Creed tickets to Manila show ‘running out fast’

Creed's lead singer Scott Stapp performs onstage at the Beacon Theatre on April 20, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images)

They were big in the 90s for gazillion-selling inspirational rock anthems  like “With Arms Wide Open.”

Apparently, they still are.

As soon as local promoters announced that the Grammy award-winning band would be in Manila on November 11 as part of their current world tour, fans were said to have rushed to designated ticket outlets to secure their tickets for their show at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Patron and upper box tickets are selling fast.

Creed ruled the mid-90s as earnest rockers who sang about their faith, leading some to label them as a Christian band. While they do acknowledge their Christian beliefs, they said their spiritual imagery was more metaphor.

Since their debut in 1997 until their breakup in 2004 due to tensions among members, the band released three albums that sold more than 40 million units worldwide.  

“When we split, nobody thought that we would ever get back together again,” said guitarist and founding member Mark Tremonti. “But five, six years go by and things change. What we realized was what we had built was more important than any of our individual quirks.”

Vocalist Scott Stapp, who was said to have become addicted to alcohol and painkillers following a car accident, had been so out of it during a December 2002 show that he forgot the lyrics to his songs. After a year-long hiatus, the band announced it was breaking up.

“Scott is definitely a more humble guy now,” Tremonti wrote on the band’s website. He has respect for everyone around him, but we’re all more mature, grown men with families of our own. We’re playing nice.”

They’re not just nice, they’ve also built on what they built for their fans in the first place: a post-reunion album of new songs released in 2009 called “Full Circle.” Certainly, it loops back to what fans love about Creed the most: thrilling bombast, earnestness and lotsa ringing guitars.

For ticket inquiries call 911 5555. For VIP, Meet & Greet and Sound Check Pass, call 921 8883 and 0929 260 3399.