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Scott Stapp | |
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.jpg) Stapp in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Anthony Scott Flippen (1973-08-08)August 8, 1973 (age 52) Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
| Labels | Napalm |
| Member of | |
| Formerly of | Art of Anarchy |
Spouses | |
| Website | scottstapp |
Scott Stapp (bornAnthony Scott Flippen; August 8, 1973)[1][2] is an American singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist of the rock bandCreed. He has also frontedArt of Anarchy and has released four solo albums.
Stapp has received several accolades, including numerousRIAA certifications. Stapp and Creed bandmateMark Tremonti won aGrammy Award for Best Rock Song in 2001 as the writers of the Creed song "With Arms Wide Open".[3] In 2006,Hit Parader ranked Stapp as the 68th-greatestheavy metal vocalist.
Stapp was a founding member and the original lead vocalist of American rock bandCreed. After meeting his future bandmateMark Tremonti atLake Highland Preparatory School inOrlando, Florida, Stapp reunited with Tremonti while both attendedFlorida State University. The two quickly developed a friendship based on their mutual passion for music. Stapp formed Creed with Tremonti in 1994, with fellow membersBrian Marshall andScott Phillips joining as bassist and drummer, respectively.[4]
The band released its debut albumMy Own Prison in 1997 to mainstream success, selling over six million copies.[5] Four singles were released from the album: "My Own Prison", "Torn", "What's This Life For", and "One". All four singles reached the Top Three onBillboard'sHot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The album was followed in 1999 byHuman Clay, which was an immediate success and certifieddiamond and eleven times platinum by theRIAA.[5]
The band released another multi-platinum selling album,Weathered, in 2001.[6] The tour to support this record was overwhelmingly successful but ended with a controversial concert in Chicago. This concert ultimately led to the band's breakup.[7]
In 2004, Creed announced that it had disbanded, citing tension between Stapp and the other members.[8] Creed released itsGreatest Hits album in November 2004.
In 2009, it was announced that Creed had reunited.[9] The band's fourth record,Full Circle, was released in October 2009. Creed supported the album by touring throughout North and South America, Europe, and Australia during the summers of 2009 and 2010.[10]
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In March 2012, Stapp reconvened with his Creed bandmates to rehearse for their "2 Nights" tour, during which the band performed its first two albums,My Own Prison andHuman Clay, back to back in their entirety.[11] It was announced that Stapp and Mark Tremonti would enter the studio to start recording new songs in June,[12] but no progress was made. In October 2013, Stapp noted in an interview that extensive work was done on the new album throughout 2011 and 2012. However, the project was suddenly abandoned, and Stapp stated he was unaware of the reason. Stapp also hinted that the relationship between himself and Tremonti had once again broken down, leaving the future of the band uncertain.[13] Mark Tremonti said that his relationship with Stapp went south during the reunion tour when Stapp indicated that he thought Mark would end Alter Bridge to focus solely on Creed, which Mark was not willing to do under any circumstance.
In 2014, Stapp maintained that the band was still together.[14][15][16]
On July 17, 2023, Creed announced they would reunite for their first shows in 12 years in 2024, when they set sail the "Summer of '99" cruise in April 2024 as headliners of the rock voyage.[17]
After Creed announced its breakup in 2004, Stapp recorded the song "Relearn Love" with7 Aurelius andThe Tea Party for the albumThe Passion of the Christ: Songs, a collection of tracks inspired by the 2004Mel Gibson filmThe Passion of the Christ.[18] He then began working on his debut solo album. TitledThe Great Divide, the record was released in the U.S. on November 22, 2005, peaking at No. 19 on theBillboard 200. "The Great Divide", "Justify", and "Surround Me" were released as singles. The album was certifiedplatinum on December 14, 2005.The Great Divide has since reached double platinum.[19]
Stapp was ranked as the 68th greatestheavy metal vocalist of all time byHit Parader in 2006.[20]
On August 18, 2010, Stapp wrote: "I'm stripping down all the Creed hits, as well as my solo material, in a manner fans have never heard before but have long been screaming for."[21] Creed's touring rhythm guitaristEric Friedman joined Stapp on the acoustic tour.[22] The short solo acoustic tour began September 28, 2010, and concluded November 20, 2010.[23]
In the spring of 2010, Stapp recorded an anthem for the National League baseball team theFlorida Marlins entitled "Marlins Will Soar". The song was a rewrite of Stapp's song "You Will Soar," using different lyrics and a slightly different melody in the verses. According toThe Huffington Post, "Marlins Will Soar" was met with extremely negative reviews.[24]
