Subsequent yr marks the thirtieth anniversary of Massachusetts-based rock band Godsmack, at present led by co-founders Sully Erna on vocals and Robbie Merrill on bass, together with Tony Rombola on guitars, and Shannon Larkin on drums (ex-Ugly Child Joe and ex-Candlebox).
Over the previous three many years, Godsmack has produced a formidable catalog together with eight studio albums, an EP titled “The Different Aspect,” 4 DVDs, a compilation album named “Good Occasions, Dangerous Occasions… Ten Years of Godsmack,” and a dwell album titled “Stay & Impressed.”
The band achieved three consecutive number-one albums on the Billboard 200 with “Faceless,” “IV,” and “The Oracle.” Notably, they boast 25 top-ten rock radio hits, with 18 songs touchdown within the prime 5 and 12 on the coveted number-one spot.
Their seventh album, “When Legends Rise,” debuted on April 27, 2018, adopted by their eighth launch, “Lighting Up the Sky,” on February 24, 2023. After the discharge of the final album, Godsmack introduced that it could be their ultimate mission of recent music, though they don’t have any intentions of disbanding.
At present, Godsmack is on the Vibez Tour throughout North America, with simply two Canadian stops, together with a efficiency on the OLG Stage at Fallsview On line casino Resort in Niagara Falls on April twenty fifth. Becoming a member of Godsmack shall be particular visitor Bastian da Cruz.
In a latest Zoom interview with Music Life Journal, Erna mentioned the Vibez Tour and what followers can count on, the band’s future plans, his documentary launch “I Stand Alone: The Sully Erna Story,” (primarily based on his 2007 memoir, “The Paths We Select”), and extra. In the course of the interview, Erna shared insights into the band’s choice to cease recording new albums after final yr’s “Lighting Up the Sky” launch.
For more information and tickets to this present and upcoming reveals at OLG Stage click on right here.
Due to Sully Erna for taking the time to speak to me. Right here is my interview with Erna which passed off by way of Zoom two weeks previous to the beginning of the Vibez Tour which started mid-February:
MLM: How are issues going? In two weeks, the Vibez Tour begins. Are you guys all prepared and excited?
Sully Erna: Oh yeah, we’re prepared. We’re all tuned up. We’re gonna take just a little break now from rehearsals and simply have just a little vacay after which we’ll begin hitting it on the fifteenth when the entire thing begins.
MLM: I need to speak extra concerning the Vibez Tour however there’s a few different issues I need to get out of the way in which. And also you’re most likely sick about speaking about this by now, however your final album, Lighting Up the Sky, got here out a couple of yr in the past, and also you guys talked about that it will likely be the final album you guys do. Is Godsmack trying to wind down? Are you guys trying to do different issues? What are the long run plans for Godsmack?
Sully Erna: Effectively, everybody has to come back to a degree in time of their profession after they really feel like, “Have we arrived? Have we performed the issues that we needed to do?” Regardless that music is one thing we at all times needed to do with our lives, is that all the things we need to do with our lives as a result of we missed a variety of particular moments in our private lives, watching our children develop up. We had been at all times touring, being away from household and associates. And typically we crave the straightforward issues that most individuals take without any consideration. They rise up each morning, they get to make their children breakfast, they usually go work they usually come house they usually make them dinner, they usually hang around they usually watch motion pictures and take them to highschool, no matter. We didn’t have that luxurious as a result of we had been working on a regular basis and our work takes us away from house.
And now our children are grown nevertheless it’s like, effectively, we’ve performed rather a lot. We be ok with our profession. It’s not like we’re saying a breakup or something, however I imply, geez, at what level can we not begin honoring the catalog and begin forgetting about writing an increasing number of new music? I imply, we have now 27 prime singles, prime 10 singles. We now have 13 quantity ones. Which means we are able to actually play two reveals again to again in the identical metropolis and by no means play the identical single twice, not to mention the deeper cuts. So, we’re simply attempting to suppose alongside the traces of how we’re as followers and once we go to see our favourite bands, like if we depart there and Aerosmith didn’t play Dream On, and Stroll This Approach, and Similar Outdated Tune and Dance and Prepare Stored A Rollin’? I’m mad, proper? Yeah. So yeah, we have to play what folks have deemed the very best songs that they’ve loved through the years. And we additionally really feel that we’re simply in a spot in time the place we need to type of enter a brand new chapter in our lives and begin honoring that music and simply going out and making a biggest hits present.
