The Very Long Skillet Phone Interview with John Cooper 8/29/03
Chad Olson: We’re good to go. So, how are things going?
John Cooper: Oh, pretty good, man. We’ve been busy, really busy. But that’s alright. That’s a good thing, I guess.
CO: So, the press is starting to kick in for the new album?
JC: Well, a little bit. We mainly have just been busy because of, we just finished up the details, and we’ve been playing and stuff. Just a lot of business stuff. We just got back from Alaska; we did the Alaska State Fair, which was really cool. That was really cool, that was a busy trip. And my little girl travels with us and stuff, and she got sick. So, we were not sleeping, just made me really tired.
CO: That’s too bad. That can be rough.
JC: Yeah, man.
CO: What’s the release date for the record?
JC: November 17, I want to say. Or 18, whatever that Tuesday is, I think it’s around that time.
CO: Okay, well, I’ve got a nice list of questions here. I’m actually going to be able to catch you guys at Universal Studios next weekend at the “Rock the Universe” show, and I’m in the process of working with Velvet at The Media Collective to actually set up an in-person interview, too, as a follow-up. I’m doing a story for HM Magazine, and, uh…you’re familiar with HM?
JC: Oh, yeah.
CO: Okay, so I’m basically doing a phone interview with you now to get the basis for my story, and then we’ll follow up next weekend. We’ll get to chat then, too.
JC: Cool, man. Alright. So, do you live in Florida then?
CO: Yep, I’m about two hours southeast of Orlando, so…
JC: Well, it’ll be good to see you, put your face with your name.
CO: Yeah, that will be very cool. Well, I’ve kind of split them up into background questions about Skillet, then miscellaneous questions, and then questions about Collide, so I’ll just dig in here.
JC: Alright.
CO: Was Skillet the first band you were in?
JC: No. I started playing in my first band when I was 15, it might have even been 14. I played in a band with some of my friends, I guess, for a number of months. We didn’t really play a lot, we just kind of got together and they played covers, and I didn’t know any of the covers because I wasn’t allowed to listen to secular music. (Laughs) But, I kind of knew them from hearing them at friends’ houses and stuff. I usually don’t tell people that was my first band because I don’t really count it, but it technically was. And we were called Tribulation. (Laughs)
CO: (Laughs) Nice and metal. 80’s metal.
JC: Oh, yeah, man. That’s right.
CO: Who are Skillet’s influences, who would you list as your current band’s influences?
JC: I think our line of influences is so long, and I know you’re not necessarily saying for me, since I’ve been a kid, what are my influences. But my list of influences has to start from Christian Contemporary Music when I was a kid, because I think that pop music has such an influence on me. I, I think that pop is still, pop I guess is what I’m, I, um…I’m tired. (Laughs)
CO: (Laughs)
JC: I guess what I’m trying to say is pop music is still really my greatest influence. I think it goes all the way back to Amy Grant and Russ Taff, and stuff like that. And then I was really into the Christian metal days. I don’t know how far you go back with that, but since I wasn’t really allowed to listen to mainstream music, I listened to all the metal from Barren Cross to Guardian, all the good stuff. And they weren’t really an influence, but just the rock side of what I really love. Because up until recently…At this point, everything has really become an influence, and I would say recently I’ve been listening to P.O.D. Um, let me just think out loud here. Um, Linkin Park, um. I would say that’s probably a good start anyway. And I think that what happens basically is that at this point it’s kind of my own sound a little bit. You don’t really hear a band like you used to, like when Nirvana came out. If they said they were influenced by Nirvana, they sounded just like Nirvana. At this point it’s more like if I hear something, and, like P.O.D. I mean, our album obviously doesn’t sound anything like P.O.D.’s record. I can’t rap even if I was going to die if I couldn’t.
CO: (Laughs)
JC: I just can’t. (Laughs) There’s like a certain thing you hear, like the sound of a record, or the aggressiveness of the guitars, you know. Things like that. Or the arrangements of songs. Those kinds of things are kind of what I guess I mean when I say that I feel like I kind of picked up a little bit from their record.
CO: Okay. Would you say the influences you listed are some of your favorite bands, as well?
JC: I would say maybe so. It’s always weird with this whole secular music thing being that you don’t always want to tell Christian kids to listen to Linkin Park.
CO: I understand.
JC: But I would say Linkin Park’s first cd, their Hybrid Theory record, and P.O.D.’s Satellite would be my two favorite rock records for the last three or four years, five years.
CO: I read in one of your bios that Velvet sent that you like glam metal. Why is that, and which bands would you be referring to?
JC: I like all the glam metal bands. There’s not one that I don’t like. It was my…Well, let’s see…You know how like a few years ago ska music got really popular? Well, namely in the Christian market. But when all the ska bands came out, it seemed like if you were a ska band the Christian people and fans were going to like you, if you were good or bad or whatever. Metal was like that for me, I liked all the Christian metal bands, Barren Cross being my favorite. Stryper not being nearly my favorite, but they were the really popular one. And then, you know, I got into more metal as I got older and was over at my friends’ house as I heard other stuff. I’m a big Bon Jovi fan, Skid Row, Motley Crue, all that stuff, man. (Laughs) And I used to hate my voice because I couldn’t sing like that.
CO: Oh, really.
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Other Stories:
I have always been a fan of Skillet's from their first album, but I have been waiting for that ONE album that defines them as artists. Collide has far exceeded my expectations. Not to say that I am dissappointed with their past albums. But every song on Collide does, in fact, rip your face off. The song writing has improved 100-fold in my opinion. Great disc, one that I am having a hard time getting out of my stereo, unless of course it is to put it in another stereo.
Posted by:
Jeremy on December 28, 2003 04:50 PM
Skillet is my favorite band and I believe the most talented musicians in the christian music world. However, I dont like collide as much as i hoped. The lyrics aren't as deep, and meaningful as previous albums. I liked them from their rock days to their techno days to the worship album. I just feel like although they remain great musicians and the sound on collide is very well done, they are missing the amazing lyrics of songs like: Gasoline, I Am, Invincible, I Trust You, You Are My Hope, The Thirst Is Taking Over, ect... Just My 2-cents.
Posted by:
Derek Wilson on January 12, 2004 03:15 PM
I just drove 6 hours from outside Toronto, to see Skillet in Ashland, Ohio. The band didn't disapoint! Their show was tight, well-paced, and ministered to me while making me sweat! The band is the real thing. John is open and honest between songs, and his love for Jesus is obvious. The band also stayed around for over an hour, doing the autograph, picture thing, and were gracious to the end, I know, I was near the end, and they were still friendly and personable. Even if you don't like 'Collide', buy it and give it to someone who will. Their new direction should give them a shot at 'making it', but in God's eyes, I'm sure they already have!
Posted by:
Rev. Nick on January 27, 2004 09:50 PM
