Mark Tremonti Talks Alter Bridge, Future Solo Project Plans + More With Loudwire Radio
The man of many bands, guitarist Mark Tremonti, will be the special guest on this weekend's Loudwire Radio show with host Mike 'Sandman' Sanders. The rocker took the time to discuss his solo band, Creed and Alter Bridge.
Tremonti, the band, are currently winding down their North American dates, with the final show scheduled for March 5 in West Hollywood. Meanwhile, Alter Bridge recently announced that they'd be releasing a new album and touring in 2013. Find out the latest on all of Tremonti's project, including some big news about bassist Wolfgang Van Halen, in the Q&A with Sandman below:
Can you share the backstory on the new Tremonti single 'Wish You Well' with us?
Well, that song is probably the oldest song that I’ve ever put on a record. I started writing it back in 7th or 8th grade and had demos made of it, then I made another demo for the first Alter Bridge record but it never made the record. So, I’ve been waiting for this song a long time to finally get it out there.
Obviously people know you from being the guitarist in Creed and Alter Bridge, but your solo album has done really well. How long was the album in the planning in your thoughts, as far as going out and putting your own record out?
For years, I knew I had a lot of song ideas that would never see the light of day unless I did something about it. And then when I saw my schedule open up when Myles left on the Slash tour for about three months, I just kind of decided that was when I was going to get busy and record those ideas.
We should mention that the album is titled 'All I Was' and, although he’s not on the album, he is on tour with you: Wolfgang Van Halen. Are you going to return him to his father someday or are you going to adopt him and keep him?
He’s going to be an official member of the band. He’ll be on our next album and doing all the tours, it’s just … we’re going to have to … just like we work around the Alter Bridge schedule, this year we’ll have to work around the Van Halen schedule, as well.
Fantastic. Now, I know you’re on tour for a little bit longer. What is the time table, as far as, heading back into the studio to work on your next Tremonti album?
I’m not sure right now. I’m really focused on getting this Alter Bridge record written and finalized and getting to the studio and then once things die down a little bit from that I’ll see if I’ve got any breaks -- again, probably when Myles is out with Slash -- to get going on writing another Tremonti record.
I know there was a report at Loudwire.com that had you and Myles in the studio together for at least a brief time in between his U.S. tour with Slash and then him going overseas. So, you guys have gotten a little bit of work done I’m assuming?
Yeah, we’ve got about five songs that I think are album worthy and ready to go to pre-production at this point.
And I guess my next question would be about your other band -- the first band that brought you to prominence is Creed. Is there a future for that band? Do you see putting out another record with those guys?
Well, we just toured extensively last year with Creed and did about all the touring we could do in the States and we went to South America and Indonesia and I think I’m going to take a rest from Creed and get back with some Alter Bridge music and see what happens from there.
Also, I noted that you recently visited some U.S. troops over in Germany, and I’m sure that meant a lot to them. What does that mean to you, to be able to go out and support our Armed Forces?
Any time you can make [members of the military] happy by just showing up and shaking some hands and talking to folks, it’s a great thing. It’s just part of one of the bonuses of what we do. People like meeting their favorite musicians and when you can go and visit somebody that’s away from their family and risking their lives for you … to make them happy, I’m all about it.
Editor's note: Tremonti just revealed to Entertaim.net that Alter Bridge are currently planning to start production on their forthcoming disc in April, with tentative plans to tour this fall. To read Tremonti's comments on the timeline, click here.
To catch Mark Tremonti on the airwaves this weekend, click below to see which stations air Loudwire Radio.