The 15th anniversary of Fuel's debut album, the platinum "Sunburn," has given frontman Brett Scallions a chance to do some "messing around with the fans."

"Right before 'Shimmer' " -- the hard rock group's first big hit -- "I'll say, 'The first Fuel record was released in 1998. That makes you feel... old, doesn't it?' " Scallions, 41, says. "Everybody laughs. But time travels so quickly if you let it, and it seems like yesterday that record came out."

Fuel distinguished itself with other hits such as "Hemorrhage (In My Hands)," "Bittersweet" and "Innocent," but has been through several line-up changes and hiatuses since the mid-00s. Scallions is the only member left from the original band, with all three of his fellow musicians on board since 2010 or later. But he's happy with the situation and looking forward to the release of a new album, "Puppet Strings," some time before the end of the year.

"The original Fuel was a wonderful thing," notes Scallions, who was out of Fuel from 2006-10 and spent some time singing with the former Doors' Riders on the Storm band. "We had a great body of music that we made, but it's been a long time since that has existed. When I decided to do this again, I wanted to find some new guys, some fresh blood. I wanted to create with them and really try to reinvent (the band).

"I think we've done that. The record is a departure for us, a breath of fresh air, for sure. We've tested a few of the new songs out on the fans from time to time and we've always gotten real good, solid, positive feedback from them, so I feel like there's genuine excitement for the new material -- which makes it exciting for us, too, of course."

The Big Night Out Tour with Fuel, Hoobastank, Alien Ant Farm and Kaleido plays at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 25, at the Macomb Music Theatre, 31 N. Walnut St., Mt. Clemens. Tickets are $37 and $32. Call 586-541-1107 or visit www.macombmusictheatre.com.