Name	Creed
Landscape	yes
Background	group_or_band
Alias	Naked Toddler
Origin	Tallahassee, Florida, United States
Genre	Hard rock, post-grunge
Years active	–2004, 2009–present
Label	Wind-up
Associated acts	Alter Bridge, Tremonti
Website
Current members	Scott StappMark TremontiBrian MarshallScott Phillips }}

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 35 million records worldwide. 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 albums, ''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.

History

Early years (1993–1997)

Creed's origins lie in 1993 in Tallahassee, 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. In their early years they were a garage band.

''My Own Prison'' and rise to fame (1997–1998)

With a new name, a new sound, and several new songs written, Creed played several local shows, soon being discovered by manager Jeff Hanson when the band played a show at a bar he owned in Tallahassee. According to Hanson in an interview with HitQuarters, 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. However, while Creed was playing a small gig, Diana Meltzer from Wind-Up Records heard the group. She had heard their independent album and, after hearing them live, signed the band to her label. According to Hanson, fourteen labels had already passed on the band, and before Wind-up offered to sign Creed, 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 and going 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 Awards. ''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."

''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 Clay''. 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"), fatherhood ("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.

''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. ''Weathered'' 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).

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 ''People'' 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. The tour kicked off on July 26 in Nashville. Skillet 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 band. 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.

Musical style

Creed's music is generally considered to be rock. 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 Christians, 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 Award 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 apology 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 Herd Rock Band Bracket's best rock bands of all time.

Awards and accolades

RIAA certifications

These statistics were compiled from the RIAA certification online database.

;Studio albums

''My Own Prison'': 6× platinum (August 2002)

''Human Clay'': 11× platinum, 1×(+) diamond (January 2004)

''Weathered'': 6× platinum (January 2003)

;Compilations

''Greatest Hits'': 2× platinum (November 2008)

Grammy Awards and nominations

Creed has been nominated for three Grammy Awards resulting in one win.

"With Arms Wide Open" – Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, 2001 (nomination) "With Arms Wide Open" – Best Rock Song, 2001 (winner) "My Sacrifice" – Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, 2003 (nomination)

World records

On September 25, 2009, Creed performed a concert in Houston, Texas 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 records, including the world record for the most amount of cameras used at a live music event (239). It also featured the very first usage of the "big freeze" technology, popularized by ''The Matrix'', in a concert environment.

Band members

;Current

Scott Stapp – lead vocals (1995–2004, 2009–present)

Mark Tremonti – lead guitar, vocals (1995–2004, 2009–present)

Brian Marshall – bass (1995–2000, 2009–present)

Scott Phillips – drums, keyboards (1995–2004, 2009–present)

;Former

Brian Brasher – rhythm guitar (1995)

;Touring

Eric Friedman – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2009–2010)

Brett Hestla – bass, backing vocals (2000–2004)

Discography

''My Own Prison'' (1997)

''Human Clay'' (1999)

''Weathered'' (2001)

''Full Circle'' (2009)

References

External links

Category:American post-grunge musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1994 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2004 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2009 Category:Musical quartets Category:Rock music groups from Florida

af:Creed cs:Creed de:Creed es:Creed fa:کرید fr:Creed (groupe) gl:Creed ko:크리드 id:Creed it:Creed he:קריד hu:Creed nl:Creed (postgrungeband) ja:クリード no:Creed pl:Creed pt:Creed ru:Creed (группа) simple:Creed (band) sk:Creed sl:Creed fi:Creed sv:Creed (musikgrupp) th:ครีด tr:Creed uk:Creed

name	Mark Tremonti
background	solo_singer
birth name	Mark Thomas Tremonti
born	April 18, 1974Detroit, Michigan
origin	Orlando, Florida
instrument	Guitar, vocals, bass
genre	Alternative metal, hard rock, heavy metal, neo-classical metal, post-grunge, speed metal, thrash metal
occupation	Musician, songwriter, record producer
years active	–present
label	Wind-up, Universal Republic, Roadrunner, EMI
associated acts	Creed, Alter Bridge, Tremonti
notable instruments	PRS Tremonti SE }}

Mark Thomas Tremonti (born April 18, 1974) 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. He has also collaborated with many other artists over the years and is currently at work on a project with his own band, Tremonti.

Since his early years with Creed, Tremonti has become widely recognized for his technical and songwriting abilities and has received several accolades, including one Grammy Award for Creed's single "With Arms Wide Open." He was also named "Guitarist of the Year" for three consecutive years by ''Guitar World'' magazine. In 2011, he was voted as the fourth greatest heavy metal guitarist of all time by ''Total Guitar''.

Early life

Tremonti was born on April 18, 1974 in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in a Roman Catholic family in Grosse Pointe, just outside of Detroit, for most of his childhood life before moving to Wilmette, Illinois. Around this time, he began to become enthralled with music, and bought his first guitar at the age of eleven. When he was fifteen, his family moved again to Orlando, Florida, where he enrolled in Lake Highland Preparatory School. During this time, his mother was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, which left Tremonti devastated. After graduation, he moved to Clemson, South Carolina to attend Clemson University to major in finance. After his freshman year in college, he moved back to Florida to enroll in Florida State University, where he was reunited with his then future Creed band mate Scott Stapp, whom Tremonti had known in high school.

Career

Creed

Tremonti is a founding member of the American hard rock band Creed. He formed the band with lead vocalist Scott Stapp in 1995 with fellow members Brian Marshall and Scott Phillips joining as bassist and drummer, respectively. Rhythm guitarist Brian Brasher was also briefly a member in 1995 when the band was known by its original name, Naked Toddler. While often criticized and parodied, Creed is recognized by many as one of the major acts of the post-grunge movement of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Tremonti and Stapp have been collectively recognized as one of the most prolific songwriting teams in all of rock music.

The band released their debut album ''My Own Prison'' in 1997 to mainstream success, selling over six million copies. 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 chart, making Creed the first band to achieve such a feat with a debut album. ''My Own Prison'' was followed in 1999 by ''Human Clay'', which was an immediate success and certified diamond and eleven times platinum by the RIAA. The band released four singles from ''Human Clay'': "Higher," "With Arms Wide Open," "What If," and "Are You Ready." "Higher" spent a record-breaking 17 weeks on the top of the rock radio charts. Marshall left the band in 2000 due to increasing tension with Stapp and to pursue other interests. He was temporarily replaced by touring bassist Brett Hestla. Creed also won their first, and to date only, Grammy Award with "With Arms Wide Open" for Best Rock Song in 2001. That same year, after a tour, the band released another multi-platinum selling album, ''Weathered'', from which six singles were released: "My Sacrifice," "One Last Breath," "Hide," "Don't Stop Dancing," "Weathered," and "Bullets." It would be the band's only album without Marshall on bass; Tremonti handled the bass parts himself. The tour to support this record was overwhelmingly successful but ended with a considerably controversial concert in Chicago that ultimately led to the band's breakup. The band announced that they had disbanded in 2004, citing tension between Stapp and the other members, Tremonti in particular. Creed released their ''Greatest Hits'' in November 2004.

However, after months of speculation, despite early claims from Tremonti that Creed would never return, it was announced that Creed had reunited with plans for a tour and a new album. The record, ''Full Circle'', was released in October 2009 and became the band's only album to not be certified by the RIAA. "Overcome," "Rain," and "A Thousand Faces" were released as singles. Creed supported the album by touring throughout North and South America, Europe, and Australia during the summers of 2009 and 2010. The band also released a record-breaking concert film titled ''Creed Live'' in December 2009. A fifth Creed album is expected in late 2011 or early 2012 according to Tremonti.

