Sixty Watt Shaman is an American heavy metal band originally based out of Baltimore, Maryland. The genre of music they are often associated with is stoner rock or stoner metal.^[1] They formed in 1996 and recorded and released their first studio album in 1998. The band last recorded in 2002 and last toured in late 2002 and early 2003. They are active on MySpace and have made reunion appearances including a festival event April 28, 2007 at the Ottobar in Baltimore, Maryland. They are widely regarded as innovators in their musical genre with the "Sixty Watt" sound, and were both imitated and replicated by peers and bands who followed in their footsteps.

Sixty Watt Shaman was formed in the mid 1990s by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Daniel Soren, lead guitarist Joe Selby, drummer Chuck Dukehart, and bassist Jim Forrester. All came together to form "The Shaman" out of two separate projects—Approach (Soren, Selby, Dukehart), and Supercreep (Selby, Dukehart, Forrester)—which were both active during the time period of 1995 to 1996.

The band name derives from a split reference to Jim Morrison and an infamous amplifier once played by Jimi Hendrix; it was dubbed by lead singer Dan Soren (known earlier as Krzewick) in early September 1996 upon his return from European travel where he had visited the grave of Jim Morrison who is buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France. Jim Morrison was called the "Electric Shaman" by press and popular culture during his Doors years. The reference to "Sixty Watt" refers to a now infamous amplifier that was built specifically for Jimi Hendrix by the pioneering amplifier manufacturer Jim Marshall; it was a special sixty watt amplifier which was used during live performances and on the famous Electric Ladyland album, but was alleged to have been stolen and never recovered after Hendrix's famous Isle of Wight performance.

The Shaman released their seminal album, Ultra Electric, in 1998 on the independent label, Game Two Records.^[1] After the release, Sixty Watt embarked on a US tour, from Maine to Texas, with California rockers Nebula, while Nebula supported their recently released Let It Burn EP as their first release following their departure from Fu Manchu in 1997. During this time period (1998/1999), the band had developed a friendship with members of fellow Maryland-based rock band Clutch, after playing shows with their side-project The Bakerton Group, whose drummer, Jean-Paul Gaster, would later be recruited to produce their next album Seed of Decades.

In the late 90s the band worked tirelessly to play shows all along the East Coast with bands in their scene, including Solace, Alabama Thunderpussy, Spirit Caravan, Las Cruces, Archie Bunker, Crisis, Karma to Burn, Clutch and many others. They toured nationwide with Nebula and Spirit Caravan during that time period. After playing several shows in New York City and developing buzz about the band, Sixty Watt landed a showcase for Spitfire Records President, Paul Bibeau, at the Continental in the late summer of 1999. Bibeau offered Sixty Watt Shaman a recording contract in the downstairs backstage room immediately after their performance. Two weeks earlier, Sixty Watt had played a show at the same venue where Frank Kozik (of Man's Ruin Records fame, as well as being renowned for his album-cover art, concert flyer artwork, and directing music videos for Soundgarden and Mint Condition) had been in the audience; Kozik approached the band about an album deal following that show. Sixty Watt was extremely excited to have the honor to work with Kozik; but, with the approach by Bibeau only 14 days later, with a more extensive offer (a multi-album deal, including tour support, wide US and European distribution, PR and album support), Sixty Watt Shaman opted to go with Spitfire Records.

With one release behind them, in 1999 the band were signed by Spitfire Records and released their sophomore album Seed of Decades in 2000. Seed of Decades has been compared to the 70s hard rock sound of Aerosmith and Grand Funk Railroad "with a more modern harder edge".^[2] The band toured with label-mates Black Label Society and Crowbar in support of the album in the summer of 2000, and then later with Clutch and Corrosion of Conformity.

For their 2002 release, Reason to Live, Dukehart was replaced by drummer Pete Campbell, aka Minnesota Pete.^[1] Former Kyuss bassist, Scott Reeder, was recruited to work on production for this album. It was recorded at Phase Studios in College Park, MD. The album reveals the strong influence of the heavy music and the musicians that Sixty Watt Shaman had been on tours with over the previous two years. Reason to Live features many standout tracks including "All Things Come to Pass" which features Sixty Watt Shaman and guest performers Scott Reeder (Kyuss, The Obsessed) and Scott "Wino" Weinrich (The Obsessed, Saint Vitus) who were brought together again after having played together years earlier in The Obsessed for this live jam performance.

After the release of "Reason to Live", Sixty Watt Shaman toured Europe with Karma to Burn and a final US tour with Alabama Thunderpussy. After the last US tour, lead singer Daniel Soren moved to the mid-west and worked on other projects including The Mighty Nimbus with Pete Campbell; he worked on a project out of Norman, Oklahoma with Chris "Paco" Johnson and Forest Smith, playing shows in Norman and Oklahoma City. Jim Forrester worked on other projects including The Devil You Know^{[disambiguation needed]} and Angels of Meth. Upon his return to Maryland from Oklahoma, Dan Soren rejoined Joe Selby in another rock project, Stillhouse. Currently, Soren has rejoined Dukehart, Forrester, and new guitarist Todd Ingram for on-going Sixty Watt Shaman work.

Sixty Watt Shaman are widely considered pioneers of the "Sixty Watt" sound and have inspired much imitation and replication. Band members have continued to work both separately and together on various projects since the inception of Sixty Watt Shaman. Sixty Watt Shaman have announced upcoming performances and plan to release new music in 2014.

• Dan Soren - vocals, guitar
• Joe Selby - guitar
• Reverend Jim - bass guitar, backing vocals
• Minnesota Pete Campbell - drums

• Chuck Dukehart - Drums (From 1995 to 2000, now in The Expotentials)
• Kenny Wagner - Drums (2000, now in Superheavygoatass)

Joe Selby (guitar) and Dan Soren (vocals) formerly of Sixty Watt Shaman are now members of Stillhouse, another Maryland based music project. Soaphammer also features members of Sixty Watt Shaman.

• Ultra Electric (1998) (Game Two)
• Seed of Decades (2000) (Spitfire)
• Reason To Live (2002) (Spitfire)

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