Paul D'Amour

For the founder of Big Y Foods, see Big Y.
Paul D'Amour
Background information
Birth name Paul D'Amour
Born May 12, 1967
Spokane, Washington, United States
Origin Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres Progressive metal, alternative rock, industrial metal, hard rock, alternative metal, experimental rock
Instruments Bass guitar
Guitar
Vocals
Associated acts Lesser Key
Feersum Ennjin
Lusk
Replicants (1995–1996)
Tool (1990–1995)
Website pauldamour.com

Paul D'Amour (born May 12, 1967) is an American musician, and the first bass guitarist for Tool. His bass sound was recognized by the aggressive picked tone he developed with his Chris Squire Signature Rickenbacker 4001CS, which can clearly be heard on Tool's first full-length album, Undertow.

D'Amour was born in Spokane, Washington. Originally a guitar player, D'Amour became Tool's bassist after being introduced to the band by guitarist Adam Jones. Like Jones, D'Amour was in Los Angeles because of his wish to enter the film industry.[1]

D'Amour left Tool in 1995. After his departure from the band, he formed the psychedelic pop band Lusk with Brad Laner, Chris Pitman, now of Guns N' Roses, and Greg Edwards of Failure and Autolux. In 1997, they released their only album to date, entitled Free Mars.

Soon after his departure from Tool, 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 band-mate, Maynard James Keenan.[2]

As of early 2005, D'Amour has been writing and performing 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", Tool drummer Danny Carey plays the drums.

Currently, D'Amour plays 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."[3] On July 26, 2013, the band released a video of their debut single "Intercession." Their debut EP was produced by Sylvia Massy and released on April 1, 2014 on Sumerian Records.[4]

Bass gear

References

  1. ↑ Mahaffey, Joel (2001-08-06). "The Tool Page: Paul D'Amour Biography". The Tool Page (t.d.n).
  2. ↑ "Replicants album Information". Retrieved 2008-07-25.
  3. ↑ http://www.lesserkeyband.com/index.html
  4. ↑ http://sumerianrecords.com/artist/details/LESSER+KEY/id:40/

External links