Alter Bridge

Alter Bridge was formed in January 2004 by Tremonti, Marshall, and Phillips after Creed disbanded. They asked Myles Kennedy, formerly of The Mayfield Four and the current touring vocalist for Slash's band, to be their singer. The newly formed band released their debut album, ''One Day Remains'', in August 2004 on Wind-up Records. It saw mostly negative reviews, with many critics calling Alter Bridge an offshoot from Creed, but the album became Alter Bridge's only RIAA-certified album, going gold. Three singles were released from ''One Day Remains'': "Open Your Eyes," "Find the Real," and "Broken Wings." After a tour, it was followed by a second album, ''Blackbird'', in October 2007 on Universal Republic. ''Blackbird'' was met with largely positive reviews and is generally considered by fans to be their best album. It released four singles: "Rise Today," "Ties That Bind," "Watch Over You," and "Before Tomorrow Comes."

Alter Bridge embarked on a successful world tour in support of ''Blackbird'', recording their December 7, 2008 show at the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam, Netherlands for a live DVD titled ''Live from Amsterdam''. A single disc version was sold exclusively at venues during the Creed reunion tour in 2009 and on Amazon. A Blu-ray Disc version and a deluxe edition to be sold in stores, however, have been the source of controversy as they have delayed by Universal Republic several times, causing frustration amongst Alter Bridge fans and band members. It was finally released in stores in North America on January 11, 2011 after two years of delays.

Alter Bridge's third album, titled ''AB III'', was released in October 2010 on Roadrunner Records worldwide, with the exception of North America where it was self-released on Alter Bridge Recordings via EMI. The band's first concept album, ''AB III'' has been met with critical acclaim, with Rick Florino from Artistdirect calling it a "sprawling masterpiece." Its single, "Isolation," reached #1 on active rock radio and the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks, the band's first single to do so. The band is currently on tour in support of the new record and will tour with Black Stone Cherry and Like a Storm in the spring of 2011. Two more singles from ''AB III'' have since been released: "I Know It Hurts" and "Ghost of Days Gone By." Tremonti, Marshall, and Phillips, owing to the reunion of Creed, now plan to alternate tours between Creed and Alter Bridge with Stapp and Kennedy working on their own projects while the other band is active.

Solo career

During the time that Creed was at the end of its career in the early 2000s, Tremonti had intentions to form a speed metal side project called Downshifter (with Hatebreed vocalist Jamey Jasta and Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison), but the project never got off the ground. In 2008, Tremonti released a guitar instructional DVD titled ''Mark Tremonti: The Sound & the Story'' wherein he teaches all of his guitar solos from Alter Bridge's sophomore release, ''Blackbird''. He also teaches warm-ups, alternate tunings, finger picking style, legato techniques, and other advanced exercises. His DVD includes special guest appearances from Myles Kennedy, Michael Angelo Batio, Rusty Cooley, Bill Peck, and Troy Stetina. The DVD was released exclusively through Tremonti's company, Fret12, an online musicians' community co-founded and owned by Tremonti.

Tremonti has also recently talked about releasing a solo album, tentatively titled ''The Tremonti Project''. "The bands are so different," he said of his two current main projects. "And I write so much. I'm going to do a solo record because there are some songs that I'd hate to think wouldn't see the light of day because they don't work for Creed or Alter Bridge." He will be playing guitar and singing lead on all of the songs himself, and former Submersed members Eric Friedman and Garrett Whitlock will perform on the record as well. As of November 5, 2010, five songs for the album have been written. Tremonti describes the music as "melody driven." In a May 2011 interview, Tremonti said that it will be a "heavier-sounding" thrash metal album.

Producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette, who produced Alter Bridge's previous two albums, announced that he will be working with Tremonti on his solo record. They began the recording process on April 4, 2011 according to Baskette's update. On April 6, 2011, Alter Bridge revealed also on Facebook that tracking for the project has begun. According to Tremonti, the album is to be released in January.

Other works

Tremonti has worked with several artists over the years, since the beginning years with Creed, including Sevendust, Fozzy, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Angelo Batio, and Bury Your Dead. He helped produce several songs on the 2004 Submersed album ''In Due Time''.

Personal life

On December 14, 2002, Tremonti married Victoria Rodriguez, with whom he has two sons, Austen and Pearson. They currently reside in Orlando, Florida.

Tremonti is an avid collector of guitars and pinball machines. He is also known to enjoy playing table tennis. One of Tremonti's brothers, Michael, is Alter Bridge's fan liaison and publicist. Another brother, Dan, has created the artwork for all of the albums by both Alter Bridge and Creed and is the president and creative director of a design/marketing company called Core 12.

Awards

RIAA certifications

These statistics were compiled from the RIAA certification online database.

;Studio albums

''My Own Prison'': 6× platinum (August 2002)

''Human Clay'': 11× platinum, 1×(+) diamond (January 2004)

''Weathered'': 6× platinum (January 2003)

''One Day Remains'': gold (November 2004)

;Compilations

''Greatest Hits'': 2× platinum (November 2008)

Grammy Awards and nominations

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. With Creed, Mark Tremonti has been nominated for three Grammy Awards resulting in one win.

"With Arms Wide Open" – Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, 2001 (nomination) "With Arms Wide Open" – Best Rock Song, 2001 (winner) "My Sacrifice" – Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, 2003 (nomination)

Discography

;Creed

''My Own Prison'' (1997)

''Human Clay'' (1999)

''Weathered'' (2001)

''Greatest Hits'' (2004)

''Full Circle'' (2009)

''Creed Live'' (2009)

;Alter Bridge

''One Day Remains'' (2004)

''Blackbird'' (2007)

''Live from Amsterdam'' (2009)

''AB III'' (2010)

Filmography

''Mark Tremonti: The Sound & the Story'' (2008)

References

External links

MarkTremonti.net (unofficial)

Mark Tremonti – Fret12

Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Detroit, Michigan Category:American rock guitarists Category:American musicians of Italian descent Category:Florida State University alumni Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Lead guitarists Category:American heavy metal guitarists Category:Roadrunner Records artists

cs:Mark Tremonti de:Mark Tremonti es:Mark Tremonti fr:Mark Tremonti ko:마크 트레몬티 it:Mark Tremonti he:מארק טרמונטי pl:Mark Tremonti pt:Mark Tremonti sv:Mark Tremonti

name	Eddie Vedder
background	solo_singer
birth name	Edward Louis Severson III
alias	Ed VedderEdward MuellerJerome TurnerWes C. AddleJerome230E-Dogg
born	December 23, 1964Evanston, Illinois, U.S.
genre	Alternative rock, folk rock, grunge, hard rock
occupation	Musician, songwriter
years active	1986–present
instrument	Vocals, guitar, harmonica, ukulele, accordion, drums, bass, mandolin
label	MonkeywrenchA&M; RecordsEpic RecordsJ Records
associated acts	Pearl Jam, Bad Radio, Temple of the Dog, Hovercraft
notable instruments	Fender TelecasterSchecter PT ModelGibson SGGibson SG Jr.Martin 0-18Earnest Instruments Tululele, Custom Ukulele }}

Eddie Vedder (born Edward Louis Severson III; December 23, 1964) is an American musician and singer-songwriter who currently serves as the lead vocalist and one of four guitarists for the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam. Vedder left the Southern California music scene and moved to Seattle, Washington in 1990 to join Pearl Jam where he rose to fame amid the grunge movement of the early 1990s. He is notable for his baritone vocal style, and widely considered a cultural icon of alternative rock.

