Skillet's AWAKE Becomes Only Active Rock Band to Go Platinum in 2012

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Talk about starting the year on a high note: two-time Grammy-nominated rock band Skilet were in the studio putting the finishing touches on their highly anticipated new album when they received the great news that their most recent release, AWAKE (Atlantic/Ardent/INO), has just been certified platinum for sales in excess of one million copies in the US. It's worth noting that Skillet was the onlyactive rock band to achieve platinum certification in 2012, and were one of only three rock bands (the other two being Mumford & Sons and the Black Keys) to strike platinum in 2012. "We are so proud of Skillet for this crowning achievement," stated Craig Kallman, Chairman/CEO of Atlantic Records and Julie Greenwald, Chairman/COO of Atlantic Records. "The band is hard at work finishing up their incredible new album which we can't wait for the world to hear this Spring."

Skillet (singer/bassist John Cooper, guitarist/keyboardist Korey Cooper, drummer Jen Ledger and guitarist Seth Morrison) is recording in Los Angeles, where they've re-teamed with producer Howard Benson (Motorhead, My Chemical Romance, All American Rejects), who helmed 2009's Awake.

Giving a bit of a sneak peek into what the record will sound like, lead vocalist John Cooper says that "Musically, this record feels like a roller coaster ride. Several tracks are aggressive with dirtier and edgier guitars. Korey's keyboards are extremely unique and Jen's great vocals are showcased throughout the album. There are some powerful anthems and the 'signature Skillet' songs our fans tend to love: symphonic, classical rock duets."

AWAKE was a blockbuster release for Skillet, debuting at No. 2 on Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart and No. 1 on the magazine's Top Modern Rock/Alternative Albums Chart. In addition, the record hit No. 1 on iTunes' Top Album Chart, garnered 3 Billboard Music Awards and spawned four hit singles including the No. 1 Active Rock smash and gold-certified "Awake & Alive," the gold-certified "Hero," "It's Not Me It's You" and the platinum-certified "Monster." "Monster" lived up to its name, selling more than a million copies and hitting Top 5 at Active Rock radio, while its Companion video has generated over 47 million YouTube views. The hook-happy "Hero" was featured in season-long spots for NBC's NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL and served as the official theme song for WWE's Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View. The band toured endlessly in support, playing to sold-out crowds across the country, which earned them a spot on Pollstar's Concert Pulse Chart of the Top 50 Tours for fall of 2010. Awake followed the band's 2006's gold-selling album, COMATOSE.

In other words, it was business as usual for the quartet, who over the course of the past few years have sold more than two million units in the U.S. alone, racked up more than 150 million YouTube views and amassed a diehard following (dubbed Panheads) whose members number in the millions.