Editing Creed (band) (section)

==History==
===Early years (1994–1996)===
[[file:Scott Stapp 2016 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Founding member, vocalist [[Scott Stapp]] (pictured in 2016)]]
Creed began in [[Tallahassee, Florida]] in 1994.<ref name="Stapp 2012">{{cite book |first=Scott |last=Stapp |title=Sinner's Creed |date=2012 |pages=97–98 |publisher=Tyndale House |isbn= 9781414377216 |quote='What if we just call ourselves Creed?' I asked... At the time it was 1994, my sophomore year.}}</ref> Founding members vocalist [[Scott Stapp]] and guitarist [[Mark Tremonti]] had been classmates in high school and friends at [[Florida State University]].<ref name="allmusic.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/creed-p278625/biography |title=Creed |website=[[AllMusic]] |first=Steve |last=Huey |access-date=February 4, 2011 |archive-date=January 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110062242/http://allmusic.com/artist/creed-p278625/biography |url-status=live }}</ref> Stapp and Tremonti realized that they had a mutual love of writing music and performing. After multiple discussions and much time spent writing songs, several of which addressed themes of [[Christianity|Christian theology]] and spirituality (due to Stapp's spiritual background as the stepson of a [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] minister), the duo held auditions that led to the recruitment of bassist [[Brian Marshall]], drummer [[Scott Phillips (musician)|Scott Phillips]], and rhythm guitarist Brian Brasher completing the quintet. The five-piece band lasted through 1994, with Brasher leaving in 1995. Creed decided to remain as a quartet. The four musicians had already written and collaborated on four songs that would form part of their chart-topping debut album, ''[[My Own Prison]]''. The band found local success, playing shows in bars and small dives in Tallahassee. In 2012, Stapp wrote that Creed first performed under the name "Naked Toddler" at Yianni's in Tallahassee; the name was picked up by Tremonti from a headline in that day's newspaper, but the reaction that night to the name was negative. The group was trying to find ideas for a better name when Marshall said he had been in a band called Mattox Creed. Stapp latched onto the ‘creed’ aspect, and the band agreed.<ref name="Stapp 2012"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNTO2orJs3I| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211103/GNTO2orJs3I| archive-date=2021-11-03 | url-status=live|title=Creed's Scott Stapp - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?| website=[[YouTube]]|date=February 3, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===''My Own Prison'' and rise to fame (1997–1998)===
Wanting "a real show at a club", they managed to persuade the owner of a bar in Tallahassee to book them by claiming that they could guarantee an audience of 200 people.<ref name="hitquarters">{{cite interview |url=http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_Joel_Mark_Interview.html |title= Interview With Joel Mark |publisher= | work= [[HitQuarters]] |first= Joel| last= Mark| date=October 9, 2000| interviewer=  Luci Vazquez |access-date= October 19, 2011 |archive-date= September 27, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130927154404/http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_Joel_Mark_Interview.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Owner and manager [[Jeff Hanson (music executive)|Jeff Hanson]] recalled that the band had played mostly cover versions, but two original songs stood out and impressed him so much that he promptly signed them to his management and promotions company and set about developing their act.<ref name="hitquarters.com">{{cite interview| first= Jeff | last=Hanson | interviewer= Jan Blumentrath | url=http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_Jeff_Hanson_Interview.html |title=Interview With Jeff Hanson |publisher= | website= HitQuarters |date= September 13, 2010 |access-date= October 5, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170904051946/http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview%2Fopar%2Fintrview_Jeff_Hanson_Interview.html |archive-date= September 4, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> For their first recordings he matched the band up with [[John Kurzweg]], a producer and friend of Hanson's who he felt was an appropriate fit. Together they recorded their debut album for $6,000, which was funded by Hanson.<ref name="hitquarters.com" /> The album, titled ''[[My Own Prison]]'', was initially self-released on their own label, Blue Collar Records in April 1997, selling 6,000 copies throughout Florida.