He is also involved in soundtrack work and contributes to albums by other artists. In 2007, Vedder released his first solo album as a soundtrack for the film ''Into the Wild'' (2007). His second album, ''Ukulele Songs'', along with a live DVD titled ''Water on the Road'', was released on 31 May 2011.

Early life

Vedder was born Edward Louis Severson III in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois, son of Karen Lee Vedder and Edward Louis Severson, Jr. His father was a lounge musician. His parents divorced in 1965, when Vedder was one year old. His mother soon remarried a man named Peter Mueller, an attorney, and Vedder was raised believing that Mueller was his biological father. His adopted name became Edward Mueller. While living in Evanston, Vedder's family fostered seven younger children in a group home.

In the mid-1970s, the family, including Vedder's three younger half-brothers, moved to San Diego County, California. It was at this point that Vedder, who had received a guitar from his mother on his twelfth birthday, began turning to music (as well as basketball) as a source of comfort. He particularly found solace in The Who's 1973 album, ''Quadrophenia''. He said, "When I was around 15 or 16... I felt all alone... I was all alone—except for music." His mother and Mueller divorced when Vedder was in his late teens. His mother and brothers moved back to the Chicago area, but Vedder remained with his stepfather in California so he would not have to change high schools.

It was not until after the divorce that Vedder learned the truth about his parentage, that Mueller was really his stepfather. Vedder had met his biological father briefly as a child, but had believed that Severson was merely an old friend of his parents. By the time Vedder learned the truth, Severson had died of multiple sclerosis. By his senior year at San Dieguito High School, Vedder was on his own, living in an apartment and supporting himself with a nightly job at a drug store in Encinitas. He eventually dropped out of high school in his senior year due to the pressures of balancing school with working. He joined the rest of his family in Chicago, and it was at this time that he changed his name to Eddie Vedder, Vedder being his mother's maiden name.

In the early 1980s, Vedder worked as a waiter, earned his high school GED, and briefly attended a community college near Chicago. In 1984, Vedder returned to San Diego, California, with his girlfriend, Beth Liebling. He kept busy recording demo tapes at his home and working various jobs, including a position as a contracted security guard at the La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla. Vedder had several stints in San Diego area bands, including Surf and Destroy and The Butts. included future Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave drummer Brad Wilk. In 1988, Vedder became the vocalist for the San Diego progressive funk rock band Bad Radio. The music of the original incarnation of the band was influenced by Duran Duran; however, after Vedder joined Bad Radio, the band moved on to a more alternative rock sound influenced by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Temple of the Dog

After leaving Bad Radio, Vedder was without a band, and throughout the rest of 1990 he worked part-time as a night attendant at a local gas station. Through the Southern California music scene, Vedder met former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons, who became a friend of Vedder and who would play basketball with him. Later in 1990, Irons gave him a demo tape from a band in Seattle, Washington that was looking for a singer. He listened to the tape shortly before going surfing, where lyrics came to him. Vedder wrote lyrics for three of the songs in what he later described as a "mini-opera" entitled ''Mamasan''. The songs tell the story of a young man who, like Vedder, learns that he had been lied to about his paternity and that his real father is dead, grows up to become a serial killer, and is eventually imprisoned and sentenced to death. Vedder recorded vocals for the three songs, and mailed the demo tape back to Seattle. The three songs would later become Pearl Jam's "Alive", "Once", and "Footsteps", respectively.

After hearing Vedder's tape, former Mother Love Bone members Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament invited Vedder to come to Seattle to audition for their new band. They were instantly impressed with his unique sound. At the time, Gossard and Ament were working on the Temple of the Dog project founded by Soundgarden's Chris Cornell as a musical tribute to Mother Love Bone's frontman Andrew Wood, who died of a heroin overdose at age 24. Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron and newcomer Mike McCready were also a part of the project. The song "Hunger Strike" became a duet between Cornell and Vedder. Cornell was having trouble with the vocals at practice, when Vedder stepped in. Cornell later said of Vedder that "he sang half of that song not even knowing that I'd wanted the part to be there and he sang it exactly the way I was thinking about doing it, just instinctively." Vedder would provide background vocals on several other songs as well. In April 1991, ''Temple of the Dog'' was released through A&M; Records.

Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam was formed in 1990 by Ament, Gossard, and McCready, who then recruited Vedder and drummer Dave Krusen. The band originally took the name Mookie Blaylock, but was forced to change it when the band signed to Epic Records in 1991. After the recording sessions for ''Ten'' were completed, Krusen left Pearl Jam in May 1991. As his replacement, Chamberlain suggested Dave Abbruzzese, who joined the group and played the rest of Pearl Jam's live shows supporting the ''Ten'' album.

''Ten'' broke the band into the mainstream, and became one of the best selling alternative albums of the 1990s. The band found itself amidst the sudden popularity and attention given to the Seattle music scene and the genre known as grunge. The single "Jeremy" received Grammy Award nominations for Best Rock Song and Best Hard Rock Performance in 1993. Pearl Jam received four awards at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards for its music video for "Jeremy", including Video of the Year and Best Group Video. ''Ten'' ranks number 207 on ''Rolling Stone'' magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, and "Jeremy" was ranked number 11 on VH1's list of the 100 greatest songs of the '90s.

left|thumb|Eddie Vedder appeared on the cover of the October 25, 1993 issue of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time'', as part of the feature article discussing the rising popularity of the grunge movement. Vedder had declined to participate, and was upset with the magazine about the cover.]]Following an intense touring schedule, the band went into the studio to record what would become its second studio album, ''Vs.'', released in 1993. Upon its release, ''Vs.'' set the record at the time for most copies of an album sold in a week, and spent five weeks at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200. ''Vs.'' was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 1995. From ''Vs.'', the song "Daughter" received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and the song "Go" received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance.

Feeling the pressures of success, with much of the burden of Pearl Jam's popularity falling on Vedder, the band decided to decrease the level of promotion for its albums, including refusing to release music videos. Vedder's issue with fame came from what he stated as "what happens when a lot of these people start thinking you can change their lives or save their lives or whatever and create these impossible fuckin' expectations that in the end just start tearing you apart." In 1994, the band began a much-publicized boycott of Ticketmaster, which lasted for three years and limited the band's ability to tour in the United States. During the mid-1990s, Vedder faced what he called a "pretty intense stalker problem." Vedder would refer to the issue in the song "Lukin" from ''No Code''.

