Is Creed the Next Led Zeppelin? by antiGUY

Back to Part I

Scott didn’t say it first.

So it is true, reviewers ridiculed both bands labeling them inferior clones of previous bands, dismissing their originality while giving them some credit for musicianship.

While Scott Stapp spoke of the similar treatment of Creed and Led Zeppelin by critics, it was a critic who actually compared the band to Led Zeppelin musically. MTV’s Don Kaye wrote in February 2001, “Although Creed were once tarred with the over-used ‘alternative’ brush, they have much more to do with classic rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, and Lynyrd Skynyrd than, say, the Pixies or the Breeders.”

Then again the seed might have been planted by Creed’s record label in the band’s official biography that listed Led Zeppelin as one of the band’s biggest influences. 

What of the differences? 

Beginning with their third album Led Zeppelin seemed more comfortable spreading their wings musically, branching out into different directions where as Creed thus far has stayed pretty consistent to their formula. And why not, it has proven to sell. Another big difference is that Led Zeppelin had a much easier time making it in the music business than Creed had. When the Led Zeppelin started out as the New Yardbirds, Jimmy Page was already a known quantity in the music scene from his days as a studio musician and his stint with the original Yardbirds. John Paul Jones was considered a top studio musician and arranger in the British rock scene of the day. So when Led Zeppelin formed and went out to land a record deal they merely had to pick which label to go with. They ended up with Atlantic who gave them unprecedented artistic freedom. Creed on the other hand was passed over by all of the major labels and ended up signing with a relatively unknown start-up independent label, Wind-Up Records.  Creed’s astonishing success could be more easily understood if they would have had a major label behind them to pump money into promotion. The fact that they achieved the level of fame that they did with their debut and the follow up albums really does give credence to the band’s belief that the music was strong enough to attract an audience despite all the barriers and critical bashing the band took. 

Time will be the judge.

Thirty years from now, will people look back at Creed with the same reverence that Led Zeppelin enjoys today? Time will be the real test but thus far Creed has managed to release three albums with all of them going multi-platinum. It would be easy to write them off as a flash in the pan if their popularity would have waned after an album or two but as I write this Creed’s third album is enjoying it’s fifth week a top of the charts with no sign of letting up. Stapp my be also correct in saying “…it wasn't until their fourth album that everybody got to accept the fact that Led Zeppelin was gonna be there and be around. We're kind of starting to feel that way now." 

Will they follow the Led Zeppelin example and try to expand their musical palette? Will the band’s continued success silence their critics or add more full to the fire? Love them or hate, it does seem that Creed is a band you had better get used to seeing and hearing from in the years to come. But looking at the facts, Stapp wasn’t too far off base when he compared the critical views of his band to that of Led Zeppelin’s. There is no denying the similarities between the two groups treatment by their detractors. 

In the end it doesn’t really matter. The way their career is shaping up, Creed will continue to sell millions of CD’s and people will continue to bash them every step of the way.  Maybe a decade from now some of their critics will change their minds, or the band will lose some of its luster in the eyes of their diehard fans. Until then, the line in the sand has been drawn and the battle will continue between those who love Creed and those who hate them. Meanwhile Creed is laughing all the way to the bank. 

FAN SPEAK: Agree or Disagree? 

Fan Speak:

Posted by snake:
Creed was a great band.
They were a combination of Led Zepplin and The Doors. Weathered was the best album becuase Bullets is a great song.
and Who's Got my Back is Creed's Kashmir.
Scott Stapp's solo effort is a great new start for a talented guy like him!

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