Skillet’s John Cooper Professes His Love for ’80s Music

2012-02-23

Story by Cat Badra

Skillet frontman: ‘Eighties music was so dynamic and theatrical’

Memphis hard rock quartet Skillet are currently headlining the 2012 Winter Jam tour, which also features fellow Christian acts Sanctus Real, Peter Furler, Kari Jobe, Newsong, Building 429 and more. The trek spans dozens of dates and wraps April 1 in Grand Rapids, Mich.

While Winter Jam is a bona fide Christian tour, Skillet are also a regular on mainstream bills alongside the likes of Puddle of Mudd, Three Days Grace, Papa Roach and other modern rock heavy-hitters.

Frontman John Cooper says he treats all of the Skillet’s tours the same, and he has always found good company in the band’s tour mates, no matter the type of tour. “We toured with Papa Roach on a co-headlining tour. They didn’t come up to us and say ‘Hey, you can’t talk about Jesus when you’re on stage,’ and we didn’t say to them ‘Hey, you guys can’t cuss during the show,’” Cooper told GoUpstate.com. “We could do whatever we wanted and they could do whatever they wanted. It’s a mutual respect.”

Cooper also professed his love for ‘80s metal and rock– real-deal guys like Metallica, Bon Jovi and Motley Crue. That adoration really comes out in Skillet’s heavy tracks. “Eighties music was so dynamic and theatrical. I love it,” he said, “I think our song ‘Rebirthing’ [his favorite Skillet song] kind of embodies everything that I like about Skillet. It’s heavy, but it’s very melodic and I like how theatrical the vocals are. The string section is very classical sounding and it has a great guitar solo with a very ‘80s metal sound. It has everything that is good about Skillet in that song.” (Courtesy photo via Atlantic Records.)

 




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