Paul D'Amour

Last updated
Paul D'Amour
Paul d'Amour - portrait by Jeff White.jpg
D'Amour in 2006
Background information
Birth namePaul D'Amour
Born (1967-05-12) May 12, 1967 (age 57)
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Origin Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Bass
  • vocals
  • guitar
Years active
  • 1985–1987
  • 1990–present
Member of
Formerly of
Website pauldamour.com

Paul D'Amour (born May 12, 1967) is an American musician and was the first bassist for Tool. [1] His bass sound is recognized by the aggressive picked tone he developed with his Chris Squire Signature Rickenbacker 4001CS, which can be heard on Tool's first full-length album, Undertow . Since March 2019, he has been the bassist for industrial metal band Ministry. [2]

Contents

Biography

D'Amour was born in Spokane, Washington. Originally a guitarist, D'Amour became Tool's bassist after being introduced to the band by Adam Jones. Like Jones, D'Amour was in Los Angeles because of his wish to enter the film industry. [3] D'Amour built movie sets and worked in an art department on music videos and commercials. [4]

D'Amour notably appeared on Tool's debut release, Opiate , in 1992 and also Undertow the following year. The band achieved mainstream success due to Undertow, fueled by the charting singles "Sober" and "Prison Sex". In late 1995, D'Amour left Tool during the early recording stages of the Ænima album. He was ultimately credited as a co-writer on five songs. [5] According to drummer Danny Carey, D'Amour left the band because he wanted to play guitar rather than bass. [6] D'Amour corroborated this in 2020 saying, "I always wanted to do other things, and it felt like I was too much in a box with that band ... I'm not just a bass player; I'm a creator, I wanted to have a bigger role, and it just wasn't happening in that situation." [7]

After his departure from Tool, he formed the psychedelic pop band Lusk with Brad Laner, Chris Pitman (future member of Guns N' Roses), and Greg Edwards of Failure and Autolux. In 1997, they released their only album, entitled Free Mars . [8] In addition, D'Amour played guitar in a group named Replicants, a cover band that included Ken Andrews and Greg Edwards from Failure, as well as Chris Pitman. They released one self-titled album in 1995, with a guest appearance from former Tool bandmate Maynard James Keenan. [9] [10]

In early 2005, D'Amour wrote and performed under the name Feersum Ennjin. The name is inspired by the science fiction novel Feersum Endjinn by Iain Banks, an author whose novel The Wasp Factory was conceptual inspiration for Lusk as well. The project released a self-titled EP on Silent Uproar Records. In 2011, a self-titled LP was released on Dissociated Press, featuring some songs that had been released previously and some new ones. On the first track of the LP, "The Fourth", former Tool band-mate Danny Carey plays drums. [11]

D'Amour also played bass in the band Lesser Key. The group consists of Andrew Zamudio (vocals), Brett Fanger (guitar), and Justin Hanson (drums). The band "represents an exploration into personal and artistic freedom." [12] On July 26, 2013, the band released a video of their debut single "Intercession." Their debut EP was produced by former Tool producer Sylvia Massy and released on April 1, 2014 on Sumerian Records. [13]

As of late March 2019, D'Amour joined Ministry as the band's newest bass player, [2] replacing Tony Campos. [14]

Selected discography

With Tool
With Replicants
With Lusk
With Feersum Ennjin
With Lesser Key
With Ministry

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tool (band)</span> American rock band

Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles. Formed in 1990, the group consists of vocalist Maynard James Keenan, guitarist Adam Jones, drummer Danny Carey and bassist Justin Chancellor, who replaced founding member Paul D'Amour in 1995. Tool has won four Grammy Awards, performed worldwide tours, and produced albums topping the charts in several countries.

<i>Ænima</i> 1996 studio album by Tool

Ænima is the second studio album by the American rock band Tool. It was released in vinyl format on September 17, 1996, and in compact disc format on October 1, 1996, through Zoo Entertainment. The album was recorded and cut at Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood and The Hook in North Hollywood from 1995 to 1996. It is the first album by Tool to feature bassist Justin Chancellor, who replaced original bassist Paul D'Amour the year prior. The album was produced by David Bottrill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Carey</span> American drummer

Daniel Edwin Carey is an American musician and songwriter who is the drummer for the progressive metal band Tool. He has also contributed to albums by artists such as Zaum, Green Jellö, Pigface, Skinny Puppy, Adrian Belew, Carole King, Collide, Meat Puppets, Lusk, and the Melvins.

<i>Undertow</i> (Tool album) 1993 studio album by Tool

Undertow is the debut studio album by the American rock band Tool, released on April 6, 1993, by Zoo Entertainment. Produced by the band and Sylvia Massy, it was recorded from October to December 1992 at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys and Grandmaster Recorders in Hollywood. The album includes some tracks the band decided to not release on their debut EP Opiate. This is their only album to feature original bassist Paul D'Amour.

<i>Opiate</i> (EP) 1992 EP by Tool

Opiate is an EP by the American rock band Tool. It was produced and engineered by Sylvia Massy and Steve Hansgen. Released in 1992, it was the result of two years of the band playing together after their formation in 1990. Opiate preceded Tool's first full-length release, Undertow, by a year. It is named after a quote by Karl Marx: "religion ... is the opiate of the masses". It was certified platinum by the RIAA. The EP charted on several international charts when Tool released their catalog to online streaming in August 2019.

