In news that will shock absolutely no one, multi-platinum rock titans GODSMACK have announced their latest attempt to prove that rock music isn’t dead—it’s just been napping in a bar somewhere since 1999. The band is embarking on a massive “The Rise Of Rock” 2026 tour, featuring special guests STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and DOROTHY, because apparently we needed a full nostalgia sandwich with our classic rock.
Promoted by Live Nation, this tour promises to bring GODSMACK’s signature high-octane live show to amphitheaters nationwide. You know, just in case you forgot what arena rock looked like before TikTok took over your brain. The tour kicks off on May 10 in Bristow, Virginia at Jiffy Lube Live—which, let’s be honest, sounds more like where you’d get your oil changed than where you’d see a legendary rock band, but we’re not judging.
For those lucky enough to have a Citi card (because apparently rock is now a credit-based privilege), presale tickets begin Tuesday, February 3 at 10 a.m. local time. General plebs can join the fun starting Friday, February 6 at 10 a.m. local time at Ticketmaster.com, where you can pay the equivalent of a small car payment just to stand in a field and scream along to “I Stand Alone.”
If you’re looking to really prove your dedication to the cause (or just want to make your friends jealous), there’s the “BulletProof” Experience. This ultimate fan upgrade includes great tickets, priority venue entry, and an exclusive set of collectible VIP merch. Package highlights include a limited-edition 11×17 art print (perfect for covering that hole in your wall), GODSMACK-branded guitar pick tin with picks (because you’re definitely going to start that band), a three-piece skull enamel pin set inspired by classic album eras (wear them ironically, please), and a commemorative VIP laminate and lanyard—your official pass to the tribe. Or, you know, just another thing to lose in your car.
The tour dates are as follows, in case you need to plan your summer around reliving 2001:
May 7 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome to Rockville*â€
May 9 – Camden, NJ – MMRBQ
May 10 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
(And so on for approximately 1,000 more dates across North America)
- Festival performance
** DOROTHY only
†Not a Live Nation date
In what can only be described as the most rock-and-roll mid-life crisis ever, GODSMACK confirmed last April the departure of longtime drummer Shannon Larkin and guitarist Tony Rombola. In a statement that probably sounded more dramatic than it needed to be, GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna said that Rombola and Larkin “decided to retire from the band permanently, on good terms, but for no other reason than to fulfill their desire to live a more simple and quiet life away from touring.”
Ah yes, the simple life—what every aging rocker dreams of. Erna added that their departure “marks the end of an era, but it also opens the door for new and exciting possibilities.” Which is corporate-speak for “we’re replacing you with younger, cheaper labor.”
He continued: “Their departure marks the end of an era, but it also opens the door for new and exciting possibilities. We want to assure you that Shannon and Tony will always be part of our family, and their contributions will forever echo in our music. We respect their decisions and support them wholeheartedly as they pursue their own individual paths.”
Translation: “Don’t worry, you can still buy our t-shirts with their faces on them!”
Meanwhile, Robbie Merrill and Erna are “excited to explore new directions,” which probably means they’re figuring out how to play with younger musicians who can still do jumping jacks on stage without throwing out their backs.
The band kicked off its 2025 European tour on March 22, 2025 at Arena 8888 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Because nothing says “we’re still relevant” like playing venues with numbers in their names in countries most Americans can’t find on a map.
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. 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.” Which is rock-speak for “we’re winging it and hoping nobody notices.”
In a since-deleted Facebook video that absolutely nobody needed to see, Larkin addressed his absence from GODSMACK’s ongoing tour, saying: “Well, there’s been lots of speculation about [why Tony and I are not on the road].”
Gee, you think? Maybe because you guys are, you know, OLD?
“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 our lives! Imagine that—choosing not to spend your golden years in a van driving to another state to play the same songs you’ve played 10,000 times before. What a concept!
“Tony turned 60. I’m 58. Look, it’s not a physical thing. We wanna be home with everything that we love.”
Ah yes, the classic “it’s not you, it’s me” breakup speech of the rock world. Except it’s totally them because touring sucks and getting old is real.
“[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.”
FORTY YEARS. That’s literally longer than most of their current fans have been alive. No wonder they want to sit on their porch and yell at clouds instead of screaming “whatever” into a microphone for the millionth time.
“But thanks. And we love you all, the fans and everything. 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.”
Yes, please keep buying tickets to watch the new guys pretend they wrote “Voodoo” all those years ago. We’re sure they’re “kicking fucking ass” just like Larkin said—right before they need to ice their wrists and take a nap.
As Larkin so eloquently put it: “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.”
Translation: “We’re out here making music in our garages while you pay $150 to watch someone else play our songs. Everybody wins!”
GODSMACK’s spring 2025 European tour featured support from P.O.D. and DROWNING POOL, because apparently the early 2000s called and wanted their tour lineup back. The 14-date trek ended on April 12, 2025 in Oberhausen, Germany, where presumably everyone involved was just happy to be done traveling.
The band’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 (AVENGED SEVENFOLD, ALICE COOPER), proving that even aging rockers need help from slightly younger producers to stay relevant.
The first single from “Lighting Up The Sky,” “Surrender,” which arrived in September 2022, marked the first release from GODSMACK in four years, following their globally acclaimed and gold-certified 2018 album “When Legends Rise,” which earned the Erna-fronted outfit a No. 1 spot across U.S. Hard Rock, Rock, and Alternative album charts. Which is impressive until you remember that these charts basically mean “most popular among people who still buy CDs.”
So there you have it—GODSMACK is still trucking along, proving that you can indeed teach an old dog new tricks, as long as those tricks involve playing the same four chords you’ve been playing for three decades. The Rise Of Rock tour is coming, whether we asked for it or not. Just remember to stretch before you headbang, stay hydrated, and maybe consider that your back might not appreciate moshing like you’re still 25.
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.
