Shinedown drummer Berry Kerch says the 2004 Van Halen tour was a love/hate fest. While Kerch received nothing but love from Edward Van Halen, Sammy Hagar wasn’t so fortunate.
During his recent appearance on The Paltrocast, Kerch talked about his experience as part of the Van Halen ’04 tour, which featured the return of Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony to the lineup. While Anthony last toured with Van Halen in 1998, Hagar had been out of the band since 1996.
“We toured with them for two months on the Sammy reunion tour and it was the most amazing time of my life,” said Kerch. “One of the most amazing times in my life. It was unbelievable. As much as those guys hated each other at that moment in time, they were so sweet to all of us.
“Eddie take took a really big liking to Brent,” continued Kerch, referring to Shinedown singer Brent Smith. “He found something, some sort of kinship. Eddie was cigarette in mouth, bottle of wine in one hand, guitar on. Twenty-four-seven, that’s how he lived. He’d kick open our dressing room door…and he’s just be shredding and teaching. He was super super fun. Hammered all the time but he was so nice to us.”
Kerch also had the chance to meet other members of the Van Halen family.
“[Edward] had Wolfie when Wolfie was still riding a little scooter up and down the hallways. He was, like, 10,” Kerch said. “And Valerie was there occasionally with Wolfie, taking care [of him] and everything so I got to meet [them]. She’s the sweetest. Wolfie was a good kid. Is a good guy but he was a good kid at the time.”
One Van Halen family member he nor anybody else saw around was Alex.
“You never saw Alex,” he said. “Alex would just show up, do the gig, get out because he didn’t want a part of the drama.”
Hagar and Michael Anthony also tried to avoid the drama. The two kept their distance from Edward until it was showtime.
“Sammy and Michael were their own dudes,” said Kerch. “They had their own world. They had their own side. They had their own dressroom. So those two camps never got together until they were on stage.
“Sammy and Michael had their little bar, side stage, and they’re drinking tequila at the time and Jack Daniels and whatever else they want,” continued Kerch. “So they go, “Hey man. Anytime during the show, come on over and have a few drinks with us. So we go in their little bar. Watching Van Halen playing, I’m a kid again going, “Oh my God. I’m on tour with Van Halen, having a drink with Sammy and Michael while they’re playing,” and it’s just blowing my mind.”
While Hagar was in a safe area before the show, he wasn’t so lucky while on stage.
“On stage, you couldn’t really tell that they hated each other but occasionally you could,” Kerch said. “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!” [laughs] But I had a dream come true and they sounded great every night.”