Mark Tremonti's Five Favorite Albums

Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti's destiny was decided late one night in his family's Michigan home. He couldn't sleep, so he crept into his brother's room, grabbed one of the discs he frequently heard coming through the walls, put on a pair of headphones and played it. The album was Metallica's Master Of Puppets, and young Mark was instantly turned to the dark side. As riffmeister-in-chief for first Creed and then Alter Bridge, he's transformed the metal he grew up on, catering to a rock fan's need for both bruising release and euphoric uplift. No surprise then, that when we asked about his favorite albums, he showed a partiality to '80s metal inspirations and the musicians who taught him there was more to life.

Metallica - Master of Puppets (1986)

It was the first record that really got me to love music. It was that defining moment, opening my eyes to the real power of music. My brother was a metal head. He listened to Slayer, Metallica, and Venom. When I started listening to that stuff, he stopped but I've listened to it ever since. Up in Detroit, metal was all over the place. Master of Puppets was the first album that I really listened to over and over. I know every single note. "The Thing That Should Not Be" was one of my instant favorites. Sometimes I love "Orion," sometimes "Damage Inc.," sometimes "Master ..." - it switches all the time. It's not just people being loud and making a lot of noise. It's very well put together, intelligent music that really blows me away.

Slayer - Reign in Blood (1986)

It's a brutal record: if you're a young angry teenager it will really hit you. Its dark metal riffs that you hear and just want to bang your head to. If I'm writing something heavy, in the back of my mind I strive to have a riff as cool as theirs. Slayer was like a metal/punk band before this, but I think Rick Rubin pulled the reins on a little bit. Reign in Blood is still crazy hardcore, but more refined. I like music that's either really dark like when you see a good horror movie, or very uplifting - Journey stuff.

Celtic Frost - To Mega Therion (1985)

I had a friend back in school and we both liked metal. He used to bring to me all sorts of tapes, then I'd go buy the album. When I first listened to Celtic Frost, I had to get used to it. When I did, I loved them even more because not many people knew who they were. They had some of the darkest, coolest chord progressions. The music was simple, but the way they delivered it made them one of the greatest metal bands ever. Thomas Warrior's vocals were so strange and out there. He had two sides to him. Half the time he'd be like the guy from The Cure. Then he'd go into his own mean-ass vocal style. They spawned the black metal movement. When I moved to Florida I didn't have many friends for about a year. That's when I got into music in depth.

Bob Marley & the Wailers - Legend (1984)

I first heard him when I was probably about 15 or 16 years old. Right off the bat I loved it. Marley is such a great singer and charismatic songwriter. He's so intense, yet peaceful at the same time. It's moving and uplifting at the same time. It's the opposite of why I like the Celtic Frost album. With Bob Marley, it's almost a spiritual record. Legend is my desert island album. It's peaceful and puts me at ease. It makes me think I'm on vacation. Every song is absolutely brilliant. The lyrical content is incredible. Some of the songs hit me more than others. I bought a DVD of his life story and learned he wrote "Redemption Song" after he found out the news that he was dying. I think that's my favorite song of his. I love "Buffalo Soldier," too. Marley stood on his own; and I never really got into any other reggae.

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Texas Flood (1983)

Stevie came right after Marley. Once I learned heavy metal I wanted to branch out to blues and I learned Buddy Guy and then ran into Stevie. When I heard Stevie I thought, this is how I want to play blues. They say there was no one like him. He could play for hours and not miss a beat. The music flowed through him. He translated what was in his heart into the strings better than any guitar player that ever lived. If I could have met any guitar player who ever lived, it would be him. I'll watch a live performance of his and it will choke me up just watching. He's such an emotional musician. Texas Flood was his coming out record. It's an album I've spent a lot of time learning and trying to develop my guitar skills from. It taught me to slow down. Fast is not what it's all about, feeling is.

Comments

[teo_huat]

great..!

[Farez_Bfingers]

who gives a ****..

[GNR4EVER]

who gives a ****..

His fans Dipshít, why did you even bother fúcking posting?

[j1mi_h3ndrix]

kool

[edibledevilboy]

woah, bob marley? not what i'd expect from tremonti. I'm getting his signature PRS haha cnt wait. Uh, yeah, best guitarist alive the moment

[sadistic_monkey]

GNR4EVER:
who gives a ****..


His fans Dipshít, why did you even bother fúcking posting?

Why would his fans give a shíte?

[appetite]

Master Of Puppets and Reign Of Blood

Discovered them both about 6 months ago and they changed me too.

[Nirvana_RATM2]

wow, it be nice if it actually influenced his playing..

[CsT]

[b]edibledevilboy[
/b] wrote:

Uh, yeah, best guitarist alive the moment

Are you ****in kiddin me?????

