Subsequent 12 months 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 a long time, Godsmack has produced a formidable catalog together with eight studio albums, an EP titled “The Different Facet,” 4 DVDs, a compilation album named “Good Occasions, Dangerous Occasions… Ten Years of Godsmack,” and a reside 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 might be their remaining mission of recent music, though they don’t have any intentions of disbanding.
Presently, 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 will probably be particular visitor Bastian da Cruz.
In a latest Zoom interview with Music Life Journal, Erna mentioned the Vibez Tour and what followers can anticipate, 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. Through the interview, Erna shared insights into the band’s determination to cease recording new albums after final 12 months’s “Lighting Up the Sky” launch.
For more information and tickets to this present and upcoming reveals at OLG Stage click on right here.
Because of Sully Erna for taking the time to speak to me. Right here is my interview with Erna which occurred 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 wish to discuss extra in regards to the Vibez Tour however there’s a few different issues I wish to get out of the best way. 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 12 months in the past, and also you guys talked about that it is going to be the final album you guys do. Is Godsmack seeking to wind down? Are you guys seeking to do different issues? What are the long run plans for Godsmack?
Sully Erna: Properly, everybody has to return to a degree in time of their profession once they really feel like, “Have we arrived? Have we accomplished the issues that we wished to do?” Regardless that music is one thing we at all times wished to do with our lives, is that all the pieces we wish to do with our lives as a result of we missed a whole lot of particular moments in our private lives, watching our children develop up. We have been at all times touring, being away from household and pals. And typically we crave the easy issues that most individuals take without any consideration. They stand up each morning, they get to make their children breakfast, they usually go work they usually come dwelling they usually make them dinner, they usually hang around they usually watch films and take them to high school, no matter. We didn’t have that luxurious as a result of we have been working on a regular basis and our work takes us away from dwelling.
And now our children are grown however it’s like, nicely, we’ve accomplished quite a bit. We be ok with our profession. It’s not like we’re asserting a breakup or something, however I imply, geez, at what level can we not begin honoring the catalog and begin forgetting about writing increasingly new music? I imply, we’ve 27 prime singles, prime 10 singles. We’ve 13 quantity ones. Which means we will 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 after we go to see our favourite bands, like if we go away there and Aerosmith didn’t play Dream On, and Stroll This Method, and Similar Previous Music and Dance and Practice Saved A Rollin’? I’m mad, proper? Yeah. So yeah, we have to play what individuals have deemed the perfect 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 wish 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 discuss 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 individuals on board to assist us advertise! it’s on Apple TV and it’s on Amazon Prime. I feel it’s on a pair others as nicely, Microsoft and Google Play. It’s known as I Stand Alone: The Sully Erna Story and it principally is predicated on the guide that I put out in 2007 known as The Paths We Select, which is in regards to the first 30 years of my life earlier than I obtained a file take care of Godsmack, and rising up within the streets of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and all the difficulty that I obtained into, all of the challenges I confronted and the obstacles I needed to leap over with a view 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 way 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 instances from going out and doing the actually darkish stuff. It appears to really feel like a extra inspirational piece for individuals to know which you can have a look at us and we’re not born profitable rock stars. We’re the identical individuals such as you and everybody else that work laborious and must undergo life the identical approach as everybody else does. However we’ve to discover ways to undergo these powerful moments and keep robust and get to the opposite facet as a result of that’s if you normally 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 because the memoir got here out.
Sully Erna: This was one thing that one other group put collectively, the director Troy Smith and one of many editors, the lead editor, Noah Berlow. They actually favored the story they usually wished 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 help the tales we have been telling. Simply little bits of knowledge. My uncle used to return over, he had a giant camcorder so he’d movie me enjoying drums once I was seven years outdated and hanging out with my household. So, we had just a little bit of knowledge once I was actually younger, however as we get into my teenagers and all these years that I obtained into the true huge bother stuff. We didn’t have video cameras again then, and thank God. My God, you recognize, I might’ve been incriminated greater than as soon as, I’m positive! (laughs)
So, it was like a matter of recreating a few of that stuff and selecting what tales we have been going to inform. After which clearly because it will get into the early nineties and going by way of totally different bands and hanging out with my pals, 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 while. They wished to inform the story, however we didn’t need it simply to be a speaking head documentary.
MLM: Are you’re happy with the best way 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 greatest pals and my sister and my mother bawled. I imply, as a result of you recognize, you gotta keep in mind too, we took it proper again to the guts of the place all these occasions occurred and I even obtained to knock on the door of my childhood dwelling. And the girl was form sufficient to allow us to use her dwelling to reenact a whole lot of these scenes. So, what you see is de facto 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 individuals 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 imagine it was designed to do, which was, if I inform my story, I hope it evokes individuals to do higher of their lives and to maintain going with their desires and issues like that, as a result of that is actually what that story is about. We see a whole lot of these sorts of rock docs that finish very unhappy, proper? They don’t at all times have an excellent ending. I’d prefer to suppose this one did, you recognize, 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 positive the Godsmack documentary will come out sooner or later. However proper now, perhaps this can be a piece that may encourage individuals to proceed to work laborious and know that there’s a payoff.
MLM: Let’s speak about 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. In keeping with a Fb publish 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 completely Godsmack associated? Will there be tales instructed which are behind the scenes of Godsmack, and tales behind the songs?
