Skillet
Skillet performing at Cornerstone Festival in 2010
Background information
Origin	Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Rock,[1] Christian rock/metal,[2][3] alternative rock,[4] hard rock,[2] nu metal,[5][6] symphonic metal (recent),[5] industrial music (early),[7] grunge (early)[7]
Years active	1996 (1996)–present
Labels	Ardent, Lava, Atlantic, ForeFront, INO
Associated acts	Seraph
Website	skillet.com
Members
John Cooper Korey Cooper Jen Ledger Seth Morrison
Past members
Kevin Haaland Ben Kasica Trey McClurkin Lori Peters Jonathan Salas Ken Steorts

Skillet is an American Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1996. The band currently consists of husband and wife John (lead vocals, bass) and Korey Cooper (rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), along with Jen Ledger (drums, vocals) and Seth Morrison (lead guitar). The band has released eight albums, two receiving Grammy nominations: Collide and Comatose.^[8] Over the past 15 years, Skillet has undergone several lineup changes, leaving founder John Cooper as the only original member remaining in the band.

Band history [link]

Early years (1996–99) [link]

Skillet formed in 1996 with two members: John Cooper, former vocalist for Tennessee progressive rock band 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.^[9] Coming from different styles of rock music, they decided to name the experiment Skillet. After 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 well-received, and the trio continued to write new material as they toured the United States. One topic that comes up often among fans and the band itself, is the name 'Skillet'. John Cooper, the lead vocalist, explains that it was a joke at first. Each starting band member was already in a separate band, and all decided to start a side project. Since each other band had a different sound and style to it, the side project was said to be like putting all of those styles in a big skillet to come up with something unique. Hence the band name 'Skillet'. The band name is still somewhat of a joke between the band members, especially Cooper, who claims to still not like the title.

Skillet recorded their follow-up album throughout 1997, titled 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 and a style. 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 (2000–02)

Shortly before the band began recording for their third album, Invincible, Steorts left the band to be with his family and launch Visible Music College, a modern music ministry college located in Memphis, 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.^[10] 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 to that point.^{[citation needed]}

The band released their first worship album, and fourth album overall, Ardent Worship in Fall 2000. The band kept much of their sound from Invincible on their next album Alien Youth.^[10] With little time between touring and recording, Skillet released Alien Youth on August 28, 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.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Collide (2003–05)

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 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."^[11]

[edit] Comatose (2006–08)

Skillet's album Comatose was released on October 3, 2006. It features the singles "Rebirthing," "Whispers in the Dark," "Comatose," "The Older I Get," "Those Nights," and "The Last Night". The album debuted at No. 55 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the US Top Christian Albums chart.^[12]

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."^[13] Peters' last concert with Skillet was on December 31, 2007.^[14] However, during the 2007 Christmas season, she took the time to train Skillet's next drummer, Jen Ledger.^[14]

On October 21, 2008, Comatose Comes Alive was released; a CD/DVD combo featuring live recordings of the band's May 9, 2008 concert in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was shown on the Gospel Music Channel on December 5, 2008. Skillet's Comatose Comes Alive CD also had a B-side with "Live Free or Let Me Die" as a single, also with five acoustic tracks which purchasers could download by inserting the CD in their computer.^[15]

The Comatose album was certified Gold in sales by the RIAA on November 3, 2009.^[16]

[edit] Awake (2009–2011)

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.^{[citation needed]}

Skillet's most recent studio album is Awake.^[17] The album contains twelve songs and was released on August 25, 2009.^[18] It charted at No. 2 on the Billboard top 200 selling around 68,000 units in its first week.^[19] "Monster" was released as a single on July 14, 2009. Contrary to popular belief, John Cooper stated that "Hero" was not the album's lead single. It was, however, released as a single in March 2010.^[20] They also released a deluxe version with the extra songs "Dead Inside" and "Would It Matter", along with the original, radio edit of "Monster" that does not have the distorted growl as in the single and in the CD. A remix on "Monster" was featured on one of their popular podcasts.The song "Hero" was used in the publicizing of the first football game of the 2009 NFL season between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans, and the song "Monster" was used in the episode "Jason: The Pretty-Boy Bully" on MTV's Bully Beatdown. "Monster" was the theme song for the WWE event WWE Hell in a Cell while the song "Hero" was the theme song for WWE Tribute to the Troops and Royal Rumble 2010, as well as both songs being included on the official soundtrack for the WWE video game WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010. It is also the opening theme song for the AHL team the Lake Erie Monsters in Cleveland, Ohio and serves as the opening theme of the Fresno Monsters of Fresno, California. "Monster" was aired at the beginning of several ACC football games on Raycom Sports during the 2009 season. In the first week of April 2010, it was released for the Rock band music store in Rock Band 2^[21] It also tied the record for highest-charting Christian album on the Billboard 200 with Underoath's 2006 release Define the Great Line and Casting Crowns' 2007 release The Altar and the Door, as all three albums debuted at No. 2.^[22]

