The band has three #1 albums (Faceless, IV, The Oracle) on the Billboard 200, four Grammy nominations, and eight #1 hits on Mainstream Rock Radio. Godsmack has sold over 19 million records worldwide.
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. In the summer of 2009, Godsmack toured as support to Mötley Crüe's Crüe Fest 2 tour.
In February 1995, Sully Erna decided to start a new band as the lead singer after playing the drums for more than 23 years, including over two years in the now-defunct band Strip Mind. His new band The Scam formed with Erna on vocals, Robbie Merrill on bass, local guitarist and friend Lee Richards on guitar, and Tommy Stewart on drums. The Scam quickly changed its name to Godsmack, after recording one demo. The newly formed band started playing small bars in their hometown of Boston, Mass.. Locally popular songs such as "Keep Away" and "Whatever" soon brought them to the top of the hit charts in the Boston/New England area.
The band's name, according to Merrill in the Smack This! DVD, was taken from the Alice in Chains' song "God Smack". However, Erna stated in a 1999 interview that "I was making fun of somebody who had a cold sore on his lip and the next day I had one myself and somebody said, 'It's a godsmack.' The name stuck. We were aware of the Alice in Chains song but didn't really think much about it. It's a cool song and the name had meaning for us".
In 1996, Tony Rombola and Joe D'Arco joined Godsmack as the guitarist and drummer, after Richards left after finding out he had a six-year-old child and Stewart left due to personal differences. In the same year the band entered the studio for the first time, recording its first CD titled "All Wound Up". The CD was recorded in just three days for $2,600.
For the next two years, the band played throughout the Boston area. Eventually Godsmack's CD landed in the hands of Rocko, the night-time DJ for Boston radio station WAAF (FM). The radio station put "Keep Away" into heavy rotation and the song rose to the number one spot at the station very quickly. Newbury Comics, a New England record store chain, agreed to sell the CD on consignment. Shortly after the success of "Keep Away", Godsmack went back into the studio and recorded a single titled "Whatever", which became the new local favorite on WAAF (FM).
In an interview Sully Erna stated, "we had been selling maybe 50 copies a month at the time WAAF picked up the album. All of a sudden we started moving over records a week. It was insane. Even crazier, I was doing all this from my bedroom. After years of grinding away, things finally started taking off."
Alice in Chains is believed to be the primary influence to Godsmack. Many believe Godsmack obtained their name from the Alice in Chains song "God Smack" off the album Dirt. In an interview with MTV upon the death of Alice in Chains lead singer Layne Staley, Godsmack frontman Sully Erna stated that Staley "was single-handedly the guy that got me to start singing." Erna went on to later confirm that indeed "God Smack" is the inspiration for the bands name and the reason their sound sounds similar to that of Alice in Chains Other bands cited by Godsmack members as their primary influences typically include Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Black Sabbath, ² and White Zombie. More recently, Godsmack have attempted to distance themselves from the Alice in Chains comparison with Erna stating in an interview with Matt Ashare, "I've just never really heard that in our music." In that same interview, Erna offers an alternative explanation to the origin of their band name by stating, "It happened at rehearsal when our drummer came in with a big cold sore on his lip. I was making fun of him all day because we had a photo shoot coming up. And then the next day when I came in, I had a big cold sore on my lip. So my guitar player said, See, God just smacked you for making fun of him." Nevertheless, the comparison to Alice in Chains is well documented. Sully Erna's style of singing mirrors that of Layne Staley's while the overall sound of the band's first two albums sound incredibly similar to the sound of Dirt. The logo of Godsmack is similar to the sun logo of Alice in Chains. Godsmack also released an album titled "Faceless" which is similar in name to Alice in Chain's first album Facelift. The band even transcended from their heavy sound to a more mellow acoustic sound on their album "The Other Side" in the same manner Alice in Chains did in "Jar of Flies".
