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 permanent 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.
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 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. 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 date.
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. 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.
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 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.'
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 #55 on the Billboard 200 and #4 on the US Top Christian Albums chart.
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. However, during the 2007 Christmas season, she took the time to train Skillet's next drummer, Jen Ledger.
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 putting the Comatose Comes Alive CD in your computer.[8]
The Comatose album was certified Gold in sales by the RIAA on November 3, 2009.
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. The album contains twelve songs and was released on August 25, 2009. It charted at #2 on the Billboard top 200 selling around 68,000 units in its first week. "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.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. 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 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 #2.
On February 18, Skillet was nominated for 6 Dove Awards for the 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards.Awake was certified gold July 2, 2010. A remix on Monster was featured on their podcast 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. "Monster" was certified gold a day later.
Rise (2011-Present)
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. 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. They plan to enter the studio at the conclusion of the Winter Jam eastern tour, approximately in May, for a release in late 2012.
During a July 18, 2012 interview with RadioU, John Cooper stated the band currently had 61 songs written and would be heading into the studio in October to record the album with Howard Benson for an early 2013 release.
In an interview with CCM Magazine, John Cooper described the new album as "a roller coaster ride". He states: "We have aggressive tracks, artsy and musical tracks, which is new territory for Skillet. A couple songs are classic American heartland anthems, and a couple songs are signature symphonic-classical rock Skillet. Guitars are dirty and edgier, with absolute shredding solos by Seth." One of the songs mentioned in the interview was titled "Salvation".
In an Interview on January 26, 2013 In Beaumont TX, John Cooper announced that the new album, Rise, would be coming out in May 2013, but was later scheduled for a June 25, 2013 release. In an interview with NoiseCreep, John Cooper stated the first single and music video is scheduled to be released by late April. The first single from the album, "Sick of It", will be released to US Rock radio on April 23, 2013. It was later confirmed that the first single, "Sick of It", would be released on April 9, 2013.
Touring:
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. 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. 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.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. 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.] 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.] In April it was also announced that the band would be touring with Creed and Theft in August and September 2010. 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.They will be touring again with TobyMac in November and December as the 2010 version of the Winter Wonder Slam tour.
In January 2011, Skillet confirmed that they will be touring with Stone Sour and Theory of a Deadman in the Avalanche Tour. The tour will begin at the end of March 2011 and will conclude May 1 in Uncasville, CT. Other supporting acts include Halestorm and Art of Dying. The band had a small international tour in January and February 2011 visiting New Zealand, Australia and Japan.
[edit]Band members
Current:
John Cooper – lead vocals, bass guitar (1996–present)
Korey Cooper – keyboards, synthesizer, rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (1999–present)
Seth Morrison - lead guitar (2011-present)
Jen Ledger – drums, percussion, lead vocals (2008–present)
Touring:
Tate Olsen – cello (2008–present)
Jonathan Chu – violin (2008–present)
Scotty Rock – bass guitar (2009–present)
Former:
Ken Steorts – lead guitar (1996–1999)
Trey McClurkin – drums, backing vocals (1996–2000)
Kevin Haaland – lead guitar (1999–2001)
Lori Peters – drums (2000–2007)
Ben Kasica – lead guitar (2001–2011)
Jonathan Salas - lead guitar (2011)
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)
Freakshow
Skillet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come in please ?
