"Non Parlo Inglese... "
Godsmack are no mystery to anyone that has been listening to music for the past fifteen years. Originally from Lawrence, Massachusetts and formed in 1995, Godsmack comprises founder, frontman and songwriter Sully Erna, guitarist Tony Rombola, bassist Robbie Merrill, and drummer Shannon Larkin. Since its formation, Godsmack has released five studio albums, one EP, four DVDs, and one greatest hits collection.
The band has had two consecutive #1 albums (Faceless and IV) on the Billboard 200, and have just released their fifth studio album "The Oracle". The band also has parked a ratified 18 top ten hits, including 15 songs in the Top Five, more than (what some might like to consider bigger) bands such as Linkin Park and Metallica. Godsmack are one of the most popular hard rock / heavy metal acts of the last decade in the United States, selling over 19 million records worldwide.
Imagine our delight when we were given the opportunity to chat with frontman and band founder Sully Erna.
Altsounds: How does it feel celebrating 15 years of Godsmack?
Sully Erna: Very Surreal! I can't believe we've survived more than a decade. Especially considering how much touring, partying, and sleepless shows we've done. Ouch! Those were the days. : )
Altsounds: Despite the obvious line up changes how does the Godsmack now compare to the Godsmack in 1995?
Sully Erna: Our sound is much more mature now. We've really grown up a lot and learned how to respect each others space while maintaining a brotherhood. That's not something you can learn after being a band for a year or two. That takes many many years or living together, working together, fighting, laughing, loving.... all to get to that point. But what a blessing to have these guys as brothers.
Altsounds: How did you approach the writing on your new album "The Oracle"?
Sully Erna: It was truly an equal collaboration. We all just sat in a room, had a long talk about writing a record for the fans, and then started to grind out riffs, lyrics, song titles, etc.... It was a great experience writing "The Oracle".
Altsounds: What were/are your hopes for the album?
Sully Erna: Of course we always hope for a #1 record. If we get it, that makes 3 in a row! Not bad for a bunch of shleps from Boston (laughs). But more importantly, we really just hope that the record has a huge impact with our fans and really connects to them. I mean this record was built for that. A record truly for the fans. Not for us, not for our influences, not to try and reinvent music. Just a run of songs that we felt our fans wanted us to write and a sound that they wanted us to sound like.
Altsounds: As an album how does "The Oracle" compare to your previous albums?
Sully Erna: Our previous records always had various influences that we tried to have surface in the music. But this record is much more true to the heart. It is filled with everything that we have built our success on. Raw, tough, powerful grooves and big vocal melodies.
Altsounds: How much of your personal experiences in the 3 years between "IV" and "The Oracle" went into the writing? Were incidents such as Sunny's car accident used as inspiration?
Sully Erna: Ok, first of all it's 4 years. Second of all it's Sully not Sunny? And third of all.... Next question!!
Altsounds: Would you say "The Oracle" is a good place for people to start if they are unfamiliar with Godsmack? If so, why?
Sully Erna: I wouldn't necessarily say that. We're very proud of all of our catalog. But I believe this is where we've sounded the best so far.
Altsounds: You seem to be a band that gets stronger with each release. How strong is everyone within the Godsmack camp feeling at this moment in time?
Sully Erna: We feel really good. There was a lot of very positive energy amongst us when we were writing this record. So it doesn't shock me that we feel the results reflect that.
Altsounds: How do you as a band weather the storms? What keeps you going?
Sully Erna: Just understanding each other. We all have been together for so long that we have very similar beliefs. And one of those beliefs is knowing that, when you run into a bad moment, you just have to remind yourself that "This too shall pass". Nothing lasts forever. And they're all really nothing more than just moments in time.
Altsounds: It was reported that you had a feud with Motley Crue. Could you elaborate on this?
Sully Erna: Non Parlo Inglese...
Altsounds: You helped raise money for the Haiti survivors. How did you get involved with that and what exactly did you guys do?
Sully Erna: Through a good friend of mine Dan Catullo. He really masterminded that whole thing. But it was based on sending over thousands of wheel chairs on his friends jumbo jet.
Altsounds: You recently penned a song 'Sinners Pray' for the film The Expendables. How did that come about?
Sully Erna: It's a long story, but the short of it is, I lost the movie. Stallone decided to change out the scene that the song was married to. So since the scene went, so did the music. Very sad about that. : (
But more importantly, I have a song titled, 'The Departed' that will be featured for the new movie Solomon Kane that should be released sometime in May I believe. It's a very cool Fantasy movie. Make sure you check it out.
Altsounds: Do you approach songs for soundtracks differently to songs on your albums?
Sully Erna: We're talking about two different things now. All my soundtrack stuff is for my solo record not Godsmack.
Altsounds: When will Godsmack be returning to the UK?
Sully Erna: I'm not sure, but it better be fucking quick. Maybe you should ask Universal that. We need support from our label in Europe.
Altsounds: Is there anything else you would like to add (free space to speak about or promote anything you want).
