Alter Bridge Biography

Alter Bridge is an American rock band based in Orlando, Florida. The band was formed in 2004 by then-former members of Creed, Mark Tremonti (lead guitar, vocals), Brian Marshall (bass) and Scott Phillips (drums), with Myles Kennedy (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), formerly of The Mayfield Four.

The band was formed in 2004 by Mark Tremonti and Scott Phillips, both members of Creed, which had gone through a breakup due to issues with singer Scott Stapp. According to Tremonti, "Creed had taken its course," and both he and Phillips, after jamming shortly after Stapp's departure and attempt at a solo career, realized that they were anxious to start recording and performing music again.

They reunited with former bassist Brian Marshall, who had left Creed much earlier, and called up guitarist/vocalist Myles Kennedy, formerly of The Mayfield Four, a rock band that Creed had toured with earlier in the band's career before they made it big. Kennedy, Tremonti, Phillips and Marshall started a new band and soon after juggling a few names (one of which was One Day Remains, which eventually became the title for their debut album), settled on the moniker Alter Bridge, which was named after a bridge in Detroit near Tremonti's home on Alter Road. The bridge led to a bad side of town and the neighborhood children were not allowed to cross because of this. Thus, according to Tremonti, the name of the band symbolizes going over into the unknown and starting something new.

Alter Bridge released their debut album, One Day Remains, on August 10, 2004 along with their first single "Open Your Eyes", which was followed by "Find The Real" and "Broken Wings". "Find The Real" was used as theme music to the WWE 2005 Royal Rumble. The song "Metalingus" has been used since late 2004 as the theme song for WWE superstar Edge.

The album, which was certified Gold by the RIAA, was released by Wind-Up Records. After the release the band soon split from the label, and after numurous discussions with different record companies, they settled in with Universal Republic for the sophomore release. It is said that Wind-Up, which was also Creed's and Scott Stapp's record labels, was pressing for a Creed reunion, which was the main reason Alter Bridge decided to buy out their contract with the label.

In 2005, the band contributed a song, "Save Me," to Elektra: The Album, the soundtrack for the film Elektra. The song was also used as a B-side for "Open Your Eyes." In the same year, they performed their song "The End Is Here" at Ozzfest.

The band also performed live at the 2005 MLB Home Run Derby. They also recorded an instrumental track for Total Guitar magazine called "Ahavo Rabo Taco Salad." The song was to be a Mark Tremonti song originally but the rest of Alter Bridge soon got involved.

After finishing up the final leg of the One Day Remains tour in mid-2006, Alter Bridge started recording their second album. In 2007, with Universal Republic, Alter Bridge released their second album, Blackbird, on October 9, 2007. The first single from the album, "Rise Today", was released on July 30, 2007, which was used as the theme song for WWE Unforgiven 2007; also, it was later used in both the first trailer for the television series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and in the promo commercial for the season 6 premiere of CSI: Miami. On January 2, 2008, "Watch Over You" was officially named the second worldwide single for Blackbird, the second single overall being "Ties That Bind." After spending a short amount of time on the rock charts, "Watch Over You" was announced to being less promoted to rock charts due to being released to pop stations everywhere in the later part of April, making it the first Alter Bridge song released to pop radio. "Before Tomorrow Comes" was announced as the fourth single on April 1, 2008 and was released to radio airplay in the later part of that month.

The video for "Watch Over You" was released in mid-September 2008. A new version of the video, using clips from VH1's Celebrity Rehab, was released later that month, used to promote the series. There is also currently a duet version of the song featuring Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil on the band's MySpace. In addition, the song debuted at #10 on the VH1 Top 20 Countdown and has since reached #3 on the countdown. Also, in mid-September, Alter Bridge went on tour with Disturbed, P.O.D. and Redline to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in New Zealand, as well as various cities in Australia which ended in Melbourne. They then toured New Zealand followed by other countries in the south pacific.

Also, the band shot their first live DVD, which contains footage from three concerts in Amsterdam, Italy, and the Brixton Academy in London. Daniel Catullo of Coming Home Productions, who has worked with artists such as Godsmack, Nickelback, and the Smashing Pumpkins, produced the DVD. Alter Bridge concluded their Blackbird tour, during which they were supported by Logan and Hot Leg for the UK leg of the tour, on December 10, 2008.

In late 2008, rumors of a Creed reunion had resurfaced. The rumors were addressed on April 2, 2009 when the official Creed website was uploaded with a video stating that "Creed will rise again". In late April 2009, Creed finally released an official press release, officially confirming the rumors after months of speculation. The tour will take place over late summer and fall of 2009. Creed's new album, Full Circle, will be released on October 27. Michael Tremonti, Alter Bridge's publicist, however, has said that a Creed reunion will not in any way affect Alter Bridge and the members of Alter Bridge still hold the band as their number one priority. Myles Kennedy has said that Alter Bridge will go back into the studio after Creed's reunion tour and the release of Full Circle to record Alter Bridge III as planned.

In regards to the live DVD, a new MySpace page has been created for the DVD. It was later revealed by director Dan Catullo that four versions of Live from Amsterdam will be released, the first of which will be released on August 4, and will be a single disc-only version sold exclusively at venues during the Creed tour. Another, which will also include one disc, has an hour's worth of bonus features, has a release date for September 29. The third version will be possibly released on the same date and will be a deluxe version; it will be a box set with an extensive book and documentary on the band, and 2 hours of bonus features. The final version will be a Blu-ray version and will be released in November of 2009, right before Christmas.

In addition, the band's song "Come to Life" from Blackbird will be appearing on Guitar Hero: Van Halen.

In a recent interview with Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti, Myles confirmed that the band is heading to write new songs for the third record (under the working title Alter Bridge III) and that they want to go into the studio by fall of 2009 so fans can expect it to be released in early 2010. On April 4, 2009, the band stated on their MySpace page that half the album has been written.

Myles Kennedy has stated that the third album will not be identical to Blackbird, but that the band has "found niche" and that it will probably follow the same formula as Blackbird. He also stated on his MySpace page that most of the material is moody and dark or very singer-songwriter based, and that a few more bluesy numbers will be heard. A tour in support of the third album will follow, most likely in spring of 2010.

The recording of Alter Bridge III, which has yet to receive an official title, will be postponed until the Creed reunion tour is complete.