A few different successful bands have come out of North Florida. You have Tom Petty, Lynard Skynard, and, more recently, Shinedown. The rock band hails from Jacksonville, where they formed in 2001. Their ranks are made up of lifelong musicians, though none of them are very old.

When it comes to genres, Shinedown double dips – they’re either hard rock, alt-rock, or grunge rock, depending on who you ask. No matter what you call them, though, you can’t argue their success. From a band that came together because of the death of another, Brent Smith’s Breve.

The Start of Shinedown

Most bands work for years to get the attention of record labels, but Shinedown didn’t have to. That’s because Brent Smith was still in a record contract with Atlantic Records when his first band dissolved. Instead of trying to get out of the contract, Brent decided to put a new band together. He found Zach Myers, Eric Bass, and Barry Kerch to help the new group find its way.

With Zach and Brent on vocals, Bass on, yes, bass, and Barry on drums, the band was ready to go. They put out their first album, Leave a Whisper, in 2003. That first album went platinum, setting the band up for a successful career.

Cut the Cord

The early 2000s were the most productive for the band and saw their first four albums. Things got a little slower in the twenty-teens, as the group made their fans wait three years between releases. When they tour, they usually bring someone great with them. They’ve shared the stage with stars like Papa Roach and even Three Days Grace. Who knows who they’ll bring with them this time! To find out, you’ll have to get tickets to see them live.