Skillet was nominated for six Dove Awards for the 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards.^[23][24] Awake was certified gold July 2, 2010.^[25][26] Also in 2010, Ardent released The Early Years, a collection of their songs from 1996 to 2001. On November 12, Skillet released an iTunes sessions EP consisting of songs from Comatose and Awake.^[27] "Monster" was certified gold a day later.^[28]

On February 14, 2011, Skillet officially announced that long time lead guitarist Ben Kasica would be leaving the band. Kasica was with the band for 10 years, contributing to the albums Alien Youth, Collide, Comatose, and Awake as well as the live album Comatose Comes Alive. He played what was planned to be his last concert with the band on March 20.^[29] The band announced that they had chosen solo artist Jonathan Salas as their new guitarist, but Salas confirmed he had left the band on April 9 via Twitter.^{[citation needed]} Kasica returned and continued touring until a new guitarist was trained.^[30] On April 16, Seth Morrison replaced Kasica as the lead guitarist, and now tours full-time with Skillet.^{[31][unreliable source?]}

Skillet announced the release of Awake and Remixed EP in early March 2011. The remixes were mainly done by Korey Cooper and Ben Kasica. On March 2, 2011, Skillet unveiled the album artwork for the album. John Cooper says the idea was conceived when Korey Cooper and Ben Kasica remixed the song Monster for their popular podcast. The four-song EP was released on March 22.^[32]

"Awake" was nominated for and won the "Top Christian Album" Award at the Billboard Music Awards 2011, and the song "Awake and Alive" was announced to be on the Transformers: Dark of the Moon Soundtrack in May 2011.^[33]

New album (2011–present) [link]

On June 21, 2011 John posted to his Twitter account that the band rehearsed new music for the first time and that they are getting ready for a new album.^[34] At a question and answer session before a concert, John Cooper said that they would be recording a new record in January/February 2012. However, the band was then scheduled to headline the WinterJam Tour. In January 2012, Skillet announced that they will not be touring for most of the summer so that they can record the new album^{[citation needed]}. They plan to enter the studio at the conclusion of the Winter Jam eastern tour, approximately in May, hoping for a release in the fall.^[35]

Touring [link]

Skillet performing live on April 12, 2008 at Anderson University, Anderson, Indiana.

In the middle of 2006, Korey Cooper took a break from performing, due to her pregnancy with their second child. Her rhythm guitar and keyboard roles were temporarily filled by two people: Andrea Winchell (who would later become the Coopers' nanny) on keys and Chris Marvin on guitar.

Skillet toured with Ron Luce and Teen Mania Ministries on their Acquire The Fire Tour across the United States and Canada in 2007. When they returned, Skillet had plans to co-headline the Justice & Mercy Tour with Flyleaf, but the tour was postponed and ultimately canceled after a number of shows due to Flyleaf lead vocalist Lacey Mosley's vocal problems. They then toured with Luce's Global Expeditions program on a summer missions trip with teenagers to Mexico. In 2008 they joined Teen Mania Ministries and toured with Acquire the Fire.

Skillet joined Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, and Seether on the first half of their tour in fall 2007.^[36] 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.^[37] Skillet toured again from April 2009 through June 2009 with Decyfer Down and Disciple. This tour was called Comatose Tour 2009 (essentially a second branch of the 2008 Comatose Tour). In fall of 2009, Skillet began touring with Hawk Nelson, Decyfer Down, and The Letter Black to promote Skillet's album Awake. The Awake & Alive Tour encompassed 52 cities from October through January.

Skillet performing live on July 1, 2010 at Cornerstone Festival (Illinois).

Skillet appeared at the 2009 Night of Joy Christian Rock festival at Disney Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World.^[38] This marked the band's first absence from Universal Studios Orlando's Rock the Universe in five years due to conflicting schedules. However, they were able to perform the following year, in 2010. On September 26, 2009, Skillet appeared at Awakening Music Festival in Leesburg, Virginia, alongside Jeremy Camp, Kutless, Hawk Nelson, Disciple, Decyfer Down, and others. Skillet also played at the Super Dome in New Orleans for the ELCA National Youth Gathering in 2009.

Skillet headlined two separate Rock the River tours, run by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and hosted by Franklin Graham. Those tours were Rock the River: Midwest in the summer of 2009 and Rock the River: West in the summer of 2010.

In January 2010 they toured with Puddle of Mudd and Shinedown through the East Coast of the United States.^[39][40] They also announced on their live chat with fans on December 5, 2009 that they would be touring with TobyMac in March and April 2010. This was later expanded upon as the "Awake Tonight Tour" named after both artists' new albums.^[41] House of Heroes joined them on the tour as the opening act.

