Scott Phillips (musician)
The rhythmic backbone behind two multi-platinum rock bands, providing the thunderous, precise drive for Creed and Alter Bridge.
Born 1973 (age 53)·American drummer·Birthday: February 22·Generation X
Biography
Scott 'Flip' Phillips didn't just keep time; he built the foundation for an entire wing of post-grunge American rock. As a co-founder of Creed with high school friend Mark Tremonti, his powerful, no-frills drumming was the engine room for anthems like 'Higher' and 'My Sacrifice', propelling the band to tens of millions of album sales. When Creed dissolved, he didn't miss a beat, immediately forming Alter Bridge with the same core members. In this more progressive, guitar-driven context, his playing evolved—becoming more dynamic and intricate to support the band's expansive sound. Beyond the kit, he often contributes keyboard textures in the studio. Phillips's steady, reliable presence has been the constant through two decades of rock radio dominance, making him one of the genre's most recognizable and influential drummers.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Scott was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Scott Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Scott's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-founded Creed, whose 1999 album 'Human Clay' sold over 11 million copies in the US alone.
- Performed on Creed's 'With Arms Wide Open', which won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 2001.
- Co-founded Alter Bridge, whose albums have consistently debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard chart.
- His drumming is featured on over a dozen top 10 mainstream rock radio hits across both bands.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Flip' was given to him by his grandmother when he was a baby.
He is an avid golfer and often participates in celebrity tournaments.
In addition to drums, he plays keyboards and contributes to songwriting arrangements.
He and guitarist Mark Tremonti have been bandmates since their teenage years in Florida.
He uses a unique drum setup with his crash cymbals placed unusually low and flat.
“My job is to serve the song, to lock in and drive it forward.”
