https://dayofdestiny.skillet.com/
By Courtney Gilmour
T4JM: How have things been going for Skillet lately?
JC: Things are good. Um, we’re very tired. (laughs) Things have been real busy, with the new record coming out and everything, we had a little break, about a 3 week break, after taking a small European tour. And now we’re playing a lot again, the tour starts up in March and we’ve been doing a lot of shows in the meantime.
T4JM: Going back to the basics here, how did Skillet first come together as a band?
JC: Well we started in 1996, so that’s about 7 years we’ve been together, uh we were with different bands at the time, um, not with Skillet. Our youth pastor suggested it as a side project, for outreach.
T4JM: At what point in your life did you realize that you wanted to pursue music as a career?
JC: Um, it was at that time. Yeah, we’ve been playing for years, and I never really thought of making it a full time thing, but you know, we started with the demo and did fine with that and, uh, and yeah, we played a lot and eventually things took off from there.
T4JM: And do you think of it as a ministry that God has called you to, or a job you love to do that happens to incorporate ministry?
JC: Well I see the distinction, yeah, and you know, to be honest I wouldn’t say it’s one more than the other. It’s both. I mean, our goal is to share the gospel, that has always been why Skillet started, but one doesn’t have to be more than the other because, and see this is the thing people don’t get sometimes, there is still a business aspect to this industry, this is still our job. The thing is… Christians, and I mean myself included (laughs) we’re so judgmental. People like to assume things, and they… what’s the word I’m thinking of….they see Christian bands who go mainstream and think that it’s because their motives have changed, when really they haven’t, they just want to reach a wider audience or whatever, you know, I believe God has given me a musical talent that I can glorify Him with and still think of it as a career.
Right. I think that’s a good point. If you look at any other profession, for example if I were to say I want to be a writer-which I do-I believe that God has equipped me with skills and a gift in that area, but I don’t necessarily have to make it specifically an outreach ministry and write Christian work for Him to be glorified in what I’m doing.
Yeah and… yeah! That’s exactly what I’m saying, that’s just what I mean. If I say I view it as a career, some Christians will be bugged by that. They don’t get the idea of what it’s like to be in this business. We’re very passionate about God using us to give people hope, but that doesn’t negate the music talent and the desire we have to do different things with our music.
T4JM: I’ve heard that one of your goals as a band is to go mainstream with your music—what are the reasons behind this?
JC: Yeah, we would like to bring our music to a wider audience, I’ve been wondering if it was time to move on and take the next step and I know God wants me to keep doing this. And mainstream is a ministry in itself, that’s what I feel our ministry purpose is too right now, I never want there to be a time where we feel that we don’t have a purpose with our music. We want to be a light in the darkness, and that’s the goal of doing mainstream, not to blend in or change our purpose. I’ve noticed that people expect more of you too in the Christian industry, like for example, just because I’m a Christian, it doesn’t mean I’m going to support Christian movies if I think they’re stupid. I saw Lord Of The Rings back in December, and I got an e-mail from someone about how Christians shouldn’t watch that, you know, it’s things like that. I don’t particularly enjoy the Left Behind series, and to some people that’s just unacceptable because it’s Christian and I’m a Christian musician, so therefore I should like it.
T4JM: Is it hard to maintain a consistent spiritual life when there’s so much going on around you and so many places to rush off to? How do you balance everything out?
JC: Yeah. That’s, um, that is hard. The hardest thing isn’t staying excited about God though, it’s keeping balance between music, ministry, and career. The Christian industry is a ministry and in some ways that makes it hard, issues become difficult. Christians can be so judgmental in a major, major way. It gets to a point where you’re living in fear of man. People don’t understand this from a business perspective. So that’s hard to deal with and that’s a great question, as far as the radical edge and passion for God go, that hasn’t changed.
T4JM: What’s the most challenging thing about traveling around and being on the road?
JC: Umm it’s tiring. Brutal, non-stop, being away from home. Being away from church, the people who hold you up. But it’s like college; no fun for 2 months so you can make good grades, and it pays off in the end. But there’s a bigger purpose, and that’s getting to play music. God is using us and that’s invaluable.
T4JM: Tell me about the See Spot Rock tour. What’s that about?
