Creed (band)
Encyclopedia
Creed is an American rock
band formed in 1995 in Tallahassee, Florida
. Becoming popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the band has released three consecutive multi-platinum
albums, one of which has been certified diamond, and has sold over 28 million records
in the United States, with an estimated 40 million records worldwide, becoming the ninth best-selling artist of the 2000s decade. While often criticized and parodied, Creed is often recognized as one of the prominent acts of the post-grunge
movement of the late 1990s and early 2000s and is one of the most commercially successful rock bands of all time, with vocalist Scott Stapp
and guitarist Mark Tremonti
collectively having been noted as one of the most prolific songwriting teams in the history of rock music. Billboard
ranked Creed as the 18th best artist of the 2000s.
Along with founding members Stapp and Tremonti, the band also consists of bassist Brian Marshall
and drummer Scott Phillips. Creed released two studio album
s, My Own Prison
in 1997 and Human Clay
in 1999, before Marshall left the band in 2000 to be replaced by touring bassist Brett Hestla
. Their third record, Weathered
, was released in 2001 with Mark Tremonti handling bass before the band disbanded in 2004 due to increasing tension between members. Tremonti, Phillips, and Marshall went on to found Alter Bridge
while Stapp followed a solo career. After months of speculation, Creed reunited in 2009 for a tour and new album called Full Circle
. The band will reconvene in early 2012 for a fifth album and another tour.
, Florida
. Founding members, vocalist Scott Stapp
and guitarist Mark Tremonti
had been classmates in high school and friends at Florida State University
. Upon reuniting, Stapp and Tremonti realized that they had a mutual love for writing music and performing. After several discussions and times spent writing songs, many of which addressed themes of Christian theology
and spirituality due to Stapp's religious background as the stepson of a Pentecostal
dentist, the duo held auditions which led to the recruitment of bassist Brian Marshall
and drummer Scott Phillips to complete the quartet. Originally known as Naked Toddler, the band changed its name to Creed at Marshall's suggestion, after a band Marshall had previously played for called Maddox Creed. Brian Brasher was also briefly a member in 1995 when the band was known as Naked Toddler. These five musicians had already written and collaborated four of the songs that would go on to become tracks on Creed's chart-topping debut album, My Own Prison
. The band found local success and began to play shows in bars and small venues throughout Tallahassee.
. Wanting "a real show at a club" they managed to convince the owner of a bar in Tallahassee to book them by claiming that they could guarentee an audience of 200 people. Owner and manager Jeff Hanson
later told HitQuarters
that the band had played mostly cover versions, but two original songs stood out and impressed the manager so much that he promptly signed them to his management and promotions company and set about developing their act. For their first recordings he matched the band up with John Kurzweg
, a producer and friend of Hanson's who he felt was an appropriate fit. Together they recorded their debut album for $6,000, which was funded by Hanson. The album, titled My Own Prison
, was initially self-released on their own label, Blue Collar Records, selling 6,000 copies throughout the state of Florida.
"My Own Prison" had been circulating around the music industry for a while when, in May 1997, Diana Meltzer from Wind-Up Records
heard the album for the first time and decided almost immediately that she wanted to sign them to the label. She later said that she heard "an arena band". Within the same week Meltzer, together with Wind-up president Steve Lerner, CEO Alan Meltzer and MCA A&R Joel Mark, flew down to Tallahassee to see Creed perform live and decide for certain whether to offer them a contract. "Seeing the energy in the room when Scott Stapp stepped up to the mike, and hearing his powerful voice fill the room, alongside Mark Tremonti’s now legendary guitar riffs and that big Creed anthemic rock sound, was all I needed," she told HitQuarters. According to Hanson, before Wind-up signed Creed, fourteen labels had already passed on the band, and at one point he was tempted to take charge of them himself.
My Own Prison was remixed, given a more radio-friendly sound, and re-released by Wind-up Records. Four singles were released from the album: "My Own Prison
," "Torn
," "What's This Life For
," and "One
." Each of these songs reached #1 on Billboard
s Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, making Creed the first band to accomplish such a feat with a debut album. With little MTV
exposure, media coverage, or label support, My Own Prison sold extremely well, moving over six million copies (six times platinum). Creed continued to top year-end charts and was recognized as the Rock Artist of the Year at the 1998 Billboard Music Award
s. My Own Prison was also the highest-selling heavy music record of 1998 on Nielsen SoundScan
's Hard Music chart. The band's hit song "My Own Prison" was also featured as a live performance on the charity album Live in the X Lounge
. The band covered Alice Cooper
's song "I'm Eighteen
" for The Faculty
soundtrack in 1998.
My Own Prison was met with mostly favorable reviews. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic gave it four out of five stars and said that Creed "work well within their boundaries" despite "basically [falling] into the category of post-Seattle bands who temper their grunge with a dose of Live
earnestness." The album lyrically deals with themes of questioning and struggling with faith
and spirituality
. Because of this, some mistake Creed for a Christian rock
band. In response, bassist Brian Marshall said that Stapp's use of religious imagery "doesn't mean we're religious. He uses it as a metaphor. That's different. He uses the symbolism, but that doesn't mean we're Christian rock." Stapp said that his lyrics were spiritual but not religious, emphasizing the difference between the two: "For me, religion was about 'what not to do.' Spirituality opens you up, sets you free."
. The album's first single, "Higher," spent a record-breaking 17 weeks on the top of the rock radio charts. In 2009, "Higher" was ranked as the 95th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1
. The album was released in 1999, when My Own Prison was still doing reasonably well. However, Human Clay was an instant and overwhelming success debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200
and selling over ten million copies over the next two years, allowing it to become one of the few rock albums to be certified diamond
by the RIAA
. The album was the band's first to hit #1 in the U.S., where it debuted with first week sales of 315,000, and stayed on top for two weeks. After the album's release, follow-up singles were released: "With Arms Wide Open
," "What If
," and "Are You Ready
." The first three of those topped radio charts, giving Creed a total of seven chart-topping singles. The band would later go on to win their first, and to date only, Grammy Award
for "With Arms Wide Open" for Best Rock Song
in 2001.
Human Clay was met with largely positive reviews. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic said that the record "does make it clear that there is an audience for post-grunge hard rock, as long as it's delivered without pretension and as long as it meets the audience's desire for straight-ahead, hard-hitting music." Another reviewer called the record "a triumph of songwriting." The lyrical content of Human Clay is a slight departure from that of My Own Prison, touching on subjects such as lucid dreaming ("Higher"), father
hood ("With Arms Wide Open"), as well as darker, more violent themes such as sexual abuse
("Wash Away Those Years"), and hostility
("What If"), albeit in done in a "substantial, mature" manner.
