Scott Stapp: Creed Are Hated Like LeBron James Because They’re Both ‘Dominant’ and ‘Successful’

Is Creed the most hated band of all-time? Well, no, Nickelback probably wins that award. And honestly, there are worse bands than both of them. Not a lot of them, but they exist. Remember Methods of Mayhem? I rest my case.

In a recent interview with Consequence, Creed’s Scott Stapp talked about their recent reunion and were asked about the initial backlash to their commercial success and if the “enthusiastic response to this current reunion serves as vindication for the band.”

In response, Stapp said that Creed was “the most hated band by the media not by the public, by the media,” insisting that “Creed has always been a people’s band.” Personally, I don’t remember the media treating Creed poorly, whereas I know a lot of metalheads who will laugh at you for saying you like Creed, but sure, whatever you say, Scott.

But the funniest part of the interview might be the part right after that when Stapp goes on to compare himself to a famous athlete, and not the one you’d expect, LeBron James:

“I mean, it happens in pro sports. Mark and I were doing an interview the other day, and he was talking about how this has happened with LeBron James. He goes from King James and then now he gets hate. He’s one of the most hated players in the league, and it’s all because of how dominant and how successful he is. And so it’s just par for the course.”

If we were going to compare Creed to an athlete, it would have to be someone who started out looking pretty impressive and then quickly fizzled so much that they became a laughing stock, all the while still having an overinflated sense of their own talent and importance. In that sense, I’d probably call Creed the Cam Newton of post-grunge.

To catch the Cam Newton of post-grunge live, check them out on the appropriately titled “Summer of 99 Tour” with guests that vary by city but include the likes of 3 Doors Down, Daughtry, Tonic, and Finger Eleven. Tour dates listed below.

JUL 17 – GREEN BAY, WI, UNITED STATES · RESCH CENTER
JUL 19 -MONTICELLO, IA, UNITED STATES · GREAT JONES COUNTY FAIR
JUL 20 – WALKER, MN, UNITED STATES · MOONDANCE EVENTS
JUL 23 – SIMPSONVILLE, SC, UNITED STATES · CCNB AMPHITHEATRE AT HERITAGE PARK
JUL 24 – CHARLOTTE, NC, UNITED STATES · PNC MUSIC PAVILION
JUL 26 – BRISTOW, VA, UNITED STATES · JIFFY LUBE LIVE
JUL 27 – VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, UNITED STATES · VETERANS UNITED HOME LOANS AMPHITHEATER AT VIRGINIA BEACH
JUL 30 – TORONTO, ON, CANADA · BUDWEISER STAGE
JUL 31 – DETROIT, MI, UNITED STATES · PINE KNOB MUSIC THEATRE
AUG 02 – CINCINNATI, OH, UNITED STATES · RIVERBEND MUSIC CENTER
AUG 03 – BURGETTSTOWN, PA, UNITED STATES · THE PAVILION AT STAR LAKE
AUG 06 – BRIDGEPORT, CT, UNITED STATES · HARTFORD HEALTHCARE AMPHITHEATER
AUG 07 – HOLMDEL, NJ, UNITED STATES · PNC BANK ARTS CENTER
AUG 09 – MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO, UNITED STATES · HOLLYWOOD CASINO AMPHITHEATRE – ST. LOUIS
AUG 10 – NOBLESVILLE, IN, UNITED STATES · RUOFF MUSIC CENTER – INDIANAPOLIS
AUG 13 – NASHVILLE, TN, UNITED STATES · ASCEND AMPHITHEATER
AUG 14 – PELHAM, AL, UNITED STATES · OAK MOUNTAIN AMPHITHEATRE
AUG 16 – TINLEY PARK, IL, UNITED STATES · CREDIT UNION 1 AMPHITHEATRE
AUG 17 – WELCH, MN, UNITED STATES · TREASURE ISLAND AMPHITHEATER
AUG 20 – GILFORD, NH, UNITED STATES · BANK OF NH PAVILION WEST (MAIN) ENTRANCE
AUG 21 – MANSFIELD, MA, UNITED STATES · XFINITY CENTER
AUG 23 – HERSHEY, PA, UNITED STATES · HERSHEYPARK STADIUM
AUG 24 – SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY, UNITED STATES · SARATOGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
AUG 31 – SAN BERNARDINO, CA, UNITED STATES · GLEN HELEN AMPHITHEATER
SEP 01 – WHEATLAND, CA, UNITED STATES · TOYOTA AMPHITHEATRE
SEP 04 – PHOENIX, AZ, UNITED STATES · TALKING STICK RESORT AMPHITHEATRE
SEP 06 – WEST VALLEY CITY, UT, UNITED STATES · USANA AMPHITHEATRE – SALT LAKE CITY
SEP 07 – GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO, UNITED STATES · FIDDLER’S GREEN AMPHITHEATRE
SEP 10 – ROGERS, AR, UNITED STATES · WALMART AMP
SEP 11 – DALLAS, TX, UNITED STATES · DOS EQUIS PAVILION
SEP 13 – SAN ANTONIO, TX, UNITED STATES · FROST BANK CENTER
SEP 14 – HOUSTON, TX, UNITED STATES · THE CYNTHIA WOODS MITCHELL PAVILION – HOUSTON
SEP 16 – BRANDON, MS, UNITED STATES · BRANDON AMPHITHEATER
SEP 18 – RALEIGH, NC, UNITED STATES · COASTAL CREDIT UNION MUSIC PARK AT WALNUT CREEK
SEP 20 – TAMPA, FL, UNITED STATES · MIDFLORIDA CREDIT UNION AMPHITHEATRE
SEP 21 – PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL, UNITED STATES · ITHINK FINANCIAL AMPHITHEATRE
SEP 24 – JACKSONVILLE, FL, UNITED STATES · DAILY’S PLACE
SEP 25 – ALPHARETTA, GA, UNITED STATES · AMERIS BANK AMPHITHEATRE
SEP 27 – DARIEN, NY, UNITED STATES · DARIEN LAKES AMPHITHEATER
SEP 28 – ATLANTIC CITY, NJ, UNITED STATES · HARD ROCK LIVE AT ETESS ARENA
NOV 02 – OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, UNITED STATES · PAYCOM CENTER
NOV 03 – NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR, UNITED STATES · SIMMONS BANK ARENA
NOV 06 – KANSAS CITY, MO, UNITED STATES · T-MOBILE CENTER
NOV 08 – NASHVILLE, TN, UNITED STATES · BRIDGESTONE ARENA
NOV 09 – BILOXI, MS, UNITED STATES · MISSISSIPPI COAST COLISEUM
NOV 12 – CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, UNITED STATES · AMERICAN BANK CENTER ARENA
NOV 13 – FORT WORTH, TX, UNITED STATES · DICKIES ARENA
NOV 15 – AUSTIN, TX, UNITED STATES · MOODY CENTER
NOV 16 – BOSSIER CITY, LA, UNITED STATES · BROOKSHIRE GROCERY ARENA
NOV 19 – GRAND RAPIDS, MI, UNITED STATES · VAN ANDEL ARENA
NOV 20 – DETROIT, MI, UNITED STATES · LITTLE CAESARS ARENA
NOV 22 – CLEVELAND, OH, UNITED STATES · ROCKET MORTGAGE FIELDHOUSE
NOV 23 – BALTIMORE, MD, UNITED STATES · CFG BANK ARENA
NOV 25 – MONTRÉAL, QC, CANADA · BELL CENTRE
NOV 27 – TORONTO, ON, CANADA · SCOTIABANK ARENA
NOV 29 – NEW YORK CITY, NY, UNITED STATES · MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
NOV 30 – BANGOR, ME, UNITED STATES · CROSS INSURANCE CENTER
DEC 02 – ALLENTOWN, PA, UNITED STATES · PPL CENTER
DEC 04 – ATLANTA, GA, UNITED STATES · STATE FARM ARENA
DEC 05 – ORLANDO, FL, UNITED STATES · KIA CENTER