SKILLET, A CHRISTIAN ROCK BAND, REPRESENTING SALVATION
Beyond the tough exterior is a wealth of sensitive appreciation of Christ and salvation for John Cooper, the lead singer and bassist of the popular Christian rock band, Skillet.
The Memphis native and his band, Skillet – a two-time Grammy nominee with 6.5 million monthly Spotify listeners – come to St. Louis March 13, as part of the 39-city Christian music festival Winter Jam 2022, at the Family Arena.
“Salvation is what it’s all about,” Cooper said in an interview with The Salvation Army Midland Division. “Salvation is that wonderful thing. Would I repent for my sins? All of a sudden, God has given me a brand-new heart. He didn’t just forgive me. He gave me a brand-new heart.”
Cooper explained, “One of the interesting things, theologically, about the idea of salvation is that the Bible teaches us that when we repent or are born again, we are saved. But the Bible talks that we are also being saved. There is this process of salvation.”
As singer for the 26-year-old band Skillet, an eight-time GMA Dove Award winner, Cooper said his sense of self was rocked when his mother passed away from cancer while the singer was a teenager. The unforgiving event helped shape his concept of salvation.
“We’re lasting through this,” Cooper said. “Why would God let a pandemic happen? Why would God let my mom die from cancer? That’s a real thing. My mom died when I was 15 of cancer. My mom was a Christian. Why would a good God do this? We’re here on Earth and get to walk out this process of salvation.”
Donating to The Salvation Army has been a fixture of his life for the past 15 years, Cooper said. Shortly after moving north to the inhospitably cold winters of Wisconsin, Cooper realized the vital importance of taking care of the local homeless population.
“We have a Salvation Army down the street. It’s freezing,” Cooper said. “You can’t live on the street in Wisconsin in January. Salvation Army is saying, ‘We’re going to be the hands of Jesus to people, who can’t afford food or heat, who might freeze to death. It doesn’t matter what this person believes or not. We’re going to show you love either way.’ I think that’s really a beautiful aspect. The more we become like Jesus, the more we begin to have the fruits of salvation in our lives.”
Skillet is, at its center, a family group. The band’s cofounder John Cooper is married to rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Korey Cooper. They are joined by lead guitarist Seth Morrison and drummer Jen Ledger. The Coopers celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary March 1.
The Coopers’ children, Xavier, 16, and Alexandria, 19, have joined their parents on the family-friendly tour bus for years, helping to keep noise to a minimum during overnight hours while the kids were growing up.
In addition to their Christian roots, Skillet has played with hard rock’s well-known secular groups, including Korn, Godsmack and Nickelback. The opportunity taught the Coopers’ kids, raised as Christians, as John was, to accept other ways of life, he said.
“My kids have seen my atheist friends, and when something bad happens in their life, they have said, ‘Hey, do you think you can pray for me?’” Cooper said. “You have these situations with somebody who is like, ‘I don’t believe in God, but when it comes down to it, I need some help. If you’ve got something that can help, I’ll take all the help I can get.’ My kids have always asked questions about that. I think they’ve had a firsthand experience to see what is like to be light and salt in the earth.”
He added, “My kids have a good grasp of ethics. … I encourage Christians, and anyone watching, whoever you are, teach your kids what the Bible says about purity, sexual purity, about the purity in your business practices, being an honorable person and not cheating someone, or treating the poor like you would the rich. All of these things the Bible talks about, and the Bible gives us ethics standards. That’s made all the difference for my kids.”
Skillet is touring the Midwest and South through the end of March, before heading to the Daytona Speedway in late May.
Their newest, “Dominion,” is their 11th album. It began streaming in January and is fueling the band’s push on the road.
“It’s a very positive album,” Cooper said. “If you’re like me and have a bunch of COVID weight that you needed to lose, and you are looking for some gym music, this new Skillet record is the one. Very uplifting.”
The secret to Cooper’s energy and perseverance, he said, comes from the Book of Proverbs.
“The Book of Proverbs teaches you, over and over, not to be lazy, a simpleton, spend your time wisely, work hard,” Cooper said. “You’d begin to be amazed at the productivity one can have when you adhere to the Book of Proverbs.”
Skillet will be joined by fellow Christian musicians Tauren Williams, Colton Dixon and KB at March 13's Winter Jam 2022.
(Photo: Skillet Facebook)