''My Own Prison'' had been circulating around the music industry for a while when, in May 1997, [[Diana Meltzer]] from [[Wind-up Records|Wind-Up Records]] heard the album and decided almost immediately that she wanted to sign them to the label,<ref name= "hitquarters3">{{cite interview |url=http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_Diana_Meltzer_int.html |title= Interview With Diana Meltzer | first= Diana | last= Meltzer | interviewer= Stefan Sörin |publisher= | website= HitQuarters |date= July 7, 2003 |access-date=October 19, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110908185725/http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview%2Fopar%2Fintrview_Diana_Meltzer_int.html |archive-date= September 8, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which had creative issues with [[Baboon (band)|Baboon]] over the latter's reluctance to alter their image and sound to suit the label's demands. Meltzer later said that she heard "an arena band".<ref name="hitquarters3" /> Within the same week, Meltzer, together with Wind-up president Steve Lerner, CEO [[Alan Meltzer]], and [[artists and repertoire|A&R]] representative Joel Mark, flew to Tallahassee to see Creed perform live and decide for certain whether to offer them a contract. "Seeing the energy in the room when Scott Stapp stepped up to the mic, and hearing his powerful voice fill the room, alongside Mark Tremonti's now legendary guitar riffs and that big Creed anthemic rock sound, was all I needed," she told HitQuarters.<ref name="hitquarters3" /> According to Tremonti in his "Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction" video in 2015, Creed had been rejected by Atlantic and Cherry Universal Records before Wind-up flew down to sign them.<ref name="p883">{{cite web | last=Schaffner | first=Lauryn | title=Creed Play 'Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?' | website=Loudwire | date=2024-04-18 | url=https://loudwire.com/creed-wikipedia-fact-fiction/ | access-date=2024-06-21}}</ref> The band signed with Wind-up Records in 1997.
[[file:Brian Marshall from Creed.jpg|thumb|upright|Bassist [[Brian Marshall]]]]
''My Own Prison'' was remixed, given a more radio-friendly sound, and re-released by Wind-up Records in August 1997. Four singles were released from the album: "[[My Own Prison (song)|My Own Prison]]", "Torn", "[[What's This Life For]]", and "[[One (Creed song)|One]]". Each of these songs reached No.&nbsp;1 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks]] chart, making Creed the first band to accomplish such a feat with a debut album.<ref name="allmusic.com" /> With little [[MTV]] exposure, media coverage, or label support, ''My Own Prison'' sold extremely well, moving over six million copies and going six times [[RIAA certification|platinum]]. Creed continued to top year-end charts and was recognized as the Rock Artist of the Year at the 1998 [[Billboard Music Award]]s. ''My Own Prison'' was also the highest-selling heavy music record of 1998 on [[Nielsen SoundScan]]'s Hard Music chart.<ref name="creedfeed">{{cite web |url=http://www.creedfeed.com/band/ |title=Creed Bio |publisher=| website= CreedFeed.com |access-date=February 28, 2013 |archive-date=March 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303211439/http://creedfeed.com/band/ |url-status= live }}</ref> The band's hit song "My Own Prison" was also featured as a live performance on the charity album ''[[Live in the X Lounge]]'' in 1998. The band covered [[Alice Cooper]]'s song "[[I'm Eighteen]]" for ''[[The Faculty]]'' soundtrack in 1998.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/songs/creed/646500 |title=Creed |publisher=[[Artistdirect]] |access-date= February 4, 2011 |archive-date= January 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128044344/http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/songs/creed/646500 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Critical reception toward ''My Own Prison'' was mostly favorable. [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] from [[AllMusic]] gave it four out of five stars and said that Creed "work well within their boundaries" despite "basically [falling] into the category of post-Seattle bands who temper their grunge with a dose of [[Live (band)|Live]] earnestness."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/my-own-prison-r307727 |title=My Own Prison&nbsp;– Creed |website=[[AllMusic]] |first=Stephen Thomas | last= Erlewine |access-date= February 28, 2013 |archive-date=March 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314091112/http://www.allmusic.com/album/my-own-prison-r307727 |url-status=live }}</ref> The album lyrically deals with themes of questioning and struggling with faith and [[spirituality]].

