Scott Stapp Comes Full Circle

I had waited many years to see Scott Stapp perform and he had waited many years to come full circle.  The fact that each of our journeys came to a conclusion at the same time and in the same place was one of those moments that seems somehow much more than coincidental. 

I had moved to Tallahassee, FL at about the same time that Scott and Creed were leaving Tallahassee to begin a remarkable journey that saw them become one of the most successful bands of all time.  I was quickly becoming a loyal fan of their music and hoped they would someday return to this city where they had met (whille attending college at FSU) and started performed (in small, local venues).  

Over the next several years, I continued to be a fan as Scott began to have some really tough times.  He went from being well known as a powerful and passionate performer to being best known for his drug and alcohol fueled public displays of insanity.  I often questioned my own devotion to him but I had been through similar battles myself so instead of turning away I decided to reach out to him.

I never really expected to have a chance to speak with him or to express what my hopes were for his recovery.  Why should he allow a stranger into his personal life?  For reasons which I am not sure I will ever understand, I ended up making contact with Jaclyn, Scott's new wife and eventually found myself corresponding with Scott. 

This went on for some time since we shared a great deal in common.  We had both spent much of our childhoods in and around Cherokee, NC.  We had both struggled with addictions and issues of faith.  We both knew that love and God were the two things necessary to survive in this world.  I was always amazed when I would check my email and have a message from Scott.  I hoped to someday get to meet him, maybe even see him perform but never really knew how or if that would be possible.

After a couple of years, as Scott headed overseas to perform for the troops, we lost touch and I accepted that Scott and Creed were going to be a part of the past.  I thought of him often and read the news about his marriage to Jaclyn and the two new additions to their family.  I had come to care for him as a person, not as a superstar rock singer.

When I read that Creed was reuniting, recording a new CD and going back out on tour, I was so excited.  After all of these years I might still have a chance to see them perform.  When it was announced that Scott was bringing his solo accoustic show back to Tallahassee, to Floyd's where it had all began, I immediately purchased tickets.

By this point, I had begun to write and I reached out to Scott's management to see if I might get an interview with him.  It was impossible to arrange a face-to-face meeting but I was able to get some questions to him by email and used his responses to write a preview of the show at Floyds.

As the day of the show drew near, a local radio station started running a contest to have lunch with Scott.  My wonderful husband knew how much it would mean to me to meet Scott so he took it upon himself to win the contest.  On Thursday, before the show on Friday night, he called me at work to ask if I would like to have lunch with Scott Stapp.  I was thrilled and just hoped that I could get a moment with him and perhaps he would remember me.

As Scott and Jaclyn entered the room, other fans stopped Scott and I soon realized it could be a while before I could get near enough to speak with him.  I decided to take the opportunity to go and introduce myself to Jaclyn.  As soon as I told her who I was, she knew me and greeted me as warmly as if we were friends.  Then came my moment to meet this man who I had idolized for so many years.  What was I going to say, would I walk away disappointed that he did not know me or have time for a conversation with me?  As soon as Jaclyn told him who I was, the connection was back.  All those things that we had shared had created a bond of friendship that now became real.

As we left from lunch and prepared for the show, I was walking on clouds.  This rock star, Scott Stapp, had just spent time telling me how much I meant to him.  I was stunned, overwhelmed with emotion and so excited I could hardly wait for showtime.  As we gathered outside of Floyds with 15-20 other fans who were there for the meet & greet, I was again unsure of what to expect.  I was there as a reporter, I would be reviewing the show but I was also there as a friend.  If it turned out that the show was a disappointment, if the powerful vocals were no longer there, if there was any sign of struggle from Scott or any sign of let down from the crowd, I would be there for him.

My worries were gone as soon as Scott took the stage.  His first statement was how being back in Tallahassee was truly a full circle moment and how he was more nervous about this performance than he had ever been when performing before crowds of tens of thousands.  This was, after all, a homecoming.  This was were it had all began so long ago.  It can be hard coming home, things change, people change, times change, music changes. 

Though many things have changed since Creed left Tallahassee, once Scott hit that first powerful note that nearly took the roof off the building, we knew that this was one of those magical moments. This was an event that every person in the room would be talking about for the rest of their lives.  This was a homecoming, a reunion, a return to something that we had no idea we had missed so badly.  Scott Stapp was home, among friends, among family, surrounded by love.  He gave us a show that I can't even begin to describe.  For nearly two hours, he poured out his heart and soul.  If you were close enough (which I was), you were showered by the sweat and maybe even a few tears that came rushing out of Scott like a wild river winding its way through the hills and valleys of life. 

I had waited nearly 10 years for this and it was worth every second.  The show was one of the best that I have ever seen, the voice was as powerful as it ever was, the man was more than I could have ever dreamed he could be.  As the night ended and I headed home, I knew that my life had been changed forever.  I had met one of my heros and he had turned out to be just a man, a wonderful, beautiful, remarkable man who I will always think of as a friend.  A friend who will continue to bring amazing music to the world and a friend who I hope will come back again, soon.  Tallahassee still loves you Scott and I love you more than I can say.  Thank you and Jaclyn for giving me one of the most amazing days of my life.