MLM: Just lately, the documentary I Stand Alone: The Sully Erna Story got here out. Let’s speak a bit about that. When did that come out? I do know it’s streaming proper now, in order that’s very new, isn’t it?
Sully Erna: It’s very new. We haven’t even began a press marketing campaign on it but, so that you’re one of many first folks on board to assist us put it up for sale! it’s on Apple TV and it’s on Amazon Prime. I feel it’s on a pair others as effectively, Microsoft and Google Play. It’s referred to as I Stand Alone: The Sully Erna Story and it principally relies on the e book that I put out in 2007 referred to as The Paths We Select, which is concerning the first 30 years of my life earlier than I acquired a report take care of Godsmack, and rising up within the streets of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and all the difficulty that I acquired into, all of the challenges I confronted and the obstacles I needed to bounce over with the intention to not get myself killed or find yourself in jail.
I feel it’s actually a narrative of perseverance. It’s a narrative of 1 man’s, one boy’s journey by means of life and all of the challenges that they confronted not realizing that I had this present, proper? And I had this music in my life, and it’s actually what saved me so many occasions from going out and doing the actually darkish stuff. It appears to really feel like a extra inspirational piece for folks to know which you can take a look at us and we’re not born profitable rock stars. We’re the identical folks such as you and everybody else that work onerous and must undergo life the identical manner as everybody else does. However we have now to discover ways to undergo these robust moments and keep robust and get to the opposite facet as a result of that’s once you often discover a pot of gold on the finish of the rainbow.
MLM: So why did you resolve to do the documentary now? It’s been greater than 15 years for the reason that memoir got here out.
Sully Erna: This was one thing that one other workforce put collectively, the director Troy Smith and one of many editors, the lead editor, Noah Berlow. They actually favored the story they usually needed to make it right into a characteristic documentary however the trick was, and the rationale why it took so lengthy, I imply, this was six years within the making. I used to be born in 68, proper? So I grew up within the seventies and the eighties. We didn’t have cell telephones again then and video cameras. There have been no visuals to assist the tales we had been telling. Simply little bits of data. My uncle used to come back over, he had a giant camcorder so he’d movie me taking part in drums after I was seven years previous and hanging out with my household. So, we had just a little bit of data after I was actually younger, however as we get into my teenagers and all these years that I acquired into the true large hassle stuff. We didn’t have video cameras again then, and thank God. My God, you understand, I’d’ve been incriminated greater than as soon as, I’m certain! (laughs)
So, it was like a matter of recreating a few of that stuff and selecting what tales we had been going to inform. After which clearly because it will get into the early nineties and going by means of totally different bands and hanging out with my associates, that’s when camcorders began to pop up. We used to have the eight millimeter camcorders and DV cams. It was only a bit difficult placing collectively, however that’s why it took a short time. They needed to inform the story, however we didn’t need it simply to be a speaking head documentary.
MLM: Are you’re happy with the way in which it turned out then?
Sully Erna: I used to be surprisingly happy. I believed I used to be gonna tear it aside, however my God, I watched it with my mother and two of my finest associates and my sister and my mother bawled. I imply, as a result of you understand, you gotta bear in mind too, we took it proper again to the guts of the place all these occasions occurred and I even acquired to knock on the door of my childhood house. And the girl was type sufficient to allow us to use her house to reenact a variety of these scenes. So, what you see is absolutely my home the place I grew up and the place these occasions occurred. So, I feel for my mother, it was like, “that’s my kitchen”, “that was me”. Yeah. I used to be in that a part of my life and taking her again there I feel actually affected her.
MLM: Lawrence is within the Boston space?
Sully Erna: Yeah, north of Boston.
MLM: Are there any plans to launch I Stand Alone on DVD?
