Skillet

Artist Image: Skillet
Attribution
Image Credit: VelvetKelm20 (Own work), CC BY-SA 4.0

Biography

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. Over the past 15 years, Skillet has undergone several lineup changes, leaving founder John Cooper as the only original member remaining in the band. 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. 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.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1996
Number of Albums 40
Record Label Atlantic
Website www.skillet.com
Wikipedia Skillet on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

How many albums has the band released?

ten

...er (drums, vocals) and Seth Morrison (lead guitar). The band has released ten albums, two receiving Grammy nominations: Collide and Comatose. Awake ha...
Who is the lead vocalist of the band?

John

...best band ever to exist. The band currently consists of husband and wife John (lead vocals, bass) and Korey Cooper (rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing ...
What is Seth Morrison's job?

lead guitar

...ing vocals), along with Jen Ledger (drums, vocals) and Seth Morrison ( lead guitar ). The band has released ten albums, two receiving Grammy nominations...
Which album was certified Gold by RIAA?

Comatose

...en certified Platinum and debuted on No. 2 on the Billboard 200', with Comatose certified Gold by RIAA.' They have sold over 2 million albums in the U...
What site ranked Skillet in the Hardest Working Bands of 2011?

Songkick.com

...ered them a top five ranking in the Hardest Working Bands of 2011 by Songkick.com . ' Band History Selftitled (199697) Skillet formed in 1996 with two ...
When did Skillet form?

1996

...11 by Songkick.com. ' Band History Selftitled (199697) Skillet formed in 1996 with two members: John Cooper, former vocalist for Tennessee progressive...
Who was John Cooper a member of?

Seraph

...mbers: John Cooper, former vocalist for Tennessee progressive rock band Seraph , and Ken Steorts, former guitarist for Urgent Cry. The two bands met th...
Who joined the band as a temporary drummer?

Trey McClurkin

... Coming from different styles of rock music, they decided to name the experiment Skillet. After Trey McClurkin joined the band as a temporary drummer....
How many albums has Skillet released?

eleven

... (drums, vocals) and Seth Morrison (lead guitar). The band has released eleven albums, two of which, Collide and Comatose, received Grammy nominations...
Who is the lead guitarist for Skillet?

Seth Morrison

...keyboards, backing vocals) along with Jen Ledger (drums, vocals) and Seth Morrison (lead guitar). The band has released eleven albums, two of which, C...
Which two of Skillet's albums received Grammy nominations?

Collide and Comatose

...lead guitar). The band has released eleven albums, two of which, Collide and Comatose , received Grammy nominations. Two of their albums, Comatose and ...
What is the name of the two Skillet albums certified Platinum and Double Platinum by the RIAA?

Comatose and Awake

...e and Comatose, received Grammy nominations. Two of their albums, Comatose and Awake , are certified Platinum and Double Platinum respectively by the R...
What was Ken Steorts' former gig as Urgent Cry?

guitarist

...st for Tennessee progressive rock band Seraph, and Ken Steorts, former guitarist for Urgent Cry. The two bands met through touring together, but they ...
Who was the former guitarist for Urgent Cry?

Ken Steorts

...oper, former vocalist for Tennessee progressive rock band Seraph, and Ken Steorts , former guitarist for Urgent Cry. The two bands met through touring ...
Where was Skillet originally formed?

Memphis, Tennessee

...Skillet was originally formed in Memphis, Tennessee , in 1996 with two members: John Cooper (who had been the lead singer for the Tennessee progressive...
Who was the lead singer for the Tennessee progressive rock band Seraph?

John Cooper

...as originally formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1996 with two members: John Cooper (who had been the lead singer for the Tennessee progressive rock ban...
What was Trey McClurkin's job?

Drummer

...ve rock band Seraph) and Ken Steorts (former guitarist for Urgent Cry). Drummer Trey McClurkin came in to complete the lineup for the original band. T...
Who signed the trio?

Forefront Records

...up. Drummer Trey McClurkin rounded out the trio and in mere weeks, Forefront Records had signed them. It was used for the November 2009 promo for the ...
What was the name of the soap opera that used Forefront Records?

One Life to Live

... them. It was used for the November 2009 promo for the soap opera, One Life to Live . Best Kept Secret and Invincible appeared in the movie Carman: The...
In what movie did Best Kept Secret and Invincible appear?

