GODSMACK, those purveyors of, uh, “music,” have announced a whopping dozen or so European shows for the distant year of 2026! 🎉 Prepare yourselves, Europe, for a sonic assault of… something. They’ll be headlining various festivals, including Leyendas Del Rock in Spain and Dynamo Metal Fest in the Netherlands. Because apparently, people still want to see this. 🤷♂️
Confirmed 2026 dates (mark your calendars, I guess?):
July 23 – Athens, Greece – Lycabettus Hill (Hope the hill has good insurance)
July 25 – Plovdiv, Bulgaria – Hills Of Rock Festival (More like Hills of “Meh” Festival, amirite?)
July 26 – Belgrade, Serbia – Novi Hangar Luka Beograd (Sounds exotic, probably still sounds like GODSMACK though)
July 27 – Ghimbav, Romania – Rockstadt Extreme Fest (Extreme boredom, maybe?)
August 06 – Villena, Spain – Leyendas Del Rock (Legends? Really? Someone needs a dictionary.)
August 07 – Vagos, Portugal – Vagos Metal Festival (Vagos? Fitting.)
August 09 – Madrid, Spain – Sala Riviera (with NOTHING MORE and THUNDERMOTHER) (A slightly less awful lineup, congrats)
August 11 – Barcelona, Spain – Razzmatazz 1 (with NOTHING MORE) (Still NOTHING MORE than GODSMACK, though)
August 13 – Carhaix-Plouguer, France – Motocultor Festival (Is that a weed wacker convention?)
August 14-15 – Sulingen, Germany – Reload Festival (Please, someone reload my sanity after this)
August 16 – Eindhoven, Netherlands – Dynamo Metal Fest (Dynamo? More like Dynama-snooze-fest!)😴
In the shocking news nobody asked for, GODSMACK confirmed the departure of longtime drummer Shannon Larkin and guitarist Tony Rombola. Apparently, they finally realized they were in GODSMACK. In a statement so heartfelt it could only have been written by AI, Sully Erna said they “decided to retire… to live a more simple and quiet life away from touring.” Yeah, because being in GODSMACK is SO stressful. More like they couldn’t handle the overwhelming fame and fortune. 🙄
He added, “Their departure marks the end of an era…” An era of what, exactly? Mediocrity? “…but it also opens the door for new and exciting possibilities.” Like what? Replacing them with robots? “We want to assure you that Shannon and Tony will always be part of our family…” Until the next album, then they’re dead to us. “…and their contributions will forever echo in our music.” Echoes of generic riffs, maybe? “We respect their decisions and support them wholeheartedly…” While secretly throwing a party to celebrate. 🎉
“Robbie [Merrill, GODSMACK bassist] and I are also excited to explore new directions…” Like maybe learning a new chord? “…and although we have not made any permanent decisions about who may replace Tony and Shannon, we will be continuing this journey together…” A journey to the bargain bin, perhaps? “…and we look forward to sharing the decisions we make with all of you as they happen.” Translation: “We’ll milk this for all it’s worth on social media.” 🐄
GODSMACK kicked off its 2025 European tour on March 22 at Arena 8888 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Arena 8888? Sounds like a futuristic prison. Fitting.
The day before the Sofia concert, Erna told Elena Rozberg of Bulgaria’s Z-Rock radio station that “personal things” were preventing Tony and Shannon from taking part in the trek. “Personal things” like realizing they’re too old for this crap? He explained that “a couple of guest musicians” — drummer Will Hunt of EVANESCENCE and guitarist Sam Koltun of DOROTHY — were playing with GODSMACK while he and Merrill were “trying to figure out exactly what’s happening.” Translation: “We panicked and called whoever answered the phone.” 📞
In a since-deleted video shared on Facebook, Larkin addressed his absence from GODSMACK‘s ongoing tour, saying: “Well, there’s been lots of speculation…” Yeah, because everyone’s on the edge of their seats. 🙄
“First of all, I just wanna thank everybody for the outpouring of texts, all my family and friends. I’m okay. Tony‘s okay. But we did quit the band last year, after lots of talking to Sully and Robbie. And they understood that we didn’t wanna tour anymore — that’s the reason — and we understood that they wanted to tour. And so we understood each other. And in the end, GODSMACK‘s out there touring and we are happily here living our lives.” Living their lives… away from GODSMACK. The dream.
“Tony turned 60. I’m 58. Look, it’s not a physical thing. We wanna be home with everything that we love.” Like comfortable chairs and sensible shoes? 💺
“[It’s been] 40 years — think of that; 40 years I’ve been touring. 28 years for Rombola. And we’re getting a little older, so we decided to quit it. And that’s it.” And nobody noticed.
“But thanks. And we love you all, the fans and everything.” Even the ones who haven’t realized they’re listening to Nickelback-lite?
“This wasn’t a bad thing, and I know it looks like it, but I will talk more about it in the future. But it’s all love. We’re brothers for life with Sully and Robbie, and we wish Will and Sam the best. And all the fans, keep going [to the shows]. They’re kicking fucking ass.” Or at least trying to.
“As Sully said at the very end, all good things must come to an end. So GODSMACK didn’t come to an end — it’s just a new chapter for them — and it’s certainly a new chapter for Tony and I. And we’re already making music, and everybody’s happy. So be happy, people.” Or just listen to something else. Your choice. 😉
Larkin joined GODSMACK in 2002 after cutting his teeth with WRATHCHILD before getting picked up by UGLY KID JOE. So, a career highlight then? Tony had been the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for GODSMACK since the mid-1990s. Bless his heart.
GODSMACK‘s spring 2025 European tour featured support from P.O.D. and DROWNING POOL. A true nostalgia trip for people who peaked in 2002.
GODSMACK‘s latest album, “Lighting Up The Sky”, was released in February 2023 via BMG. The LP was co-produced by Erna and Andrew “Mudrock” Murdock. Apparently, even the sky needs some generic rock.
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