In 2002, Godsmack received a Grammy nomination in "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" for the song "Vampires" from the album Awake. In 2004, they opened for Metallica, while headlining with Dropbox in the summer. They did acoustic shows for their newly released album The Other Side in the fall of 2004, while still opening for Metallica. In September 2004, Godsmack issued a live DVD titled "Changes" which the band recorded earlier that year. That same month, the group also released "Batalla de los Tambores", a live cut available only via online services such as Apple's iTunes Music Store, Real and Napster. They released their latest album 'The Oracle' on May 3rd, 2010.
Some songs from the album "Faceless" are also in the video game soundtrack for "Prince of Persia: Warrior Within".
Current members
* Sully Erna - Vocals, Lyrics, Guitar and Percussion.
* Robbie Merrill - Bass and Backing Vocals
* Tony Rombola - Guitars and Backing Vocals
* Shannon Larkin - Drums/Percussion
Hollow
Godsmack Lyrics
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If it happened would it matter?
And I can't tell if I should go or stay
Same old picture feel so hollow
How can anybody know what's best for me?
Another page I turn in shame
And my decisions brought me to my knees
I needed someone to blame
I feel so hollow
I feel so hollow
Time to do what's best for me I believe I can change
Once upon a time in broken dreams
Reflection's that I can't face
So hold your breath and make a wish for me
Take me to a better place
Time always seems to be passing by
It never waits for me
If I could do it all one more time
I wouldn't change a thing
I feel so hollow (feel so hollow)
I feel so hollow (feel so hollow)
I feel so hollow (feel so hollow)
I feel so hollow (feel so hollow)
Time to do what's best for me I believe I can change
The song "Hollow" by Godsmack delves into the emotions of feeling lost and empty. The singer is on the brink of falling away and questions whether their actions really matter. They can't decide whether to leave or stay in the same old picture that feels so hollow. The lyrics reflect the struggle of feeling trapped and not being sure what they need to do to move forward. There is a sense of guilt and shame as the singer reflects on past decisions that have brought them to their knees. They seek someone to blame for their situation.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I feel so hollow," emphasizing the emptiness and lack of purpose the singer feels. They recognize that it's time to do what's best for themselves, but are unsure of how to do so. The second verse explores the idea of broken dreams and regretful reflections. Time is always passing by, and the singer wishes they could go back in time and do things differently. Ultimately, they wouldn't change a thing because it has led them to where they are now.
The song's interpretation can vary between individuals. Some may relate to the feeling of being lost and stuck in a rut, while others may interpret it as struggling to make a tough decision. Others may see it as a reflection of society's pressures and expectations. However, the overall message seems to be about taking control of one's own life and making decisions that will lead to a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
One more step and I could fall away
I am on the edge, and I may lose control soon
If it happened would it matter?
I doubt if anyone would care if I fell away
And I can't tell if I should go or stay
I am indecisive about my future
Same old picture feel so hollow
My life is monotonous and lacks meaning
How can anybody know what's best for me?
I wonder if anyone can understand my struggles and make the right decision for me
Another page I turn in shame
I keep making mistakes and regretting my actions
And my decisions brought me to my knees
My choices have led me to a low point in life
I needed someone to blame
I want to shift the responsibility for my actions to someone else
Once upon a time in broken dreams
I had big dreams, but they are now shattered
Reflection's that I can't face
I have deep-seated issues that I cannot confront
So hold your breath and make a wish for me
I am desperate for someone to hope for the best for me
Take me to a better place
I want to escape my current situation and start afresh
Time always seems to be passing by
I feel like I am running out of time
It never waits for me
I cannot catch up with time
If I could do it all one more time
I have many regrets about my past actions
I wouldn't change a thing
Despite everything, I would not alter my past
I feel so hollow (feel so hollow)
I feel empty, and I cannot shake this feeling off
Time to do what's best for me I believe I can change
It is time to prioritize my interests, and I am confident that I can turn my life around
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES SHANNON LARKIN, ROB MERRILL, SALVATORE P. ERNA, TONY ROMBOLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind