Profile of Skillet

Type(s) of Music: Hard rock, alternative hard rock, Christian rock, industrial rock

Names of Members of Group:

• John Cooper

• Korey Cooper

• Ben Kasica

• Jen Ledger

Place of Origin: Memphis, Tennessee

Year the Act Began: 1995

Musical Influences:

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Skillet Biography/History

Since Skillet last hit the studio for 2006’s breakthrough project Comatose, the group’s toured with the likes of Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Seether and Flyleaf, followed by a solo headlining ranking within Pollstar’s Concert Pulse Top 50 Tours for 2008. Along the way, the Grammy-nominated alternative outfit also scored three top 40 singles on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock charts, earned a pair of BMI Songwriting Awards and released its first ever concert CD/DVD combo pack in support of the season called Comatose Comes Alive.

Aside from the commercial accolades, the Grammy-nominated modern rockers are rapidly approaching gold sales status, backed by both public adoration and critical praise, making the brand new Awake (Atlantic) the band’s most anticipated album to date. Not only does Skillet continue in the tradition of bone crunching rockers and melodic power ballads that comprised the last trip to the studio, but there’s a noticeable evolution sure to connect with longtime listeners and open the floodgates of its fan base even further than ever before.

“We found Comatose scoring the most acceptance in terms of album sales, ticket sales and radio airplay out of any of our albums so far, so there’s certainly a continuation of that direction,” unveils singer/songwriter/bassist John Cooper of the current collection. “But we never want to make the same record twice and that’s why Awake keeps it fresh and surprising. We’ve built off several of the epic elements, orchestration, piano parts and male/female vocal trade offs on several songs, but there’s also a balance of straight up rock stuff and tunes that are a little bit stripped down in comparison.”

In addition to the increasingly cohesive chemistry by the famed front man, keyboardist/vocalist Korey Cooper, guitarist Ben Kasica and drummer/vocalist Jen Ledger, having all-star producer Howard Benson (Daughtry, My Chemical Romance, P.O.D., The All American Rejects, Hoobastank) behind the boards helped the band reach its most compelling conclusion to date.

“He’s been a favorite producer of ours for quite a long time and we’ve talked about working with him in the past, but this time all the pieces finally fell into place,” affirms Cooper. “Howard is a broad stroke painter where he casts a vision, but then incorporates that into what a band is already all about. He really has a knack for the elements an audience enjoys the most, which often times are the vocals and the lyrics, and then he gives the band a chance to be themselves and be proud of the artistic output.”

And that’s the exact result on all accounts, as the foursome’s overwhelmingly satisfied with the entire sonic and thematic palette throughout Awake, which is loaded with plenty of anthems in the making destined to be smash singles and concert sing-a-longs. Even though Skillet possesses undeniable accessibility to this latest batch of tunes, there are still plenty of sophisticated arrangements, unpredictable chord arrangements and mounds of musical integrity all across the board.

“It’s a turning of the page for us because this album is even more immediate than Comatose, but there’s also a noticeable maturity,” contends Cooper. “Some of the songs are complex, others are just really intense rockers and overall there’s a real sense that we’re opening a new chapter. There are definitely some classic rock elements on the record, traces of glam rock and a lot of today’s heavy rock influences as well. Depending on the song, you can hear traces of AC/DC, Metallica or Breaking Benjamin, with lots of big guitars and streamlined drum beats.”

Take for instance the searing lead single “Monster,” which is just as ominous as its moniker implies, loaded with towering riffs and unbridled rock n’ roll abandon. Other aggressive outpourings include the hook heavy “Hero” and the militant “It’s Not Me,” while several fist pumpers possess dramatic orchestration, such as the unshakably infectious “You Should Have” and the carpe diem ode “One Day Too Late.” Of course, no well rounded alternative album would be complete without a handful of gripping ballads, like the loss-centered “Lucy” and the melodic masterpiece “Don’t Wake Me.”

Skillet’s massive fan base (who affectionately refer to themselves as “Panheads”) are sure to agree, though they’ll likely be even more impressed with the lyrical outpouring, which remains a top priority for the players. Mixing socially conscious topics with deeply personal narratives and unabashedly hopeful expressions, Awake is just as emotional as it is provocative.

“We’re living in crazy times right now between the news that seems to get crazier every day and all the uncertainly throughout society in general,” concludes Cooper. “Sometimes it doesn’t seem like there’s hope, and sure you can choose to give up, but why not face it ‘Awake and Alive’? Why let what’s going on around you keep you down when there’s so much hope that a new day can bring? Everything we sing about on this album is something someone can relate to, and if anything, the songs will let you know you’re not alone.”

June 2009

Bio courtes of TotalAssault.com

Listen to Music

Monster (Windows Media)
Monster (Real)
Monster (Mp3)

Skillet Contact Information: Click the following link to Contact Any Celebrity

Discography

Skillet (1996)

Ardent/Forefront

Hey You, I Love Your Soul (1998)

Ardent/Forefront

Invincible (2000)

Ardent/Forefront

Ardent Worship (2000)

Ardent/Forefront

1. "Who Is Like Our God" 5:15
2. "Your Name Is Holy" 5:05
3. "How Deep the Father's Love for Us" 4:08
4. "Jesus, Jesus (Holy and Anointed One)" 4:14
5. "We're Thirsty" 3:03
6. "Jesus Be Glorified" 4:38
7. "Sing to the Lord" 6:13
8. "Angels Fall Down" 7:28
9. "Safe With You" 4:53
10. "Shout to the Lord" 6:30

Alien Youth (2001)

Ardent Records

Collide (2003)

Ardent Records

Comatose (2006)

Lava/Ardent/Atlantic

Awake (2009)

Lava/Ardent/Atlantic

1. "Hero" 3:08
2. "Monster" 2:58
3. "Don't Wake Me" 3:56
4. "Awake and Alive" 3:31
5. "One Day Too Late" 3:40
6. "It's Not Me, It's You" 3:25
7. "Should've When You Could've" 3:32
8. "Believe" 3:50
9. "Forgiven" 3:39
10. "Sometimes" 3:29
11. "Never Surrender" 3:31
12. "Lucy" 3:38

Filmography

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Pictures of Skillet (click on any image below to enlarge)

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Related Links

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/skillet
Official Page: www.skillet.com
MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/skilletmusic

Tour Dates

Alive and Awake Tour Dates
Nov 13  Stephens Auditorium-Iowa State University                      Ames, Iowa
Nov 14  Minneapolis Convention Center Auditorium                     Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nov 15  House of Blues                                                                                Chicago, Illinois
Nov 17  The Pageant                                                                                      St. Louis, Missouri
Nov 19  Maude Cobb Center                                                                      Longview, Texas
Nov 20  Palladium Ballroom                                                                        Dallas, Texas
Nov 21  The Berry Center                                                                            Houston, Texas
Nov 22  Abilene Civic Center                                                                      Abilene, Texas
Nov 27  Remingtons                                                                                       Springfield, Missouri
Nov 28  Adler Theater                                                                                   Davenport, Iowa
Nov 29  Duluth Entertainment Convention Center                           Duluth, Minnesota
Dec 3  Memorial Auditorium                                                                      Chattanooga, Tennessee
Dec 4  Hobart Arena                                                                                       Dayton, Ohio
Dec 5  Agora Theater                                                                                     Cleveland, Ohio
Dec 6  Deltaplex                                                                                              Grand Rapids, Michigan

Auction Items