Scott Stapp has been an indelible force of talent in the rock music realm for more than two decades. That presence doesn't prevent the man, now in his mid-40s, from exuding even deeper emotion than in his mid-20s. The passion and vulnerable emotion that combined with delicate fingering and thundering riffs during the lead singer's days with Creed carried through his solo career, producing two very successful albums and sustaining an immensely loyal fan base.

Rising from the pain and reaching for hope have always been central themes in every Scott Stapp song.

He never shrinks from personal accountability in his self-inflicted torture. He echoes in every ode, including “Ode,” from 1997, and on through “Slow Suicide” which soared to number one in 2013. The lyricist’s life and lyrics have been rife with youthful angst and rebellion and soaring to the heights with divine hope, and listeners have been along for the whole ride.

In his newly-released song and the official video for his new single, “Purpose For Pain,” Scott Stapp is allowing an even more personal vantage point into the process of his creativity and discovering an even greater sense of personal freedom.

Strength from the shambles

Scott Stapp signed with Napalm Records in February, and the weeks since have brought a flurry of activity.

The “visualization video” released by the label last month for “Purpose For Pain” rapidly racked up over 100,000 views, and continues to climb. Heavy-metal appetites were fully-whetted this week by April 10, when the official video for the single was released.

Stapp candidly revealed in interviews with ET Canada and Rolling Stone on April 11 how he has come to appreciate his personal battles with addiction and day-to-day management of bipolar disorder as tremendous sources of strength and hope.

He describes how discovering the “higher meaning” in any life hurdle provides “you just enough hope hang on and live to fight another day.”

Learning from pain, rather than leaning into it and succumbing to the darkness, has taught life lessons to Scott Stapp that he passes on to every person he encounters. He has always cultivated a personal connection with fans from the stage but now feels deeply “empathetic” with those facing struggles.

Nothing has more power than a personal truth, and that conviction comes across from Scott Stapp in a favorite chorus and in a few minutes of conversation.

The realities of brutality, abandonment, and betrayal that became part of Scott Stapp's growing years is powerfully portrayed by a striking boy actor in the video. He literally escapes his own father, or presumed father-figure, running far into the desert to the only haven of shelter he has. The dilapidated structure barely stands, yet it stands for all that gives him hope. Pictures of family, a doll, and posted words of “Believe” and “better” offer the only solace as he gazes up from a worn upholstered chair. At one juncture, a car filled with strangers stops, and a passenger tries to offer the easy, accessible chemical escape to feel no pain.

While Scott Stapp and his band proclaim the certainty of “Purpose For Pain,” the boy stands atop a cliff, finding his own resolve to overcome.

Radio and the road

Scott Stapp and his band have been crisscrossing the country over the last few days. The Grammy-winning composer has engaged in friendly conversations and photo moments with fans and radio hosts. A stop in Reno a few days back brought out the fatherly side of Scott Stapp. He shared his joy in the simple pleasures of being a dad with his three children at home, including changing diapers.

The frontman has willingly and graciously accepted the honor of being the standard-bearer of the Creed musical legacy. He understands and appreciates that Creed’s catalog of songs that echo the theme of “entitled to overcome” has become etched into millions of hearts and souls.

He also commiserates with the frustration of not hearing a cherished song from a favorite band at a concert, as he experienced about a year ago at a U2 concert when only one “Joshua Tree” offering was performed. Scott has often honored both the band and the album as being seminal inspirations in his writing.

Scott will commence a full tour in support of his album, “The Space Between The Shadows,” his third solo album, on June 20 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It runs through August 31 in Lake Andes, South Dakota, with plenty of stops at venues in between.
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