Altered State (NY Post article).

[Bridge of Clay]

http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/31141.htm
NY POST

ALTERED STATE

By DAN AQUILANTE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


October 3, 2004 -- THE decision to crash Creed, a band that sold more than 30 million albums, had to be a hard one. Or perhaps not.
As former Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti told The Post from his Orlando, Fla., home, "When you break up a million- dollar band and people congratulate you, you realize you made the right choice."

Differences in work ethics, clashing egos, and a lack of focus by frontman Scott Stapp have all been blamed for the break-up.

When it went down earlier this year, Tremonti, along with bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips - all Creed alumni - knew they wanted to start a new band, without Stapp.

Tremonti said Stapp and the band had no choice. "We didn't see things eye-to-eye anymore."

With Stapp out of the picture, the trio hired Myles Kennedy as their voice, wrote new songs for the album "One Day Remains," and Alter Bridge was born.

"We're not the same struggling artists we were in the early Creed days," Tremonti says of his new outfit, "but on the road we're trying to live lean, and really earn it all again."



So on Thursday, when Tremonti brings Alter Bridge to Irving Plaza, don't look for the luxury buses outside the club. The boys are riding in cramped vans, staying at Holiday Inns, and earning respect the old-fashioned way - with the music.

What made Creed good?

At the core it's our songs. Making good songs meant a lot to us.

And you were the guy who wrote most of those Creed songs.

That's what I do. I write songs.

So what went sour?

When you're writing music in a band, it's like a marriage. You all have to agree. When you don't have that, the writing relationship becomes hard. We wanted to make music and Scott [Stapp] didn't.

Can you and Stapp ever be friends again?

We haven't talked since February. It's like an ex-wife situation. Time may make us friends again, but there'll never be a Creed reunion.

Do you put all the blame on him?

I'm not going to point a finger.

Do you blame yourself?

The only way I'd blame myself is that I'm a workaholic and I'm not satisfied if I'm not making music.Scott didn't love touring as much as the rest of the band did.

You're rich from Creed. How does that wealth affect this fledgling outfit?

The difference between touring as Creed and as Alter Bridge is we now stay at cheap hotels. We're trying to get back to basics. Alter Bridge has to stand on it's own in every way - especially financially.

How about the fans? Some of them must hate you for breaking up Creed.

We've had a positive reaction from most of the fans. Some Scott Stapp fans curse our every move, but we're after those who are in it for the music - not for the personalities.

Did you question any of the new songs for sounding a lot like Creed?

I wrote most of the music for Creed. We used these songs to bridge the gap between the two bands. It was really for the fans. We didn't want to alienate everyone. (***so the second album will be completely different???***)

If a new band asked you how to stay together, what would you say?

Everybody has to want to work. When one member is pushing hard and another member is getting lazy, there's lots of room for resentment.

[StillACreedFan]

I wrote most of the music for Creed.
Then why for a decade did all the band members give stapp credit for most of the songs?

[Bridge of Clay]

don't start it! he said music, not lyrics.

[Ann Allusion]

Can you and Stapp ever be friends again?

We haven't talked since February. It's like an ex-wife situation. Time may make us friends again, but there'll never be a Creed reunion.

I would consider that to be the BEST of ALL situations. Friendship is what REALLY matters.

Do you blame yourself?

The only way I'd blame myself is that I'm a workaholic and I'm not satisfied if I'm not making music.Scott didn't love touring as much as the rest of the band did.

nothing wrong with being a workaholic and finding your music the most important thing in your life...but once Mark has a child...i bet he will have to make compromises..and will understand that touring isn't always feasable.

How about the fans? Some of them must hate you for breaking up Creed.

We've had a positive reaction from most of the fans. Some Scott Stapp fans curse our every move, but we're after those who are in it for the music - not for the personalities.

Music is personal, and i believe Mark realizes this...some will like them, some will not...no matter how much of a CREED fan people were. As for being in it only for the music, not the personalities...something to think about...it's the personalities that play a BIG part of making a band what it is...people not only get attached to the music, but to those making it...one way or another...

If a new band asked you how to stay together, what would you say?

Everybody has to want to work. When one member is pushing hard and another member is getting lazy, there's lots of room for resentment.

I would have to ask...please define "LAZY"...lazy because there is no longer an interest in the band? Or what APPEARS to be "lazy" because one is not emotionally or physically up to their best self? Want to keep a band together?...Then COMMUNICATION is what is needed...understanding of one another is what is needed...healthy work ethics stem from those things...

found this article interesting on the level that it mentioned stapp approximately 8 times...the name Creed approximately 12 times...the name Alter Bridge approximately 4 times...and Brian, Flip, and Myles were mentioned only once....

For an Alter Bridge fan who is in it, as Mark said FOR THE MUSIC, not the personalities..find it odd the talk always centers around the PAST more than the FUTURE of Alter Bridge?

all i have said is just how things hit me when i read this article...my opinions..nothing more.