Later that same year the band released its third studio album, ''Vitalogy'', which became the band's third straight album to reach multi-platinum status. It was at this time that Vedder began to be featured more on rhythm guitar. Many of the songs on ''Vitalogy'' appear to be based by Vedder around the pressures of fame. The album received Grammy nominations for Album of the Year and Best Rock Album in 1996. ''Vitalogy'' was ranked number 492 on ''Rolling Stone'' magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The lead single "Spin the Black Circle" won a Grammy Award in 1996 for Best Hard Rock Performance. Although Abbruzzese performed on the album ''Vitalogy'', he was fired in August 1994, four months before the album was released. The band cited political differences between Abbruzzese and the other members; for example, he disagreed with the Ticketmaster boycott. He was replaced by Jack Irons, a close friend of Vedder and the former and original drummer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The band subsequently released ''No Code'' in 1996 and ''Yield'' in 1998. In 1998, prior to Pearl Jam's U.S. Yield Tour, Irons left the band due to dissatisfaction with touring. Pearl Jam enlisted former Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron as Irons' replacement on an initially temporary basis, but he soon became a permanent replacement for Irons. "Do the Evolution" (from ''Yield'') received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance. In 1998, Pearl Jam recorded "Last Kiss", a cover of a 1960s ballad made famous by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers. It was released on the band's 1998 fan club Christmas single; however, by popular demand, the cover was released to the public as a single in 1999. "Last Kiss" peaked at number two on the ''Billboard'' charts and became the band's highest-charting single.

In 2000, the band released its sixth studio album, ''Binaural'', and initiated a successful and ongoing series of official bootlegs. The band released seventy-two such live albums in 2000 and 2001, and set a record for most albums to debut in the ''Billboard'' 200 at the same time. "Grievance" (from ''Binaural'') received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance. The band released its seventh studio album, ''Riot Act'', in 2002. Pearl Jam's contribution to the 2003 film, ''Big Fish'', "Man of the Hour", was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 2004. The band's eighth studio album, the eponymous ''Pearl Jam'', was released in 2006. The band released its ninth studio album, ''Backspacer'', in 2009.

On Pearl Jam records, Vedder uses the pseudonym "Jerome Turner" for his non-musical (usually design and artwork) contributions. He has also at times used the pseudonym of "Wes C. Addle" ("West Seattle").

Other musical projects

Soundtrack contributions

Vedder has contributed solo material to several soundtracks and compilations, including the soundtracks for the films ''Dead Man Walking'' (1995), ''I Am Sam'' (2001), ''A Brokedown Melody'' (2004), ''Body of War'' (2007), and ''Reign Over Me'' (2007). Vedder collaborated with Pakistani musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan for his contributions to the ''Dead Man Walking'' soundtrack. He covered The Beatles' "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" for the ''I Am Sam'' soundtrack. Vedder wrote two songs for the 2007 feature documentary, ''Body of War'', produced by Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue: "No More" (a song referring to the Iraq War) and "Long Nights". Vedder and the supergroup The Million Dollar Bashers, which includes members from Sonic Youth, Wilco, and Bob Dylan's band, covered Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" for the biopic film, ''I'm Not There'' (2007). Pearl Jam recorded a cover version of The Who's song "Love, Reign o'er Me" for the film ''Reign Over Me'', which takes its title from the song. In 2010, Vedder recorded a new song, "Better Days", which appeared on the soundtrack to the 2010 film ''Eat Pray Love''.

''Into the Wild''

Vedder contributed an album's worth of songs to the soundtrack for the 2007 film, ''Into the Wild''. The soundtrack was released on September 18, 2007 through J Records. It includes covers of the Indio song "Hard Sun" and the Jerry Hannan song "Society". Vedder said that having to write songs based on a narrative "simplified things." He said, "There were fewer choices. The story was there and the scenes were there." Vedder's songs written for the film feature a folk sound. Thom Jurek of Allmusic called the soundtrack a "collection of folksy, rootsy tunes where rock & roll makes fleeting appearances." Vedder won a 2008 Golden Globe Award for the song "Guaranteed" from ''Into the Wild''. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his contributions to the film's original score. At the 2008 Grammy Awards, "Guaranteed" received a nomination for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. "Guaranteed" was also nominated a 2008 World Soundtrack Award in the category of Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film. At the 2009 Grammy Awards, "Rise" received a nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo.

Vedder promoted the ''Into the Wild'' soundtrack with his first solo tour, which began in April 2008. The April leg of the tour, dubbed the "April Fools Tour", began in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada at The Centre on April 2, 2008 and was composed of ten dates focusing on the West Coast of the United States. Vedder continued the tour with a second leg in August 2008 composed of fourteen dates focusing on the East Coast and Canada. The second leg of the tour began in Boston, Massachusetts at the Boston Opera House and ended in Chicago, Illinois at the Auditorium Theatre. In June 2009, Vedder followed his 2008 solo tour with another solo tour composed of fourteen dates focusing on the Eastern United States and Hawaii, which began in Albany, New York at the Palace Theatre and continued through to Honolulu at the Hawaii Theatre.

''Ukulele Songs''

Vedder released his second solo album titled ''Ukulele Songs'', a collection of original songs and covers performed on the ukulele, on May 31, 2011. The first single from the album, "Longing to Belong," was released through digital retailers on March 21. A live DVD titled ''Water on the Road'', featuring live performances from two shows in Washington, D.C. during Vedder's 2008 solo tour, was released the same day as ''Ukulele Songs''.

Collaborations

In addition to playing with Pearl Jam and Temple of the Dog, Vedder did perform or record with numerous well-known artists. He has appeared on albums by The Who, Ramones, Neil Young, R.E.M., Neil Finn, Bad Religion, Mark Seymour, Cat Power, Mike Watt, Fastbacks, Wellwater Conspiracy, Jack Irons, and John Doe, and has also recorded with The Strokes, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Supersuckers, Susan Sarandon, and Zeke. In the months of June and July 2006, Vedder made live performances jamming with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, singing on many tracks, including lead vocals on "The Waiting" and backing vocals on "American Girl". Vedder performed the songs "Break on Through (To the Other Side)", "Light My Fire" and "Roadhouse Blues" with the remaining members of The Doors at the 1993 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. He also performed with R.E.M. at the 2007 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. He also performed with The Stooges at the 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Vedder made a guest appearance at the Ramones' last show on August 6, 1996 at the Palace in Hollywood. Vedder has also performed live on stage with some of the biggest names in music and film including Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Robert Plant, Flea, Bryan Adams, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Roger Daltrey, Kings of Leon, Dave Grohl, Perry Farrell, Beck, Sheryl Crow, Jerry Cantrell, Andrew Stockdale, Josh Homme, Mike Ness, Neil Young, Guided By Voices, Ace Frehley, Dave Matthews, Natalie Maines, Tim Robbins, Johnny Depp, and many others.

Other work

Vedder had a brief acting cameo in the 1992 movie, ''Singles'', along with Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam. He appeared as himself, playing drums in lead actor Matt Dillon's backing band, Citizen Dick. He was also interviewed for the 1996 grunge documentary, ''Hype!''. He appears in the 2003 Ramones documentary, ''End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones''. In 2007, he made a cameo as himself in the comedy film, ''Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story''. He appears in the 2007 Tom Petty documentary, ''Runnin' Down a Dream'', the 2008 political documentary, ''Slacker Uprising'', and the 2009 Howard Zinn documentary, ''The People Speak''.

Vedder is known for his outspoken left-wing/liberal social and political views. Discussing his views on current issues in the United States, Vedder said, "People on death row, the treatment of animals, women's right to choose. So much in America is based on religious fundamentalist Christianity. Grow up! This is the modern world!"

In 1992, ''Spin'' printed an article by Vedder, entitled "Reclamation", which detailed his views on abortion. Vedder was outspoken in support of Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader in 2000, and Pearl Jam played a series of concerts on the 2004 Vote for Change tour, supporting the candidacy of John Kerry for U.S. President. Vedder told ''Rolling Stone'' magazine, "I supported Ralph Nader in 2000, but it's a time of crisis. We have to get a new administration in." Vedder supported the candidacy of Barack Obama in 2008.

