By Kreig Marks, February 2026

 

Kreig: Brent, good to speak with you, man. The tour is in full swing, the arenas are packed, fans are loud.  What’s the energy like backstage right now?

 

Brent: It’s pure electricity, brother. You can feel it before you even hit the stage. Everyone’s running on caffeine, adrenaline, and whatever decent food we can find at 2 a.m. It feels like the first time again.  The chemistry’s tight, and the fans are on another level right now.

 

Kreig: You’ve been at this for over 20 years. How do you keep the hunger alive night after night?

 

Brent: I remind myself that every show might be someone’s first Shinedown show. They don’t owe us that energy, we’ve got to earn it. And honestly, when the lights go down and that first note hits, it’s impossible not to feel fired up.

 

Kreig: The setlist this year has surprises. I saw you bring back some deep cuts. What sparked that decision?

 

Brent: The fans did. They’ve been shouting online for years about songs we haven’t played since the Us and Them era, so we thought, “Why not now?” It’s fun to throw a curveball mid-set and watch people lose their minds.

 

Kreig: You’ve always been a powerhouse onstage. How do you stay in shape for a tour that long?

 

Brent: I train like it’s a sport. Cardio, weights, vocal exercises, all of it. There’s no shortcut. You can’t fake stamina when you’re belting out songs every night. And I stay hydrated like crazy. No hangovers on this bus. We’ve all grown up a bit.

 

Kreig: Speaking of the bus, what’s the most “Shinedown” thing happening on tour buses these days?

 

Brent: (laughs) Probably Zach’s obsession with cooking late-night pasta while blasting ’80s rock. That, or Eric turning the lounge into a mini mixing lab. It’s chaos, but it’s our chaos.

 

Kreig: “Planet Zero” tackled some heavy themes. Has touring those songs changed the way you see them?

 

Brent: Totally. You write some of these songs in a vacuum, but when you hear 10,000 people sing them back, they take on a new life. You realize it’s not just your story anymore; it’s theirs too.

 

Kreig: Fans say you’re one of rock’s most positive frontmen, even when songs hit dark topics. Is that intentional?

 

Brent: Yeah, man. We’ve all been through the wringer, but music should give you strength, not just sadness. I believe in hope, but the real kind, the gritty, claw-your-way-back kind. That’s Shinedown’s DNA.

 

Kreig: What’s a song you still get goosebumps performing?

 

Brent: “45.” Every night. It’s the one that changed everything for us. The crowd still sings every lyric like their lives depend on it, and honestly, sometimes it feels like mine does too.

 

Kreig: What’s the funniest thing that’s happened so far on this tour?

 

Brent: Oh man, Zach tried to stage dive in a small club during a warm-up show and landed halfway on some poor guy’s camera bag. He finished the solo lying flat on his back. Didn’t miss a note though. (laughs)

 

Kreig: How has your approach to songwriting evolved since the early days?

 

Brent: Early on, it was about proving something. Now it’s about connecting. I’m less worried about being perfect and more focused on being honest. We write what feels real to us in the moment. That’s the magic.

 

Kreig: You’ve been open about self-discipline and personal growth. What’s something you do every day to stay grounded?

 

Brent: Gratitude. Every morning, I remind myself I don't have to do this, I get to do this. I get to make music with my brothers. It shifts my whole perspective. That, and face-timing my son. Nothing humbles you faster than your kid asking why you still wear eyeliner.

 

Kreig: Final one: what’s next after this tour?

 

Brent: Rest… for about five minutes. (laughs) Then it’s back in the studio. We’ve got ideas flying around, some heavy, some soulful. Shinedown is always evolving. The mission? Keep people inspired, one loud show at a time.