John Cooper shared his thoughts on the significance of rock music during a newly-released interview with The Pulse of Rock at Rockville 2024 in May.
When asked whether rock had become more of a niche genre over the years, the singer responded, “I wouldn’t say ‘niche.’ Now, certainly, in the ‘90s, rock music was certainly ubiquitous. I mean, it was crossing to pop, obviously. You had those bands on pop radio. So, that certainly has changed. I don’t say it’s ‘niche,’ though, because I think it’s far bigger than niche, but the thing is that the people that love rock music will never love anything else like they like it.”
“So, it’s sort of like, even as you grow, as I grow as somebody who listens to music—I’ve got kids, my kids are listening to music, and I hear stuff. I actually like that,” he continued. “Now, for instance, I didn’t like country music until about ten years ago. I got older. I’m like, ‘Oh, I get country, now.’ I love it. I actually love country music, now, but it’s not [Mötley] Crüe. It’s not the Crüe. It’s not Metallica, and it never can be because you grow up with it, and it gives you a certain feeling, and nothing can give you the sort of aggression, the adrenaline of rock. It just can’t.”
Cooper formed Skillet in 1996 with guitarist Ken Steorts and drummer Trey McClurkin, later replacing them with Seth Morrison and Jen Ledger. Since its formation, the band has focused on Christian rock and metal.
Although their religious themes have sparked some disagreement among listeners, the vocalist believes Skillet’s authenticity has allowed their music to stay relatable for decades.
“Here’s the ironic thing, most of our fans don’t believe the same way I believe,” Cooper said in a recent interview with EonMusic. “I meet them every show. They’re like, they’ll say, ‘I didn’t even know you guys were a religious band, but your music makes me feel good,’ and I give them a fist bump.”
Skillet released their latest album, ‘Revolution,’ on November 1, with singles ‘Unpopular,’ ‘All That Matters,’ and ‘Ash In The Wind.’ The band toured in support of the record earlier this year and has announced additional dates for 2025, starting in Columbia, SC, on January 10.
