Human Clay
| Human Clay | ||||
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| Studio album by Creed | ||||
| Released | September 28, 1999 | |||
| Recorded | Late 1998–early 1999 | |||
| Genre | Post-grunge | |||
| Length | 56:22 | |||
| Label | Wind-up | |||
| Producer | John Kurzweg | |||
| Creed chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Human Clay | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| Robert Christgau | (C) |
| Entertainment Weekly | (C-) |
| Rolling Stone |  |
| Rock Hard (de) | 9/10 |
Human Clay is the second studio album by American rock band Creed, released on September 28, 1999 through Wind-Up Records. This was the final album to feature Brian Marshall, who had left the band in 2000, until 2009's Full Circle. The album has sold over 11.5 million copies in the United States alone and over 20 million worldwide, making it the best selling album of Creed's career and one of the best-selling albums in the United States. At approximately 56 minutes long, it is the longest studio album by Creed.
Human Clay is the only Creed album without a title track. According to Mark Tremonti, the album cover represents a crossroad which every man finds himself at in his life and the man of clay represented "our actions, that what we are is up to us, that we lead our own path and make our own destiny." The title of the album comes from a lyric in "Say I" ("The dust has finally settled on the field of human clay"), a song which carries the same message. The album had three videos created for it: "Higher", "What If," and "With Arms Wide Open."
During the summer of 2000, bassist Brian Marshall began a spiral into alcoholism and addiction. While under the influence, Marshall threatened to beat up Tremonti, began missing band obligations, and attacking Stapp both verbally and online. The band had a meeting with management to discuss Marshall's future. Stapp and Tremonti supported Marshall going to rehab and attempted to talk Marshall into going, but at that point, Marshall was too far gone to recognize he needed help. Brett Hestla of Virgos Merlot was initially contacted to "fill in" while Marshall went to rehab, but that never happened. Initially, the public thought Marshall was let go because he criticized Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder in a radio interview with KNDD in June 2000, claiming that Scott Stapp is a better songwriter, and criticized Pearl Jam's recent albums for "having songs without hooks." Stapp later distanced the rest of the band from Marshall's comments and stated, "Yes, we get tired of the PJ question, but there is no excuse for the arrogance and stupidity [of Marshall]. I ask you all not to judge Creed as a band, because the statements made were not the band's feelings, they were Brian's. I'm sorry if Brian offended anyone, and he has already apologized for his comments." Although it was reported Marshall left Creed "on friendly terms," he didn't. Tremonti and Stapp were concerned for Marshall and their collective friendships, but soon after the controversy, Marshall formed a new band called Grand Luxx with his old Mattox Creed band mates. Marshall was temporarily replaced by touring bassist Hestla. Stapp stated Marshall's leaving was his choice and was unrelated to the Pearl Jam comments. Mark Tremonti filled as the bassist on their third album, Weathered, while Brett Hestla became their touring bassist. However, the band has since reunited with Marshall.
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