In April and May the band continued on a second branch of their Awake and Alive tour with The Letter Black and Red.^[42][43] In April it was also announced that the band would be touring with Creed and Theft in August and September 2010.^[44][45] In October the band will be co-headlining the "Monsters of Annihilation Tour" with Papa Roach. Trapt and My Darkest Days will be supporting acts.^[46] They toured again with TobyMac in November and December as the 2010 version of the Winter Wonder Slam tour.^[47] On July 4, Skillet played at Creation Festival East and John Cooper called it the best show of Skillet's career.^[48]

In January 2011, Skillet confirmed that they would be touring with Stone Sour and Theory of a Deadman in the Avalanche Tour. The tour began at the end of March 2011 and concluded on May 8 in Jacksonville, FL. Other supporting acts include Halestorm and Art of Dying.^{[citation needed]} The band had a small international tour in January and February 2011 visiting Australia,^[49] New Zealand's Parachute Music Festival,^[50] and Japan.^{[citation needed]}

In October 2011, the band continued their Awake and Alive tour with Disciple, We As Human, and Manafest.^{[citation needed]}

Announced in October 2011, Skillet are headlining the 2012 Winter Jam tour for the central and eastern parts of the United States.^[51][52]

Band members [link]

Current

• John Cooper – lead vocals, bass, acoustic guitar (1996–present)
• Korey Cooper – vocals, backing vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, synthesizer (1999–present)
• Jen Ledger – vocals, backing vocals, drums, percussion (2008–present)
• Seth Morrison – lead guitar (2011–present)

Former

• Kevin Haaland – lead guitar (1999–2001)
• Ben Kasica – lead guitar (2001–2011, 2011)
• Trey McClurkin – drums, backing vocals (1996–2000)
• Lori Peters – drums (2000–2007)
• Jonathan Salas – lead guitar (2011)
• Ken Steorts – lead guitar (1996–1999)

Touring

• Billy Dawson – rhythm guitar (2000)
• Faith Stern – keyboards, vocals (2002–2003)
• Chris Marvin – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2002–2003, 2005–2006)
• Andrea Winchell – keyboards (2005–2006)
• Jonathan Chu – violin (2008–present)
• Tate Olsen – cello (2008–present)

Timeline [link]

id:Vocals_and_Bass value:purple legend:Vocals_and_Bass
id:Rhythm_Guitar_and_Keyboard value:red legend:Rhythm_Guitar_and_Keyboard
id:Lead_guitar value:blue legend:Lead_Guitar
id:drums value:yellow legend:Drums
id:lines value:black legend:Studio Albums

at:29/10/1997 color:black layer:back
at:21/04/1998 color:black layer:back
at:01/02/2000 color:black layer:back
at:29/09/2000 color:black layer:back
at:28/08/2001 color:black layer:back
at:18/11/2003 color:black layer:back
at:03/10/2006 color:black layer:back
at:25/08/2009 color:black layer:back

bar:john text:"John Cooper"
bar:ken text:"Ken Steorts"
bar:kevin text:"Kevin Haaland"
bar:ben text:"Ben Kasica"
bar:jonathan text:"Jonathan Salas"
bar:seth text:"Seth Morrison"
bar:korey text:"Korey Cooper"
bar:trey text:"Trey McClurkin"
bar:lori text:"Lori Peters"
bar:jen text:"Jen Ledger"

width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:john from:start till:01/04/2012 color:Vocals_and_Bass
bar:ken from:start till:05/08/1999 color:Lead_Guitar
bar:kevin from:05/08/1999 till:01/04/2001 color:Lead_Guitar
bar:ben from:01/04/2001 till:01/03/2011 color:Lead_Guitar
bar:ben from:01/04/2011 till:01/05/2011 color:Lead_Guitar
bar:jonathan from:01/03/2011 till:01/04/2011 color:Lead_Guitar
bar:seth from:01/05/2011 till:end color:Lead_Guitar
bar:korey from:05/08/1999 till:end color:Rhythm_Guitar_and_Keyboard
bar:trey from:start till:31/01/2000 color:Drums
bar:lori from:01/02/2000 till:31/12/2007 color:Drums
bar:jen from:01/01/2008 till:end color:Drums

Discography [link]

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)

This is a list of major releases only. Additional releases including EPs, live albums, singles, compilation albums and videos may be found at the full discography article.

Awards and recognition [link]

Grammy Award nominations

• 2005 nominee, Best Rock Gospel Album: Collide^[53]
• 2007 nominee, Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album: Comatose^[8]

GMA Dove Awards

• 2008 Rock Recorded Song of the Year: "Comatose" at the 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards on April 23, 2008.

Billboard Music Awards

• 2011 Top Christian Album: "Awake"^[54]

• 2012 nominee, Top Christian Artist^[55]
• 2012 nominee, Top Christian Album: "Awake"^[56]

References [link]

External links [link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Skillet

• Official website