Godsmack frontman Sully Erna recently opened up about the departure of two longtime band members. He addressed the emotional impact of their exit in a statement shared on TalkShopLive.
Erna discussed guitarist Tony Rombola and drummer Shannon Larkin’s decision to leave the band. He emphasized that both members departed on good terms despite his initial mixed feelings about the situation.
“[Shannon] gave me the best years in this band. Tony as well. Those guys are just irreplaceable, as far as I can say, because they’re truly like brothers, and they always will be. And there’s no bad blood,” Erna said. “A lot of people are, like, ‘Oh, what happened? You had a falling out?’ No, there’s nothing. They got to that point in their lives where they just didn’t wanna tour at this level anymore. It’s hard work. The road is a lonely place.”
The frontman explained the personal reasons behind their departures. He particularly focused on Shannon Larkin’s journey.
“Shannon got sober several years ago. It just didn’t feel fun for him anymore. The body gets beat up. We put ourselves to a lot, emotionally and physically, and they just wanted to go enjoy their lives now,” he continued. “And so we gave each other a big hug, and we wished them the best. We honor and respect their decision.”
Erna also discussed the band’s upcoming live album. It will serve as a tribute to the departing members.
“And I think you’re gonna feel every bit of that emotion on [‘Live At Mohegan Sun’], because these guys, [director] Dan[iel E.] Catullo [III] and his whole team, [editor] Leslie [Atkins], and everybody who was a part of making this film happen really captured visually everything I would want a fan to see in a show, along with this retirement party that we did for Tony and Shannon and how emotional that was,” he said. “I mean, our families were there, our daughters were there.”
Erna reflected on three decades of collaboration. The emotional weight of the situation was evident.
“I cried at least 12 times already, just watching the cuts, trying to get the edits right. ‘Cause it’s 30 years of my life, and they were truly the best parts of my life. So, yeah, closing that chapter, it took me a minute to kind of get ahold of it, but it’s coming,” he explained. “It’s a double live album. It sounds great. It looks great. It’s everything I think you’re gonna want. And I really hope everybody goes out there and gets it to experience it.”
Erna admitted to having initial reservations about the timing despite his understanding and respect for their decision.
“I’m not gonna lie — I had some bitterness at first. From the day they said, ‘Listen, this is the last one. I think we’re gonna finish this record. We’re gonna finish the touring cycle, and then that’s it,'” he said. “And even though I understood it, and they had my blessing, they had my respect, and it wasn’t anything that kind of fell out on bad terms, it didn’t sit with me well.”
The departures of Rombola and Larkin mark a significant transition for Godsmack. Both musicians had been integral to the band’s identity for nearly three decades.
Drumming News Network reported that the band officially confirmed the departures in late 2024. Both Rombola, 60, and Larkin, 58, cited their desire to retire from touring and pursue a simpler, quieter life at home after decades on the road. The decision came after discussions with Erna and bassist Robbie Merrill. Larkin initially addressed the departure in a now-deleted Facebook video before the band made an official announcement.
The band released a statement emphasizing the amicable nature of the split. They explained that “after almost 3 incredible decades, two of our most cherished members have decided to retire from the band permanently, on good terms, but for no other reason than to fulfill their desire to live a more simple and quiet life away from touring.” This aligns with Erna’s recent comments about the members wanting to spend more time with family and loved ones rather than continuing the demanding touring lifestyle.
Larkin himself provided additional context about the departure. He stated: “We’re brothers for life with Sully and Robbie… Godsmack didn’t come to an end — it’s just a new chapter for them and a new chapter for Tony and I. We’re already making music and everybody’s happy.” This sentiment reinforces Erna’s assertion that there was no bad blood between the departing members and the remaining band.
Godsmack has already moved forward with new lineup changes. Drumming News Network noted that the band began their European/UK tour on March 22, 2025, in Sofia, Bulgaria, with replacements Will Hunt from Evanescence on drums and Sam “Bam” Koltun from Faster Pussycat and Dorothy on guitar. This demonstrates the band’s commitment to continuing their musical journey despite the significant personnel changes.
