Skillet, a Christian rock band, was formed in 1996 in Memphis. Tennessee. The band’s current members are:
- John Cooper: He does the lead vocals and bass
- Korey Cooper (John’s wife): She does rhythm guitar, keyboards, and background vocals
- Jen Ledger: She does drums, and background vocals
- Seth Morrison: He does lead guitar.
They have had two albums, Comatose and Awake went Platinum and Double Platinum respectively, while albums Rise and Unleashed went Gold. They had songs that have gone Multi-Platinum and another four songs that have gone Gold. Let’s take a look at how Skillet formed.
Is Skillet a Religious Band?
Skillet formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1996 with only two members: John Cooper, who is a former vocalist for a rock band called Seraph, and Ken Steorts, who played the guitar for Urgent Cry. The two bands met while they were touring, but they broke up soon after. John and Ken’s pastor encouraged them to form their own band as a side project. As a result, they decided to try it out. During this tryout, Trey McClurkin joined as a temporary drummer.
They were only together for a month when a Christian record label, ForeFront Records became interested in the band. They released their demo album, Right Upside Your Head, the same year. Also, on October 29 of that year, a self-titled debut called Skillet was released, which was well received.
According to Jon, the band’s name was meant to be humorous. The pastor of Covenant Community Church (where the band formed) gave them their name because he felt they were like “southern cooking”, meaning that since each member came from a different band, where each had their own sound and style, they were tossed into the same “skillet” just like a southern recipe.
Their second album, Hey You, I Love Your Soul, came out in 1998. With this album, they went away from their post-grunge approach and went for a lighter alternative rock and style. John’s wife, Korey, joined soon after the album was released to play keyboards in order to help him out
Steorts left the band before they began recording their third album, Invincible, to be with his family and pursue other ventures. Kevin Haaland was hired to be the new guitarist. Also, Korey joined the band permanently and played the keyboard for their album. With this album, their sound changed to a more electronic sound.
Soon after the album was released, Trey McClurkin left the band and was replaced by Lori Peters.
Skillet released its first worship album called Ardent Worship in 2000. Alien and Youth kept the same sound when they recorded their next album. Soon after, Ben left the band and was replaced by Ben Kasica.
Their fifth album, Collide, was released by Ardent Records and contained the singles, Savior and Collide. Lava Records bought the rights to Collide in 2004 and was re-released the same year and added a new track called Open Wounds. The album was nominated for Best Rock Gospel Album in 2005.
The album Comatose was released in 2006 and has the singles Rebirthing, Whispers in the Dark, Comatose, The Older I Get, Those Nights, The Last Night, and Better Than Drugs. The album debuted at number 55 on the Billboard 200 and number 4 on the U.S. Top Christian Albums chart.
In 2008, Lori left the band but she took time to train their next drummer, Jen Ledger. Later that year, Comatose Comes Alive came out. It was a CD/DVD combo featuring live recordings from their concert in Chattanooga. The CD contained the single Live Free or Let Me Die, which people could download by inserting the CD into their computer.
The album Comatose was certified Gold and Platinum by the RIAA in 2009 and 2016 respectively. This was a huge accomplishment for the band.
The seventh album, Awake, was released in 2009 and contained twelve songs. It chartered number 2 on the Billboard 200 and sold about 68,000 units. The monster was released as a single on July 14, 2009. John Cooper stated that Hero wasn’t the lead single, but was released in March 2010. A deluxe version was released with extra songs Dead Inside and Would It Matter along with the radio edit of Monster that doesn’t have the distorted growl.
Skillet was nominated for six Dove Awards at the 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards. Also, Awake was certified Gold in 2010. In that same year, Ardent Record released a collection of their songs from 1996-2001 called The Early Years.
Ben Kasica left the group after 10 years in 2001. However, he ended up staying longer than planned until a new guitarist was found. In April of the same year, Seth Morrison was hired to replace Ben.
Awake won the Top Christian Album award at the Billboard Music Album in 2011. The song Awake and Alive was announced to be on the soundtrack of Transformers: Dark of the Moon in May of 2011.
Skillet has had continued success through the years having albums high on various charts and some of those albums certified. In 2017, their song, Feel Invincible, was chosen as the official theme song for WWE Battleground.
What kind of music is Skillet?
Skillet’s style has been classified as Christian rock, Christian metal, alternative rock, hard rock, nu metal, and symphonic metal. Their debut album was characterized by its grunge influences. Their second album was noted for its electronic elements and industrial feel.
Is Skillet a Christian Band?
John grew up in Memphis in a devout family. His parents co-founded a Christian church in Kenosha.
John has been quoted as saying, “Every day on social media I see people say, ‘I don’t get this Jesus stuff, but your music makes me feel better.’ “
“There was never a push like, ‘OK, we need to find ways to connect with fans who don’t get who we are,'” Cooper said. “We just kind of understood our fans and they always understood us, and I think that’s why we have been so successful.” “Sometimes the faith aspect was inadvisable from certain people in the music business,” Cooper continued. “Some radio stations used to say, ‘It’s too positive, it doesn’t feel like real rock music.’ But people love the positivity in culture today. And they love their faith. … Our songs just exude that spirit of ‘Be yourself, be proud of who you are, you can make it,’ and people are connecting with that. (quotes from https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/07/30/wisconsins-skillet-has-quietly-become-one-worlds-most-successful-rock-bands-christian-victorious/1830856001/)
Given these quotes, I feel Skillet is a Christian band who, like other bands I’ve blogged about, has gone to secular audiences to spread the Message. When you think about it, isn’t that what Jesus did? How else will people hear the Message if we don’t go to them? People may talk about you, but that shouldn’t stop you. It didn’t stop Jesus and Skillet band Christian Songs
Christian Songs by Skillet
- Awake and Alive
- The Resistance
- Monster
- Hero
- Finish Line
Is Skillet a satanic band?
Given the quotes mentioned above by John Cooper, there is no evidence that Skillet is a satanic band.
Conclusion
Skillet is a Christian band going to secular audiences in an effort to reach them for Jesus. It takes great faith to do that. Remember, everyone deserves to hear the Message because the Message is for everyone.