It looks like Scott Stapp has set himself free from his "own prison," and is embracing life to the fullest with his second solo album fittingly entitled Proof of Life. It's been no secret that the Creed frontman has had his shair of struggles over the years, and we can stop it at that. If you want regurgitated dirt about the singer, you can Google it. I'd rather focus on the present because the singer sure as hell is. Stapp's been candid about his alcohol and drug abuse, and has faced it head-on whether in the 2012 memoir Sinner's Creed or in interviews such as the one he did for A-Sides earlier this month.
Hours before he took the stage at Irving Plaza in New York City on April 2, the hitmaker opened up about his new album - his second solo effort in a decade (2005's The Great Divide went platinum) - past indiscretions, the state of rock in the mainstream, and - of course - Creed. Stapp also humored this father of a two-year-old son by answering a question about Creed's mega-hit "With Arms Wide Open" - which earned the band a Grammy for Best Rock Song. Catch Stapp on the road, and watch this candid interview filmed by shootmepeter.com for A-Sides with Jon Chattman below.
A-Sides "Delve Into Twelve" Countdown
Each week A-Sides unleashes its Top 12 tracks of the week AKA the "Delve Into Twelve"based on the following contributing factors: songs I'm playing out that particular week NO MATTER WHEN THEY WERE RELEASED (think overlooked songs, unreleased tracks, and old favorites), songs various publicists are trying to get me to listen to that I did and dug a bunch, posts and trends I've noticed on my friends' Facebook walls, and - most importantly - the songs my two-year-old son gravitates toward by stomping his feet in approval. Yeah, you read that right. This weeks follows below (LW= last week's rank).
12. "I Wanna Get Better" (LW-8)- Bleachers
11. "Texas" - (LW-7) Magic Man
10. "Night Sky" (LW-11) - CHVRCHES
9. "Hemiplegia" (LW-6) - Haerts
8. "Rimbaud Eyes" (LW-9) - Dum Dum Girls
7. "Waves" (LW-5)- Sleeper Agent
6. "Oh Me" - Nirvana (Unplugged)
5. "Invisible" (LW-1) - U2
4. "Now Hear In" (LW-4) - Cloud Nothings
3. "Lanterns" (LW-3) - Birds of Tokyo
2. "Blue Moon" (LW-2) - Beck
1. "Fever" (LW-7) - The Black Keys
About A-Sides Music
Jon Chattman's "A-Sides Music" series was established in August 2011 and usually features artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometimes humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, I'm hoping this is refreshing. Artists have included: fun, Blondfire, Rob Zombie, Pharrell Williams, Courtney Love, American Authors, Imagine Dragons, Gary Clark Jr., and more!