Saturday, August 8, 2026 - Julian Lage has admitted he was genuinely stunned after learning that Alter Bridge stars Mark Tremonti and Myles Kennedy are among the musicians who admire his guitar playing.
In a recent Guitar World interview, Lage responded to the pair’s earlier praise with humility, saying he found it difficult to believe he could inspire musicians he considers exceptional players. Kennedy had previously compared Lage’s impact on him to the experience of hearing Eddie Van Halen’s “Eruption,” while Tremonti described Lage as an “intelligent and sophisticated” guitarist.
Rather than accepting the praise as a personal victory, Lage used the moment to highlight the growing connection between musicians across genres.
He explained that guitarists can learn from one another regardless of whether they come from jazz, rock, metal or other musical backgrounds. Lage also pointed to players such as Cecil Alexander, Barrie Cadogan, Guthrie Govan and Tosin Abasi as musicians whose approaches continue to influence and challenge him.
The exchange is another sign that Lage’s influence is reaching well beyond the jazz world. Tremonti and Kennedy have built reputations in heavy rock, yet their enthusiasm for Lage shows how technical skill, originality and musical expression can cut across genre boundaries.
With Lage continuing to explore new ideas and major guitar names openly recognizing his work, the conversation around his playing is only getting bigger—and his growing reach could introduce his distinctive style to an even wider audience.
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