[Rocker3829]

people people stop acting like little children. This is simply a musicians top 5 albums article. STAY ON TOPIC! I must say their are some good albums above. He's personially one of my favorite guitarists but we don't need the "he's the best period and no other reasons needed" or "he sux, no more needs to be said" comments in here!

[PLOP]

^^AGREEEEED!(I'm talking about Rocker3829)

[12eTa1217e17]

I don't like Alter Bridge songs really, but the exclusive track he made for Total Guitar Magazine was hot. Thats how his band should be making music, and hopefully will do at some point in the near future.

[Flea_Metallica]

Sometimes I love "Orion," sometimes "Damage Inc.," sometimes "Master ..." - it switches all the time

Thats exactly how I am!!!

[Rocker3829]

plop, appriciate it !

[morello_man]

cool post. tremontis's an ok guitarist, and the first two albums are ultimate.

[rory_rev]

An ok guitarist? Riiight, can't really agree there to be honest. Have you actually heard One Day Remains or even the Total Guitar track? First listen to those and THEN tell me hes not fantastic...

[appetite]

12eTa1217e17 wrote:
the exclusive track he made for Total Guitar Magazine was hot.

Ahavo Rabo Taco Salad? That was one awesome track, it's s*** hot!

[MATTTHEMOP]

Why would his fans give a shíte?

maybe cos they want to know his musical influences a bit more.

[Lymbe]

Dude, Tremonti rocks. And he's not scared to say he likes different styles of music, not like only sticking to "speed metal baby" like some posers here

Good list, I'll give him 5 I think hehe

[outlawtorn]

Totally agree, dude!!!! Master of Puppets Rox Hard!!!

[sexy-man]

GNR4EVER:
who gives a ****..


His fans Dipshít, why did you even bother fúcking posting?
Why would his fans give a shíte?

i care and i love tremonti, he may not be as good as sum, but hes also younger than sum

[KerazyPhool]

Slayer
Metallica
Marley

[dimebag7]

slayer metallica bob marley! he forgot zeppelin.

[TheEndHasNoEnd]

dimebag7 wrote:

slayer metallica bob marley! he forgot zeppelin.

No he didn't, these are his favourites, not your's!

[Malakian=God]

Hadnt heard anything by him till ahhavo rabo taco salad. Now he is one of my fav guitarists.

[flesh fries]

where can i hear this "Ahavo Rabo Taco Salad"?

thx

p.s. tremonti rocks

[LedZeppelin]

So if Tremonti likes Slayer, Metallica and Celtic Frost, why do all the bands he's in suck?

[Basil's Kite]

^^^^^good question

^ Tremonti rocks.
You suck cock.



cool list

[PhoenixSurvivor]

Tremonti is one of the best guitarists alive, he's a complete riff machine, Alter Bridge's album has some of the best riffs I've ever heard on.

[istandalone]

[b]edibledevilboy[
/b] wrote:

woah, bob marley? not what i'd expect from tremonti. I'm getting his signature PRS haha cnt wait. Uh, yeah, best guitarist alive the moment

i dotn think the best but he is good

[Brixton]

Ugh, of course when people think Reggae it's always the sterotypical "Oh I love Bob Marley" but of course the only Bob Marley they have heard is the legands CD.
There are other great Reggae musicians also, check out Junior Murvin, or go for some good Dub from Max Romero or Lee Perry, or check out Ska/Rocksteady stuff like Desmond Dekkar or the Skatalites. Bob Marley is basically sterotyped as the only reggae in the world, and there is so much more, and dare I say better.

[appetite]

flesh fries wrote:
where can i hear this "Ahavo Rabo Taco Salad"?
thx

Buy this months TG. It has a picture of Tremonti on the front cover and has Megadeth's 'Peace Sells' , AC/DC's 'Its A Long Way To The Top...' and Black Sabs 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' tabbed. Its a better issue than usual. A good buy. Oh yeah did i mention you have to import it if you live outside the UK (I think).

[coquet]

this is pretty fukcing worthless. worst column ever.

[lesismore666]

BOB FUCKING MARLEY!

[sum_english_guy]

and?

[Walternativo]

Alter Bridge bloody rules. Creed was good but Alter Bridge... awesome stuff. (Live @ FoR Holland 2005!!!!

[Vinura]

dunno about his band...

but Mark Tremeonti a great guitarist

[supersonic23]

Alter Bridge? Creed? meh, but no Doubt Tremeonti is a great guitarist, he has good taste in music as well

[Hexagram]

I personally believe Tremonti to be a great guitarist. I don't feel like explaining my point but i would like to see why people think he sucks.

[Nirvana-Rulez]

flesh fries wrote:

where can i hear this "Ahavo Rabo Taco Salad"?

thx

p.s. tremonti rocks

yeah im wondering too. Malakian=God (which Malakian actually does) post back please!

