ZERO THE HERO

On Shinedown's latest, Zach Myers does more with less and finds an elusive amp tone in a Kemper.

- JOE BOSSO

LET'S FACE IT: The chances for a rock band to have any kind of success, much less maintain it, are statistically very low. And then there's Shinedown. Together since 2001, and with record sales exceeding 10 million copies, the Jacksonville, Florida-based outfit has the kind of staying power that seems to defy all odds. How does guitarist Zach Myers explain the group's longevity?

"It's something I think about a lot, and I certainly don't take anything for granted," he says. "Most of the bands we came up with aren't here anymore. I think one of the things that's kept us going is the fact that we write songs that mean something and speak to people. We don't write about partying or doing drugs. Plus, we have a pretty unique sound. I don't hear anybody that does what we do."

He laughs. "And then there's luck. You just can't explain it, no matter how hard you try."

Throughout Shinedown's seven studio albums, which includes their just-released Planet Zero (Atlantic), Myers has distinguished himself as an inventive and reliable guitarist. His riffs are sparky and hooky, and his solos are marvels of punchy economy. With surprising candor, he makes it clear that he's not trying to challenge anybody for shred supremacy.