During the summer of 2000, bassist Brian Marshall criticized Pearl Jam
frontman Eddie Vedder
in a radio interview with KNDD
in June 2000, claiming that Scott Stapp is a better songwriter, and criticized Pearl Jam's recent albums for "having songs without hooks
." Stapp later distanced the rest of the band from Marshall's comments and stated, "Yes, we get tired of the PJ question, but there is no excuse for the arrogance and stupidity [of Marshall]. I ask you all not to judge Creed as a band, because the statements made were not the band's feelings, they were Brian's. I'm sorry if Brian offended anyone, and he has already apologized for his comments." Marshall left Creed "on friendly terms" soon after the controversy and formed a new band called Grand Luxx with his old Mattox Creed band mates. Marshall was temporarily replaced by touring bassist Brett Hestla
of Virgos Merlot
. Stapp stated Marshall's leaving was his choice and was unrelated to the Pearl Jam controversy. Around the time of Marshall's departure, Fred Durst
of Limp Bizkit
caused further controversy when he insulted Stapp at New York's K-Rock 92.3 Dysfunctional Family Picnic Concert where both bands were performing. In response to this, Scott Stapp invited Durst to an open boxing match. However, nothing came of the incident because Creed had returned to the studio to record their third album.
was released on November 20, 2001. Six singles were released from the album: "My Sacrifice
," "One Last Breath
," "Hide," "Don't Stop Dancing
," "Weathered
," and "Bullets." The album, despite being harshly reviewed by critics, was a commercial bestseller. The album was certified platinum six times over and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200. It remained at that spot for eight weeks, a record which Creed notably shares with The Beatles
. The tour to promote Weathered was met with considerable controversy; it was delayed in April 2002 when Stapp suffered a concussion and vertebrae damage after being involved in a car accident. As a result, in addition to his growing addiction to alcohol, he became addicted to Percocet
and began taking a host of other medications while on tour, including steroids and Xanax
.
This, along with other events, led to a considerably controversial concert on December 29, 2002 at the Allstate Arena
in Rosemont, Illinois
, which ultimately led to the band's disunion. Four disappointed concertgoers filed a lawsuit against the band, claiming that Scott Stapp "was so intoxicated and/or medicated that he was unable to sing the lyrics of a single Creed song." Creed later issued an apology on Stapp's behalf, although Stapp would later deny the claims. Ultimately, the case was dismissed. Stapp later confirmed that he was intoxicated during the concert.
After remaining inactive for over a year, it was announced in June 2004 that Creed had disbanded. Tremonti cited tensions between Stapp and the rest of the band as the reasoning. He said that the relationship with Stapp had become so strained that the creative juices were no longer flowing. Almost simultaneous with the announcement of Creed's break-up, Stapp opted for a solo career. On November 22, 2004, Wind-up Records released Creed's Greatest Hits
, after which Stapp released his debut solo album The Great Divide in 2005 with Roadrunner Records
recording artist Goneblind. Stapp confirmed that the later reformation of Creed will put work on his second solo album on indefinite hiatus, though he is back in the studio recording the album, titled Between Lust and Love. Meanwhile, Tremonti and Phillips had reunited with Marshall to form a new band, called Alter Bridge
with singer Myles Kennedy
, formerly of The Mayfield Four
and the current frontman of Slash
's latest project. Alter Bridge, who continues to tour and record today, has released three studio albums: One Day Remains
(2004), Blackbird
(2007), and AB III (2010).
magazine, Stapp elaborated on the reunion, saying, "We never felt like we weren't together. We're not looking at this as a reunion. It's more of a rebirth."
In June, Creed performed with Marshall on bass for the first time in nine years on Sessions@AOL
, showing the band playing four of their hits. In addition, the band performed live on Fox & Friends
on June 26, 2009. Creed's reunion tour, with touring guitarist Eric Friedman
, kicked off on August 6, 2009 and concluded on October 20, one week before the release of the album.
Full Circle
, Creed's first album in eight years, came out on October 27, 2009. Stapp elaborated on the title, which is also the name of a track to appear on the album: "It really defines and articulates, melody-wise and lyrically, what’s happened with us. We've come full circle and it's a great place to be." The first single from Full Circle, "Overcome
," was posted on the band's official website on August 19, the same day the radio premiere started along with its release as a digital download on August 25. The second single, "Rain
," was released to radio stations on September 23 and became available on October 6 as another digital download. The band's first live recording, the record-breaking concert film
titled Creed Live
, was released on December 8, 2009. It was also confirmed by drummer Scott Phillips that Full Circle will not be the band's final album. The same announcement confirmed that Creed was to go on a world tour in support of Full Circle in April 2010, starting with an Australia/New Zealand tour, followed by South America, Europe, and North America. The tour was called The 20-10 Tour. Tickets for the tour were ten and twenty dollars to stand up against rising concert ticket prices. The first 2,010 tickets purchased for every concert were not include any service fees. Due to poor ticket sales one venue started selling tickets for the price of seventy-five cents. The tour kicked off on July 26 in Nashville. Skillet
joined the tour as main support.
. Notably, with Kiss
, Down with Webster
and Fefe Dobson
in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada
in July. 93.3 WMMR
reported that Creed has plans to release an acoustic album in 2011. The band was said to record a new single, but details have yet to surface. Tremonti has also mentioned that a tour and fifth studio album are possible for the summer of 2012. Tremonti confirmed via Facebook that the band along with Stapp have begun writing and recording for the new album. Tremonti also said that a tour with Creed is to take off April 2012.
. According to Rolling Stone
magazine, Scott Stapp's vocals have been influenced by the late Jim Morrison
of The Doors
. Andrew Leahey and Steve Huey of Allmusic describe Creed's music as hard rock
and post-grunge.
Creed is sometimes labeled a Christian rock
band due to the fact that their first three albums focus on questions of faith
, Christianity
, and eternity
. The band was never signed to a contemporary Christian music
label, nor did it perform in Christian music venues or get any widespread regular play on Christian radio
. However, the band's name itself refers to the religious concept of a creed
. Also, themes within their musical titles such as "My Own Prison
," "Higher," "My Sacrifice
," "What's This Life For
," "With Arms Wide Open
," and "One Last Breath
" contain allusion to Christian theology, though it has not been confirmed that the songs were meant to be Christian songs. Band members have stated that while they may be Christian
s, the band as a whole is not. Bassist Brian Marshall, who named the band, said that singer Scott Stapp uses spiritual imagery as a metaphor.
for Best Rock Song
for the song "With Arms Wide Open" in 2001.
However, in spite of this enormous commercial success, Creed was poorly received by professional critics, such as Robert Christgau
. Although Jonah Weiner of Slate
has tried to make the case that the band was "seriously underrated," that "most people hate Creed’s combination of overwrought power-balladry and Christian-infused testosterone." In a 2004 Guitar World
reader's poll, Creed was voted second worst band of the year. Criticisms towards singer Scott Stapp in particular have become widely known. In addition to later controversies, arrests, and allegations, he contemplated committing suicide sometime in 2003 after drinking a bottle of Jack Daniel's
whiskey. As reported by Rolling Stone, he was convinced that anyone involved with Creed wanted him dead so he would become a "Kurt Cobain
martyr-type" to up record sales. "I had crazy thoughts going through my head," he said. He has been compared to Eddie Vedder
by many, leading others to criticize Creed for being too derivative of the Seattle grunge band Pearl Jam
; Yahoo! Music
stated that "Creed was an unremarkable, plodding muscle-bound reworking of Pearl Jam, with all of that older band's warmth and psychological intensity replaced by chest-beating bravado and blandly messianic lyrics." Bassist Brian Marshall quickly became tired of these comparisons and criticized Vedder in a radio interview, causing controversy.
