mark tremonti... creed guitarist, writer, backing vocalist and the coolest guy in the world (in my opinion)


Born: April 18, 1974 in Detroit, Michigan. Moved to Grosse Point, Florida when he was 10.
Musical influences: Metallica, Slayer, Soundgarden, Black Flag.
Age 13 mark began teaching himself to play the guitar, starting with Metallica's 'Master of Puppets'.
First guitar: a Tara Les Paul copy which he bought for ten dollars - "A friend sold it to me because he was getting a new guitar. He was starting this band and he wanted me to play in it. So I told him that the only way I could be in his band was if he sold it to me real cheap."
First band experience: a punk cover band playing Black Flag.
Age 14 he began writing songs.
Age 15 his parents were concerned that Mark should have something to fall back on when his rock and roll dreams failed - they moved to Orlando, Florida where Mark enrolled at Lakeland High and first met future Creed frontman Scott Stapp.
First real band: Wit's End - playing covers of Motley Crue, Black Flag and Anthrax.
After High School Mark went on to Clemson University where he spent a year, before transferring to Florida State University to study finance. Here he was reunited with Stapp and they began writing together.
In 1994 they held auditions for a drummer, bassist and second guitarist and by 1995 had formed 'Naked Toddler' and began playing gigs locally. In order to fund the band Mark worked at a local car wash and in various local restaurants, Scott Stapp worked as a cook in a local T.G.I. Friday's and bassist Brian Marshall was shuffling between jobs at fast food restaurants like Wendy's and Pizza Hut.
By 1996 Mark was beginning to see a problem with two guitarists and two egos clashing on stage. The problem with this was solved when guitarist Brian Brazier left the band to move to Atlanta. The band also decided a name change was appropriate... the preferred suggestion was 'Creed' and their popularity throughout Florida soared.
Midway through 1996 the band pooled all the money they had earned... enough to record a demo... but decided to take a major risk. The word got out at the end of 1996 that Creed were about to go into the studio. They decided to risk their money on John Kurzweg.. a former rockstar and veteran producer. They went into his home studio and recorded what would become their first platinum album 'My Own Prison'.
The album was released on the band's own 'Blue Collar Records' and sold nearly three thousand copies in less than two months at their live shows. The single 'My Own Prison' began to gain airplay throughout Florida and stores took risks and stocked the album. The band members were able to quit their menial day jobs.
By May 1997 'My Own Prison' had reached radio stations in Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin. A few months later Creed signed a record deal with small up-coming label 'Wind-Up Records' and 'My Own Prison' received national airplay.
In August 1997, the album was released and by Christmas had sold over two hundred thousand copies. 'My Own Prison' entered the Billboard singles chart at number 93 on November 15, 1997. With the release of their second single 'Torn' the album was edging towards double platinum status.
Creed were soon featuring on movie soundtracks and were asked to contribute to a Doors tribute album on which they played with Doors guitarist Robby Krieger.
The success of the band has continued with four number one singles coming from 'My Own Prison'; the follow up album 'Human Clay' selling in excess of 18 million copies worldwide and producing further number one singles; the new album 'Weathered' entering the album charts at number one and being the eight top selling album of 2001 in the US even though it was only available for the last six weeks of the year; their successful production of the 'Scream 3' soundtrack; aswell as receiving numerous music awards and being American Music Awards Top Rock Artist for three years in a row.