Sully Erna: I don’t know. I’m unsure proper now. Proper now, we’re simply type of sticking it on the market, letting folks realize it’s out. We’re going to begin a giant advertising and marketing marketing campaign for it to essentially pump it up and hear, if something, I simply hope it does what it, I consider it was designed to do, which was, if I inform my story, I hope it conjures up folks to do higher of their lives and to maintain going with their goals and issues like that, as a result of that is actually what that story is about. We see a variety of these sorts of rock docs that finish very unhappy, proper? They don’t at all times have a very good ending. I’d prefer to suppose this one did, you understand, and I’m nonetheless unsure the place it ends as a result of I’m nonetheless dwelling in it. I’m nonetheless in that a part of my life. And I’m certain the Godsmack documentary will come out in some unspecified time in the future. However proper now, possibly it is a piece that can encourage folks to proceed to work onerous and know that there’s a payoff.
MLM: Let’s discuss The Vibez Tour. It begins in a pair weeks. It’s all US dates with two Canadian dates, together with Niagara Falls on April 25th. Based on a Fb submit from Godsmack, the present is alleged to be An Intimate Night of Acoustic/Electrical Performances and Untold Tales. First off, will there be private stuff taken from the documentary or is it solely Godsmack associated? Will there be tales informed which can be behind the scenes of Godsmack, and tales behind the songs?
Sully Erna: I feel it’s gonna be extra concerning the music, as a result of what we need to create, and the rationale why we referred to as it The Vibez Tour is as a result of we actually need to do all of the vibey music that we’ve written through the years. Perhaps step away from the massive robust heavy Godsmack stuff for a second that we at all times do on the massive reveals and produce folks into a distinct type of place. So, from the time they enter the theater, you understand, the scent that’s within the air, the candles on stage, go into some actually stunning acoustic performances, some absolutely electrical performances. We’re gonna do some vibey cool covers that we actually like. And, you understand, inform some tales concerning the songs and what they meant to us once we wrote them. And possibly a little bit of historical past concerning the band, just a little bit. However actually simply take folks by means of a musical journey and allow them to expertise how vital and what a present music actually is to all of us.
MLM: You guys have a giant catalog of songs. Was it onerous to decide on what songs to incorporate within the setlist? Are there songs that you simply thought could or could not work acoustically after which shocked you?
Sully Erna: I don’t suppose so as a result of we’re selecting songs which can be type of designed to be extra of a vibe like that, and like I stated, it’s not gonna be absolutely acoustic. If the tune’s acoustic, it’ll be acoustic, songs like Serenity and Working Blind and people sorts of songs. These had been designed to be acoustic. There’s even some actually cool vibey piano songs that we’ve written, like Underneath Your Scars, and the brand new single Reality. There are songs like Rising Outdated on the brand new report that simply are type of a extra of a Chris Cornell type of vibe. And so, you combine that in with some actually cool covers. Perhaps we’re gonna do some previous Zeppelin stuff, or Pink Floyd, who is aware of. However you understand, you mix all that in collectively, proper? And it actually simply type of creates a second. And in order that’s what I feel is gonna occur.
MLM: Since Godsmack will now not be recording new music, will there be a launch of this tour when it’s completed?
Sully Erna: I don’t know. Every little thing’s up within the air. Proper now, we’re simply targeted on this tour. I’d prefer to take one factor at a time and simply do it the very best we are able to.
MLM: Subsequent yr Godsmack celebrates 30 years. Did you ever suppose the band would final this lengthy?
Sully Erna: We weren’t certain that this band was even gonna be a band within the first place, it actually simply type of began as an experiment to scratch the itch when me and Robbie had been at a degree in our lives the place we had been about to give up music again within the early nineties. We went by means of so many bands and so many alternative issues in our lives that we had been identical to, as you begin to get into your mid-twenties, late-twenties, you’re identical to, possibly this isn’t for me, you understand. Perhaps it’s not gonna occur. So, we simply stated, let’s simply do one thing and make it enjoyable. We acquired collectively and wrote some music. We had been gonna report it in a studio and simply type of scratch the itch by taking part in gigs on weekends and stuff. After which this factor began taking off and folks began paying consideration. And so, who would’ve recognized, you understand, that I spent the primary 25 years taking part in drums in mastering that instrument after which to transition right into a singer not realizing what I’m doing. By no means, by no means any coaching, something. And impulsively, we find yourself with a gold report! Who would have recognized?
MLM: I’m certain there are a variety of nice reminiscences, a variety of excellent moments all through your 30 years as a musician in Godsmack and even earlier than that. Is there something that actually stands out nonetheless to today the place you look again and suppose, “Wow, that’s wonderful”, or “I can’t consider this occurred”?
