How Alter Bridge and Slash frontman Myles Kennedy learned to embrace rock stardom in his own way
Myles Kennedy says being encouraged to learn guitar by his stepfather, a Methodist minister, gave his life a purpose and helped set him on the path to rock stardom. The story presents Kennedy and Alter Bridge bandmate Mark Tremonti as examples of rock stars who can succeed without behaving badly.
At 14, Kennedy and his friends staged an “air band” performance in a church pianist’s basement, playing metal songs including Mötley Crüe’s “Shout at the Devil”, Judas Priest’s “Screaming for Vengeance” and Iron Maiden. The congregation soon left, but Kennedy recalls the prank fondly and credits his supportive stepfather, Glenn, with suggesting a year later that he learn to play music for real.
- A teenage metal prank cleared a church congregation.
- Kennedy’s stepfather encouraged him to learn guitar.
- Kennedy says that advice gave his life a purpose.
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Myles Kennedy is an American singer and guitarist, best known as the lead singer of Alter Bridge. He has also worked with Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, fronting Slash’s solo band on tour and recordings.
Kennedy has said his stepfather Glenn, a Methodist minister, encouraged him to learn guitar when he was a teenager. That support helped turn his interest in rock music into a career, after he and friends once staged an air-band performance of heavy metal songs in a church pianist’s basement.
The story also points to Kennedy and Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti as examples of successful rock musicians who do not fit the stereotype of rock stars behaving badly. Their careers offer a different picture of what stardom in rock music can look like.