Following
from mtv.com:
This US heavy rock band revolves around the diminutive
figure of Sully Erna, a self-confessed witch from Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Erna had played drums with local Boston band Strip Mind, before taking a
yearlong break from music. He formed Godsmack (named after an Alice In Chains song) in 1995 with Robbie Merrill
(bass), Tommy Stewart (drums) and Lee Richards (guitar). The latter pair only
lasted a few months, and were replaced by Tony Rombolo (guitar) and Joe Darko
(drums). The new line-up, with Erna playing drums, recorded a self-titled album
in 1996 on a budget of $2500 and sold it through local retail chain Newbury
Comics. Local radio station WAAF picked up the track "Keep Away" for heavy
rotation, and the band also came to the attention of ex- Extreme drummer Paul Geary who signed them to his
management company PGE. The album's stand-out track, "Whatever", became a big
local hit, and, with their fortunes rising, original drummer Stewart rejoined
the band in mid-1997. The new line-up signed a deal with Republic Records in
July 1998. The heavily remixed album (also released under the title All Wound
Up ) became a surprise hit, selling over a million copies in America, helped
immeasurably by the band's appearance at the US Ozzfest and their subsequent
support slot on Black Sabbath's reunion tour.
Reaction to the album was mixed, with some critics accusing the band of straying
too close to the sound of Alice In Chains and Metallica to be considered truly original. A wry
sense of timing saw the band's sophomore collection arrived on Halloween 2000.
In hardly deviating from the sound of the debut, Awake did not exactly endear the band to their critics,
although it was snapped up by their substantial fanbase.
