Creed (band)

Creed

Company type	Private
Industry	Music
Founded	1994 in Tallahassee, Florida, United States
Headquarters	Tallahassee , United States
Key people	Scott Stapp (lead singer), Mark Tremonti (lead guitarist), Scott Phillips (drummer), Brian Marshall (bassist)
Products	Music albums, live performances
Number of employees	4 (core members)

Creed is a rock group originating from Tallahassee, Florida, established in 1994. As a significant force within the post-grunge genre during the late 1990s and early 2000s, Creed produced three successive albums that achieved multi-platinum status. Their sophomore release, Human Clay (1999), earned diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, signifying sales exceeding 11 million copies. With over 28 million records sold domestically and upwards of 53 million worldwide, Creed ranks among the top ten best-selling artists of the 2000s.

The band’s principal members consist of lead singer Scott Stapp, lead guitarist Mark Tremonti, drummer Scott Phillips, and bassist Brian Marshall. Their initial two albums, My Own Prison (1997) and Human Clay (1999), found commercial success despite receiving mixed critiques. In 2000, Marshall exited the lineup. The album Human Clay featured the chart-topping single "With Arms Wide Open", which secured the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 2001. For their third studio project, Weathered (2001), Tremonti assumed bass responsibilities.

After disbanding in 2004, Stapp embarked on a solo path, while Tremonti, Phillips, and Marshall formed the band Alter Bridge alongside Myles Kennedy. Creed reunited in 2009 to release their fourth album, Full Circle, followed by touring activities before entering a hiatus in 2012. The band reconvened once more in July 2023, announcing headline tours scheduled for 2024 and 2025.

Formation and early period (1994–1996)

Creed came together in Tallahassee, Florida in 1994 when vocalist Scott Stapp and guitarist Mark Tremonti, who had been friends since high school and attended Florida State University, decided to collaborate. Their mutual interest in songwriting often incorporated themes related to Christian faith, influenced by Stapp’s upbringing as the stepson of a Pentecostal minister. They recruited bassist Brian Marshall, drummer Scott Phillips, and rhythm guitarist Brian Brasher to complete the initial lineup. Brasher left the group in 1995, after which Creed continued as a four-piece until 2004. The band composed several tracks that would later appear on their debut album, My Own Prison, gaining recognition through live shows at local venues in Tallahassee. Initially performing under the moniker "Naked Toddler," they later adopted the name "Creed," inspired by bassist Marshall’s previous band.

My Own Prison breakthrough and ascent (1997–1998)

In pursuit of wider exposure, Creed arranged a club gig in Tallahassee by guaranteeing an audience of around 200 people. Manager Jeff Hanson discovered their potential after hearing original material during these performances and subsequently signed them to his management firm. Hanson introduced them to producer John Kurzweg and funded the $6,000 cost of recording their debut album. Independently released on Blue Collar Records in April 1997, My Own Prison initially sold approximately 6,000 copies within the region before attracting interest from Wind-up Records’ Diana Meltzer.

Although Atlantic and Universal Records initially declined to sign them, Wind-up Records brought Creed onboard in 1997. The label remixed and reissued My Own Prison in August that year with adjustments aimed at enhancing radio appeal. The album yielded four singles—"My Own Prison," "Torn," "What's This Life For," and "One"—all of which reached number one on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, making Creed the first act to accomplish this feat with a debut release. Despite limited support from MTV and mainstream media outlets, the album achieved sales exceeding six million copies and was certified six-times platinum. At the 1998 Billboard Music Awards, Creed earned the title Rock Artist of the Year, while My Own Prison topped Nielsen SoundScan’s Hard Music chart for that year.

The band’s live rendition of "My Own Prison" appeared on the charity compilation Live in the X Lounge (1998), and they contributed a cover of Alice Cooper’s "I'm Eighteen" for The Faculty soundtrack released that same year. Critical response was largely positive; AllMusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded it four stars out of five, highlighting Creed’s successful fusion of post-grunge sincerity with mainstream rock elements. The album’s lyrics delve into themes surrounding spiritual struggle and questions of faith.