Stapp appeared onCarlos Santana's solo albumGuitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time, acover album on which Stapp sings on the cover of theCreedence Clearwater Revival song "Fortunate Son". The album was released on September 21, 2010.[25]
Stapp confirmed in 2010 that his next solo album would be devoted to the topics oflust and love.[26] Eleven tracks from the album were recorded in late 2010.[27] The album was later shelved indefinitely. A song from this unreleased album, "A Prayer for Sunrise", was released in 2012 to promote Stapp's autobiography.[citation needed]
In 2013, Stapp released his second solo album,Proof of Life.[28] On October 8, 2013, the song "Slow Suicide" went to radio.[29]
On March 22, 2019, Stapp released the single "Purpose for Pain". His albumThe Space Between the Shadows was released on July 19, 2019. Stapp began touring in support of the album in June 2019.[30] In mid-2019, Stapp planned to tour the United States with American rock bandMesser.[31][32]
In 2021, Stapp collaborated with electronic dance music artistsWooli and Trivecta on their song "Light Up The Sky", which was released on Ophelia Records.[33]
On May 3, 2016, Stapp announced that he would replaceScott Weiland (who died on December 3, 2015) as the lead singer ofArt of Anarchy.[34] "The Madness", the band's first single with Stapp as lead singer, was released in August 2016. The band released its second album (and first with Stapp), also calledThe Madness, on March 24, 2017.[35] The album has received critical accolades.[36] The album also received a 10/10 rating from Amps and Green Screens.[37][38]
In February 2018, it was reported that Stapp was being sued by Art of Anarchy for allegedly refusing to promoteThe Madness or tour in support of the album, havingbreached contractual obligations in the process.[39][40]
In December 2020, it was announced that Stapp would portrayFrank Sinatra in abiopic film based on the life of U.S. PresidentRonald Reagan.[41]
In 2000, Stapp founded the With Arms Wide Open Foundation, a nonprofit organization "dedicated to helping underprivileged children and families around the world." The foundation has donated over $1 million to various causes.[42]
In early 2012, to promote fundraising for victims of the2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Stapp and his wife, in cooperation with theU.S. Embassy in Tokyo,IsraAid, theU.S. Armed Forces, and theUnited Service Organizations, traveled to Japan and visited with victims of the tsunami in affected towns includingSendai andIshinomaki along Japan's northeast coastline. Stapp also performed an acoustic show on board theUSSGeorge Washington at theYokosuka Naval Base for U.S. troops stationed in Japan to thank and express his appreciation for them.[43]
Stapp was born Anthony Scott Flippen on August 8, 1973, inOrlando, Florida.[1][2] He was raised by his mother, Lynda, and his stepfather, Steven Stapp, a dentist, whose surname he took.[44] Artists that influenced him to pursue a music career includesElvis Presley,U2,Def Leppard, andthe Doors.[45][46] He was influenced byElvis Presley due to his mother being a big fan and got into the school choir by singing Elvis songs.[47] His first ever performance was when he was nine years old, singing "Yesterday" bythe Beatles at Bear Lake Elementary School in the auditorium.[48] He graduated fromLake Highland Preparatory School.[49]
Stapp is a Christian. "I would feel a connection with God when I wrote the words and then when I would sing the songs, learning the songs, I would feel the Holy Spirit," confirmed Stapp in a 2013 interview. He wrote amemoir,Sinner's Creed, which was released byTyndale House on October 2, 2012.[50] In apodcast interview withTheo Von, he claimed that his parents would physically abuse him "in the name of God", and that he would live his life "on a timer", having to finish certain activities by a certain time to avoid further punishment.[51]
Stapp stated in his memoir that his maternal grandfather was ofCherokee ancestry.[52]
In 1997, Stapp married Hillaree Burns. They were married for sixteen months and divorced in 1998. Stapp has a son, Jagger, with Burns. After the couple's divorce, Stapp retained full custody of Jagger.[53]
On February 11, 2006, Stapp married 2004Miss New York USA winner and modelJaclyn Nesheiwat.[54] Together they have a daughter and a son.[55][56] In November 2014, Jaclyn filed for divorce.[57] The couple eventually sought help and continued together.[58] The couple had their third child, a son, in November 2017.[59] In May 2023, Stapp reportedly filed for divorce 11 months after a divorce, which was originally filed by Jaclyn, was withdrawn. According to a source, he and Jaclyn knew the marriage was falling apart but continued to try and make it work.[60] The divorce has yet to be finalized.
