Kerch (Ukrainian: Керч, Russian: Керчь, Crimean Tatar: Keriç, Old East Slavic: Кърчевъ, Ancient Greek: Παντικάπαιον Pantikapaion, Turkish: Kerç) is a city on the Kerch Peninsula of eastern Crimea, an important industrial, transport and tourist centre of Ukraine. Kerch, founded 2600 years ago, is considered as one of the most ancient cities in Ukraine.

Archeological digs at Mayak village near the city ascertained that the area had already been inhabited in 17th–15th centuries BC.

Kerch as a city starts its history in 7th century BC, when Greek colonists from Miletus founded a city-state named Panticapaeum on Mount Mithridat near the mouth of the Melek-Chesme river. Panticapaeum subdued nearby cities and by 480 BC became a capital of the Kingdom of Bosporus. Later, during the rule of Mithradates VI Eupator, Panticapaeum for a short period of time became the capital of much more powerful and extensive Kingdom of Pontus.

The city located at the intersection of trade routes between the steppe and Europe grew rapidly. The city's main exports were grain and salted fish, wine-making was also common. Panticapaeum minted its own coins. According to a few extant documents the Melek-Chesme river (small and shallow nowadays) was navigable in the Bosporan times, and sea galleys were able to enter the river. A large portion of the city's population was ethnically Scythian, later Sarmatian, as the large royal barrow at Kul-Oba testifies.

Barry Kerch is a professional musician who currently plays the drums (and other percussion instruments) in the hard rock band Shinedown. Along with lead vocalist Brent Smith, he is the only remaining original member of the band.

Kerch is married (his wife's name is Lori), and he holds a Bachelors degree in anthropology from the University of Central Florida. He was part of the band program at the University of Central Florida where he was on the Marching Knights drum line. He is a member of the Eta Sigma chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, the Mu Eta Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and was a founder of the local anthropology fraternity at the University of Central Florida. He also is a 1994 graduate of Rutherford High School in Panama City, Florida, where he was in the band program "The Pride". He is also an avid cook, and posts recipes on the Shinedown website. Barry and Lori had their first child, Stella, in January 2011.^{[citation needed]}

Barry Kerch plays Pearl Reference Pure Series Drums in a Custom Red Sparkle w/ Rainbow Iridescent Haloflake overlay . He also uses Evan drumheads,Meinl Cymbals,Pearl Hardware and Promark sticks. Barry's actual drum sizes are as follows: