August 8, 2025 • 8 mins
Life after Godsmack and more with Godsmack lead man Sully Erna from the "Vibez" tour.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
So I got to spend a few minutes with Seally
Erna here on the Vibes tour as it was a
jam packed house. We were supposed to interview at six pm.
We didn't end up getting to sit down a chat
until almost eight, a little more than an hour away
from the band getting ready to take the stage, and
Sully was trying to get himself ready. He had so
many things going on. I'm like, you know, the show
is more important than me. So we got some time
(00:21):
to kind of catch up from when the last time
we spoke in September about his documentary, which is so
unbelievable and I don't know how many I don't know
if you've watched it, but we kind of get into
that what's next for Godsmack and his one hobby that
he hopes to be able to do more of whenever
they maybe wrap up this tour or in the next
couple of years. My time with Selly Erna from Godsmack
here now crazy day.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
So I had to keep pushing Ie, is what's going
on today?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
He's so good? Do you have? Is everybody here? Is
everybody's family.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Here, everyone's here, family's friends, just it's incredible.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
What's going on.
Speaker 5 (00:53):
I was out back and they have the picnic table
out there and everybody showed up with food, and I'm like,
this is the greatest thing ever because everybody had something
they cooked, and it's it's up where everybody's just diving in.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
I'm like, this is family right here. This is an
awesome thing. So is it just for the Florida Vibe
that you got it on the Vibe story?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
It happens in different places, but it just so happens
this show.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
A lot of people flew into and came to and
so it's just it's been a tight day and now
with like I think we're an hour away.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
From yep, yep, so I know we got a few minutes.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Let's do this because then I gotta get ready.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yeah, it's all good.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
Well, we're already into it, so I just like to
have a casual conversation. That's what we do. So when
I saw you in September, this was just kind of
a baby. The Vibes tour was kind of at its infancy.
We were talking about it then because it was like, so,
what's up with this? He goes, well, you know, we're
trying to do a little stage with its storytelling and
everything else, and then seeing like the documentary that one
of the local TV stations did about how much goes
into these shows. Because you and I talked about you
(01:41):
have a hand on everything, stage design, lighting and everything else.
There's not any piece of this production you don't personally approve, right.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Yeah, pretty much, Yeah, because I mean it's been my
vision since the beginning, and the band trusts me with it,
so it's not an ego thing and it's nothing that
they have like animosity about. It's just something that they
know that you know, I had the initial vision for it,
and I've always kind of steered the ship, and you know,
if there's things that pop up that really doesn't work,
we can all kind of feel it together. They don't
(02:09):
even really need to tell me it's not work, and
I kind of know before they even say something most
of the time. So for the most part, once we
get it fine tuned and we're off and running, it's
it's because it's working.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, oh yeah, it's working all right. The people so far.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
I've been watching some of the YouTube videos of the
shows and everybody's just like, and you did it right.
You're doing a size venue twelve hundred people. It's intimate.
Everybody feels like they're part of the stage. It's not
like an arena show. So it makes it really really nice.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Now.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
You also you dropped the documentary back months ago because
that wasn't long after you and I talked, because obviously
I didn't know much about your history, your story, and
I haven't got to watch the whole thing yet. It's
one of those things where I can go and I'm
gonna get through, and I'm gonna get through it. But
to me, just the beginning, I mean, I never realized
how bad it was for you growing up, like gangs
and the murders and everything that you saw, and how
(02:56):
you came out of that on the other side. And
I know you say how close you were with the
gun in your and where everything was about to change
for you forever, right the shotgun to the kid's head.
But then the music was a part of your life,
and then you just kind of found your way slowly, maturely.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
How the hell did that happen?
Speaker 5 (03:11):
I mean how because you wanted to stay out of it, right,
I mean, that wasn't your thing, But.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
I mean I was always intrigued and I got my
share of trouble whatever. But there was a lot of
times when the kids went out to do the really
dark stuff and I was home practicing, you know, because
music was a passion for me.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
So that's what did it.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
Just just driving yourself to stay in the right let
me more than once.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Now, as far as you as time has gone on,
like your kids and everybody, you know, they've had a
completely different growing up, do they when they see when
they hear those stories.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Oh yeah, it's mind blowing.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
To my daughter, she's just like what she can't believe
some of it, and some of it she's just like
fascinated by. But the oldest she gets, I think the
more she appreciates where I came from and how hard
I've worked to get to where I am.
