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  • John's picture
    Band Announcement
    Posted by John
    February 13, 2011
    Panheads, fans, friends, and rockers,

    What's up everybody? We have just returned home from Australia,  New Zealand, and Japan, where we had an awesome tour! However, as we are taking a little time off, we have a sad message to share with you. Our long-time guitarist Ben Kasica is going to end his time with Skillet. We have had 10 years working together, and it has been an amazing ride! From the years we spent driving through the night in a van; to playing concerts all the way around the world, I've seen Ben transform from the kid who was nervous to play a guitar solo, to the rocker who now plays a solo...with his teeth! I always knew the time would come for Ben to leave and pursue other dreams, and now it is here.  We are a family and we are going to miss him.  We appreciate how hard he has worked for us and wish him the best in his  life off the road.   We have asked Ben if he would like to give a  message to the fans, being that I'm sure all of you would like to hear from him, and of course he did:

    Hello panheads. After 10 amazing years of playing with Skillet, as John has told you, I will be leaving the band. This has been an incredible journey for me. Joining the band shortly after turning 16 and basically growing up on the road, I had no idea how long the ride would last but have enjoyed it immensely and been thankful to God for everything I've been a part of. We've traveled to loads of places, met many many wonderful people, drunk way too much coffee, made tons of memories and hopefully touched lives with eternity. I feel completely blessed and honored to have been a part of Skillet's history. I want to thank John and Korey for the opportunity of a lifetime. They've been encouraging, compassionate, long-suffering  with me and it's been what's kept me going on all these years. I'm grateful for their years of input in my spiritual, personal and business life. They're amazing, inspiring hardworking people that i have the utmost respect for. I wish them the absolute best in their future in and outside the band.

    After getting off the road, I will be focusing on building my other companies, producing and developing artists at Skies Fall Studios and designing for LifeLoveMusic Clothing. I also look forward very much to being home and catching up on churchlife, family and friends.

    I want to thank you panheads for 10 years of incredible support. You've been encouraging over the years and made touring an amazing experience. You are the absolute best fans ever.

    Thank you
    Benjamin Judah Kasica

    We appreciate Ben's work , we love him, and wish him the best in his music and various business ventures. Thanks to all of the fans for your support,  and we will see you  all soon on tour!

    Stand and be strong,
    John Cooper


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John's picture
on February 13, 2011 - 7:00pm
Panheads, fans, friends, and rockers,

What's up everybody? We have just returned home from Australia,  New Zealand, and Japan, where we had an awesome tour! However, as we are taking a little time off, we have a sad message to share with you. Our long-time guitarist Ben Kasica is going to end his time with Skillet. We have had 10 years working together, and it has been an amazing ride! From the years we spent driving through the night in a van; to playing concerts all the way around the world, I've seen Ben transform from the kid who was nervous to play a guitar solo, to the rocker who now plays a solo...with his teeth! I always knew the time would come for Ben to leave and pursue other dreams, and now it is here.  We are a family and we are going to miss him.  We appreciate how hard he has worked for us and wish him the best in his  life off the road.   We have asked Ben if he would like to give a  message to the fans, being that I'm sure all of you would like to hear from him, and of course he did:

Hello panheads. After 10 amazing years of playing with Skillet, as John has told you, I will be leaving the band. This has been an incredible journey for me. Joining the band shortly after turning 16 and basically growing up on the road, I had no idea how long the ride would last but have enjoyed it immensely and been thankful to God for everything I've been a part of. We've traveled to loads of places, met many many wonderful people, drunk way too much coffee, made tons of memories and hopefully touched lives with eternity. I feel completely blessed and honored to have been a part of Skillet's history. I want to thank John and Korey for the opportunity of a lifetime. They've been encouraging, compassionate, long-suffering  with me and it's been what's kept me going on all these years. I'm grateful for their years of input in my spiritual, personal and business life. They're amazing, inspiring hardworking people that i have the utmost respect for. I wish them the absolute best in their future in and outside the band.

After getting off the road, I will be focusing on building my other companies, producing and developing artists at Skies Fall Studios and designing for LifeLoveMusic Clothing. I also look forward very much to being home and catching up on churchlife, family and friends.

I want to thank you panheads for 10 years of incredible support. You've been encouraging over the years and made touring an amazing experience. You are the absolute best fans ever.

Thank you
Benjamin Judah Kasica

We appreciate Ben's work , we love him, and wish him the best in his music and various business ventures. Thanks to all of the fans for your support,  and we will see you  all soon on tour!

Stand and be strong,
John Cooper


Comments

Skillet lover_5's picture

Ben you are an amazing guitarist and i wish you well in all your future endevours. God bless!
Leah_5's picture

going to miss you ben! good luck and be safe!:)
Garrett Williams's picture

Gonna miss you very much man good luck out there!
Trevormacster1's picture

You will truly be missed Ben. I hope you never stop playing the guitar like you do. I wish you the best.
cats46382's picture

I hope that everything goes well for you and that you live happily and laugh often. You were a great guitar player and I wish you well!
Cooper_3's picture

It stinks that Ben quite he was an amazing guitar player
BanjoMan's picture

I hope that everything goes well for all of you. I am going to miss Ben so much! He is an UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME guitar player! I'm wondering if, where, and when y'all are having tryouts.
A_A's picture

Ben you're an inspiration of the highest sort and I hope that you do your talent justice wherever you go - Alien Youth all the way to the iTunes Sessions are now gonna have a little bit a bittersweet taste to them now! John is right - you did evolve so much to the point some the solos on Awake were literally biblical - and JOHN GOOD LUCK FINDING SOMEONE TO FILL BENS SHOES!!! WHOEVER IS FILLING BENS SHOES GOOD LUCK!!!! Still love ya Skillet ^^ Just do us a favour Ben - dont go on unheard!!!!
Brookelyn's picture