This, along with other events, led to a considerably controversial concert on December 29, 2002 at the Allstate Arena
in Rosemont, Illinois
, which ultimately led to the band's disunion. Four disappointed concertgoers filed a lawsuit against the band, claiming that Scott Stapp "was so intoxicated and/or medicated that he was unable to sing the lyrics of a single Creed song" and that he "left the stage on several occasions during songs for long periods of time, rolled around on the floor of the stage in apparent pain or distress and [finally] appeared to pass out." Stapp's band mates, managers, and concert promoters were named as co-defendants because they allegedly knew that Stapp was in no condition to perform. The suit asked for a full refund of the tickets and parking costs for all 15,000 attendees, at a total cost of about $2 million. Creed later issued an on Stapp's behalf. However, three months after the incident, Stapp defended his actions, telling the Orlando Sentinel
that he had not passed out and denying that he was drunk. He said that his lying on the floor was "a symbolic, personal gesture." He explained, "It was a symbol that I didn't think anybody had my back at the time. Some people get it. Some people don't." He also stated that the let-down fans did not deserve a free show because the "allegations are a lie." On July 8, 2003, Creed's attorneys filed for a motion to dismiss the suit, which was granted. Stapp later confirmed that he was intoxicated during the concert, stating that he was "whacked out" on prednisone
.
In an interview with PopMatters
, Alice in Chains
guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell
described being on tour with Creed as "stale". Cantrell stated, "I was on tour with them for fuckin' ever and I still hadn't even met 'em. When you spend two months together, you generally find some time to fuckin' say hello or whatever. It was really kinda weird in that respect. I'd never been on a tour that was that fuckin' stale on a personal level." Interviewer Michael Christopher derided Creed's neglect of Cantrell throughout the tour, stating that "the arena rockers owe a major part of their existence to the influence of Alice in Chains."
However, Creed has had its fair share of praise. The band's live shows from throughout their career have been critically acclaimed. They have been established as one of the best bands seen live in concert. In 2011, Creed was listed in Hard Rock Band Bracket's best rock bands of all time.
online database.
Studio albums
Compilations
s resulting in one win.
that was recorded, broadcast via a live internet stream, and released on December 8, 2010 as a concert film
titled Creed Live
, the band's first live recording. The performance broke four world record
s, including the world record for the most amount of cameras used at a live music event (239). The previous holder of this record was Justin Timberlake
. The performance also featured the very first usage of the "big freeze" technology, popularized by The Matrix
, in a concert environment.
Former
Touring
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band formed in 1995 in Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
. Becoming popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the band has released three consecutive multi-platinum
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
albums, one of which has been certified diamond, and has sold over 28 million records
Release (music)
In the music industry, a release is usually a term referring to the creative output from an artist available for sale or distribution; a broad term covering the many different formats music can be released in, and different forms of pieces .The word can also refer to the event at which an album or...
in the United States, with an estimated 40 million records worldwide, becoming the ninth best-selling artist of the 2000s decade. While often criticized and parodied, Creed is often recognized as one of the prominent acts of the post-grunge
Post-grunge
Post-grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged in the mid-1990s as a derivative of grunge, using the sounds and aesthetic of grunge, but with a more commercially acceptable tone...
movement of the late 1990s and early 2000s and is one of the most commercially successful rock bands of all time, with vocalist Scott Stapp
Scott Stapp
Scott Alan Stapp is an American musician and singer-songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Creed, of which he is a founding member. His debut solo album, The Great Divide, was released in 2005. A second album, Between Lust and Love, is currently in production...
and guitarist Mark Tremonti
Mark Tremonti
Mark Thomas Tremonti is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the lead guitarist of the American rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. He is a founding member of both bands...
collectively having been noted as one of the most prolific songwriting teams in the history of rock music. Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
ranked Creed as the 18th best artist of the 2000s.
Along with founding members Stapp and Tremonti, the band also consists of bassist Brian Marshall
Brian Marshall
Brian Aubrey Marshall is an American musician and songwriter best known as the bassist and co-founder of the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. He also co-owns a bed and breakfast called Mango Moon in Costa Rica.-Early life:...
and drummer Scott Phillips. Creed released two studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
s, My Own Prison
My Own Prison
My Own Prison is the debut album by Creed, released on August 26, 1997 . It has been certified 6x platinum and is one of the top 200 selling albums of all time in the United States. The person kneeling on the album's cover is Justin Brown, a friend of the band...
in 1997 and Human Clay
Human Clay
Human Clay is the second album by Creed released on September 28, 1999. It was certified 11x platinum and 1x diamond by the RIAA, and is 54th on the top 100 selling albums of all time in the United States . The album was the band's first to hit #1 in the U.S., where it debuted with first week...
in 1999, before Marshall left the band in 2000 to be replaced by touring bassist Brett Hestla
Brett Hestla
Brett Hestla, is an American guitarist, bassist, vocalist and record producer.-Music career:In the late 1990s Hestla's band Virgos Merlot was signed to Atlantic Records. After their first release, Signs of a Vacant Soul, he became the touring bassist for Creed after the departure of Brian Marshall...
. Their third record, Weathered
Weathered
Weathered is the third album by Creed, released on November 20, 2001. Some versions are enhanced CDs and include videos. It has been certified 6× platinum by the RIAA...
, was released in 2001 with Mark Tremonti handling bass before the band disbanded in 2004 due to increasing tension between members. Tremonti, Phillips, and Marshall went on to found Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge is an American rock band that was formed in 2004 in Orlando, Florida by lead guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall, and drummer Scott Phillips, who are all also members of Creed. Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Myles Kennedy, formerly of The Mayfield Four and the frontman...
while Stapp followed a solo career. After months of speculation, Creed reunited in 2009 for a tour and new album called Full Circle
Full Circle (Creed album)
Full Circle is the fourth studio album by American rock band Creed, released on October 27, 2009. It is Creed's first release since disbanding in 2004, prior to the release of their Greatest Hits album, and is their first studio album since 2001's Weathered, as well as their first to feature...
. The band will reconvene in early 2012 for a fifth album and another tour.
Early years (1993–1997)
Creed's origins lie in 1993 in TallahasseeTallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Founding members, vocalist Scott Stapp
Scott Stapp
Scott Alan Stapp is an American musician and singer-songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Creed, of which he is a founding member. His debut solo album, The Great Divide, was released in 2005. A second album, Between Lust and Love, is currently in production...
and guitarist Mark Tremonti
Mark Tremonti
Mark Thomas Tremonti is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the lead guitarist of the American rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. He is a founding member of both bands...
had been classmates in high school and friends at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
. Upon reuniting, Stapp and Tremonti realized that they had a mutual love for writing music and performing. After several discussions and times spent writing songs, many of which addressed themes of Christian theology
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and spirituality due to Stapp's religious background as the stepson of a Pentecostal
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
dentist, the duo held auditions which led to the recruitment of bassist Brian Marshall
Brian Marshall
Brian Aubrey Marshall is an American musician and songwriter best known as the bassist and co-founder of the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. He also co-owns a bed and breakfast called Mango Moon in Costa Rica.-Early life:...
and drummer Scott Phillips to complete the quartet. Originally known as Naked Toddler, the band changed its name to Creed at Marshall's suggestion, after a band Marshall had previously played for called Maddox Creed. Brian Brasher was also briefly a member in 1995 when the band was known as Naked Toddler. These five musicians had already written and collaborated four of the songs that would go on to become tracks on Creed's chart-topping debut album, My Own Prison
My Own Prison
My Own Prison is the debut album by Creed, released on August 26, 1997 . It has been certified 6x platinum and is one of the top 200 selling albums of all time in the United States. The person kneeling on the album's cover is Justin Brown, a friend of the band...
