Godsmack frontman Sully Erna has clarified the band’s future, confirming that new music is on the horizon despite previous claims that 2023’s Lighting Up The Sky would be their final studio album. The catch is that the upcoming material will feature a new lineup.
During an April 23 appearance on SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk,” the vocalist addressed the confusion surrounding the band’s recording status following the recent retirements of guitarist Tony Rombola and drummer Shannon Larkin.
“I think some press misunderstood that. What I had said was, if I remember correctly — I don’t know; maybe I was a little foggy at the time — but I just said that I was pretty sure that this would be the last full body of work from Godsmack, from the original members, that we wouldn’t be able to do this anymore because these guys [guitarist Tony Rombola and drummer Shannon Larkin] were gonna kind of take their final curtain call and bow out. And I knew that this was most likely gonna be the last full body of work from the original members. But now here we are. Me and [bassist] Robbie [Merrill] had a long talk. We were, like, ‘Well.’ We had a decision to make, and we said, ‘Well, we’ve still got some gas in the tank here. I don’t really wanna hang it up yet.’ And he’s, like, ‘Let’s go around.’ And so we brought in these new guys, and it’s sounding great. So we’re, like, yeah, there’s probably gonna be some new music coming. I mean, it may not hit the streets till early ’27, but we’re gonna do something, for sure. But it just won’t be with all the original members anymore,” Sully explained (as transcribed by Blabbermouth).
After “Trunk Nation” pointed out that, as a songwriter, Sully will always feel driven to create new music, whether solo or with Godsmack, he agreed, but acknowledged the band will only continue as long as it feels right.
“Yeah, for sure,” he concurred. “I mean, I’ll always write music. Even if I don’t tour anymore, even if I never made another record again, I am always gonna write music. I may write and produce and arrange for other artists. I might just do stuff for solo, collabs, things like that. Music’s in my blood. I’m not giving up music. But there’ll be a time and place where I’ll just be, like, ‘Well, maybe it’s…’ And we’ll see how this goes. Listen, me and Robbie even said, hey, if we go out there and this just isn’t feeling good anymore because it’s not our brothers and it’s a bit foreign feeling, then… We made a decision, just like we did when we started this band, to say, ‘Hey, you know what?! We had a good run.’ Give each other a big hug. Neil Peart himself told me ‘nothing great lasts forever’. And that’s kind of how I feel. And so when that day comes, we’ll give each other a big hug and we’ll call it a good run and we’ll step away from it. But right now I don’t think that’s happening. This band sounds better than ever. We have two new guys that are breathing some new life into the energy in this band, and for sure some new music’s gonna come eventually. We’re gonna be doing a bunch of touring, and then we’ll see how it goes, how it feels.”
The updated Godsmack roster anchored by Sully Erna and bassist Robbie Merrill now includes guitarist Sam Koltun, who previously filled in during their early 2025 European tour, and drummer Wade Murff.
“Sam‘s on board now full-time, and he’s gonna be the new player from this point forward. And the drummer that we chose, his name is Wade Murff. He’s worked with Daughtry and some other acts. A fairly under-the-radar kind of guy. A strong player. A great dude. Really good with attention to details, as Sam is.”
He expressed complete confidence in the new musicians’ ability to honor the band’s legacy and seamlessly integrate into their live show.
“I have complete confidence in this, although we start rehearsals next week. I’m just really confident that this is gonna be just as good, if not better than ever, because these guys came in with the right attitude. They honored the catalog, they honored the playing. They didn’t try to reinvent it. And as you know, a guitar can sound like a guitar, a drum can sound like a drum. Until you replace the vocalist, that’s when the sound really changes. So I really feel that the fans will be able to come and enjoy the music as they have always known it, because it won’t sound foreign to them, like there’s a new singer singing Godsmack stuff. And plus their showmanship even elevates it a little bit more. I mean, Shannon‘s hard to replace. He’s the GOAT [Greatest Of All Time]. If you see that dude play, he’s a tough cookie to replicate or replace live visually. But this guy, Wade, he’s strong. He’s got some great chops, and he’s really playing the stuff solid. I’m very happy to take them on tour and introduce them. And this is gonna start the next chapter in our life here, Godsmack 2.0.”
Wade Murff has previously built a reputation as a reliable touring drummer, performing with acts including Daughtry, Prong, Sebastian Bach, Orgy, and Doyle of the Misfits.
Fans will have the opportunity to hear the classic lineup one final time on the upcoming live album and Blu-ray, Live At Mohegan Sun. Set for release on May 01 via Primary Wave, the project was captured during the band’s sold-out October 26, 2024 performance in Uncasville, Connecticut.
The new incarnation of Godsmack will hit the road for “The Rise Of Rock” 2026 tour.
“The Rise Of Rock” 2026 tour dates:
- May 7 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome to Rockville
- May 9 – Camden, NJ – MMRBQ
- May 10 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
- May 12 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
- May 14 – Charlotte, NC – Truliant Amphitheater
- May 16 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
- May 17 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple
- May 19 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater
- May 21 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
- May 23 – Huntsville, AL – Orion Amphitheater
- May 24 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater
- May 27 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
- May 29 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
- May 30 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Sponsored by Huntsman
- June 12 – Kansas City, MO – Morton Amphitheater
- June 14 – St Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
- June 16 – Grand Rapids, MI – Acrisure Amphitheater
- June 18 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
- June 20 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
- June 21 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
- June 23 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
- June 24 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
- June 27 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
- June 28 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
- June 30 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
- July 2 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
- July 3 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater
- September 6 – El Paso, TX – Speaking Rock Casino (Dorothy only)
- September 7 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
- September 9 – Denver, CO – Junkyard
- September 11 – Las Vegas, NV – Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino (Dorothy only)
- September 12 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre KUPD UFest
- September 15 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
- September 17 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center
- September 19 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
- September 20 – Corning, CA – Rolling Hills Casino and Resort (Dorothy only)
- September 22 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
- September 24 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
- September 26 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater KQXR XFest
