================================================ Subject: billboard part 2 From: "Lisa King" To: Date: Mon 5 Nov 2001 21:22:21 +0000 ================================================ In crafting the tunes on "Weathered," Stapp and Tremonti often locked themselves in a room and "freestyled" ideas until something would gel. It is a style of writing that Stapp admits requires "immeasurable, unbreakable" collaborative trust. "And the thing is that Mark's like my brother. We have this unexplainable connection. I can be fearless and free in front of him in a way that I'm not able to be with almost anyone else in my life." In fact, he notes with a smile, he and Tremonti have a code of priorities: "God, family, and Creed-nothing has or will ever come before that, and nothing will ever come between Mark and me. We're as tight as two people can be." It is the result of their intense bond that Stapp believes he has the courage to dig as deep as he does in his lyrics. "If I was standing in the room with anyone else, there might be some inhibition. But I'm compelled to try to keep up with Mark when we come together to write songs, to give as much as he does from the heart." One of the pair's more combustible collaborations on "Weathered" is "Who's Got My Back," a tune that saw Stapp tracing the Cherokee portion of his heritage. "Every time I heard the intro to the song, I envisioned a tribal Indian chant," Stapp says. "That sent me on a mission to get more information on my background and reconnect with that part of my history." He eventually found a reservation-and Bo Taylor, a man fluent in ancient Cherokee chants. "It had to be ancient, not modern; there's a huge difference between the two," Stapp explains. "We brought Bo into the studio and played him the music. He caught the vibe immediately, stepped up to the mic, and belted out four or five different chants. The first chant he did is the one that we used on the song. It's so moving to me. It literally brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it." The band's pride in the final outcome of "Weathered" has made the prospect of diving back into the industry's marketing machine seem less arduous than it might otherwise be. "We're actually anxious to get back out there and promote this record," the singer says. "This was originally going to be a March release, but none of us thought we could wait that long." The linchpin to Wind-Up's marketing strategy is the Internet-rooted Creed Pager. Upon visiting the band's Web site (creed.com), one can download the pager, which offers a free, timed-out download of "My Sacrifice," as well as exclusive video footage of the band in the studio, up-to-date band news, and tour announcements. The pager will also have interactive elements that will allow fans to communicate with the band directly via online postings and E-mail. "That's the best part of doing this: having a direct line to the fans," Stapp says. "Having the chance to hear their thoughts and address them in a personal way that's validating for everyone involved-especially the band." In addition to the pager, the band will bolster interest in "Weathered" by making the standard round of TV, radio, and press appearances. Already locked in are spots at the Billboard Music Awards and VH1 Honors (both in early December). In addition, the band has been confirmed to appear Nov. 17 on "Saturday Night Live." Other high-profile performances are to be confirmed shortly. The band is also expected to journey to Europe for a series of promotional appearances shortly after the release of the album. (Wind-Up is distributed in the U.S. by BMG, with Sony handling the label elsewhere in the world.) The performances that come with such an extensive promotional tour will provide an opportunity for Creed to test-drive new material for a 2002 headlining concert tour that is expected to keep the band on the road for at least a year. "Live performance is one of the many areas where Creed excels," Wind-Up president Steve Lerner says. "They take their songs to an incredible new level of intensity. This new album is going to sound amazing live." Creed's reputation for passionate live shows has led to consistently sold-out events. During the past two years, the band has played to more than 2 million fans worldwide. "We were out on tour for a long time, and wherever we went, there were people telling me how much certain songs meant to them and how they felt so close to them," Stapp says. "That means more to me than any other kind of attention. It's important to feel as if you're doing something worthwhile, and in this band, I feel like I am." Stapp believes that being road animals has helped establish Creed as a band of substance. "You can't hide anything onstage. There are no filters, nothing to hide behind. It's just you, your songs, and the audience. Our mission is to take people on a full-range journey of emotions." And right now, that journey is punctuated by a desire to lead their fans toward the bright conclusion, one that Stapp explains "is intended to leave you on the positive end of a catharsis. I'd never suggest denying the pain. Just understand that pain should not be an indefinite emotion. It should be momentary. You should come out on the other side, better or smarter for it in some way." _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp To unsubscribe or change your preferences for the Creed-Discuss list, visit: http://www.winduplist.com/ls/discuss/form.asp