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Shinedown is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 2001, they have since sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. Many of their tracks have been featured on WWE and recently Shinedown contributed the track, "I'm Alive" to The Avengers soundtrack.
Their latest album Amaryllis features the #1 Rock hit "Bully", and Shinedown have just released the promotional video for single, "Enemies"- a behind-the-scenes Rock Group therapy session, the kind of which I haven't seen since Shakespears Sister's promo videos for "I Don't Care" and "Goodbye Cruel World". Watch "Enemies" below (make sure you watch until the end - hint, hint):
We spoke to founding member and drummer Barry Kerch in between gigs on their European Tour.
AltSounds: You just finished up doing the Uproar festival, and now you're embarking on a major European tour. How's the tour going? Any Spinal Tap moments so far?!
Barry Kerch: The tour is going fantastic. It is so nice to be back in Europe playing bigger places than last time and going to some new countries like Poland. As for any Spinal Tap moments, we have gotten lost trying to find the way to the stage from a dressing room. Still waiting to have Stonehenge on stage though.
AltSounds: I noticed some bonus tracks on the Japanese release of Amaryllis. Do you have any plans to tour over there?
Barry Kerch: We have been trying to get to Japan for 10 years now. I believe we finally will in 2013. It is definitely something we want to do, and is on my personal bucket list as well. We just have to make sure the finances make sense.
AltSounds: The album cover seems to be very atypical of Rock Albums, with elements of Eastern Spiritual symbolism, and features interracial arms interlocking. What's inspired the album cover?
Barry Kerch: The overall vibe of the songs really inspired the idea, and it was taken from looking at a mandala. They are so interesting and beautiful. We had an artist named David Harrigan III, draw it up and if you study the images they all relate to the songs on the record. We really wanted something like we used to have with vinyl album art. Something you could sit and look at while listening to the songs.
AltSounds: What's the reaction been like for the more positive direction of the album?
Barry Kerch: The reaction has been amazing. We always just write what we are feeling at the time. We were, and are, in a great place in our lives, and it was reflected in the songs.
AltSounds: You don't often see bands go multi-media on their releases. What inspired you to make the eBook "For your sake"?
Barry Kerch: It's all about the fans and giving them some cool new things. We wanted to show everyone behind the scenes of Shinedown. It's a fun and interactive way to do that. It was something new for us and the fans.
AltSounds: You seem to have gotten in touch with the zeitgeist on your hit 'Bully'. What inspired you to write the song?
Barry Kerch: At the time of writing the song you couldn't turn on the news, look at the internet, or read a paper without seeing some sort of story on bullying. It was such a hot button topic that it spoke to us. We also in our own individual ways have dealt with bullying, in one way or another.
AltSounds: Shinedown has sold 10 million albums in nearly 10 years. What do you think has been the key to your success?
Barry Kerch: Good songs and working our butts off! We have never been ones who rested on our laurels. We always push ourselves as hard as possible whether we are writing or touring. Hard work brings success, period.
AltSounds: The music industry seems to be consumed by talent competitions now. But no show has ever found a true rock artist. Why do you think that is, and would you ever like to be a judge on one of those shows?
Barry Kerch: Those shows are not set up for rock artists. Although I would consider Daughtry as a rock artist. Rock is a way of life, and typically revolves around a band, not a solo artist. Also to be completely honest, the decision makers out there aren't into rock right now, so it gets swept under the carpet. I'm not a huge fan of those shows, although I have enjoyed watching The Voice. I'd judge on that one.
AltSounds: What would be your advice to kids wanting to get into the music industry in today's environment?
Barry Kerch: Be business savvy. Study the industry and keep your integrity. It is a rough industry and is only getting harder. If it's in your soul, follow it. Look at Adele, she broke all the rules of what the industry was saying is cool, and she is laughing all the way to the bank. She sang from the soul.
AltSounds: Shinedown contributed the track "I'm Alive" to the Avengers soundtrack. Are you fans of the comic?
Barry Kerch: I am a total nerd! I love the comic, and many others. In fact, a good friend of mine is a pretty famous comic artist named Rob Prior. He custom paints my bass drum heads.
AltSounds: Shinedown has a long-running association with the WWE. Are we ever going to see you guys in the ring?!
Barry Kerch: Ha! Most of those guys biceps are the size of our waists! We'd get killed out there. Only time we will get in the ring is if we are playing a show.
AltSounds: What else is in the pipeline for Shinedown?
Barry Kerch: We've got a small break after our European tour, and then kick off the new year by touring, and then some more touring! We still have a lot of work to do promoting Amaryllis. We've only scratched the surface of this record.
AltSounds: In the age of Twitter, fans have almost instantaneous access to their favourite groups. What's the strangest thing a fan has ever tweeted to you?
Barry Kerch: I really truthfully can't think of anything too strange. I do find it odd though, that a lot of times, fans look up to us as therapists. I'm just a musician not a psychologist. I help as best I can though.
AltSounds: Do you get much of a chance to listen to up-and-coming bands? Who's on your radar at the moment?
Barry Kerch: Not as much as I would like. Right now my list would be, In this Moment, Redlight Kings, Fozzy, and a UK band called Exit 10.
AltSounds: Have you got to meet or work with any of your idols? If so, what was the experience like?
Barry Kerch: I've gotten to meet so many wonderful people in my blessed life. I think one of the biggest was opening for Van Halen on their reunion tour with Sammy in 2005. They couldn't have been cooler to us, even though they hate each other!
AltSounds: What was the best advice anyone gave you?
