SKILLET - BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY, 24 APRIL 2026

BY SHARI BLACK VELVET

In the opening track of Skillet’s set, ‘Surviving The Game’, frontman John Cooper sings, ‘Gonna be indestructible’ – and Skillet most definitely have been. They’ve been a band for 30 years, faced both ups and downs (but mostly ups), and have continued to power through whatever life has thrown at them. It’s been an impressive ride, which shows no sign of slowing down.

2026’s 23-date European tour includes four shows in the UK – London, Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester. They bring with them the Parisian trio Storm Orchestra, who we featured in last issue’s Black Velvet. If you haven’t checked them out, we definitely recommend you do so. They have their own unique alt. rock sound, which combines pulsating beats, radiating guitars and lush vocals through songs such as ‘Drummer’ and ‘Superplayer’. Ending their short set with ‘Suspect’, we suspect they’ll be back in the UK again soon.  

At 9pm, drummer Jen Ledger, lead guitarist Seth Morrison, rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Korey Cooper and, finally, vocalist/bassist John Cooper, arrive on stage, and launch into the afore-mentioned ‘Surviving The Game’. John jumps into the air as a line of CO2 cannons blast plumes of fog up at the edge of the stage. You can’t help but want to follow John’s lead by jumping along to the magnetic hit single. The roof-raising ‘Feel Invincible’ continues the high impact, titanic impression, before the call-to-arms ‘Rise’. Fourth song, ‘Awake And Alive’, takes things up another notch, with John strapping on cryo guns to each arm, so he can shoot CO2 out in two directions. While he takes the forefront, guitarists Seth and Korey go up onto the drum riser where they are then each elevated up and down via mobile elevating platforms, while drummer Jen Ledger sings backing vocals at the same time as beating the drums.

John sings a line of Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’, before the band dive into the contagious ‘Sick Of It’, with its pumping beat. Korey plays the keyboard, while John comments that everyone has something they’re sick of. He says he’s sick of depression. ‘Raise your hands if you’re sick of it,’ he sings. Back on the guitar, Korey stomps around to the inciting song. 

The 18-song set includes the adrenaline-fueled ‘Legendary’, before the pace slows down for the emotional ‘Ash In The Wind’, in which Korey plays the keys again, and then, the tender ‘Never Surrender’. After ‘Whispers In The Dark’, John sees a member of the audience holding a sign up asking the band to play ‘One Day Too Late’. “I love your sign,” he says, before explaining, “We don’t know it. I’m sorry… It’s my song, I should know it. You know what the problem is? I’m not joking… It’s not me, it’s Jen. I’m sorry.” He ends up singing part of the song a cappella.” He receives a big cheer at the end. “I just love that you like the song,” he says to the audience member. It shows how humble and kind he is, that he speaks to a fan, is grateful that they love a certain song, and does what he can to make their night by singing part of it. He later sees another sign held up by another fan. He reads it, “You got me through four emergency eye surgeries.” He adds the thought, “We should sign that. Anyone got a Sharpie around here?” before, “Thank you for your sign. I love it.”

John asks how many people have never seen the band before. There are quite a few hands in the air. “What’s wrong with you people?” he jokes. “Do you think the problem is that we don’t come to Birmingham enough, because we only come to London?” There’s a cheer of 'Yes!'. John then sings an Ozzy Osbourne lyric in Ozzy’s voice, before adding, “I want to come to Birmingham more often.” We definitely think that he and the band should. 

“I wrote this song about the hardest time of my life. How many people would agree that music, especially rock ‘n’ roll, helps you through your dark times?” There’s a cheer. “We don’t hate other music, it’s just not as good as rock ‘n’ roll,” he adds. “It’s not that we hate it, it’s just… it’s the best!”  

He dedicates ‘Hero’ to his hero, Jesus Christ. Jen comes out from behind the drum kit to join him in singing the song, which helps make the song a high point of the set. Her vocals gives the song an enchanted element. 

The whole set is captivating. There’s a guitar solo by Seth before ‘Psycho In My Head’. The 20-year-old ‘Comatose’ receives a great reaction, while the punchy ‘Monster’ is on fire. The set is wrapped up with the empowering, faith-inspired ‘The Resistance’, in which John sings, ‘This is how we rise up. It’s our resistance, you can’t resist us’. 
We definitely couldn’t resist Skillet tonight.