BARRY KERCH: 'I'm Not The Best Drummer In The World', But 'I Am The Best Drummer For SHINEDOWN'

During a recent appearance on The Ty Sherrell Show, SHINEDOWN drummer Barry Kerch spoke about the musical chemistry between him and his bandmates. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "There's a magic between the four of us. There's a magic. Listen, I'm not the best drummer in the world. I'm not. I don't know that there's such a thing. And I tell people this, I am the best drummer for SHINEDOWN. Put somebody else to play my songs, which happened once during the COVID era, and I couldn't play because can't travel, blah, blah, blah. So it was Dustin [Steinke] that filled in me for during COVID, and he's a great drummer, played with SIXX:A.M. I get back to the band and they're, like, 'He did a great job.' And he did. It didn't feel right. And the same as we've had fill-ins for Zach [Myers, guitar] and for Eric [Bass, bass] when life happens. It's weird on that stage when you have a fill-in. They're doing a great job, they're playing the parts, but I'm used to hearing it the other way. The sum of the each of us is something."

Asked to name one thing would people assume about him that is completely wrong, Barry said: "I don't know. That's a hard question. I would think they'd probably assume after the great success that we've had, that I live more luxurious than I do. I'm very simple. I don't have a giant fancy home. I do have a nice car, but it's not a sports car. I didn't go through the midlife crisis thing. I think they'd be surprised about that. But I've always been an open book. That's the thing with SHINEDOWN, is there's really been no secrets over the years, or at least for me, 'cause we've done so many interviews. 'What do you like to do?' I like to fish, I like to hunt, I like to be in the woods. Most guys won't say that, 'cause there are people out there that don't like that. Well, I'm just me. I love being a father. I love my daughter. I love my wife. I love my family. I've got a great family. I grew up with a wonderful family. I'm a very lucky man, I know that. I'm a very lucky man. My brother, my parents, everything."

Bass recently announced that he was stepping away from touring with SHINEDOWN to focus on his mental health. Bass revealed that Josh Sturm of the band KAIROS and Zack Mack would be taking his place while he's on leave.

The current North American leg of "Dance, Kid, Dance Act II" kicked off on July 11 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and will wrap up in early September.

Kerch played his first drum at the age of seven. It was a snare and part a deal he made with his parents to perfect the basics of drumming before getting his first drum kit. Two years later, he got his first kit. Barry took many lessons and played all types of music. His passion for drumming was deep and influences wide-ranging. He played in the marching band from elementary school all the way through college at the University of Central Florida where he earned a degree in anthropology. Barry played in many band throughout his early career before landing the role as SHINEDOWN's drummer in 2000. Along with singer Brent Smith, Barry is an original member of SHINEDOWN.