Heavy metal fans around the world were shocked yesterday to learn that Mark Tremonti, the guitarist and founding member of Creed and Alter Bridge, had turned down an invitation to audition for the legendary metal band, Pantera. The reason? Bacon grease.
In a statement released to the press, Tremonti explained why he had declined the invitation. “I was very flattered to be asked to audition for Pantera,” he said. “But I just couldn’t get over the fact that the bassist, Rex Brown, is a huge bacon enthusiast. I’m not a fan of the greasy meat, and I just couldn’t bring myself to enter a room filled with the smell of sizzling pork fat.”
The news came as a surprise to some fans, as Tremonti is well known for his love of heavy metal. But he insists that his refusal was more about preserving his personal hygiene than anything else. “I’m sure the guys in Pantera are great musicians, but the thought of spending hours in a rehearsal room covered in bacon grease was just too much to bear,” he said.
For now, Tremonti is content to continue his successful career with Alter Bridge, but he hasn’t completely ruled out the possibility of joining Pantera one day. “Maybe I’ll re-think my stance on bacon if the opportunity ever comes around again,” he said. “For now, I’m just going to stick to playing my own style of heavy metal and keep my distance from the greasy stuff.“