Interview With Barry Kerch of Shinedown
Posted: 12 November 2005
Contributed By: Chris

Just before their show on November 8th with 3 Doors Down in Chattanooga, TN, I caught up with Shinedown's Barry Kerch. If you've never experienced Shinedown live, you are missing out.

TuneLab Music: How has the atmosphere around the band changed since 'Leave a Whisper' was first released?

Barry Kerch: You know I mean, I think we've become a closer brotherhood, but also I think musically I think we've gotten to know each other a little bit better so I think going into the next record 'Us and Them' we were able to maybe expand into each others ideas a little bit more, and have a little bit more fun, play a little more off each other instead of just throwing songs together and try to make it happen. We knew where everybody was coming from and I think now we get along better than ever because there's a lot more pressure on us so we have to bond as a team so I think there's a lot more togetherness, even more so a family and really just trying to concur the world.

TL: Do you think there's been more media attention on the new album compared to 'Leave a Whisper'?

BK: There's defiantly more, you know you never have enough, you always want more, but we've defiantly been having an easier time getting this one promoted as opposed to the first one which tends to be the case for most rock bands. I mean rock is kind of dead right now so it’s a lot of tough work to get any type of notice because you're competing with 50 Cent, Kanye West and all that bullshit. They can all suck it, except for 50 Cent because he can kill me.

TL: Brent has described the band as honest. Do you think that's the reason you've been able to connect with your fans?

BK: Absolutely. As far as we're concerned being honest is what we're about. We don't sugar-coat anything, Brent doesn't sugar-coat any of his lyrics when you meet us this is who we are, this is what we're going to do and you can either love it or not. We don't really fucking care, we're just here to be honest and do what we do and I think the fans understand that. Fans are 1) most important to us. We do everything we can for our fans within our power and 2) we're not going to bullshit them. You see a lot of these bands on stage that are just faking it, and I hate it. Not necessarily not playing their instruments, I mean there are those, but the ones are just putting on a suit to fuckin play you know. The only band that can get away with that is honest is fucking Skipknot and that's because they rock.

TL: Lately there have been a few bands that have gotten away from the whole dressing up thing. Mudvayne for example.

BK: Well yeah, that's because they're honest too. Their just in there to play what they play. They are talented musicians and they write great songs. You know those bands are few and far between now days and I think its because the kids don't understand or appreciate it anymore because they've been so given the pop crap, the rap crap where its one fucking guy with a beat box who makes the record. It’s really not that hard to make those types of songs. The musician ship isn't what it used to be. There are no more Jimmy Page's, there are no more Zakk Wylde's, no more Dimebag's. Their few and far between there’s not many bands out there kicking ass and taking names and people aren't scared of rock stars anymore like they used to be. You know used be you'd see Van Halen or Zeppelin or someone like that and you'd be like holy fucking shit look at them, there bigger than life. Now days it’s just another band. Another Good Charlotte, another Killers, another throw it against the wall, make some quick cash and drop them tomorrow. It’s a sad state in the business right now.

TL: You recently received the Platinum certification for 'Leave a Whisper'. How did that feel?

BK: Dude it was an honor. We put so much hard work into that album; we put so much hard work into touring for 23 months straight. It was kind of vindication because there were a lot of doubters, people who didn't believe us, and there still are a lot of people who don't believe in us, but you just give them a big middle finger. We had no major press, we had no video, we had nothing except for radio. Radio is where we get a lot of love and we really appreciate the radio stations and of course our fans. They are the ones who made it Platinum. But just from having radio and a million people buying the record, it’s just a big middle finger to all the ones who didn't believe in us.

TL: You toured non-stop for two years, what was the first day off the road like?

BK: We haven't been off really. I mean it was a relief. We felt like accomplished something. You did two years straight and that last show was magical, that's what the live DVD is...the last show. Umm...it was surreal. I didn't know how to live at home with my wife or anything. It was like starting over. But it’s cool too because you know I'm not stuck in a 9 to 5 where you get bored with life. You see all these old couples who hate each other, and there sad, sad to be home, sad sad sad. My life rocks! I love my life. I love everything that I do. My relationships with my family and everything are always fresh because I'm not home so when I come home its fun, it’s a good time. We were only home for three weeks before we started the new record...so three weeks off I didn't do much.

TL: 'Us and Them' has been out for a little over a month now. What kind of reaction has it gotten from the fans?