<i>Salival</i> 2000 box set by Tool

Salival is a live, outtake, and video album, released as a limited edition box set in CD/VHS and CD/DVD formats in 2000 by American rock band Tool. It includes a 56-page book of photos and stills from their music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Failure (band)</span> American alternative rock band

Failure is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles that was active from 1990 to 1997 and again from 2014 to the present. They have released six full-length albums and five EPs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Pitman</span> American musician

Chris Pitman is an American musician best known for his involvement with the hard rock band Guns N' Roses. A multi-instrumentalist, Pitman is known to play keyboards, guitar and drums, in addition to his role as a lead or backing vocalist. Pitman currently fronts alternative rock band SexTapes and previously worked with such bands as Guns N' Roses, Lusk, Replicants and Tool.

<i>Free Mars</i> 1997 studio album by Lusk

Free Mars is the only album by the experimental psychedelic rock project Lusk, released in 1997 in a Digipak-style case. The album features an appearance by Tool drummer Danny Carey, as well as an assortment of artists and musicians from the Los Angeles scene.

Replicants was an American rock band, consisting of Ken Andrews, Paul D'Amour, Greg Edwards, and Chris Pitman, which has been on hiatus since 1996. The group has only released one album, a self-titled cover album, in 1995. The band's name comes from the verb "replicate", alluding to the band's status as "a tribute band".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tool discography</span> Band discography

The discography of American rock band Tool consists of five studio albums, one box set, two extended plays, four video albums, sixteen singles and eight music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Wyse</span> American musician

Chris Wyse is an American bassist and vocalist. He is best known for his performances with The Cult, Ozzy Osbourne, Ace Frehley and Hollywood Vampires. He is also the vocalist and bassist for Owl, a band he founded in 2007.

"Opiate" is a song by American rock band Tool and the title track from their debut EP recorded by producer Sylvia Massy at Sound City Studios in 1991. "Opiate" serves as the final track of the Opiate EP and contains the hidden track, "The Gaping Lotus Experience". The song plays as one continuous track with a runtime of 8:32

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Edwards (musician)</span> American musician and songwriter

Greg Charles Edwards is an American musician and songwriter, best known as guitarist and bassist for the rock band Failure. Edwards is a multi-instrumentalist. As a professional musician, he has been active since the 1990 formation of Failure, and also plays guitar and sings in the experimental rock band Autolux. Edwards has 125 song titles to his credit.

Lusk was an American psychedelic rock supergroup featuring members from Tool, Replicants, Failure and Medicine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drenge (band)</span> English rock band

Drenge is an English three-piece rock band made up of Eoin Loveless on guitar and vocals, his younger brother Rory on drums, and Rob Graham on bass. The brothers grew up in Castleton, Derbyshire, where they formed the band in 2010, relocating to Sheffield in 2014. The band takes their name from something "that would sound like a noise that we would be playing on stage". Their name also translates into "Boys" in Danish. They have released three albums; Drenge (2013), Undertow (2015), and Strange Creatures (2019).

<i>Undertow</i> (Drenge album) 2015 studio album by Drenge

Undertow is the second album by Drenge released on 6 April 2015. Their first release since expanding to a three-piece with the addition of bassist Rob Graham, who played on three tracks, the album was produced by Ross Orton and recorded at McCall Sound Studios in late 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chon (band)</span> American progressive rock band

Chon was an American progressive rock and math rock band from Oceanside, California. Their music is largely instrumental with only a few songs containing vocal performances. The final line up of the band consisted of Mario Camarena (guitar), Erick Hansel (guitar), Esiah Camarena (bass) and Nathan Camarena (drums).

<i>Moral Hygiene</i> 2021 studio album by Ministry

Moral Hygiene is the fifteenth studio album by American industrial metal band Ministry, released on October 1, 2021. In production for about three years, following the release of AmeriKKKant (2018), this album marks the band's first collaboration with bassist Paul D'Amour, who joined Ministry in 2019, and the first to include a cover song since Relapse (2012). Moral Hygiene also includes guest appearances from guitarist Billy Morrison, former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson, former N.W.A member Arabian Prince and Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen's former bandmate in Lard, Jello Biafra. It also marks the first album since Rio Grande Blood (2006) to not feature guitarist Sin Quirin, who quit the band in March 2021 following the previous year's allegations of underage sexual relations.

References

  1. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Tool". Allmusic . Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  2. 1 2 Kaufman, Spencer (29 May 2019). "Ministry tap former Tool member Paul D'Amour as new bassist". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  3. ↑ Mahaffey, Joel (6 August 2001). "The Tool Page: Paul D'Amour Biography". The Tool Page (t.d.n).
  4. ↑ Elin Koprowski (14 November 2011). "Tool – The lost Sin Magazine Interview". Gashaus Music Magazine. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  5. ↑ Jon D'Auria (30 September 2014). "Paul D'Amour: Escaping the Undertow". Bass Player. Future Publishing Limited Quay House. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  6. ↑ Epstein, Dan (6 April 2018). "Tool's 'Undertow': 10 Things You Didn't Know". rollingstone.com . Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  7. ↑ D'Auria, Jon (8 January 2020). "Original Tool bassist Paul D'Amour on why he quit: "Their creative process is excruciating and tedious"". Guitar World. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  8. ↑ Steve Bekkala. "Lusk". Allmusic . Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  9. ↑ "Replicants album Information" . Retrieved 25 July 2008.
  10. ↑ Steve Bekkala. "Replicants". Allmusic. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  11. ↑ "Interview: Ex-Tool Bassist Paul D'Amour Talks About New Band Feersum Ennjin (Audio)". Metal Assault. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  12. ↑ Graham Hartmann (26 July 2013). "Lesser Key (Featuring Former Tool Bassist Paul D'Amour) Reveal Music Video for 'Intercession'". Loudwire . Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  13. ↑ "Lesser Key - Band members". Sumerian Records. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  14. ↑ "Former Tool bassist Paul D'Amour joins Ministry". Kerrang . 29 May 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.