Sully Erna: Yeah, simply our life and music. I imply, I feel once you’re rising up and also you need it and it’s simply type of a dream and one thing feels prefer it’s untouchable, it’s actually only a fantasy at that time. You’re taking part in in garages and basements and small golf equipment and also you’re, in your thoughts, you’re envisioning that you simply’re taking part in in entrance of an enviornment full of individuals, however you’re actually not, you understand? And so it’s only a large dream. So for it to develop into a actuality and have this type of longevity, that’s one thing that also to today, we pinch ourselves and admire each second that we have now.
MLM: Is there the rest you’d love to do in life that you simply haven’t but? Music has been a giant a part of your life. Is there something you’d prefer to pursue that you simply’ve at all times considered doing however haven’t but?
Sully Erna: Effectively, I’ve been so busy. Yeah. I’ll, as soon as that is performed and our schedule relaxes just a little bit extra as a result of we’re at all times gonna be doing reveals. I’m certain in some unspecified time in the future, however we simply could not tour as closely after this album cycle is over. We’ll see. You possibly can by no means say by no means. Who is aware of? I can’t sit nonetheless too lengthy. After I’m working an excessive amount of, I would like some off time after which when I’ve off time, I get actually bored actually fast and I must go do one thing. I do love performing. I’ve had some enjoyable with that over time, performing some indie movies and getting some smaller roles in greater motion pictures and that type of factor. I feel I’d prefer to pursue that extra if I acquired the chance and somebody needed to carry me in. At this level I’d prefer to get some higher components and attempt to get entangled in some greater roles. That’s at all times been enjoyable for me. However, on my off time I prefer to play poker. I prefer to experience my motorbike. I prefer to go hang around with my associates, hit the seashores, take some holidays, and go to some locations with out working. So, you understand, the straightforward issues a variety of the occasions is what I get pleasure from doing.
MLM: You’re coming to Niagara Falls April twenty fifth. Have you ever ever been right here?
Sully Erna: Oh yeah. I’ve some associates there too.
MLM: You had been within the space not too way back. Final August you performed in Toronto with Staind. In any case, do you will have any plans when you’re right here? Do you make time to do issues once you go to totally different cities whereas on tour?
Sully Erna: I’m unsure. I’d prefer to see a pair associates whereas I’m in that space, no matter. However once more, you understand, our reveals are just about again to again and fairly tight. So, we don’t have a complete lot of time to hang around once we’re on tour. However we’re wanting ahead to the present. It’s a very good space, good folks, good vibes there. We’ve at all times performed effectively, so it’ll be good to come back again for certain.
MLM: Effectively, thanks a lot to your time. Is there something you’d prefer to plug or add at this level?
Sully Erna: No, simply the one, Reality is a vital tune to us. We’re about to launch it and we’re simply ending up a brand new video for it. It’s most likely some of the susceptible and emotional songs I’ve ever wrote in my life. As you understand, all the things I write about is one thing that occurred to me personally on an emotional degree, whether or not it was good or dangerous. Sadly, on this case, this occasion occurred to me as I used to be scripting this report and we needed to pause the entire mission as a result of this one hit me fairly onerous. It’s a tune about betrayal and as you understand, typically the individuals who can damage us essentially the most are the folks that we love essentially the most. I feel folks will hook up with this lyrically and emotionally. I feel everybody has felt some type of betrayal as soon as of their life, at the very least, whether or not it was by means of a member of the family or relationship or friendship. However we’re excited for the tune as a result of it’s a giant hook, it’s a giant melody. And I simply suppose, despite the fact that it got here from a darker place, it’s a giant stunning tune. So I hope everyone actually takes a take heed to that and enjoys it.
MLM: Effectively, thanks a lot to your time.
Sully Erna: You bought it.
MLM: Good luck on the tour. Subsequent week is your birthday. Pleased Birthday! I’m wanting ahead to seeing you on April twenty fifth, in Niagara Falls.
Sully Erna: Superior.
MLM: Thanks a lot, Sully.
Sully Erna: Yeah, after all, man. Thanks for having me.
MLM: All proper. Take care. Thanks.
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