Creed frontman finds balance in solo break

Octobe 21 2010

Scott Stapp takes a breather from 'the big rock show'

Scott Stapp performs Friday at Century Casino Event Centre. Tickets at Century Casino and Ticketmaster.

Had they allowed it, the members of the recently reunited Creed would have been thrown right back on the proverbial treadmill -- thrust into "the fast-paced rock 'n' roll lifestyle that spontaneously combusted on us," says the group's frontman, Scott Stapp.

That would have made sense, too, from a business standpoint.

After all, the post-grunge rock band that sold an estimated 40 million records worldwide in the late '90s and early 2000s, before splintering in 2004, had built up some real momentum with their comeback.

A new album, Full Circle, sold respectfully (though not approaching the multi-platinum numbers achieved in the pre-downloading age) and the reunion tour -- which saw the critically savaged band hitting amphitheatres last summer -- had been a success.

As showbiz wisdom would have it, this was a time to either extend the tour or release a new album -- preferably both -- as soon as humanly possible.

Instead, Stapp's bandmates are back on the road without him, promoting an album with their side group Alter Bridge, while the Creed frontman has launched an intimate solo acoustic tour, which brings him to the Century Casino on Friday.

"This is more of a balance for us," explains Stapp, 37. "The Creed thing is a big rock 'n' roll circus and Mark (Mark Tremonti, the band's lead guitarist and co-songwriter) and I both have families now. . . . This is the track for us, for longevity, to have Creed forever, for as long as we live."

For Stapp, who plans to release his second solo album next year, the acoustic detour offers him "a breather from the big rock show" and the opportunity to "push boundaries with a different artistic vibe." All of this will allow Creed to return at peak form when the time is right, he says.

That's not something that seemed possible when the group broke up amid much acrimony in 2004.

"We definitely needed a break," says Stapp. "We had a meteoric rise and we really were in a bubble for seven or eight years. We worked so hard and toured the world trying to chase our dream, and the rock 'n' roll machine can take a toll."

It certainly took its toll on Stapp, who struggled with drugs and alcohol while finding himself at odds with other rockers (including Kid Rock, Dave Grohl and the band 311), as well as with law enforcement.

In 2007, Stapp was charged with aggravated assault following a domestic incident involving his wife. The charge was later reduced to a misdemeanour. Now, after a stint in rehab, Stapp says he's turned his life around and he credits both his wife and his faith in God for pulling him through.

"Tough love, that's what my wife gave to me," Stapp says. "Having someone there to love me and stand by me and support me, and speak the truth. . . . She's been my best friend, and that's what I needed."

The singer, who's often been called a Christian rocker (to his chagrin) for incorporating his spiritual beliefs into his songs, says he also had to "get reconnected with God" during his time of crisis.

After Stapp got his life back on track, he began to realize "there was a void" without Creed.

"We needed to get back together and play some music and talk about this amazing journey we had been on," Stapp says. "We had to see if we wanted to do more of it. And we did. We want to continue to do that in the future."

The key to Creed's new-found harmony is that he and Tremonti have learned how to communicate for the first time.

"We mainly communicated in our friendship through our music," Stapp says. "Early on, we never had to deal with any kind of pressures or business or drama."

Thus, once Creed hit the big time, the two men found themselves ill equipped to deal with the realities of rock stardom.

But, according to Stapp, all of that has changed since the band reunited.

"We've been able to mature and express to each other that we do have other interests," he says. "We do seek to create and jam with other artists. . . .

"With maturity, we've figured that out. And right now, it's all good, man."