June 10, 2004, 9:08AM
Members of Creed decide to part ways
By Stapp.
Copyright 2004 Stapp Still
In less than a decade, the anthem-rock band Creed achieved chart-topping success, toured the world and sold more than 24 million albums in the United States.
On Friday, bandmembers and Wind-up Records announced that the group will disband, having run its artistic course.
"It's kind of the bittersweet end to an amazing chapter in our lives," drummer Scott Phillips said Friday. "We're all extremely excited about the next chapter."
November marked the beginning of the end. MTV reported that the band would release a greatest-hits disc and that singer Scott Stapp and guitarist Mark Tremonti were working on separate side projects. A month later, Tremonti and Phillips advertised for a singer for the new band they were forming, Alter Bridge.
Phillips said Creed convened late last year to start work on a new record but described the session as not "comfortable or creative."
"I think by February we all knew this was going to be it," he said.
What lies ahead?
Tremonti, Phillips and original Creed bassist Brian Marshall found a singer for Alter Bridge in former Mayfield Four vocalist Myles Kennedy. Phillips described the nascent group's sound as "heavier rock" than Creed's, with no hint of the Christian themes that frequently surfaced in Stapp's lyrics.
Alter Bridge has signed with Wind-up and is scheduled to release its debut album Aug. 10.
Stapp, known for his dramatic onstage flourishes, has been in the studio writing and recording a solo project. A possible title is Ego Machine. His first solo effort appears on a compilation album of songs inspired by the film The Passion of the Christ.
"Creed was one of the most amazing journeys through music and friendship (that) I am blessed to say I was a part of," said Stapp. "I just want to thank the fans who supported us and became part of the Creed experience."
That Creed members past and present plan to continue playing together while Stapp goes it alone might suggest where the fissure lies.
"There were artistic differences, but there were certainly personal elements to (the breakup) too," counters Phillips. "You spend that much time around somebody and you can start to work on each other's nerves a little. Take from that what you will."
In addition to selling six million copies each of the 1997 debut album My Own Prison and 2001's Weathered, as well as 11 million of 1999's Human Clay, Creed enjoyed eight No. 1 rock singles and earned numerous awards, including a Grammy.
No release date has been set for the greatest-hits album, which likely will include My Sacrifice, Higher and With Arms Wide Open. A Wind-up spokesman said the end of the year was likely.
