John Cooper (full name - John Landrum Cooper) is a famous American musician. Since 1996, he has been a regular member of the Skillet rock band, where he sings and plays bass. There are few who have not heard his songs, but is this talented person sufficiently known?
Short biography of John Cooper
The musician was born on April 7, 1975, all his childhood was spent in the city of Memphis. At five, he was baptized, and in the fifth grade he began to listen to Petra. John was brought up by strict religious parents, for whom any rock music was recognized as the creation of the devil. Therefore, before starting to listen to a new group, little John was obliged to obtain permission for this. As a result, he managed to defend his tastes and listen to rock, however, only performed by Christians. These were mainly Amy Grant and Russ Taff. Inspired by the creativity of these particular bands, he began to learn the basics of guitar art.
By the way, John bought the first disc of non-Christian performers only when he came of age.
The performer is married to Corey, who also plays with him in a band. Instead of rings on the fingers of John Cooper and his wife, tattoos are full. They have two children - son Xavier, born in 2002, and daughter Alexandria, who was born in 2005.
Interesting Facts
John Cooper loves Dr. Pepper soda and drinks it so often that the second guitarist in the group, Seth Morrison, calls him a true soda connoisseur.
The musician is also keen on collecting posters with Spiderman and Batman.
Among his phobias is the appearance of bare legs and the fear of getting wet. Even when John goes to the beach, he puts on special tennis shoes, as he hates the feeling of dirt and sand sticking to the feet.
His nickname Doggy, which means “dog” in English, is often mentioned on Skillet’s radio and podcasts.
He loves the ballads of the 80s and sincerely believes that any more or less good rock band should have its own cool ballad.
Creation
For the first time Cooper joined the musical group at the age of fourteen, he mainly performed covers, and at the age of fifteen he founded the Tribunation with his friends.
Before collecting the legendary band Skillet, he was a member of Seraph. After she broke up, he decided to fulfill his old dream and conquer the musical Olympus.
Since the guy grew up in a very strict religious family, he decided to play Christian rock. Kurt Cobain’s vocals became a model for him. The musician, whom Cooper first saw on stage in 1992, was his real idol.
John’s love and loyalty to music deserves respect, because even after many years, having a family and two children, he continues to do what he loves.
Skillet Band and John Cooper
Skillet is one of the first groups to dispel the typical image of rock musicians living under the slogan “Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll”. This group has existed for over eighteen years and, focusing on the belief in its own success, is still in artistic pursuit. Cooper's family relationships can also be called a reference: they communicate with Corey equally warmly and at home among themselves, and with others, and with fans, and on stage.
Take, for example, the story of the acquaintance of John and his wife - they met by chance, in church, when John had already played in the group for about seven years. After the birth of her first child, Corey learned to play the guitar and synthesizer in just a few months in order to work with her husband, participate in a group and never leave. When she was preparing for the appearance of her second child, she was temporarily replaced by session guitarists.
The group was created by John Cooper along with Ken Stewart and Trey McLarkin. The name for the team they chose is very unusual (from English skillet translates as "frying pan"). It has become a symbol of mixing a wide variety of musical styles. According to John, the band’s members still don’t like the name, but it perfectly reflects its essence.
The first Skillet and Hey you albums were released in 1996-1998. The group seemed to the sophisticated audience three ordinary guys who really wanted to be like the legendary Nirvana, but nonetheless completely different. At first, they performed compositions in the style of post-grunge, later the main musical direction became industrial metal and alternative rock.
Over the years, the group has changed externally: dirty tangled hair and shapeless clothes replaced shiny leggings in a close-fitting, neatly curled curls and shiny patent leather shoes on a high platform. In this form, they repeatedly performed on the same stage with Marilyn Manson and the band Nine Inch Nails.
Soon Skillet again changed their style, preferring sweaters, jeans, ordinary hairstyles. Only the leather jacket of John remained unchanged. In 2004, their new record was presented in the nomination of the prestigious Grammy Music Award.