“It’s a brother lost in Vietnam
It’s a world war two plane that got shot down
It’s for the ones that fight and the ones that never made it home
It’s the way we live, it’s the air we breathe
Home of the brave, land of the free
It’s the blood we bleed and we ain’t backing down
So when you ask me why I’m willing to give my life
That flag right there it ain’t just stars and stripes”
In honor of Veterans Day, American outlaw country singer-songwriter and recording artist Creed Fisher released the music video for his emotional track “Stars and Stripes” off his latest album This Ain’t The Hamptons. Articulating the message of the song, the video honors the service and sacrifice of America’s military veterans and their families.
We recently caught up with Creed to discuss his new album, his incredible and patriotic song and a little behind the scenes of the video.
CN: Hi Creed. Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us. First and foremost, thank you for your service in the Army and your dedication to our Nation.
In September you released your latest album, This Ain’t The Hamptons, which debuted at #4 on Apple Music Country Charts. The title alone delivers a strong statement that’s reinforced after reading the track list. How did you come to decide upon this title?
CF: It was a song I always knew would make a great title but I was just waiting for the right project that would bring it all together. Then “Stars and Stripes” finally aligned last year and I knew I had found the right project. This album is for the working class. It’s for the ones that get up and go to work regardless of how they feel. People like me.
CN: A first for any of your albums, your fans can purchase This Ain’t The Hamptons on vinyl! Was there a specific reason why you released this album on vinyl?
CF: It just so happened to play out that way. I’ve been wanting to do vinyl for a while but this project was special and I felt like it was time. I operate a lot on instinct and vibes and I felt like this was the perfect album for vinyl.
CN: You will be releasing the music video for “Stars and Stripes” on November 10. The poignancy of the release being a day before Veterans Day is not lost, nor is the incredible message of both the song and the video which features cameos by real-life active duty and military veterans. Can you talk about how you reached out to these heroes to be in the video?
CF: I have a really good team who helps put together and bring to life a lot of my visions, including our video team. I told them my vision and they did the rest. They found the perfect location (The American Legion Post #82 in Nashville, Tennessee) with the perfect group of veterans to show the heart and soul of this song, which is one of the highlights of the album.
CN: What were their reactions to the song as well as their video appearances?
CF: They were all blown away by the song and couldn’t have been easier to work with. We all were there to put together something that would touch the heart and show the sacrifices made for our freedoms.
Watch the official video for “Stars and Stripes” below:
CN: As a U.S. Army veteran yourself, you know exactly how important those Stars and Stripes are and the freedoms they represent – even more so during these recent times. What was your writing process for this song?
CF: This is one where I wrote the chorus first and I knew how special it could be. I was riding on the bus thinking about how to write the rest of the song and it just came to me to use titles of my songs as the verses, as a Creed Fisher tipping of the hat to those who serve. I am a piece of America, America is a piece of me. Creed Fisher is only Creed Fisher because of the fans and service men and women who support my music so I felt it was a gesture of appreciation all those supporters would appreciate. Only those who are true fans and have been for my entire career will get it and hopefully it brings a smile of happiness for them as they listen. In total there are 16 song titles in the verses of the song. It was truly something that was fated. It’s one of the songs I’m most proud of as a songwriter.
CN: With each day feeling increasingly more fragile, what do you hope our fellow citizens will take from “Stars and Stripes”?
CF: I want people to stop and think about what those Stars and Stripes really stand for. We can say “Freedom Ain’t Free” all day but until we realize there’s kids living without their parents, wives living without their husbands, and parents living without their children, people won’t value the ultimate sacrifice that has been paid for our Stars and Stripes. Everyone who lives here should appreciate and understand the sacrifices that have been made for our freedoms.
CN: Are you touring in support of your new album? Where can fans find you?
CF: We have been on the This Ain’t The Hamptons Tour since February 2023 and have played all across the continental U.S.A. this year. The band and I are always on tour. You can find all my tour dates by visiting www.creedfisher.com, on my social media accounts, and also by following me on Bandsintown.
This Ain’t The Hamptons Tour Dates
NOV 08 – Grewall Hall / Lansing, Mich.
NOV 09 – Blue Gate Music Hall / Shipshewana, In. (with Colt Ford)
NOV 10 – District 142 / Wyandotte, Mich. (with Colt Ford)
NOV 11 – Anderson Music Hall / Hiawassee, Ga. (with Colt Ford)
NOV 12 – Temecula Stampede / Temecula, Calif.
NOV 15 – Beacon Theatre / Hopewell, Va.
NOV 16 – Groove Music Hall / Woodford, Va.
NOV 17 – Coyote Joe’s / Charlotte, N.C. (with Taylor Ray Holbrook)
NOV 18 – The Famous Venue / Portsmouth, Va.
NOV 29 – Main Street Crossing / Tomball, Texas
NOV 30 – Main Street Crossing / Tomball, Texas
DEC 01 – Hank’s Texas Grill / McKinney, Texas
DEC 02 – Texan Theater / Cleveland, Texas
DEC 09 – Hurricane Alley / Bossier City, La.
DEC 15 – Diamond Ballroom / Oklahoma City, Okla.
DEC 16 – John T. Floore Country Store / Helotes, Texas
Stars & Stripes 2024 Tour:
JAN 25 – Iron City / Birmingham, Ala.
JAN 26 – Druid City Music Hall / Tuscaloosa, Ala.
FEB 02 – Capitol Theatre Macon / Macon, Ga.
FEB 03 – District Live / Savannah, Ga.
FEB 10 – Texas Club / Baton Rouge, La.
FEB 18 – Thunder by the Bay / Sarasota, Fla.
FEB 22 – Tally Ho Theatre / Leesburg, Va.
FEB 23 – The Senate / Columbia, S.C.
FEB 29 – Doc’s Tavern / Greenville, S.C.
MAR 08 – Hop Springs Beer Park / Murfreesboro, Tenn.
MAR 09 – Hub City Brewing / Jackson, Tenn.
MAR 10 – Tuck’s Bar / Minor Hill, Tenn.
MAR 14 – Jergel’s / Warrendale, Pa.
MAR 15 – The King of Clubs / Columbus, Ohio
MAR 16 – Dusty Armadillo / Rootstown , Ohio
MAR 21 – The Machine Shop / Flint, Mich.
MAR 22 – 8 Seconds Saloon / Indianapolis, Ind.
MAR 23 – Crusens / Peoria, Ill.
APR 5 – Ground Zero Music Festival / Bandera, Texas
APR 7 – Cosmic Cowboy Music Festival / Hillsboro, Texas
APR 12 – Wildwoods / Iowa City, Iowa
APR 13 – Wooly’s / Des Moines, Iowa
APR 14 – The Waiting Room / Omaha, Neb.
APR 25 – Mercury Ballroom / Louisville, Ky.
APR 26 – Lori’s Roadhouse Live / West Chester, Ohio
APR 27 – Renfro Valley Entertainment Center / Mount Vernon, Ky.
MAY 02 – TempleLive / Wichita, Kan.
MAY 03 – TempleLive / Fort Smith, Ark.
MAY 04 – 2920 Roadhouse / Hockley, Texas
**For Creed’s complete tour schedule follow on BandsInTown or visit creedfisher.com/tour
Download/stream This Ain’t The Hamptons here.