[StillACreedFan]

I would consider that to be the BEST of ALL situations. Friendship is what REALLY matters.



nothing wrong with being a workaholic and finding your music the most important thing in your life...but once Mark has a child...i bet he will have to make compromises..and will understand that touring isn't always feasable.



Music is personal, and i believe Mark realizes this...some will like them, some will not...no matter how much of a CREED fan people were. As for being in it only for the music, not the personalities...something to think about...it's the personalities that play a BIG part of making a band what it is...people not only get attached to the music, but to those making it...one way or another...



I would have to ask...please define "LAZY"...lazy because there is no longer an interest in the band? Or what APPEARS to be "lazy" because one is not emotionally or physically up to their best self? Want to keep a band together?...Then COMMUNICATION is what is needed...understanding of one another is what is needed...healthy work ethics stem from those things...

found this article interesting on the level that it mentioned stapp approximately 8 times...the name Creed approximately 12 times...the name Alter Bridge approximately 4 times...and Brian, Flip, and Myles were mentioned only once....

For an Alter Bridge fan who is in it, as Mark said FOR THE MUSIC, not the personalities..find it odd the talk always centers around the PAST more than the FUTURE of Alter Bridge?

all i have said is just how things hit me when i read this article...my opinions..nothing more.
Great points.

A main issue in the breakup seemed to be touring. Stapp wanted to spend time with his kid, Mark and Phillips wanted to spend all their time doing music.

[Bridge of Clay]

Flip has a baby girl and yet he wants to tour.

And COMMUNICATION works both ways, as far as I understand. If someone tries to communicate but the other part doesn't, then you'll have a monologue...therefore, no communication.

And I believe the part on asking Creed questions was perfectly answered by Dogstar on the other thread, although you keep pushing the same key over and over...

[TeriB19]

found this article interesting on the level that it mentioned stapp approximately 8 times...the name Creed approximately 12 times...the name Alter Bridge approximately 4 times...and Brian, Flip, and Myles were mentioned only once....


Why would anyone even take the time to go back and count how many times each was mentioned? Ann, please tell me why you bother reading in the Alterbridge forum at all?

[Dogstar]

Why would anyone even take the time to go back and count how many times each was mentioned? Ann, please tell me why you bother reading in the Alterbridge forum at all?
Amen. For someone who keeps criticizing Mark for dredging up the past over and over, you seem not to be able to move on as well.

[StillACreedFan]

Flip has a baby girl and yet he wants to tour.
Good for him.

Stapp is also a signle parent. I'm not sure about Flip.

[musiclover291]

Ann has a right to state her point of view as long as she is not bashing anyone and I think she did that. I think if Stapp doesn't want to tour and spend more time with Jagger and Flip has a child and still wants to tour it's a personal choice. I don't think one way is wrong and one way is right. I was glad to here that Mark and Scott's friendship can be restored in the future but for right know it is probably best that they don't speak because they both still have to heal from the entire process.

Just my opinion.

[Ann Allusion]

Why would anyone even take the time to go back and count how many times each was mentioned? Ann, please tell me why you bother reading in the Alterbridge forum at all?

Why do i bother reading the AB forum?...because i can...;)

but on a more serious side...because they are 3/4 of a band that touched me with their music like none other...and whether i like their music in this incarnation or not doesn't mean i have no right to speak up when i feel they are being unfair in their assessments of certain situations...i've never had a problem with them as MUSICIANS and have always wished them well in their present endeavours as a band...my "counting" was done just to prove a point...

as for letting go of the past, Dogstar...not a problem, when they quit discussing it... :D

~peace

[Dogstar]

Ann has a right to state her point of view as long as she is not bashing anyone and I think she did that.

Nobody said she didn't have that right.

[musiclover291]

Nobody said she didn't have that right.

That statement was just a general statement to say cut her some slack. Nothing more.
Thanks.

[BobbyMcGee]

Good for him.

Stapp is also a signle parent. I'm not sure about Flip.

Flip is married and I assume has a stable home life and a loving wife. Scott unfortunately didn't have a stable home environment to raise Jagger in. I don't blame him in the least for wanting to be home with his son. In fact I admire and respect him even more for wanting to be home with his son. Unfortunately today too many parents don't want to take on that responsibility of raising their children.
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[TremontiRx]

Why do i bother reading the AB forum?...because i can...

but on a more serious side...because they are 3/4 of a band that touched me with their music like none other...and whether i like their music in this incarnation or not doesn't mean i have no right to speak up when i feel they are being unfair in their assessments of certain situations...i've never had a problem with them as MUSICIANS and have always wished them well in their present endeavours as a band...

And you aren't even banned because of it! Nice how that works most of the time, huh. ;)

Long live freedom of speech!

