William Frederic "Eric" Bass Jr. (born October 23, 1974) is an American musician and record producer. He is the bassist of the rock band Shinedown. He is currently signed to ONErpm as a solo artist.

Personal life

Bass was born into a conservative, and very musical family, and was encouraged to sing and play piano from an early age. At 13 he received a trombone, before moving onto guitar the following Christmas. In high school he played drums in the marching band, which he recalls as being "rhythmically invaluable to me throughout my music career".Eric Bass Profile

Bass currently lives in Charleston, SC with his wife and their two dogs. He owned a recording studio called Ocean Industries Studios (www.32tracks.com),Eric's MySpace which was his second studio,Devin Grant, Ocean Industries, November 2011, Charleston City Magazine and now owns a studio called "Big Animal Studio", in which he recorded and produced Planet Zero.Gary Graff, Shinedown on Dystopian 'Planet Zero' Album: 'This One Tried to Kill Me a Couple Times', January 26, 2022, Billboard

Bass is known to have depression, which influenced his work, especially in Shinedown's sixth album, Attention Attention, which was influenced by Bass' condition along with frontman Brent Smith's addiction.SHINEDOWN Bassist: 'Our Band Gets Closer And Closer Every Day; We Genuinely Love Each Other', December 20, 2018, BlabbermouthBianca Rae, Shinedown Highlights Mental Health Stigmas in Newest Album, August 26, 2019, Spectrum News 1Rachel Leah, Rock band Shinedown removes the stigma around mental health and addiction in "Attention Attention", September 16, 2018, SalonExclusive Premiere & Interview: Shinedown Want You to 'Get Up', August 27, 2018, PARADE MagazineSteve Baltin, How Shinedown Got Real On 'Attention Attention' | Mental Health Awareness Month, May 31, 2018, Grammy AwardsDave, Interview: Eric Bass – Shinedown, Devils Gate Music

In September 2021, it was reported that Bass tested positive for COVID-19, and would miss a few shows during the band's tour.Joe DiVita, Shinedown Playing Shows as Three-Piece After Eric Bass Tests Positive for COVID-19, September 27, 2021, LoudwireSHINEDOWN Bassist ERIC BASS Tests Positive For COVID-19; Band To Play Next Two Shows As A Three-Piece, September 25, 2021, Blabbermouth

Career

Sheldon

In the late 90s Eric played guitar for Charleston rock band Sheldon.

Deepfield

In 2002 Eric formed Deepfield with Baxter Teal. By 2003 they were signed to In De Goot records/McGathy Promotions, and began to produce their first record. However, Eric soon left the band after becoming more and more drawn by the producing, recording and studio process.

Shinedown

Bass joined Shinedown in 2008, before the release of The Sound of Madness, as a permanent replacement for Brad Stewart. He did not record the album with the band (the album's bass parts were contributed by noted session bassist Chris Chaney), but was touring with them. In addition to his bass duties, he also plays the keyboard in concert and contributes backing vocals.T. Ballard Lesemann, Shinedown's Eric Bass enjoys a homecoming, November 3, 2010, Charleston City Paper

Bass soon became a prominent member in Shinedown, and wrote many of their songs, starting in Amaryllis.Henry Northmore, Eric Bass: 'It's a story about not being afraid to fail. Failure is after all the greatest teacher', September 5, 2018, The List After producing a few singles for the band, such as "Diamond Eyes" and "Cut the Cord",Scott Colothan, Eric Bass on self-producing Shinedown: 'I don't rule through fear', June 10, 2018, Planet Radio in 2018 he produced Shinedown's sixth album, Attention Attention,Rob Putnam, Producer Crosstalk: Eric Bass, Mulitiplatinum Act Shinedown, July 3, 2018, Music ConnectionRaul Amador, Interview with Bassist Eric Bass, May 14, 2018, Bass Musician and in 2022 he produced their seventh album, Planet Zero in his new studio, "Big Animal Studio". Four years after the seventh Shinedown record, Planet Zero, Shinedown’s eighth studio record Eight, was also produced by Bass.

On July 10, 2026, Bass announced that he would be taking a hiatus from touring to focus on his mental health.

Solo career In November 2024 Bass announced a solo project. The first single, "Mind Control", was released on November 13, 2024, as the first single from his solo album titled I Had a Name set for release on February 28, 2025.Shinedown’s Eric Bass launching new solo project with “Mind Control” song, November 6, 2024, 105.7 The Point On December 13, 2024, he released "Azalia", the second single from the album.

Influences Bass never learned to play a guitar (or a bass guitar), and is self taught.

He was influenced by bass players Robert DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots), Chris Wolstenholme (Muse), Tim Commerford (Rage Against the Machine), and producers Rich Costey, Brendan O'Brien, Howard Benson, Andy Wallace, Chris Lord-Alge.

Producer Framing Hanley – The Sum of Who We Are (2014) Sleeper Agent – About Last Night (2014) Cold Kingdom – Cold Kingdom (2017)Exclusive Premiere: COLD KINGDOM's New Music Video "Criminal" Featuring Danny Case of From Ashes to New, February 23, 2022, Outburn Online Shinedown – Attention Attention (2018) Shinedown – Planet Zero (2022) Shinedown – Eight (2026)

Equipment 2008–2012 – Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling BassEric Bass on Equipboard 2012–2019 – Dean Eric Bass Hillsboro BassEric Bass of Shinedown – Dean Guitars 2019–present – Prestige Eric Bass Signature BassEric Bass Signature Bass GuitarKevin Johnson, Prestige Guitars Unveils the Eric Bass Signature Bass, March 14, 2019, No Treble

Solo Album I Had a Name (2025)

Singles + List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Album USMain."Goodnight, Goodnight" 2025 33 I Had a Name

References

External links

Shinedown.com