| Sully Erna | |
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 Sully Erna at the 2006 World Series of Poker
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Salvatore Paul Erna |
| Born | February 7, 1968 |
| Origin | Lawrence, Massachusetts |
| Genre(s) | Hard rock Alternative metal heavy metal Post-grunge Nu metal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, drums, Piano, keyboards, percussion |
| Voice type(s) | Baritone |
| Years active | 1986 - present |
| Label(s) | Universal Records |
| Associated acts | Godsmack, Meliah Rage, Strip Mind |
| Website | Godsmack.com |
| Notable instrument(s) | |
| Les Paul Guitars | |
Salvator Paul "Sully" Erna (born February 7, 1968 in Lawrence, Massachusetts), is both the vocalist and primary songwriter for the heavy metal band, Godsmack. Erna plays the guitar and drums, both on albums and during live shows. He has a daughter named Skylar Brooke Erna and an older sister named Maria.[1] He was voted in the top 100 best heavy metal vocalists in the Hit Parader magazine 2006 poll. He entered at #47.[2]
Contents |
Biography
Early life
Sully began playing drums at the age of 3. His father, Paul Erna, was a trumpet player and would rehearse in the basement where Sully would go to sleep in the empty guitar case. His great grandfather was a famous composer in Sicily, where every year they honor his birthday and his pictures are hung in a museum.[citation needed] At the age of 11 it was discovered that it was easier for him to listen to something and play it than read sheet music.[original research?] He stopped taking lessons and sat at home rehearsing to records by Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin and Motörhead.[citation needed]
Music career
At 14, Dave Vose became his new instructor. He signed his first record deal in 1993 with a band called Strip Mind. Their debut album "What's in Your Mouth" sold less than 50,000 units. The band self-destructed shortly after. He was also in Meliah Rage (drums on the album "Unfinished Business") and The Fighting Cocks. In Godsmack concerts he plays the bongos and an entire drum set, staging a drumming duel known as Batalla de los Tambores with drummer Shannon Larkin. This battle has become a staple of the band's live show. He is also a skilled harmonica player as present on the Godsmack song Shine Down. It was recently announced that Sully will work on a solo record due out sometime in 2008, and it will stray away from the hard rock sound of Godsmack. Sully wrapped up his acoustic tour with one final show at The House of Blues in Chicago, Illinois on June 28.
Erna has helped the local music scene. In April 2005, Sully participated in New Hampshire's Battle of the Bands Competition. The winner (a band called Zion who hails from Salem) had the opportunity to record a demo at Sully's California studio.[3]
Religion
Sully Erna is a devout Wiccan. He has announced in several interviews that the type of Wicca he practices is Celtic Wicca.
His book, The Paths We Choose, does mention in a brief passage the key parts of Wicca, but does not go into full detail.
The Paths We Choose
Erna released a memoir entitled The Paths We Choose on his birthday, February 7, 2007. The book details his struggles during the first 30 years of his life, up until the time Godsmack landed a record deal.
"The book is basically just my life from the time I was born until Godsmack started," Erna said. "I wanted to write about the whole experience of trying to get there, and hopefully that will inspire some people that maybe are still in the ghettos or trying to dig their way out of a hole. I mean, we're all human and we weren't born rock stars. So I think there's an interesting story to tell of the pain and struggling. You know, being poor and being raised in crazy neighborhoods. If kids can see that they’ll be able to relate to anything they have a dream for."[4]
The book sold 100,000 copies in its first month of release, and to date has shifted 300,000 copies worldwide.
Solo tour
Erna recently told Glam-Metal.com that doing his first solo shows were "extremely nerve-wracking," adding, "My first show, I was really, really nervous. Honestly, I haven't been that nervous since I was, I don't know, maybe 10 years old at a talent show or something." Erna kicked off his first solo acoustic trek on May 1 in Niagara Falls, New York and closed it out on May 31 in Las Vegas. The shows have combined Godsmack songs with a few new originals and covers ranging from The Beatles to Alice In Chains to the theme from "Love Story".
Regarding how he went about selecting the material used for his solo show, Erna said, "I wanted to stick a couple of originals in and try them out because there was a couple of songs that were done on the piano or the guitar that I wrote that I don't think I would use on a GODSMACK record," he said. "For example, 'Eyes of a Child' and 'Until Then'. It was a great opportunity to showcase that and see if I can hit home with the people on those two pieces. Those songs are the most emotional pieces of the evening. One song is about children born with or dying from AIDS and the other is about a tribute to the troops of the United States Armed Forces."
Erna told The Pulse of Radio that playing some new material live is a good way for him to test out songs that might not work for Godsmack. "We're all musicians and we like to write music and not necessarily rock all the time," he said. "So, you know, if I sit home and I'm writing on the piano and sometimes just cool songs are written that don't necessarily fit maybe what you do with Godsmack, but you don't wanna not record them."
