Godsmack's Erna Isn't As Tough As He Sounds
By: By WAYNE BLEDSOE - Scripps Howard News Service
April 28th 2003 3:00pm
There are few vocalists who sound more angry and anguished than Godsmack frontman Sully Erna. From the band's initial warning cry "Keep Away" (in 1998) to the daunting "Scorpion King" soundtrack opener "I Stand Alone," Erna sounds like a man who eats raw meat _ human, maybe.
Yet on the phone at his New York hotel, while preparing for an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," Erna is calm and friendly.
"People think I'm tough, moody," says Erna. "I'm not. I'm a clown. I'm a jokester. I'm the guy picking people who are down up. I've never been an angry person. I'm generally happy most of the time."
If steady success would make Erna happy, he should be elated. Formed in Boston, the group recorded its first album in 1996 on a loan of $2,500. Boston radio station WAAF began playing the album's track "Keep Away," which sparked local album sales. By the time the major labels came calling, the group was selling nearly 1,000 discs per week and was packing local venues. The band's new album, "Faceless," just debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200.
Republic Records released Godsmack's self-titled disc in 1998 and used much of the band's original recordings.
In addition to the group's brink-of-Armageddon sound, one of the early aspects of the band that caught journalists was the band's name. Journalists still attribute the name to an Alice in Chains song of the same name _ even though band members have said this was false.
In fact, Erna had made fun of another band member's cold sore and ended up with his own the next day. Band guitarist Tony Rombola said it was "God smacking" Erna for ribbing his band mate, and the group stuck to the story.
"If people don't know the story on that now, they don't need to know," says Erna. "I've been thinking of just agreeing with it from now on because it makes interviews go smoother _ 'Oh yeah, Alice in Chains; that's right.' "
The band survived early battles with Wal-Mart, which refused to carry the group's album because of lyrical content (and probably not helped by the multipierced model on the album's cover). Yet, the disc went multiplatinum even without the retail giant's help. Grammy nominations and even greater sales have followed.
"Faceless" finds Godsmack still loud, and still as aggressive as any metal head on the block, but with stronger melodies and more accomplished lyrics.
The singer attributes some of the new polish to the group's "much-needed, much-deserved" break from the road and the studio. The band members spent time with family and friends and decompressed. The group also parted ways with drummer Tommy Stewart, who was replaced by Shannon Larkin, formerly of the band Amen.
"With a new member, a new face, in the band, we just had this energy," says Erna. "We recorded in North Miami, and we rented a house and didn't have one argument."
The new album even includes one acoustic song _ albeit one with a hard edge.
One of the most striking songs on the new disc is "Releasing the Demons."
"I guess that's me having guilty feelings for being a kid and doing some stupid things. That song, I guess, is me forgiving myself."
And Erna certainly forgives anyone who has misconceptions about his demeanor.
"The only way most people know me is through my lyrics," he says.
And the band's debut and its follow-up, "Awake," both were inspired by the group's early struggles and Erna's own difficulties.
"During those first two albums I was going through a tough break-up," says Erna, "but I think I beat myself up more than they beat me up."
Maybe it's the therapy of songwriting that keeps Erna in check.
"It's just life that somebody is going to do something to make you mad or depressed, but that's the time I go off to be alone and write in my journal. Some of those entries become songs."
"The good thing is, I think that I flushed a lot of those emotions out now," says Erna. "I'm over that bad relationship and I have a beautiful daughter. Things are different."
 Copyright 2003 Scripps Howard News Service
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