===''Human Clay'' and Marshall's departure (1999–2000)===
With money made from ''My Own Prison'', the band started to write for their second album, ''[[Human Clay]]''. The album's first single, "[[Higher (Creed song)|Higher]]", spent a record-breaking 17 weeks on the top of the rock radio charts.<ref name="allmusic.com" /><ref name="higher">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail-retail-stores-not/4642080-1.html |title=Creed Goes "higher' In The Record Books |first=Mark |last= Marone |magazine=Billboard |date= January 21, 2000 |access-date=February 28, 2013 |archive-date=August 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824163510/http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail-retail-stores-not/4642080-1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2009, "Higher" was ranked as the 95th greatest hard rock song of all time by [[VH1]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stereogum.com/43591/vh1s_100_greatest_hard_rock_songs/list/ |title=VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs |date=January 5, 2009 |publisher=| website= Stereogum.com |access-date= February 28, 2013 |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717180122/http://stereogum.com/43591/vh1s_100_greatest_hard_rock_songs/list/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The album was released in 1999, when ''My Own Prison'' was still doing reasonably well.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/creed/biography/ |title=Creed Biography |first=Steve |last=Huey |publisher=[[Yahoo! Music]]}}</ref> However, ''Human Clay'' was an instant and overwhelming success debuting at No.&nbsp;1 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and selling over ten million copies over the next two years, allowing it to become one of the few rock albums to be [[RIAA certification|certified diamond]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]].<ref name="allmusic.com" /> The album was the band's first to hit No.&nbsp;1 in the U.S., where it debuted with first week sales of 315,000, and stayed on top for two weeks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427609/19991013/creed_3_.jhtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630061410/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427609/19991013/creed_3_.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 30, 2012 |title=Creed Remains On Top As Live Makes Big Chart Debut |date=October 13, 1999 |publisher=MTV |first=Robert|last=Mancini}}</ref> After the release of "Higher" and then the album in late 1999, three follow-up singles were released in 2000: "[[What If (Creed song)|What If]]", "[[With Arms Wide Open]]", and "Are You Ready?". The first three singles topped radio charts, giving Creed a total of seven chart-topping singles.<ref name="allmusic.com" /> The band would later go on to win a [[Grammy Award]] for "With Arms Wide Open" for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Song|Best Rock Song]] in 2001.<ref name="grammy">{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/g/news_feature_grammy01/grammy01frame.html |title=2001 Grammy Winners |publisher=MTV |access-date= February 4, 2011 |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106162455/http://www.mtv.com/bands/g/news_feature_grammy01/grammy01frame.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Reviews for ''Human Clay'' were largely positive. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from [[AllMusic]] said that the record "does make it clear that there is an audience for post-grunge hard rock, as long as it's delivered without pretension and as long as it meets the audience's desire for straight-ahead, hard-hitting music."<ref name="AM">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/human-clay-r429719/review |title=Human Clay&nbsp;– Creed |website=AllMusic | first=Stephen Thomas | last= Erlewine |access-date= February 28, 2013 |archive-date= March 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315101308/http://www.allmusic.com/album/human-clay-r429719/review |url-status=live }}</ref> The lyrical content of ''Human Clay'' is a slight departure from that of ''My Own Prison'', touching on subjects such as fatherhood ("With Arms Wide Open") and [[lucid dream]]ing ("Higher"), as well as darker, more violent themes such as [[sexual abuse]] ("Wash Away Those Years") and [[hostility]] ("What If").<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.passionbreedsfollowers.com/media/print/areviews/gtm.shtml |title=Creed&nbsp;– Human Clay |publisher= Passion Breeds Followers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715050840/http://www.passionbreedsfollowers.com/media/print/areviews/gtm.shtml |archive-date=July 15, 2011 }}</ref>

In March 2000, an authorized home video about Creed was announced on the band's website, but never released.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.creednet.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000302000906/http://www.creednet.com/ | archive-date=March 2, 2000 | title=The official website of Creed}}</ref> During the summer of 2000, bassist Brian Marshall began a spiral into [[alcoholism]]. The band had a meeting with management to discuss Marshall's future. Stapp and Tremonti supported the idea of Marshall going to rehab and attempted to talk Marshall into going, but he refused. Initially, the public thought Marshall was let go because he criticized [[Pearl Jam]] frontman [[Eddie Vedder]] in a radio interview with [[KNDD]] in June 2000, claiming that Scott Stapp was a better songwriter, and criticized Pearl Jam's recent albums for "having songs without [[Hook (music)|hooks]]."<ref>{{cite web|first1=David|last1=Basham|title=Creed Bassist Disses Pearl Jam in Radio Interview| url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1427593/creed-bassist-disses-pearl-jam-in-radio-interview/| publisher= | website = MTV.com |date=June 19, 2000|access-date=December 1, 2014|archive-date=November 8, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141108135241/http://www.mtv.com/news/1427593/creed-bassist-disses-pearl-jam-in-radio-interview/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Stapp later distanced the rest of the band from Marshall's comments and stated, "Yes, we get tired of the PJ question, but there is no excuse for the arrogance and stupidity [of Marshall]. I ask you all not to judge Creed as a band, because the statements made were not the band's feelings, they were Brian's. I'm sorry if Brian offended anyone, and he has already apologized for his comments."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.real.com/music/genre/Christian_Rock/articles/375445/-related-articles-page-5/|title=Christian Rock - Christian/Gospel - Music |website= uk.real.com |date=March 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302212304/http://uk.real.com/music/genre/Christian_Rock/articles/375445/-related-articles-page-5/|access-date=August 21, 2021|archive-date=March 2, 2010}}</ref> Tremonti and Stapp were concerned for Marshall and their collective friendships, but soon after the controversy, Marshall formed a new band called Grand Luxx with his old Mattox Creed bandmates.<ref name="allmusic.com" /> Stapp stated that Marshall's leaving was his choice and was unrelated to the Pearl Jam comments.<ref name="scott stapp interview mtv">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stapp_scott/news_feature_080904/index2.jhtml |title=Scott Stapp Breaks His Silence |first=Joe |last=D'Angelo |website=MTV.com |date= August 9, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040814024301/http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stapp_scott/news_feature_080904/index2.jhtml |archive-date=August 14, 2004 }}</ref> [[Brett Hestla]], from the band [[Virgos Merlot]], replaced Marshall as a touring member of Creed.

