The guns, drugs and poverty that grew up on the violent streets of Lawrence, Massachusetts could easily have transformed Sully Erna into famous for the wrong reasons. Instead, music began as his outlet when he was only three years old, so Elna used it as a successful means of getting away.
From the humble beginnings of a rough city northwest of Boston to spending a crazy year and becoming one of the top rock superstars “worstly good at the bad” – Elna has changed about her own upset childhood. He says that there is no.
Light a fire
It’s interesting to think about what it turned out, even if there was music that Elna couldn’t run through his veins. Instead, Godsmack frontman is preparing to celebrate the band’s 30th anniversary next year.
The 56-year-old lead singer and songwriter said in a recent interview that he “is really proud of the way the band has been together for so many years.” “We’ve got through many tough times when some bands get in the way and break their egos. There were a lot of drugs, drinking, hangovers, but we got help. And now we’re a really tight family. We could fight to get to the other side.”
Over the past 30 years, Godsmack has sold over 20 million albums worldwide, has three consecutive debut albums, and has won the top 10 singles over any other band in rock history . So far, Godsmack has eight albums and has won four Grammy Award nominations, two Iheartradio Music Awards nominations and one Billboard Music Award.
Looking back at their admiration, Elna and fellow Godsmack members bassist Robbie Merrill, lead guitarist Tony Lombola and drummer Shannon Larkin have come to light on their latest album, Lighting Up the Sky, which is their last I have decided to make it a studio album.
“We were talking about everything we did along the way and we talked about building the tour,” Elna said. “We had 27 top 10 singles and 13 number one, so even if we played a back-to-back show, we didn’t play all the fan favorites, so we had an inspiration. We thought about our fans and what they wanted.
“When people go to see their favorite bands, they want to hear their favorite songs, not necessarily new. They want to go to Aerosmith concerts and not let them play their ‘dreams’. It’s something,” he explained. “We thought we had arrived and decided it was time to celebrate the catalogue, so we decided to create the best show possible.”
Since Godsmack’s four-time platinum self-titled debut, last year’s final albums, “The Band Top Song,” “Voodoo,” “Awake,” “I Stand Alone,” and “Under Your Scars,” have been deeply rooted in hardcore. Masu. Fan base. Their last studio album may be their last, but this is not the end of Godsmack, who recently went on a Hot Fall tour.
“‘When Legends Rise’ is the perfect song to do a live show,” he said. “You and i’ is fun too, because it feels like a rock song from the 70s, and “Awake” is perfect for drum battles. ”
Burn your dreams
Some fans may not know that Elna is a multi-instrumentalist and started off as a powerhouse drummer before moving on to vocalist and lead songwriter at first. “John Bonham and Buddy Rich shaped my play as drummers, and then I started watching frontmen like James Hetfield and Stephen Tyler,” he said. “They helped me define me as a musician. Joe Perry wanted to move on to become a rock star.”
To become the rock star he’s craving, Elna said he has to see the part that means he’s covering himself with a tattoo. “Tattoos have not been in my life for a long time,” he admitted. “There were moments when I wanted to shape myself as a rock star, so I had to look like it. I didn’t have a lot of money, so I paid some money I dated a stripper. I look down at the old tattoos, but they don’t have much importance, but I remember when I got them. On my chest, There is a portrait of a daughter, one of the most important people in her life.
Another favorite tattoo is on Elna’s back. “I’m not religious, but I think I’m spiritual, which helps me expand my mind more,” he said. An inverted star that symbolizes the inverse of polarity. Wiccan religion was also extremely important in my life. I was looking for faith and I have something in the circle that is a star, as this simple Native American religion helped me find balance. ”
Over the years, avid motorcycle enthusiasts have gathered several bikes, including the Chopper and the customized 1998 Harley-Davidson Soft Isle. Elna’s go-to bike is the 2005 Ultra Classic “It’s really comfortable.” With a laugh, he said, “As you get older, you look cool, but you don’t feel too cool. yeah.”
I was excited by the flames
Godsmack’s songs are emotional and Elna admits that some people find it difficult for him to write. “Everything on the first album was raw,” he said. “I was experiencing a heavy heartbreaking parting. There are a few songs on that record that I remember being there. Our last album has a look at ours. There is a song called “Truth” about someone who betrayed a relationship. We were heading towards marriage and that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. ”
In 2016, Elna shared his journey in a memoir entitled “The Paths We Chosen.” “I wasn’t planning on writing a book,” he said. “It started to remind me of some stories, and I thought if I hadn’t lived them, I wouldn’t believe some of the stories. Then I started collecting stories and then I put the manuscript on it. I was holding it, writing books, and began to feel the story of patience.”
Last year, he produced the documentary, “I Stand Alone: The Sully Erna Story.” “The documentary was born after the book,” he explained. “The documentary is hard to fit 30 years of life into just 90 minutes, but it’s about endurance, hanging and shining time. If you’re hanging there long enough, you’ll be You’ll really get your chance. There have been many times I’ve wanted, but you can’t crumble.”
Today, Elna serves as an inspiration for the mental health nonprofit The Scars Foundation (scarsfoundation.org). “I was tired of losing people to things we couldn’t see,” he said. “We need to come up with a system to help people.
“I had a lot of experiences with mental illness growing up on the streets of Lawrence and never knew I had experiences with mental illness,” he continued. “Through the Foundation, we provide support for suicide prevention, addiction, and PTSD. We are partnering with great people and businesses in our sixth year. We quickly bring to mind widows and children. You will get a new category to help those who have lost. They are a heavy topic, but the wounds are left in those with pain, and the pain doesn’t know the difference. It’s just painful. ”
During her recent collaboration with Nashville musician Cory Marks, Elna was approached to see if she was interested in vocalizing on “Make My Country Rock.” When asked if he would eventually transition to country rock stars, he laughed and said, “I don’t classify music. I thought it was a great song.”
“Focusing one thing at a time with intense laser focus,” Elna wanted to close 2024 as “big and strong” as possible. “I’ve learned how to balance my life and I’m giving my daughter and my family more time,” he said. “I might do some collaborations in 2025. I might do something solo or even go back to acting.”
Now, it has evolved from a life of anxiety and rarity to something charming, rich with chart-top songs, awards, passion projects and the rich thrills of two wheels. 2025 already looks promising.
Concert Photo: Paris Visone & Francesca Ludikar