. The band found local success and began to play shows in bars and small venues throughout Tallahassee.
My Own Prison and rise to fame (1997–1998)
With a new name, a new sound, and several new songs written, Creed began playing locally. Initially struggling to secure gigs in their hometown because at that time no one wanted to book rock bands, they resorted to playing unlikely music venues such as family restaurants like T.G.I. Friday'sT.G.I. Friday's
T.G.I. Friday's is an American restaurant chain focusing on casual dining. The company is a unit of the Carlson Companies. Its name is taken from the expression TGIF...
. Wanting "a real show at a club" they managed to convince the owner of a bar in Tallahassee to book them by claiming that they could guarentee an audience of 200 people. Owner and manager Jeff Hanson
Jeff Hanson (music executive)
Jeff Hanson is an artist and producer manager, A&R consultant and founder and chief of the Silent Majority Group label. He is the former manager of Creed, Paramore and Sevendust, In 2006 he set up the independent Orlando, Florida-based label Silent Majority Group, which is now home to Framing...
later told HitQuarters
HitQuarters
HitQuarters is an international music industry publication and contact database founded in 1999. It is noted for in-depth interviews with industry figures, with past subjects including Simon Cowell, Martin Kierszenbaum, Jason Flom, Diane Warren, Peter Edge, Ron Fair and RedOne, as well as its A&R...
that the band had played mostly cover versions, but two original songs stood out and impressed the manager so much that he promptly signed them to his management and promotions company and set about developing their act. For their first recordings he matched the band up with John Kurzweg
John Kurzweg
John Kurzweg is an American record producer and musician who first became known for his work with successful post-grunge band Creed in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Three of Creed's records, which Kurzweg produced, were certified multi-platinum and helped Creed achieve worldwide popularity...
, a producer and friend of Hanson's who he felt was an appropriate fit. Together they recorded their debut album for $6,000, which was funded by Hanson. The album, titled My Own Prison
My Own Prison
My Own Prison is the debut album by Creed, released on August 26, 1997 . It has been certified 6x platinum and is one of the top 200 selling albums of all time in the United States. The person kneeling on the album's cover is Justin Brown, a friend of the band...
, was initially self-released on their own label, Blue Collar Records, selling 6,000 copies throughout the state of Florida.
"My Own Prison" had been circulating around the music industry for a while when, in May 1997, Diana Meltzer from Wind-Up Records
Wind-Up Records
Wind-up Entertainment, Inc. is a record label based in New York City. It was formed in 1997 by Alan Meltzer, former owner of CD One Stop, following his 1996 purchase of Grass Records. Wind-up is currently the largest independently-owned record label in the world...
heard the album for the first time and decided almost immediately that she wanted to sign them to the label. She later said that she heard "an arena band". Within the same week Meltzer, together with Wind-up president Steve Lerner, CEO Alan Meltzer and MCA A&R Joel Mark, flew down to Tallahassee to see Creed perform live and decide for certain whether to offer them a contract. "Seeing the energy in the room when Scott Stapp stepped up to the mike, and hearing his powerful voice fill the room, alongside Mark Tremonti’s now legendary guitar riffs and that big Creed anthemic rock sound, was all I needed," she told HitQuarters. According to Hanson, before Wind-up signed Creed, fourteen labels had already passed on the band, and at one point he was tempted to take charge of them himself.
My Own Prison was remixed, given a more radio-friendly sound, and re-released by Wind-up Records. Four singles were released from the album: "My Own Prison
My Own Prison (song)
"My Own Prison" is a song by Creed and the titular lead single from their 1997 debut album, My Own Prison. Vocalist Scott Stapp wrote the lyrics about his struggles with life at a time when he was questioning his religious faith. He realized he had created a prison within his own mind. Stapp sings...
," "Torn
Torn (Creed song)
"Torn" is a song composed by the rock band Creed. It is from their 1997 album My Own Prison. As a single, it reached number three on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart...
," "What's This Life For
What's This Life For
"What's This Life For" is a song by rock band Creed. It is the third single off their 1997 debut album, My Own Prison. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the U.S., becoming their first #1 hit on this chart...
," and "One
One (Creed song)
"One" is a song composed by the rock band Creed. From their 1997 album My Own Prison, it describes the lack of unity in modern society and includes a criticism of affirmative action. It was the band's fourth single...
." Each of these songs reached #1 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, making Creed the first band to accomplish such a feat with a debut album. With little MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
exposure, media coverage, or label support, My Own Prison sold extremely well, moving over six million copies (six times platinum). Creed continued to top year-end charts and was recognized as the Rock Artist of the Year at the 1998 Billboard Music Award
Billboard Music Award
The Billboard Music Award is an honor given by Billboard magazine, the preeminent publication covering the music business. The Billboard Music Awards show had been held annually in December until it went dormant in 2007, but it returned in May 2011...
s. My Own Prison was also the highest-selling heavy music record of 1998 on Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan is an information and sales tracking system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett. Soundscan is the official method of tracking sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada...
's Hard Music chart. The band's hit song "My Own Prison" was also featured as a live performance on the charity album Live in the X Lounge
Live in the X Lounge
Live in the X Lounge is a series of albums released by Birmingham, Alabama's former alternative rock radio station, WRAX.Though the station can no longer be found on the air, this series of live performances was produced while the station was known as 107.7 The X...
. The band covered Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
's song "I'm Eighteen
I'm Eighteen
"I'm Eighteen" is a 1970 song by rock band Alice Cooper, featured on their first major label release album Love It to Death. It was released in November 1970, 3 months prior to the album, and became the band's breakthrough hit.-Achievements:...
" for The Faculty
The Faculty
The Faculty is a 1998 science fiction horror film written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Robert Rodriguez...
soundtrack in 1998.
My Own Prison was met with mostly favorable reviews. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic gave it four out of five stars and said that Creed "work well within their boundaries" despite "basically [falling] into the category of post-Seattle bands who temper their grunge with a dose of Live
Live (band)
Live is an American rock band from York, Pennsylvania, composed of Chad Taylor , Patrick Dahlheimer , and Chad Gracey . Lead singer and principal songwriter Ed Kowalczyk left the band in November 2009....
earnestness." The album lyrically deals with themes of questioning and struggling with faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
and spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
. Because of this, some mistake Creed for a Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band. In response, bassist Brian Marshall said that Stapp's use of religious imagery "doesn't mean we're religious. He uses it as a metaphor. That's different. He uses the symbolism, but that doesn't mean we're Christian rock." Stapp said that his lyrics were spiritual but not religious, emphasizing the difference between the two: "For me, religion was about 'what not to do.' Spirituality opens you up, sets you free."
Human Clay and Marshall's departure (1998–2001)
With money made from My Own Prison, the band started to write for their second album, Human ClayHuman Clay
Human Clay is the second album by Creed released on September 28, 1999. It was certified 11x platinum and 1x diamond by the RIAA, and is 54th on the top 100 selling albums of all time in the United States . The album was the band's first to hit #1 in the U.S., where it debuted with first week...
. The album's first single, "Higher," spent a record-breaking 17 weeks on the top of the rock radio charts. In 2009, "Higher" was ranked as the 95th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
. The album was released in 1999, when My Own Prison was still doing reasonably well. However, Human Clay was an instant and overwhelming success debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and selling over ten million copies over the next two years, allowing it to become one of the few rock albums to be certified diamond
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
. The album was the band's first to hit #1 in the U.S., where it debuted with first week sales of 315,000, and stayed on top for two weeks. After the album's release, follow-up singles were released: "With Arms Wide Open
With Arms Wide Open
"With Arms Wide Open" is a song composed by the band Creed, featured on the album Human Clay. Scott Stapp wrote the lyrics when he found out with great surprise that he was going to be a father. His son would be named Jagger. "With Arms Wide Open" topped the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks...