===''Weathered'' and break-up (2001–2004)===
[[File:Creed (band) in 2002 (tweak).jpg|thumb|Creed in 2002. From left to right: Hestla, Phillips, Stapp, and Tremonti]]
Creed worked on their third album for most of 2001, with Tremonti choosing to play bass on the record to "[preserve] the band's initial core," although Hestla remained in Creed's touring lineup. ''[[Weathered]]'' was released on November 20, 2001. Six singles were released from the album: "[[My Sacrifice]]" (which earned the band a nomination for a [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal]] in 2003), "[[Bullets (Creed song)|Bullets]]", "[[One Last Breath (Creed song)|One Last Breath]]", "[[Hide (Creed song)|Hide]]", "[[Don't Stop Dancing]]", and "[[Weathered (song)|Weathered]]". The album was a commercial bestseller<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rock.about.com/od/creed/p/creed.htm |title=Creed Biography&nbsp;– Profile of Rock Band Creed |first=Tim |last=Grierson |publisher=| website= [[About.com]] |access-date= February 4, 2011 |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707075038/http://rock.about.com/od/creed/p/creed.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was certified platinum six times over and debuted at No.&nbsp;1 on the ''Billboard'' Top 200. It remained at that spot for eight weeks, a record which Creed notably shares with [[The Beatles]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/creed_3_/artist.jhtml#biographyEnd |title=Creed&nbsp;– Full Biography |publisher=| website= MTV.com |access-date=February 28, 2013 |archive-date=March 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305004133/http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/creed_3_/artist.jhtml#biographyEnd |url-status= dead }}</ref> The tour to promote ''Weathered'' was met with considerable controversy; it was delayed in April 2002 when Stapp suffered a concussion and vertebrae damage after being involved in a [[car crash]]. As a result, in addition to his growing addiction to alcohol, he became addicted to pain medication.
This, along with other events, led to a controversial concert on December 29, 2002, at the [[Allstate Arena]] in [[Rosemont, Illinois]], which ultimately led to the band's disunion. Four disappointed concertgoers filed a lawsuit against the band, claiming that Scott Stapp "was so intoxicated and/or medicated that he was unable to sing the lyrics of a single Creed song."<ref name="suntimes">{{cite news |url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/music/2009/08/creed_they_heard_we_missed_em.html |title=Creed: They heard we missed 'em, now they're back |date=August 25, 2009 |first=Jim |last=DeRogatis |newspaper= [[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528224809/http://blogs.suntimes.com/music/2009/08/creed_they_heard_we_missed_em.html |archive-date=May 28, 2011 }}</ref> Creed later issued an apology on Stapp's behalf,<ref name="yahoo music">{{cite web |url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/creed/news/creed-apologizes-to-fans-for-chicago-show--12063497 |title=Creed Apologizes To Fans For Chicago Show |publisher=[[Yahoo! Music]] |first=Darren |last=Davis |date=January 15, 2003 |access-date=February 28, 2013 |archive-date=November 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104102826/http://new.music.yahoo.com/creed/news/creed-apologizes-to-fans-for-chicago-show--12063497 |url-status=live }}</ref> although Stapp would later deny the claims. Ultimately, the case was dismissed.<ref name="suntimes" /> Stapp later confirmed that he was intoxicated during the concert, but he asserted that he was not incoherent.<ref name="scott stapp interview mtv" />

Creed disbanded in June 2004, after more than a year of inactivity. Tremonti cited tensions between Stapp and the rest of the band as the reasoning. He said that the relationship with Stapp had become so strained that the creative juices were no longer flowing. The reality was that Stapp was in [[Maui]] battling his addiction to alcohol and drugs.{{dead link|date=July 2023}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1488149/creed-have-been-split-up-months.jhtml |title=Creed Break Up: Mark Tremonti blames tensions between band, singer Scott Stapp. |publisher= | website= MTV.com |first=Joe |last=D'Angelo |date=June 4, 2004 |access-date=February 28, 2013 |archive-date=March 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321072516/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1488149/creed-have-been-split-up-months.jhtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> Almost simultaneous with the announcement of Creed's break-up, Stapp opted for a solo career. On November 22, 2004, Wind-up Records released Creed's ''[[Greatest Hits (Creed album)|Greatest Hits]]'' album. Stapp released his debut solo album ''[[The Great Divide (Scott Stapp album)|The Great Divide]]'' in 2005. Tremonti and Phillips reunited with Marshall to form a new band, [[Alter Bridge]], in 2004 with singer [[Myles Kennedy]], formerly of American rock band The Mayfield Four.<ref name="alter bridge">{{cite web|url=https://alterbridge.com/|title=Alter Bridge &#124; The Official Website|website=Alterbridge.com|access-date=July 16, 2021|archive-date=July 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721153335/https://alterbridge.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Reunion, ''Full Circle'' and 2012 tour (2009–2012)===
