Godsmack | Interview | Shannon Larkin
Godsmack’s seminal second album, ‘Awake,’ is getting a fresh lease on life with its reissue on vinyl.
The double LP is set to be released on May 17, 2024, and features remastered versions of their early hits, including ‘Bad Magick,’ ‘Awake,’ and ‘Greed.’ This reissue is significant for both longtime fans and new listeners looking to revisit the sound that solidified Godsmack’s place in rock history.
The Massachusetts-based band celebrated their journey in 2023 with their eighth studio album, ‘Lighting Up the Sky,’ demonstrating their enduring appeal as they continue to release exciting music. The album’s themes explore a range of topics, including relationships, challenges in love, political divisions, global issues, betrayal, human connections, and comebacks.
Shannon Larkin, drummer for Godsmack, has built a legendary career with his high-energy drumming and versatility. In this interview, he shares insights into his influences, musical journey, and the powerful dynamics he brings to Godsmack’s sound. The current lineup features Sully Erna on vocals and guitar, Tony Rombola on guitar, Robbie Merrill on bass, and Shannon Larkin on drums.
“I believe our longevity has been because of only releasing records every four years”
Congratulations on the re-release of ‘Awake’ on vinyl! What inspired the decision to remaster and release it on vinyl after all these years?
Shannon Larkin: With the resurgence of folks like us still digging on vinyl, and the fact that records went the way of the dinosaur by the time ‘Awake’ was released (so it never saw vinyl) we loved the idea of marking the 20 year anniversary of ‘Awake’ with vinyl. The green is dope.
‘Awake’ marked a significant milestone for Godsmack. Looking back, how do you feel about the impact this album had on Godsmack’s career?
It was released at a time of change in our country and was a dark and heavy record that fit well with the times. Its main impact for the band was that radio played it, and after the first record, you never know if they’ll embrace your sophomore release. So, when it started getting lots of play, it definitely had a major impact for the band. Without radio, we wouldn’t have had our success.
Godsmack has enjoyed a remarkable journey over the past two decades. What do you attribute the band’s longevity and continued success to?
I believe our longevity has been because of only releasing records every four years. Write and record for a year, tour for a couple, and have some time apart to normalize. Longevity, over all the awards or gold records or accolades, is our biggest badge of honor.
As part of the North American Vibez Tour, what can fans expect from your live performances, and do you have any standout moments or cities you’re particularly excited about?
For the Vibez Tour, we knew we had really toured hard throughout the U.S. and Canada last year, hitting all the cities’ markets over close to 8 months out there, but we wanted to continue working. So the idea of doing a theater tour like we’d done previously in ’04 to support ‘The Other Side’ EP felt right. But we didn’t want to do it all acoustically for the third time, and Sully came up with the idea to put in some of the cool cover songs that influenced us and do a kind of storyteller-like show, but with electric guitars. Lava lamps and mushrooms being the inspirational theme. It’s been a blast so far, and I’m looking forward to hitting the West Coast of America to see some old friends.
Reflecting on Godsmack’s extensive discography, how do you perceive the band’s evolution musically and thematically from your debut album to your most recent releases?
Looking back at the band’s records in retrospect, I feel that putting out records every 4 years has given a lot of time between releases for pretty significant changes to happen to our sound as we aged. The aggression started to lessen for sure, as metal is certainly a young man’s sport in our minds, so I believe our records turned more to our earlier big rock influences than our metal influences on the first few records. This last one, Lighting Up the Sky, we conscientiously tried to include a little bit of the vibe of each previous record and draw a little from each.
“I’ve always tried to kill the ego and play for the song, rather than trying to stand out”
As the drummer for Godsmack, how do you approach your craft both in the studio and during live performances, and are there any drummers or bands that have influenced your style?
Drumming in Godsmack is a little different because, like some other bands (Aerosmith, Foo Fighters), the singer is also an excellent drummer who writes many lyrical phrasings around beats. So as a band drummer, I’ve always tried to kill the ego and play for the song, and for the songwriter’s vision of the song, rather than trying to stand out. When there are moments that call for some badassery, I’d like to think I’m there. Live, I have nothing but passion for playing the drums, loving the drums, and trying to be unique. As far as influences, there have been so many, but the first few were Peart, Bonham, Moon, Rudd, Mitchell, Copeland, and Peter Criss, to name a few. The second wave was the thrash/punk years, and it was mainly Ulrich, Lombardo, Hoglan, Benante, etc., plus a whole slew of punk drummers whose stuff I learned, then never heard from them again (in most cases). In the last ten years, it’s been some blues and jazz guys (Whipper, Mark Giuliana, who played on my favorite record of all time, Bowie’s Blackstar), and Anderson .Paak, who still makes me light up.
Looking ahead, what’s next for Godsmack? Are there any future projects or collaborations on the horizon that fans can anticipate?
What’s next for Godsmack is that after finishing the Vibes run on May 5th, we’ll have some much-needed time off (we did close to 8 months on tour last year, then fired this year up in February) and will be playing 6 shows over the summer—a few are festivals and a few of our own gigs. There is talk of another arena run in September/October that isn’t fleshed out yet, but we hope to tour until Halloween.
Outside of music, are there any hobbies or interests that you’re passionate about?
Outside of music, I have a lot of turtles and koi fish. I’m talking 30+ turtles (all aquatic outdoor varieties from all over the planet in a 5000-gallon pond) and 40 gorgeous koi, most of which were born in my pond, a whopping 35,000-gallon pond like no other. These, along with my Golden Retriever and lots of fauna and bonsai trees, take up my zen time away from music.
Your journey in music spans several decades and includes stints with various bands before joining Godsmack. How do you think your diverse musical background has contributed to your style and approach as a drummer in Godsmack?
My past totally dictates how I approach and play the drums. I wear my influences on my sleeve and have never played music that I didn’t personally like. Sully grew up with the same influences as I did musically, so drumming for Godsmack has been natural for me, even with the fact that the singer/songwriter is a great drummer. For him, I have played for his songs, and of course, some of them I may have stylistically played differently… but only a couple come to mind over the decades.
What are some of the most important players that influenced your own style, and what in particular did they employ in their playing that you liked?
I mentioned a lot of my personal drummer influences above, but to say why it was them particularly, I would have to say that each dude was passionate and unique.
Your work with bands like Wrathchild America and Ugly Kid Joe showcased your versatility as a drummer. How do you balance different musical styles and adapt your playing to fit the dynamics of each project?
Dave Fortman (who is now a famous producer) was the guitarist in Ugly Kid Joe when I joined, and he taught me so much about integrating my style while still playing for the song. So, my balance comes from musicality and understanding what exactly is needed (or wanted).
In 2002, you joined Godsmack, becoming an integral part of the band’s lineup. What drew you to Godsmack, and how did your presence influence the band’s sound and direction?
I joined Godsmack because I’d been friends with Sully since 1986 when he was also a drummer. I got the original call to join his band but was already signed with Amen and recording our first record, so I had to turn it down. Six years later, I had quit Amen, and literally two weeks later, I got the call from Sully saying they were replacing their guy and asking if I was free. I was.
Let’s end this interview with some of your favourite albums.
My fave records in no order, and off the top of my head sitting here in this very moment:
David Bowie – ‘Blackstar’
Pink Floyd – ‘Dark Side of the Moon’
Slayer – ‘Hell Awaits’
Led Zeppelin – ‘II’
Bad Brains – ‘Rock For Light’
Ramones – any and all.
Klemen Breznikar
Headline photo: Kamal Asar
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