Stapp puts rumors to rest

Access Hollywood October 24, 2002

Creed's frontman Scott Stapp has had a difficult year, with rumors of a drug problem and a life-threatening illness spinning wildly out of control. Stapp went on the record with Access Hollywood's Pat O'Brien to address the rumors.

"You know the rumors. This is I think the second time that one of us in the band has overdosed. When Mark was sick he overdosed and now when I had to do this I overdosed," said Stapp.

Reports swirled in April following an accident where his car was rear-ended at high speed. Stapp was later treated for some back and neck injuries, but the problem began because there were no injuries noted on the initial accident report. The band cancelled 20 dates of its Weathered tour and the press went wild with rumors that Scott was trying to back out of the tour. Then in October, the guys postponed seven West Coast dates and shortened a VH1 Made-For-Television concert shot on Alcatraz after Scott was struck with acute laryngitis. That was when people really started talking.

When asked if he ever overdosed, Stapp told Access: "No, I did not. " Scott revealed that he undergoes physical therapy for his back injury. "The only thing is just having to deal with my back and my neck. I do my physical therapy every day and I deal with some aches every once in a while just like everyone else."

Despite the aches and pains, the 29-year-old is forging ahead, but just listen to his lyrics and it's clear his real-life struggles have seeped into his music. In the single "Don't Stop Dancing," part of the song says, "Whatever life brings, I've been through everything."

And Scott is even pulling his family into the mix -- secretly putting his son, Jagger, in his latest music video, plus his sister, Amie, sings backup vocals. However, she only got a shot at it after an "up-and-comer" passed on the offer. "I called Faith Hill to do it and she was having a baby so she couldn't do it. I was like, 'My sister she can sing, she's got a beautiful voice and she's cheap. I'll just use her.'"

Scott also told Pat that he has begun seeing a vocal coach, which he says will help alleviate any anxiety over his voice.