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Skillet Unveils New US Headline Tour; Grammy-Nominated Rock Band to Embark on the "Awake & Alive Tour," Beginning April 15th; Top 5 Hit Single, "Monster," Continues to Reign at Rock Radio Outlets Nationwide; as New Single, "Hero," Set to Arrive at Active Rock

Atlantic recording group Skillet has announced details of their upcoming headline tour. The "Awake & Alive Tour" begins April 15th at Scranton, Pennsylvania's Scranton Cultural Center and then continues through late May (see itinerary below). Joining the Grammy-nominated rock outfit on the trek will be RED, a Nashville based group whose most recent effort, "Innocence & Instinct," climbed its way to the Top 5 on iTunes Top Albums chart. Also joining the tour will be hard rock outfit, The Letter Black.

One of America's hardest working live acts, Skillet -- who spent the first part of 2010 touring alongside Atlantic labelmates Shinedown -- will also be appearing at a number of upcoming summer rock festivals -- full details will be announced shortly.

The "Awake & Alive Tour" celebrates the continuing success of Skillet's acclaimed new album, "AWAKE," which reached the #1 spot on the iTunes Store's "Top Albums" chart within 24 hours of its release last summer. The album also made a blockbuster debut on the SoundScan/Billboard 200, entering the chart at #2. The album continues to reign as a favorite, ascending the upper half of the Billboard 200.

Produced by Howard Benson (Three Days Grace, Daughtry, Flyleaf), "AWAKE" is highlighted by the electrifying single, "Monster." The track is currently a top 5 smash at Active Rock outlets nationwide, while also scoring top 20 airplay at Mainstream Rock.

What's more, "Hero" -- the second single from "AWAKE" -- has been featured in an array of high-profile promotional campaigns, including WWE's annual Royal Rumble pay-per-view and is set to arrive at Active Rock outlets this week.

Founded in 1996, Skillet has earned rapturous praise for their inspirational and intense approach to hard-edged alternative rock. Hit Parader celebrated Skillet for "(bringing) to mind the kind of slick, studio-savvy work that made vintage Aerosmith and Bon Jovi so much fun to listen to." "Skillet... continually push their musical muscle with soaring guitar work interspersed with their take on 80's hair-metal ballads," declared Mix.

In addition to cumulative album sales in excess of 1.6 million, Skillet has racked up a wide range of honors throughout their extraordinary career. 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, achieving 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
                              ON TOUR 2010

        4/15 - 5/21 AWAKE & ALIVE TOUR w/ RED and The Letter Black

APRIL
15      Scranton, PA            Scranton Cultural Center
18      Charlotte, NC           Bojangles Coliseum
22      Raleigh, NC             TBA
23      Savannah, GA            TBA
24      Aiken, SC               USC Aiken Convocation Center
25      Pensacola, FL           Saenger Theater
29      Lafayette, LA           Cajundome Convention Center

MAY
2       Jonesboro, AR           ASU Convocation Center
4       Ft. Smith, AR           Ft. Smith Convention Center
6       Park City, KS           Hartman Arena
7       Dodge City, KS          Dodge City Civic Center
9       Topeka, KS              Kansas Expocentre
11      Bismarck, ND            Bismarck Civic Center
13      Rapid City, SD          Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
15      Fargo, ND               Urban Plains Center
20      Saginaw, MI             Dow Event Center (Theater)
21      East Lansing, MI        Michigan State Univ. Concert Auditorium