Mike Mangini has shared his first public comments since stepping into Godsmack’s touring lineup, offering a candid look at just how quickly his new role came together.
The former Dream Theater drummer made his live debut with the band on June 12 at Morton Amphitheater in Riverside, Missouri, joining Sully Erna, Robbie Merrill, and Sam Koltun for the latest stop on Godsmack’s “The Rise Of Rock” tour. His arrival came under unusual circumstances, with Mangini brought in on extremely short notice to replace Wade Murff.
Following the performance, Mangini addressed fans on Instagram and reflected on the whirlwind transition, emphasizing both gratitude and the lack of preparation time.
He wrote in a statement: “Taking this all in today with show 1 done 😅 And just like that, I finally get to play these dream venues in the USA with my Boston brothers in @godsmack I need to thank a lot of people for putting this together so quickly. I can’t even express how grateful I am to Sully, Robbie, Sam and the entire organization for trusting me with no rehearsal. My gear companies performed nothing short of a miracle and my family, friends & fans never stopped praying for and supporting me. Thank you.”
The statement highlights just how abrupt Mangini’s entry into Godsmack was, with the drummer revealing he stepped into the tour without rehearsal and relied on rapid preparation from his team and equipment partners.
His addition follows the departure of Wade Murff, who had only joined Godsmack earlier this year. Murff handled drumming duties for more than a dozen shows, beginning with the band’s May 8 appearance at Welcome To Rockville in Daytona Beach, Florida, and wrapping up on May 30 in Houston, Texas.
Murff’s final performance came just before an unexpected shift in his touring schedule, as he was later announced on June 6 as a temporary replacement for Black Veil Brides drummer Christian “CC” Coma, who stepped aside due to “an unfortunate personal and private matter.” Murff debuted with Black Veil Brides on June 10 in Munich, Germany.
