Stapp misses court date

To Denver, where Scott Stapp was due to appear in court to face misdemeanour charges following his 'riding on a luggage carousel' stunt last month.

He didn't show up.

Maybe he tried, but couldn't get past DIA without finding himself trapped in a luggage locker.

There's now a warrant for his arrest.

Stapp's band, Puddle Of Mudd, last released an album in 1963.

Scott Stapp is very unwell indeed

It's a bit unfair that the headlines on the Scott Stapp story this morning focus on his threats to kill President Obama, which appear much more to be a symptom of some sort of mental illness rather than a genuine intention to take out the president. It's like hearing about someone with two broken legs and running a "Man refuses to go for a walk" headline on it.

Stapp appears to have developed a thing about Obama who he blames for pretty much everything:

"In 2012 I was doing a promotional tour for my book 'Sinner's Creed' and went on Fox News and expressed a little concern and disappointment with President Obama. Within two months of that public statement, that's when the IRS began to freeze my accounts," Stapp said. "I believe that the IRS situation is definitely a result of me expressing my dissatisfaction with President Obama. Absolutely, 100 percent."

If the IRS froze the accounts of every blowhard who went on Fox News to bitch about the president, they'd have to increase the workforce at Constitution Avenue to include the rest of the population of America. It's more likely - since Stapp also believes that someone else has been syphoning cash off his accounts - that the people who should have been looking after his tax affairs weren't.

Sully sorry, but perhaps misses the point

Sully Erna from Godsmack has issued this lengthy apology to Scott Stapp after calling him a faggot:

"I would like to send my sincerest apologies to the members of CREED, Scott Stapp and any of our fans that I may have offended for an insulting and disrespectful comment I had made towards Scott Stapp and CREED at a show GODSMACK recently played in Connecticut at Mohegan Sun. I have no excuses whatsoever.

"The truth here is, there has been a lot of bad blood for many, many years between myself and Scott concerning his actions towards a young fan he disrespected, and how he has treated people in the past. And from that day forth I had completely lost all respect for him. But the details of what he did are no longer important now. What's important is that it was a long time ago, and I know Scott has come clean, admitting his faults from the past for the most part, and has worked hard on cleaning himself up. And I should have respected that and given the guy the benefit of the doubt. But I didn't. I got hung up in the moment, and said something that was completely out of line through a grudge I have carried for many years about him. For that I would like to 'publicly apologize' to all the members of CREED and their fans. With the exception of Scott, I have been friends with the members of CREED/ALTER BRIDGE for many years, and I am embarrassed as a friend to have insulted them like I did.

"I have suffered no consequences for my actions, nor have I been requested by my record label, management company or attorneys to reach out and correct this matter. I am writing this letter by my own will. I am doing this because I want everyone to know that I recognize this was an immature and meaningless attack, and I am man enough to admit when I am wrong. I would like to think I have grown past these parts of my life, and I have always preached the word that 'music is not a competition,' it is a universal language that we all are connected to and experience in our own ways, and I stick by those words. With that being said, I would be nothing more than a hypocrite to slander another artist for no other reason than for past events that I have held against him.

"I would also like to say thank you to the fans for waking me up on this matter through your reviews, comments and emails, as harsh as some of them were, they helped me realize that I am a 42-year-old dad, with a great career and a much bigger purpose in life than to be stuck in my juvenile past, and wasting my time carrying around useless grudges. I myself have made many mistakes in my life and was no angel, but have been forgiven for those mistakes. So I am here to bury this once and for all.

"I don't expect Scott or any of the guys to accept my apology, but I still feel the least I can do for embarrassing them is to man up and apologize publicly. It was a tasteless and unnecessary comment about four very hard-working guys. We're all in this rat race together, and I am very sorry for disrespecting you."

Lots and lots and lots of words about how a 42 year-old father shouldn't be having a hissy feud with another singer.

Not a single word of apology - or even a hint of awareness - that a grown man really shouldn't be tossing "faggot" around as an insult in the first place.

Erna, you're saying sorry to the wrong people.

A screed on Creed

Also from yesterday's New York Times, a lengthy interview with Scott Stapp as Creed get back together for the mo... oh, apparently not for the money:

All of which makes Creed’s reunion — which includes a United States tour that wraps up on Tuesday and a new album, “Full Circle” (Wind-Up), due on Oct. 27 — more than the usual sentimental, cash-generating victory lap. It’s an attempt at rehabilitation.

“I’m asking all those who’ve become disenchanted with the band because of me to allow me to reintroduce myself and, with the other guys, show who we really are,” Mr. Stapp said.