In 2003, Stappcontemplated suicide after drinking a bottle ofJack Daniel's whiskey. He retrieved twoMP5s from his collection and put the guns to his head, but did not pull the triggers after looking at a picture of his son, Jagger. He later said he had been convinced that anyone involved with Creed wanted him dead so he would become a "Kurt Cobain martyr-type" and increase record sales. Says Stapp, "I had crazy thoughts going through my head."[61] He later said that instead of killing himself, he fired a few rounds in his home. He said, "I was in the throes ofprednisone coming out of my body [...] I shot a few rounds off and instantly was like, 'What the hell am I doing?' So I put the guns away and ran out to the garage and got the putty and patched the holes."[62]
OnThanksgiving night of 2005, Stapp was involved in a fight with members of the band311 at the Harbor Court Hotel inBaltimore. Members of 311 have said Stapp started the fight. After five minutes, hotel security broke up the fight and removed Stapp from the hotel.[63] Stapp claimed that he did not instigate the altercation.[64]
Stapp was arrested on February 12, 2006 (one day after his second wedding), for suspected intoxication.[65]
In March 2006, Stapp filed a lawsuit to block the release of a sex video involving himself,Kid Rock, and four women.[66] The suit was settled in 2007, with the defendant agreeing to pay Stapp an undisclosed sum and to refrain from distributing the video.[67]
Stapp has said he attempted suicide inMiami in 2006. According to Stapp, he jumped over a balcony and fell 40 feet (12 m), fracturing his skull and breaking his hip and nose. He credited rapperT.I. with saving his life, stating, "I laid out there for two and a half hours and my guardian angel showed up. He immediately took care of the situation and saved my life."[68][69] T.I. confirmed the incident, although he did not know who Stapp was at the time.[70]
In a 2006Rolling Stone interview, Stapp acknowledged that he had become addicted toPercocet,Xanax, and was withdrawing from prednisone for vocal cord inflammation during Creed's tour in support ofWeathered.[71]
On May 20, 2007, Stapp was charged with one count of felony assault stemming from adomestic violence incident. Stapp was later set free onsupervised release.[72] Stapp apologized to his wife and the public on May 23, 2007, and the charge was later dropped.[73]
In 2015, Stapp toldPeople he had been diagnosed withbipolar disorder following a psychotic break, where he drove across the United States, allegedly following an angel on the hood of his car. He claimed ISIS targeting his children's school, millions of dollars had been stolen from his bank account, and that he was a CIA agent, tasked with killing the then-US president, Barack Obama. He commented that the diagnosis was "a big sign [sic] of relief, because finally, we had an answer" about the reasons for his mental health difficulties.[74][75] In the same interview, Stapp indicated that he was sober and working through a12-step program.[74]
| Year | Album details | Peak positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| US [76] | |||
| 2005 | The Great Divide
| 19 | RIAA: Platinum[77] |
| 2013 | Proof of Life
| 37 | |
| 2019 | The Space Between the Shadows
| 137 | |
| 2024 | Higher Power
| —[a] |
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Live and Unplugged[b] |
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Main. Rock [82] | US Rock Air. [83] | US Adult Top 40[84] | US Chr. Rock | AUS [85] | |||
| 2004 | "Relearn Love" | — | — | — | — | — | The Passion of the Christ: Songs |
| 2005 | "The Great Divide" | 20 | — | 24 | — | 91 | The Great Divide |
| 2006 | "Justify" | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Surround Me" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013 | "Slow Suicide" | 38 | — | — | 1 | — | Proof of Life |
| 2014 | "Dying to Live" | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Break Out" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015 | "Proof of Life" | — | — | — | 2 | — | |
| "Only One" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019 | "Purpose for Pain" | 23 | — | — | — | — | The Space Between the Shadows |
| "Name" | 39 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Face of the Sun" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Gone Too Soon" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020 | "Survivor" | 24 | — | — | — | — | |
| 2021 | "Light Up The Sky"(withWooli and Trivecta)[33] | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single |
| 2023 | "Higher Power" | 10 | 22 | — | — | — | Higher Power |
| "What I Deserve"(featuringYiannis Papadopoulos) | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Black Butterfly" | 5 | 16 | — | — | — | ||
| 2024 | "Deadman's Trigger" | 9 | 33 | — | — | — | |
| "If These Walls Could Talk"(featuring Dorothy)[86] | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released. | |||||||
| Year | Song | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "The Great Divide" | Unknown |
| 2013 | "Slow Suicide" | |
| 2019 | "Purpose for Pain" | |
| 2024 | "If These Walls Could Talk" | Nick Peterson[86] |
| 2025 | "Deadman's Trigger" | Tyler Dunning Evans |
 | This section of abiography of a living persondoes notinclude anyreferences or sources. Please help by addingreliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourcedmust be removed immediately, especially if potentiallylibelous or harmful.(March 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
'What if we just call ourselves Creed?' I asked... At the time it was 1994, my sophomore year.
My grandfather - my mother's father - was Edward Davis of the Davis Cherokee Indian Family of Cherokee, North Carolina.
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