ROCK MOMENT – Creed ‘My Sacrifice’
‘My Sacrifice’ became one of Creed’s most defining songs, capturing both the emotional core of the band and the spiritual undertones that had made them one of the biggest rock acts of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Released in 2001 as the lead single from their third album, Weathered, the song arrived at a pivotal moment in the group’s career, when expectations were enormous and internal pressures were beginning to surface.
The Weathered album itself has a dramatic history. Much of it was written and demoed while the band was touring relentlessly behind 1999’s blockbuster album Human Clay. When Creed finally entered the studio in 2001 with producer John Kurzweg, tensions were high. Bassist Brian Marshall was temporarily dismissed from the band during early sessions due to concerns about his drinking, and Tremonti recorded many of the bass parts himself. Marshall would later return to the group, but his absence during recording became part of the album’s complicated legacy.
Despite the turmoil, Weathered debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and stayed there for eight consecutive weeks, making it one of the most successful rock albums of the decade. Along with “My Sacrifice,” the record produced major hits such as “One Last Breath,” “Bullets,” and “Don’t Stop Dancing.” The album leaned into darker themes than previous releases, exploring guilt, addiction, isolation, and redemption, reflecting the mental state of the band—especially singer Scott Stapp—during that period.
‘My Sacrifice,’ written primarily by Stapp and guitarist Mark Tremonti, stood out as the album’s emotional centerpiece. Stapp has said the lyrics were inspired by his young son and his fear that fame and substance abuse were turning him into someone his child wouldn’t recognize. The song’s message of taking responsibility and becoming a better person fit perfectly with the album’s broader mood of self-examination.
Musically, the track showcased Creed’s signature blend of heavy guitars and soaring melodies, polished by Kurzweg’s radio-friendly production style, which defined much of Weathered. The success of the song and the album marked the commercial peak of Creed’s career, even as cracks within the band were growing more visible.
Today, ‘My Sacrifice’ and Weathered are often remembered together as symbols of both Creed’s massive popularity and the emotional weight that ultimately contributed to the band’s original breakup. The album remains a time capsule of early-2000s rock—grand, conflicted, and deeply personal.
