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10 Questions with ... Skillet
September 25, 2006
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NAME:SkilletTITLE:Musician
Brief Career Synopsis:
Line-up:
John Cooper - Vocals, bass
Korey Cooper - Keyboards, rhythm guitar
Lori Peters - Drums
Ben Kasica - GuitarLabel: Lava/Ardent/SRE Recordings
Discography:
Comatose - 2006
Collide [Enhanced] - 2004
Collide - 2003
Alien Youth Unplugged Invasion DVD - 2002
Alien Youth - 2001
Ardent Worship [Live] - 2000
Invincible - 2000
Hey, You I Love Your Soul - 1998
Skillet - 19961) Skillet has had a consistent line-up over the years, but can you briefly introduce the band members using some musical history and personality characteristics?
John Cooper, vocals/bass: John does most of the songwriting and is in charge of musical direction. He is a passionate musician and a little hyperactive. He also suffers from thinking his jokes are funnier than they really are. Musical background consists of classical piano training and trombone in the concert and marching band/orchestra for 11 years.
Korey Cooper, married to John and plays keyboards/rhythm guitar: Korey has been playing piano since she was a kid and began writing music at age 11. Korey is a woman of few words who would be content to sit and read alone for days at a time! She also is a bit self-conscience about singing, which is surprising to everyone that knows her 'cause her voice is intimate and expressive.
Lori Peters: Lori has been playing drums for about 16 years and grew up a full fledged metal head! Complete with full door-sized poster of "Eddie" from Iron Maiden in her room in high school, she learned to play rock drums from watching Head Bangers Ball and Metallica videos! Lori is a hard-hitting drummer that wows audiences every night.
Ben Kasica: Ben joined Skillet when he was only 16. He first learned to play classical guitar at 12 and moved to electric a few years later. Ben comes from a musical family; both of his parents are members of the St. Louis Symphony. He learned at a young age to enjoy artistic things and many cultural things that most young people do not experience. It's safe to say that we make fun of him for a lot of these things! He is quiet and artistic, and even though he is a fantastic guitar player, he is only beginning to tap into his real potential.
2) Can you offer a brief history of the band? How the band was formed? How did the relationship with Lava come about?
Skillet was formed in '96 in Memphis, TN. We were from different bands at the time, which is why we called it Skillet. It was like cooking, taking a lot of different ingredients and throwing them together. We barely knew each other or what each of us even wanted to play musically. We recorded a demo and got signed after only recording four songs. The Lava relationship happened years later. It was a new album [Collide] and Lava had heard our records in the past and felt that this record was the right one for us to begin a relationship.
3) What is the most surprising thing about working with mainstream rock radio? Is it very different from Christian radio?
The most surprising thing is finding out how hard it is to get played. There are so many artists coming out, that you have to fit into a particular mold. I have learned that if you want to break out of that mold a little, you might have a hard time getting played. Christian radio is just as concerned with the lyrics as the music. It needs to be the right message. There are concerns that we deal with in the message of the song that mainstream artist will never have to deal with.
4) You're sitting in the studio, working on tracks for Comatose. Describe a moment when you heard something that made your heart stop in a good, excited way.
We were pushing our guitar player to work on some real "shred" guitar solos. The biggest issue with Ben is that he grew up after that era, so we worked to get what we wanted. After we had pushed and pushed, the end result was the solo for "Rebirthing" and it was a bonified, 80's metal shred melodic solo and I was excited.
5) Skillet has always been pretty open about the faith behind it. Has the band become more determined to convey its message as the years have gone by? What gives the band a sense of urgency?
I would not say that we have become more committed because preaching a message about what we believe is the reason we started the band. I think that we have learned how to speak that message more clearly than we have in the past. We also have honed in on what that message is supposed to be for us in this moment. The time is right for Christians to make a positive stand in the world for what we believe, and to help those in need. The time is right in terms of where the world is at with increasing violence, natural disasters, the condition of the earth, etc. We want to use the time that we have to make a difference, and that time is now.
6) What would you consider to be the most important song on the new record?
The most important song on the record is probably "Looking for Angels." It is a song that brings many issues all the way from wars, bigotry, fear, homelessness, drug abuse, Internet pornography, to asking a question to the listener, "What will you do to make a difference, to make a change?" The goal is to see people think of how they could help other people, to get us out of our selfish thinking and bring us to a higher calling: to serve.
7) Not every day is a cake walk for people who travel and work together. How do you guys stay friends as well as co-workers? What piece of advice would you give newer bands?
It can be difficult to get along when you live with nine people 24/7. You have to learn to not fight about little insignificant things that are really just due to being tired. We have a pretty strong accountability system and I think that we know each other well enough to know when something is not right. My advice is to always communicate and don't be afraid to bring up issues.
8) Tell us your funniest radio station experience so far. You can change the names to protect the innocent (or guilty).
Well, one time at the Radio U morning show, there was a contest between certain members of the band and the loser had to get a pie in the face. We knew nothing of this situation going into it, and I thought that it was just a joke, but I lost and it was literal. I thought that it was pretty bizarre that they actually went through with it. I mean it's radio, who's going to know that they really did it?
9) If there's "nothing new under the sun," how do you keep making music that sounds new and says something important?
When I set out to write a new song, my goal is not to try to do something that's never been done before. I think that those kinds of ideas are so rare that you are lucky if it ever happens to you one time! The key for me has been to put all of my influences together and put my own flavor on it. Sometimes that comes off as seeming "new" and sometimes it does not. But I have found that if you focus on writing the best songs you can, that is where you will experience your most success. As far the message goes, that will never get "outdated" as long as you are considering where the world is at. It's like writing a love song. People will never get tired of hearing about falling in love! I just have to think of honest ways to say it.
10) What's life like off the road? What do you all enjoy doing when at home?
Life is exhausting because our kids come. My son does not sleep well, so we never do either! Everyone has to modify their lives to make sure that the kids get sleep. The band is great with them and don't seem to mind too much. On the road, if we have an off day, we go to movies, write music, work out and go running, and eat something really good!
Bonus Questions
1) Who would be a dream artist to record with (any genre)?
Sting
2 ) What is your favorite city to visit?
Seattle
3 ) What is your favorite road meal?
Burgers and fries. I'm easy.
4 ) Musical guilty pleasures
Celine Dion
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