Talkin' Rock with Creed's Scott Stapp
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00:01Rock, metal, prog, and everything in between.
00:04If you're into rock, you've come to the right place.
00:07Welcome to this episode of Talkin' Rock with Meltdown.
00:11Don't forget to follow the audio-only Talkin' Rock podcast on all podcast platforms.
00:15And now, it's time for today's conversation.
00:18Here's Meltdown.
00:20Hey Scott, thanks so much for joining us, man.
00:23Good to be here. Good to be here. Thanks for having me.
00:25I was just telling someone that I think, I'm sure you don't remember this,
00:28but the first time you ever came through Detroit,
00:30I interviewed you and the rest of the band outside the club in Pontiac.
00:35And I think the first single, My Own Prison, was just breaking or something.
00:39So man, it's been a long time.
00:43Obviously, if that was the first single, that was like 1996 or 1997, man.
00:49I'm thinking 1997.
00:50You guys were just young bucks just breaking it onto the scene.
00:53And here we are.
00:55Your new record coming out, coming up, Higher Power.
00:57That drops on the 15th of March.
01:00And the few songs I've heard from it so far, I mean, this is kind of, I don't know,
01:05every record's personal, but this sounds really personal.
01:09You know, it really is.
01:10And it was made during a real, just unique period in my life where I was living the songs as they were being created.
01:21It was very spontaneously written and really is a story from the first song to the last of a period of time in my life,
01:31which I know I've said that before.
01:33Where it seems like all my records are.
01:35And I guess that's how the art comes out of me.
01:38You know, it's just a reflection of my life and the journey that I was going through.
01:42So the only way I know how to write is from the heart and from emotion and from inspiration.
01:50And that's definitely where this album was born from.
01:53Now, when did you start?
01:55When did the writing process for this record start?
01:58If my memory serves me correctly, in 2021.
02:03So it was a, it was a long process and, and it was really spaced out because I had so many things going on in my life that, you know,
02:14if I probably put all the writing time together, the record was probably written over the course of two or three months.
02:23But to get everything done because of everything else that was going on in my life, you know, it took a while.
02:28So I'm glad we're finally here and, and I'm glad we're getting a chance to share it with you.
02:32And I appreciate you guys playing higher power.
02:34Yeah, no doubt.
02:35So you're talking about in 2021.
02:37So obviously there was a lot going on in the world at that time, or we look at it, but is, is that when you, is that when you like moved and your kids are growing up and all this kind of stuff?
02:47No, Mike, we, we moved to Nashville in 2016.
02:52Okay.
02:52Uh, but definitely had kids growing up, uh, three, three kids in the house, uh, you know, a toddler at the time.
02:59Um, and then my son, Daniel, who's now 13 and my daughter, Milan, who just turned 17, uh, you know, so they were, they were at different stages than they are now.
03:09So, uh, you know, there was a lot of coaching going on, um, a lot of carpool line, uh, a lot of pickup and drop off and a lot, a lot of baths and changing diapers and cleaning up messes.
03:22All good stuff though, man.
03:23It, you know, I love it.
03:25I love, I love being a dad and, and, and, and love every, every part of it.
03:29Yeah.
03:29And somebody had to take care of the chickens as well.
03:31Right.
03:31I was, that's so funny, man.
03:33Yeah.
03:34We had to take care of the chickens and, and, you know, I felt like an idiot.
03:37Uh, one time I realized I was like, why am I doing this every night for like a month?
03:43Cause I didn't want them locked up in, in, in the pen all day.
03:46So I would let them, you know, kind of roam in my backyard, but trying to, trying to herd chickens is a challenge, man.
03:53And so, and so trying to get them back in the pen every night was, was a task, uh, but it kept me in shape, I guess.
03:59Now, as little as I know about chickens, cause my neighbors have them, they automatically just go back to their, where they're supposed to go at nighttime.
04:06At least his does.
04:07I don't know how, how you train them.
04:09You know what?
04:10I tried my best, uh, to train those chickens and they want, they wanted to stay out.
04:16Okay.
04:16Uh, and so, you know, for their own protection, uh, I had to get them in, in the pen every night.
04:22So I was running around herding chickens, man, for like an hour every night.
