Creed gets U.S. flags waving

Highbeam Research February 21, 2002

Part rock concert, part religious revival, part Fourth of July celebration, Creed's concert Tuesday night at Olympics Medal Plaza was unlike any of the other Hallmark-sponsored music events.

Creed plays arena rock -- with screeching electric guitar riffs and screaming vocals from leather-clad lead singer Scott Stapp. But whereas previous plaza performers have congratulated athletes and hailed the Olympic Games, the three-man group was unabashedly American.

"In the last seven months, the generation above me, my generation and the generation after me have begun to have pride in this country again," Stapp said. When he called out for the crowd to "lift your hands with me in unity," the 20,000 fans complied.

Later, he brought onstage six kids "who suffered a tragic loss that day in September," gently touching the head of each.

"There's such an energy here," Stapp said. "Such a feeling of unity and peace." And rock 'n' roll.