[Nirvana-Rulez]

oh woops sorry nevermind

[metalnazi7]

not my favorite, but def a good guitarist

[cointurtlemoose]

12eTa1217e17 wrote:

I don't like Alter Bridge songs really, but the exclusive track he made for Total Guitar Magazine was hot. Thats how his band should be making music, and hopefully will do at some point in the near future.

Where did you get Total Guitar Magazine?!?!? I can't find it anywhere and want that track more than anything right now.

[Smokey Amp]

I like the fact that Tremonti can Shred...he just doens;t feel the excessive need to.

Excellent guitarist.

MOP is a great choice.

[buckethead101]

[b]edibledevilboy[
/b] wrote:

woah, bob marley? not what i'd expect from tremonti. I'm getting his signature PRS haha cnt wait. Uh, yeah, best guitarist alive the moment

I wish it was available because one of PRS Guitars' business competitors?(I wish i was right into it.) sue PRS guitars of copying so PRS now don't sell, distribute, manufacture and produce any of PRS' Singlecut models.

[o_t4ng]

buckethead101 wrote:
I wish it was available because one of PRS Guitars' business competitors?(I wish i was right into it.) sue PRS guitars of copying so PRS now don't sell, distribute, manufacture and produce any of PRS' Singlecut models.

Heh, yeh that was Gibson, the Tremonti PRS looked too much like their Les Paul so PRS had to stop making them. I manged to get one recently though and I love it. Tremonti is def my fave guitarist atm. What I like is he has variation, he can shred, he can riff, he can play sweet slow solos and he can fingerpick and play pretty decent classical/acoutic stuff too. Have you heard the solo on Open Your Eyes, f'king insane and totally unexpected in a slower song like that.

[costa94]

tremontis decent hes not even in the top 50 best guitarist alive though so dont even bs like that and malakians god...**** IM better than malakian

[Ed Vedder19]

tremonti is a beast, just saw alter bridge a little while back and when he did his solo it brought the house down. i think hes well in the top 50 of modern day

[appetite]

cointurtlemoose
wrote:
Where did you get Total Guitar Magazine?!?!? I can't find it anywhere and want that track more than anything right now.

Where do you live? if you live outside the UK, you have to import it.

[metal4ever6328]

I bought that Celtic Frost album...it sucks. And Bobo Marley is a douche, his songs make my head hurt there so bad. Creed was gay And for those who say Tremonti cant play. Go Fuck Yourself! He can shred!

[DetroitRockCity]

you just copied this from vh1.com

[BlueZephyr]

Bob Marley, Metallica.. both good choices.

[Armless Penguin]

Ahavo Rabo Taco Salad can be heard here: http://media.putfile.com/Mark-Tremonti---Ahavo-Rab
o-Taco-Salad

[beau05]

this guys got good taste, maybe it wasnt his fault creed was so gay

[jenziboy]

appetite: I buy total guitar every month in Norway. I also bought one issue in denmark this summer...

[ferretman]

welcome home(sanitarium) is easily the best song on master of puppets.

[GlitteryGold]

You all suck cocks in hell

[GlitteryGold]

Fucking imbeciles

[appetite]

ferretman wrote:
welcome home(sanitarium) is easily the best song on master of puppets.

Yeah i love that song, definatly one of the best metal ballads i've ever heard. Although my favourite track on MoP is the title track. 8 mins 40 secs (about) of brutal yet melodic guitaring. For me, it sets a benchmark for all these NWOAMB that we get today (eg:Trivium) (oh, btw: NWOAMB = New Wave Of American Metal Bands - its what TG calls them lol)

[ThePhenom]

very good taste of music

[Mako]

I just caught this forum off some google search. I have Ahavo Rabo Taco Salad that someone sent to me. Anyone else who would like the song can feel free to message me on AIM: Mako026. What an instrumental piece.

[scizor4]

holy shit
where the **** are nirvana
slayer r retards, but r a good band
slipknot r beta tho
nirvana r the best ;

[appetite]

scizor4 wrote:
holy shit
where the **** are nirvana
slayer r retards, but r a good band
slipknot r beta tho
nirvana r the best ;

Slayer are retards.....riiiiight.....

[appetite]

HERES YOUR NEW EQUATION FOR TODAY KIDS!

SLAYER>SLIPKNOT

This cannot be disprooved, even the ancient greeks couldn't do it!)

[ScummerVacation]

Stop talking about Slayer and Metallica, and start talking about Stevie Ray Vaughan you stupid bastards.

[Metallica911]

buckethead101 wrote:
I wish it was available because one of PRS Guitars' business competitors?(I wish i was right into it.) sue PRS guitars of copying so PRS now don't sell, distribute, manufacture and produce any of PRS' Singlecut models.


