Although it is not so common that a Christian rock band hits the top-ten charts, Skillet has proven that good music can sell 200,000 copies like has occurred with two of their most successful albums.
Skillet was formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1996 by John Cooper (lead vocals & bass), Ken Steorts (bass), and Trey McClurkin (drums). That same year the band debuted with a self-title album released by local Ardent and Forefront records, but passed unperceived.
In 1998, the band returned to the studio and recorded their second album "Hey You, I Love Your Soul" followed by "Invincible" and "Ardent Worship" in 2000, albums that marked the addition of a new band member on the keyboards Korey Cooper (John's wife).
More desertions brought guitarist Kevin Haaland to replace Ken Steorts and Lori Peters replacing Trey McClurkin on drums before a new album could be released. Kevin Haaland left the band and once again a new member was integrated into Skillet's lineup, Ben Kasica.
Between 2001 and 2003, the band released the albums "Alien Youth" and "Collide"; this last one was nominated as the Best Rock Gospel Album by the Grammy Awards and number five at the Top Heatseekers chart.
Eventually “Collision†hit number 179 on Billboard's Top 200 chart and was the first Skillet's album that sold over 200,000 copies. Following the success of the album, Skillet went on the road as supporting act for Shinedown and Saliva's tours.
With this panorama in mind, Atlantic Records bought Skillet's recording rights and the following album "Comatose" was released in 2006 by Lava Records, an Atlantic division, achieving similar success of its predecessor.
Early in 2007, Skillet went on tour across the USA and Canada teaming up with Teen Mania Ministries and Ron Luce and then with Flyleaf for the Justice & Mercy Tour that was shortly cancelled due to a vocal problem of Flyleaf's lead singer.
The band returned to the road joining Ron Luce and teenage missionaries in a Global Expedition program to Mexico. During this time, Skillet's song "You Are My Hope" was heard on Joan of Arcadia's "Back to the Garden" episode and "America's Next Top Model".
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