Interview with guitarist Mark Tremonti of Alter Bridge

One of the greatest guitarists of our time, yet he’s only just getting started. Being part of two extremely successful bands by the time he is at the young age of thirty-seven, Mark Tremonti has accomplished things with his guitar that most musicians only dream of. The Alterbridge shredder has a passion for being the best, and enjoying every bit of life that is thrown at him. If you ask me, anyone who can be good with pinball machines is a master of a whole different kind. Hard Rock Reviews' Aaron Manogue talked to the ex-Creed, current Alterbridge guitarist to talk about his custom PRS Tremonti guitar, his passion for the bumpers and a possible Creed reunion next year.

Photo by: Ashley Maile 

Aaron Manogue: How did you get your start with music and what was the first guitar that you ever had?
Mark Tremonti: I started at eleven years old when a buddy of mine decided to upgrade his guitar and get rid of his old guitar. It was an imitation Les Paul, a Tara, and I bought it for ten bucks and then about a year later I sold it for a hundred bucks. I think I did pretty good on that deal.

Manogue: I was going to say, that’s pretty good business at an early age!
Tremonti: Hell yeah! I just started to try and figure it out on my own and copy what other people were doing.

Manogue: You’ talked before about how heavy metal bands were kind of a big influence on you growing up. Who was the most influential guitar player or band on you?
Tremonti: Well, it was kind of a combination of Metallica and Black Flag at the time. I remember as a kid, just picking up the guitar, those were my favorite bands. It was a combination of kind of that metal rhythm stuff but also that kind of lose punk, aggressive stuff. That type of guitar just had a lot of emotion to it.

Alterbridge Guitarist Mark Tremonti to Release "Thrash" Metal Album

Yes, you read that right. Alterbridge/Creed lead guitarist and one of today's most respected guitarist Mark Tremonti will soon be putting out a thrash metal album. He spoke with 'Robb's Metalworks' in San Antonio and spoke about his recent time away from Alter Bridge.

"I just had three months off while Myles was touring with Slash, so I figured it was a good time to get some music put together. I collaborated with Eric Freidman (Submersed/Creed) and Garret Whitlock (Eye Empire)."

It seems Tremonti has a side for the heavy that didn't quite fit with his usual band Alter Bridge, and if you ask me, this is just gold waiting to be dug up.

"All this stuff that I wanted to see the light of day that never really got used for Alter Bridge and Creed is what I'm putting on the record. There's a lot of speed metal and thrash stuff in there; riffs that I had sitting around; that I'm putting on this record. So it's definitely a heavier-sounding album."

As of now, there are no details as to when, where and how the album will be released.