Heh, yeh that was Gibson, the Tremonti PRS looked too much like their Les Paul so PRS had to stop making them. I manged to get one recently though and I love it. Tremonti is def my fave guitarist atm. What I like is he has variation, he can shred, he can riff, he can play sweet slow solos and he can fingerpick and play pretty decent classical/acoutic stuff too. Have you heard the solo on Open Your Eyes, f'king insane and totally unexpected in a slower song like that..... Actually PRS started redistributing and making their singlecuts again, i own a prs and on their newsletter thing i get it was like..... PRS brings back the singlecut, so yea, Tremontis guitar is back..... and he is and awesome guitarist

[xSacrilegex]

Tremonti's ****ing amazing. Anyone who makes fun of him is being an idiot. I hate Hendrix, Slayer, a lot of good bands, but I won't say they suck.

[xSacrilegex]

Tremonti's ****ing amazing. Anyone who makes fun of him is being an idiot. I hate Hendrix, Slayer, a lot of good bands, but I won't say they suck.

[Guitar_Guy00001]

yah Tremonti's got skills, wonder how he comes up with his stuff

[pagezoso777]

good one i only have master of pupets

[Xorcist666shred]

i think tremonti is cool, he aint the best guitarist around but i really like his style and "feel". He is mates with Rusty Cooley(who is an amazing shredder for all those who dont kno who he is)...so obviously tremonti gonna be half decent at shredding. And oh yea ahavo rab taco salad kicks ass!!!! \m/-.-\m/

[Tremonti333]

Tremonti is the one that influenced me to pick up guitar. He is one of the best guitarists known to Rock Music today! He is insane, go here and watch this solo, it is just AMAZING!
I know a lot of people don't respect Creed. But if you are one of those people and if you haven't heard thier album stuff yet I STRONGLY recommend giving it a chance. Songs like 'Illusion', 'Ode', 'Wrong Way', 'Never Die', 'Freedom Fighter', and 'Stand Here With Me' have excellent guitar riffs to them. So check it out if you have yet to do so.

[Tremonti333]

f*ck, that wasnt supposed to be an angry smile face....it was supposed to be the rock on one...damnit

[rattlehead999]

appetite wrote:

HERES YOUR NEW EQUATION FOR TODAY KIDS!

SLAYER>SLIPKNOT amen

This cannot be disprooved, even the ancient greeks couldn't do it!)

[rattlehead999]

appetite wrote:

HERES YOUR NEW EQUATION FOR TODAY KIDS!

SLAYER>SLIPKNOT

amen

This cannot be disprooved, even the ancient greeks couldn't do it!)

[turdhead]

beau05 wrote:

this guys got good taste, maybe it wasnt his fault creed was so gay

No that was the singers (Scott Stapp!, he wouldn't let Tremonti solo!) fault.

Tremonti is my all-time fav guitarist, i don't care what any mother****ers on here say whats bad about him, he is the best, he can shred, he can also play with feel.

One Day Remains is my fav album too, I mean the opening of Find The Real (anyone who thinks Creed were shite and doesnt even want to listen to alter bridge, download this!!) Right through to Shed My Skin, theres melody, awesome soloing, a couple of heavier songs thrown in there, its like the perfect album (well, for me, anyway!).

And yeah, Ahavo Rabo Taco Salad is awesome! Download it if you get the chance!!

[Malakian=God]

Nirvana-Rulez :
flesh fries wrote:

where can i hear this "Ahavo Rabo Taco Salad"?

thx

p.s. tremonti rocks



yeah im wondering too. Malakian=God (which Malakian actually does) post back please!

Its in a magazine called total guitar available in the uk.

[Vos]

I like Tremonti.

I find it kinda of ironic that his favorite albums include Slayer and Metallica, when uhh I think Creed a Christian band?

[cortrules09]

Vos :
I like Tremonti.

I find it kinda of ironic that his favorite albums include Slayer and Metallica, when uhh I think Creed a Christian band?

they werent a Christian band, per se. stapp wrote spiritually influenced music, but the band did not endorse christianity or anything. tremonti himself is not a christian.

"Ahavo Rabo Taco Salad" is amazing. tremonti is the reason i picked up guitar a few years ago, i wont say he is the best guitarist ever or even close, but i like his style.

[jetpelkey41]

woahly shite that solo piece of his owns!!

[espltdtosh]

Ive seen Tremonti live with Alter bridge, the guy is amazing to watch, cool band too.

[blazing glory02]

Tremonti is always the reason I picked up a guitar Tremonti333 or whatever your name is. Hes got some awesome licks... but One Day Remains is better than anything Creed did- but "Ode" kicks ass.

[sem_grey]

tremonti makes the best riffs nowadays...wow he likes bob marley? haha! n ol dis time i had a guilty feeling for liking Bob's music thinkn dat as a die hard tremonti/alterbridge/creed fan reggae wud b totally unacceptible