Scott Stapp shares highs, lows of his journey

NEWTON — Scott Stapp, the voice of Creed, will bare his soul through music when he performs at Newton Theatre on Monday, June 16.

"New Jersey has always been very good to me," Stapp said. "Shows have been great and the fans are very passionate and just diehard. They stuck with me through every roller coaster of my career and just been amazing."

Stapp will be performing Creed classics such as "Higher," "What If," "My Sacrifice" and Grammy-winner "With Arms Wide Open." He will also perform songs from his 2013 solo album, "Proof of Life" — which tells the story of Stapp’s journey.

Stapp's journey
"It really signifies to me the ending of an extended period of my life," Stapp said. "The summary and ending of a period of my life and then the beginning of a new chapter, a new beginning. It’s a really significant record for me personally. It signifies growth and reflection and maturity."

Stapp's journey has been a whirlwind as he dealt with fame, alcoholism, suicide attempts and now sobriety. He opened up about his journey in a book he wrote called "Sinner's Creed" in 2012 and also now with "Proof of Life."

"This record is almost the sound track to the book," Stapp said. "It couldn’t have been written without the journey of self discovery that I took to try to grow as a human being. Writing that book I know I had to make changes in my life because I got into a dark place. And this record symbolizes to me that it all mattered, it all had a purpose. And what I thought was such a mess and a disaster that I had made in a period of my life has now turned into a message. It has been re-purposed. And so it is a lot of healing within that for me."

Expressing his journey through music was only fitting for Stapp.

"Music has always been therapy for me," Stapp said. "I didn’t have that understanding until the last two or three years. But knowing that now I can clearly see it. Its always been an outlet for me and a way for me deal with every emotion in my life. Good or bad. I really got to a place where the music stopped because of my disease and alcoholism and all of the destruction that can bring. Getting to that place of brokenness was just essential for me to move forward and really change my life and my perspective and who I was inside. And how I approached the music and appreciated the music. Its definitely something I look at that way."

Future
Even though, "Proof of Life" just came out, Stapp already has plans to release two more songs. The songs will be added to the album as bonus tracks. He also is in the process of making a music video for the new album.

"Aside from that I just am continuing to move forward and live life for me," Stapp said. Twenty-four hours at a time. And just enjoy it with clarity and some peace."