," "What If
What If (Creed song)
"What If" is a song by Creed, released as the second single from their 1999 album Human Clay.In the song, Scott Stapp sings about hatred and those who oppress others. According to guitarist Mark Tremonti, the intro was inspired by the song "Paint It, Black" by The Rolling Stones.The song was used...
," and "Are You Ready
Are You Ready? (Creed song)
"Are You Ready?" is the fourth single from the album Human Clay by the American rock band Creed. It is included on the 2001 album NASCAR: Full Throttle and the 2005 album Harley Davidson: Ride. It was their worst performing single on the U.S. charts up to that point, even though it became a top 5...
." The first three of those topped radio charts, giving Creed a total of seven chart-topping singles. The band would later go on to win their first, and to date only, Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for "With Arms Wide Open" for Best Rock Song
Grammy Award for Best Rock Song
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Song is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality songs in the rock music genre...
in 2001.
Human Clay was met with largely positive reviews. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic said that the record "does make it clear that there is an audience for post-grunge hard rock, as long as it's delivered without pretension and as long as it meets the audience's desire for straight-ahead, hard-hitting music." Another reviewer called the record "a triumph of songwriting." The lyrical content of Human Clay is a slight departure from that of My Own Prison, touching on subjects such as lucid dreaming ("Higher"), father
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
hood ("With Arms Wide Open"), as well as darker, more violent themes such as sexual abuse
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
("Wash Away Those Years"), and hostility
Hostility
Hostility is a form of angry internal rejection or denial in psychology. It is a part of personal construct psychology, developed by George Kelly...
("What If"), albeit in done in a "substantial, mature" manner.
During the summer of 2000, bassist Brian Marshall criticized Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
frontman Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder is an American musician and singer-songwriter who is best known for being the lead singer and one of three guitarists of the alternative rock band Pearl Jam. He is widely considered a cultural icon of alternative rock.He is also involved in soundtrack work and contributes to albums...
in a radio interview with KNDD
KNDD
KNDD , also known as "107.7 The End", is an alternative rock radio station in Seattle, Washington. It is operated by Entercom Communications Its studios are located in the Metropolitan Park West tower between Downtown and South Lake Union in Seattle...
in June 2000, claiming that Scott Stapp is a better songwriter, and criticized Pearl Jam's recent albums for "having songs without hooks
Hook (music)
A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener". The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock music, hip hop, dance music, and pop. In these genres, the hook is often...
." Stapp later distanced the rest of the band from Marshall's comments and stated, "Yes, we get tired of the PJ question, but there is no excuse for the arrogance and stupidity [of Marshall]. I ask you all not to judge Creed as a band, because the statements made were not the band's feelings, they were Brian's. I'm sorry if Brian offended anyone, and he has already apologized for his comments." Marshall left Creed "on friendly terms" soon after the controversy and formed a new band called Grand Luxx with his old Mattox Creed band mates. Marshall was temporarily replaced by touring bassist Brett Hestla
Brett Hestla
Brett Hestla, is an American guitarist, bassist, vocalist and record producer.-Music career:In the late 1990s Hestla's band Virgos Merlot was signed to Atlantic Records. After their first release, Signs of a Vacant Soul, he became the touring bassist for Creed after the departure of Brian Marshall...
of Virgos Merlot
Virgos Merlot
Virgos Merlot was an American hard rock band formed in 1998. Prior to the formation of Virgos Merlot, many of the band members were in the group The Devine, which later disbanded...
. Stapp stated Marshall's leaving was his choice and was unrelated to the Pearl Jam controversy. Around the time of Marshall's departure, Fred Durst
Fred Durst
William Frederick "Fred" Durst is an American musician, director, producer and actor, well known as the frontman of the band Limp Bizkit.-Early life:...
of Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1995, the group's lineup consists of Fred Durst , Wes Borland , Sam Rivers , John Otto and DJ Lethal . The band achieved mainstream success with their second studio album Significant Other, released in 1999...
caused further controversy when he insulted Stapp at New York's K-Rock 92.3 Dysfunctional Family Picnic Concert where both bands were performing. In response to this, Scott Stapp invited Durst to an open boxing match. However, nothing came of the incident because Creed had returned to the studio to record their third album.
Weathered and dissolution (2001–2004)
Creed worked on their third album for most of 2001, with Tremonti choosing to play bass on the record himself instead of Hestla to "[preserve] the band's initial core," although Hestla remained in Creed's touring lineup. WeatheredWeathered
Weathered is the third album by Creed, released on November 20, 2001. Some versions are enhanced CDs and include videos. It has been certified 6× platinum by the RIAA...
was released on November 20, 2001. Six singles were released from the album: "My Sacrifice
My Sacrifice
"My Sacrifice" is a single and Grammy nominated song released by the American post-grunge band Creed on their album Weathered in 2001. The song peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on February 9, 2002, and #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for 9 consecutive weeks, starting in...
," "One Last Breath
One Last Breath
"One Last Breath" is a 2002 single by the band Creed, from their 2001 album Weathered. It reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay and Mainstream Rock charts, as well as #4 on the Billboard Pop chart, and #2 on the Adult Top 40.-Chart...
," "Hide," "Don't Stop Dancing
Don't Stop Dancing
"Don't Stop Dancing" is a song by Creed featured on the band's third album, Weathered in 2001. The song features Scott Stapp's sister Aimee Stapp on backup vocals, and the Tallahassee Boys' Choir singing a background chorus.-Music video:...
," "Weathered
Weathered (song)
"Weathered" is a song written and performed by the band Creed, released as the last single from their album, Weathered.-Chart performance:...
," and "Bullets." The album, despite being harshly reviewed by critics, was a commercial bestseller. The album was certified platinum six times over and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200. It remained at that spot for eight weeks, a record which Creed notably shares with The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. The tour to promote Weathered was met with considerable controversy; it was delayed in April 2002 when Stapp suffered a concussion and vertebrae damage after being involved in a car accident. As a result, in addition to his growing addiction to alcohol, he became addicted to Percocet
Oxycodone/paracetamol
The combination oxycodone/paracetamol is a narcotic pain reliever used to treat moderate to severe acute pain, marketed by Endo Pharmaceuticals.-History:The U.S...
and began taking a host of other medications while on tour, including steroids and Xanax
Alprazolam
Alprazolam is a short-acting anxiolytic of the benzodiazepine class of psychoactive drugs. Alprazolam, like other benzodiazepines, binds to specific sites on the GABAA gamma-amino-butyric acid receptor...
.
This, along with other events, led to a considerably controversial concert on December 29, 2002 at the Allstate Arena
Allstate Arena
Allstate Arena is a multi-purpose arena, in Rosemont, Illinois.It is home to the Chicago Rush, of the Arena Football League, DePaul University's men's basketball team, the Chicago Wolves, of the AHL, and the Chicago Sky, of the WNBA.It is located near the intersection of Mannheim Road and...
in Rosemont, Illinois
Rosemont, Illinois
Rosemont is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States located immediately northwest of Chicago. The village was incorporated in 1956, though it had been settled long before that...
