Creed's First Album Almost Got Shelved Thanks to Conor Oberst

Back in the mid-’90s, when emo band Commander Venus was trying to make waves, Conor Oberst found himself in an unusual position: previewing Creed’s music before the rest of the world had to deal with it. On the Broken Record podcast, hosted by Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, and Justin Richmond, Oberst shared a memory that probably still makes him wince.

While signed to Wind-up Records for Commander Venus’s second album, The Uneventful Vacation, Oberst had built a rapport with label founders Alan and Diana Meltzer. According to him, these two were nothing if not “eccentric.” At some point, the Meltzers decided to play a fresh, new band’s music for him. The band in question? Creed. Oberst’s first reaction? “This sounds like a really bad Pearl Jam.” Not exactly a glowing endorsement.

Diana Meltzer, undeterred, went on to call Scott Stapp the “new Jim Morrison.” Bold claim, though hindsight suggests she might have been a tad optimistic. Oberst, for his part, thought this judgment might not age well, but the Meltzers doubled down and released Creed’s debut album, My Own Prison, in 1997. The result? The record produced hit after hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, proving Oberst wrong in spectacular fashion.

Reflecting on it now, Oberst chuckled at how the album became “the biggest thing in the world.” He even admitted, with no shortage of self-deprecation, that it’s probably best to not trust his instincts when it comes to picking commercial winners.

Of course, Creed’s success didn’t stop there. The follow-up album, Human Clay, was an even bigger monster, featuring tracks like “Higher” and the saccharine ballad “With Arms Wide Open.” Love them or hate them, Creed cemented their place in music history. Sure, they also became a punching bag for critics, but lately, they’ve seen a bit of a comeback, lumped in with other post-grunge acts like Nickelback in what some call a “renaissance.” Now, whether you view this as justice or tragedy depends on your tolerance for butt rock, lol.

But hey, creed’s revival isn’t just internet chatter either. They’re hitting the road for a massive North American tour next summer, cashing in on the nostalgia wave. Meanwhile, Oberst has his own busy schedule. Bright Eyes will embark on a tour starting January, joined by Hurray for the Riff Raff and Cursive, to support their recent album, Five Dice, All Threes.

CREED’S 2024-2025 TOUR DATES:

• 12/28 – Durant, OK @ Choctaw Casino & Resort !
• 12/30 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Colosseum !
• 12/31 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Colosseum !
• 04/09-13 – Miami, FL @ Summer of ’99 and Beyond Cruise
• 04/26 – Indio, CA @ Stagecoach
• 07/09 – Lexington, KY @ Rupp Arena *
• 07/11 – Syracuse, NY @ Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview *
• 07/12 – Camden, NJ @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion #
• 07/15 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater %
• 07/16 – Scranton, PA @ The Pavilion at Montage Mountain %
• 07/20 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center *
• 07/22 – Hartford, CT @ Xfinity Theatre *
• 07/24 – Charleston, SC @ Credit One Stadium *
• 07/26 – New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center *
• 07/27 – Memphis, TN @ FedExForum *
• 07/29 – Wichita, KS @ INTRUST Bank Arena %
• 08/01 – Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena %
• 08/02 – Ridgedale, MO @ Thunder Ridge Nature Arena %
• 08/04 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater %
• 08/06 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre %
• 08/07 – Palm Desert, CA @ Acrisure Arena at Greater Palm Springs *
• 08/09 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre *
• 08/10 – Stateline, NV @ Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys *
• 08/13 – Ridgefield, WA @ RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater *
• 08/14 – Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre *
• 08/16 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena ^
• 08/19 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place ^
• 08/20 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome ^

* = w/ 3 Doors Down and Mammoth WVH
# = w/ 3 Doors Down
% = w/ Daughtry and Mammoth WVH
^ = w/ Big Wreck and Mammoth WVH
! = w/ Sevendust

So what’s the takeaway here? Perhaps it’s this: even when you think a band sounds like a watered-down version of another, the masses might just eat it up anyway. As for Oberst, he seems content playing the role of music’s reluctant prophet, doomed to occasionally misjudge which trends will stick.

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