Salvatore Paul Erna Jr. (born February 7, 1968) is an American singer, musician, and songwriter, best known as the vocalist and rhythm guitarist for rock band Godsmack.[1] He is also a harmonica player, drummer, and percussionist, performing these on albums and at live shows. He was ranked 47th in the Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists by Hit Parader.[2]
Sully Erna was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He began playing drums at the age of three. His father, Salvatore Erna Sr., was a trumpet player from Sicily and would rehearse in the basement where Sully would watch.[3] His great-uncle was a famous composer in Sicily. At the age of 11, Erna discovered that it was easier for him to listen to something and play it than read sheet music. He stopped taking lessons and practiced at home, rehearsing to records by Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Motörhead, and Rush.[4]
Musical career
At 14, Dave Vose became Erna's new instructor. He signed his first record deal in 1993 with a band called Strip Mind. Their debut album What's in Your Mouth sold fewer than 50,000 units. Some of the band members (mainly the singer) and Erna didn't get along, and Erna was booted out. They split-up shortly after.
In Godsmack concerts, Erna plays the bongos and a large drum set, staging a drumming duel known as "Batalla de los Tambores" with drummer Shannon Larkin. This battle has become a staple of the band's live show. He is also a harmonica player as present on the Godsmack song "Shine Down".
In 2010, Erna released his first solo album Avalon. The album took seven years to complete and differed stylistically from Godsmack. Erna wrapped up his acoustic tour with one final show at The House of Blues in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 28.
Erna has also worked with his local music scene. In April 2005, he participated in New Hampshire's Battle of the Bands Competition. The winner (a band called Zion who hails from Salem) had the opportunity to record a demo at Erna's California studio.[5]
Solo work
Erna told Glam-Metal.com that doing his first solo shows were "extremely nerve-wracking", adding, "My first show, I was really, really nervous. Honestly, I haven't been that nervous since I was, I don't know, maybe 10 years old at a talent show or something." Erna kicked off his first solo acoustic trek on May 1 in Niagara Falls, New York and closed it out on May 31 in Las Vegas. The shows have combined Godsmack songs with a few new originals and covers ranging from the Beatles to Alice in Chains to the theme from Love Story.
Regarding how he went about selecting the material used for his solo show, Erna said, "I wanted to stick a couple of originals in and try them out because there was a couple of songs that were done on the piano or the guitar that I wrote that I don't think I would use on a GODSMACK record", he said. "For example, 'Eyes of a Child' and 'Until Then'. It was a great opportunity to showcase that and see if I can hit home with the people on those two pieces. Those songs are the most emotional pieces of the evening. One song is about children born with or dying from AIDS and the other is about a tribute to the troops of the United States Armed Forces."
Erna told The Pulse of Radio that playing some new material live is a good way for him to test out songs that might not work for Godsmack. "We're all musicians and we like to write music and not necessarily rock all the time", he said. "So, you know, if I sit home and I'm writing on the piano and sometimes just cool songs are written that don't necessarily fit maybe what you do with Godsmack, but you don't wanna not record them."
Erna performing in 2006
Erna stated at the time that he planned to work on his first solo album.[6]
On March 4, 2009, Blabbermouth.net reported that Erna had completed work on his first solo album, Avalon, released September 14, 2010. Although, the single Sinner's Prayer will be on radio stations and on sale everywhere August 3, 2010. Erna described the album as being "a very different kind of sounding record", and "a huge departure from anything I've ever done."[7] The album includes Lisa Guyer on vocals, Tim Theriault on guitars and vocals, Chris Decato on keyboards, midi and vocals, Chris Lester on acoustic guitars and bass, classically trained Irina Chirkova of Bulgaria on Cello, Niall Gregory of Ireland Dead Can Dance on drums and percussion and David Stephanelli on drums and percussion.
Three days later, Rockerrazzi.com posted an interview with Erna in which he said that the record "should be out in the next two months".[8] In further describing the album's sound, Erna said that "it's very eclectic" and "tribal" with "a lot of hand drumming" and "beautiful piano compositions".[8] He also stated that he "worked with a percussion session for Dead Can Dance" and that the album will feature Lisa Guyer, who had performed backing vocals for the song "Hollow" on Godsmack's previous album.[8]
Erna's debut solo album is titled Avalon, and was released on September 14, 2010.[9] He released a live DVD, Avalon Live, in fall of 2012.[10]
Erna released a very special limited-edition Avalon box set in November as well as a DVD of the Erna performing songs from his debut solo album, Avalon, on December 16, 2011, at The Wilbur Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts. The collection includes the double-disc Avalon Live, The Making of Avalon Live 40 minute documentary, The Journey to Avalon documentary, and a DVD of bloopers and outtakes. The box set also contains a pair of CDs – the original Avalon album and the Avalon Live show recording. Other items that are part of the collection include two CDs, a book, T-shirt, guitar pick, poster, incense, etc., and a custom metal Sully Erna engraved metal box with a suede lining. Only 5,000 copies were available.[11][12] A single disc standard and Blu-ray version of the show was released on December 18, 2012.[13]
In an interview with HardDrive, Erna mentioned that he will do another solo album; although, details have not been revealed yet.[14] In July 2016, it was announced that Erna will release his second solo album Hometown Life on September 30, 2016.[15][16][17] The album has since been released. Hometown Life includes a song "Turn It Up", for which Erna invited his father into the recording studio to play trumpet on the track.[18] His father performed the song live with Erna at a Sully Erna solo show.