Erna stated at the time that he planned to work on his first solo album, [5] Which has recently been completed, but has no title or release date. [6]
Car accident
Godsmack frontman Sully Erna was quite shaken up from the three-car chain-reaction accident in Methuen, Massachusetts he caused when his Hummer H3 rear-ended another car on April 11, 2007, resulting in the serious injury of its back-seat passenger. "He's deeply concerned for the girl who was hurt in this unfortunate accident," said his manager, Paul Geary, in reference to 25-year-old Chelmsford resident Lindsay Taylor. "Sully's thankful he got out with a split lip and some aches and pains, but he's traumatized about the girl," according to the April 17, 2007 Boston Herald.
Taylor was sitting in the back seat of a Toyota Camry that was struck from behind by a Hummer H3 driven by Erna, he was not injured in the accident, police said.
The Camry was pushed forward and rear-ended a Honda Odyssey driven by a Londonderry, N.H., woman.
The crash occurred about 7 p.m. on the ramp leading from I-93 south to Route 213.
Taylor was initially reported to be in a coma and on life support with critical injuries, was upgraded to serious status after she was flown to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center [7] and has since returned home, reportedly with brain injuries. On March 31, 2008, Taylor filed an auto negligence lawsuit against Erna in Federal Court.[1]
Poker
Sully Erna participated in the 2006 World Series of Poker main event in which he made a brief appearance on the ESPN broadcast of the event; it was mentioned that he was the last of the celebrity entries. He finished in 713th out of 8,773 earning him $17,730.[2]
Erna also played in the 2007 World Series of Poker main event. After the elimination of Tobey Maguire, Erna was the final celebrity remaining. He placed in 237th out of a field of 6,358, earning $45,422. To complement his placing at the World Series of Poker, he placed 2nd in a preliminary event at Bellagio's 5 Diamond World Poker Classic, where he lost to J.C Tran but earned $307,325 as a consolation.[3]
Sully also competed in the 2007 VH1 Celebrity Rock and Roll Tournament with Ace Frehley, Vinnie Paul, Scott Ian, and Dusty Hill. Erna took second, losing to Scott Ian of Anthrax.
McGee Murder Investigation
Sully was questioned in a murder investigation surrounding the stabbing death on November 20, 2007 of Tyngsboro, Massachusetts native Christine McGee. The police suspect her jealous husband, Jeffrey McGee, was the murderer but both Erna and Gary Hoey were questioned by police as part of the murder probe. Erna and Hoey were reported to have met the woman days before the murder took place. Neither men are suspects at this point. According to Godsmack's manager Paul Geary, Sully had no romantic involvement with McGee.[8]
Tattoos
"When I was 14, I hid in the welding booth at school, stoned out of my mind! I stole some India ink from the art department, wrapped a needle in some thread, and started stabbing myself" Erna said. Most of his tattoo work done by "Dana Thornell" and "Mike LaFontaine" of Tattoo Fever in Pelham, NH. His left arm fully sleeved. His right arm half sleeved. Triple X is tattooed on his lower back. He updated the XXX tattoo with the words "No Justice" with poker chips and the four suits of ace cards going up in flames. There is a portrait of Pinhead from Hellraiser on his right thigh and he plans to have more work done on chest, legs and back. Animal from the Muppet Show is tattooed on his right arm.[9]
Gear
DrumsAcoustic Drums: Absolute Birch[10] BBD-1122T 22 x 18 Bass Drum BTT-1110 10 x 9 Tom BTT-1112 12 x 10 Tom BTT-1114 14 x 12 Tom BFT-1116 16 x 16 Floor Tom BFT-1118 18 x 16 Floor Tom SD-455PL 14 x 5.5 Paul Leim Sig. Snare Drum Hardware: 7 CS-845 HS-950 2 SS-940 DS-840 DFP-9310 TH-945 |
GuitarGibson Les Paul Guitars Ovation Acoustic and Electric Guitars Dunlop Picks GHS Strings Marshall Amps Diezel Amps |
HarmonicaLee Oskar Harmonica |
References
- ^ The Paths We Choose official website.
- ^ http://www.roadrunner.com/corner.htm
- ^ New Hampshire People - Sully Erna of Godsmack NewHampshire.com
- ^ "Godsmack Let Demons Go On Next LP - News Story". MTV.com. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457966/20021004/godsmack.jhtml. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ Godsmack Frontman Performs Metallica's 'Nothing Else Matters' - June 27, 2008 - Blabbermouth.net
- ^ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=115511
- ^ Eagle Tribune,
- ^ Slay victim met Godsmack frontman - BostonHerald.com
- ^ "Sully Erna tattoos" Ywarning01.tripod.com. Retrieved on June 15, 2009.
- ^ "Sully Erna Drums Gear" Yamaha.com. Retrieved on May 31, 2009.
External links
- Official Godsmack website
- Sully at MySpace
- Official Homepage of Sully's book
- Sully Erna at the Internet Movie Database
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