Sully Erna: Keep your eyes out for the Solo Album, "Sully Erna, featuring Lisa Guyer". It is a huge departure from anything I’ve ever done, and it is a very deep and powerful record. Not rock at all. But very powerful. I think Europe is going to LOVE IT!!!
The band has had two consecutive #1 albums (Faceless and IV) on the Billboard 200, and have just released their fifth studio album "The Oracle". The band also has parked a ratified 18 top ten hits, including 15 songs in the Top Five, more than (what some might like to consider bigger) bands such as Linkin Park and Metallica. Godsmack are one of the most popular hard rock / heavy metal acts of the last decade in the United States, selling over 19 million records worldwide.
Imagine our delight when we were given the opportunity to chat with frontman and band founder Sully Erna.
Altsounds: How does it feel celebrating 15 years of Godsmack?
Sully Erna: Very Surreal! I can't believe we've survived more than a decade. Especially considering how much touring, partying, and sleepless shows we've done. Ouch! Those were the days. : )
Altsounds: Despite the obvious line up changes how does the Godsmack now compare to the Godsmack in 1995?
Sully Erna: Our sound is much more mature now. We've really grown up a lot and learned how to respect each others space while maintaining a brotherhood. That's not something you can learn after being a band for a year or two. That takes many many years or living together, working together, fighting, laughing, loving.... all to get to that point. But what a blessing to have these guys as brothers.
Altsounds: How did you approach the writing on your new album "The Oracle"?
Sully Erna: It was truly an equal collaboration. We all just sat in a room, had a long talk about writing a record for the fans, and then started to grind out riffs, lyrics, song titles, etc.... It was a great experience writing "The Oracle".
Altsounds: What were/are your hopes for the album?
Sully Erna: Of course we always hope for a #1 record. If we get it, that makes 3 in a row! Not bad for a bunch of shleps from Boston (laughs). But more importantly, we really just hope that the record has a huge impact with our fans and really connects to them. I mean this record was built for that. A record truly for the fans. Not for us, not for our influences, not to try and reinvent music. Just a run of songs that we felt our fans wanted us to write and a sound that they wanted us to sound like.
Altsounds: As an album how does "The Oracle" compare to your previous albums?
Sully Erna: Our previous records always had various influences that we tried to have surface in the music. But this record is much more true to the heart. It is filled with everything that we have built our success on. Raw, tough, powerful grooves and big vocal melodies.
Altsounds: How much of your personal experiences in the 3 years between "IV" and "The Oracle" went into the writing? Were incidents such as Sunny's car accident used as inspiration?
Sully Erna: Ok, first of all it's 4 years. Second of all it's Sully not Sunny? And third of all.... Next question!!
Altsounds: Would you say "The Oracle" is a good place for people to start if they are unfamiliar with Godsmack? If so, why?
Sully Erna: I wouldn't necessarily say that. We're very proud of all of our catalog. But I believe this is where we've sounded the best so far.
Altsounds: You seem to be a band that gets stronger with each release. How strong is everyone within the Godsmack camp feeling at this moment in time?
Sully Erna: We feel really good. There was a lot of very positive energy amongst us when we were writing this record. So it doesn't shock me that we feel the results reflect that.
Altsounds: How do you as a band weather the storms? What keeps you going?
Sully Erna: Just understanding each other. We all have been together for so long that we have very similar beliefs. And one of those beliefs is knowing that, when you run into a bad moment, you just have to remind yourself that "This too shall pass". Nothing lasts forever. And they're all really nothing more than just moments in time.
Altsounds: It was reported that you had a feud with Motley Crue. Could you elaborate on this?
Sully Erna: Non Parlo Inglese...
Altsounds: You helped raise money for the Haiti survivors. How did you get involved with that and what exactly did you guys do?
Sully Erna: Through a good friend of mine Dan Catullo. He really masterminded that whole thing. But it was based on sending over thousands of wheel chairs on his friends jumbo jet.
Altsounds: You recently penned a song 'Sinners Pray' for the film The Expendables. How did that come about?
Sully Erna: It's a long story, but the short of it is, I lost the movie. Stallone decided to change out the scene that the song was married to. So since the scene went, so did the music. Very sad about that. : (
But more importantly, I have a song titled, 'The Departed' that will be featured for the new movie Solomon Kane that should be released sometime in May I believe. It's a very cool Fantasy movie. Make sure you check it out.
Sully Erna: We're talking about two different things now. All my soundtrack stuff is for my solo record not Godsmack.
Altsounds: When will Godsmack be returning to the UK?
Sully Erna: I'm not sure, but it better be fucking quick. Maybe you should ask Universal that. We need support from our label in Europe.
Altsounds: Is there anything else you would like to add (free space to speak about or promote anything you want).
Sully Erna: Keep your eyes out for the Solo Album, "Sully Erna, featuring Lisa Guyer". It is a huge departure from anything I’ve ever done, and it is a very deep and powerful record. Not rock at all. But very powerful. I think Europe is going to LOVE IT!!!