, which ultimately led to the band's disunion. Four disappointed concertgoers filed a lawsuit against the band, claiming that Scott Stapp "was so intoxicated and/or medicated that he was unable to sing the lyrics of a single Creed song." Creed later issued an apology on Stapp's behalf, although Stapp would later deny the claims. Ultimately, the case was dismissed. Stapp later confirmed that he was intoxicated during the concert.
After remaining inactive for over a year, it was announced in June 2004 that Creed had disbanded. Tremonti cited tensions between Stapp and the rest of the band as the reasoning. He said that the relationship with Stapp had become so strained that the creative juices were no longer flowing. Almost simultaneous with the announcement of Creed's break-up, Stapp opted for a solo career. On November 22, 2004, Wind-up Records released Creed's Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (Creed album)
Greatest Hits is a greatest hits compilation album from the rock band Creed. It was released in 2004, soon after the announcement that the band had broken up, and that lead singer Scott Stapp and the other members of the band would go their separate ways . It consists of every one of their U.S...
, after which Stapp released his debut solo album The Great Divide in 2005 with Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
recording artist Goneblind. Stapp confirmed that the later reformation of Creed will put work on his second solo album on indefinite hiatus, though he is back in the studio recording the album, titled Between Lust and Love. Meanwhile, Tremonti and Phillips had reunited with Marshall to form a new band, called Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge is an American rock band that was formed in 2004 in Orlando, Florida by lead guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall, and drummer Scott Phillips, who are all also members of Creed. Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Myles Kennedy, formerly of The Mayfield Four and the frontman...
with singer Myles Kennedy
Myles Kennedy
Myles Richard Kennedy is an American musician and singer-songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Alter Bridge, and as the lead vocalist in Slash's current solo project...
, formerly of The Mayfield Four
The Mayfield Four
For the telephone signalling method known in the UK as MF4, see Dual-tone multi-frequencyThe Mayfield Four was an American rock band formed by Myles Kennedy in Spokane, Washington in 1996...
and the current frontman of Slash
Slash (musician)
Saul Hudson , known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N'...
's latest project. Alter Bridge, who continues to tour and record today, has released three studio albums: One Day Remains
One Day Remains
One Day Remains is the debut studio album by the American rock band Alter Bridge, released on August 10, 2004 on Wind-up Records. The album was produced by Ben Grosse. It has been certified Gold in the United States with worldwide sales reaching 750,000. It is said the album received its name from...
(2004), Blackbird
Blackbird (album)
Blackbird is the second studio album by rock band Alter Bridge, released on October 9, 2007. The first single, "Rise Today", was released on July 30, 2007. The album peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200, selling 47,000 copies in its first week on the charts. As of December 2008, Blackbird has...
(2007), and AB III (2010).
Reunion and Full Circle (2009–2010)
From 2004 onward, Tremonti promised that Creed would never return. However, on April 27, 2009, Creed's website announced that the band had reunited for a new tour and plans for a new album. According to Tremonti, "We're all very excited to reconnect with our fans and each other after seven long years." He later added that being in Creed again was "the last thing [he] expected." Phillips also stated: "Our career as Creed came to a very abrupt and unforeseen ending. After reflecting on some of the greatest personal and professional moments of our lives, we've come to realize that we are still very capable of continuing that career and our friendship on a grander scale than ever before." In an interview for PeoplePeople (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine, Stapp elaborated on the reunion, saying, "We never felt like we weren't together. We're not looking at this as a reunion. It's more of a rebirth."
In June, Creed performed with Marshall on bass for the first time in nine years on Sessions@AOL
Sessions@AOL
Sessions@AOL is a special avenue of programming conducted by AOL Music. Originally an AOL exclusive, Sessions@AOL can now also be seen as an avenue for non-AOL users as well. Sessions@AOL consists of exclusive and intimate performances of songs by popular musicians, with likes of bands such as...
, showing the band playing four of their hits. In addition, the band performed live on Fox & Friends
Fox & Friends
Fox & Friends is an American morning television show on the Fox News Channel.-History:The show begins at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time with the latest Fox News Live headlines and analyzes the news of the morning...
on June 26, 2009. Creed's reunion tour, with touring guitarist Eric Friedman
Eric Friedman
Eric Charles "Erock" Friedman is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the current touring rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist for Creed. He played with the band on their 2009 United States reunion tour with Staind and their 20-10 Tour with Skillet...
, kicked off on August 6, 2009 and concluded on October 20, one week before the release of the album.
Full Circle
Full Circle (Creed album)
Full Circle is the fourth studio album by American rock band Creed, released on October 27, 2009. It is Creed's first release since disbanding in 2004, prior to the release of their Greatest Hits album, and is their first studio album since 2001's Weathered, as well as their first to feature...
, Creed's first album in eight years, came out on October 27, 2009. Stapp elaborated on the title, which is also the name of a track to appear on the album: "It really defines and articulates, melody-wise and lyrically, what’s happened with us. We've come full circle and it's a great place to be." The first single from Full Circle, "Overcome
Overcome (Creed song)
"Overcome" is a song written and performed by Creed. At the time of its release, it was their first single in seven years, and also the first from their 2009 reunion album, Full Circle...
," was posted on the band's official website on August 19, the same day the radio premiere started along with its release as a digital download on August 25. The second single, "Rain
Rain (Creed song)
"Rain" is a song written and performed by Creed. It is their second single from their 2009 album, Full Circle.The single was released through MSN Music on September 22, 2009, hit radio airplay September 23, 2009, and was released as a digital download on October 6, 2009 on iTunes and other digital...
," was released to radio stations on September 23 and became available on October 6 as another digital download. The band's first live recording, the record-breaking concert film
Concert film
A concert movie, or concert film, is a type of documentary film, the subject of which is an extended live performance or concert by a musician ....
titled Creed Live
Creed Live
Creed Live is the first concert film by the American rock band Creed, recorded on September 25, 2009 in Houston and released on December 8, 2009. The performance broke the world record for the most amount of cameras used at a live music event and was available for viewing for free on Rockpit and...
, was released on December 8, 2009. It was also confirmed by drummer Scott Phillips that Full Circle will not be the band's final album. The same announcement confirmed that Creed was to go on a world tour in support of Full Circle in April 2010, starting with an Australia/New Zealand tour, followed by South America, Europe, and North America. The tour was called The 20-10 Tour. Tickets for the tour were ten and twenty dollars to stand up against rising concert ticket prices. The first 2,010 tickets purchased for every concert were not include any service fees. Due to poor ticket sales one venue started selling tickets for the price of seventy-five cents. The tour kicked off on July 26 in Nashville. Skillet
Skillet (band)
Skillet is an American Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1996. The band currently consists of husband and wife John and Korey Cooper , along with Jen Ledger and lead guitarist Seth Morrison. The band has released eight albums, two receiving Grammy nominations: Collide and Comatose...
joined the tour as main support.
Recent events and future plans (2010–present)
Tremonti, Marshall, and Phillips are on tour with Myles Kennedy as Alter Bridge to promote their new album, while Scott Stapp is in the studio recording his second solo album. In addition to this solo album, Stapp is also playing sporadic shows with a backup bandBackup band
A backing band or backup band is a musical ensemble that accompanies an artist at a live performance or on a recording. This can either be an established, long-standing group that has little or no change in membership, or it may be an ad hoc group assembled for a single show or a single recording...
