Subsequent yr marks the thirtieth anniversary of Massachusetts-based rock band Godsmack, at the moment 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 Instances, Dangerous Instances… 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 will be their last undertaking 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 can 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,” (based mostly on his 2007 memoir, “The Paths We Select”), and extra. Throughout 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 exhibits 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 a bit break now from rehearsals and simply have a bit vacay after which we’ll begin hitting it on the fifteenth when the entire thing begins.

MLM: I need to discuss extra concerning the Vibez Tour however there’s a few different issues I need 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 few yr in the past, and also you guys talked about that will probably be the final album you guys do. Is Godsmack seeking to wind down? Are you guys seeking to do different issues? What are the longer term plans for Godsmack?

Sully Erna: Effectively, 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?” Although music is one thing we at all times wished to do with our lives, is that all the pieces we need to do with our lives as a result of we missed a whole lot of particular moments in our private lives, watching our youngsters develop up. We had been at all times touring, being away from household and buddies. And generally we crave the straightforward issues that most individuals take with no 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 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 dwelling.

And now our youngsters are grown nevertheless it’s like, effectively, we’ve accomplished rather a lot. 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 more new music? I imply, we now have 27 prime singles, prime 10 singles. We’ve 13 quantity ones. Meaning we will actually play two exhibits 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 assume alongside the traces of how we’re as followers and once we go to see our favourite bands, like if we go away there and Aerosmith didn’t play Dream On, and Stroll This Approach, and Identical Outdated Tune and Dance and Prepare Saved A Rollin’? I’m mad, proper? Yeah. So yeah, we have to play what folks 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 need to form of enter a brand new chapter in our lives and begin honoring that music and simply going out and making a best hits present.

MLM: 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 folks on board to assist us put it on the market! 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 mainly relies on the ebook 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 obtained a document cope with 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 occasions from going out and doing the actually darkish stuff. It appears to really feel like a extra inspirational piece for folks to know that you may have 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 exhausting and should undergo life the identical means as everybody else does. However we now have to learn to undergo these powerful moments and keep robust and get to the opposite facet as a result of that’s if you often discover a pot of gold on the finish of the rainbow.

MLM: So why did you determine 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 crew put collectively, the director Troy Smith and one of many editors, the lead editor, Noah Berlow. They actually appreciated the story they usually wished to make it right into a characteristic documentary however the trick was, and the explanation 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 return 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 a bit bit of data after I was actually younger, however as we get into my teenagers and all these years that I obtained into the true massive hassle stuff. We didn’t have video cameras again then, and thank God. My God, , I’d’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 had 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 buddies, 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 buddies and my sister and my mother bawled. I imply, as a result of , you gotta keep in mind too, we took it proper again to the center of the place all these occasions occurred and I even obtained to knock on the door of my childhood dwelling. And the woman was variety sufficient to allow us to use her dwelling to reenact a whole lot of these scenes. So, what you see is admittedly 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 undecided proper now. Proper now, we’re simply form of sticking it on the market, letting folks comprehend it’s out. We’re going to begin a giant advertising and marketing marketing campaign for it to actually 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 folks 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 ending. I’d prefer to assume this one did, , and I’m nonetheless undecided 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 in some unspecified time in the future. However proper now, possibly this can be a piece that can encourage folks to proceed to work exhausting 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 25^th. In accordance 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 totally 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 concerning the music, as a result of what we need to create, and the explanation 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 large robust heavy Godsmack stuff for a second that we at all times do on the large exhibits and produce folks into a unique form of place. So, from the time they enter the theater, , 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, , 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, a bit bit. However actually simply take folks 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 exhausting 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 stunned you?

Sully Erna: I don’t assume so as a result of we’re selecting songs which are form of designed to be extra of a vibe like that, and like I mentioned, it’s not gonna be absolutely acoustic. If the music’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 Below Your Scars, and the brand new single Reality. There are songs like Rising Outdated on the brand new document that simply are form of a extra of a Chris Cornell form 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 mix all that in collectively, proper? And it actually simply form 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. Every 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 perfect we will.

MLM: Subsequent yr Godsmack celebrates 30 years. Did you ever assume 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 form of began as an experiment to scratch the itch when me and Robbie had been at some extent in our lives the place we had 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 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, . Perhaps it’s not gonna occur. So, we simply mentioned, let’s simply do one thing and make it enjoyable. We obtained collectively and wrote some music. We had been gonna document it in a studio and simply form 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, , 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 swiftly, we find yourself with a gold document! Who would have recognized?

MLM: I’m positive there are a whole lot of nice recollections, 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 basically stands out nonetheless to this present day the place you look again and assume, “Wow, that’s wonderful”, 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 form 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, ? And so it’s only a massive dream. So for it to grow to be a actuality and have this type of longevity, that’s one thing that also to this present day, we pinch ourselves and recognize each second that we now have.

MLM: Is there anything 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 accomplished and our schedule relaxes a bit bit extra as a result of we’re at all times gonna be doing exhibits. I’m positive 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 may 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 have to go do one thing. I do love appearing. I’ve had some enjoyable with that over time, doing a little indie movies and getting some smaller roles in greater films and that form of factor. I feel I’d prefer to pursue that extra if I obtained the chance and somebody wished to deliver me in. At this level I’d prefer to get some higher elements 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 trip my motorbike. I prefer to go hang around with my buddies, hit the seashores, take some holidays, and go to some locations with out working. So, , the straightforward issues a whole lot of the occasions 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 buddies there too.

MLM: You had been within the space not too way back. Final August you performed in Toronto with Staind. Anyhow, do you may have any plans when 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 undecided. I’d prefer to see a pair buddies whereas I’m in that space, no matter. However once more, , our exhibits 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 space, good folks, good vibes there. We’ve at all times accomplished effectively, so it’ll be good to return again for positive.

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 only, Reality is a crucial music to us. We’re about to launch it and we’re simply ending up a brand new video for it. It’s most likely one of the vital weak and emotional songs I’ve ever wrote in my life. As , 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 document and we needed to pause the entire undertaking as a result of this one hit me fairly exhausting. It’s a music about betrayal and as , generally the individuals who can damage us essentially the most are the people who we love essentially the most. I feel folks will hook up with this lyrically and emotionally. I feel everybody has felt some form of betrayal as soon as of their life, a minimum of, whether or not it was by way of a member of the family or relationship or friendship. However we’re excited for the music as a result of it’s a giant hook, it’s a giant melody. And I simply assume, regardless that it got here from a darker place, it’s a giant lovely music. So I hope all people actually takes a hearken 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. Completely happy 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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