Human Clay and Brian Marshall's exit (1999–2000)

Building on the success of My Own Prison, Creed commenced writing their sophomore album, Human Clay. Its lead track, "Higher", achieved a remarkable feat by dominating rock radio airplay for 17 consecutive weeks. Upon its 1999 release, Human Clay entered the Billboard 200 at number one, moving 315,000 units in its first week and surpassing ten million sales within two years, securing diamond status. Following the triumph of "Higher", the singles "What If", "With Arms Wide Open", and "Are You Ready?" also reached the top positions on charts, culminating in seven chart-topping singles. In 2001, the band earned a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song with "With Arms Wide Open".

The album received acclaim for delivering post-grunge hard rock with genuine intensity and without affectation. Lyrically, it broadened its scope to include themes such as fatherhood ("With Arms Wide Open"), lucid dreaming ("Higher"), as well as more somber topics like sexual abuse ("Wash Away Those Years") and aggression ("What If").

In 2000, bassist Brian Marshall encountered struggles with alcoholism that prompted management to evaluate his role in the group. Although Stapp and Tremonti encouraged him to seek rehabilitation, Marshall declined. Early speculation linked his departure to contentious remarks he made about Pearl Jam, which the band subsequently disavowed. Following his exit, Marshall formed Grand Luxx alongside former band members. Stapp later clarified that Marshall's decision to leave was voluntary and unrelated to any controversy. Brett Hestla from Virgos Merlot stepped in as Creed’s touring bassist.

Weathered and dissolution (2001–2004)

Throughout 2001, Creed developed their third studio album with Tremonti temporarily assuming bass duties to preserve the band's essence, while Hestla continued as the touring bassist. Released on November 20, 2001, Weathered produced six singles including "My Sacrifice", which garnered a Grammy nomination in 2003 for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. The album achieved significant commercial success, earning six-times platinum certification and debuting at number one on the Billboard Top 200 chart, where it remained for eight weeks—a record it shares with The Beatles.

The Weathered tour encountered difficulties after Stapp was involved in a car accident in April 2002 that caused a concussion and vertebral injuries, leading to dependency issues involving prescription painkillers coupled with alcohol misuse. These challenges culminated during a December 29, 2002 concert at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, where Stapp’s impaired state resulted in a lawsuit filed by four attendees claiming he was unable to perform vocally. Creed issued an apology on behalf of Stapp; however, he denied these allegations. Ultimately, the lawsuit was dismissed. Stapp later admitted to being intoxicated but refuted claims of incoherence.

In June 2004, Creed officially disbanded after an extended period of inactivity and escalating internal conflicts, particularly between Stapp and other members. Tremonti pointed to deteriorating relationships that hindered creative collaboration; concurrently, Stapp was grappling with addiction issues while residing in Maui. After the split, Stapp pursued a solo path releasing his debut album The Great Divide in 2005. Meanwhile, Tremonti and Phillips reunited with Marshall to establish Alter Bridge in 2004 alongside vocalist Myles Kennedy, previously affiliated with The Mayfield Four.

Reunion, Full Circle, and the 2012 Tour (2009–2012)

Although Tremonti had declared in 2006 that Creed was "officially behind us," the band surprised fans in April 2009 by announcing a reunion tour along with plans for a new album. Tremonti expressed enthusiasm about reuniting with both fans and fellow band members after a seven-year hiatus, describing the reunion as unforeseen. Phillips reflected on the band's sudden breakup and highlighted their ability to continue both professionally and personally. Stapp referred to the reunion not merely as a comeback, but as a "rebirth."

In June 2009, Creed appeared with Marshall on bass for the first time in eight years during a Sessions@AOL performance, delivering four of their popular tracks, followed by a live set on Fox & Friends. The reunion tour, which included touring guitarist Eric Friedman, spanned from August 6 through October 20, 2009. Their first studio album in eight years, Full Circle, was released on October 27, 2009. Stapp explained that the album's title symbolized their journey coming full circle. The lead single, "Overcome", debuted on August 18 and was digitally released on August 25. The follow-up single, "Rain", was sent to radio on September 23 and became available digitally on October 6; "A Thousand Faces" was released in 2010.