[Dogstar]

That statement was just a general statement to say cut her some slack. Nothing more.
Thanks.
Whatever. But I have the right, as do others, to disagree with her, as she does with me.

[aussiecreeder]

we all have the right to free speech
as long as you're not actually dumb enough to try to use it.

[TeriB19]

whether i like their music in this incarnation or not doesn't mean i have no right to speak up when i feel they are being unfair in their assessments of certain situations

as for letting go of the past, Dogstar...not a problem, when they quit discussing it... :D

~peace
I understand that, but maybe you'd be better off (as would most of those who object to the context of interviews with Mark and Flip,) if you didn't read any of the articles with interviews. Just a suggestion to avoid having your feelings trampled on when it comes to the 3/4 of the band formerly known as Creed saying things about the remaining 1/4 that you don't agree with or that you consider unfair assessments.

I agree that everyone has the right to speak his or her mind, but when it comes to interviews where Stapp's name is mentioned, the hurt feelings are getting so old and redundant. Redundancy is evil. A wise man once said that on this board. I miss him.

[Dogstar]

Redundancy is evil. A wise man once said that on this board. I miss him.
Me, too.

[ctfan]

I understand that, but maybe you'd be better off (as would most of those who object to the context of interviews with Mark and Flip,) if you didn't read any of the articles with interviews. Just a suggestion to avoid having your feelings trampled on when it comes to the 3/4 of the band formerly known as Creed saying things about the remaining 1/4 that you don't agree with or that you consider unfair assessments.

I agree that everyone has the right to speak his or her mind, but when it comes to interviews where Stapp's name is mentioned, the hurt feelings are getting so old and redundant. Redundancy is evil. A wise man once said that on this board. I miss him.

There are NO interviews where Stapp's name isn't mentioned. Why is it..that when an article is posted here by any member of Alter Bridge, and someone posts their opinon on or about something that they aren't in complete agreement within said article...they are being redundant, but yet...the interviews themselves aren't?

I don't get it at all. :confused:

[Ann Allusion]

I understand that, but maybe you'd be better off (as would most of those who object to the context of interviews with Mark and Flip,) if you didn't read any of the articles with interviews. Just a suggestion to avoid having your feelings trampled on when it comes to the 3/4 of the band formerly known as Creed saying things about the remaining 1/4 that you don't agree with or that you consider unfair assessments.

I agree that everyone has the right to speak his or her mind, but when it comes to interviews where Stapp's name is mentioned, the hurt feelings are getting so old and redundant. Redundancy is evil. A wise man once said that on this board. I miss him.

thank you for your suggestion, TB19...i have a feeling...you and others will see...the benign act by those of us posting our disagreement with what has been said, will be nothing compaired to what they will bring upon themselves by their own words if they continue in the direction they have chosen...

As you have posted...Redundancy is evil...of course this is just an observation...;)

[TeriB19]

Here's how it more than likely goes, for those of you just joining us. Mark et al give an interview about their NEW band. The reporters feel the need to dredge up the sordid details of their OLD band and ex-bandmate, to which Mark et al give their side of it, but more than likely they're wishing the reporters would concentrate more on the NEW band and try to leave the OLD band in the past. The reporters make sure they print the most sordid details, thus ensuring people will buy their rags. Then the fans who are so totally behind Stapp, no matter how many ways they can be shown that he does NOT, in fact, walk on water, begin to grumble about how unfair the majority of ex-Creed members are being toward their ex-bandmate. Then those who are trying to be impartial but are tired of giving Stapp the benefit of the doubt time and time again speak their peace and the Stapp-backers then feel persecuted and cry the blues about how they can't speak their minds freely without being bashed. It's been this way over and over and over and over and over again in almost every thread on this message board. Good God, I for one, am SICK of this constant back and forth.

[Dogstar]

Here's how it more than likely goes, for those of you just joining us. Mark et al give an interview about their NEW band. The reporters feel the need to dredge up the sordid details of their OLD band and ex-bandmate, to which Mark et al give their side of it, but more than likely they're wishing the reporters would concentrate more on the NEW band and try to leave the OLD band in the past. The reporters make sure they print the most sordid details, thus ensuring people will buy their rags. Then the fans who are so totally behind Stapp, no matter how many ways they can be shown that he does NOT, in fact, walk on water, begin to grumble about how unfair the majority of ex-Creed members are being toward their ex-bandmate. Then those who are trying to be impartial but are tired of giving Stapp the benefit of the doubt time and time again speak their peace and the Stapp-backers then feel persecuted and cry the blues about how they can't speak their minds freely without being bashed. It's been this way over and over and over and over and over again in almost every thread on this message board. Good God, I for one, am SICK of this constant back and forth.
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

[Disillusioned]

...will be nothing compaired to what they will bring upon themselves by their own words if they continue in the direction they have chosen...
*looks around forum* Nope, I don't see any members of AB in here...who are you talking to?

