What’s a Panhead?

A year or so ago, I checked out a music CD from the library because I liked the album art and the title. I had done this earlier with a different album and it turned out well for me—it was American Prodigal by Crowder, who has since become one of my favorite Christian artists. But this album looked different. It was Victorious by Skillet. I’m now aware that I’m over twenty years late on the scene (Skillet was originally formed in 1996), but better late than never, right? The band has gone through several different versions with John Cooper remaining the only “original” member, but the same four have been in the group since 2011. And yes, I can now tell you who all of them are.

But really, that’s not my point here. I started listening to Victorious in my car and quickly became a fan. I particularly enjoyed the song “Victorious.” I’d be driving to work singing, “I hear 'em talk to me/ But they're not listening/ The words are kerosene/ They don't know who I am/ They'd never understand/ What it's like to be me” and it would hype me up to have a good day. It was refreshing to find a group that are still very open about their faith in God and how it informs their lives and their music.

One thing that I’ve come to appreciate about Skillet’s music is that it’s real—a lot of it is gritty and even dark (it is rock, after all), but some of their songs verbalize hope in spite of brokenness and that really speaks to me. “Anchor” is one of those songs. This is probably my favorite part of the song:

“When I get tired of finding
All of the fears I've been hiding
You gave me a breath, and tell me to rest
You never left
I can, I can, I can hear You, calling me by name
Pulling me up from under my shame
I'll never be the same
I can face anything, so let it rain

You are my anchor
So steady me, steady me now
You are my anchor
You're keeping my feet on the ground
In angry oceans, You've never broken through
Every wave of the storm
You are my anchor
So steady me, steady me now
Come steady me, steady me now”

Ryan and I even got the chance to go to a Skillet concert this summer and it was great. It’s quite a testament to the group that a rock concert was a family event—there were families with kids of all ages there and the crowd was hyped and rocking and yet still appropriate for children.

I’ve listened to a lot more of Skillet’s music after that first album, and I am now glad to admit that I’m a panhead—yes, that’s what they call Skillet fans—and proud of it!

So whether feel like you are a “Hero,” a “Monster,” or “Unpopular," you, too, can become a panhead. Check out some Skillet today!