Page 27 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 111

BV111 pg 26-29 Skillet Interview.qxp_BV111 pg 27 13/12/2024 16:12 Page 2

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 27

never thought we would last this long
APTER Skillet frontman John Cooper tells Black Vel-
“Iand I’m amazed we are still doing it,”

vet, backstage at Manchester’s AO Arena. In
early 2024, after 20 years signed to Atlantic
Records, Skillet announced their departure
from the label following the band’s decision
to release their latest album, ‘Revolution’, in-
dependently. It’s a move that has allowed
the band to release music at a much faster
pace without being bogged down with the
time consuming processes that come with
being on a major label. Black Velvet chats to
John about being an independent artist and
his quest for a revolution of love.

same with ‘Awake And Alive’; if the label had status, but they also remain firm fan favourites. it’s really nice. I mean the red tape, the red
their way it would not have appeared on the In stark contrast to past releases, only 11 tape to do anything is so much work.”
album, ‘Awake’. It was producer Howard Ben- songs were written for the quartet’s latest re- John proceeds to tell us the process that
son that insisted it be included. lease, ‘Revolution’. “Eleven!” John exclaims. “It they normally have to go through when writing
“I’m not trying to throw them under the bus, was so fun and it made me feel like I used to songs for an album, explaining how the label
I loved working with the label, I learned a lot feel when writing music.” may want to send the song to different writers
from them and I wouldn’t have the career that Being able to make the album sound the to add their spin on it. “You’re sending it to
I have, had it not been for them. I’m just saying way he wanted it to was a very freeing experi- somebody you may have never met before and
they didn’t get it and I kind of felt that I knew ence and one that he clearly relished. “I’m hav- then they put their two cents in and then you
my fans better than a lot of people at my label ing a better time, I’m enjoying it and having fun. get it back and you’re like, ‘I don’t really know
did.” I don’t have to answer anyone, and I really like if I like this, but the label loves it.’ They are
John’s words proved to be true. To this day, that,” John smiles. “I don’t really know if ‘an- spending a load of money making these
these songs are not only Skillet’s biggest hits swer to anyone’ is the right way to say it, I just records, so they obviously want to know their
to date, with each one receiving multi-platinum don’t have to get so many people’s feedback, investment is going to be good, so there’s a lot

SKILLET