Shinedown frontman Brent Smith recently discussed bassist Eric Bass’ decision to take a break from touring to focus on his mental health, sharing details about Bass’ current status and his future with the band during an interview with MaytheROCK bewithyou.
When asked how Eric is doing, Smith opened up about the bassist’s decision to prioritize his well-being and the support he has received.
“He’s doing fantastic. He’s doing great,” Smith said. “Look, man, he’s a work in progress. We’re all the work in progress. He had to do something that was a very human thing. You know, he was like, ‘Yo, I don’t want anybody walking on eggshells around me, and I most certainly don’t want to walk on eggshells around anyone else. And this isn’t necessarily about you all. This is about me. And I just got to make sure I’m okay, you know, and because I don’t feel okay. And I know that life is subjective and every day is going to be, you know, a different set of obstacles and hurdles and what have you, but I need a better skill set for me personally.’ And when he came to us and said, ‘I don’t think where I need to be is on tour right this minute. I need some time to take care of me.’ Man, that dude is my hero in a lot of ways. He really is.”
Smith went on to describe the bravery it took for Bass to make that decision and how the band immediately supported him.
“I spend a lot of time with him. It was an extremely brave thing,” Smith continued. “And I don’t use that word brave just, you know, just to throw it out. Like he was really concerned how people were going to take it and the most beautiful thing in the world happened. Um, you know, obviously the three of us, myself and Barry and Zach, we said, ‘Whatever you need to do, we’re here to support it.'”
The frontman also explained that the band had to bring in two musicians to cover Bass’ contributions during his absence. Josh Sturm and Zack Mack joined the touring lineup while Bass focused on his recovery.
He also highlighted the overwhelming support from fans on social media, which served as a source of encouragement for Bass.
“In 72 hours, there was close to 14,000 comments just on Instagram alone,” Smith added. “And they weren’t like one sentence like, ‘Hey man, it’s all good, you know, get better’ type thing. They were like paragraphs from people just letting him know how loved he is and how supported he is. And I think that was probably some of the best medicine that he could have ever received in a lot of ways.”
Smith’s comments come after Bass publicly stepped away from the beginning of Shinedown’s next tour leg in July 2026. According to WBRC, Bass said he had experienced a “pretty serious mental health crash” and needed time away from touring to focus on his well-being.
Reports also indicated that Bass was pursuing professional help during his break. The decision was presented as a temporary step focused on treatment and recovery rather than a permanent departure from Shinedown.
The band has continued to operate with a rotating touring lineup while Bass remains away from the road. According to Jutarnji list, Shinedown was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2001. The band’s long history and demanding touring schedule have made Bass’ decision an important moment for the group.
Smith has also spoken openly about his own recovery, giving him a personal understanding of the challenges Bass is facing. In an interview with Louder, Smith described addiction as something he continues to manage.
“Oh, he’s with me every single day,” Smith said. “I’m not talking about schizophrenia. But I am, and forever will be, an addict and an alcoholic. He’s in here [taps head]. He’s very, very far in the back of my subconscious. But there are days I wake up that he can get loud, and I have to tell him: ‘Not today.'”
Smith said Bass is actively working on his recovery and has a strong team around him.
“But in answer to your question, you know, every single day he’s been working at it and he’s got a great team of people around him,” Smith concluded. “He is coming back. We got four dates in the US before we head over to you guys and girls or I should say down we head down under. But he’s going to be back with us and he’s doing great. He’s coming. Yep. 100%. He’ll be there. Yep. He’s with us. Absolutely.”
Fans can expect to see Bass return to the stage for the band’s upcoming tour dates.
