I hear goes through my John Cooper filter of what I like and what I don’t like... all these things... have been an influence on me."
[edit] Comatose (2006-2009)
Skillet's album Comatose was released on October 3, 2006. The album spawned the singles "Rebirthing," "Whispers In The Dark," "Comatose," "The Older I Get," "Those Nights," and "The Last Night". Skillet also released a b-side ("Live Free or Let Me Die") as a single, off of Comatose: Deluxe Edition which also included 5 acoustic tracks.
In January 2008, Skillet announced that their drummer, Lori Peters, was retiring from the band, feeling that "it's time for her to come off of the road and start a new chapter in her life." Peters' last concert with Skillet was on December 31, 2007.[3] However, during the 2007 Christmas season, Lori took the time to train Skillet's new drummer, Jen Ledger.[3]
Skillet released the Comatose Comes Alive CD/DVD Combo on October 21 2008. It's a live audio/visual recording of their May 9 2008 show in Chattanooga Tennessee. It was shown on the Gospel Music Channel on December 5 2008.[2]
[edit] Awake (August 25th 2009)
Skillet announced that they went into the studio January 12 to finalize the new record with Grammy-nominated producer Howard Benson. They added two songs ("Hero" and "Monster") from the new record to their setlist on April 2, 2009 in Evansville, Indiana as part of their Comatose Tour 2009.
The title of Skillet's next studio album (Awake) was announced on April 17th 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The album will contain 12 songs [3], and bits of these songs can be heard in the band's podcasts. "Hero" was released to radio on May 19th 2009 as the album's first single. On June 30th 2009 "Hero" was released on iTunes.
In a recent secret revealing of the album, one of the Panheads was allowed to listen to 10 of the 12 songs from the new album. They gave us unique information about the album's supposed ballads: "Lucy" and "One Day Too Late". "Lucy" contains lyrics like "Lucy I went to visit you today...I brought a dozen roses to lay on your grave" and "One Day Too Late" is about living life as if every day was the last. Since then, more information has been given about the album through websites that claim to have access to Awake. Pre-ordering the album is available at the band's website. The release date for Awake is August 25, 2009.
[edit] Tours
In the middle of 2006, Korey Cooper took a break from performing, due to her pregnancy with their second child. Her back-up guitar and keyboard role was temporarily filled by two people: Drea Winchell (who would later become the Cooper's nanny) on keys, and Chris Marvin on guitar.
Skillet teamed up with Ron Luce & Teen Mania Ministries on their Acquire The Fire Tour across the United States & Canada in 2007. When they returned Skillet teamed up with Flyleaf to co-headline the Justice & Mercy Tour, (Live Photos from That Tour) that tour was postponed/canceled after a number of shows due to Flyleaf's lead singer, Lacey Mosley's vocal problem. They will team up with Luce's Global Expeditions program on a missions trip with teens this summer on a trip to Mexico. In 2008 they joined up with Teen Mainia Ministries and toured Acquire the Fire.
Skillet joined Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, and Seether on the first half of their tour in fall 2007.[4] Then Skillet headlined their own Comatose Tour alongside Thousand Foot Krutch, and traveled to approximately 30 cities. The tour started on March 28 and ran through May 11, 2008.[5] Skillet toured again from April 2009 through June 2009 with Decyfer Down and Disciple (band). This tour was called Comatose Tour 2009 (essentially a second branch of the 2008 Comatose Tour). In fall of 2009, Skillet will tour with Hawk Nelson and Decyfer Down to promote Skillet's album Awake. The Awake & Alive Tour will encompass 50 cities from October through December.
[edit] Panheads
"Panheads" is the name that former guitarist Ken Steorts gave to the most dedicated fans of Skillet. While the number of Panheads has expanded with each new release, the definition of the term has remained intact.
Many members of Skillet have commented on the definition of a Panhead. Ken Steorts originally said, "There are three levels in 'Skillethood': those who don't know, those who become 'Skilletfanz' through hearing our music, and then 'Panheads' - those who come to three or four shows traveling up to 10 hours, bringing skillets, banners, writing on their cars, and so forth. Of course, we love them all, but we have a special place in our hearts for 'Panheads'."
Lead singer John Cooper also commented on it around the time Alien Youth came out, saying, "Oh man. The definition of a Pa- Well.... just because someone likes Skillet doesn't make them a Panhead. Ya know what I'm sayin? It's kinda like just because you're a Christian doesn't mean you're a part of the Alien Youth. Or something like that. Lemme think here. It'd probly be people that're, it's people that are somehow over the top. Whether that means they drive a long way to see us. People that bring skillets to show. Something that kinda makes people out of the ordinary. 'Wow they really like us!' Ya know. That's kinda how it started. I think now people that are Skillet fans are Panheads. Still, our fans are typically people that don't necessarily love Skillet or people that really like us. Ya know. *chuckle* It's probably the reason we haven't sold a million records!"