[[File:Creed_salt_lake_city.jpg|thumb|Creed returning for an encore in [[Salt Lake City]], October 2009]]
While Tremonti referred to Creed as "officially in our past" in 2006,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=51580 |title=Alter Bridge Part Ways With Wind-Up Records |date=February 28, 2006 |publisher=blabber llc |website=Blabbermouth.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622162236/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=51580 |archive-date=June 22, 2008 }}</ref> in April 2009, Creed's website announced that the band had reunited for a new tour and plans for a new album. According to Tremonti, "We're all very excited to reconnect with our fans and each other after seven long years."<ref name="creed">[http://www.creed.com The Official Website of Creed] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707085801/http://www.creed.com/ |date=July 7, 2009 }}. Creed.com. Retrieved on July 9, 2011.</ref> He later added that being in Creed again was "the last thing [he] expected." Phillips also stated: "Our career as Creed came to a very abrupt and unforeseen ending. After reflecting on some of the greatest personal and professional moments of our lives, we've come to realize that we are still very capable of continuing that career and our friendship on a grander scale than ever before."<ref name="creed" /> In an interview for ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine, Stapp elaborated on the reunion, saying, "We never felt like we weren't together. We're not looking at this as a reunion. It's more of a rebirth."<ref name="people">{{cite magazine |first=Jessica |last=Herndon |title=Band Creed Reunites for New Album |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20274934,00.html |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=April 27, 2009 |access-date=April 27, 2009 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165753/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20274934,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In June 2009, Creed performed with Marshall on bass for the first time in eight years on [[Sessions@AOL]], showing the band playing four of their hits.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=122439 |title=Reunited CREED Performs On 'AOL Sessions' |work=Blabbermouth |date=June 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627022402/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=122439 |archive-date=June 27, 2009 }}</ref> In addition, the band performed live on ''[[Fox & Friends]]'' on June 26, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tunelab.com/2009/06/26/watch-creed-on-fox-and-friends/ |title=Watch Creed On Fox And Friends |date=June 26, 2009 |publisher=TuneLab |access-date=February 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090701062252/http://tunelab.com/2009/06/26/watch-creed-on-fox-and-friends/ |archive-date=July 1, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Creed's reunion tour, with touring guitarist [[Eric Friedman]], kicked off on August 6, 2009, and concluded on October 20. ''[[Full Circle (Creed album)|Full Circle]]'', Creed's first album in eight years, came out on October 27, 2009. Stapp explained the title as follows: "It really defines and articulates, melody-wise and lyrically, what's happened with us. We've come full circle and it's a great place to be."<ref name="rstone">{{cite magazine |first=Andy |last= Greene |title= Creed's Scott Stapp Calls Reunion "A Renewing and a Rebirth"|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/04/27/creeds-scott-stapp-calls-reunion-a-renewing-and-a-rebirth/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501191025/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/04/27/creeds-scott-stapp-calls-reunion-a-renewing-and-a-rebirth/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 1, 2009 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=April 27, 2009 |access-date=April 29, 2009}}</ref> The first single from ''Full Circle'', "[[Overcome (Creed song)|Overcome]]", was posted on the band's official website on August 18, 2009, the same day the radio premiere started along with its release as a digital download on August 25. The second single, "[[Rain (Creed song)|Rain]]", was released to radio stations on September 23 and became available on October 6, 2009, as another digital download. The third single, "[[A Thousand Faces]]", was released in 2010.