In his spare time, Vedder is a surfer and active in surf-related conservation efforts, most notably The Surfrider Foundation. Vedder shows his support for environmental activism by sporting an Earth First! tattoo on his right calf. The logo is of a monkey wrench crossed with a stone hammer. Vedder is vegetarian.

Vedder is a longtime and outspoken supporter for the Free the West Memphis 3 movement, a cause that advocates the release of three teenagers (now in their 30's) who were convicted in 1994 of the gruesome murders of three little boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. In an interview with Larry King on December 19, 2007, Damien Echols, who is on death row for the murders, said that Vedder has been the "greatest friend a person could have" and that the two of them have collaborated on songs while he is in prison. The song "Army Reserve" on Pearl Jam's 2006 self-titled album features a lyrical collaboration between Vedder and Echols.

In 2009, Vedder performed in The People Speak a documentary feature film that uses dramatic and musical performances of the letters, diaries, and speeches of everyday Americans, based on historian Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States”.

Musical style and influences

Critic Jim DeRogatis describes Vedder's vocals as a "Jim Morrison-like vocal growl." Greg Prato of ''Allmusic'' said, "With his hard-hitting and often confessional lyrical style and Jim Morrison-esque baritone, Vedder also became one of the most copied lead singers in all of rock." Vedder has inducted The Doors, Neil Young, the Ramones, and R.E.M. into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in his induction speeches he has cited them all as influences. Other influences that Vedder has cited include Bruce Springsteen, U2, The Who, The Jackson 5, The Beatles, Frank Zappa, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello, Talking Heads, Sonic Youth, Fugazi, Tom Waits, Huey Lewis, Bob Dylan and the Pixies.

Vedder's lyrical topics range from personal ("Alive", "Better Man" (from ''Vitalogy'')) to social and political concerns ("Even Flow" (from ''Ten'')), "World Wide Suicide" (from ''Pearl Jam''). His lyrics have often invoked the use of storytelling and have included themes of freedom, individualism, and sympathy for troubled individuals. Other recurring themes include the use of water metaphors, as well as the idea of leaving everything behind to start again (featured in such songs as "Rearviewmirror" (from ''Vs.''), "MFC" (from ''Yield''), "Evacuation" (from ''Binaural''), and "Gone" (from ''Pearl Jam'')).

Although best known as a vocalist, Vedder also plays guitar on many Pearl Jam songs, beginning with the ''Vs.'' songs "Rearviewmirror" and "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town". When the band started, Gossard and McCready were clearly designated as rhythm and lead guitarists, respectively. The dynamic began to change when Vedder started to play more rhythm guitar during the ''Vitalogy'' era. McCready said in 2006, "Even though there are three guitars, I think there's maybe more room now. Stone will pull back and play a two-note line and Ed will do a power chord thing, and I fit into all that." Vedder's guitar playing helped the band's sound progress toward a more stripped-down style; the songs "Rearviewmirror" and "Corduroy" (from ''Vitalogy'') feature Vedder's raw, punk-influenced guitar playing. As he had more influence on the band's sound, Vedder sought to make the band's musical output less catchy. He said, "I felt that with more popularity, we were going to be crushed, our heads were going to pop like grapes." He has also contributed performances on the ukulele, harmonica, accordion, and electric sitar to various Pearl Jam recordings.

'Weird Al' Yankovic wrote the song "My Baby's in Love with Eddie Vedder" for his album ''Running with Scissors''.

Live performances

Throughout Pearl Jam's career, Vedder has engaged in interactivity with the crowd during the band's concerts. Early in Pearl Jam's existence, Vedder and the band became known for their intense live performances. Vedder participated in stage diving as well as crowd surfing. During the early part of Pearl Jam's career, Vedder was known to climb the stage lighting rig and hang from the stage roof. Looking back at this time, Vedder said, "It's hard for us to watch early performances, even though that's when people think we were on fire and young. Playing music for as long as I had been playing music and then getting a shot at making a record and at having an audience and stuff, it's just like an untamed force...a different kind of energy. And I find it kind of hard to watch those early performances because it's so just fucking, semi-testosterone-fueled or whatever. But it didn't come from jock mentality. It came from just being let out of the gates."

Vedder's perspective on performing changed during the ''Vs.'' era, explaining that "a year later the meaning of a concert to me became, like, 'Wow, what if there was silence between the songs?' Then if I did say anything, then maybe the crowd could ''hear'' it." He also commented in regard to getting a crowd reaction that "you should be able to do it just with chord changes and the way you deliver a song." Even though he has ceased participating in more extreme concert activities, Vedder's connection with the audience has continued to play an important part in the band's concerts. He stated, "I look around the audience, and there's so many faces, and I've looked into the eyes of at least the ones I could see—there's at least 1,000 faces—and I've communicated directly to them and seen where they're coming from...One thing I don't feel is separation from the crowd. I don't feel like we're speaking from a platform, I feel like we are communicating on the same level."

Vedder began incorporating social commentary and political criticism into his lyrics and performances early in his career with Pearl Jam. He usually comments on politics between songs, often to criticize U.S. foreign policy. During Pearl Jam's 1992 appearance on ''MTV Unplugged'', Vedder stood atop his stool, took out a marker pen, and wrote "PRO-CHOICE" down his arm in large letters when the band performed the song "Porch". During Pearl Jam's 2007 Lollapalooza headlining show, Vedder and the band played a song telling the crowd in Chicago to boycott the oil company B.P. Amoco because they had been polluting Lake Michigan.

Personal life

Vedder's first marriage was to longtime girlfriend Beth Liebling. The couple were married in Rome on June 3, 1994. Vedder briefly served as the drummer for Liebling's instrumental experimental rock band Hovercraft in the mid-1990s, going by the stage name Jerome230. Describing his relationship with Liebling, Vedder said, "Relationships can be tough. There are times—I end up putting a lot of time into this music thing. I don't sleep at night. I think I'm probably a very difficult person to deal with. Things never seem to settle down and be normal, and I think that Beth has to deal with a lot. I don't want to get into our personal relations. But at times there is a tension... We are all selfish at heart, I guess. But I just know that without her, I'd be a kite without a string, a nothing man." Vedder and Liebling divorced in September 2000 after a 6-year marriage.

Vedder married model Jill McCormick on September 18, 2010. They have two daughters, Olivia, born June 11, 2004, and Harper Moon, born September 23, 2008. Vedder and McCormick became engaged in December 2009 at the Kennedy Center Honors gala in Washington, D.C. .

Vedder attended San Dieguito High School, now called San Dieguito Academy. Vedder donated proceeds from a 2006 Pearl Jam concert in San Diego toward the construction of a theater for the school in the name of his former drama teacher, Clayton E. Liggett. Liggett was Vedder's mentor in high school. Vedder wrote the song "Long Road" (from ''Merkin Ball'') upon hearing of Liggett's death in 1995.

In a 1998 interview with Janeane Garofalo, Vedder stated a disbelief in God or Christianity, calling them "not good."