Korey Cooper has also said, "It's the next level of being a Skillet-fan. It's people who are so dedicated that they will drive eight hours or more or whatever to see you play and they - I dunno. They're just all about what you're about. They catch the heart of what we're about and they're all about it. You know what I mean? So even when - ya know, even when our second album came out and it was a huge change of style, we still had our fans there because they loved what we were about and then they got used to - a lot of people had to get used to that album. And now, it's a lot of people's favorite album still, you know. But, I think, that's what a 'panhead' is. It's somebody who catches the heart of what Skillet is about."
[edit] Band members
[edit] Current members
- John Cooper - lead vocals, bass (1996-present)
- Korey Cooper - guitar, keyboard, vocals (1999-present)
- Ben Kasica - guitar (2001-present)
- Jen Ledger - drums, vocals (2008-present)
[edit] Former members
- Ken Steorts - guitar (1996-1999, founder of Visible School in Memphis, TN, a music and worship arts college)
- Trey McClurkin - drums (1996-2000)
- Kevin Haaland - guitar (1999-2001)
- Lori Peters - drums (2000-2007)
[edit] Touring members
- Faith Stern - keyboards, backing vocals (2002-2003)
- Chris Marvin - guitar, backing vocals (2002-2003, 2005-2006)
- Drea Winchell - keyboard (2005-2006)
- Tate Olsen - cello (2008-present)
- Jonathan Chu - violin (2008-present)
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
- Skillet (1996)
- Hey You, I Love Your Soul (1998)
- Invincible (2000)
- Ardent Worship (2000)
- Alien Youth (2001)
- Collide (2003)
- Comatose (2006)
- Awake (2009)
[edit] Singles
| Album | Year | Single | Chart history (Peak Position) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skillet | 1996 | "I Can" (Christian Formats) |
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| Skillet | 1996 | "Gasoline" (Christian Formats) |
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| Skillet | 1996 | "Saturn" (Christian Formats) |
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| Skillet | 1996 | "My Beautiful Robe" (Christian Formats) |
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| Hey You, I Love Your Soul | 1998 | "Hey You, I Love Your Soul" (Christian Formats) |
ChristianRock.Net Top 98 of 1998: #30 |
| Hey You, I Love Your Soul | 1998 | "Locked in a Cage" (Christian Formats) |
ChristianRock.Net Top 98 of 1998: #4, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #1 |
| Hey You, I Love Your Soul | 1998 | "More Faithful" (Christian Formats) |
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| Hey You, I Love Your Soul | 1999 | "Suspended in You" (Christian Formats) |
ChristianRock.Net Top 99 of 1999: #61, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #3 |
| Hey You, I Love Your Soul | 1999 | "Take" (Christian Formats) |
ChristianRock.Net Top 99 of 1999: #33, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #8 |
| Hey You, I Love Your Soul | 1999 | "Whirlwind" (Christian Formats) |
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| Invincible | 2000 | "Best Kept Secret" (Christian Formats) |
ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #25, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #1 (4 weeks) |
| Invincible | 2000 | "Invincible" (Christian Formats) |
ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #8, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #1 (2 weeks) |
| Invincible | 2000 | "You're Powerful" (Christian Formats) |
ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #51, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: Top 5 |
| Invincible | 2000 | "Come On to the Future" (Christian Formats) |
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| Invincible | 2000 | "Rest" (Christian Formats) |
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| Invincible | 2000 | "The One" (Christian Formats) |
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| Invincible | 2000 | "You Take My Rights Away" (Christian Formats) |
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| Ardent Worship | 2000 | "Shout to the Lord" (Christian Formats) |
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| Ardent Worship | 2000 | "Your Name Is Holy" (Christian Formats) |
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| Alien Youth | 2001 | "Alien Youth" (Christian Formats) |
ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #14, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #2 |
| Alien Youth | 2001 | "Eating Me Away" (Christian Formats) |
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| Alien Youth | 2001 | "Rippin' Me Off" (Christian Formats) |
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| Alien Youth | 2001 | "Stronger" (Christian Formats) |
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| Alien Youth | 2001 | "You Are My Hope" (Christian Formats) |
ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #98, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #15 |
| Alien Youth | 2002 | "Earth Invasion" (Christian Formats) |
ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #35, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30 #6 |
| Alien Youth | 2002 | "Kill Me, Heal Me" (Christian Formats) |
ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #20, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #6 |
| Alien Youth | 2002 | "Vapor" (Christian Formats) |
ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #14, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #1 (1 week) |
| Alien Youth | 2003 | "The Thirst Is Taking Over" (Christian Formats) |
ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #87, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #16 |
| Collide | 2003 | "Forsaken" (Christian Formats) |
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| Collide | 2004 | "My Obsession" (Christian Formats) |
ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #28, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #1 (1 week) |
| Collide | 2004 | "Savior" | Mainstream Rock tracks #26 Billboard; ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #21, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #1 (6 weeks) |
| Collide | 2004 | "Open Wounds" | ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #10, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #1 (9 weeks) |
| Collide | 2005 | "Under My Skin" (Christian Formats) |
ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #13, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #2 |
| Collide | 2005 | "Collide" (Christian Formats) |
ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #49, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #5 |
| Collide | 2005 | "A Little More" (Christian Formats) |
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| Comatose | 2006 | "Rebirthing" (Christian Formats) |
Peak Position: #4 CHR, #1 Christian Rock Radio and Records; ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #3, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #1 (16 weeks) |
| Comatose | 2006 | "Whispers in the Dark" | Mainstream Rock tracks #34 Billboard; #1 Christian Rock Radio and Records; ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #12, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #2 |
| Comatose | 2007 | "The Older I Get" | Mainstream Rock tracks #26 Billboard, #1 Christian CHR (R&R), #19 most played song on Christian CHR radio stations in 2008[6] |
| Comatose | 2007 | "The Last Night" | Mainstream Rock Tracks #38 Billboard, Peak Position: #1 Christian CHR, #1 Christian Rock Radio and Records, ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #7, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #1 (1 week), #1 most played song on Christian CHR Radio stations in 2007[7] |
| Comatose | 2007 | "Comatose" (Christian Formats) |
Peak Position; #1 ChristianRock Radio and Records; ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #19, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #5 |
| Comatose: Deluxe Edition | 2008 | "Live Free or Let Me Die" (Christian Formats) |
Peak Position: #2 Christian Rock Radio and Records; ChristianRock.Net Annual Top 100: #4, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #4 |
| Comatose | 2008 | "Those Nights" (Christian Formats) |
Peak Position: #1 Christian CHR (5 Weeks), #3 most played song on Christian CHR radio stations in 2008[6] |
| Awake | 2009 | "Hero" (Christian Formats) |
Peak Position: # 15 Christian CHR, #6 Christian Rock, ChristianRock.Net Weekly Top 30: #1 |
| Awake | 2009 | "Monster" |
[edit] Billboard-charting singles
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| U.S. Mainstream Rock | U.S. Hot Christian Songs | |||
| 2004 | "Savior" |
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Collide |
| 2006 | "Rebirthing" |
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Comatose |
| 2006 | "Whispers in the Dark" |
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Comatose |
| 2007 | "The Older I Get" |
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Comatose |
| 2007 | "The Last Night" |
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Comatose |
| 2008 | "Those Nights" |
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Comatose |
| 2009 | "Hero" |
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Awake |
[edit] In the media
[edit] Television
- Comatose Comes Alive made its world television premiere on December 5, 2008 on GMC.
- Skillet once appeared on the CMT television show, Mobile Home Disaster in an episode where the kids in the family were fans of the band.
- Their song You Are My Hope was featured once on the CBS show Joan of Arcadia and the CW show America's Next Top Model.
- Their song Best Kept Secret is used as the theme for the New Jersey-based Christian teen show, Real Faith TV.
- Skillet's song "Rebirthing" is the theme song for the Philadelphia Flyers as they enter the ice before the game.
[edit] Video Games
- Their song "A Little More" can be added to the Christian video game Dance Praise via the Dance Praise- Expansion Pack Volume 3: Pop & Rock Hits.
- Their songs "The Older I Get," "Savior," and "Rebirthing" can be played on the Christian Video Game "Guitar Praise."
[edit] Movies
- The songs "Best Kept Secret" and "Invincible" appeared in the movie Carman: The Champion.
- The songs "Come on to the Future" and "Invincible" were featured on the soundtrack for the movie Extreme Days.
[edit] Nominations/Awards
[edit] Grammy Nominations
Skillet has received two Grammy nominations:
- "Best Rock Gospel Album" in 2005 (Collide)[8]
- "Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album" in 2007 (Comatose).[1]
[edit] GMA Dove Awards
"Rock Recorded Song of the Year" for "Comatose" at the 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards on April 23 2008.[9]
[edit] References
- ^ a b CCMMagazine.com: Skillet Closes Out 2007 With Grammy Nomination - Retrieved March 13, 2008
- ^ a b Skillet - a Review of The Phantom Tollbooth
- ^ a b Skillet News
- ^ IGN: Breaking Benjamin Fall Tour Schedule
- ^ CCMMagazine.com, Skillet Announces Spring Comatose Tour
- ^ a b 2008 Year End Charts/Top Christian CHR songs, R&R magazine, Retrieved January 6, 2009
- ^ 2007 Year End Charts/Top Christian CHR songs, R&R magazine, Retrieved January 6, 2008
- ^ Skillet News - January 06, 2005, Retrieved March 13, 2008
- ^ 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards Recap | Christian Music - Gospel Music Channel
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Skillet at MySpace
- Atlantic Records
- Ardent Records
- SRE Recordings
- Skillet at MyPraize
- Skillet Channel
- The Skillet Chatroom
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