"Would you rather sell tons of records and have people come at you or sell no records and have everybody love you?" Mark Tremonti isn't losing any sleep over the Creed haters

· louder

By Stef Lach
published 23 December 2024

There's nothing new about popular bands attracting a lot of hate – and Creed are just fine with that

(Image credit: Chuck Brueckmann)

Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti says the hate that the band attracts is just part of the deal when artists reach a certain level of popularity.

And as long as people keep buying Creed records and attending their shows in huge numbers, he's not losing any sleep over the backlash.

Tremonti – who has also achieved success with Alter Bridge and his self-titled solo band – led Creed to extraordinary success in their early years. And their comeback tour has picked right up from where they left off after going on hiatus more than 10 years ago.

Tremonti tells Ultimate Guitar: "After a while you just kind of realise if you want to be in a band where it got as big as Creed did, there's gonna be people that love you, there's gonna be people that hate you.

"Look at all the biggest bands in the world, especially pop artists. If it becomes a household name, there's gonna be people that hate on it. And you've gotta take the good with the bad.

"Would you rather sell tons of records and have people come at you or sell no records and have everybody love you?

"And I got to see both sides of that when we started Alter Bridge. When we started Alter Bridge and we had gotten into a few records, we got a lot of critical praise, but we weren't selling the millions of records that Creed was.

Get the Louder Newsletter

The latest news, features and interviews direct to your inbox, from the global home of alternative music.

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors

"So I got to see what it feels like on both sides."

People hating rock bands that cross into the mainstream in a big way is nothing new. Perhaps the most obvious example is Nickelback, who have been the brunt of countless jokes for decades.

But asked whether he regrets anything about Creed's meteoric rise, Tremonti is clear.

He says: "I'm glad I've gotten to experience it all. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for those early Creed days."

Mark Tremonti on Creed haters, Hells Angels & Dumble amps | On The Record - YouTube

Watch On
Stef Lach

Stef wrote close to 5,000 stories during his time as assistant online news editor and later as online news editor between 2014-2016. An accomplished reporter and journalist, Stef has written extensively for a number of UK newspapers and also played bass with UK rock favourites Logan. His favourite bands are Pixies and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Stef left the world of rock'n'roll news behind when he moved to his beloved Canada in 2016, but he started on his next 5000 stories in 2022. 

More about metal hammer

“Those are the threads of a poser shirt!” Exodus used to cut hair metal t-shirts with knives during 80s concerts

“We were shocked: ‘Is this real? What does this mean?’”: Gojira reveal who came up with their fire-spewing, show-stealing Olympic Games performance
Latest

“The seven deadly sins were invented by the church. They weren’t invented by God so I don’t give them too much credence“: How Max Cavalera came through his personal dark ages to make Soulfly’s Omen album
See more latest ►

Most Popular

John Wesley guests on new anthemic O.R.k. single Mask Becomes The Face

Watch Nightwish documentary on the making of latest album Yesterwynde

Lars Ulrich embarrassed Biohazard's Billy Graziadei in front of his friends – but quickly made up for it in style

The Clash and Prince to be honoured with Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards

"When my son became aware of this Swifty classic we listened to it even more than when it was initially released." Coheed and Cambria's Claudio Sanchez shares cover of Taylor Swift's Welcome To New York

"Our label said, ‘You guys will be the next Metallica’, and that bummed me out." Stoner rock legend Brant Bjork on why he didn't want Kyuss to be megastars

"I’ve gone back to a more progressive style." Steven Wilson will release new album The Overview in March

"It's nonstop badassery." Slayer guitarist Kerry King picks his favourite Black Sabbath album

Watch pro-shot footage of Metallica's full performance at 2024 Helping Hands concert in Los Angeles

Shawn 'Clown' Crahan says he "could care less" about the bands Slipknot have influenced – as his focus is on where The Nine go next

"Motörhead is not past tense. It's present tense": Phil Campbell pays tribute to Lemmy as ashes go on display at London adult entertainment club