Vedder is a friend of The Who guitarist Pete Townshend and former Audioslave and current Soundgarden frontman, Chris Cornell. Townshend discouraged Vedder from retiring in 1993. In late 2007, Vedder wrote the foreword to a new Pete Townshend biography, ''Who Are You: The Life of Pete Townshend''. The book was published in the UK in March 2008 and in the U.S. in October 2008. Vedder was a close friend of the late Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone, with Vedder being at his side when he died. Since Ramone's death, Vedder and Pearl Jam have played the Ramones' "I Believe in Miracles" regularly at live shows. While driving home from Ramone's funeral, Vedder wrote the lyrics for the Pearl Jam song "Life Wasted" (from ''Pearl Jam''). He is also a friend of famed surfers Kelly Slater, Laird Hamilton, and fellow musicians Jack Johnson and Ben Harper. He was featured with Laird Hamilton in an episode of the documentary series ''Iconoclasts'' in 2006. While surfing with Tim Finn in New Zealand on March 25, 1995, Vedder was carried off the coast and had to be rescued by lifeguards. He also has paddled outrigger canoes on occasion and in 2005 was nearly lost at sea trying to paddle from Moloka'i to Oahu.

Vedder is a Chicago Bulls and Chicago Bears fan and a long-time, die-hard fan of the Chicago Cubs. He is friends with several Chicago sports figures, including former White Sox pitcher Jack McDowell, former Bulls player Dennis Rodman, former Blackhawks player Chris Chelios and Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood. Vedder occasionally wears a Walter Payton jersey while performing onstage. Vedder was wearing a White Sox hat given to him by McDowell during Pearl Jam's 1992 ''Saturday Night Live'' and ''MTV Unplugged'' appearances. In November 1993, Vedder and McDowell were involved in a bar room brawl in New Orleans, Louisiana that resulted in Vedder being arrested for public drunkenness and disturbing the peace. The Pearl Jam song "Black, Red, Yellow" (from the "Hail, Hail" single) is about the Rodman/Michael Jordan/Phil Jackson-era Chicago Bulls teams. The middle of the song features a voice-mail message Rodman left for Vedder asking Vedder to return his call. Vedder sang the national anthem before the third game of the 1998 NBA Finals in Chicago, and has sung "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at five Cubs games since 1998. In 2007, a few days before performing with Pearl Jam in Chicago for Lollapalooza, he threw out the first pitch at Wrigley Field, the home of the Cubs. Vedder wrote a song at the request of former Cubs shortstop and first baseman Ernie Banks paying tribute to the Cubs called "All the Way". On September 18, 2008, the song was made available for digital download via Pearl Jam's official website for US$0.99.

Discography

Solo discography

Year

Album details

Peak chart positions

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*Released: September 18, 2007

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''[[Ukulele Songs''

*Released: May 31, 2011

*Label: Monkey Wrench

*Format: CD, LP

Temple of the Dog discography

! Year	! Title	! Label	! Track(s)
1991

Pearl Jam discography

''Ten'' (1991)

''Vs.'' (1993)

''Vitalogy'' (1994)

''No Code'' (1996)

''Yield'' (1998)

''Binaural'' (2000)

''Riot Act'' (2002)

''Pearl Jam'' (2006)

''Backspacer'' (2009)

Singles

Year

Single

Peak chart positions

Album

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"You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"

"Hard Sun"

''Into the Wild'' soundtrack

"Better Days"

"Longing to Belong"

"Can't Keep"

"Without You"

Contributions and collaborations

! Year	! Group	! Title	! Label	! Track(s)
	Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready with G. E. Smith	''The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration''		"Masters of War" (live)
Bad Religion	''Recipe for Hate''	Epitaph Records	"[[American Jesus" and Watch It Die
	Mike Watt	''Ball-Hog or Tugboat?''		"Big Train" and "Against the 70's"
Neil Young			"Peace and Love"
	Eddie Vedder with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan		Sony	"Face of Love" and "Long Road"
Eddie Vedder with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan		Sony	"Face of Love" and "Long Road"
Fastbacks	''New Mansions in Sound ''	Sub Pop	"Girl's Eyes"
Gary Heffern	''Painful Days''	Y-records	"Passin' Thru'"
Crowded House			"Everything Is Good for You"
		''Kerouac - kicks joy darkness''	Rykodisc	"Hymn"
Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready	''Tibetan Freedom Concert''	Capitol	"Yellow Ledbetter" (live)
Ramones	''We're Outta Here!''		"Any Way You Want It"
	Pete Townshend		Intersound
Eddie Vedder and Susan Sarandon			"Croon Spoon"
2000	Supersuckers with Eddie Vedder	''Free the West Memphis 3''		"Poor Girl"
	Wellwater Conspiracy	''The Scroll and Its Combinations''		"Felicity's Surprise"
Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready with Neil Young	''America: A Tribute to Heroes''		"Long Road" (live)
	Eddie Vedder		V2 Ada	"You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"
Neil Finn	''7 Worlds Collide''	Nettwerk
		''We're a Happy Family - A Tribute to Ramones''	Columbia	"I Believe in Miracles" and "Daytime Dilemma (Dangers of Love)"
Cat Power	''You Are Free''		"Good Woman" and "Evolution"
The Who	''The Who Live at the Royal Albert Hall''	Steamhammer US
	Pete Townshend	''Magic Bus - Live from Chicago''	Compendia	"Magic Bus" (live) and "Heart to Hang Onto" (live)
Jack Irons	''Attention Dimension''	Breaching Whale	"Shine On You Crazy Diamond"
Red Whyte with Eddie Vedder	''The 5th Symphony Document: Soundtrack''	Folklore	"Lucky Country"
Eddie Vedder and the Walmer High School Choir	''The Molo Sessions''	Ten Club	"Long Road", "Love Boat Captain" and "Better Man"
	Eddie Vedder		Sony	"Face of Love" (with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan), "Long Road" (with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan), and "Dead Man"
Eddie Vedder	''A Brokedown Melody: Music from and Inspired By the Film''		"Goodbye"
Eddie Vedder with The Strokes & Josh Homme			"Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)"
	Eddie Vedder & The Million Dollar Bashers		Columbia	"All Along the Watchtower"
Crowded House	''Seattle, WA 09/01/2007''	Kufala	"World Where You Live" and "Something So Strong"
	Eddie Vedder with Ben Harper	''Body of War: Songs that Inspired an Iraq War Veteran''		"No More" (live)
	''The Golden State''	Independent	"The Golden State Remix" (with Corin Tucker)
Crowded House	''Surf Aid - The Music''	Loop	"World Where You Live"
2010	Eddie Vedder		Monkeywrench Records	"The Long Road" (with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan) and "Better Days"
2011	R.E.M.	''Collapse Into Now''		"It Happened Today"

Awards and nominations

"Guaranteed (Eddie Vedder song) align="center" rowspan="2" align="center" align="center" "Rise" align="center" align="center" align="center" align="center"

