Creed, the renowned American rock band hailing from Tallahassee, Florida, was established in 1994 and played a significant role in the post-grunge movement of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The band achieved immense success, releasing three consecutive multi-platinum albums, including Human Clay (1999), which earned diamond certification. In the United States alone, Creed sold over 28 million records and became the ninth best-selling musical act of the 2000s, with global album sales exceeding 53 million.
The band’s origin story dates back to 1994 when vocalist Scott Stapp and guitarist Mark Tremonti, former high school classmates and friends from Florida State University, discovered their shared passion for music. After recruiting members through auditions, Creed’s quintet lineup solidified, focusing on themes of Christian theology and spirituality in their songwriting. Their journey included local success, a name change inspired by bassist Brian Marshall’s previous band, Mattox Creed, and persistence in landing their first live show.
Creed’s breakthrough came with their debut album, My Own Prison, initially self-released in 1997. The album’s success attracted the attention of Wind-Up Records, leading to a remix and wider release. The singles, including “My Own Prison” and “Torn,” topped charts, and the album eventually sold over six million copies. The band continued to receive accolades, with My Own Prison being recognized as the highest-selling heavy music record of 1998.
Building on this success, Creed’s second album, Human Clay (1999), reached unprecedented heights. The single “Higher” spent a record-breaking 17 weeks atop the rock radio charts. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and achieved diamond certification, making Creed one of the few rock bands to achieve this milestone. The subsequent singles, including “With Arms Wide Open,” earned the band critical acclaim and their first Grammy Award.
The band faced challenges in 2000 when bassist Brian Marshall struggled with alcoholism, leading to his departure. Despite controversies surrounding his exit, Creed persevered with new bassist Brett Hestla and released their third album, Weathered (2001), which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200. The album produced several successful singles, and the accompanying tour faced disruptions due to Scott Stapp’s car accident and subsequent addiction struggles.
Creed disbanded in June 2004, citing tensions between Stapp and the rest of the band. Stapp pursued a solo career, while Tremonti and Phillips formed Alter Bridge. Unexpectedly, in 2009, Creed announced their reunion, followed by the release of Full Circle. Despite mixed critical reviews, Creed embarked on The 20-10 Tour, emphasizing affordable ticket prices.
The band’s activity continued with tours, a live recording titled Creed Live (2010), and the release of their fifth studio album, Full Circle. In 2011 and 2012, Creed embarked on a tour featuring performances of their first two albums. However, by 2013, the band went on hiatus, and a planned fifth album was abandoned.
Tensions between members escalated, and by 2015, Stapp expressed hope for a Creed reunion, though Tremonti emphasized his commitment to solo projects and Alter Bridge. Creed released a retrospective compilation, With Arms Wide Open: A Retrospective, in 2015, and Stapp joined Art of Anarchy.
In July 2023, Creed officially reunited, announcing their headlining slot at the Summer of ’99 cruise in April 2024. The band followed this with The Summer of ’99 Tour, featuring over 40 shows across the US, marking their first extensive tour in 12 years. Special guests, including 3 Doors Down, Finger Eleven, Daughtry, Switchfoot, Tonic, and Big Wreck, joined them on select dates.
Neill Frazer
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