I've been to several of your concerts and each one has been special!! I'll really miss Ben!! Please don't break the band up everyone seems to be leaving: Lori, Ben.......and I'm pretty sure their was more before but I can't remember:) I was so sorry to see Lori go but Jen you're my role model girl!!! Ben I'll miss all of your fancy guitar music, you add such a wonderful twist to the music.....I hope y'all can find someone as good as Ben, if that's even possible:/ Good luck in all of your adventures, I'll be sure to check out your clothing line....will you still be touring with Skillet, at least for a little while?? I haven't seen y'all do Awake yet:'(
Jace Caldwell's picture

I saw you guys bout 5 months ago and all i could watch was ben shredding it up on guitar!! He blew my mind how crazy he was. He's one of my inspirations for playing guitar :) and i just wanna say goodluck to you guys and if you can email me when and where auditions could take place i'd be happy to come and give it a shot Caldwelljace@yahoo.com
fingerbleed34's picture

aw quite not the news i expected but as long as ben would be happy then good luck to all your future ventures, however with the guys left in the band hope you stay strong and continue touching lives through your awesome music... ps: awesome page and oh whose gonna take ben's place? thanks
callie♥♥♥skillet♥♥♥'s picture

awww well good luck ben you had a great 10 years of rocking out hard=)
Jopdar's picture

Hey Ben, are you still comin' to Alive Fest?
Jopdar's picture

Aw man I first heard of Skillet in 2008, then you just go and leave? Ben good luck out there, I'm gonna miss ya!
iDog3579's picture

Ben, you are the best guitarist in the history of music!!!! I wish you luck, and may God bless you in whatever you do.
s_tucker1995's picture

Awwww, Ben!! :( I wish you wouldn't leave Skillet, but since you are, I wish you the best of luck in whatever you do. Just wanted you all to know what an inspiration you are to me, and to many, many others! You guys helped me get saved, actually. I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior at my very first Skillet concert at Asheville in 2010, (the Awake Tonight tour with Toby Mac
samu96's picture

Your so cool Ben!!! Just the best for your future plans!!!
Powkick09's picture

id like to tryout for you guys if your taking auditions. how should i do it? ive given you my email address if we want todo it that way beyondfallingskiesaz@gmail.com
Adam_7's picture

Found you a new guitar player. Personal friend of mine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElQpI_BFErk (worth typing it in.) www.jayboneguitar.blogspot.com
SkilletNumberOneFan's picture

Ben, us Skillet fans will miss you dearly, and your guitar solos with your teeth.
SkilletWolf's picture

"Things are changing, it seems stange and I need to figure this out. You got your life, I got mine, but you're all I cared about. Yesterday we were laughing, (Podcasts) today I'm left here asking Where has all the time gone now? I'm left alone somehow. Growing up and getting older, I don't wanna believe it's over. Don't Say Goodbye, cause I don't want to hear those words tonight, cause maybe it's not the end for you and I. And although we knew, this time would come for me and you, don't say anything tonight if your gonna say goodbye. And if it's over, it hurts but I'm giving you my word I hope that you are always happy like we were. Happy like we were... Don't Say Goodbye."
moNsteR_Fan17's picture

Ben, we will all miss you. You are a wonderful person and an inspiration to many. I , as well as all of your fans I'm sure, wish you well in your new journey :)
'thico's picture

' Não! Antes de vir para o Brasil não Ben!! Adoro seu trabalho e queria ver uma apresentação sua enquanto está na banda... Sou brasileiro e gostaria que vocês pudessem me responder e virem fazer uma Turnê por aqui... Por favor... Sinceramente... Thiago Soares, 15 anos, Brasil -'No! Before coming to Brazil not Ben! I love his work and wanted to see a presentation while in his band ... I am Brazilian and I wish you could answer me and come and do a tour here ... Please ... Honestly ... Thiago Soares, 15, Brazil My E-mail: thiago.lp.wait@hotmail.com P.S: The Band is my inspiration ... Especially you and Jennifer ... Do not leave us like this ... Please
SkilletWolf's picture

Aww... I'm going to miss Ben a lot. We all will. But I understand. He still has other things that he wants to accomplish in life. We all do, right? Like I want to be in a rock band, but I also want to do other things. I feel sorry for Ben only because the fans keep telling him not to leave. Not that I have anything against that, I don't want Ben to leave either, but he has other things he wants o do, so let him do what he wants! I just hope that I can see Ben one last time at KingsFest this year... Ben, you are the best guitarist I have ever known and you have some awesome moves! I can only wish to be as good as you one day. Rock On!
monster_man's picture

BEN! Dont stop playing your guitar! I have seen you in concert 3 times and each time you were awsome! god bless the rest of your life!
Bruno roque's picture

o bem vc é o cara vc me inspirou a tocar guitarra manow não faz isso com a gente :(
skilletallnightlongp's picture

Ben you cant leave! no one will ever replace you you are the BEST! god am i going to miss you! good luck Ben!
Skilletgirl1's picture

BEN ! i wish you wouldnt leave.... :( but i wish you the best of luck anyway for what ur workin on!
seren's picture

What about all the upcoming shows?
simple plan16's picture

Ben I wish you would not go your the best guitarist in the world. Your podcasts are soooooo funny and rock. no offence jen. My band yellow light loves you guys we play skillet song all the time. GOOD LUCK BEN AND GOD BLESS YOU. :)

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