Praise for Mark from Kee Marcello (Ex-Europe)

[joey78]

This is an excerpt of an interview from 2013 with Kee Marcello
http://rock-and-metal-4-you.blogspot.in ... cello.html

Do you still learn something new from other guitar players? Who had/has the most influence on your play?

Kee: I don’t really listen to “guitar players” as per say, I listen to bands. For instance , I’m not crazy about Mark Tremontis solo playing, but he’s one of my favourite rhythm guitarist and song writer of that genre. I’m a big fan of the Alterbridge albums, especially “Blackbird”.
As a guitar player, my core comes from Hendrix, Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, John McLaughlin, Neal Schon, Alan Holdsworth, but first and foremost: Ollie Halsall of the group Patto. (Google!)

[abw1987]

Not crazy about his solo playing??!??!

Nice to see him getting some recognition though. He's a legendary songwriter.

[JaredWard]

Definitely odd. Wonder if he's heard his more recent solos? Dude needs to listen to Bleed It Dry.

[Electricladyland]

If he did listen to "Blackbird", he would be head over heels about the solo on "Brand New Start." Awesome that a legendary rock musician like him gave Mark some recognition though!

[Them Bones]

This is an excerpt of an interview from 2013 with Kee Marcello
http://rock-and-metal-4-you.blogspot.in ... cello.html

Do you still learn something new from other guitar players? Who had/has the most influence on your play?

Kee: I don’t really listen to “guitar players” as per say, I listen to bands. For instance , I’m not crazy about Mark Tremontis solo playing, but he’s one of my favourite rhythm guitarist and song writer of that genre. I’m a big fan of the Alterbridge albums, especially “Blackbird”.
As a guitar player, my core comes from Hendrix, Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, John McLaughlin, Neal Schon, Alan Holdsworth, but first and foremost: Ollie Halsall of the group Patto. (Google!)

Finally, somebody who understands. I think Kee stating he is not crazy about Mark's solos doesn't mean they are not good. Just that Mark's rhythm overshadows his solos for sure. I've been saying this, there are hundreds of guitarists playing superfast solos and oddly most of these solos get boring including Mark's. But Mark's rhythm has been always been the most unique thing about his playing imo. Mark is a much better rhythm guitarist than people give him credit for. Its not about the technique, its about the SOUND.If Mark were to be known as a guitarist for the right reasons, it would be how good he is with his rhythm and songwriting, not how many notes he can play in a second.

"Solos are overrated"-- Mark Tremonti

[abw1987]

I get what you're saying, but Mark is far from a masturbatory shredder whose solos exist simply to exhibit speed and technical prowess. So many of his solos absolutely drip with feeling. A few in particular stand out to me: Brand New Start, Blackbird, Leave it Alone, and Bleed it Dry. That said, I agree that he's a great rhythm player. I'd almost compare him to Eddie van Halen in that respect. EVH is perhaps the best rhythm player of all time, but he could still play a hell of a solo.

[Wylde 1919]

I wasn't going to post anything in here, but who the hell cares what Europes ex guitarist thinks of Marks solos or playing. He may be a good guitar player, but it's not like he is Satriani, Vai, or Randy Rhoads. He likes his rhythm, but not his solos, who cares. Europe to me wasn't all that good, just cheap hair metal. I think we all would agree seeing Mark's talents grow from My Own Prison, to Fortress, and soon with Cauterize, that he can do just about anything with a six string. From rhythm, finger picking, to solos, he just gets better.

[Them Bones]

I get what you're saying, but Mark is far from a masturbatory shredder whose solos exist simply to exhibit speed and technical prowess. So many of his solos absolutely drip with feeling. A few in particular stand out to me: Brand New Start, Blackbird, Leave it Alone, and Bleed it Dry. That said, I agree that he's a great rhythm player. I'd almost compare him to Eddie van Halen in that respect. EVH is perhaps the best rhythm player of all time, but he could still play a hell of a solo.

For sure, Mark does write beautiful solos.