JC: The tour’s gonna be great. It’s 12 Stones, then us next in line-up, Pillar, Big Dismal, Grits, etc. A bunch of different styles. Earlier we had toured with Tait and ZoeGirl, so this is more of a hard rock effect. Churches take the rock effect out of it sometimes.
T4JM: Being involved in those types of shows, See Spot Rock, Rock The Universe, Jesus Fest, etc…is there a different kind of dynamic, sharing the stage with other Christian bands, how do you enjoy those performances in comparison to your own concerts?
JC: It’s different, good and bad. There’s more people but limited time. You do everything to give the best show you can, you’re only playing your biggest songs. It’s a less intimate crowd, with so many people, and when it’s your own concert you know that everyone’s there to see just you, it’s like “Skillet is my band”, and you’re there to play for them. But I wouldn’t say I like one more than the other.
T4JM: Now with your new album, Collide, it’s a much heavier, hard rock feel than your previous albums-what other bands (secular or Christian) do you think you share the same category/genre with? And what does this album offer that would distinguish Skillet from them?
JC: Uhh I’d say… Linkin Park… maybe like Staind. I think we have a bit more (not better) variety in our songs, more dynamics in general, we don’t just rock the whole song. Also out biggest distinction is obviously our lyrics, more positive and uplifting, our lyrics offer hope.
T4YM: You’ve said that the overall message of your previous album, Alien Youth, was about Jesus being our only hope in a world that runs after money and popularity. What would you say is the theme or message of Collide? Is it drastically different than Alien Youth in terms of the approach?
JC: A.Y. was written to Christians, mainly to church issues, revival, living differently. Collide is just… people in general. Issues we go through as humans, living in a world of fear, collide, what do I do when fear collides with faith? That kind of thing.
T4YM: What kind of impact do you want your music to have on today’s youth–both Christian and Non-Christian? When they buy your new album and finish listening to it all the way through, what would be the ideal impression that you would want them to have about Skillet?
JC: I want us to have a different feeling than normal rock albums, not dark or upset, but for people to feel a peace with our music. Like with Creed, they’re not even a Christian band, at least not from what I’ve heard, but their music is uplifting therefore they’re mistaken for a Christian band. And that plants a seed in people, that’s what we want to do.
T4JYM: Do you write most of the songs?
JC: Yeah, I do. All except 2. I co-wrote those.
T4JM: What does it take for you to write a good song? Do you have to be in a certain place or mindset? Or do they just come to you, inspiration on impulse?
JC: Every once in a while it comes to you, and other times it’s like “Ok, I’m gonna work on something”. But a lot of the time I’ll think of songs while driving or even in the shower. Usually when I’m alone.
T4JM: The different sound style that you have on this new album, is this something you’ve gradually progressed to and plan on keeping, or will the next CD be another new level?
JC: ’m not sure, I have no idea. I’d probably have an answer if I hadn’t been doing this for so long. I learned that I might love something else in a year, you never know what could happen.
T4JM: I’m dying to know what a “panhead” is?
JC: (Laughing) People travel really far to see us, so it’s just a name for them, our fans, they call themselves Panheads.
T4JM: Any embarrassing or funny stories to share from being in the band?
JC: Embarrassing? (laughs) ummmm well last week during one of our shows we were playing a new song really badly, like it was just… bad. So we all quit playing and finally told everyone that we ‘totally just messed up’. It was funny. And of course there’s always the falling on stage, pants unzipped and all that. (laughs)
T4JM: One of the goals for Teens4Jesus Magazine is to encourage teens to live their lives for Christ in the midst of a world that is so materialistic and superficial. What is some advice you can give to our readers on how to do that?
JC: I think the thing is, we try to do all the right things. You try to convince yourself you really don’t want that new car or whatever, when instead we need to be thinking about how everything we do want is worth giving up for the cross. Don’t lie to yourself. Every day needs to be a fresh reminder of our salvation, we have to work to believe it, sometimes it can be a chore, but you gotta be honest with God. What I like to do is just start out by telling Him, “I say You’re everything to me, but recently…” and then list all the things that have been keeping me from closeness with Him. Whether it’s family, money, working to get insurance paid off, all those things. If you’re not being reminded, life is totally out of perspective.
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