. Notably, with Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, Down with Webster
Down with Webster
Down with Webster, or DWW, is a 7-man Canadian rap rock band from The Beaches area of Toronto, Ontario who signed with Universal Motown in April 2009. During live shows the band occasionally uses a 3-piece horn section....
and Fefe Dobson
Fefe Dobson
Felicia Lily "Fefe" Dobson is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Her self-titled debut album earned her two Juno Award nominations. Her second album, Sunday Love, was not released and she was terminated from her recording company...
in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in July. 93.3 WMMR
WMMR
WMMR is an active rock radio station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, broadcasting at 93.3 MHz FM. The station is owned by Greater Media....
reported that Creed has plans to release an acoustic album in 2011. The band was said to record a new single, but details have yet to surface. Tremonti has also mentioned that a tour and fifth studio album are possible for the summer of 2012. Tremonti confirmed via Facebook that the band along with Stapp have begun writing and recording for the new album. Tremonti also said that a tour with Creed is to take off April 2012.
Musical style
Creed's music is generally considered to be rockRock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
. According to Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine, Scott Stapp's vocals have been influenced by the late Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison
James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
of The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
. Andrew Leahey and Steve Huey of Allmusic describe Creed's music as hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
and post-grunge.
Creed is sometimes labeled a Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band due to the fact that their first three albums focus on questions of faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
, Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, and eternity
Eternity
While in the popular mind, eternity often simply means existence for a limitless amount of time, many have used it to refer to a timeless existence altogether outside time. By contrast, infinite temporal existence is then called sempiternity. Something eternal exists outside time; by contrast,...
. The band was never signed to a contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
label, nor did it perform in Christian music venues or get any widespread regular play on Christian radio
Christian radio
Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
. However, the band's name itself refers to the religious concept of a creed
Creed
A creed is a statement of belief—usually a statement of faith that describes the beliefs shared by a religious community—and is often recited as part of a religious service. When the statement of faith is longer and polemical, as well as didactic, it is not called a creed but a Confession of faith...
. Also, themes within their musical titles such as "My Own Prison
My Own Prison (song)
"My Own Prison" is a song by Creed and the titular lead single from their 1997 debut album, My Own Prison. Vocalist Scott Stapp wrote the lyrics about his struggles with life at a time when he was questioning his religious faith. He realized he had created a prison within his own mind. Stapp sings...
," "Higher," "My Sacrifice
My Sacrifice
"My Sacrifice" is a single and Grammy nominated song released by the American post-grunge band Creed on their album Weathered in 2001. The song peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on February 9, 2002, and #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for 9 consecutive weeks, starting in...
," "What's This Life For
What's This Life For
"What's This Life For" is a song by rock band Creed. It is the third single off their 1997 debut album, My Own Prison. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the U.S., becoming their first #1 hit on this chart...
," "With Arms Wide Open
With Arms Wide Open
"With Arms Wide Open" is a song composed by the band Creed, featured on the album Human Clay. Scott Stapp wrote the lyrics when he found out with great surprise that he was going to be a father. His son would be named Jagger. "With Arms Wide Open" topped the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks...
," and "One Last Breath
One Last Breath
"One Last Breath" is a 2002 single by the band Creed, from their 2001 album Weathered. It reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay and Mainstream Rock charts, as well as #4 on the Billboard Pop chart, and #2 on the Adult Top 40.-Chart...
" contain allusion to Christian theology, though it has not been confirmed that the songs were meant to be Christian songs. Band members have stated that while they may be Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s, the band as a whole is not. Bassist Brian Marshall, who named the band, said that singer Scott Stapp uses spiritual imagery as a metaphor.
Reception and controversy
Creed was one of the most commercially successful rock bands of the late 90s and early 2000s, having sold an estimated 35 million records worldwide. Their first three studio albums, My Own Prison, Human Clay, and Weathered, have all gone multi-platinum in the United States, selling 6 million, 11 million, and 6 million copies respectively. The band won a Grammy AwardGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Rock Song
Grammy Award for Best Rock Song
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Song is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality songs in the rock music genre...
for the song "With Arms Wide Open" in 2001.
However, in spite of this enormous commercial success, Creed was poorly received by professional critics, such as Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
. Although Jonah Weiner of Slate
Slate (magazine)
Slate is a US-based English language online current affairs and culture magazine created in 1996 by former New Republic editor Michael Kinsley, initially under the ownership of Microsoft as part of MSN. On 21 December 2004 it was purchased by the Washington Post Company...
has tried to make the case that the band was "seriously underrated," that "most people hate Creed’s combination of overwrought power-balladry and Christian-infused testosterone." In a 2004 Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
reader's poll, Creed was voted second worst band of the year. Criticisms towards singer Scott Stapp in particular have become widely known. In addition to later controversies, arrests, and allegations, he contemplated committing suicide sometime in 2003 after drinking a bottle of Jack Daniel's
Jack Daniel's
Jack Daniel's is a brand of sour mash Tennessee whiskey that is among the world's best-selling liquors. It is known for its square bottles and black label. As of November, 2007, one blogger was claiming that it was the best-selling whiskey in the world. It is produced in Lynchburg, Tennessee by...
whiskey. As reported by Rolling Stone, he was convinced that anyone involved with Creed wanted him dead so he would become a "Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
martyr-type" to up record sales. "I had crazy thoughts going through my head," he said. He has been compared to Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder is an American musician and singer-songwriter who is best known for being the lead singer and one of three guitarists of the alternative rock band Pearl Jam. He is widely considered a cultural icon of alternative rock.He is also involved in soundtrack work and contributes to albums...
by many, leading others to criticize Creed for being too derivative of the Seattle grunge band Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
; Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music, owned by Yahoo!, is the provider of a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming...
stated that "Creed was an unremarkable, plodding muscle-bound reworking of Pearl Jam, with all of that older band's warmth and psychological intensity replaced by chest-beating bravado and blandly messianic lyrics." Bassist Brian Marshall quickly became tired of these comparisons and criticized Vedder in a radio interview, causing controversy.
This, along with other events, led to a considerably controversial concert on December 29, 2002 at the Allstate Arena
Allstate Arena
Allstate Arena is a multi-purpose arena, in Rosemont, Illinois.It is home to the Chicago Rush, of the Arena Football League, DePaul University's men's basketball team, the Chicago Wolves, of the AHL, and the Chicago Sky, of the WNBA.It is located near the intersection of Mannheim Road and...
in Rosemont, Illinois
Rosemont, Illinois
Rosemont is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States located immediately northwest of Chicago. The village was incorporated in 1956, though it had been settled long before that...