Other activities
Film and music video appearances
Erna is good friends with Criss Angel and has participated in several episodes of the Criss Angel Mindfreak TV show. Erna's contributions to the discography of Criss Angel include co-writing and performing Mindfreak's new theme song "MF2". Erna appears in the music video along with Criss Angel and Godsmack drummer Shannon Larkin.[19]
Erna appeared in episode 7 of the 2007 TV series Dirt.[20][21] Erna has been named to the cast of Woodhaven Pictures Army of the Damned.[22][23] In 2016, he appeared as a Caesar's blackjack dealer in the Martin Scorsese-produced film Bleed for This.[24] Erna has reportedly signed on to appear in the movie Street Level.[25] He also stars in a new independent action-thriller called Black Files.[26]
In 2017, Erna played in the Bulgarian film Benzin (director: Asen Blatechki).[27]
Memoir
Erna released a memoir entitled The Paths We Choose on his birthday, February 7, 2007. The book details his struggles during the first 30 years of his life, up until the time Godsmack landed a record deal.
"The book is basically just my life from the time I was born until Godsmack started", Erna said. "I wanted to write about the whole experience of trying to get there, and hopefully that will inspire some people that maybe are still in the ghettos or trying to dig their way out of a hole. I mean, we're all human and we weren't born rock stars. So I think there's an interesting story to tell of the pain and struggling. You know, being middle classed and being raised in crazy neighborhoods. If kids can see that they'll be able to relate to anything they have a dream for."[28]
The book sold 100,000 copies in its first month of release, and to date has shipped 1,000,000 copies worldwide.
Life Story Documentary
"I Stand Alone: The Sully Erna Story" is a documentary film, produced, edited, and co-written by Noah Berlow, with direction by Troy Smith, providing a glimpse into Sully Erna's remarkable journey from adversity to triumph in the music industry.[29]
Erna participated in the 2006 World Series of Poker main event, in which he made a brief appearance on the ESPN broadcast of the event; it was mentioned that he was the last of the celebrity entries. He finished in 713th out of 8,773 earning him $17,730.[30]
Erna also played in the 2007 World Series of Poker main event. After the elimination of Tobey Maguire, Erna was the final celebrity remaining. He placed in 237th out of a field of 6,358, earning $45,422. To complement his placing at the World Series of Poker, he placed 2nd in a preliminary event at Bellagio's 5 Diamond World Poker Classic, where he lost to J.C Tran but earned $307,325 as a consolation.[31]
Erna returned to play in the 2013 World Series of Poker. "I'm making my comeback! I've studied the game. I'm getting the itch to play poker again", Erna said during an interview with Playbook.[32][33]
2010 Haiti earthquake
Godsmack, Creed, and Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello are some of the musicians who partnered with multimedia company DC3 Music Group to fundraise and pack an MD-80 airplane with supplies and medical personnel to help in the 2010 Haiti earthquake. According to a press release, the plane was scheduled to leave from Long Beach, California, on January 27, 2010, and bring 10,000 pounds of medical supplies, along with doctors and medical staff, to Port-au-Prince.
Erna said in a statement, "Since I can't be there to help in person, I want to make my contribution as a fellow human being to give what I can while I'm in the fortunate situation that I am to help those that are so unfortunate in this time of tragedy."[34]
Hometown Sessions
Erna launched a bi-weekly web series on YouTube called Hometown Sessions. The talk show has Erna hosting celebrity guests. He explained about the contents of the show:
"Every Tuesday I will be bringing on celebrity guests, musician friends and talking all things music. You never know, you may even catch some unique live performances from time to time. Thursdays will be reserved for 'real talk' about 'real life,' as we invite some of the top experts in to talk about mental health, struggles with addiction, depression, bullying and so much more!"[35]
Personal life
Erna has a daughter, Skylar, born in 2001.[36] Erna is a longtime fan of the New England Patriots, having sung the national anthem prior to home games in Foxborough on numerous occasions.[37]
Religious views
Erna was a practicing Wiccan early in his career. His spirituality influences some of his songwriting to include the song "Spiral" from Godsmack's second album Awake and Releasing the Demons from their third album Faceless. He has stated publicly, however, that he "didn't want to be the poster boy for witchcraft."[38] He has also said that he does not follow any specific religion; "I'm just a spiritual person; I believe in karma and things like that. But religion is an ugly word to me."[39]
Car accident
Erna was involved in a three-car chain-reaction accident in Methuen, Massachusetts, when his Hummer H3 and two others collided at an intersection. "He's deeply concerned for the girl who was hurt in this unfortunate accident", said Erna's manager Paul Geary, in reference to 25-year-old Chelmsford resident Lindsay Taylor. "Sully's thankful he got out with a split lip and some aches and pains, but he's traumatized about the girl", according to April 17, 2007, Boston Herald.
