John Cooper (musician)

Last updated

John Cooper
Birth nameJohn Landrum Cooper
Also known asJohn L. Cooper
Born (1975-04-07) April 7, 1975 (age 49)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, bass guitar
Years active1989–present
Member of Skillet, Fight the Fury
Formerly ofSeraph

John Landrum Cooper (born April 7, 1975) is an American musician. He is the lead vocalist, bassist and a founding member of the Christian rock band Skillet.

Contents

Early life

Cooper has stated on numerous occasions that he was born and raised in a very religious family and atmosphere, and listening to rock music was not allowed in his parents' household. [1] "You couldn't wear black, you couldn't listen to anything with drums, anything with guitars, you couldn't have long hair, you couldn't do this and you couldn't do that. Everything was so lifeless. I know I'd read the Bible and be like... 'This isn't what the Bible says. I like the idea of living for Jesus, but I hate the idea of living for you.' Ya know?" [2]

Cooper came from a musical family. His mother was a piano teacher and a singer in the church that he went to. He began singing at a very young age, playing guitar at around the age of 18 and bass guitar at the age of 19. [1]

Career

Cooper was briefly in experimental rock group Seraph from 1989 to 1995. The band released a four-song demo, titled Silence E.P., before disbanding. [3]

Cooper with Skillet in 2017 John Cooper Skillet Lifest 2017.jpg
Cooper with Skillet in 2017

Cooper formed Skillet in 1996 with Ken Steorts. Both had met while touring for previous bands; Cooper as vocalist for the Tennessee progressive rock band Seraph and Steorts as guitarist for Urgent Cry. The bands disbanded soon after, so Cooper and Steorts' pastor encouraged them to form their own band as a side-project. Coming from different styles of rock music, they decided to name the experiment Skillet. Soon afterward Trey McClurkin joined the band as a temporary drummer. Skillet was only together for a month when they received interest from major Christian record label ForeFront Records and were signed soon afterward. Ken Steorts left the band in 1999 and Trey McClurkin left the band in 2000 leaving Cooper as the only founding member of the band and primary songwriter.

Cooper provided vocals for !Hero: The Rock Opera. According to a review, Cooper did not tour with the rock opera. He only provided vocals for the Rabbi Kai on the soundtrack. [4] Cooper was the co-writer of the Decyfer Down single "Best I Can". [5]

He sang on the title track of TobyMac's album, Tonight , which peaked at No. 27 on the Christian Songs chart. [6] [7] He performed vocals on We as Human's song "Zombie", [8] which appeared on their debut self-titled album and made a cameo appearance in the music video for "Strike Back". [9] He signed them to his record label. [8]

Cooper started a side project, Fight the Fury, in September 2018. He hopes the band will meet the needs of those who enjoy Skillet's heavier music. The band released an EP on Atlantic Records later in 2018 and then went on tour in Russia in December. [10] As of October 27, 2018, They have released five songs. [11]

Personal life

Cooper walking off stage with his wife Korey in 2017 John and Korey Cooper Skillet walking off stage Lifest 2017.jpg
Cooper walking off stage with his wife Korey in 2017

As of 2024, Cooper and his wife Korey have two children. [12]

Cooper is the author of Wimpy, Weak and Woke: How Truth Can Save America From Utopian Destruction and Awake & Alive to Truth: Finding Truth in the Chaos of a Relativistic World. [13] [14]

Cooper has been an outspoken critic of the "deconstruction movement", believing that many churches are neglecting to teach the gospel as written in the Bible: "It is time for the church to rediscover the preeminence of the Word. And to value the teaching of the Word. We need to value truth over feeling. Truth over emotion." [15] [16] [17]

Influences

His favorite bass guitar players are Chris Squire and Doug Pinnick. [1]

Discography

With Seraph

With Skillet

With Fight the Fury

Extended plays

YearDetailsPeak chart positions
US
[19] 		US
Heat.
[19] 		US
Rock
[19] 		US
Hard Rock
[19]
2018Still Breathing— [A] 13712

Singles

YearSinglePeak positionsAlbum
Christ.
Rock
[20]
2018"My Demons"25Still Breathing
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Other appearances

YearTitlePeak Chart PositionsArtistAlbumNotes
Christian
Rock 		US Christ.
[ citation needed ]		 US Christ. Airplay
[21] 		US
Main.
2010"Tonight"—2727— TobyMac Tonight Featured artist [22]
2011"Zombie"23——— We As Human We As Human Featured artist [23]
2018"Warrior"2
[24] 		——— LEDGER LEDGER EP Featured artist, writer [25]
2023"Wolf"———21 Saint Asonia Introvert/Extrovert Featured artist [26]
2024"American Horse"———— Black Stone Cherry Featured Artist

Bibliography

Eden graphic novel series

Nonfiction

Notes

  1. ↑ Still Breathing did not enter the Billboard 200, but peaked at number 31 on the Top Album Sales chart and at number 9 on the Top Digital Albums chart.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skillet (band)</span> American rock band

Skillet is an American Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1996. The band currently consists of husband and wife duo John Cooper and Korey Cooper along with Jen Ledger and Seth Morrison. The band has released twelve studio albums, two of which, Collide and Comatose, received Grammy nominations. Two of their albums, Comatose and Awake, are certified Platinum and Double Platinum respectively by the RIAA, while Rise and Unleashed are certified Gold as of June 29, 2020. Four of their songs, "Monster", "Hero", "Awake and Alive", and "Feel Invincible", are certified Multi-Platinum, while another three, "Whispers in the Dark", "Comatose", and "The Resistance" are certified Platinum, and another five, "Rebirthing", "Not Gonna Die", "The Last Night", "Legendary", and "Stars" are certified Gold.