Barry Kerch: Simple. My father told me when I was younger... "Nothing good happens after midnight". He's always been right.
Their latest album Amaryllis features the #1 Rock hit "Bully", and Shinedown have just released the promotional video for single, "Enemies"- a behind-the-scenes Rock Group therapy session, the kind of which I haven't seen since Shakespears Sister's promo videos for "I Don't Care" and "Goodbye Cruel World". Watch "Enemies" below (make sure you watch until the end - hint, hint):
We spoke to founding member and drummer Barry Kerch in between gigs on their European Tour.
AltSounds: You just finished up doing the Uproar festival, and now you're embarking on a major European tour. How's the tour going? Any Spinal Tap moments so far?!
Barry Kerch: The tour is going fantastic. It is so nice to be back in Europe playing bigger places than last time and going to some new countries like Poland. As for any Spinal Tap moments, we have gotten lost trying to find the way to the stage from a dressing room. Still waiting to have Stonehenge on stage though.
AltSounds: I noticed some bonus tracks on the Japanese release of Amaryllis. Do you have any plans to tour over there?
Barry Kerch: We have been trying to get to Japan for 10 years now. I believe we finally will in 2013. It is definitely something we want to do, and is on my personal bucket list as well. We just have to make sure the finances make sense.
AltSounds: The album cover seems to be very atypical of Rock Albums, with elements of Eastern Spiritual symbolism, and features interracial arms interlocking. What's inspired the album cover?
Barry Kerch: The overall vibe of the songs really inspired the idea, and it was taken from looking at a mandala. They are so interesting and beautiful. We had an artist named David Harrigan III, draw it up and if you study the images they all relate to the songs on the record. We really wanted something like we used to have with vinyl album art. Something you could sit and look at while listening to the songs.
AltSounds: What's the reaction been like for the more positive direction of the album?
Barry Kerch: The reaction has been amazing. We always just write what we are feeling at the time. We were, and are, in a great place in our lives, and it was reflected in the songs.
AltSounds: You don't often see bands go multi-media on their releases. What inspired you to make the eBook "For your sake"?
Barry Kerch: It's all about the fans and giving them some cool new things. We wanted to show everyone behind the scenes of Shinedown. It's a fun and interactive way to do that. It was something new for us and the fans.
AltSounds: You seem to have gotten in touch with the zeitgeist on your hit 'Bully'. What inspired you to write the song?
Barry Kerch: At the time of writing the song you couldn't turn on the news, look at the internet, or read a paper without seeing some sort of story on bullying. It was such a hot button topic that it spoke to us. We also in our own individual ways have dealt with bullying, in one way or another.
AltSounds: Shinedown has sold 10 million albums in nearly 10 years. What do you think has been the key to your success?
Barry Kerch: Good songs and working our butts off! We have never been ones who rested on our laurels. We always push ourselves as hard as possible whether we are writing or touring. Hard work brings success, period.
AltSounds: The music industry seems to be consumed by talent competitions now. But no show has ever found a true rock artist. Why do you think that is, and would you ever like to be a judge on one of those shows?
Barry Kerch: Those shows are not set up for rock artists. Although I would consider Daughtry as a rock artist. Rock is a way of life, and typically revolves around a band, not a solo artist. Also to be completely honest, the decision makers out there aren't into rock right now, so it gets swept under the carpet. I'm not a huge fan of those shows, although I have enjoyed watching The Voice. I'd judge on that one.
AltSounds: What would be your advice to kids wanting to get into the music industry in today's environment?
Barry Kerch: Be business savvy. Study the industry and keep your integrity. It is a rough industry and is only getting harder. If it's in your soul, follow it. Look at Adele, she broke all the rules of what the industry was saying is cool, and she is laughing all the way to the bank. She sang from the soul.
AltSounds: Shinedown contributed the track "I'm Alive" to the Avengers soundtrack. Are you fans of the comic?
Barry Kerch: I am a total nerd! I love the comic, and many others. In fact, a good friend of mine is a pretty famous comic artist named Rob Prior. He custom paints my bass drum heads.
AltSounds: Shinedown has a long-running association with the WWE. Are we ever going to see you guys in the ring?!
Barry Kerch: Ha! Most of those guys biceps are the size of our waists! We'd get killed out there. Only time we will get in the ring is if we are playing a show.
AltSounds: What else is in the pipeline for Shinedown?
Barry Kerch: We've got a small break after our European tour, and then kick off the new year by touring, and then some more touring! We still have a lot of work to do promoting Amaryllis. We've only scratched the surface of this record.
AltSounds: In the age of Twitter, fans have almost instantaneous access to their favourite groups. What's the strangest thing a fan has ever tweeted to you?
Barry Kerch: I really truthfully can't think of anything too strange. I do find it odd though, that a lot of times, fans look up to us as therapists. I'm just a musician not a psychologist. I help as best I can though.
AltSounds: Do you get much of a chance to listen to up-and-coming bands? Who's on your radar at the moment?
Barry Kerch: Not as much as I would like. Right now my list would be, In this Moment, Redlight Kings, Fozzy, and a UK band called Exit 10.
AltSounds: Have you got to meet or work with any of your idols? If so, what was the experience like?
Barry Kerch: I've gotten to meet so many wonderful people in my blessed life. I think one of the biggest was opening for Van Halen on their reunion tour with Sammy in 2005. They couldn't have been cooler to us, even though they hate each other!
AltSounds: What was the best advice anyone gave you?
Barry Kerch: Simple. My father told me when I was younger... "Nothing good happens after midnight". He's always been right.
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