Shinedown

Shinedown is a rock band from Jacksonville, Florida that was founded in 2001.http://www.shinedown.com/bio/ Vocalist Brent Smith founded the band with drummer Barry Kerch. The group's sound is similar to modern rock artists such as Creed and Nickelback.http://www.billboard.com/artist/shinedown/514851#/artist/shinedown/bio/514851 Brad Stewart and Jasin Todd were brought into the group to play the bass and guitar. Smith said that the band "keeps evolving all the time, like it actually has a heartbeat. It's not a machine; there's actually blood flowing through it."http://www.shinedown.com/bio/

Shinedown features a classic rock sound with inspirations that range from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Van Halen.http://www.atlanticrecords.com/shinedown Front man Brent Smith stated, "I feel that on this record I wrote what a lot of people want to say, but they just don't know how to say it." http://www.shinedown.com/bio/ Their work is often reflective of personal experiences; the song "I Dare You" is inspired by bassist Brad Stewart's brother, who is a firefighter.http://www.atlanticrecords.com/shinedown

Shinedown spent two years in the recording studio prior to releasing their debut album, Leave a Whisper, in 2003.http://www.atlanticrecords.com/shinedown The record featured the songs "Fly From the Inside" and a cover of Lynard Skynard's "Simple Man."http://www.billboard.com/artist/shinedown/514851#/artist/shinedown/bio/514851 The band also recorded an acoustic version of "Simple Man" while on tour. Shinedown did not perform together on stage until after Leave a Whisper was recorded and released.http://www.atlanticrecords.com/shinedown

They followed Leave a Whisper with Us and Them in October of 2005. The record featured the number one single "Save Me." The song spent 12 weeks on the Billboard Active Rock chart, setting a record for that particular chart.http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/shinedown/chart-history/514851 Us and Them also contained the song "I Dare You," which peaked at number two on Billboard's Rock chart and was covered by Chris Daughtery on the television series American Idol.http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/shinedown/chart-history/514851 Us and Them was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).http://www.atlanticrecords.com/shinedown

On June 24, 2008, Shinedown released its third studio album, The Sound of Madness. The album featured the single "Devour," which peaked at number one on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.http://www.billboard.com/artist/shinedown/514851#/album/shinedown/the-sound-of-madness/1144892 Brent Smith wrote the song about his feelings toward the Bush administration after a visit to Iraq. http://www.shinedown.com/bio/ The Sound of Madness peaked at number three on Billboard's Rock Albums chart.http://www.billboard.com/artist/shinedown/514851#/album/shinedown/the-sound-of-madness/1144892

• Brent Smith: Lead vocalshttp://www.billboard.com/artist/shinedown/514851#/artist/shinedown/bio/514851
• Zach Myers: Guitar, backup vocalshttp://www.billboard.com/artist/shinedown/514851#/artist/shinedown/bio/514851
• Eric Bass: Bass guitar, piano, backup vocalshttp://www.billboard.com/artist/shinedown/514851#/artist/shinedown/bio/514851
• Barry Kerch: Drums http://www.billboard.com/artist/shinedown/514851#/artist/shinedown/bio/514851

• 2003: Leave A Whisperhttp://www.billboard.com/artist/shinedown/514851#/artist/shinedown/discography/albums/514851<ref>

• 2005: Us and Themhttp://www.billboard.com/artist/shinedown/514851#/artist/shinedown/discography/albums/514851<ref>

• 2008: The Sound of Madnesshttp://www.billboard.com/artist/shinedown/514851#/artist/shinedown/discography/albums/514851<ref>