04:27It was funny.
04:28If somebody caught it on film, it would, it would be quite the joke.
04:31Yeah.
04:31This conversation has taken a real turn.
04:34Let's get back to the record here for a higher power, uh, with, uh, Dorothy, uh, and if I'm
04:40saying his name wrong, Giannis Papadopoulos.
04:43Yes.
04:43Yes.
04:44Look him up, but man, he's shreds.
04:46I mean, he's got two solos on the song.
04:48Uh, what I deserve.
04:49I mean, this guy's a shredder.
04:50He's, you know, I've been really blessed, uh, to be able to collaborate and write with probably
04:58what I consider two of the best guitar players, uh, in the last 20 years.
05:06Um, and, you know, Giannis is from Greece.
05:08Uh, and so a lot of people don't know him on the American scene yet.
05:11Uh, but man, once they hear this record and once these songs come out, you know, for those
05:16who have heard what I deserve, they'll really hear what a special talent Giannis is.
05:22Uh, and not only is he a shredder, but he plays with such feeling and emotion, uh, and
05:28really on that solo and what I deserve, you can see it, the journey that he takes you on,
05:32uh, in his solo.
05:34I just, I just feel it's pure genius.
05:36And I got goosebumps, uh, you know, when, when he wrote it in the studio and then, and
05:41then he wanted to go over it again and sent me the final version.
05:44I was just like, man, goosebumps, bro.
05:46I think that's one of the greatest solos I've heard in a decade.
05:49Uh, so, you know, I've been real fortunate to, to work with some incredible guitar players.
05:53Now, is he going to join you on the road?
05:56Yeah.
05:56We've been in a band together now going on, coming up on our ninth year.
05:59Oh, I didn't know.
06:00Okay.
06:00Okay.
06:01Yeah.
06:02Well, I know Sammy Fuller's from here too.
06:03And so I wasn't sure who you're taking on the road or what's going on.
06:06Yeah.
06:06Yeah.
06:06Giannis is my guy.
06:08Uh, Sammy fills in sometimes, uh, Sammy and I do a lot of acoustic shows together.
06:13Uh, and if Giannis can't make it, uh, Sammy's been really cool to fill in, uh, on a few shows.
06:21Uh, but you know, Giannis is, is, uh, is in the solo band.
06:25He's, he's in, he's, he's the guy.
06:27Okay.
06:27Gotcha.
06:28And then you got this song with Dorothy as well.
06:30If these walls could talk.
06:31Now, uh, I know Dorothy pretty well.
06:33Not only is she a great talent, but she's also very spiritual.
06:36What, what, how did, how did you get in touch with Dorothy and work with her?
06:40Well, you know, that was a process with that song.
06:42You know, when it was originally written, uh, I knew immediately, uh, that it needed to
06:47be a duet.
06:47Um, and so I went on a search, uh, trying to find the right person, the right girl, the
06:54right female artist.
06:55And initially I thought, you know, maybe this is a song that I take over and cross over into
06:59the country world.
07:00Uh, and so I went out and met with a young, incredibly talented, uh, country artist named
07:07Alexandra Kay.
07:09Um, and I was considering her, uh, for the song.
07:13Uh, and then, uh, I spoke to my manager about another country artist, Lainey Wilson.
07:18Uh, and right before we were, we were getting ready to send her the track to see if she wanted
07:24to be on it.
07:25I found out she did a duet with jelly roll.
07:27So I was like, all right, let me move on.
07:30And so I was out on two and Hardy, right?
07:32And Hardy.
07:33Yeah.
07:33Okay.
07:34So, so I was out, uh, I was out on tour with Daughtry and Dorothy was opening and someone
07:38came in the dressing room.
07:40I forget who it was.
07:41It may, it may have been Giannis and said, Hey, you got to come out here and check out,
07:44uh, Dorothy.
07:45She's an incredible singer.
07:46And, uh, so I went out and watched a couple of her, her songs and her set.
07:51And I knew immediately that that was the voice, uh, that I needed on this song.
07:56And so she used the same producer and collaborator co-songwriter that I have for years, Scott
08:02Stevens.