On September 25, 2009, Creed recorded a concert in Houston that was streamed live and later issued on December 8, 2010, as the concert film Creed Live, marking their first live album release. This performance set a world record by employing 239 cameras and introduced "big freeze" technology—previously seen in The Matrix—to live concerts. Drummer Scott Phillips confirmed that Full Circle would not be their final album and announced an international tour scheduled from April to September 2010. The itinerary began in Australia and New Zealand before moving to South America, Europe, and North America. Dubbed The 20-10 Tour, ticket prices were deliberately set at $10 and $20 to combat rising concert expenses; notably, the first 2,010 tickets sold per show were free of service charges. Despite these efforts to make shows affordable, some dates experienced low attendance and received mixed critical responses. Skillet served as the supporting act for this tour.

In late 2011 through early 2012, Creed commenced work on what could have been their fifth studio album while also announcing a tour dedicated to performing their first two albums—My Own Prison and Human Clay—in their entirety over two consecutive nights, supplemented by selected songs from Weathered and Full Circle. The tour kicked off with back-to-back concerts at Chicago Theatre in April 2012: one evening devoted to each album. Additional dates included tours across South America and Indonesia.

Hiatus (2013–2023)

The band entered an inactive phase starting in 2013. In October of that year, Scott Stapp disclosed that although significant effort had been invested in a fifth album during 2011–2012, the project was ultimately shelved. Nonetheless, Stapp affirmed that Creed remained "still a band" and expressed willingness for future collaborations.

By June 2015, Mark Tremonti revealed while promoting his solo record Cauterize that he had been distant from Stapp for nine years. He underscored the abandonment of the fifth studio album and noted his continued dedication to Alter Bridge alongside Myles Kennedy.

In September 2015, Stapp publicly advocated for a Creed reunion and anticipated new music within two years. Conversely, Tremonti referenced his commitments to solo endeavors and Alter Bridge tours scheduled for 2016 as reasons why an immediate reunion was improbable.

On November 20, 2015, Creed issued With Arms Wide Open: A Retrospective, a comprehensive three-disc box set featuring greatest hits, rare tracks, and acoustic versions. This collection was available exclusively through Walmart stores across the United States.

During this hiatus period, individual members pursued various separate projects: Stapp joined Art of Anarchy releasing The Madness in 2017 before returning to solo work with The Space Between the Shadows (2019); Tremonti remained active with Alter Bridge as well as his metal project Tremonti, producing albums such as Dust (2016) and A Dying Machine (2018); drummer Scott Phillips contributed to the supergroup Projected with releases including Human (2012) and Ignite My Insanity (2017).

In November 2020, Phillips revealed that discussions regarding a potential Creed reunion were underway.

Renewed reunion and resurgence in popularity (2023–present)

On July 19, 2023, Creed revealed their reunion plans along with their headlining appearance on the Summer of '99 cruise scheduled for April 2024. Throughout the Texas Rangers' 2023 World Series campaign, players frequently drew inspiration from Creed’s track "Higher," which sparked enthusiastic fan singalongs during games. This heightened visibility led to a significant increase in Creed’s streaming figures, culminating in the band attending a Rangers playoff match on October 18, 2023.

Leveraging this revitalized interest, Creed announced The Summer of '99 Tour on October 30, 2023—marking their first tour since 2012—which includes more than 40 concerts across the United States. Select dates will feature opening performances by 3 Doors Down, Finger Eleven, Daughtry, Switchfoot, Tonic, and Big Wreck. Later, on February 6, 2024, they unveiled the "Are You Ready? Tour," set to commence in November 2024 with support from 3 Doors Down, Mammoth WVH, and Finger Eleven.

In 2024, Creed witnessed a notable surge in popularity among younger male demographics, with songs such as "One Last Breath" gaining traction on TikTok. By June of that year, this renewed momentum was evident as the band reappeared on four Billboard charts.

