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Paul D'Amour

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For the founder of Big Y Foods, see Big Y.

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]

Paul D'Amour
D'Amour in 2006
D'Amour in 2006
Background information
Birth namePaul D'Amour
Born (1967-05-12) May 12, 1967 (age 57)
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Instruments
  • Bass
  • vocals
  • guitar
Years active
  • 1985–1987
  • 1990–present
Member of
Formerly of
Websitepauldamour.com

Biography

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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

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With Tool
With Replicants
With Lusk
With Feersum Ennjin
  • Feersum Ennjin (2011)
With Lesser Key
  • Lesser Key (2014)
With Ministry

References

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  1. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Tool". Allmusic. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b 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.
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