Driven by unbridled passions and haunted by ghosts that defy definition, the great rockers keep getting better, stronger, more determined to get it right. “Proof of Life” is proof that Scott Stapp is among the great rockers. It's also proof that this time he's gotten it right. The Ridgefield Playhouse and Pepsi Rock Series Powered by Xfinity bring the Grammy Award winning artist Scott Stapp to the stage on Tuesday, May 24 at 8 p.m. As the founder and lead singer of Creed, Stapp chronicled his quest for answers, and his dreams and personal journey to fatherhood in chart topping hits, “My Own Prison,” “Higher,” and “With Arms Wide Open,” which dominated the sonic landscape of the 90s-2000s. His world renowned, soul-piercing lyrics backed by thundering rock riffs garnered not only a Grammy award, but countless other accolades of creativity and chart domination, not to mention legions of fans, who felt a kindred spirit in his honesty.
Kicking off the night are two hot new bands. Seldom, Hailing from Houston, TX, is a driven and eclectic rock and roll band whose kaleidoscopic blend of sound is based on the contrast between the individual styles and inspirations of the musicians within the group. Rockett Queen, storming out of East Texas, burst onto the scene in 2003 and has since been a force with which to be reckoned. They have cultivated immense recognition and rave reviews of their full length debut "Too Rock For Radio." Media sponsor for this show is 99.1fm WPLR.
Scott Stapp and Creed toured extensively through its reign on the rock music charts, but for Scott, the musical machinery to keep the show going meant some challenging personal cost, as he sunk into depths of depression, and periods of erratic behavior that was later to be revealed as undiagnosed bipolar disorder, prompting self-medication that turned to addictive behaviors. His creativity, passion, and desire to be transparent in his struggle never waned, and were evident on his debut solo album, The Great Divide (2005), the Full Circle album from a “rebirthed” Creed in 2009, several tours, his starkly revealing memoir, Sinner's Creed (2012), and his highly-acclaimed second solo album, Proof of Life, in 2013, which brought Scott’s first number one song on the billboard charts.
In gratitude for the many interventions made in his behalf, Scott devotes himself to “paying it forward” to others in need through numerous outreaches. He created the “With Arms Wide Open Foundation” in 2000 to help underprivileged children and families around the world. The foundation has donated over $1 million to various causes. He is also involved with CHARM (Children are Magical) which his wife founded to heighten the awareness of children’s issues and provide underprivileged youth with the tools to enrich their lives.
For tickets ($50), call the box office at 203-438-5795, or visit ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a non-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.