Inside the Vulnerable Struggle Behind Creed's Iconic Hit "One Last Breath"
By Alexander Ross
Wind-up Records issued "One Last Breath" as the third single from Weathered in April 2002, following the massive success of "My Sacrifice." Radio program directors added the song almost instantly across alternative, active rock, and pop formats. The crossover appeal proved enormous, validating the band's decision to lean into vulnerability over pure aggression.
| Single / Track | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak | Mainstream Rock Peak | Weeks on Hot 100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| "My Sacrifice" | No. 4 | No. 1 (9 weeks) | 29 weeks |
| "One Last Breath" | No. 6 | No. 5 | 34 weeks |
| "Hide" | Did not chart | No. 13 | 14 weeks |
| "Don't Stop Dancing" | Did not chart | No. 24 | 18 weeks |
The single spent 34 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, outlasting the album's lead single in overall chart endurance. It peaked at No. 6 on the Hot 100 and reached No. 2 on the Mainstream Top 40, crossing over into Top 40 rotation at a rate matched by very few heavy rock bands of that cycle. The Dave Meyers-directed music video, featuring the band performing on surreal, crumbling cliff tops amid green-screen visual effects, remained in heavy rotation on MTV's Total Request Live throughout the summer of 2002.
Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.