There is a difference between expressing your opinion and exerting oneself into the position of reprimanding the band...a band with whom you do not personally know, and apparently, have no access to, since you insist on admonishing the people on this board instead of contacting AB directly.

[Ann Allusion]

*looks around forum* Nope, I don't see any members of AB in here...who are you talking to?

There is a difference between expressing your opinion and exerting oneself into the position of reprimanding the band...a band with whom you do not personally know, and apparently, have no access to, since you insist on admonishing the people on this board instead of contacting AB directly.

Next time you "quote" me, Disillusioned one...quote/read the WHOLE comment...

you and others will see...the benign act by those of us posting our disagreement with what has been said, will be nothing compaired to what they will bring upon themselves by their own words if they continue in the direction they have chosen...

when taken in context...you will see NO ONE is refering to repremanding the band...only giving MY OPINION of what i see could possibly happen...don't toy with me by changing the meanings of what i post...been there, done that...didn't work then and it's not going to work now.

i believe i have told you before..anything i post is MY OPINION...nothing more.


TB19...what you say could be true...then again...it's just speculation..altho, like the reasons behind the Creed breakup weren't all because of stapp...the answers in the interviews aren't all the fault of the reporter...there is common link in both places....

no one is trying to change anyone elses opinions by disagreeing with what is posted in the interviews, no reason to...if we can respect the fact that y'all have your opinions, why not respect the fact that we have ours as well...

i don't believe that any of us thinks stapp "walks on water" as you have suggested...but i'm sure he is working on his flying skills... :D ...haha!

[Disillusioned]

Next time you "quote" me, Disillusioned one...quote/read the WHOLE comment...

when taken in context...you will see NO ONE is refering to repremanding the band...only giving MY OPINION of what i see could possibly happen...don't toy with me by changing the meanings of what i post...been there, done that...didn't work then and it's not going to work now.

i believe i have told you before..anything i post is MY OPINION...nothing more.

Although I didn't put all of what you said in the quote, I don't think I took what you said out of context. Not at all. You posted your opinion up to the point where I quoted you...where I quoted you, you were giving a reprimand and a warning directed toward the members of AB.

The reprimand may have come in the form of an opinion, but it was, nonetheless a reprimand. Therefore, you can call it an opinion, and I'll call it a reprimand. Either way, have you ever heard of "misdirected" hurt, or anger? What you call your opinion, is sometimes (not all of the time), directed toward the wrong people. As I have said before and will continue to say, you are speaking to the wrong audience...if you really want to be heard, try contacting AB directly.

[DekWannaBFlea]

Here's how it more than likely goes, for those of you just joining us. Mark et al give an interview about their NEW band. The reporters feel the need to dredge up the sordid details of their OLD band and ex-bandmate, to which Mark et al give their side of it, but more than likely they're wishing the reporters would concentrate more on the NEW band and try to leave the OLD band in the past. The reporters make sure they print the most sordid details, thus ensuring people will buy their rags. Then the fans who are so totally behind Stapp, no matter how many ways they can be shown that he does NOT, in fact, walk on water, begin to grumble about how unfair the majority of ex-Creed members are being toward their ex-bandmate. Then those who are trying to be impartial but are tired of giving Stapp the benefit of the doubt time and time again speak their peace and the Stapp-backers then feel persecuted and cry the blues about how they can't speak their minds freely without being bashed. It's been this way over and over and over and over and over again in almost every thread on this message board. Good God, I for one, am SICK of this constant back and forth.



Very nice......That took the words out of my mouth..... :D

[Dogstar]

TB19...what you say could be true...then again...it's just speculation..altho, like the reasons behind the Creed breakup weren't all because of stapp...the answers in the interviews aren't all the fault of the reporter...there is common link in both places....
And your opinion isn't speculation? Mkay.

no one is trying to change anyone elses opinions by disagreeing with what is posted in the interviews, no reason to...if we can respect the fact that y'all have your opinions, why not respect the fact that we have ours as well...
I don't think people here, in general, have disrespected the fact that you have your opinion. They have just disagreed with your opinion.

i don't believe that any of us thinks stapp "walks on water" as you have suggested...
Maybe you don't, but there are plenty of others here who do and refuse to believe anything else.

...where I quoted you, you were giving a reprimand and a warning directed toward the members of AB.

The reprimand may have come in the form of an opinion, but it was, nonetheless a reprimand. Therefore, you can call it an opinion, and I'll call it a reprimand. Either way, have you ever heard of "misdirected" hurt, or anger? What you call your opinion, is sometimes (not all of the time), directed toward the wrong people. As I have said before and will continue to say, you are speaking to the wrong audience...if you really want to be heard, try contacting AB directly.

Well said.