[number1]

According to the concert industry publication Pollstar, Creed has been playing to roughly half-full amphitheaters and grossing nearly 60 percent less money per night than on its 2002 tour. By contrast, tours by two other recently revived top-selling rock bands, No Doubt and Blink-182, have generated receipts similar to their previous outings'. More promisingly, as of mid-October Creed's brawny first single, "Overcome," was No. 5 on Billboard's Active Rock Radio chart.

Nonetheless the band is unlikely to achieve the market saturation of a decade ago.

Ultimately, though, Creed has not returned as a vastly different band. It's as if the time apart convinced them there was nothing wrong with their product, just the perception of it. What they are really asking for is a reassessment.

"We have the opportunity," Phillips said, "to go back out, learn from our mistakes and maybe get everybody thinking, 'You know, I don't hate Creed much. I like them.'"

.David Peisner [/b]