On September 25, 2009, Creed performed a concert in [[Houston]], Texas that was recorded, broadcast via a live internet stream, and subsequently released on December 8, 2010, as a concert film titled ''[[Creed Live]]'', the band's first live recording.<ref name="Larry Riggs">http://www.digtriad.com/life/entertainment/article.aspx?storyid=130341&catid=204 {{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The performance shattered [[Justin Timberlake]]'s world record for the most cameras used at a live music event by using an unprecedented total of 239. The performance also featured the first usage of the "[[bullet time|big freeze]]" technology, popularized by the 1999 film ''[[The Matrix]]'', in a concert environment.<ref name="Creed Announce First Live DVD">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.guitarworld.com/article/creed_announce_first_live_dvd |title=Creed Announce First Live DVD |date=November 24, 2009 |magazine=Guitar World |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110105612/http://www.guitarworld.com/article/creed_announce_first_live_dvd |archive-date=January 10, 2010 }}</ref> Drummer Scott Phillips also confirmed that ''Full Circle'' will not be the band's final album. The same announcement confirmed that Creed was to go on a world tour in support of ''Full Circle'' between April and September 2010, starting with an Australia/New Zealand tour, followed by South America, Europe, and North America.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tunelab.com/2009/10/24/creed-to-launch-2010-world-tour/ |title=Creed To Launch 2010 World Tour |date=October 24, 2009 |access-date=October 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007112921/http://tunelab.com/2009/10/24/creed-to-launch-2010-world-tour/ |archive-date=October 7, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The tour was called The 20-10 Tour. Tickets for the tour were ten and twenty dollars to stand up against rising concert ticket prices. The first 2,010 tickets purchased for every concert did not include any service fees.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/news/archive/2010/04/19/718999.aspx |title=Creed Reveals '20-10' Tour |date=April 19, 2010 |first=Jay |last=Smith |magazine=[[Pollstar]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715102339/http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/news/archive/2010/04/19/718999.aspx |archive-date=July 15, 2011 }}</ref> Despite these efforts, not every show sold out, and critical reviews were mostly mixed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.al.com/music/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1255853723220320.xml&coll=2&thispage=2 |title=Music review: Creed fans no longer have arms wide open |publisher=al.com |date=October 18, 2009 |access-date=October 24, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205140712/http://www.al.com/music/birminghamnews/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fentertainment%2F1255853723220320.xml&coll=2 |archive-date=December 5, 2010 }}</ref> [[Skillet (band)|Skillet]] joined the tour as main support.

[[File:Creed live in Las Vegas (5-11-2012).jpg|thumb|Stapp & Tremonti in 2012 during Creed's Full Album Tour at the Pearl Concert Theatre [[Palms Casino Resort]] in Las Vegas]]
Creed reconvened in late 2011 and early 2012 to begin work on a potential fifth studio album. A tour was also announced in which the band would perform their first two albums, ''My Own Prison'' and ''Human Clay'', from front to back over the course of two nights, with selected tracks from ''Weathered'' and ''Full Circle'' also featured. This tour kicked off with two shows in April 2012, at the [[Chicago Theatre]] in [[Chicago]], Illinois, with the band performing ''My Own Prison'' the first night and ''Human Clay'' the second. They also toured in South America and Indonesia.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mcall.com/2012/04/13/reunited-creed-finds-itself-strong-enough-to-return-to-its-past/ |title=Reunited Creed finds itself strong enough to return to its past |first=John J. |last=Moser |date=April 13, 2012 |newspaper=[[The Morning Call]] |access-date=April 15, 2012 |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004223557/http://articles.mcall.com/2012-04-13/entertainment/mc-creed-tower-theatre-philadelphia-20120413_1_creed-fans-mark-tremonti-human-clay |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/04/12/creed-going-back-to-my-own-prison/ |title=Creed going back to 'My Own Prison' |first=Selena |last=Fragassi |date=April 12, 2012 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |access-date=February 28, 2013 |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707000110/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-12/entertainment/ct-ott-0413-creed-20120412_1_mark-tremonti-creed-human-clay |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Hiatus (2013–2023)===
The band went on hiatus in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/ctnow/music/hc-scott-stapp-at-webster-theatre-20160122-story.html|title=Recovering Rocker Scott Stapp Bringing Creed Hits To Webster|first=ED|last=CONDRAN|website=courant.com|date=January 22, 2016|access-date=April 27, 2019|archive-date=April 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427205911/https://www.courant.com/ctnow/music/hc-scott-stapp-at-webster-theatre-20160122-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  In October 2013, Stapp noted in an interview that extensive work was done on a fifth album throughout 2011 and 2012. However, the project was subsequently abandoned.<ref>{{cite web |last=Newman |first=Melinda |url=http://www.hitfix.com/news/exclusive-scott-stapp-on-new-creed-album-i-have-no-idea-what-happened |title=Exclusive: Scott Stapp on new Creed album: I have no idea what happened |work=[[HitFix]] |date=October 25, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2014 |archive-date=July 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712035611/http://www.hitfix.com/news/exclusive-scott-stapp-on-new-creed-album-i-have-no-idea-what-happened |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="jesusfreakhideout.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/interviews/ScottStapp2013.asp|title=Scott Stapp Interview, Scott Stapp Interview, Creed 2013, Jesusfreakhideout.com Interview|work=jesusfreakhideout.com|access-date=April 27, 2014|archive-date=May 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507191425/http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/interviews/ScottStapp2013.