Creed

Creed is an 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, and over 40 million albums worldwide, becoming the ninth best-selling artist of the 2000s.

Along with founding members Scott Stapp and Mark 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 another tour and is currently at work on a fifth album.

For their first recordings, they recorded their debut album, My Own Prison, for $6,000. and sold 6,000 copies throughout the state of Florida. In May 1997, Diana Meltzer from Wind-Up Records heard the album for the first time and decided almost immediately that she wanted to sign them to the label. My Own Prison was remixed, given a more radio-friendly sound and re-released. 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. My Own Prison sold over six million copies.

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.

Their second album, Human Clay was released in 1999 with the album's first single, "Higher," which spent a record-breaking 17 weeks on the top of the rock radio charts. Human Clay was an instant and overwhelming success debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 and sold 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. 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 only Grammy Award for "With Arms Wide Open" for Best Rock Song in 2001.

Weathered was released in November 2001 and six singles were released from the album: "My Sacrifice," "One Last Breath," "Hide," "Don't Stop Dancing," "Weathered," and "Bullets." 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.

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. Almost simultaneous with the announcement of Creed's break-up, Stapp opted for a solo career. In November 2004, Creed's Greatest Hits was released after which Stapp released his debut solo album The Great Divide in 2005.

In April 2009, Creed's website announced that the band had reunited for a new tour and plans for a new album. Creed's reunion tour kicked off on August 6, 2009 and concluded on October 20, one week before the release of their new album.

Full Circle, Creed's first album in eight years, featured the first single from Full Circle, "Overcome," along with the second single, "Rain". The band's first live recording, the record-breaking concert film titled Creed Live, was released in December 2009.

Creed's fifth studio album and a tour are possible for the summer of 2012.