, which ultimately led to the band's disunion. Four disappointed concertgoers filed a lawsuit against the band, claiming that Scott Stapp "was so intoxicated and/or medicated that he was unable to sing the lyrics of a single Creed song" and that he "left the stage on several occasions during songs for long periods of time, rolled around on the floor of the stage in apparent pain or distress and [finally] appeared to pass out." Stapp's band mates, managers, and concert promoters were named as co-defendants because they allegedly knew that Stapp was in no condition to perform. The suit asked for a full refund of the tickets and parking costs for all 15,000 attendees, at a total cost of about $2 million. Creed later issued an on Stapp's behalf. However, three months after the incident, Stapp defended his actions, telling the Orlando Sentinel
Orlando Sentinel
The Orlando Sentinel is the primary newspaper of the Orlando, Florida region. It was founded in 1876. The Sentinel is owned by Tribune Company and is overseen by the Chicago Tribune. As of 2005, the Sentinel’s president and publisher was Kathleen Waltz; she announced her resignation in February 2008...
that he had not passed out and denying that he was drunk. He said that his lying on the floor was "a symbolic, personal gesture." He explained, "It was a symbol that I didn't think anybody had my back at the time. Some people get it. Some people don't." He also stated that the let-down fans did not deserve a free show because the "allegations are a lie." On July 8, 2003, Creed's attorneys filed for a motion to dismiss the suit, which was granted. Stapp later confirmed that he was intoxicated during the concert, stating that he was "whacked out" on prednisone
Prednisone
Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug that is particularly effective as an immunosuppressant drug. It is used to treat certain inflammatory diseases and some types of cancer, but has significant adverse effects...
.
In an interview with PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
, Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell
Jerry Cantrell
Jerry Fulton Cantrell Jr. is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with the grunge/metal band Alice in Chains, as lead guitarist, backing and co-lead vocalist, and co-lyricist. He performs lead vocals on his solo projects, and is part of Alice in Chains' harmonizing...
described being on tour with Creed as "stale". Cantrell stated, "I was on tour with them for fuckin' ever and I still hadn't even met 'em. When you spend two months together, you generally find some time to fuckin' say hello or whatever. It was really kinda weird in that respect. I'd never been on a tour that was that fuckin' stale on a personal level." Interviewer Michael Christopher derided Creed's neglect of Cantrell throughout the tour, stating that "the arena rockers owe a major part of their existence to the influence of Alice in Chains."
However, Creed has had its fair share of praise. The band's live shows from throughout their career have been critically acclaimed. They have been established as one of the best bands seen live in concert. In 2011, Creed was listed in Hard Rock Band Bracket's best rock bands of all time.
RIAA certifications
These statistics were compiled from the RIAA certificationRIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
online database.
Studio albums
- My Own PrisonMy Own PrisonMy Own Prison is the debut album by Creed, released on August 26, 1997 . It has been certified 6x platinum and is one of the top 200 selling albums of all time in the United States. The person kneeling on the album's cover is Justin Brown, a friend of the band...
: 6× platinum (August 2002) - Human ClayHuman ClayHuman Clay is the second album by Creed released on September 28, 1999. It was certified 11x platinum and 1x diamond by the RIAA, and is 54th on the top 100 selling albums of all time in the United States . The album was the band's first to hit #1 in the U.S., where it debuted with first week...
: 11× platinum, 1×(+) diamond (January 2004) - WeatheredWeatheredWeathered is the third album by Creed, released on November 20, 2001. Some versions are enhanced CDs and include videos. It has been certified 6× platinum by the RIAA...
: 6× platinum (January 2003)
Compilations
- Greatest HitsGreatest Hits (Creed album)Greatest Hits is a greatest hits compilation album from the rock band Creed. It was released in 2004, soon after the announcement that the band had broken up, and that lead singer Scott Stapp and the other members of the band would go their separate ways . It consists of every one of their U.S...
: 2× platinum (November 2008)
Grammy Awards and nominations
Creed has been nominated for three Grammy AwardGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s resulting in one win.
- "With Arms Wide OpenWith Arms Wide Open"With Arms Wide Open" is a song composed by the band Creed, featured on the album Human Clay. Scott Stapp wrote the lyrics when he found out with great surprise that he was going to be a father. His son would be named Jagger. "With Arms Wide Open" topped the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks...
" – Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with VocalGrammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with VocalThe Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal was awarded between 1980 and 2011.The award was discontinued after the 2011 award season in a major overhaul of Grammy categories...
, 2001 (nomination) - "With Arms Wide Open" – Best Rock SongGrammy Award for Best Rock SongThe Grammy Award for Best Rock Song is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality songs in the rock music genre...
, 2001 (winner) - "My SacrificeMy Sacrifice"My Sacrifice" is a single and Grammy nominated song released by the American post-grunge band Creed on their album Weathered in 2001. The song peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart on February 9, 2002, and #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for 9 consecutive weeks, starting in...
" – Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, 2003 (nomination)
World records
On September 25, 2009, Creed performed a concert in Houston, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
that was recorded, broadcast via a live internet stream, and released on December 8, 2010 as a concert film
Concert film
A concert movie, or concert film, is a type of documentary film, the subject of which is an extended live performance or concert by a musician ....
titled Creed Live
Creed Live
Creed Live is the first concert film by the American rock band Creed, recorded on September 25, 2009 in Houston and released on December 8, 2009. The performance broke the world record for the most amount of cameras used at a live music event and was available for viewing for free on Rockpit and...
, the band's first live recording. The performance broke four world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
s, including the world record for the most amount of cameras used at a live music event (239). The previous holder of this record was Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
. The performance also featured the very first usage of the "big freeze" technology, popularized by The Matrix
The Matrix
The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction-action film written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, and Hugo Weaving...
, in a concert environment.
Band members
Current- Scott StappScott StappScott Alan Stapp is an American musician and singer-songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Creed, of which he is a founding member. His debut solo album, The Great Divide, was released in 2005. A second album, Between Lust and Love, is currently in production...
– lead vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
(1995–2004, 2009–present) - Mark TremontiMark TremontiMark Thomas Tremonti is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the lead guitarist of the American rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. He is a founding member of both bands...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(1995–2004, 2009–present) - Brian MarshallBrian MarshallBrian Aubrey Marshall is an American musician and songwriter best known as the bassist and co-founder of the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. He also co-owns a bed and breakfast called Mango Moon in Costa Rica.-Early life:...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1995–2000, 2009–present) - Scott Phillips – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(1995–2004, 2009–present)
Former
- Brian Brasher – rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
(1995)
Touring
- Eric FriedmanEric FriedmanEric Charles "Erock" Friedman is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the current touring rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist for Creed. He played with the band on their 2009 United States reunion tour with Staind and their 20-10 Tour with Skillet...
– rhythm guitar, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
(2009–2010) - Brett HestlaBrett HestlaBrett Hestla, is an American guitarist, bassist, vocalist and record producer.-Music career:In the late 1990s Hestla's band Virgos Merlot was signed to Atlantic Records. After their first release, Signs of a Vacant Soul, he became the touring bassist for Creed after the departure of Brian Marshall...
– bass, backing vocals (2000–2004)
Discography
- My Own PrisonMy Own PrisonMy Own Prison is the debut album by Creed, released on August 26, 1997 . It has been certified 6x platinum and is one of the top 200 selling albums of all time in the United States. The person kneeling on the album's cover is Justin Brown, a friend of the band...
(1997) - Human ClayHuman ClayHuman Clay is the second album by Creed released on September 28, 1999. It was certified 11x platinum and 1x diamond by the RIAA, and is 54th on the top 100 selling albums of all time in the United States . The album was the band's first to hit #1 in the U.S., where it debuted with first week...
(1999) - WeatheredWeatheredWeathered is the third album by Creed, released on November 20, 2001. Some versions are enhanced CDs and include videos. It has been certified 6× platinum by the RIAA...
(2001) - Full CircleFull Circle (Creed album)Full Circle is the fourth studio album by American rock band Creed, released on October 27, 2009. It is Creed's first release since disbanding in 2004, prior to the release of their Greatest Hits album, and is their first studio album since 2001's Weathered, as well as their first to feature...
(2009)