Some say they're aliens
Some say they're strangers
Some say they're on this world
We will not conform to the masses
Whether they are ? or whether they attack us
C'mon! C'mon
Welcome to the freak show
Step up, status quo
Hope you enjoyed the ride
Welcome to the freak show
We got horns and halos
We ain't afraid and ain't buying a lie
Eat it, drink it, think it, be it, breathe it
Guess you don't even know who I am
I don't believe it, need it, see it, be it, breed it
Time to make my final stand
Welcome to the freak show
This is where the freaks go
This is the place that they can never take away
Welcome to the freak show
We don't ever need though
One to tell us who to be, how to feed
I don't care what they believe oh oh oh
Welcome to the freak show
Welcome to the outcast
Take a step across the tracks
We ain't got nothing to prove
Don't need your smiling face
Don't need your handshake
'Cause this is my life to live and I ain't living for you
Eat it, drink it, think it, be it, breathe it
Guess you don't even know who I am
I don't believe it, need it, see it, be it, breed it
Time to make my final stand
Welcome to the freak show
This is where the freaks go
This is the place that they can never take away
Welcome to the freak show
We don't ever need though
One to tell us who to be, how to think
I don't care what they believe oh oh oh
Welcome to the freak show
I'm a freak naturally
Just how I want to be
You're a freak just like me
I'm a freak naturally
Just how I want to be
You're a freak just like me
Welcome to the freak show
This is where the freaks go
This is the place that they can never take away
Welcome to the freak show
We don't ever need though
One to tell us who to be, how to think
I don't care what they believe
Freak show, freak show
The place that they can never take away
Freak show, freak show
The place that they can never take away
Oh oh oh welcome to the freak show
Oh oh oh welcome to the freak show
The lyrics to Skillet's "Freakshow" speak to those who feel different than the norm and celebrate individuality. The song opens with a call to come forward and see the freaks, those who are often seen as outsiders or strange by society. The singer acknowledges that some may call them aliens or strangers, but rejects the idea of conforming to what is deemed as "normal" by the masses. Instead, the freaks will assert themselves whether they are attacked or accepted.
The chorus welcomes the listener to the freak show where status quo is challenged and the outcasts go. It references horns and halos, suggesting that the freaks are both good and evil, but ultimately they reject societal expectations and do not need someone to tell them who to be or how to live. The second verse reinforces this idea, making it clear that the freaks do not need approval or validation from others. They will live their lives on their own terms, regardless of what others may think.
Overall, "Freakshow" embraces the idea of celebrating individuality and rejecting societal expectations. It empowers those who are often judged and ostracized by society to embrace their uniqueness and live life according to their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
Step right up! Ladies and gentleman
Welcome to the show! Come on in everyone!
Come in please ?
Please enter and join us!
Some say they're aliens
Some people think we're different and don't belong here
Some say they're strangers
Others think we're just unknown to them
Some say they're on this world
And some believe we're living creatures on this planet
We will not conform to the masses
We won't change ourselves to fit in with everyone else
Whether they are ? or whether they attack us
Even if they come in peace or hostility, we won't change who we are
C'mon! C'mon
Let's get going!
Welcome, to the freak show
This is where we belong, and where we feel welcome
Step up, status quo
Leave your old ways behind and join us in our unique lifestyle
Hope you enjoyed the ride
We hope you had a great time with us
We got horns and halos
We have some qualities that may seem good, and others that may be bad
We ain't afraid and ain't buying a lie
We're not scared of anyone or anything, and we won't be tricked into living a different way
Eat it, drink it, think it, be it, breathe it
We fully embrace who we are, and we live it in every part of our lives
Guess you don't even know who I am
You don't even know what it's like to be me
I don't believe it, need it, see it, be it, breed it
I don't need anyone's approval, I just want to be myself
Time to make my final stand
It's time for me to show everyone who I am and to stand up for myself
This is where the freaks go
This is where we belong and where we feel accepted. It's our home
This is the place that they can never take away
No matter what anyone does, we will always have this place where we belong
We don't ever need though
We never need someone to tell us how to be or how to live our lives
One to tell us who to be, how to feed
We don't need anyone to tell us what to love or who to love
I don't care what they believe
I'm not interested in what people think of me, I'm happy being myself
Welcome to the outcast
Welcome to where the outcast belong
Take a step across the tracks
Join us on this journey, even if it's not the norm or the usual thing to do
We ain't got nothing to prove
We don't need to prove anything to anyone or show them that we're better than them
Don't need your smiling face
We don't need someone to pretend or fake being happy with us
Don't need your handshake
Or someone pretending to be our friends
'Cause this is my life to live and I ain't living for you
I'm living my life for me and nobody else
I'm a freak naturally
Being a freak just comes natural to me
Just how I want to be
This is who I am and who I want to be
You're a freak just like me
If you're like me, if you're different and unique, you belong here too
Freak show, freak show
Welcome to the freak show
Oh oh oh welcome to the freak show
A warm welcome to the freak show
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBERT JAMES SMITH, JASON TOOP COOPER, SIMON GALLUP, PORL THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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