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."