LOS ANGELES--When Creed [ tickets ]�s latest album, "Weathered," went No. 1 last week, the band known for its spiritual leanings responded in a decidedly earthly way. "We all did a little dance, had a couple drinks and called each other on the phone," said singer Scott Stapp. "We were excited."

Stapp, the son of a Pentecostal minister, said "Weathered" (Wind-Up Records), with songs like "My Sacrifice," was partially inspired by his strict upbringing. "[I was in] a real up-and-down, highs-and-lows, guilt-ridden depressive state for a while because I was so confused, and that probably comes out in the music.

"Music is a release for me; it�s a way to get all that out so I can be my chipper, friendly self all the time. That upbringing just is a part of my music. And the music [Creed Guitarist Mark Tremonti] writes also puts me in that place. So it�s easy for Mark and I to write songs together, because somewhere inside of him is coming the same vibe that�s inside of me. It�s a way we can get together and get that stuff out."

Tremonti said the band plans to focus its upcoming tour on the Southeast to start. "We�re starting our tour on Jan. 15. We asked our fans on the Internet which band they thought should open for us, and we�ve got a lot of different bands, but the best one we�ve come up with so far is Puddle of Mudd."

Picking Fred Durst proteges Puddle of Mudd as openers is an interesting selection for Creed, given Stapp�s well-publicized feud with the Limp Bizkit singer. Stapp, though, dismissed speculation that adding Puddle of Mudd to the tour would represent any kind of problem.

"We�re just really, really glad that there are such good rock bands out there that can get together and put together a really great show for the fans," Stapp said. "Puddle of Mudd is a great band, they write great music, and we�re fans of the band. Our tour�s going to be fun and we�re going to have a great time."

Also on Creed�s schedule is a February date performing at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. "It�s another dream that�s coming true," Stapp said of the Olympic gig. "When somebody asked me [to performing during halftime of the Dallas Cowboys' Thanksgiving day football game], that was so cool. I was fulfilling a dream. I was performing on Sunday in a football game, but I was a musician, not the quarterback. So it�s the same way with the Olympics. I was involved with athletics and being a part of that whole thing is a fulfillment of a dream. And being there, representing our country, [especially with] everything that�s going on in the world now ... it just makes it real special to be a part of that."