Nice Town... We'll Take It!

Kerrang Magazine September 1999

In America, Creed are million-selling rock stars who drive Porsches, own bungalow-sized stereo systems and have single-handedly restored the fortunes of grunge. And now Britain is next...

It's pretty surreal waking up to 50,000 people staring at you."

Scott Phillips - drummer with Creed, the obscenely popular Yank grungers - is recounting the band's previous visit to the UK when, on July 10, they opened the main stage on Metallica's Big Day Out at Milton Keynes Bowl.

We weren't awake at the time when we played it," says vocalist Scott Stapp, as the pair sip Cokes and puff Camel cigarettes in the Central London offices of their UK record label Epic. Literally, we rolled out of bed and they said, 'You're onstage in 20 minutes.' It blew my mind, man, the response we got. People were singing - I was really happy. It shocked me because I don't think we've sold that many records here."

For Creed, July 10 was full of surprises - and not just when they were onstage.

We watched Placebo make out with each other," Stapp recalls with bemused expression. I've never actually seen two men kissing, except on TV and I felt weird about that whole situation. I think they were trying to see if we were into that."

Then one of the girls they were with decided to take her shirt off, which was kinda cool," he smiles. We appreciated that. That's what makes festivals cool, the interaction between bands - although we didn't meet Metallica. They're gods," he adds, awestruck. It's hard even for other bands to meet them."

Even if the band, in the case of Creed, have a debut album, 'My Own Prison', which is still 100 places above Metallica's latest on the US 'Billboard' chart, having sold more than three million copies. Not bad for a record which cost a frankly ridiculous $6,000 to make.

Clearly, it's not just the odd gig that's gone like a dream for Creed. For these four guys from Tallahassee, the state capital of Florida , life is peachy all around.

As Stapp earnestly proclaims: Dreams really can come true, and my life is proof of that. Ever since I was a kid I've been told I can't do things, but I did them because I didn't take no for an answer."

*

Creed's success is all the sweeter for Stapp and his bandmates because they made it on their own terms. They have never been a critics' band - a dismissive Kerrang! Review of their new album 'Human Clay' testifies to that - but with scant media support they have proved, almost single-handedly, that grunge is not dead in America . The quartet themselves dislike the 'grunge' label, but only Bush can rival Creed's current standing in the genre.

While Pearl Jam continue to make increasingly uncommercial and idiosyncratic records, Creed's mood dynamics and lean rock power have found favor with almost four million Americans. Their best songs - like 'Higher', the stand-out track from 'Human Clay' - are emotive and anthemic, guitarist Mark Tremonti's love of Metallica evident in his muscular riffs. As Scott Stapp proudly declares: We don't write singles, we write records."

There are, however, no surprises on the new Creed album, as Stapp readily admits.

We feel that the new songs are better, but essentially it's more of the same. We just write for ourselves. If we vibe on it, that's Creed. Everything comes out very naturally. It's very vibe-oriented. To this point, we've never thought about a direction."

Creed's strength, Stapp argues, is their honesty and emotive power. Redolent of Eddie Vedder circa 'Ten', Stapp gives it everything he's got.

I have to," he says. It's hard for me in the studio sometimes, because live I have so much adrenaline that it's easier to give it everything than it is when I'm in a room with no one there with headphones on. I have to go somewhere in my mind, really push myself as far as I can.

Sometimes I won't finish vocal tracks because I've blown my voice out, pushing myself so hard. I care a lot about what I'm singing about, and I care a lot about the band. Being heard as sincere and passionate about what I do is a real big priority for me. I want the group to sound real, not contrived."

For Scott Stapp, the title 'Human Clay' is a metaphor of life.

The whole record is about growth, maturity, development," he explains. Human beings are unfinished works in progress, shaped by the decisions and experiences we go through in life."

Contrarily, he insists that Creed's success has not changed them. At least, not for the worse.

We're just four regular guys," he claims The connection that our music makes with people has put us in the spotlight, but it hasn't change us. Fame is just a by-product of success."

Materially, Creed's efforts have been amply rewarded. Mark Tremonti bought a gleaming new Porsche when the first big royalty cheque for 'My Own Prison' landed on his doorstep. Scott Phillips splashed out on a home theater system with a gigantic 70-inch projection screen and a stereo which, by Stapp's reckoning, can be heard a mile away. Phillips jokes about hiring a couple of kids to serve popcorn during the movie screenings.