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> Stapp has maintained that Creed is "still a band."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zoiksonline.com/2014/06/interview-scott-stapp-of-creed.html|title=Zoiks! Online - The Very Best in Stand-Up And Music!: INTERVIEW - Scott Stapp of Creed|work=zoiksonline.com|access-date=June 27, 2014|archive-date=October 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003183732/http://www.zoiksonline.com/2014/06/interview-scott-stapp-of-creed.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2014/06/26/backstage-pass-scott-stapp-at-latitude-360/|title=Backstage Pass: Scott Stapp At Latitude 360|work=cbslocal.com|date=June 26, 2014|access-date=June 27, 2014|archive-date=May 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531155750/http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2014/06/26/backstage-pass-scott-stapp-at-latitude-360/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also said that he's open to continuing to work with Creed when the time is right.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://crypticrock.com/interview-scott-stapp-of-creed/|title=Interview - Scott Stapp of Creed - Hard Rock - CrypticRock.com Cryptic Rock|work=crypticrock.com|date=January 16, 2014|access-date=April 27, 2014|archive-date=September 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925193557/http://crypticrock.com/interview-scott-stapp-of-creed/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2015, while promoting his second solo album ''[[Cauterize (album)|Cauterize]]'', Mark Tremonti claimed in an interview with ''Kerrang'' that he "[hasn't] been a close friend of Scott's in 9 years". He did not speak to Stapp throughout the South American Tour in 2012 and plans for their fifth studio album were shelved, and they continued to work with Myles Kennedy in Alter Bridge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kerrang.com/32287/havent-close-friend-scotts-9-years-mark-tremonti/|title="I Haven't Been A Close Friend Of Scott's For 9 Years" - Mark Tremonti - Kerrang!|date=June 4, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623013909/http://www.kerrang.com/32287/havent-close-friend-scotts-9-years-mark-tremonti/|archive-date=June 23, 2015}}</ref>

In September 2015, Stapp appeared on the ''[[Dr. Oz Show]]''. When asked about a Creed reunion, Stapp replied: "I can tell you what, I sure hope so. I love the guys with all my heart and if they're watching, 'Come on guys, let's make a record.'"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/scott-stapp-creed-bandmates-lets-make-a-record/|title=Scott Stapp to Creed Bandmates: 'Let's Make a Record'|work=Loudwire|date=September 23, 2015|access-date=October 2, 2015|archive-date=September 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928031331/http://loudwire.com/scott-stapp-creed-bandmates-lets-make-a-record/|url-status=live}}</ref> He later doubled down on the statements by stating that Creed would "definitely" reunite and that he expected new material from the band within "the next two years."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alternativenation.net/creed-will-definitely-reunite-for-new-album/|title=Creed Will 'Definitely' Reunite For New Album|first=Brett|last=Buchanan|work=AlternativeNation.net|access-date=October 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003015745/http://www.alternativenation.net/creed-will-definitely-reunite-for-new-album/|archive-date=October 3, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> When asked about Stapp's statements, Tremonti clarified that he was still busy promoting his solo albums and that Alter Bridge would record and tour in 2016, making it unlikely for him to return to Creed within Stapp's proposed timeline.<ref name="ultimate-guitar.com">{{cite web|url = http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/new_alter_bridge_album_coming_your_way_in_2016.html|title = New Alter Bridge Album Coming Your Way in 2016|work = ultimate-guitar.com|date = May 10, 2015|publisher = Ultimate Guitar USA llc|access-date = October 14, 2015|archive-date = October 7, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151007213757/http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/new_alter_bridge_album_coming_your_way_in_2016.html|url-status = live}}</ref>

On November 20, 2015, Creed released a compilation album, entitled ''[[With Arms Wide Open: A Retrospective]]''. It was a [[boxed set]] with three discs: one with hits, the second with rarities, and the third with acoustic versions of hits.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/6707847/scott-stapp-bipolar-disorder-recovery-creed-reunion|title=Scott Stapp|magazine=Billboard|date=September 24, 2015|access-date=October 2, 2015|archive-date=October 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003021552/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/6707847/scott-stapp-bipolar-disorder-recovery-creed-reunion|url-status=live}}</ref> In the United States, the album was available exclusively at [[Walmart]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blindedbysound.com/reviews/cd-review-creed---with-arms-wide-open-a-retrospective/|title=CD Review: Creed - With Arms Wide Open: A Retrospective - Blinded by Sound|website=blindedbysound.com|access-date=April 27, 2019|archive-date=April 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418095721/http://blindedbysound.com/reviews/cd-review-creed---with-arms-wide-open-a-retrospective/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2016, Stapp joined [[Art of Anarchy]]. His first album with the band was released in March 2017, and is titled ''[[The Madness (Art of Anarchy album)|The Madness]]''. Alter Bridge continued to tour and record, while Mark Tremonti's solo metal band [[Tremonti (band)|Tremonti]] released their third album ''[[Dust (Tremonti album)|Dust]]'' in April 2016, and their fourth album, ''[[A Dying Machine (album)|A Dying Machine]]'', was released in April 2018. Scott Phillips has drummed in the supergroup project [[Projected]], releasing the albums ''[[Human (Projected album)|Human]]'' (2012) and ''[[Ignite My Insanity]]'' (2017). Scott Stapp has since bridged away from [[Art of Anarchy]], having released his third solo album, ''[[The Space Between the Shadows]]'', on July 19, 2019.

