He’s known as the voice of Creed and he still has a very loyal fan base and Scott Stapp proved that Wednesday night at Irving Plaza. The theme of the night seemed to be all about survival and as cliché as that might sound, it rings true to Stapp. “I think that is the theme of my life right now,” the singer said in an exclusive interview with Modern Frequency.
Stapp has battled his fair share of demons including drug and alcohol addiction in the past decade. Now he is coming out a better man. Stapp’s second solo album, Proof Of Life, is an autobiographical look at the singer’s embattled decade away from the spotlight.
In an exclusive interview with him, I sat down with the rock singer to talk about life, learning to love yourself, and the long road he endured to come back stronger than ever.
It seems like your current shows are more about survival than anything else.
Yes, definitely. It’s the theme of the album and it is translating into the live show. It’s probably the theme of my life right now.
Proof Of Life seems more autobiographical than your last album, The Great Divide. Which do you hold more closely to you and why?
I think right now it has to be Proof Of Life and a close second has to be Weathered.
Proof of Life though is right on the pulse of who I am and what I am as a human being. Especially, from a lyrical standpoint, I avoided a lot of the metaphor, alluding to things, and leaving things that are open to interpretation because at a time in my life as human being is where I needed honest self reflection. It definitely translated into my lyrics and my art as well because it’s all connected. I think this album was more clear, to the point, and concise.
Do you find writing about the past decade is difficult or more therapeutical?
I find it very therapeutical. I think it is very easy to write about because I’m living it. I like to reflect and learn from my mistakes. It’s just a part of how I process life.
You have been through hell and back in the early 2000s. How are you doing today—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually?
You know I am really at a very good place in a whole in general. I have my days just like everybody else. I have to get through those days though. When I have those bad days, I won’t let it perpetuate and beat myself down over it. You have to get back up. That’s learning to love yourself. When you learn to love yourself, you cannot expect perfection, but you can expect progress. I mean, in no way, claim to be near perfection, but I climbed out of a dark hole and I’m still climbing.
Did you want to stir controversy with your single “Jesus Was a Rockstar”?
It was a phrase that sparked creativity for writing and it started from there. I never had any preconceived agendas when I write or record. It’s all in the moment—in the stream of consciousness. It’s really all about the vibe, feeling, emotion and what’s in my soul.
Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s death. Do you think we will ever see another rock band have the same impact that Nirvana did decades ago?
You know I’m sure it will happen. It tends to happen—it’s cyclical. Kurt Cobain’s death was a tragedy and his death is what alcohol and drug addiction does 100 percent of the time. It kills. His anniversary reminds me how grateful that I am alive today.
What is the status of Creed right now?
Right now I’m concentrating on Proof Of Life tour. When that comes up, I can never say never. We still have ongoing conversations. We are just going down different paths right now.
