Paul D'Amour | |
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 D'Amour in 2006 | |
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| Birth name | Paul D'Amour |
| Born | (1967-05-12)May 12, 1967 (age 57) Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Website | pauldamour |
Paul D'Amour (born May 12, 1967) is an American musician and was the first bassist forTool.[1] His bass sound is recognized by the aggressivepicked tone he developed with hisChris Squire SignatureRickenbacker 4001CS, which can be heard on Tool's first full-length album,Undertow. Since March 2019, he has been the bassist forindustrial metal bandMinistry.[2]
D'Amour was born inSpokane, Washington. Originally a guitarist, D'Amour became Tool's bassist after being introduced to the band byAdam Jones. Like Jones, D'Amour was inLos Angeles because of his wish to enter thefilm 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 alsoUndertow the following year. The band achieved mainstream success due toUndertow, fueled by the charting singles "Sober" and "Prison Sex". In late 1995, D'Amour left Tool during the early recording stages of theÆnima album. He was ultimately credited as a co-writer on five songs.[5] According to drummerDanny 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 bandLusk withBrad Laner,Chris Pitman (future member ofGuns N' Roses), andGreg Edwards ofFailure andAutolux. In 1997, they released their only album, entitledFree Mars.[8] In addition, D'Amour played guitar in a group namedReplicants, acover band that includedKen Andrews and Greg Edwards from Failure, as well as Chris Pitman. They released oneself-titled album in 1995, with a guest appearance from former Tool bandmateMaynard 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 novelFeersum Endjinn byIain Banks, an author whose novelThe 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", formerTool band-mateDanny 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 producerSylvia Massy and released on April 1, 2014 onSumerian Records.[13]
As of late March 2019, D'Amour joinedMinistry as the band's newest bass player,[2] replacingTony Campos.[14]
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