BK: It's been 90% positive, some fans don't like the direction we went with it and I respect that. A lot of people wanted it to go a little bit heavier and there are a few mid-tempo songs on the record. We just really wrote what we felt. Maybe the next record will be heavier, maybe it'll be more popier...who knows, it’s what we're feeling. We're not going to; you know it goes back to honesty thing. We're going to be honest to ourselves first so we're honest to everyone else. That's what came out of us at that time frame of what four months of making a record. That's what came out of us and that’s what its going to be. If you don't like it, I'm sorry, but you know those fans will hopefully stick around and maybe there's a gem on there that they do like, if they don't like it, man that's cool. I respect that at least their honest. When someone comes up to me and says I like 'Leave a Whisper' better. Dude that's cool, at least you took the time to listen. If you like the new one, I love the new one, I like it better than the other one because I felt more free on drums.

TL: The video for "Save Me" debuted last week. What's the concept behind the video?

BK: It kind of ties into the song, even though song is saying save me from all these pills it’s bigger than that. Its being aware enough to just ask to be helped, family, friends, whoever it is. Knowing you're in a shitty spot and being able to say somebody help me out is what it's about. We wanted the video to show people in different scenes who might be in those emotional states or might be above those states. We have the preacher in there reaching out to find his salvation or doing whatever he is doing. The homeless family, the video was done in Orlando and all those people were either Shinedown fans, we went out on the streets and asked people if they wanted to be in the video, if they didn't they didn't and if they wanted to they knew who we were and they were in it. The homeless families are real and true homeless families. There not actors, there’s not one actor in the video and the homeless families we wanted to give them the chance to do something so we slide them some cash, gave them some food and warm cloths and everything else in return for giving us the reality of life in the video.

TL: Have you guys decided on second single yet?

BK: No we haven't. It's probably going to be "I Dare You" or "Heroes", but then again it’s up to the powers that be, not us. They could go with something totally off the wall, who knows.

TL: You have four more dates with 3 Doors Down. What's next?

BK: Headlining, we've got a lot of flying to do in the fall. I think we're going to do some stuff with Silvertide and Halestorm. I don't know where its going to hit yet, the dates are just now coming in. Then of course Christmas, the record label shuts down and nobody's touring and even were touring no one's going come out because they're spending time with their families. There'll be about a week in that area, maybe a week and a half, depending if there are any big Christmas festival type shows. We'll take that little bit of time to regroup then hit it again in January.

TL: What do you hope people go away with after they've listened to your albums or seen you live?

BK: One hell of a rock experience. Just one hell of an experience, something they won't forget, something they can appreciate, and something they can be happy about. There's enough bullshit going on the word, there’s enough sadness in peoples lives, everyone tends to dwell and be pessimistic. I even catch myself being pessimistic and sometimes you gotta take a break from reality and that's what we're here for. We're entertainers, we're musicians and our job is to take people away their life if only for an hour, weather it’s listening to the record or coming to a live show. Just let it all fucking go, have a good time, drink some beers, jump around, act stupid if you feel like it or sit there and cry. It doesn't matter, let it out that way you can continue on.

TL: If you had to pick one song off either record to describe the bands sound, what would it be?

BK: Man that is a tough question...shit...uhh...you know at this moment in time I think the one that defines us the best would be "45". It did so much for us. Lyrically I don't guess it has anything to with us. Other than that I would say...."Begin Again" because we're going through a re-birth of rock music, we're going through a re-birth of us as a family together and the industry is going through something. You know the industry is just weird right now. Radio is drying, stations are shutting down, the internet is taking over, and no body buys music anymore. Now days if you go and sell a million or two million copies you're doing pretty well. Three, four years ago if you sell a million or two million records your fucking dropped. It’s tough.

TL: What's your favorite song to play live?

BK: Right now I'm really digging playing "Save Me" live. Even though drumming wise it’s not that intense the crowd is really reacting well to it. We've closed the set with it lately and its just incredible to look out there and see them signing it and jumping up and down.

TL: Where would you like to see Shinedown in ten years?

BK: Conquering the world! Still here, that'd be nice. Still here, still rocking. We're in it for the long haul and as long as we can possibly do it. There's a lot more for us to do. We've done relativity well here in the states. I wouldn't say phenomenal, but we've done well. We've never been out of the states, never been over seas we'd love to hit those markets and see what those people are like and experience their culture and give them some American music. They love it over there. It’s something we defiantly want to do and hopefully keep our fans happy.

TL: That's all I got man. I appreciate it.

BK: Thank you that was awesome.