Sully Erna: I feel it’s gonna be extra in regards to the music, as a result of what we wish to create, and the rationale why we known as it The Vibez Tour is as a result of we actually wish to do all of the vibey music that we’ve written through the years. Perhaps step away from the large robust heavy Godsmack stuff for a second that we at all times do on the large reveals and produce individuals into a special type of place. So, from the time they enter the theater, you recognize, the scent that’s within the air, the candles on stage, go into some actually lovely acoustic performances, some absolutely electrical performances. We’re gonna do some vibey cool covers that we actually like. And, you recognize, inform some tales in regards to the songs and what they meant to us after we wrote them. And perhaps a little bit of historical past in regards to the band, just a little bit. However actually simply take individuals by way 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 laborious to decide on what songs to incorporate within the setlist? Are there songs that you simply thought might or might not work acoustically after which shocked you?
Sully Erna: I don’t suppose so as a result of we’re selecting songs which are type of designed to be extra of a vibe like that, and like I stated, it’s not gonna be absolutely acoustic. If the track’s acoustic, it’ll be acoustic, songs like Serenity and Working Blind and people sorts of songs. These have been designed to be acoustic. There’s even some actually cool vibey piano songs that we’ve written, like Beneath Your Scars, and the brand new single Reality. There are songs like Rising Previous on the brand new file 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 outdated Zeppelin stuff, or Pink Floyd, who is aware of. However you recognize, 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 not be recording new music, will there be a launch of this tour when it’s completed?
Sully Erna: I don’t know. The whole lot’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 perfect we will.
MLM: Subsequent 12 months Godsmack celebrates 30 years. Did you ever suppose the band would final this lengthy?
Sully Erna: We weren’t positive 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 have been at a degree in our lives the place we have been about to give up music again within the early nineties. We went by way of so many bands and so many alternative issues in our lives that we have been similar to, as you begin to get into your mid-twenties, late-twenties, you’re similar to, perhaps this isn’t for me, you recognize. Perhaps it’s not gonna occur. So, we simply stated, let’s simply do one thing and make it enjoyable. We obtained collectively and wrote some music. We have been gonna file it in a studio and simply type of scratch the itch by enjoying gigs on weekends and stuff. After which this factor began taking off and other people began paying consideration. And so, who would’ve identified, you recognize, that I spent the primary 25 years enjoying 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 abruptly, we find yourself with a gold file! Who would have identified?
MLM: I’m positive there are a whole lot of nice reminiscences, a whole lot 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 at the present time the place you look again and suppose, “Wow, that’s superb”, or “I can’t imagine this occurred”?
Sully Erna: Yeah, simply our life and music. I imply, I feel if 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 enjoying in garages and basements and small golf equipment and also you’re, in your thoughts, you’re envisioning that you simply’re enjoying in entrance of an enviornment full of individuals, however you’re actually not, you recognize? And so it’s only a huge dream. So for it to change into a actuality and have this sort of longevity, that’s one thing that also to at the present time, we pinch ourselves and respect each second that we’ve.
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 thought of doing however haven’t but?
Sully Erna: Properly, I’ve been so busy. Yeah. I’ll, as soon as that is accomplished and our schedule relaxes just a little bit extra as a result of we’re at all times gonna be doing reveals. I’m positive sooner or later, however we simply might not tour as closely after this album cycle is over. We’ll see. You’ll be able to by no means say by no means. Who is aware of? I can’t sit nonetheless too lengthy. Once 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, doing a little indie movies and getting some smaller roles in greater films and that type of factor. I feel I’d prefer to pursue that extra if I obtained the chance and somebody wished 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 journey my bike. I prefer to go hang around with my pals, hit the seashores, take some holidays, and go to some locations with out working. So, you recognize, the easy issues a whole lot of the instances is what I take pleasure in 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 pals there too.
MLM: You have been within the space not too way back. Final August you performed in Toronto with Staind. In any case, do you could have any plans whilst you’re right here? Do you make time to do issues if you go to totally different cities whereas on tour?
Sully Erna: I’m unsure. I’d prefer to see a pair pals whereas I’m in that space, no matter. However once more, you recognize, our reveals are just about again to again and fairly tight. So, we don’t have a complete lot of time to hang around after we’re on tour. However we’re trying ahead to the present. It’s an excellent space, good individuals, good vibes there. We’ve at all times accomplished nicely, so it’ll be good to return again for positive.
MLM: Properly, thanks a lot on your time. Is there something you’d prefer to plug or add at this level?
Sully Erna: No, simply the only, Reality is a vital track 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 recognize, all the pieces I write about is one thing that occurred to me personally on an emotional stage, whether or not it was good or dangerous. Sadly, on this case, this occasion occurred to me as I used to be scripting this file and we needed to pause the entire mission as a result of this one hit me fairly laborious. It’s a track about betrayal and as you recognize, typically the individuals who can harm us probably the most are the people who we love probably the most. I feel individuals will connect with this lyrically and emotionally. I feel everybody has felt some type of betrayal as soon as of their life, at the least, whether or not it was by way of a member of the family or relationship or friendship. However we’re excited for the track 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 lovely track. So I hope all people actually takes a hearken to that and enjoys it.
MLM: Properly, thanks a lot on your time.
Sully Erna: You bought it.
MLM: Good luck on the tour. Subsequent week is your birthday. Blissful Birthday! I’m trying ahead to seeing you on April twenty fifth, in Niagara Falls.
Sully Erna: Superior.
MLM: Thanks a lot, Sully.
Sully Erna: Yeah, in fact, man. Thanks for having me.
MLM: All proper. Take care. Thanks.
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