Before their May 4 headline show at NashvilleвЂ™s Bridgestone Arena, supporting their new, seventh album, Planet Zero, the duo flexed their rockstar credentials and carted out 40-plus instruments. But this time, the war chest was on another level. When PGвЂ™s Chris Kies first talked tone tools with Myers and Bass in 2013, they had some gear, and even some cool signature stuff. If guitar truly is in a slump in pop culture and the mainstream, somebody forgot to tell Shinedown. (If you include the other Billboard charts, theyвЂ™ve got three more.) They also have three platinum albums (three more are certified gold in the U.S.), and six additional platinum singles. 1 hits on BillboardвЂ™s Mainstream Rock chart. The quartetвЂ™s ability to fuse post-grunge pyrotechnics, four-on-the-floor rockers, and glossy, arms-in-the-air anthems, and their dynamic acoustic performances, have earned them 17 No. (Rig Rundown alumnus Nick Perri was a short-time member of Shinedown and earned lead guitar credits on TSOM before fully handing over the 6-string reins to Myers.)

He and current bassist Eric Bass (no joke) first earned album credits with 2008вЂ™s smash The Sound of Madness. Zach Myers joined the fold in 2005 (as a touring member). He enlisted Jasin Todd (guitarist), Brad Stewart (bass), and Barry Kerch (drums). The group was founded by vocalist Brent Smith in 2001, after his previous band, Dreve, disbanded). The notion of modern or contemporary rock bands packing enormo-domes feels like a fossil, but donвЂ™t tell that to platinum-selling Shinedown, whoвЂ™s been packing thousands-of-seats houses for years. Musical acts currently filling arenas fall into a few categories: pop, electronic, country, and legacy.

Buck owens just as long as you love me