**Shinedown’s Barry Kerch Recalls Tense Van Halen Shows**
In a recent interview with *The Paltrocast*, Shinedown drummer Barry Kerch shared a memorable and unexpected experience from attending a Van Halen show. According to Kerch, there was palpable tension between Eddie Van Halen and Sammy Hagar during their performances:
“On stage, you couldn’t really tell that they hated each other but occasionally you could. There was one night Sammy was singing and, I don’t know why Eddie was pissed at him but he was, and Eddie comes over and just kicks him as hard as he can, square in the nuts while he’s singing. I’m like, ‘Yeah, they really don’t like each other!’ But I had a dream come true and they sounded great every night.”
**Alex Van Halen’s Role Amidst the Tension**
Kerch also shed light on how the band’s drummer, Alex Van Halen, reacted to the ongoing conflicts between Hagar and Eddie. Unlike the others, Alex chose to distance himself from the drama:
“You never saw Alex. Alex would just show up, do the gig, get out because he didn’t want a part of the drama.”
Both Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar reportedly avoided the backstage drama as well, focusing on their performances rather than the personal conflicts between Eddie and Hagar.
You can catch more of Kerch’s reflections in the full interview below.
