New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Atlantic Records) - "AWAKE," the acclaimed new album from Atlantic recording group Skillet, has made a blockbuster chart debut, entering the SoundScan/Billboard 200 at No 2, with sales in excess of 67,000.
The album is also shaping up as a digital phenomenon, with the Deluxe Version reaching the No 1 spot on the iTunes Store's "Top Albums" chart and "Top Rock Chart" within 24 hours of its release. The "AWAKE" Deluxe Version is currently No 3 on iTunes' "Top Rock Albums" chart.
Produced by Howard Benson (Daughtry, Flyleaf), "AWAKE" is highlighted by the electrifying new single, "Monster." The track is currently approaching the top 20 at Active Rock outlets nationwide, while a companion video will premiere today on AOL's Noise Creep. Album listening parties are also currently featured on AOL and MSN.
In addition, "Monster" will be heard as the official theme song each week during the upcoming ACC College Football season, as well as on the soundtrack to MTV's new hit series, "Bully Beatdown." NBC recently aired the song during "The 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania" special, and along with "Hero," will be a part of the video game, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010.
What's more, "Hero" is featured in the promotional campaign heralding the new season of NBC Sunday Night Football. A companion video for "Hero" is also in production, with a premiere date to be announced soon.
One of America's hardest working live acts, Skillet will celebrate the breakthrough success of "AWAKE" with the 50-city "Awake & Alive Tour," set to launch on September 24th at Fort Wayne, Indiana's Embassy Theater (see itinerary below). The headline tour will then travel the country through early December. Skillet's special guests on the "Awake & Alive" tour will be Hawk Nelson, Decyfer Down, and The Letter Black.
Skillet frontman John Cooper and producer Brian Howes recently collected two BMI Music Awards for "The Last Night" and "The Older I Get," both featured on 2006's Grammy Award-nominated "COMATOSE." That album proved Skillet's most popular work to date, with sales now approaching RIAA gold certification. "COMATOSE" followed the band's 2003 label debut, "COLLIDE," which launched Skillet into the mainstream while also garnering their first Grammy Award nomination.
For up-to-the-minute news and information, visit www.skillet.com or www.myspace.com/skilletmusic.
(TOUR ITINERARY BELOW)
SKILLET
"AWAKE & ALIVE TOUR 2009"
All Dates w/Special Guests Hawk Nelson,
Decyfer Down, and The Letter Black
SEPTEMBER
24 Fort Wayne, IN Embassy Theater
25 Columbus, OH Grace Brethren Church
26 Leesburg, VA Awakening Music Festival
27 Atlanta, GA The Tabernacle
29 Johnson City, TN Freedom Hall
OCTOBER
1 Albany, NY Washington Avenue Armory
2 New York, NY Manhattan Center Studios
3 Worcester, PA The Palladium
4 Philadelphia, PA The Electric Factory
6 Salem, VA Salem Civic Center
8 Memphis, TN Minglewood Hall
9 Little Rock, AR Riverfest Amphitheater
10 Cullman, AL Youthquake @ Cullman County Fairgrounds
11 Mobile, AL Mobile Civic Center
15 Tulsa, OK Spirit Bank Event Center
16 Lubbock, TX South Plains Fair Coliseum
17 El Paso, TX Abraham Chavez Theater
18 Albuquerque, NM Kiva Theater
20 Farmington, NM McGee Park-Memorial Coliseum
22 Phoenix, AZ Celebrity Theater
23 Los Angeles, CA Club Nokia
24 Bakersfield, CA Fox Theater
25 Fresno, CA Warnors Theater
27 Redding, CA Redding Convention Center Auditorium
29 Central Point, OR Medford Armory
30 Salem, OR OSF Pavilion
31 Seattle, WA SPU Gym/Showare Center
NOVEMBER
1 Spokane, WA INB PAC
3 Kennewick, WA Toyota Center
5 Boise, ID Qwest Arena
6 Salt Lake City, UT The Great Salt Air
7 Denver, CO Paramount Theater
10 Casper, WY Casper Events Center
12 Kansas City, MO The Midland by AMC
13 Ames, IA Stephens Auditorium - ISU
14 Minneapolis, MN Convention Center Auditorium
15 Chicago, IL House of Blues
17 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
19 Longview, TX Maude Cobb Center
20 Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom
21 Cypress, TX The Berry Center
22 Abilene, TX Abilene Civic Center
27 Springfield, MO Remingtons
28 Davenport, IA Adler Theater
29 Duluth, MN Duluth Entertainment Convention Center
DECEMBER
3 Chattanooga, TN Memorial Auditorium
4 Troy, OH Hobart Arena
5 Cleveland, OH Agora Theater
6 Grand Rapids, MI Deltaplex