Speaker 5 (03:51):
Well, that's the thing, because it's like just when you
think that the story doesn't get any wilder, it keeps
getting wilder, and you're like, holy crap, And I mean
I can't even imagine. That's not even anywhere close. I
mean I saw them whatever, I got bullied fied. That's
nothing compared to like solid, mean streets, like gang warfare
that you were dealing with. I mean, are we talking
like gunshots, Like all the time around you in the neighborhood,
(04:12):
there was.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Always someone getting stabbed or beaten up or shot and
you know killed, like it was a lot.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
But the way, you know, one of the things I
think that you've done and a lot of rockets. Jacoby
Shatticks is another one that I think of how much
you give back and how much you actually care about
people's mental well being and trying to be someone who
could show them the light. Like, look, I know you
think you're in hell, but there is a way out.
You just have to find that thing you're passionate about.
And for you, I mean as a kid, you love
music from being a kid, and that was you're out.
You just got to find you out and get the
(04:40):
hell out. Yeah, and you have to have perseverance.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
And I think that's really what the story is about,
is to show people that, like perseverance is what gets
us through to the other side, because you can't see
the rainbow unless you walk through the storm, right, and
you just need to know that there really is a
pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
It's just the son of a bitch getting there.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
And some of these things that we have to do
along the way is just learn how to stand up
after life keeps knocking us down and reach down and
find our inner strength again and rise above it. And
that's when the that's when the miracle happens. That's when
the magic happens when you least expect it.
Speaker 5 (05:14):
Yeah damn, well, here you are a quarter century later
doing this. I mean, did you ever No one ever
says I'm going to do this till I'm eighty years old.
Even the Rolling Stones were like at forty they were like,
this is kind of where we see ourselves getting off
the train. And then here they are at eighty plus
and they're still like, well, this is what drives us.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
You're just going to do this as long as you want, right,
I think.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
I mean, it's until I feel like I'm just I
don't have the same passion for it anymore. But I
don't know if that'll have it happen. I'll always play music.
Whether I always want to tour and perform is another thing.
But for now, you know, everything still feels good and
I feel like we're at the top of our game.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
Yeah, well, this tour is definitely like a next little
you know, not something a little different to keep spans
wanting then coming for more. Now, as far as thinking
about new music down the road, you and I kind
of talked about this in September. Is it more of
those things we talked about, maybe about one or two songs.
If it comes, it comes. It's not like we're trying
to make a whole new album because everybody's looking at
it different. It's like, I don't want to spend a
million dollars to spend a year in a studio for
something a few people will buy and the rest of
(06:11):
the art just lies there.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Yeah, yeah, maybe you know right now this is this
feels like the end of new Godsmack music. But I've
learned to never say never, and I don't know what
I'll do in the future. I don't know if I'll
do a collaboration with another artist, or if I'll end
up writing another song one day that I feel like
should be released under god Smack's name, or if I'll
just do more solo music. But I'm not thinking that
(06:32):
far ahead right now. I'm just enjoying the moment, enjoying
what we've created. I'm enjoying the catalog, I'm enjoying our career,
and our success and you know, this is the first
time we've actually got to do that, Like without really
putting in a ton of work. We're just actually able
to come out now play live shows and enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Yeah, enjoy the same at the moment. Yeah, it's now.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
I know you're way overwhelmed because you do have so
much stuff going on. But is there any other hobby
or any other passion that draws you something that someday
you'd like to throw yourself into.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Oh when this is done. Yeah, I mean I love acting.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
You know, I haven't really gotten a big moment yet
in a big movie. I've gotten small moments and big movies,
and I've gotten big moments in small movies. But I
do like it when I do it, so I find
myself being passionate about that. And if I had some
opportunities to do bigger things in movies or TV, I
would probably do that. I'll probably write and produce songs
for other artists. Yeah, I think somehow I'll always stay
(07:26):
in entertainment because entertainment is what excites me.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Yeah, so yeah, that's that's probably mostly what I would do.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
And then you know, the rest of the time is
just chill time, private time.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
Yeah, with your family and enjoying everybody vacations and things
that you know, away from work, when you're when you're
when you're vacationing, where's you're never one spot to go?
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Italy?
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Oh nice?
Speaker 5 (07:45):
My wife and our talking their viking cruises they have
when that goes all through the whole Mediterranean's fourteen days
and I'm like, we.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Just need to go.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
It's a holiday cruise, is what it is. I'm like, yeah,
because we haven't been back. We haven't been in Italy
since oh four, yeah, that was the last time we
were there. It's awesome, beautiful in the food.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
If you want to tap into the Sully Erna story,
it's amazing. It's I stand alone, the Sully Earna story.
It is on Apple TV as well as Amazon Prime Video.
You can watch it in either one of those two places.