Taylor was sitting in the back seat of a dark blue Toyota Camry that was rear-ended by the H3 driven by Erna. The crash occurred on a dark night, around 7 p.m. on the ramp leading from I-93 south to Route 213.[citation needed]
Taylor suffered a severe, traumatic brain injury and was in a coma after the crash. She suffered lasting effects, and would later sue.[40] A settlement was reached in 2010.[41]
Gear
Erna uses Yamaha Absolute Birch drums.[42] He plays on a signature Sully Erna Les Paul Studio guitar.[43]
Godsmack is an American rock band from Lawrence, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. The band is composed of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Sully Erna, bassist Robbie Merrill, lead guitarist Tony Rombola and drummer Shannon Larkin. Since its formation, Godsmack has released eight studio albums, one EP, four DVDs, one compilation album, and one live album.
Tony Rombola is an American musician who has been the lead guitarist for the Boston-based rock band Godsmack since the mid-1990s. Rombola has been cited as "an extraodinaire" in the guitar world by Guitar World magazine, and is cited to be the only guitarist to keep an "original soloing style" during the nu metal period, earning him the respect of the guitar industry. Rombola is also a guitarist for the side-project band Another Animal, formed at the beginning of 2007. The band released their self-titled debut album in October 2007 and played shows, whilst frontman Sully Erna did a small solo tour.
"Whiskey Hangover" is a song by American rock band Godsmack. Released as a promotional single in 2009, it marked the band's first in the almost two years since the release of "Good Times, Bad Times." The song became a live staple in Godsmack's shows during Crüe Fest 2 and was released in promotion of their appearance on the tour. "Whiskey Hangover" reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
The Oracle is the fifth studio album by American rock band Godsmack, released in the United States on May 4, 2010. It is the first Godsmack album to be produced by Dave Fortman. The Oracle marks the first Godsmack studio album to be released since 2006's IV. It received generally favorable critical reviews and became the band's third consecutive album to reach number one on the Billboard 200.
"Cryin' Like a Bitch", stylized as "Cryin' Like a Bitch!!", is a song by the American rock band Godsmack, released as the first single from The Oracle.
"Love-Hate-Sex-Pain" is a song by American rock band Godsmack. It is the second single from the band's fifth studio album, The Oracle.
"Sinner's Prayer" is a song by American rock musician Sully Erna. It is the lead single from his 2010 debut album Avalon. The song was originally written for Sylvester Stallone's blockbuster The Expendables but later taken off the film and soundtrack during post-production. However, the song is reinstated back in the film in the extended director's cut during the films new opening credits sequence.
Avalon is the first solo studio album by American rock musician Sully Erna, released on September 14, 2010. Avalon is a combination of work that took Sully Erna almost seven years to complete.
Live & Inspired is the first live album by American rock band Godsmack. Released on May 15, 2012, the album features live renditions of songs from each of the band's first four studio albums and includes a bonus disc of four cover version recordings.
1000 hp, stylized as 1000HP, is the sixth studio album by American rock band Godsmack. It is a follow-up to the band's 2010 gold-selling album The Oracle and was released on August 5, 2014.
"1000hp" is the lead single and title track from Godsmack's studio album of the same name. It was released on June 9, 2014, and was made available for digital download on Amazon and iTunes on June 10. The single reached number one on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks, making it the band's seventh number one single on the chart.
"Bulletproof" is a song by American rock band Godsmack. It was the first single off of their seventh studio album When Legends Rise.
When Legends Rise is the seventh studio album by American rock band Godsmack. It was released on April 27, 2018. It marks the band's first album away from heavy metal into a more hard rock sound. The album's first single, "Bulletproof", was released ahead of the album in February 2018. All four singles from the album reached number one on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart. The album became certified Gold by the RIAA in September 2021 for selling over 500,000 copies.
"When Legends Rise" is a song by American rock band Godsmack. It was the second single off of their seventh studio album When Legends Rise.
"Under Your Scars" is a song by American rock band Godsmack. It was the third single off of their seventh studio album When Legends Rise.
Flawed Design is the second studio album by rock supergroup Saint Asonia released on October 25, 2019 via Spinefarm Records.
"Unforgettable" is a song by American rock band Godsmack. It was the fourth single off of their seventh studio album When Legends Rise.
"The Hunted" is a song by Canadian-American rock supergroup Saint Asonia. It was released on July 24, 2019 as the lead single from their second studio album Flawed Design. The song features Sully Erna, the lead singer from American rock band Godsmack.
"Surrender" is a song by American rock band Godsmack. It marks the first single from their eighth and final studio album Lighting Up the Sky and their first new music in four years since the release of their seventh studio album When Legends Rise in 2018.
Lighting Up the Sky is the eighth and final studio album by American rock band Godsmack. It was released on February 24, 2023, five years after their last studio album When Legends Rise, making it the longest gap between two studio albums by Godsmack.
↑ McConnell, Alaina (August 28, 2013). "Cleveland Scene". Clevescene.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
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