08:03And, uh, she was in the studio with Scott and, uh, I reached out to Scott and said, Hey,
08:10play Dorothy walls and, uh, see if she's interested in, uh, in singing on it.
08:15See if it connects with her.
08:16And he texts me back and he's like, man, she was in tears.
08:21She's definitely in.
08:23Uh, and so I was excited and just anxiously awaiting to hear her performance.
08:26And when I got the track back and heard, uh, the song, when she came in, it was just goosebumps.
08:32Uh, and I was like, man, thank you.
08:36Uh, and so I'm really excited to share that song, uh, with everybody in the world.
08:40Yeah.
08:41I, I, I, I feel like, uh, both of you guys are kind of like cut from the same cloth or
08:45at least maybe have traveled down the same paths.
08:47I guess if that makes any sense.
08:49Yeah, definitely.
08:50You know, we're, we, we're both on this road of recovery, you know, trying to live the sober
08:54life.
08:55Uh, we're both, you know, Christians, uh, and, you know, trying to put God first and, and,
09:02and all that we do.
09:02And, and despite our falls and our stumbles, you know, we get back up, we keep going, uh,
09:09and keep trying to live the life that, that we have in front of us.
09:12Uh, and, and, you know, don't define ourselves by our struggles, uh, but realize that those
09:18are our times that teach us in order to help us grow and, uh, reach and become the human
09:24beings that we want to be.
09:25And, and, uh, so yeah, we're both on that same journey.
09:29Yeah.
09:29I'm glad you hooked up with Dorothy.
09:30She's a great.
09:31Her last record was awesome, by the way.
09:33Yeah.
09:33Incredible.
09:34She's an incredible talent.
09:35Uh, and, uh, it, it's, it's a blessing that, that it all worked out that way.
09:40Yeah.
09:41So the, uh, higher power record comes out on, uh, March 15th, 2024.
09:45And then of course, uh, a couple months later, actually the next month, I think you're going
09:49out and tour the Creed.
09:49Is that right?
09:50It's that fast.
09:51Uh, I do.
09:52I, I do have a solo tour in March, um, which, which will be announced here coming up.
09:57Uh, and then, yeah, we have the Creed cruises in April.
10:00That's right.
10:01Uh, and then I'll do another solo tour the following month in May.
10:05Uh, and then we gear up for, uh, and I may do some more solo touring in June and then gear
10:11up for rehearsals, uh, for the Creed tour in July.
10:14Now, have you done rehearsals already?
10:15I mean, I saw your video and stuff, you know, that you guys put out when you guys, uh, kind
10:19of said you're getting back together.
10:20Have you guys been rehearsing?
10:21No, we haven't rehearsed yet.
10:22Uh, but we've, we've been together quite a few times, got a lot of secrets and things
10:27in store for folks, uh, coming up here soon.
10:31So, so stay tuned.
10:32Uh, but I'm looking forward to rehearsals, but you know, I've had a chance to spend a lot
10:36of time with, with Mark, a lot more time, uh, as of late, uh, and things are just so
10:41positive.
10:41The vibe is so cool.
10:43Uh, and so I'm really excited to, to take that, that positivity and get on stage and,
10:49and play these songs, man.
10:50Uh, they're still so meaningful, uh, to all of us.
10:54Uh, and, uh, we can't wait to, to rock out, man.
10:57Are you surprised at, um, at how, you know, this, this tour, like, I think I was just talking
11:02with your, with your guy or your publicist and it's like, I think the show is like sold
11:05out here in Detroit.
11:06I mean, is, I mean, is, is, did, what did you, when the tickets went on sale, did you think
11:10are people going to show up or I mean, what do you expect?
11:13You, you know what, man, I, I deep down in my heart because of everything that kind of
11:17happened during COVID and during, uh, in 21 and 22 with all of a sudden our catalog resurging
11:24and things going viral online.
11:26Uh, and I think it started with Barstool, uh, that opportunity that we had that, uh, unfortunately
11:32COVID got in the way of, uh, but the ball really started rolling and, and, uh, so I really
11:37was excited and anticipated a positive reception because of just what was going on online.
11:43via social media.
11:45Uh, and it, it appears that we've connected with an entire new generation of fans, which
11:49is just a gift.
