Godsmack

Godsmack is an American heavy metal band from Lawrence, 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, four DVDs, and one greatest hits collection.

The band has sold over 17 million records in the United States according to the RIAA.[1] And nearly 20 million records worldwide, [2] the band has had two consecutive number-one albums (Faceless and IV) on the Billboard 200. They have had seventeen top ten mainstream rock singles, being the only band ever to do so and a debut album that has sold over 5 million copies since its release. Since its inception, Godsmack has toured on Ozzfest on more than one occasion, and have toured with many other large tours and festivals, including supporting its albums with its own arena tours and will be playing in Crüe Fest 2.

In the summer of 1998, Universal/Republic Records signed the band onto their label. Joe D'arco left the band for unknown reasons and was replaced by once former drummer Tommy Stewart, who came back after longing to be in the band again.[9] The band's first studio recording All Wound Up was re-mastered. The finished self-titled debut CD Godsmack was released to the public six weeks later, leading to the band's first headlining tour, "The Voodoo Tour".[3] After the CD's release the band hit the road playing club shows as well as playing the Ozzfest and Woodstock '99".Followed by a Tour of Europe supporting Black Sabbath.[3] Roxanne Blanford from Allmusic gave the album three out of five stars, stating, "Godsmack confidently brought metal into the technological age".[10] The album was the band's first to enter the Billboard 200 at number twenty-two,[11] and was certified 4x platinum by the RIAA in 2001[12] after being initially certified gold in 1999.[13]

The album caused controversy due to its profane lyrics, containing a substantial amount of swearing.[14] After listening to his son's copy of the album, a father in the U.S. complained to Wal-Mart, who sold him the album, that the lyrics were offensive. Wal-Mart and Kmart took the album off the shelves. The band and its record label later added a Parental Advisory sticker to the album, and some stores ordered amended copies of the album. Erna commented on the situation to Rolling Stone magazine, stating, "Our record has been in the marketplace for more than a year now without a parental advisory sticker and this is the one and only complaint…. Stickers and lyrics are by nature subjective…. We have decided to put a sticker on the record".[14] This controversy did not hurt album sales, but according to Erna helped, stating, "It's almost taunting kids to go out and get the record to see what we're saying on it".

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.[35] 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 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.[36] 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."[36]

In early November of 2008, Larkin dismissed the rumors and announced the development of a new album, saying: "With all the time we took off and various other projects each of us have been doing, we hope that all of you realize how important Smack is to us, and anyone thinking that the band was going through a rough spot or even thinking about breaking up can be strongly reassured that this band is in the best form we have EVER been in, both consciously and physically, and getting along like a band should, i.e. like the brothers that we are. And also know that we have a definite focus on the new material, and we know where our roots are and exactly where we came from, so expect a pure Godsmack record because it is brewing within us BIGTIME!"[37]

According to Erna, in an early March 2009 interview with Rockerrazzi.com, the album will be released in the first quarter of 2010.[38] 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!".[39]

Currently, Godsmack is 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.[40]

Godsmack released a new single titled "Whiskey Hangover" on June 9th, which is already in heavy rotation on radio stations across the country. Godsmack wanted to release a new single before they kicked off their summer Crue Fest 2 tour. After the tour, they will be hard at work on their next album. It is expected to be released in early 2010 but the date has not been confirmed.

(From Wikipedia)