James Shannon Larkin (born April 24, 1967) is an American musician, best known as the former drummer of the rock band Godsmack.[1] He replaced the band's previous drummer Tommy Stewart in June 2002, and played on six of their studio albums: Faceless (2003), IV (2006), The Oracle (2010), 1000hp (2014), When Legends Rise (2018), and Lighting Up the Sky (2023). At the time of his departure from the band in late 2024,[2] Larkin was Godsmack's longest-serving drummer.
Larkin has been playing drums since the age of ten.[citation needed]
He formed Wrathchild America in 1978, recording two albums for Atlantic Records before being dropped by the label. The group disbanded and later reformed as Souls at Zero, signing with Energy Rekords and releasing an eponymous debut album that was well received by critics. He went on to join Ugly Kid Joe in 1994 replacing their touring drummer who replaced its drummer Mark Davis, recording two albums with the band before its breakup in 1997 and spent a decade with the band following its reform in 2010, recording another two albums before leaving the band in 2021. He recorded two more with Amen before joining Godsmack.
He briefly played with Black Sabbath at one show on July 1, 1997, when regular drummer Mike Bordin was unavailable.[3]
Larkin is a koi and turtle enthusiast and keeps multiple koi and turtles at his home.[10] Larkin has been tattooed by artists all over the world. In addition to a full sleeve on his left arm and tattoos on his right arm, he has "Amen" tattooed across his knuckles and a hand ripping into the skin on his stomach.[11]
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