In November 2020, drummer Scott Phillips announced that a reunion was a possibility.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ex-Creed Drummer Scott Phillips Says There's Reunion Talk in the Band|url=https://www.tmz.com/2020/11/05/ex-creed-drummer-scott-phillips-some-dialogue-band-reunion/|access-date=November 6, 2020|website=TMZ|date=November 5, 2020 |language=en|archive-date=November 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106000844/https://www.tmz.com/2020/11/05/ex-creed-drummer-scott-phillips-some-dialogue-band-reunion/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Second reunion and return to popularity (2023–present)===
On July 19, 2023, the band announced that they had reunited and would be headlining the Summer of '99 cruise in April 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/creed-reunite-announce-summer-of-99-festival-cruise-2024/|title=Creed Officially Reunite, Unveil 'Summer of '99' Cruise Details for 2024|first=Joe|last=DiVita|website=[[Loudwire]]|date=July 19, 2023|access-date=July 23, 2023|archive-date=July 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719152604/https://loudwire.com/creed-reunite-announce-summer-of-99-festival-cruise-2024/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=creed%20back&utm_term=Loudwire|url-status=live}}</ref> In their run to winning the [[World Series]] in 2023, the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] players regularly used Creed's "Higher" as motivation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Roberson |first=Matthew |date=2023-10-19 |title=The Texas Rangers Have Embraced Creed with Arms Wide Open |url=https://www.gq.com/story/texas-rangers-creed |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=GQ |language=en-US}}</ref> The song became popular with fans and the team alike, to the point that the Texas Rangers had singalongs for "Higher" during games during October.<ref name=":0" /> Along with their reunion and the Texas Rangers popularizing their music again, Creed's streaming numbers shot up for the first time in years, culminating in Creed attending a playoff game between the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros on October 18, 2023. Following their renewed popularity, on October 30, 2023 the band announced The [[Summer of '99 and Beyond Festival|Summer of '99 Tour]], their first tour since 2012. The tour featured more than 40 shows across the US with support from [[3 Doors Down]], [[Finger Eleven]], [[Daughtry (band)|Daughtry]], [[Switchfoot (band)|Switchfoot]], [[Tonic (band)|Tonic]], and [[Big Wreck]] on select dates.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/creed-announces-summer-2024-u-s-tour |title=CREED Announces Summer 2024 U.S. Tour |date=October 30, 2023 |access-date=October 31, 2023 |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031193028/https://blabbermouth.net/news/creed-announces-summer-2024-u-s-tour |url-status=live }}</ref> This was followed on February 6, 2024, with the announcement of the "Are You Ready? Tour" starting in November 2024 with supporting acts 3 Doors Down, [[Mammoth WVH]], and Finger Eleven.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/creed-arena-tour-dates-2024-1235599975 |title=Creed Adds Arena Shows to 2024 Reunion Tour: See the Dates |first=Jason |last=Lipshitz |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=February 6, 2024 |access-date=February 6, 2024}}</ref> Creed saw a major resurgence in popularity among young men in 2024. Many of their hits, especially "One Last Breath," became popular on [[TikTok]]. By June 2024, Creed's return to mainstream popularity was evidenced by a return to four [[Billboard charts]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2024/06/17/creed-returns-to-the-top-40-as-they-climb-the-charts |title=Creed Returns To The Top 40 As They Climb The Charts|website=[[Forbes]] }}</ref>