It's supposed to be coming out in a couple of
other spots soon, but right now those are the two
places to watch it exclusively.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Mine. Thanks again to
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Sully Erna of God Smack for spending a little time
with me and you
So I got to spend a few minutes with Seally
Erna here on the Vibes tour as it was a
jam packed house. We were supposed to interview at six pm.
We didn't end up getting to sit down a chat
until almost eight, a little more than an hour away
from the band getting ready to take the stage, and
Sully was trying to get himself ready. He had so
many things going on. I'm like, you know, the show
is more important than me. So we got some time
(00:21):
to kind of catch up from when the last time
we spoke in September about his documentary, which is so
unbelievable and I don't know how many I don't know
if you've watched it, but we kind of get into
that what's next for Godsmack and his one hobby that
he hopes to be able to do more of whenever
they maybe wrap up this tour or in the next
couple of years. My time with Selly Erna from Godsmack
here now crazy day.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
So I had to keep pushing Ie, is what's going
on today?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
He's so good? Do you have? Is everybody here? Is
everybody's family.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Here, everyone's here, family's friends, just it's incredible.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
What's going on.
Speaker 5 (00:53):
I was out back and they have the picnic table
out there and everybody showed up with food, and I'm like,
this is the greatest thing ever because everybody had something
they cooked, and it's it's up where everybody's just diving in.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
I'm like, this is family right here. This is an
awesome thing. So is it just for the Florida Vibe
that you got it on the Vibe story?
Speaker 2 (01:07):
It happens in different places, but it just so happens
this show.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
A lot of people flew into and came to and
so it's just it's been a tight day and now
with like I think we're an hour away.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
From yep, yep, so I know we got a few minutes.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Let's do this because then I gotta get ready.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yeah, it's all good.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
Well, we're already into it, so I just like to
have a casual conversation. That's what we do. So when
I saw you in September, this was just kind of
a baby. The Vibes tour was kind of at its infancy.
We were talking about it then because it was like, so,
what's up with this? He goes, well, you know, we're
trying to do a little stage with its storytelling and
everything else, and then seeing like the documentary that one
of the local TV stations did about how much goes
into these shows. Because you and I talked about you
(01:41):
have a hand on everything, stage design, lighting and everything else.
There's not any piece of this production you don't personally approve, right.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Yeah, pretty much, Yeah, because I mean it's been my
vision since the beginning, and the band trusts me with it,
so it's not an ego thing and it's nothing that
they have like animosity about. It's just something that they
know that you know, I had the initial vision for it,
and I've always kind of steered the ship, and you know,
if there's things that pop up that really doesn't work,
we can all kind of feel it together. They don't
(02:09):
even really need to tell me it's not work, and
I kind of know before they even say something most
of the time. So for the most part, once we
get it fine tuned and we're off and running, it's
it's because it's working.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, oh yeah, it's working all right. The people so far.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
I've been watching some of the YouTube videos of the
shows and everybody's just like, and you did it right.
You're doing a size venue twelve hundred people. It's intimate.
Everybody feels like they're part of the stage. It's not
like an arena show. So it makes it really really nice.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Now.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
You also you dropped the documentary back months ago because
that wasn't long after you and I talked, because obviously
I didn't know much about your history, your story, and
I haven't got to watch the whole thing yet. It's
one of those things where I can go and I'm
gonna get through, and I'm gonna get through it. But
to me, just the beginning, I mean, I never realized
how bad it was for you growing up, like gangs
and the murders and everything that you saw, and how
(02:56):
you came out of that on the other side. And
I know you say how close you were with the
gun in your and where everything was about to change
for you forever, right the shotgun to the kid's head.
But then the music was a part of your life,
and then you just kind of found your way slowly, maturely.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
How the hell did that happen?
Speaker 5 (03:11):
I mean how because you wanted to stay out of it, right,
I mean, that wasn't your thing, But.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
I mean I was always intrigued and I got my
share of trouble whatever. But there was a lot of
times when the kids went out to do the really
dark stuff and I was home practicing, you know, because
music was a passion for me.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
So that's what did it.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
Just just driving yourself to stay in the right let
me more than once.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Now, as far as you as time has gone on,
like your kids and everybody, you know, they've had a
completely different growing up, do they when they see when
they hear those stories.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Oh yeah, it's mind blowing.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
To my daughter, she's just like what she can't believe
some of it, and some of it she's just like
fascinated by. But the oldest she gets, I think the
more she appreciates where I came from and how hard
I've worked to get to where I am.
