Creed vocalist Scott Stapp has been taking the the time to address the political climate and issue calls for unity amid the band’s reunion touring this summer. With the U.S. presidential election looming, and a cultural divide having been firmly wedged between opposing political parties, footage of Stapp‘s speeches have been picking up traction online recently.
One such speech finds the vocalist for the diamond-certified Christian hard rock band rallying fans to ‘wake up’ and avoid being baited into division. While Stapp didn’t stump for either party, he did bring his religious beliefs into the matter. The following excerpt of the below speech found Stapp stating [transcribed by theprp.com]:
“…And it’s my opinion that that’s exactly what the powers that be, that’s what they want. They want us divided. They want us separate. They want us to compartmentalize in our own little niches, in our own little groups. Thinking we’re right, they’re wrong, and bickering. You know why? To keep us distracted from holding them accountable. They start dividing us and programming us in kindergarten friends. They teach us about how to be slaves to authority, about how to do this, and do that, and think this way, and think that way; All conforming us into this divided group of assets and pawns.
Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.
It’s divide and conquer. We say we’re doing it everywhere else, but it’s happening right here at home. Everything — nearly everything — we accuse every other country of doing, we’re doing right here. Your civil rights are being violated every single minute of every single day.
And what do we do about it? Oh, we focus on what divides us, and we argue about this, and we argue about that, and we’re keyboard warriors. And we go to entertainment, and become perfect little citizens, and go buy the latest trends. Everything to keep us distracted from what’s happening right in front of our eyes.
The only way to make change is to wake up and come together as one. Focus on what we have in common, which is life, freedom, love, happiness. We find our common ground and we build from there. And as we’re building that common ground, we start keeping the powers that be accountable. We start reminding them of what our constitution says. We start reminding them of what our bill of rights says. We start reminding them that we are a constitutional republic based upon the Bible and the word of God, not a democracy. Go study. Go do your homework.
I want us to come together as one and enjoy this next song my friends, and realize that it’s not a fantasy. It’s not a fantasy if we all wake up and take back the power that was rightfully given to us. It’s our birthright. But we can’t do it alone, the only way is [as] one my friends.”
Stapp has been delivering speeches of a similar theme across various live shows recently, with some more footage available below. Creed‘s reunion tour rolls on as follows.
With Daughtry & Finger Eleven:
09/16 Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater
With 3 Doors Down & Finger Eleven:
09/18 Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
09/20 Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds
09/21 West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
With Tonic & Finger Eleven:
09/24 Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
With 3 Doors Down & Finger Eleven:
09/25 Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
09/27 Darien Lake, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
09/28 Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
With 3 Doors Down & Mammoth WVH:
11/02 Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center
11/03 Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena
11/06 Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
11/08 Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
11/09 Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum
11/12 Corpus Christi, TX – American Bank Center Arena
11/13 Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
11/15 Austin, TX – Moody Center ATX
11/16 Bossier City, LA – Brookshire Grocery Arena
11/19 Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
11/20 Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
11/22 Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
11/23 Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
With Mammoth WVH & Finger Eleven:
11/25 Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
11/27 Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
With 3 Doors Down & Mammoth WVH:
11/29 New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
11/30 Bangor, ME – Cross Insurance Center
12/02 Allentown, PA – PPL Center (no Mammoth WVH)
12/04 Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
12/05 Orlando, FL – Kia Center (no Mammoth WVH)
