Godsmack – Interview [1999]

What does it feel like to go from being local heroes to a national phenomenon in less than a year? That’s the question Godsmack has been asking themselves since they’ve been leveled with a main stage stint on Ozzfest, a trip to Woodstock, and an opening slot for the upcoming Black Sabbath tour. They’ve gone from being the heart and soul of the Boston hard rock scene to metal icons playing for twenty thousand people a night. It’s been a crazy ride for the band whose name does not come from an Alice in Chains song, but from a twisted little incident that instantly coined the name. Regardless of where their name came from, Godsmack is here. And judging from their instinctive drive for success, they could be around for the duration. We had a chance to chat with Tony, lead guitarist for the band, about life before and after Boston, and all that has happened in the rise of Godsmack.

How’s the tour going?

Tour’s going awesome. We’re having a great time. I’m getting a chance to hang with all these bands, which is great because I’m a fan of a lot of them.

So where are you right now?

We’re in Michigan. Detroit, to be exact. We’re here for two days, shows today and Sunday.

Has anything crazy happened on the tour?

No, just regular stuff. Actually, I was waiting for the sod to get ripped up. We heard a rumor that this place tears the lawn up and tries to get it thrown up onstage, but it didn’t happen. Maybe we have to turn it up a notch. We were just short of kicking ass.

About the album, was anything done differently once you were signed by Republic?

No, they just re-mastered it one more time. That was all that needed to be done.

Would you say it’s still a reflection of the band?

Yeah, but I’m sure the second record we’ll be experimenting a bit more. It’ll still have the same basic formula. The stop and go riffs, the big heavy drums, simple guitar stuff, but real powerful. That’s what we’ll definitely stick with, that’s what we dig.

How did it all happen over the course of the last couple of years?

Two years ago we were just playing clubs, trying to get a following. The whole mailing list thing, just beating the streets, playing as much as we can, even playing for free. Then about a year and a half ago this station, WAAF, started playing our stuff (“Keep Away”), giving us some spins at night, and within a few months it was directly affecting the gigs. We were having more people at shows, and in turn they were getting more requests at the station. It turned out it got to be a regularly played song on the station. Then me and Sully (Erna, Godsmack’s vocalist, etc.) wrote “Whatever” and gave it to WAAF and they started playing it immediately. People were just totally digging it. They started buying our demo; we sold about twenty thousand copies. We were selling a thousand a week towards the end, and the labels started calling us at that point. We just got signed from there. It’s just been going ever since. It hasn’t stopped.

Since you’ve blown up and gotten to big stages have you done anything different with your live show?

Wireless units, we’re actually building up our stage now. We bought some stagings for the amps and got some tentacles on the side, burning tentacles over the amps. A little bit visual, we’re gradually trying to get into this whole thing, you know. We’re just coming out of clubs. To us this is new, so I don’t want to come out with this huge light show and have people who see us in clubs see this humongous show. I want to go through the steps and do it all right, as the band progresses. This stage is real big. We’re a little bit out of our element, but we’re learning fast. We’re getting used to it. The crowd is what is awesome. When you hear twenty thousand or thirty thousand people yelling at you, that is something real, man. Something special. It goes right through you.

Have you written any new material?

Yeah, it’s pretty good so far.

Are you playing it at all?

Yes, we have, but with this we only have half an hour, so we’re stuck to about six songs. We do the two songs on the radio and then try to give the best of what we’ve got. We haven’t really had a chance to experiment.

So what’s after the Ozzfest?

Oh, we’re doing Woodstock right when this gets done. We’re on the third day which is very cool. And then what’s really huge for me is Black Sabbath asked us to play with them on a tour in America. About fifteen or sixteen dates, so it’s just going to be us and them.

Any idea of where, what, or anything?

No, not really, I know theaters. Details are still out there, but I know it’s going to be here, not Europe like it was originally planned. I really want to hang with them, meet them, you know. This is so huge. There’s seventeen bands here. So we’ve met everyone, but Ozzy and those guys have this little campground. I don’t want to jump up there like some crazed fan. I’m sure I’ll meet them soon enough.

So you’re touring with Sabbath after Ozzfest and Woodstock. Do you plan on going into the studio after that?

I think we have to hit Europe and Japan at least once before this is over. I think we’ll end up doing that in November and December. Then I think beginning of next year we’ll think about recording some new stuff.

Have you had a chance to check out the other festivals going on this summer?

I’m aware there’s a Warped Tour, but I don’t know who’s on it. I’ve been so wrapped up in what we’re doing. I don’t listen to the radio. I don’t pay attention to anything. I’m in like a whirlwind with this; it’s taken off so fast. Gig, gig, gig, we don’t get a chance to look back at what’s going on. It’s been a crazy year so far. A year ago, I was going to work, banging nails all day. Now I’m cruising around on a bus. We’re pulling our Harleys with us. We have a great time with it.

Cool. Well, enjoy the rest of the tour and have fun at Woodstock.

Thanks, man. Have a good one.

+ rick hinkson