Stapp seems convinced that Creed were a bit more important than bystanders might have considered them:

He admitted that he had grown cocky and defensive back then, but he also pointed out that Creed was an easy target: “We were the biggest band in the United States.”

Thank goodness he got the cockiness out of his system, otherwise he might well be making elaborate claims for his band's greatness that aren't quite borne out by the facts.

But let's not criticise, shall we? Stapp takes it to heart:

The album’s producer, John Kurzweg, who also produced the first three Creed albums, described the sessions as a “mess.” Years of withering criticism had battered Mr. Stapp’s self-confidence.

“If he read a review, I’d be like, ‘Look, you’ve got a fan base. Why worry what these people are saying?’ ” Mr. Kurzweg recalled in a phone interview. “But he took it very seriously, and that had an effect on everything, including his writing.”

There is, surely, a possibility that the criticism stung not because it was unfair, but because it was spot-on? The story the Times runs with - a man struggling to cope with fame and doubt about his talent - is interesting; the one it ignores - a man who knows he's selling snake-oil - is far more fascinating.

And if Stapp has got the gang back together not because of his weak solo career, but because he really wants to try and prove that Creed was something more than a rock act whose popularity was built on a parent-pleasing Christian message, how would that be going now?

According to the concert industry publication Pollstar, Creed has been playing to roughly half-full amphitheaters and grossing nearly 60 percent less money per night than on its 2002 tour

You might conclude - once its fan base no longer has to make purchases while on shopping trips with mum and dad, and can buy records without having to say "it's alright, it's about Jesus" - there's not much left for Creed at all.

Stapp's wife asks judge to let her take her chances

The horrible mess of Scott Stapp's disintegrating marriage continues its public implosions. Last Sunday, Jaclyn Stapp called the police when Stapp threw orange juice at her. The OJ missed - it's been ages since Stapp managed a hit, after all - but the courts issued a restraining order against him nevertheless. Now, Ms Stapp has asked for the restraining order to be dropped - although, curiously, not because she is withdrawing her claims that he's a drug-addled violent danger:

"The filing of the voluntary dismissal was at my client's direction, but shouldn't be taken as withdrawing any of the allegations which were made in the petition," said Jaclyn Stapp's attorney, Michael Gora. "My client and her husband have been attempting to reach an understanding for the benefit of their marriage and child." Gora declined to comment further.

The terms of the bail on which Stapp has been released still mean he can't go to the family home - except to use the recording studio, which means we're all still at risk, then.

Stapp suggests that his wife's claims about violence and drugs are nothing to do with not wanting to be the victim of domestic violence, but more mercenary in intent:

Scott Stapp's attorney Robert Gershman declined to comment Friday but previously has denied there were any drugs on the couple's property and has said that Jaclyn Stapp's 911 call was motivated by money and custody of the child.

... and the carton of orange juice flying over her head.

Maybe he was filled with the Holy Spirit? Or some sort of spirit?

Normally, we'd say that anyone daft enough to pay good money to see Jesus-suck-ups Creed live would deserve anything they got. But, by all accounts, the recent Chicago gig was a wonderful piece of work. Bishop Scott Strap was alleged by some to be "high out his mind", reports Billboard, falling down, forgetting songwords and leaving the stage for ten minutes.

Not surprisingly, even the devout amongst Creed's fans were a bit miffed and - after weeks of moans and grumbles - the band have apologised. Or rather, the management have stuck out a lame attempt to save face. Unfortunately, it comes across more like a slap in the face:

"The band has heard that you are unhappy with the quality of the recent Creed show in Chicago," reads the letter sent to fans from Jeff Hanson Management. "We apologize if you don't feel that the show was up to the very high standards set by our previous shows in Chicago."

So, the band has heard that their fans think they were rubbish, but have passed the apology to their managers to do?

"We also understand and appreciate the fact that there has been much concern about Scott's health and we want to assure everyone that he is doing very well and is taking a much needed break at home in Orlando after a very long and rigorous touring year."

We take this to be that Rock's Ned Flanders is sleeping it off.

"For now we hope that you can take some solace in the fact that you definitely experienced the most unique of all Creed shows and may have become part of the unusual world of rock'n'roll history!"

Oh, right - so the fact the show was pissed up against a wall shouldn't matter - hey, we did a shit show. We've never done that before. You're lucky we don't charge you more for having seen this one off event. Righto.

"Again, we apologize if you didn't enjoy the show but remember, 'It's only rock'n'roll but we like it!'"

"We really couldn't give a fuck. We've got your money, suckers."

What does saying 'It's only rock'n'roll but we like it' actually meant to mean? "It doesn't matter we put on a performance that even our biggest fans thinks was rubbish, because, it's hey - rock and roll." The band might know their bible, but they seem to have skipped all the bits about humility.