Carman: The Champion

...e to Live. Best Kept Secret and Invincible appeared in the movie Carman: The Champion . Come on to the Future and Invincible were featured on the sound...
How many episodes of Joan of Arcadia were you featured on?

two

...he movie Extreme Days. You Are My Hope and A Little More were featured in two episodes of the CBS show Joan of Arcadia. You Are My Hope was featured o...
Who was featured on America's Next Top Model?

You Are My Hope

...incible were featured on the soundtrack for the movie Extreme Days. You Are My Hope and A Little More were featured in two episodes of the CBS show Jo...
Who is John Cooper's wife?

Korey Cooper

... The band consists of John Cooper (lead vocalist, bassist), his wife Korey Cooper (rhythm guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist), Ben Kasica (lead guitaris...
What was Ken Steorts' former giggin?

Urgent Cry

...e progressive rock band Seraph, and Ken Steorts, former guitarist for Urgent Cry . The two bands met through touring together, but those bands disbande...
How long was Skillet together?

a month

...n joined the band as a temporary drummer. Skillet was only together for a month when they received interest from major Christian record label ForeFron...
What Christian record label did Skillet receive interest from?

ForeFront Records

...onth when they received interest from major Christian record label ForeFront Records . It was wellreceived, and the trio continued to write new materia...
What was the name of Skillet's 1997 follow-up album?

Hey You, I Love Your Soul

...y toured the United States. Skillet recorded their followup album throughout 1997, titled Hey You, I Love Your Soul , which was released in April 1998....
Who was Skillet's drummer?

Lori Peters

...skills, they asked her to audition to replace their existing drummer, Lori Peters , who was retiring. Ledger was chosen, and she kicked off her Skillet...
When did the band release their self-titled debut album?

October 1996

... interest from major Christian record label ForeFront Records and in October 1996 they released a selftitled debut album. Cooper was also the band's p...
What year did Skillet's Awake debut on the Billboard 200?

2009

... and she kicked off her Skillet career with the Comatose Tour. Skillet's 2009 album, Awake, debuted at 2 on the Billboard 200. It was the highestchart...
What was the highestcharging Christian album since Underoath's 2006 release?

Define the Great Line

... highestcharting Christian album since Underoath's 2006 release, Define the Great Line . Awake was one of just three rock albums to be certified platin...
How many rock albums were certified platinum in 2012?

three

...e Underoath's 2006 release, Define the Great Line. Awake was one of just three rock albums to be certified platinum in 2012, along with the Black Keys...
Skillet's fan base includes both Christians and mainstream what?

rock lovers

...inum in 2012, along with the Black Keys' El Camino and Mumford & Sons' Babel. Skillet's fan base comprises both Christians and mainstream rock lovers ....
Skillet continued to write new material as they toured what country?

United States

...ved, 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 t...
What kind of message does Skillet promote?

Christian

... strong melodies, Skillet resembles a heavy metal band, but promotes a Christian message. The band includes John Cooper, guitar and vocals; his wife K...
Skillet resembles a heavy metal band but promotes what?

a Christian message

...rong melodies, Skillet resembles a heavy metal band, but promotes a Christian message . The band includes John Cooper, guitar and vocals; his wife Kore...
How many songs has the band had in the number one slot on Christian radio?

eight

...oards; Lori Peters on drums; and Ben Kasica on guitar. The group has had eight songs in the number one slot on Christian radio and has been nominated ...
What Christian rock band did Cooper prefer?

Stryper

...rant, but Cooper was more interested in hearing the Christian rock band Stryper , who emulated the heavy metal sound, and he liked the bizarre costumes...
What hardcore mainstream band was Cooper most interested in hearing?

Kiss

...he liked the bizarre costumes and makeup of the hardcore mainstream band Kiss . He had to sneak over to friends' houses to hear Stryper, because his pa...
What is the name of Skillet's fourth album?

Alien Youth

...lineup and broke into the mainstream in 2001 with their fourth album, Alien Youth . From there, the quartet experienced a quick ascent on the charts, r...
What was their bestselling album to date?

Awake

...d number two on the Billboard 200 with their bestselling effort to date, Awake . Subsequent LPs Rise (2013) and Unleashed (2016) proved just as popular...