Skillet is starting to be more than a pan to mainstream music fans

KENOSHA, Wis. – Skillet has long been more than a pan to Christian music fans, but a new set of mainstream music lovers are starting to get to know the rock band that has been around since the mid-1990s.

Skillet released its eighth album, “Rise,” this June — coming off its bestselling album “Awake,” which went platinum. But since they’ve not had one huge cross-over hit, they aren’t a household name.

So when the singer John Cooper and his wife, Korey, who plays guitar and keyboards, sat down to write “Rise,” they reflected on “Awake” — but couldn’t figure out why it did so well.

It could be their relentlessly touring, concentrating on both mainstream and Christian crowds. They’re in South America starting Thursday and will soon join Nickelback in Europe.