As Shinedown prepared to dominate Download’s main stage, guitarist Zach Myers joins us backstage to share how they craft the perfect festival setlist, their love for British crowds, and what’s next for the hard-rock juggernaut…
Words by Felix Bartlett | July 04, 2025
For Shinedown guitarist Zach Myers, stepping onto the Download Festival stage represents far more than just another performance but rather a triumphant homecoming, a celebration of two decades spent forging deep connections with fans across the globe. As the band prepares for their sub-headlining slot, Myers reflects on their journey with the kind of easygoing warmth that belies the group’s status as one of rock’s most formidable live acts.
“We’ve played Download maybe five or six times now,” Myers says, taking a rare quiet moment backstage. “To come back and be penultimate to the headliner is crazy. I like how you guys say ‘sub-headlining’ over here, that’s a good one.” There’s genuine pride in his voice as he acknowledges how far the band has come since their first UK performances. “We played down the road a couple of years ago when Sleep Token was on like the fourth stage at 3 PM. To see them headlining now is amazing. That’s the kind of journey we’ve been on too.”
The uncharacteristically mild British weather provides perfect conditions for what promises to be a career-defining performance. “This is honestly the best weather we’ve ever had here,” Myers laughs. “I know it’s hot for you guys, but for Americans? This is like a perfect 75-degree day. Usually at festivals back home, we’re playing in 90-degree heat with 90% humidity.” The comfortable climate seems symbolic, a far cry from the band’s early days of grinding it out in sweaty clubs, now playing to seas of fans at one of metal’s most hallowed gatherings.
With seven albums and 23 No. 1 tracks to their name, constructing a festival setlist presents both an embarrassment of riches and a unique challenge. “Normally we play two-hour headline shows where we can really take our time,” Myers explains. “For a 70-minute festival slot, you have to make some tough choices.” The balancing act involves serving die-hard fans while winning over newcomers, a task Myers approaches with strategic care.
“We go through all seven records trying to represent each era,” he says. “You want the people who came specifically for you to leave satisfied, but you also want to make an impression on everyone else.” This careful curation explains why songs like ‘A Symptom of Being Human’, ‘Three Six Five’, and ‘Dead Don’t Die’ have become festival staples.
“Those are real songs that people connect to because of what they say,” Myers observes. At a metal-dominated festival like Download, the contrast between Shinedown’s anthemic vulnerability and the day’s heavier acts creates a powerful dynamic. “People have been getting screamed at all day, then we play something like ‘Three Six Five’ and you see them crying,” he says, referencing the band’s poignant tribute to lost loved ones, performed against a backdrop of family photos. “We’ve got pictures of our relatives on the wall behind us, and it becomes this shared moment of catharsis.”
For Myers, these raw, unscripted connections represent music’s unparalleled power. “I don’t think there’s any job like this,” he reflects. “An actor doesn’t get to be in every movie theatre their film’s playing in. But we get to play these songs live every night and watch the reactions, whether it’s visceral, emotional, or just completely over the top.” He pauses before continuing as the crowd applauds outside the press tent. “Think about it, what else brings this many people together like this? Nothing. Maybe sports, but even that’s different. This is alive. This is immediate.”
The conversation turns to Shinedown’s upcoming acoustic show at London’s Islington Assembly Hall, a sold-out, intimate performance at the first venue they ever headlined in the city. “Coming back 16 years later feels like coming home,” Myers says, his affection for London palpable. “I’m actually bringing my son back later this year to see Oasis. This city… it’s special to us.” The acoustic format offers a chance to showcase another dimension of the band’s artistry. “I actually make setlists by starting with the last song and working backwards,” he reveals with a grin. “I wrote tonight’s about 30 minutes ago. Might surprise everyone and add another show while we’re here, though we’ll see.”
When asked what advice he’d give aspiring musicians, Myers doesn’t hesitate. “Never give up, but learn the business too,” he states firmly. “You want to focus on your craft, but you’ve got to learn how not to get screwed over.” It’s hard-won wisdom from a band that’s navigated every phase of the industry.
As for new music, Myers reveals a slight change in plans. “Originally, we said there’d be a full record this year. That’s not happening now, but there will be two more singles,” he teases. “I’ve heard the mixes, and they’re two of my favourite songs we’ve ever done.” While fans at Download won’t hear the new material tonight, next time we’re back, absolutely”.
As our conversation winds down, the energy around us builds in anticipation of Shinedown’s set. Myers’ final thoughts return to that irreplaceable live connection. “At the end of the day, we’re just four guys playing songs,” he reflects. “But when you see thousands of people singing along, crying, living those moments with you… that’s why we do this. There’s nothing else like it in the world.”
With that, he heads toward the stage, where another unforgettable Download moment awaits, one more chapter in Shinedown’s remarkable story of perseverance, connection, and the enduring power. We can’t wait to see what they have in store for us next…
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