STAYING POWER
Shinedown guitarist credits hard work for band’s long-term success
In the 15 years since releasing its debut album, Shinedown has amassed a list of accomplishments.
The band has 23 top 10 hits. Of those, 12 are No. 1.
Not bad for a band that has been able to skate the line between rock and the mainstream.
The four-piece group is back with its latest album, “Attention Attention,” released on May 4.
Zach Myers, who has been with the band since 2005, feels he is in a special place within music.
“Everything that we’ve been able to do with music has happened organically,’ the guitarist says in a recent phone interview. “There is no formula to our success other than we all put in the hard work. We’re constantly on tour, all while having fun.”
Work on “Attention Attention” began in fall 2016, when Eric Bass began writing a song a day.
“He had a lot of music written, and that got us a jump start,” Myers says. “Then we collaborated with Dave Bassett for some tracks. We love writing with Dave.”
Although the band is proud of the album in its entirety, Myers says the single “Get Up” has a powerful message.
Vocalist Brent Smith wrote the song about watching Bass struggle with depression.
“I think it was one of these things that for so long that the three of us were blind to it,” Myers says. “We didn’t understand what was happening. Once we realized that we could be 100 percent honest about what Eric was facing, everything rolled out. This was the first time we ever wrote a song and wondered if it was too honest. We came to the answer that it’s not too honest and it’s a personal thing. I think the song has helped people, and it’s our responsibility to put it out there and help start people healing.”
Myers will be on the road for the majority of the summer during the band’s co-headlining tour with Godsmack.
Then after the tour is over, the band will head overseas.
Life on the road can wear Myers down — especially because he has small children.
Yet he says the band members bond knowing that each one of them is sacrificing much-needed family time.
“It can be very hard on the road, and we still get along as a band,” he says. “If we didn’t, there’s no way I’d be out here. I’m 34, and I’ve been doing this for 20 years. We’ve been together a really long time. As I’ve gotten older, I don’t take for granted the time we get to spend with the fans. They are the reason we get out there each night.”