A Symptom Of Being Human: An Exclusive Interview With BARRY KERCH Of SHINEDOWN
By
George Dionne,
Podcaster
Friday, May 24, 2024 @ 7:05 AM
"Whether I'm opening for IRON MAIDEN or I'm opening for DOJA CAT, I'm stealing your fans"
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Photo credit: Sanjay Parikh
Multi-Platinum selling artists SHINEDOWN are riding high on the crossover success of their latest single "A Symptom Of Being Human", from their 2022 hit album Planet Zero. Vocalist Brent Smith, guitarist Zach Meyers, bassist Eric Bass, and drummer Barry Kerch are gearing up for a series of headlining dates in June, as well as a handful of Pop music and radio festival appearances throughout the summer. SHINEDOWN have also recently crossed over into the hot sauce world with the debut of their Symptom Chipotle Garlic Sauce, in collaboration with Torchbearer Sauces.
I first interviewed SHINEDOWN drummer Barry Kerch 20 years ago. The band had just released a deluxe edition of their 2003 debut album Leave A Whisper, which featured the hit singles "Fly From The Inside", "45", and "Simple Man". SHINEDOWN had just scored the opening slot on the VAN HALEN reunion tour (w/SAMMY HAGAR). If memory serves me correctly, SHINEDOWN were touring warhorses back then (and still are today). I remember seeing them multiple times within the span of just two years.
I would have never believed you if you told me twenty years ago that SHINEDOWN would be sharing the stage and being played on the same stations with acts like JASON DERULO, DOJA CAT, GWEN STEFANI, LUDACRIS, and VANESSA CARLTON. Mainly because they didn't exist back then, but you get what I'm saying. It just goes to show that hard work and persistence pays off, and a really good song, and really good music, unites us all.
I had the chance to catch up with Barry Kerch as he began his tour preparations. Together we discuss the crossover success of "A Symptom Of Being Human", how the song came together, uniting fans through powerful music, whether Planet Zero was meant to be a concept album, working on new music, how the band's new hot sauce came to be, their collaboration with the Memphis Grizzlies, their ties with artist JELLY ROLL, longtime label Atlantic Records, performing at Boston's KISS CONCERT 2024 with Doja Cat & Jason Derulo, Shinedown 4:03 Day, what he attributes to the band's longevity, the biggest false rumor he's heard about the band, and much, much more.
