Godsmack

Godsmack is an American heavy metal ^{heavy metal music} band from Lawrence ^{Lawrence, Massachusetts} , Massachusetts, formed in 1995. The band comprises founder, frontman and songwriter Sully Erna, guitarist Tony Rombola, bassist Robbie Merrill, and drummer Shannon Larkin. Since its formation, Godsmack has released four studio albums, one EP ^{Extended play} , four DVDs, and one greatest hits collection.

The band has had two consecutive #1 albums (Faceless and IV ^{IV (Godsmack album)} ) on the Billboard 200, and currently working on their fifth studio album which is expected be released in the first quarter of 2010.

The band also has parked a ratified 18 top ten hits, including 14 songs in the Top Five, more than bands such as Linkin Park and Metallica.

The album caused controversy due to its profane lyrics, containing a substantial amount of swearing. The album was produced by Erna and engineered by the well known producer and engineer Andy Johns, known for engineering Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin IV. The first single from the album, "Speak ^{Speak (Godsmack song)} " was released on February 14, 2006. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 211,000 copies in its first week.
IV has since been certified gold. The band had written over forty songs for the album, but the final track listing had eleven tracks, Larkin commented, "it's Sully's band and his vision. He sifted through all the music and picked the songs that he wanted on the album. We all said 'all right'. He's always had the vision of everything Godsmack from the artwork to the production to the engineer to the studio to what TV shows we play. Everything. When it comes time to pick the songs it's all Sully".

The album's minimalist name "IV" derives not only from its being the band's fourth studio album, but also from a running piece of backstage humor, as related by Larkin and Erna:



333 Ten Years of Godsmack and The Oracle (2007–present) 333


To celebrate ten years as a band, Godsmack released a greatest hits album entitled Good Times, Bad Times... Ten Years of Godsmack on December 4, 2007. The album debuted at number thirty-five on the Billboard 200, selling 40,000 copies in the first week of release. It includes a cover of the Led Zeppelin song "Good Times Bad Times", as well as a DVD of Godsmack's acoustic performance in Las Vegas ^{Las Vegas, Nevada} at House of Blues. The album was originally intended to be a boxed set, but the band scrapped the plans so they could release a best of album. Godsmack will be following the release of the album with an acoustic tour. Despite rumors of the band going on hiatus as a result of releasing a greatest hits album, Erna was quoted as saying, "we're not going away, we are just gonna take a break and enjoy our 10th year anniversary and kind of recharge our batteries. And then Godsmack will be back, and we will come back bigger and badder than ever."

According to Erna, in an early March 2009 interview with Rockerrazzi.com, the album will be released in the first quarter of 2010. In late May, he stated that "it's gonna be really heavy. I mean, it's very aggressive. I'm not really sure; it's very premature right now. Right now we just finished one track for the Crüe Fest this Summer. But as far as the whole record goes, I think it's going to be a lot more in your face. I don't think there's going to be any 'Voodoo's or 'Serenity's on this one. We decided to go balls out!".

Godsmack was part of the lineup for Motley Crue's Crüe Fest 2 tour, which includes Theory of a Deadman, Drowning Pool, and new act Charm City Devils.

Godsmack released a new single titled "Whiskey Hangover" on June 9 in 2009. Godsmack wanted to release a new single before they kicked off their summer Crüe Fest 2 tour. Their Drummer, Shannon Larkin, has stated in an interview that the band will be working with producer Dave Fortman (Slipknot ^{Slipknot (band)} , Mudvayne) on the next album, titled "The Oracle ^{The Oracle (Godsmack album)} ", which will be released on May 4, 2010.

Godsmack will headline Rock on the Range 2010 along with 36 bands including Rob Zombie, Three Days Grace, Bullet for My Valentine, Limp Bizkit, and Sevendust. All the bands will be playing during the event on multiple stages. Godsmack has also been confirmed for this year's Lazerfest, Rocklahoma, and Edgefest VI music festivals, with the first taking place Sunday, May 16 at Indianola Balloon Grounds in Indianola, Iowa, the second set for Memorial Day Weekend, May 28–30, 2010 in Pryor, Oklahoma, and the third taking place on the Arkansas State Fairgrounds on May 8

  ' former vocalist, the late Layne Staley as his primary influence on singing.

The band's primary influences include Alice in Chains, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Judas Priest, Pantera, Metallica and Rush ^{Rush (band)} according to Erna, Larkin, and Rombola. Merrill's bass style has been described as "bulldozer bottom with occasional slap-bass reverb". Larkin's drumming is thought to "worship at the twin altars of Neil Peart and John Bonham". And Rombola's guitar playing style has been praised as, "guitars that sound like percussion instruments".;Current
* Sully Erna: lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion, harmonica (1995–present)
* Tony Rombola: lead guitar, backing vocals (1997–present)
* Robbie Merrill: bass guitar, (1996–present)
* Shannon Larkin: drums, percussion (2002–present)
** Note: Erna performed drums on the band's debut album, Godsmack ^{Godsmack (album)} , and occasionally plays drums at live shows, alongside Larkin.

;Former
* Lee Richards: guitars (1996–1997)
* Joe Darco: drums (1996–1997)
* Tommy Stewart: drums (1996–2002)* 1998: Godsmack ^{Godsmack (album)}
* 2000: Awake ^{Awake (Godsmack album)}
* 2003: Faceless
* 2006: IV ^{IV (Godsmack album)}
* 2007: Good Times, Bad Times... Ten Years of Godsmack
* 2010: The Oracle ^{The Oracle (Godsmack album)} 'Grammy Awards'

*Godsmack has been nominated for four Grammy Awards.