Page 14 - Black Velvet Issue 88

BV88 pg14,15,16,17 Tremonti_BV88 pg14 01/04/2016 22:32 Page 1

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Chasing Dreams
Chasing Dreams

ward-winning songwriter and guitarist Mark Tremonti has spent the last few years dividing
Ahis time between Alter Bridge and Tremonti. While Alter Bridge was taking some down
time, Mark went to work on his band Tremonti’s second album, ‘Cauterize’, which was released
last summer to critical acclaim. The album is both musically and lyrically heavier than its prede-
cessor, ‘All I Was’. Inspired by some of the topics featured on ‘Cauterize’, Black Velvet had a chat
with Mark about the dangers of misusing religion, what he would do if he was a powerful leader,
and the struggle that comes with chasing dreams.

he cover artwork for ‘Cauterize’ is men to destroy their boats so they would like to prepare myself well in advance, so I
Tquite fascinating; the image shows have to conquer the country or be killed. go in the studio well-prepared and over pre-
the head of a man emerging from the ocean The option of failure was gone. The lesson pared. I set myself up so I can’t, well hope-
while a small wooden boat is burning in the being that retreat is easy when you let your- fully, don’t fail. I overdo it, I over-prepare.”
foreground. The concept of the piece, cre- self have the option. The song ‘Cauterize’ is about a tyranni-
ated by Mark’s brother Dan, is a science fic- “That’s a pretty awesome anecdote!” cal leader and how having absolute power
tion creature coming to burn the impurities Mark responds. We ask Mark if he himself can corrupt. It has been said that power
out of mankind. works better when under pressure. “I work heightens pre-existing ethical tendencies.
Referring to the burning boat, Black better when I’m happy. I think some people There is a quote by Abraham Lincoln,
Velvet mentions to Mark the phrase ‘to burn write better when they’re in a bad mood, or ‘Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if
one’s boat’. The expression derives from when they’re angry and they get to get it off you want to test a man’s character, give him
incidents where a commander, having their chest. I write better when things are power’. If Mark had absolute power what
landed in a hostile country, ordered his good, you know, when there’s success. I personal qualities would he hope shone

TREMONTI