Award !! width="30"	Year !! Nominated work !! Category !! Result
Broadcast Film Critics Association	Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards	align="center"	Guaranteed" from ''Into the Wild'' ||	Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Song>Best Song
SIMA Waterman's Honorees	2007 ||	Eddie Vedder	Environmentalist of the Year
rowspan="2"	Golden Globe Awards	2008 ||	"Guaranteed" from ''Into the Wild''	Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song>Best Original Song
''Into the Wild'' (with Michael Brook and Kaki King)	Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score>Best Original Score
rowspan="2"	Grammy Awards	2008 ||	"Guaranteed" from ''Into the Wild''	Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media>Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
align="center"	2009	|	Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo>Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo
mtvU#Woodie Awards	mtvU Woodie Awards	2008 ||	Eddie Vedder	The Good Woodie
Satellite Awards	2007 ||	"Rise" from ''Into the Wild''	Satellite Award for Best Original Song>Best Original Song
Online Film Critics Society	Online Film Critics Society Awards	2008 ||	''Into the Wild'' (with Michael Brook and Kaki King)	Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Score>Best Original Score
World Soundtrack Academy	World Soundtrack Awards	2008 ||	"Guaranteed" from ''Into the Wild''	World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film>Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film

References

External links

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/12/entertainment/la-et-people-speak12-2009dec12

Category:1964 births Category:American atheists Category:American baritones Category:American male singers Category:American rock singers Category:American vegetarians Category:Grunge musicians Category:J Records artists Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Illinois Category:Pearl Jam members Category:People from Evanston, Illinois Category:Rhythm guitarists Category:Temple of the Dog members Category:Ukulele players

cs:Eddie Vedder da:Eddie Vedder de:Eddie Vedder es:Eddie Vedder fr:Eddie Vedder gl:Eddie Vedder ko:에디 베더 hr:Eddie Vedder id:Eddie Vedder it:Eddie Vedder he:אדי ודר lb:Eddie Vedder hu:Eddie Vedder nl:Eddie Vedder no:Eddie Vedder pl:Eddie Vedder pt:Eddie Vedder ro:Eddie Vedder ru:Веддер, Эдди simple:Eddie Vedder sk:Eddie Vedder sl:Eddie Vedder sr:Еди Ведер fi:Eddie Vedder sv:Eddie Vedder tr:Eddie Vedder

full name	Scott Alan Stapp
background	solo_singer
birth name	Anthony Scott Flippen
born	August 08, 1973Goldsboro, North Carolina
origin	Orlando, Florida,United States
instrument	Vocals, guitar, drums, bass
genre	Alternative metal, Christian rock, hard rock, heavy metal, post-grunge
occupation	Musician, songwriter, record producer, author, actor
years active	–present
label	Wind-up
associated acts	Creed
website	}}

Scott Alan Stapp (born Anthony Scott Flippen; August 8, 1973) 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 set for release in 2011. In addition to his career as a musician, Stapp had a brief stint as an actor, appearing in the film ''30 Days Until I'm Famous'', and more recently as an author, currently at work on a book tentatively titled ''My Confession''. He has also been involved in various philanthropic activities.

Despite having been faced with controversy and criticism, Stapp has won many awards and accolades, including one Grammy Award for Creed's song "With Arms Wide Open" and numerous RIAA certifications. In 2006, ''Hit Parader'' ranked Stapp as the 68th greatest heavy metal vocalist of all time.

Early life

Stapp was born as Anthony Scott Flippen on August 8, 1973 in Goldsboro, North Carolina, to his mother Lynda, a school teacher and his biological father, about whom little is known. He was adopted by Steven Stapp, a dentist who married Scott's mother, and decided to take his stepfather's last name. However, upon realizing that his initials would spell out the word "ass," he took his middle name as his first and took the name he is now known as, Scott Alan Stapp. Stapp grew up in a very religious household because his stepfather was a Pentecostal minister; when punished, he would be forced to copy passages from the Bible. At one point, he grew so desperate to seek freedom from the strict rules of his religious stepfather that he sneaked out of his home in the middle of the night and stayed at a friend's house for a month before leaving again for Houston, Texas where he lived in a squat with eight other runaways doing heroin and sniffing glue before finally returning home. In an attempt to impress his stepfather, he attended Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, but he was expelled for smoking marijuana. He subsequently attended Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida, Tallahassee Community College, and finally Florida State University.

Career

1995–2004: Creed and early mainstream success

Stapp is a founding member of the American hard rock band Creed. After developing an acquaintance with his then-future band mate Mark Tremonti at Lake Highland Preparatory School in Orlando, Stapp reunited with Tremonti while both attended Florida State University, and they quickly developed a friendship based on their mutual passion for music. Stapp formed Creed with Tremonti in 1995 with fellow members Brian Marshall and Scott Phillips joining as bassist and drummer, respectively. Rhythm guitarist Brian Brasher was also briefly a member in 1995 when the band was known by its original name, Naked Toddler. While often criticized and parodied, Creed is recognized by many as one of the major acts of the post-grunge movement of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Tremonti and Stapp have been collectively recognized as one of the most prolific songwriting teams in all of rock music.

The band released their debut album ''My Own Prison'' in 1997 to mainstream success, selling over six million copies. 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 chart, becoming the first band to do so with a debut album. The album was then followed in 1999 by ''Human Clay'', which was an immediate success and certified diamond and eleven times platinum by the RIAA. Tension between Stapp and Marshall began to increase during this time, leading Marshall to ultimately leave the band to pursue other interests. He was temporarily replaced by touring bassist Brett Hestla, with Tremonti handling the bass parts in the studio. After a tour, the band released another multi-platinum selling album, ''Weathered'', in 2001. The tour to support this record was overwhelmingly successful but ended with a considerably controversial concert in Chicago that ultimately led to the band's breakup. The band announced that they had disbanded in 2004, citing tension between Stapp and the other members. Creed released their ''Greatest Hits'' in November 2004.

2004–2009: Solo career beginnings and ''The Great Divide''

After Creed announced its breakup, Stapp recorded the song "Relearn Love" with 7 Aurelius and The Tea Party for ''The Passion of the Christ: Songs'', the soundtrack to the 2004 Mel Gibson film ''The Passion of the Christ''. He then began working on his debut solo album. Titled ''The Great Divide'', the record was released in the U.S. on November 22, 2005, peaking at #19 on the ''Billboard'' 200. "The Great Divide," "Justify," and "Surround Me" were released as singles. It was certified platinum on December 14, 2005. ''The Great Divide'' has since reached double platinum. His backing band for the record and live shows since has consisted of Aristides Rincon and John Curry on guitars, Mitch Burman on bass, and Mark Archer on drums. They are all members of the band Goneblind.

In April 2008, Stapp uploaded a cover of "Running to Stand Still" by U2 to his Myspace page. On August 8, 2008, he posted an acoustic version of "Broken" which was on his previous record. Then on August 10, 2008, Stapp's management announced a new solo project would be released in the second quarter of 2009; however, because of the Creed reunion, the album was put on indefinite hiatus.

2009–2010: Creed reunion and solo acoustic tour

After months of speculation, despite early claims from Tremonti that Creed would never return, it was announced that Creed had reunited with plans for a tour and a new album. The record, ''Full Circle'', was released in October 2009 and became the band's only album to not be certified by the RIAA.Until July 2011. Creed supported the album by touring throughout North and South America, Canada, Europe, and Australia during the summers of 2009 and 2010. A fifth Creed album is expected in late 2011 or early 2012 according to Tremonti.

Stapp announced on his Myspace page after Creed's 20-10 Tour with Skillet he will embark on a solo acoustic tour. August 18, 2010, he wrote, "I'm stripping down all the Creed hits, as well as my solo material, in a manner fans have never heard before but have long been screaming for." Creed's touring rhythm guitarist Eric Friedman joined Stapp on the acoustic tour. The short solo acoustic tour began September 28, 2010, and concluded November 20, 2010.

