MARK TREMONTI Wanted CREED’s Sound To Have A Much More Metallic Edge, His Bandmates Didn’t Agree

It turns out that Creed‘s sound could have taken a significantly heavier direction if guitarist Mark Tremonti‘s preferences had prevailed.

In a recent interview, Tremonti shared insights into the musical dynamics within the band, revealing how his love for metal was often tempered by his bandmates’ diverse rock influences.

Despite being recognized as “the metal guy” in Creed, Tremonti explained that his bandmates were more rooted in other rock genres, which shaped the band’s overall sound. “To begin with, I think our band was like a melting pot of different styles,” Tremonti said in the interview with Guitar Player.

“I loved Alice In Chains and Soundgarden when they came out but my influences came from way before then. I was the metal guy in the band, while Scott grew up listening to a lot of Elvis, The Doors, and classic rock. He was very sheltered early on; I don’t think a lot of rock and roll was getting played in his house. Brian was a Rush guy, Scott Phillips‘ favorite band was Living Colour,” Tremonti elaborated.

“So as the guy who wrote most of Creed‘s music, I would come with metal. And they would constantly push back on me, saying it was ‘too metal’. I had to fit the mold with the rest of the guys, and that’s how we got our sound.”

Tremonti‘s contributions were therefore adjusted to align with the collective vision of the band, resulting in the unique sound that Creed became known for.