A Celebration Of The 2001 Creed Super Bowl Halftime Show

A Frame by Frame Celebration of: "The Halftime Show" by Creed

That's right, folks. We're taking it back to the year 2001 and Creed had just blessed the music community with their third studio album, Weathered. This album was the springboard that catapulted them into the epicenter of the early 2000's rock storm alongside other juggernauts such as Nickelback, Staind, and Hoobastank. Naturally, they were a top choice for the NFL's Thanksgiving halftime show and to say they delivered would be a gross understatement.

Let me give a little background before we start dissecting the footage. This particular halftime show took place on November 22nd, 2001 - roughly two months after 9/11 and two days after Weathered had been released. What better way to honor America and promote the new album than to turn the amps up to 11 and melt the collective faces of NFL fans across the country? As if Creed shredding wasn't metal enough, the accompanying acts propelled this into legendary territory, which is why I am giving it this much attention almost 20 years later. Click Here To Watch For Yourself.

Starting out at the 0:10 mark, something goes horribly awry. One of two things happened: either the audio switched over and the announcer was drowned out, or Creed started playing entirely too early - my guess is the latter.  If you watch closely (WARNING: the video is dangerously grainy) you can see Jerry Jones give a quick, disappointed look back to the band as if to say "Just what in the hell do you boys think yore doin'?!". You gotta respect how they just start tearing off tasty riffs right in Jerry's face. Rock & roll waits for no man, Jerry. Shoulda thought about that before you booked Creed for the halftime show.

With their ceremony cut short, it's time for a quick photo. WHOOPS here come the dancers!

At this point, Jerry is Texas-mad and says fuck it and takes his family back to the owner's box.

Now the real show begins. They open with "Higher". 

Somewhere in all the mess, Scott Stapp was thrown off because the lyrics start up at 0:23 but he doesn't hold the microphone to his mouth until five seconds later at 0:28. Definitely no lip syncing going on at all!

Scott ambles to the front of the stage in his crispiest pair of JNCO's and catches a quick, horrified look from his guitarist at 0:34.

After a rough start, Creed hits their stride and Scott starts to work the crowd a bit with the freak-me eyes. Note the choker, may as well be an aphrodisiac.

Just 40 seconds in and Scott is DIALED with the vocals. During an especially poignant portion of the song, Scott closes his eyes to harness the energy of the moment and feel the vibrations.

Somehow, Creed managed to get the Cowboys Cheerleaders involved with their choreography.

At the 1:00 minute mark, the iconic chorus starts up with "So let's go there...let's make our escape, come on let's go there....let's ask can we stay". If you watch the video, you can see Scott beckoning the crowd in the seconds preceding this to, indeed, come with him.

At 1:02 Scott is overcome with emotion and gives the crowd an emphatic fisting.

He must not have gotten it all out the first time, because he squats down and pops off a second, more powerful pump of the fist.

And yes, that's a personalized #11 STAPP Cowboys jersey.

At 1:13 is when the magic happens. After the pre-chorus, the aerobatics start up in one of the more insane displays of all time.

 

It makes me smile to think that, at some point during the planning process, Scott Stapp and his bandmates sat down with Cowboys officials and asked that there be Cirque de Soleil style performers to coincide with the chorus of "Higher". After talking it over, the Cowboys agreed to those terms. There's never been anything more perfect than the guitar riff piercing the airwaves, the all-American howls of Stapp echoing through Texas Stadium, and a topless, bald man gliding through the stadium hoisted by what look to be very large bedsheets.

Not sure what this move is at 1:18, but it's safe to say Stapp and his guitarist are vibing.

At 1:24, here comes a lad gliding, performing the Iron Cross, descending from several hundred feet above. Again wrapped up and being hoisted on the wings of some Egyptian cotton, high thread count bedsheets.

Nailed the landing.

(1:28) - Still working through the chorus, lead man Scott Stapp gives the fans a little subtle hip thrust. He just can't help himself.

At 1:38 they seamlessly transition into "My Sacrifice".

Disaster was narrowly avoided at 1:55 when this performer got all kinds of tangled in his bedsheet and damn near lost all control.

 

What are these people wearing? What's the point of an all-black jumpsuit if you're still painfully visible?

Any time the camera pans to Creed's guitarist, Mark Tremonti, he can be found in this position with the same look on his face. He is having ZERO fun with this. He's there for one reason and one reason only: heavy riffs.

(2:35) - Is that a wallet chain I see? Very metal. Can't risk losing your billfold at a time like that.

(2:54) - After a break in the action to highlight some first responders (which was lovely) we're back to Creed. This shot is all the funnier to me because I'm pretty sure he isn't actually singing, but he's selling it with the facial expression and the forehead vein.

(3:44) - "Above all the others, we'll fly..." Truer words were never spoken, especially on that day.

At the 4:00 mark they transition to a lesser known hit called "Don't Stop Dancing". I'd never heard this one.

(4:15) - I've never done acid, but I feel like this is what it's like. People running around wearing brightly colored unitards. This is just truly bizarre. It's like Charlie in his Green Man suit from Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but they're serious.

The ballet dancers give this halftime show a sophisticated feel.

(4:53) - Holy shit the practice it takes to get this tangled up on purpose!

(5:00) - Again, not entirely sure he's actually singing. If he isn't, these are some outrageous moves.

(5:27) - Here comes a guest (?????).

(6:39) - Just plum exhausted.

(6:44) - Getting close to the end here, so why is Scott smirking? Because he knows what's in store. The Grand Finale.

That's right, a single dove shall be released... by a Cowboys cheerleader...

(6:58) - The good thing about Scott is that he can rock your face off for 7 straight minutes but he stays so humble. Here he is acknowledging the crowd.

Creed pulled out all the stops for this performance: fireworks, aerobatics, cheerleaders, dancers, and a bird. When you consider how competitive the alt-rock game was in 2001, it's a miracle they were able to score this gig over Drowning Pool.

Texas Stadium was demolished in 2010, but that controlled blast can't take with it the countless memories that were forged, especially on Thanksgiving Day in 2001.