Musical style and influences

Creed’s sound has been categorized under genres including post-grunge, hard rock, alternative rock, and alternative metal, as well as Christian rock, grunge, nu metal, and heavy metal.

Scott Stapp cites musical inspirations such as Otis Redding, Donny Hathaway, Def Leppard, U2, The Doors, and Led Zeppelin. Guitarist Mark Tremonti’s influences stem largely from thrash metal acts like Slayer, Metallica, Exodus, and Forbidden.

A 1999 article from The Washington Post observed:

The biblical imagery present in Scott Stapp's lyrics initially led early listeners to label Creed as a Christian rock band; however, the group’s rejection of any religious mission has unsettled some devoted fans. "We are not a Christian band," Stapp emphasizes on the band's official website. "A Christian band has an agenda to lead others to believe in their specific religious beliefs. We have no agenda!"

During a 2022 interview with Theo Von, Stapp elaborated:

I realized I couldn’t live the lifestyle expected of a Christian artist. So Creed was never a Christian band. [...] They didn’t want to be burdened by that expectation. They signed up to be part of a rock and roll band with all that entails. [...] I went completely opposite from what a preacher represents but still found myself writing about pointing people toward God or something larger—a spiritual existence I’ve experienced since childhood and thousands of times on stage—and continue to do so today.

Brian Marshall, the bassist who named the band, explained that Stapp employs spiritual themes metaphorically within his songwriting.

Legacy and reception

Creed ranks among the most commercially successful rock acts from the late ’90s through the early 2000s. Their initial three studio releases—My Own Prison, Human Clay, and Weathered—each earned multi-platinum certification in the United States, with sales of six million, eleven million, and six million copies respectively. The group secured a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 2001 with "With Arms Wide Open". Additionally, Billboard placed Creed as the eighteenth top artist of the 2000s decade.

While achieving significant commercial acclaim, Creed encountered divided critical opinions. Some reviewers like Robert Christgau expressed unfavorable views; in fact, Rolling Stone readers named Creed the worst band of the ’90s in a 2013 poll. On the other hand, critics such as Jonah Weiner from Slate contended that Creed was "seriously underrated," noting that their fusion of power ballads with Christian motifs created a polarizing effect among listeners.

Band members

Present lineup

• Scott Stapp – lead vocalist
• Mark Tremonti – lead guitar, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals, bass
• Scott Phillips – drums, percussion, keyboards
• Brian Marshall – bass guitar

Past members

• Brian Brasher – rhythm guitar

Touring musicians

• Brett Hestla – bass, backing vocals
• Eric Friedman – rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Discography

Studio releases

• My Own Prison (1997)
• Human Clay (1999)
• Weathered (2001)
• Full Circle (2009)

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards, presented yearly by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, have recognized Creed with one win out of three nominations.

Year	Work nominated	Category	Outcome
2001	"With Arms Wide Open"	Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal	Template:Nominated
		Best Rock Song	Template:Won
2003	"My Sacrifice"	Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal	Template:Nominated

American Music Awards

Since their inception in 1973, the American Music Awards honor achievements in popular music. Creed has earned four wins from seven nominations.

Year	Work nominated	Category	Outcome
2001	Creed	Artist of the Year	Template:Nominated
		Favorite Alternative Artist	Template:Won
		Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group	Template:Nominated
	Human Clay	Favorite Pop/Rock Album	Template:Won
2003	Creed	Favorite Alternative Artist	Template:Won
		Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group	Template:Won
		Fan Choice Award	Template:Nominated

MTV Video Music Awards

Organized annually by MTV, these awards celebrate accomplishments in music videos. Creed received two nominations.

Year	Work nominated	Category	Outcome
2000	"Higher"	Best Rock Video	Template:Nominated
2002	"My Sacrifice"	"Best Rock Video"	Template:Nominated

MTV Video Music Brazil

The MTV Video Music Brazil awards acknowledge international music video achievements. Creed was nominated on two occasions.

Year	Work nominated	Category	Outcome
2002	"My Sacrifice"	Best International Video	Template:Nom
2003	"Don't Stop Dancing"	"Best International Video"	Template:Nom