11:50Um, and so, you know, there's a lot of Creed fans that, that didn't get to see us play,
11:55uh, you know, before we broke up.
11:57Uh, and so, you know, it's cool, uh, and definitely excited about the sales and, and excited about
12:05how, how well it's being received.
12:07And plus now you don't got to hear questions from idiots like me saying, what is Creed getting
12:11back together?
12:12Yeah.
12:13You know, here we are, man.
12:15And it's all good.
12:16And, and the other positive thing about it is I got a solo record, uh, and new music,
12:22uh, that's coming out and riding the wave with Creed, uh, and my solo record.
12:27Uh, and I think it's just, it couldn't be more, um, you know, I don't think it's a coincidence
12:32that, uh, higher power is the single.
12:36And then all this stuff happens with Creed.
12:39Uh, I, I definitely think a higher power was involved in making it all happen.
12:43So, uh, it kind of seems like it's been the soundtrack, uh, this song in particular that
12:48you guys are playing and I appreciate it.
12:50Uh, it's kind of been the, the, the guiding light, uh, that I think is manifesting all this
12:57stuff into existence, man.
12:58And, and so I'm just, I just feel blessed for all of it.
13:02Can you point to like one specific instance where, where you thought, yeah, let's get back
13:07together with the band.
13:09You know, I think it's been real organic.
13:12I mean, we started talking, I think in, in, I can't remember exactly whether it was mid
13:182020 or early 2021, um, about the idea, but, you know, I wanted it to be authentic.
13:24I wanted it to be real.
13:26Um, and so conversations continued and, and, and then it just happened.
13:31I think we all knew it was going to happen at some point.
13:35We just didn't know when.
13:37Um, and so, you know, I thank my higher power.
13:41Yeah.
13:41Uh, that it happened when it did.
13:43I hate talking about the pandemic cause I don't want to talk about it anymore, but do you
13:47think that might've played into it a little bit?
13:48Are you guys stuck at home and you're trying to start thinking about your past or did that
13:52not have anything to do with it at all?
13:54You know what?
13:54I, for me, it didn't have anything to do with it at all.
13:57I was, I was totally focused on making, uh, higher power, the album.
14:01Uh, and that was where my head was at.
14:04Uh, I had no idea or thought that, uh, Creed was going to be doing a tour.
14:10It just all kind of, you know, lined up that way.
14:14So at the time I was just thinking I'd be doing a solo tour this year.
14:20Selfishly.
14:20Do you, are you, are you happy because now your, your kids are a little bit older, they
14:23can see you playing Creed?
14:25Oh, absolutely.
14:26Um, you know, I, I, I definitely want to make my kids proud and, and, uh, you know, want
14:32them to kind of live this with me, uh, as it happens and, and, you know, want to be cool
14:39in my kid's eyes.
14:40You know what I mean?
14:41Uh, and so they, they really haven't seen at the age that they are, you know, what their
14:47dad had done earlier in his life.
14:49Uh, and so I'm excited for them to be able to experience it and see it, uh, being older.
14:55Yeah.
14:56And I've watched you through your entire career, obviously, and we've talked, you know, many
14:59times, Trevor, but you're a completely different person than you were.
15:02When you were in Creed, weren't you?
15:03I mean, the first time.
15:05Um, well, I mean, I think age has something to do with that.
15:08You mature.
15:09Uh, I think going through things in life, uh, has a tendency to, to impact you, uh, in,
15:15in, in who you are as, as you mature and go through struggles and trials.
15:20And man, I went through a lot of stuff.
15:22I went through a lot of stuff publicly, privately, uh, and, and, and it's continued.
15:28I mean, no one's life is perfect.
15:30And, you know, I definitely think that that can have an impact on your perspective, uh,
15:34on your personality, uh, on, on your view of the world.
15:38Uh, and it can definitely change you.
15:40And, and, and I'm hoping, and I know that I feel it's changed me for the good.
15:44Um, and, and, and in a positive way, not that I was bad, uh, in the past, but you know,
15:50I'm, I'm an older guy now, man.
15:52And, and just want things to be chill and positive, um, and take things one day at a time, man.
15:59And, uh, you know, that's how I, that's how I've survived.
16:02How much are you looking forward to stepping on stage for the first time?
