Sully Erna Explains Why Godsmack Has Remained Underrated

Sully Erna joined Audacy Music for a chat, discussing why Godsmack never ‘made it’ in the sense of major commercial success and how remaining ‘underrated’ strengthened their bond as a band.

There have been times when promising rock acts couldn’t make it into popular scenes, even though this might not mean they’re any less talented than the notable figures of rock and metal. Commerciality takes more than bare talent as management and publicity strategies come into play.

So, when Sully was asked if he wanted Godsmack to be inducted into the Rock Hall as they were near their thirtieth anniversary, the singer discussed he’d loved to be inducted. However, he then touched upon how he always felt the act had remained underrated on stage.

The vocalist discussed how he felt that they were ‘The Little Engine That Could’ as the band tried their best all the while other significant bands, who would sell millions of records, passed them along with their big steam-powered engines. Erna noted he and his bandmates always thought and questioned what they were doing wrong as to why Godsmack didn’t receive major commercial success.

However, most of these big steam-powered bands would disband at the end, while Godsmack continued their path with all of their might, producing new material for their loyal fanbase. So, it didn’t matter to Sully that the other bands sold millions.

The rocker on Godsmack being under the radar:

“Well, I mean, it would feel great [to be inducted into Rock Hall]; I know that to be acknowledged in the industry. I’ve always felt like we were kind of the band that flew under a lot of the radar because we were never a part of the MTV click or the things that were blowing up during the times when the band was first coming out with our first album.

So we always considered ourselves like ‘The Little Engine That Could’ We came out and just chugged along, and we did what we did every album. And these other big bands with big steam engines would come blowing by us and sell fifteen million records, and we’re like, ‘Man, what are we doing wrong?’

But up the road, we would see those bands break down and go away, and here comes ‘The Little Engine That Could,’ and would chugging along and you know to do our million records every cycle, and that’s something to be said.”

It’s apparent that it meant a lot to Godsmack to be acknowledged by the industry; however, they were also content the way they were. Those other bands with major commercial successes had dissolved one way or the other, but Godsmack had always managed to come out of the cycle and carry on.