After Creed There‘s Alter Bridge

July 13, 2005

If you grew up in Detroit there was something known as the Alter Bridge, a road and a bridge that divided Detroit’s Eastside from the affluent Grosse Point neighborhoods. For former founding member of Creed and Detroit native Mark Tremonti the bridge had a lasting impact on his life.
“It was a dividing line and as a kid I was told not to cross the bridge,” said Tremonti. “That bridge always symbolized the unknown to me and after Creed broke up I realized that we are always in this constant state of unknown.”
Some things are known, like the future of one of the most successful bands of the past 10 years. Creed seems to be gone for good as original lead singer Scott Stapp is now pursing a solo career. Guitarist Tremonti, who is credited with creating the signature Creed sound, has joined forces with founding member and drummer Scott “Flip” Phillips to form a new band aptly titled “Alter Bridge.” They will bring their new sound to Streeters Ground Zero Nightclub this Friday, July 15.

ELATED
When Tremonti and Phillips decided to start a new band they quickly got in touch with another original member bassist Brian Marshall who had left a couple of years earlier. Marshall and Stapp clashed and Marshall felt it was in everybody’s best interest that he moved on. He was elated when the phone call came from his friends and jumped at the chance to reunite three-quarters of Creed.
So where does the fourth quarter stand with all of this?
“I have remained silent over our break-up for several reasons,” said Stapp. “These guys are my friends and we created a great band together. I will take the blame for the communication breakdown and for not letting the band into my personal life. But I don’t think we gain anything by pointing fingers.”
But there were reports of fights and growing discontent and a lot of arguing and creative differences during the final days of Creed?
“Those sort of things were overblown by the media,” said Stapp. “After my car accident and the medication I was on I was run down. Plus as a single father I didn’t want to be on the road as much. So I think the priorities differed between the others and myself. As far as growing apart creatively, that happened between Mark (they were the songwriting team behind Creed) and myself a few years ago. I prefer to just chalk it up to the inevitability of the business. We are all moving on so let’s leave it at.”
Stapp had no comments on his former bandmates’ new band.

CREED COMPARISONS
Will Alter Bridge be able to create the same magic without the vocal chops of Stapp?
In need of a lead singer, Tremonti and Phillips asked Myles Kennedy, formerly of the Mayfield Four, to take the reins. They met Kennedy while his band opened for Creed during a previous tour.
“We felt that Myles sang with a passion; he connected with the music and the songs,” said Tremonti. “He was with a great band that had great songs but never got the label push that they deserved.”
Alter Bridge will no doubt be compared with Creed, a band that sold close to 40 million albums over the past 10 years and had two number one albums.
“We are not looking back and are not concerning ourselves with those comparisons,” said Tremonti. “Certainly with three original members of Creed there will be some similarities but this band has its own distinct sound. One of my goals was to get back to my rock and roll roots and that’s what this band is all about.”
So far fans and critics are embracing Alter Bridge.
“We are winning the fans over at every show and that’s all we can ask for,” said Trenonti. “Once people learn that we are not some reincarnation of Creed they are okay with it and are connecting with our music.”
It must be difficult to essentially start all over from the bottom after being at the top before?
“Not at all, our previous success has afforded us to do things right this time. We are committed to not repeating the same mistakes as before and there is a total commitment to work together. We are all on the same page. Finally no more arguing,” said Tremonti. “As far as playing small clubs versus large venues we are enjoying it. It is a lot more intimate for the fans and us.”

FANTASTIC FOUR
It all seems to be working as the band’s debut release “One Day Remains” has gone gold and is nearing platinum. The song “Shed My Skin” is heard on the new Fantastic Four movie and appears on the film’s soundtrack. Alter Bridge has released songs “Open Your Eyes,” and “Broken Wings” as videos and fans are showing up to concerts singing along with the band.
As with Creed the band is melody-driven but the music has a harder edge to it. There’s a sense of maturity in the music.
“There is no question about that. We all have grown and matured and that is reflected in the music of this band,” said Tremonti. “Our goal was to have everything melody driven while rocking out as hard as we can. We have a contemporary ‘70s style rock sound to us. To be honest this music is a lot more fun to play.”
You had some pretty great songs with Creed, so that is a pretty bold statement.
“After awhile musically Creed became like work. It just wasn’t fun anymore,” said Tremonti. “When you are not having fun and are just going through the motions it is reflected on stage. I think fans that come to see us as Alter Bridge will be seeing revitalized musicians having fun on stage.”
Alter Bridge will take the stage after Alice Pearl Garden featuring Jeff Bihlman and the guys from Dose rocking out tunes from Alice ‘n’ Chains, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. For info on the Friday, July 15 show visit www.streetersonline.com or call the box office at (231) 932-1300.