16:05Uh, whether you'd be on the cruise or just on the, on the, the arena stage or the shed stage,
16:10I guess, with the band, you know, I'm looking forward to getting on stage, um, in March
16:16for my solo tour.
16:17Yeah.
16:17Just period.
16:18That, that, that's, I mean, I'm touring now, you know, I got shows here at the end of the
16:21month with Daughtry.
16:22We're doing some stuff out on the West coast, but I'm really looking forward to March and,
16:26and getting out and playing this solo record.
16:28Uh, and I mean, that's the exciting thing that's right in front of my face right now.
16:34Uh, you know, as far as the Creed, uh, tour, of course, I'm looking forward to that.
16:39Uh, but again, remember I've been on that stage, uh, for decades, uh, with these guys,
16:45uh, and played those, those arenas and played those sheds.
16:49Uh, and so it's, it's something that, that it's, it's just what Creed does.
16:54Uh, and I'm, and I'm humbled and honored with the opportunity, uh, to get back on that stage
16:59and, and deliver for the fans, uh, as a solo artist, uh, and with Creed.
17:04Yeah.
17:05Looking forward to the shows, of course, uh, three doors down, opening up, uh, some of
17:09your, some of your neighbors there, right?
17:11Yeah, man.
17:12Yeah.
17:12Love those guys.
17:14Brad is incredible.
17:16Um, and looking forward to getting to know the rest of the band better.
17:19Uh, but excited about that tour, man.
17:22And, and it's, it's going to be a love fest and I'm excited about it.
17:25Yeah.
17:25I love the, uh, the name of it too.
17:27The, uh, what is it?
17:27The summer of 99 tour?
17:28Is that?
17:29Uh, yeah.
17:30Yeah, man.
17:31Kind of taking it back.
17:33Yeah, no, that's cool.
17:34I'll tell you what, dude, I'm really excited for you.
17:36Um, you're a good dude.
17:37You've always been great to the radio station and myself.
17:39Uh, higher power comes out.
17:41Uh, like I said, on March 15th, you got the solo tour, you got the Creed tour.
17:44You're coming back here in a mid summer.
17:47It's gonna be a great night at Pine Knob.
17:49And like I said, I think it's already sold out.
17:51So excited.
17:53Can't wait to rock Detroit.
17:55Detroit's been good to us.
17:56I mean, I remember the days of the, the multiple nights in the arena there back in the day.
18:01Uh, and rock city's always supported Creed and, and we love you guys and can't wait to
18:07get back there.
18:08Yeah.
18:08You guys played the two nights here in Pine Knob, uh, back in 99.
18:12I think it was like a Thursday and a Saturday or something, man.
18:14Just jam packed both nights.
18:16Yeah, it was awesome.
18:17It was awesome.
18:18What's the arena there?
18:19The arena here.
18:20Well, it used to be Joe Lewis and that's gone now.
18:22So they got the little Caesars arena where the basketball and the hockey play and the
18:26whole thing.
18:27So, well, I guess back when it was Joe Lewis, yeah, I remember, I remember doing back-to-back
18:31nights there.
18:32Uh, and the fans were incredible and Detroit's an incredible city for music, um, has produced
18:39so many talented and legendary artists over the years.
18:42And it's a city that just supports musicians and art.
18:45Uh, and so can't wait to get back and, and, and have that connection with the city of Detroit.
18:50Yeah.
18:51When the guys from Metallica came through here and I've been in Detroit now for 28
18:54years, I'd never been to Hitzville, USA with the Motown stuff.
18:58Have you ever visited that place?
19:00I haven't.
19:00I haven't.
19:01It's really cool, man.
19:02It's like, especially if you're a musician, even if you're a Motown fan, it's just cool
19:06to see like where all this stuff came from.
19:08Absolutely, man.
19:09It's where it was born.
19:10Yeah.
19:11Well, man, uh, thank you so much for the time.
19:13I really appreciate it.
19:14And, uh, good luck with everything.
19:15Uh, dude, I'm really, I like I said before you've always been really good to us and I
19:18always pull for you.
19:20Thank you so much.
19:20You've been great to me as well.
19:22And thanks for jamming higher power.