Speaker 5 (03:51):
Well, that's the thing, because it's like just when you
think that the story doesn't get any wilder, it keeps
getting wilder, and you're like, holy crap, And I mean
I can't even imagine. That's not even anywhere close. I
mean I saw them whatever, I got bullied fied. That's
nothing compared to like solid, mean streets, like gang warfare
that you were dealing with. I mean, are we talking
like gunshots, Like all the time around you in the neighborhood,
(04:12):
there was.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Always someone getting stabbed or beaten up or shot and
you know killed, like it was a lot.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
But the way, you know, one of the things I
think that you've done and a lot of rockets. Jacoby
Shatticks is another one that I think of how much
you give back and how much you actually care about
people's mental well being and trying to be someone who
could show them the light. Like, look, I know you
think you're in hell, but there is a way out.
You just have to find that thing you're passionate about.
And for you, I mean as a kid, you love
music from being a kid, and that was you're out.
You just got to find you out and get the
(04:40):
hell out. Yeah, and you have to have perseverance.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
And I think that's really what the story is about,
is to show people that, like perseverance is what gets
us through to the other side, because you can't see
the rainbow unless you walk through the storm, right, and
you just need to know that there really is a
pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
It's just the son of a bitch getting there.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
And some of these things that we have to do
along the way is just learn how to stand up
after life keeps knocking us down and reach down and
find our inner strength again and rise above it. And
that's when the that's when the miracle happens. That's when
the magic happens when you least expect it.
Speaker 5 (05:14):
Yeah damn, well, here you are a quarter century later
doing this. I mean, did you ever No one ever
says I'm going to do this till I'm eighty years old.
Even the Rolling Stones were like at forty they were like,
this is kind of where we see ourselves getting off
the train. And then here they are at eighty plus
and they're still like, well, this is what drives us.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
You're just going to do this as long as you want, right,
I think.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
I mean, it's until I feel like I'm just I
don't have the same passion for it anymore. But I
don't know if that'll have it happen. I'll always play music.
Whether I always want to tour and perform is another thing.
But for now, you know, everything still feels good and
I feel like we're at the top of our game.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
Yeah, well, this tour is definitely like a next little
you know, not something a little different to keep spans
wanting then coming for more. Now, as far as thinking
about new music down the road, you and I kind
of talked about this in September. Is it more of
those things we talked about, maybe about one or two songs.
If it comes, it comes. It's not like we're trying
to make a whole new album because everybody's looking at
it different. It's like, I don't want to spend a
million dollars to spend a year in a studio for
something a few people will buy and the rest of
(06:11):
the art just lies there.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Yeah, yeah, maybe you know right now this is this
feels like the end of new Godsmack music. But I've
learned to never say never, and I don't know what
I'll do in the future. I don't know if I'll
do a collaboration with another artist, or if I'll end
up writing another song one day that I feel like
should be released under god Smack's name, or if I'll
just do more solo music. But I'm not thinking that
(06:32):
far ahead right now. I'm just enjoying the moment, enjoying
what we've created. I'm enjoying the catalog, I'm enjoying our career,
and our success and you know, this is the first
time we've actually got to do that, Like without really
putting in a ton of work. We're just actually able
to come out now play live shows and enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Yeah, enjoy the same at the moment. Yeah, it's now.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
I know you're way overwhelmed because you do have so
much stuff going on. But is there any other hobby
or any other passion that draws you something that someday
you'd like to throw yourself into.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Oh when this is done. Yeah, I mean I love acting.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
You know, I haven't really gotten a big moment yet
in a big movie. I've gotten small moments and big movies,
and I've gotten big moments in small movies. But I
do like it when I do it, so I find
myself being passionate about that. And if I had some
opportunities to do bigger things in movies or TV, I
would probably do that. I'll probably write and produce songs
for other artists. Yeah, I think somehow I'll always stay
(07:26):
in entertainment because entertainment is what excites me.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Yeah, so yeah, that's that's probably mostly what I would do.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
And then you know, the rest of the time is
just chill time, private time.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
Yeah, with your family and enjoying everybody vacations and things
that you know, away from work, when you're when you're
when you're vacationing, where's you're never one spot to go?
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Italy?
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Oh nice?
Speaker 5 (07:45):
My wife and our talking their viking cruises they have
when that goes all through the whole Mediterranean's fourteen days
and I'm like, we.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Just need to go.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
It's a holiday cruise, is what it is. I'm like, yeah,
because we haven't been back. We haven't been in Italy
since oh four, yeah, that was the last time we
were there. It's awesome, beautiful in the food.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
If you want to tap into the Sully Erna story,
it's amazing. It's I stand alone, the Sully Earna story.
It is on Apple TV as well as Amazon Prime Video.
You can watch it in either one of those two places.
It's supposed to be coming out in a couple of
other spots soon, but right now those are the two
places to watch it exclusively.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Mine. Thanks again to
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Sully Erna of God Smack for spending a little time
with me and you
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