Shinedown bassist Eric Bass has announced he will not be joining the band for the start of their upcoming tour following a serious mental health crash. Josh Sturm and Zack Mack will be stepping in as his replacements.
Bass addressed the situation directly in a candid video message. He opened up about his mental health struggles and his decision to prioritize his recovery over touring commitments.
“Hey, everybody. It’s Eric from Shinedown. I don’t really know any other way to do this than to just do it off the cuff. None of this is prepared. But I have an announcement to make. I’m not going to be joining the band on the beginning of this tour that starts in a few days,” he said. “I had a pretty serious mental health crash, I guess you could say, a few weeks ago, couple of weeks ago. And I don’t really feel it’s the wise thing for me to do to go out on tour right now. You know, I’ve debated whether or not to make this announcement at all and just not be there and then show back up when it’s time. But mental health being such a thing that I have championed, and the band has championed, I thought that it would be not the best look to maybe seem like I’m ashamed of it.”
Bass went on to share details about the treatment he is currently undergoing. He also expressed his desire to return to the stage as soon as possible.
“So, yeah, I can’t go into any details about it. I’m doing a really great treatment at the Medical University of South Carolina called TMS. It’s actually an electrical stimulation protocol that helps with depression. That mixed in with talk therapy and that kind of thing. And I’m feeling way better, so that’s good,” he continued. “But I just want everyone to know that I wanna be out there. It’s killing me to not be there. Josh Sturm and Zack Mack, two of our great friends, are coming out to help fill in for my stuff until I can come back out. I don’t have a timeline for that right now. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later, but I wanna make sure that, you know, that I’m safe.”
He also used the moment to send a broader message of encouragement to fans and employers alike, urging those in crisis to seek help.
“I’m very blessed to be able to take a break like this. I know a lot of people can’t. And I would encourage anyone who maybe is a business owner out there, if you’ve got someone in your company who’s having issues like this, to give them some time if they need it. And also, if you’re going through a mental health crisis, to give yourself time as well, and to reach out to people,” he said. “I did something I’d never done before in my fifty-one years on Earth, is I reached out to someone and I said, ‘I can’t do this on my own and I need help.’ And it led to some healing that I’m going through right now. So, it’s not an easy thing to do, to ask for help, but it has to be done.”
Bass closed his message with words of love and encouragement for fans attending the tour.
“So, I love all of you. Thank you all for your understanding. I can’t wait to get back up on stage again. So, go out there and support Shinedown on the ‘Dance, Kid, Dance Act II’ world tour. I will be back out there as soon as possible. And, yeah, thank you all for your understanding. Love everybody.”
The announcement comes as Shinedown prepares to push forward with the Dance Kid Dance Act II World Tour, a major 2026 touring cycle the band has been building toward. Bass’s absence marks a significant moment for the group. The swift announcement of replacements signals the band’s commitment to keeping the tour on track while fully supporting their bandmate’s recovery.
TMS, or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. It is primarily used to treat depression. Bass is receiving the treatment at the Medical University of South Carolina, combining it with regular talk therapy sessions. He has already reported meaningful progress, describing himself as feeling “way better” since beginning the protocol.
Josh Sturm and Zack Mack, both members of the band Dance Kid Dance, will serve as Bass’s replacements on the road for the duration of his absence. Their connection to the Shinedown camp made them a natural fit for the role. The band moved quickly to ensure continuity for fans attending the upcoming dates.
Shinedown responded to Bass’s announcement with a show of solidarity. The band released a message emphasizing that mental health is not something to take lightly. They made clear that their millions of fans would be standing behind Bass as he works to get himself right, reinforcing the message that his health comes before any tour obligation.
No official timeline has been set for Bass’s return to the lineup. Both the band and Bass himself have stressed that the priority is a full and safe recovery, with his return to the stage coming only when he is genuinely ready.
Source: instagram.com
