Shinedown drummer Barry Kerch and guitarist Zach Myers recently revealed a humorous touring tradition that has become essential to the band’s hotel accommodations. Frontman Brent Smith’s naturally loud speaking voice is so powerful that it travels through hotel walls. This has forced the rest of the band to take extreme measures to maintain peace and quiet during their downtime.
“The three of us have made sure that we don’t have a hotel room next to him because we can hear him down the hallway,” Kerch explained. “His voice is very loud.”
Myers corroborated the story with a specific example from a recent Nashville signing event. “This is a true story. You can ask our travel agent this. I will not stay on the same floor as Brent Smith. I took a video the other day when we were in Nashville doing the signings. I was in room 410 and Brent was in room 438. I’m in my room. I can hear him on the phone in his room. That’s why I don’t stay on the same floor for hours.”
The anecdote highlights the unique challenges that come with life on the road. Even the smallest details—like a bandmate’s vocal projection—can significantly impact the comfort of touring musicians. What makes this story particularly endearing is how the band has turned a potential source of frustration into a running joke that they openly share with fans.
Last.fm notes that Shinedown’s core current members include Brent Smith as vocalist, Zach Myers on guitar, Eric Bass on bass, and Barry Kerch on drums. The band has maintained this stable lineup since Eric Bass joined in 2008. This makes them one of rock music’s most consistent ensembles. This long-standing chemistry among the four members has allowed them to develop the kind of camaraderie that enables them to laugh about quirks like Smith’s powerful voice.
The longevity of this lineup speaks to the band’s ability to work together effectively despite spending months on the road each year. Last.fm documents that Brent Smith has been the constant force in Shinedown since the band’s formation in 2001. He provides the vocal foundation that has defined their sound across multiple decades of touring and recording.
The hotel room situation that Myers and Kerch described is just one example of the unique dynamics that emerge when musicians spend extended periods traveling together. Charpaly’s analysis describes Shinedown as “audacious, radio-dominating” performers who have built their reputation through relentless touring and live performances. This commitment to the road means that band members must develop strategies to coexist peacefully in close quarters.
The practical solutions that Shinedown has implemented reflect the professional approach the band takes to maintaining relationships during grueling tour schedules. These solutions include ensuring separate floors and non-adjacent rooms. Charpaly identifies this kind of attention to detail as part of what makes Shinedown “not quite your average modern rock band.” The band balances the demands of stardom with the interpersonal challenges of constant travel.
