After decades backing a who’s who of country, rock and roll, and heavy metal, Philip Shouse steps fully into the spotlight with his debut EP, Side 1, released via Wild Kingdom Records. The five-track release finds Shouse confidently trading the sideman role for that of frontman, handling all lead vocals, most backing vocals, and all guitars and bass.
Side 1 opens with “Run Away From You” and “The Naked Empress,” a sharp one-two punch that blends loose, Stones-inspired swagger with instantly memorable power-pop hooks. “It Gets Better” reveals another side of Shouse’s songwriting, channeling his lifelong love of the Beatles through a melodic pop lens with a subtle country-rock sway. On “Won’t Let Go Again” and the closing track “Time Bomb,” he leans into dynamic contrasts, weaving acoustic and electric textures that nod to the light-and-shade interplay of classic Zeppelin and Heart, while still sounding unmistakably his own.
Beyond the EP, Shouse brings the pedigree of a seasoned professional. Since 2019, he has been a member of legendary German heavy metal band Accept, appearing on multiple albums and touring internationally. His résumé also includes extensive work with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame icons Gene Simmons and Ace Frehley, country hitmaker Rodney Atkins, and former Mötley Crüe frontman John Corabi. Shouse spent four years in Frehley’s touring band and two years in Simmons’ solo band, backing each night after night, and appears on Frehley’s 2020 release Origins, Vol. 2.
An Alabama native who has been based in Nashville for more than two decades, Shouse has long been embedded in the city’s rock and roll fabric. He co-hosted Thee Rock N Roll Residency, a renowned jam night that has welcomed guests including Alice Cooper, Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, Lzzy Hale of Halestorm, and Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover.
Whether anchoring massive stages or stepping forward with his own material, Philip Shouse combines deep technical skill with an obvious passion for rock’s lineage. Rooted in classic rock yet equally at home in hard rock and heavy metal, he remains both a preserver of the genre’s traditions and a vital, forward-moving voice within it. A Scandinavian tour is scheduled for March 2026, further establishing Side 1 as the first chapter of a new era rather than a one-off side project.
Tracklist:
Run Away From You 3:06
The Naked Empress 2:35
It Gets Better 3:28
Won’t Let Go (Again) 4:02
Time Bomb