<i>Alien Youth</i> 2001 studio album by Skillet

Alien Youth is the fourth studio album by American Christian rock band Skillet. Developing their sound into hard-hitting industrial rock, it was released August 28, 2001 through Ardent Records. This was the first Skillet album to include guitarist Ben Kasica, replacing Kevin Haaland. Kasica joined Skillet late in the recording process for the album, only recording guitars on "Earth Invasion". It peaked at No. 141 on the Billboard 200 and No. 16 on The Australian Christian Albums Chart.

<i>Skillet</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Skillet

Skillet is the debut studio album by American Christian rock band Skillet. Released on October 29, 1996, as an enhanced CD and audio cassette on ForeFront Records and Ardent Records, it showcases Christian lyrics with a grunge sound.

<i>Invincible</i> (Skillet album) 2000 studio album by Skillet

Invincible is the third studio album by American Christian rock band Skillet. It was released on February 1, 2000 on ForeFront Records and Ardent Records. This album continues the electronic and industrial rock that was heard on Hey You, I Love Your Soul (1998), however, this album's industrial sound is more modernized than on Hey You, I Love Your Soul. Kevin Haaland replaced original guitarist Ken Steorts, although Steorts performed additional guitar on the album. Korey Cooper, John Cooper's wife, was the keyboardist and backing vocalist on the album and also did loops, programming, and sampling.

<i>Comatose</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Skillet

Comatose is the sixth studio album by American Christian rock band Skillet. Released on October 3, 2006, by Lava Records, Ardent Records and Atlantic Records, this album continued a similar music style set by the band's 2003 album, Collide, of downplaying the keyboard elements that were prominent in previous releases in favor of distorted guitars, and included more of an emphasis on orchestral elements. Comatose was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 3, 2009, their first album to do so, and has since gone platinum, selling over 1,000,000 copies as of May 20, 2016. A deluxe edition of the album was released on December 26, 2007, and a live DVD of their headlining tour in support of the record was released in fall 2008. Comatose was nominated for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards on February 10, 2008.

<i>Ardent Worship</i> 2000 live album by Skillet

Ardent Worship is the first live album by American Christian rock band Skillet. It was released in 2000 by Ardent Records seven months after Invincible. It is a worship album consisting of both live and studio recordings of six songs written by Skillet and four songs covering other artists. Original Skillet members Ken Steorts and Trey McClurkin appear on "Safe With You" and "Shout To The Lord" to finish the live set with fellow founding member John Cooper. This is the only Skillet album with no music videos and the first album with Lori Peters on drums, who replaced Trey McClurkin. Two songs come from previous Skillet albums, "Safe With You" being from their self-titled album and "Angels Fall Down" being the hidden track on Invincible.

<i>Hey You, I Love Your Soul</i> 1998 studio album by Skillet

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"The Older I Get" is the fourth single released by the Christian rock band Skillet from their sixth album Comatose in 2007. The song was also released on an EP called "The Older I Get EP." The song charted at No. 27 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks and No. 14 on the Billboard US Hot Christian Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebirthing (song)</span> 2006 single by Skillet

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<i>Comatose Comes Alive</i> 2008 live album by Skillet

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Skillet – Interview with vocalist and bass player John Cooper". Guitar Mania EU. November 21, 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021 – via YouTube.
  2. ↑ Creation Festival 2010, YLO Interview
  3. ↑ "Seraph | Gratis muziek, tourneedata, foto's, video's". Myspace.com. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  4. ↑ !Hero – The Rock Opera Tour. Jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Decyfer Down". HollywoodJesus.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  6. ↑ "tobyMac Tonight Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Tonight (feat. John Cooper Of Skillet)". Amazon. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Justin Cordle of We As Human". HardrockHaven.net. August 6, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  9. ↑ "We As Human - "Strike Back" (Official Video)". Skillet.com. August 3, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  10. ↑ "SKILLET's JOHN COOPER Launches Metal Project FIGHT THE FURY". September 19, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Fight The Fury - Still Breathing EP". JesusFreskHideout.com. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Skillet: 5 Things to Know About the Band's Touring Family". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Skillet lead singer John Cooper looks for answers with new release - The Baptist Paper". thebaptistpaper.org. January 5, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  14. ↑ Klett, Leah MarieAnn (July 4, 2022). "Skillet's John Cooper on why he speaks boldly against far-left ideology despite backlash". Christian Post. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Skillet's John Cooper says it's time to stop putting people as Christianity's 'source of truth'". Chvnradio.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Skillet's John Cooper is Deconstructing Deconstruction". Faithstrongtoday.com. January 28, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Christian Rocker on Deconstruction Movement: Too Many Churches Not Preaching the 'True Gospel' - Michael Foust". Christianheadlines.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Seraph (6)". Discogs. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Chart Search | Billboard". Billboard . Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Fight The Fury Chart History (Christian Rock)". Billboard . Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  21. ↑ "tobyMac Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard . Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Tonight". Open.spotify.com. February 5, 2010. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Zombie (feat. John Cooper)". Open.spotify.com. June 21, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Christian Rock | Week of 8 December 2018". Billboard . Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  25. ↑ "Warrior (feat. John Cooper)". Open.spotify.com. April 13, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  26. ↑ Wolf (feat. John Cooper of Skillet), November 10, 2023, retrieved November 10, 2023
  27. ↑ "Wimpy, Weak and Woke w/ John Cooper – Ezra Institute". www.ezrainstitute.com. October 18, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
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