Shinedown’s Eric Bass is stepping away from the band’s upcoming North American tour as he recovers from what he described as a “pretty serious mental health crash.” In a video posted to the band’s social media, Bass said he did not believe it was wise to go back on the road yet, and he admitted the decision was difficult because mental health is something he and Shinedown have long spoken about publicly. The band’s North American run kicks off July 11 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and Bass will miss the opening dates while he continues treatment.
Bass, 51, said the episode happened a few weeks ago and pushed him to ask for help for the first time in his life. “I had a pretty serious mental health crash,” he said, adding that he had debated whether to say anything at all before deciding transparency mattered. He explained that he did not want to look ashamed of what happened, especially after championing mental health for years alongside the band.
He also spoke openly about the treatment he is receiving at the Medical University of South Carolina. Bass said he is undergoing transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, along with talk therapy, and described the process as helping him feel “way better.” He said the treatment involves electrical stimulation meant to help with depression, and stressed that he is focusing on safety rather than rushing back.
The part of his message that stands out most is how direct he was about needing support. Bass said, “I can’t do this on my own and I need help,” and described that moment as the first time in his 51 years he had ever reached out that way. He said the decision led to healing, even if it was not easy.
Shinedown confirmed that Josh Sturm and Zack Mack will fill in for Bass during the shows he misses. Bass said he does not yet have a timeline for returning, but he hopes it will be “sooner rather than later.” He also told fans that it is “killing” him not to be out there with the band, which makes the situation feel even more serious and personal.
The timing adds extra weight. Shinedown’s next leg is part of the Dance, Kid, Dance world tour, with the group moving ahead while one of its core creative forces takes care of his health. The band has not suggested any long-term change, but Bass’s statement makes clear that this is not a small setback. It is a real health pause, and one the band appears to be treating with caution and support.
For fans, the message is worrying but also hopeful. Bass is not hiding from the issue, and he is asking for time, treatment, and space to heal. That honesty is the part that will hit hardest for a lot of listeners.
