NEW YORK (AP) -- The spiritually inclined band Creed, whose anthemic hits "Higher" and "With Arms Wide Open" helped them become one of the top-selling rock acts of the past decade, has called it quits.

Three former Creed members immediately announced they were forming a new band -- minus singer Scott Stapp -- but were quick to say it was not "just Creed with a different singer."

Creed's three albums sold a combined 24 million copies in the United States. While many critics dismissed them as pale Pearl Jam imitators, Creed members used that as creative fuel and laughed all the way to the bank.

Lyricist Stapp grew up with a strict religious upbringing and often explored those topics in song. At one point five of the first eight queries on the "frequently asked questions" section of the Florida-based band's Web site dealt with Christianity, including "Is Creed a Christian band?"

The band always said no.

Stapp and guitarist Mark Tremonti were longtime friends and songwriting partners whose relationship soured in the past couple of years, as Tremonti explained in a recent interview with MTV.com.

That caused tension in the band. "There was a lot more drama," drummer Scott Phillips told The Associated Press on Friday. "It wasn't necessarily created by anyone in particular. It just stopped being fun."

Stapp was not available for comment, said a spokesman for Wind-up Records.

Creed took most of last year off, and reconvened in the winter to come up with new material. "The vibe just wasn't the same," Phillips said.

Still, they weren't about to casually disband such a successful unit. The band had initially figured on taking a hiatus, but a side project was working out so well they decided not to turn back, Phillips said.

The new band, Alter Bridge, features Tremonti, Phillips and former Creed bassist Brian Marshall. Singer-songwriter Myles Kennedy, formerly of the band Mayfield Four, was recruited as the fourth member. Their first album is due out in August.

Phillips described the music as edgier than Creed, with the musicians given more space to show off their chops.

"We don't want to make it seem like it's just Creed with a different singer," he said.

Stapp's first solo recording will be on a soundtrack of music inspired by the film "The Passion of the Christ." He's working on a solo album with the Canadian band the Tea Party.



-----

Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

I like the fact that Brian Marshall is back with Mark and Scott Phillips, I thought they were a great band musician wise, just a little too much Stapp.

Ding dong, the drek is dead.

I saw this coming months ago when Stapp got word out about his solo album. Btw, he's gained a lot of weight recently, I almost couldn't figure out who he was for a few seconds.

What's his solo album gonna be called - "Ol' Greasy Tits Is Back"?

I love and adore Creed! Please reform Creed, please...for the sake of the babies and puppies and stuff.

Anxiety said:

Can Vedder Do This?

Good riddance. Christianity has no place in Rock & Roll. Rock has always been the devil's music, and Creed tried to change that.

NWF said:

I don't know if I 100% agree with that, though if you're gonna do the Christian thing in a rock band, you should at least try not to make Jesus look like such a pussy. I'm sure Mr. Christ really didn't appreciate it.

NWF said:

'Lord, in my time of dying don't want nobody to cry
All I want you to do is take me when I die
Well, well, well, so I can die easy
Well, well, well
Well, well, well, so I can die easy
Jesus gonna make up, Jesus gonna make up
Jesus gonna make up my dying bed'

~Bob Dylan, covered by Led Zeppelin


'Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He's gonna recommend you to the spirit in the sky'

~Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit In The Sky"


"Jesus Is Just Alright With Me" ~ Doobie Bros.


'Don't die without knowing The Cross' ~ Prince "The Cross"


'You broke the bonds and you
Loosed the chains
Carried the cross
Of my shame
Of my shame
You know I believed it'

~U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"


'And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know (Wo, wo, wo)
God bless you please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray'

~Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson" {not Rock? So what, it's not Gospel either}

`
[This message was edited Fri Jun 4 21:24:57 2004 by Supernova]

Well, OK, y'all got me on that one.

But there was some exaggeration as to what I said though.
[This message was edited Fri Jun 4 21:30:10 2004 by NWF]

oh glory!!!! i remember not too long ago that they(creed) were sued by their fans for sucking- the fans wanted their money back. how bad do you have to suck for your fans to sue you..... good riddence
[This message was edited Sat Jun 5 13:11:35 2004 by wavesofbliss]
[This message was edited Sat Jun 5 13:11:52 2004 by wavesofbliss]

NOw if only someting will happen to their replacement, 3 Doors Down!

wavesofbliss said:

Are you serious?

Creed sucks Hopefully Incubus will be the next to go

Supernova said:

THANK YOU!!! my sentiments exactly.....creed was cool.

tory305 said:

Well, I didn't mean that.

CalhounSq said:

YES! It happened in Chicago, at a New Year's Eve show. The concert was so bad, the first few rows got together and sued Creed! I think the case was thrown outta court, but still.

Chicago has a good reputation about not taking any mess from crappy bands. Last summer, a Chicago audience went ballistic on limpbizkit for sucking (and someone beaned Fred Durst in the nuts with a lemon), and just recently The Vines were booed off stage at The Vic. If you're in a band and you're going to suck, might as well skip over the windy city when you go on tour.

I liked some of their stuff... Oh well though!

I am so happy to see i wasn't the only one who got excited at the demise of Creed.