‘There are folks out there not prepared to let rock ’n’ roll go’
Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti talks to KEVIN COOPER about working with Myles Kennedy, growing up and the band’s latest tour and album
Tell us about the new album, Walk The Sky. We have been living with it now for the past four months or so and we are so pleased that it is finally out there. We are all really happy with the way that the album has turned out, and we are now really happy that the fans finally have the opportunity to listen to it.
Do you have one particular favourite track? That’s easy – Godspeed is my favourite.
For the first time, you and Myles Kennedy have written this album separately from one another. Whose idea was that?
We had a limited amount of time in the studio, so we had to do a lot of demoing beforehand. Having said that, I personally feel that in the long run it helped us to make sure that we could put out the best record possible.
Did you not find it strange not being in each other’s company?
Not really. We have both done our separate solo things so many times now that we are actually getting better at writing independently.
Will you and Myles be writing future Alter Bridge albums in the same manner, separately?
Yes, we will, to an extent. To be honest I think that we will do a bit of both; separately and together.
The tour opens in Nottingham at The Motorpoint Arena tomorrow. Are you looking forward to being back in the UK? Absolutely, the UK is a home away from home for us. We love it and really can’t wait to get back.
How many of the new songs do you think will make it on to the set list?
At the moment we are playing the four songs that have been released, and as we continue on the tour, I imagine that we will play more and more.
How do the UK fans differ from the US fans?
They are just mad. They really are wild, and we love that. Don’t get me wrong, we have got some crazy US crowds too but in general I think the crowds over there in the UK are just wilder.
You are heavily involved with both Alter Bridge and Tremonti. Just how do you manage your time between the two?
That is all down to a hell of a lot of forward planning. We just make sure that whenever we release an album that it has ample time to see the light of day and to get promoted.
I must just ask you about Creed; are they now dead and buried or are they a sleeping giant?
What can I say, you never know. With Creed
at the moment it is a case of see where the day takes us sort of thing.
Who or what has inspired you?
Gosh, just living life, and continuing to have this great career of being able to be creative, and to have people waiting to hear what you are coming out with is such an inspiring thing to have. I just remember when I was younger, writing songs, and wishing that people would listen to them. Now I have those fans and it is such a privilege.
During the time that you have been in the music business, what has been your most extravagant purchase?
That would have to be a couple of really expensive guitar amplifier heads, which I have to say are very sought after.
On the subject of extravagant purchases, do you still collect pinball machines?
I do, I absolutely do. I absolutely love it. That is one of my obsessions for sure... my favourite pinball machine over the years is a game called Medieval Madness.
You run your own guitar and songwriting clinics. How are they doing?
They are doing better than ever. There has been an incredible turnout on this tour, and for me that has been really inspiring and I have had a lot of fun. When my manager said that I should do a guitar and writing clinic, by the time that I had responded to him saying “no, let’s not do that because it is so hard to teach someone to be creative as it is such a subjective subject”,’ he had said “that’s too bad, it’s already on sale”. I tried my very best in order to come up with a curriculum, and more to the point, teach the unteachable. It’s not really teaching people how to write songs, it’s more like I am hopefully inspiring people and showing them that there are different ways to go about it.
Where would you like to see yourself in the next 15 years?
I think that it would be great if we were still able to be doing what we are currently doing in 15 years’ time. My only complaint is that I wish that all of my family could do the entire tour with me. They do come out a lot, but I hate every second that I miss those guys growing up.
What was it like growing up in Detroit?
That was awesome; Detroit most definitely has an incredible music scene there. To be honest, I didn’t realise just how good it was until I moved to Florida. When I moved to Florida, I absolutely hated it. There was not a single kid at my school that I could form a band with, jam with, it just wasn’t a thing. So, as you can imagine, that was devastating for me. I had come from a school in Detroit that had Battle Of The Bands, talent shows with rock bands and all that kind of stuff, and the school that I had moved to had nothing of the sort. It really was tough.
What are your thoughts on the current state of the music industry?
There have most definitely been some bumps in the road but there is a lot of talent out there, and there are folks out there who are not prepared to let rock’n’roll go, and I am one of them so I think that it has still got a lot of life left.
You are touring right up to December 21, so I was wondering just how will you be celebrating Christmas?
My whole family is coming over to be with me at the end of the tour and then we will all fly home together. Then hopefully, both of my brothers and their respective families are coming over to spend Christmas in Orlando with me.
■ Alter Bridge play Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham on Saturday. Tickets: motorpointarenanottingham.com, 0808 164 4616, from £40.40; The Arena, Birmingham on Wednesday. Tickets: arenabham.co.uk/ whats-on/alter-bridge/, from £40.75.