In the spring of 2010, Stapp recorded an anthem for the National League baseball team the Florida Marlins titled "Marlins Will Soar," a rewrite of Stapp's song "You Will Soar," using different lyrics and a slightly different melody in the verses. "Marlins Will Soar" was met with extremely negative reviews according to ''The Huffington Post''. In April 2010, Stapp released (free to fans via scottstapp.com) a new remix of "Broken," featuring rapper Ma$e, and 2 B-side tracks, "Somber" and "Criminal," from the upcoming solo album.

Stapp appeared on Carlos Santana's solo album ''Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time'', a cover album on which Stapp sings on the cover of the Creedence Clearwater Revival song "Fortunate Son", released September 21, 2010.

2010–present: ''Between Lust and Love'' and future

thumb|right|Stapp performing in his acoustic tour in 2011.Stapp has confirmed that his second album, ''Between Lust and Love'', will be a double album, with each disc devoted to the topics of lust and love. Stapp told ''The Salt Lake Tribune'': "It's been the dichotomy of my life over the last three-and-a-half, four years. [It has] characters that describe [my] life and times … It's two sides of the coin." The album will be produced by Stapp with veteran producer Desmond Child. He has cancelled his Brazilian tour due to illness.

Other projects

Philanthropy

In 2000, Stapp founded the With Arms Wide Open Foundation, a charity organization dedicated to "[promoting] healthy, loving relationships between children and their families." In early 2010, Stapp flew to Haiti to help the victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake in the Plane To Haiti project, with producer Daniel Catullo.

Personal life

Family

In 1997, Stapp married Hillaree Burns. They were married for 16 months and divorced in 1998 and she later gave birth to Stapp's son, Jagger. Creed's song "With Arms Wide Open" is about their son.

On February 11, 2006, Stapp married Miss New York USA 2004 winner, and children's literature author, and model Jaclyn Nesheiwat. Their daughter, Milán Hayat Stapp, was born on January 4, 2007. In May 2010 the couple announced their second child Daniel was due in July 2010. The Stapps welcomed son Daniel Issam Stapp at 3:01 p.m. on Sunday, July 4, 2010. Scott Stapp now has three children (2 sons and 1 daughter). Stapp also has two sisters, Amanda and Amie. Stapp and his family currently reside in Boca Raton. He is a Christian.

Legal troubles

Stapp has also been arrested several times:

In July 2002, he was detained by Florida police and charged with reckless driving after he drove his SUV off the road before swerving back into the proper lane. He was released from custody after posting $500.

He was also arrested February 12, 2006, one day after his second marriage, for suspected intoxication of drugs or alcohol.

On May 20, 2007, he was arrested for domestic abuse; after returning home after a night of partying, Stapp was questioned by his wife Jaclyn and got defensive and threw a bottle of Orangina at her. She called the police and her husband was taken into custody and charged with one count of assault, although he was later set free on supervised release. Stapp apologized to his wife and the public on May 23, 2007, and the charge was later dropped.

Controversies

Stapp and his past actions have been the subject of controversy:

A pornographic video allegedly featuring Stapp and another musician, Kid Rock, was the source of controversy in the late 1990s. While the intended distributor of the video defended its distribution rights, since it was presumably shot by several different individuals, the case was settled in 2007 in Stapp's favor. The video was said to contain graphic footage of Stapp and Rock participating in sexual acts with Rock's groupies while on their tour bus in 1999, and to be forty-five minutes in length. Stapp later said in an interview that "there's no sex on the sex tape." He also said that he and Kid Rock were friends. He explained, "It's a time in his life and a time in my life that we'd like to put behind us and not publicize because we have children now, and they're in school, and their friends read. I know he was pretty pissed off at me when that came out." He has since apologized to Rock.

In 2003, he contemplated suicide after drinking a bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey. He retrieved two MP5s from his collection, put the guns to his head, but failed to pull the trigger after looking at a picture of his son Jagger. He stated in an interview with ''Rolling Stone'' that he was convinced that anyone involved with Creed wanted him dead so he would become a "Kurt Cobain martyr-type" and increase record sales. Says Scott, "I had crazy thoughts going through my head." He later said that instead of killing himself, he fired a few rounds in his home. He said, "I was in the throes of prednisone coming out of my body [...] I shot a few rounds off and instantly was like, 'What the hell am I doing?' So I put the guns away and ran out to the garage and got the putty and patched the holes."

Despite the controversies, Stapp has since committed himself to "controlling his demons." He shaved his head, which he used to demonstrate his "changed" personality. He said,"I wanted my wife to perceptually and visually see me as changing, that I was not what I used to be." Stapp's Creed band mate, guitarist Mark Tremonti, said that he was "surprised as hell at Scott's new attitude towards music and life in general." Tremonti elaborated, saying: "It seems as though, over the last six years, he'd done a lot of maturing and reflecting; he has his head on straight. And he realizes how truly important Creed was to him. Not just as a monetary enterprise, but as a band, a group of people. Creed was an important thing for him to be a part of. Right there, in our first meeting, he made us realize that we felt the same way." He stated in another interview, "From the second we started playing again, he was very complimentary towards what we were all doing musically. He had a lot of nice things to say about my guitar playing, and to hear him say to Brian [Marshall] that he thought he was a great bass player was very cool." He also said, "Falling apart was probably the best thing that could have happened to us."

Awards

RIAA certifications

These statistics were compiled from the RIAA certification online database.

;Studio albums

''My Own Prison'': 6× platinum (August 2002)

''Human Clay'': 11× platinum, 1×(+) diamond (January 2004)

''Weathered'': 6× platinum (January 2003)

''The Great Divide'': 2× platinum (December 2005)

;Compilations

''Greatest Hits'': 2× platinum (November 2008)

Grammy Awards and nominations

With Creed, Scott Stapp has been nominated for three Grammy Awards resulting in one win.

"With Arms Wide Open" – Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, 2001 (nomination) "With Arms Wide Open" – Best Rock Song, 2001 (winner) "My Sacrifice" – Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, 2003 (nomination)

Accolades

Stapp was ranked as the 68th greatest heavy metal vocalist of all time by ''Hit Parader'' in 2006.

Band members

;Studio

Aristides Rincon – lead guitar

John Curry – rhythm guitar

Mitch Burman – bass

Mark Archer – drums

;Touring

Eric Friedman – lead guitar (2010)

Garrett Whitlock – drums (2010)

Mitch Burman – bass (2005–2008, 2010, 2011)

Aristides Rincon – lead guitar (2005–2008, 2011)

John Curry – rhythm guitar (2005–2008, 2011)

Mark Archer – drums (2005–2008, 2011)

Andy Waldeck - guitar (2011)

Brent Locke - guitar (2011)

Theron Derrick- drums (2011)

Beji George- drums (2011)

Discography

''The Great Divide'' (2005)

''Between Lust and Love'' (2011)

References

External links

Passion Breeds Followers

Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:American Christians Category:American male singers Category:American rock singers Category:American songwriters Category:Florida State University alumni Category:Grammy Award winners Category:People from Swain County, North Carolina Category:People self-identifying as alcoholics Category:American heavy metal singers

de:Scott Stapp es:Scott Stapp fr:Scott Stapp it:Scott Stapp he:סקוט סטאפ ja:スコット・スタップ pl:Scott Stapp pt:Scott Stapp ru:Степп, Скотт fi:Scott Stapp sv:Scott Stapp