Retro Insider - "Skillet"

*CHECK OUT SKILLET AT WONDERJAM 2012, VAUGHAN, ON, on RETROSWITCH'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL JUST TO THE RIGHT OF YOUR SCREEN!*

It's time to take a moment to look at one of the premier Christian hard rock bands in today's contemporary Christian music circles, Skillet. This band is not just content on playing to church kids, and lyrically, has gone where few bands possibly ever will.
Skillet began in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1996. John Cooper and Ken Steorts were friends in separate bands. When their bands broke up, their youth pastor suggested they form a new band, which they did, and they called it Skillet. Funnily enough, as a result, as they created a fan base over the following years, their fans have been seen bringing skillets into concert halls, and have been dubbed "Panheads". The original band consisted of Cooper, Steorts and Trey McClurkin. Together they created 1996's Skillet, and later in 1998, Cooper's wife Korey joined the band for Hey You I Love Your Soul.
In 2000, they released their highest selling album to that point, Invincible. In this era, they reinvented their sound to be more electronic, with the help of Korey's keyboard skills. Steorts and McClurkin left the band at this time, and guitarist Kevin Haaland temporarily joined. Also in 2000, they released their only live disc to date, the great Ardent Worship. It was also during this time that their famous chic drummer, Lori Peters, joined the band. In 2001, they released Alien Youth, and continued with the industrial/electronic sound, using the strength of their strong title track to headlining arenas in Christian rock. As of 2001, Skillet's present day lineup was solidified with the hiring of guitarist Ben Kasica.
In 2003, Collide was released, highlighting a third shift musically, from industrial to hard rock with strings and guitar. Around this time, their label Ardent was bought by Lava Records, a division of Atlantic. In 2006, the band released Comatose, and re-released it as a special edition in December 2007.
During their continued musical careers, John and Korey Cooper started a family, and therefore Skillet had to use some touring musicians while Korey was pregnant. Drea Winchell and Chris Marvin have been used various times, but never in studio though.
With the help of current drummer, Jen Ledger, Skillet released their latest album, Awake, in August 2009.
For more information, check out their website at www.skillet.com