Stapp himself has bought new cars for four members of his immediate family but has not yet found time to buy his own dream ride, a classic '59 Corvette Stingray.

I've given away more money than I've spent on myself," he says. Once you have a hit record, all of a sudden you have cousins you haven't heard from in years wanting to borrow $100,000. Someone you haven't seen in 15 years asking for $100,000 - that's kinda far-fetched."

Does fame screw you up?

Stapp sighs heavily You try so hard to get here," he says, and when you get here you wish you were where you were before. Sometimes you wish you weren't recognised, you just want to blend in and be unnoticed, but the recognition helps with your understanding of what you've accomplished. It's bitter-sweet. It gets odd when I say 'God, I'm thirsty', and five people hand me water.

I'm not complaining, but sometimes you want people to tell you to f**k off, to treat you like you were treated before. If fame brings a bunch of people who kiss your ass all the time it gets annoying."

So Scott Stapp wants people to tell him to f**k off? Frankly, it's a little difficult to believe.

He smiles. I guess if one of my crew guys told me to f**k off I'd fire him, so maybe I don't want that. The crowds are always shouting out 'F**k you, man!'. I guess that's how men show love. They're so out of touch with their sensitive side."

Stapp reckons his own sensitive side has been reawakened since the birth of his first son 11 months ago. Admitting that he could talk all day about the boy, he explains: You become harder and more jaded the older you get. That's one thing my son has taught me: he's so innocent and so pure, and I envy that. I wish I could have that back."

Stapp also claims that his son's birth has sparked a new sense of spirituality in him, articulated in the idealist lyrics to 'Higher'.

I have a very strong faith, a belief in God," he states. I don't follow any particular religion. Religion has pretty much failed mankind, but I can't ignore the fact that I believe in God.

I go to the mountains in Colorado and I see the beauty of the world, and I know this isn't an accident. There has to be a creator. That mentality within me hasn't come from religion, it's come from life and living and people.

'Higher' is very idealistic. A lot of the songs are, especially now since the birth of my son. I care about the world a lot more. 'Higher' is me envisioning making that dream a reality. We just have to believe it."

Scott Stapp is no saint, though. Politically correct on the subject of groupies (Nobody in this band feels they have to prove they're a better man by shagging as many girls as possible"), he nevertheless admits that he can be an asshole when pissed.

Fifteen vodka-and-cranberries changes everything," he confesses, a little shamefaced. A person I know named Dick comes out. He only surfaces when I'm having a personal crisis or when liquor's involved. Dick is very obnoxious and loud and demanding, to say the least."

Dick became notorious in the mid-90's when Creed were trying to make a name for themselves in the clubs around Tallahassee .

That scene was all cover bands," Stapp recalls. People paid no attention to the bands - they were there to drink and hook up - but when we broke into that scene I refused to be background music. I got drunk as hell a couple of times and told everyone in the audience, 'Listen, motherf**kers - listen to me or get the f**k out of here!'. It was the turning point for our live shows, because the next week the place was jam-packed with people wondering, 'What's this psycho guy gonna do next?'."

We all used to do a shot of Jaegermeister before we went onstage," Scott Phillips remembers. Then we realised that the more we drank, the more we sucked, so we made a band rule: you cannot be drunk or under the influence during a show."

This from a man of 26 whose parents still don't know he smokes.

Phillips chuckles: I'm sure they'd hug me if they knew that all I do is smoke cigarettes, that I don't shoot up heroin. But as for now, I only smoke off the record."

No drugs, not much booze and sex at home with their wives and girlfriends. If Creed are guilty of any sin, it is pride.

I could lie," Scott Stapp smiles. Of course we want to be successful, but it doesn't consume us. If this record wasn't successful, the first thought in my head would be, 'Why don't you people get it? It's right there in front of you!'."

Creed has become our whole life for three years. Our partners have all felt like they were of secondary importance. I have to say I have made this band the most important thing in my life. You have to. And I feel like we did the right thing."

.Paul Elliott

.Photos by Tony Woolliscroft

.Typed by Robyn