GODSMACK played its first concert with new drummer Wade Murff Thursday night (May 8) at the Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida.
He was joined on stage by the rest of the band's current lineup, consisting of guitarist/vocalist Sully Erna, bassist Robbie Merrill and guitarist Sam Koltun, who previously toured with the band in Europe in early 2025.,Fan-filmed video of the Welcome To Rockville performance can be seen below.,During an April 23 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Erna stated about Koltun and Murff: "Sam's on board now full-time, and he's gonna be the new player from this point forward.
And the drummer that we chose, his name is Wade Murff.
He's worked with DAUGHTRY and some other acts.
A fairly under-the-radar kind of guy.
A strong player.
A great dude.
Really good with attention to details, as Sam is."Sully continued: "I have complete confidence in this, although we start rehearsals next week.
I'm just really confident that this is gonna be just as good, if not better than ever, because these guys came in with the right attitude.
They honored the catalog, they honored the playing.
They didn't try to reinvent it.
And as you know, a guitar can sound like a guitar, a drum can sound like a drum.
Until you replace the vocalist, that's when the sound really changes.
So I really feel that the fans will be able to come and enjoy the music as they have always known it, because it won't sound foreign to them, like there's a new singer singing GODSMACK stuff.
And plus their showmanship even elevates our visual presence", he added."I think for people that are gonna come see GODSMACK now, they're gonna really feel at home when they hear the band and how we sound because I don't think much has changed in that aspect, but there's this new breath of life now too," Sully said.,Wade Murff joins the band after Shannon Larkin announced his departure from GODSMACK last year.
The drummer is known for his work with DAUGHTRY, among other acts."It was just a decision," Erna clarified when asked about Shannon and Tony's decision to leave GODSMACK."I wouldn't say 'betrayal', though.
That's a harsh word, man."GODSMACK's latest album, "Lighting Up The Sky", was released in February 2023 via BMG.,The band will kick off their "The Rise Of Rock" tour on May 10 in Bristow, Virginia at Jiffy Lube Live and make stops across the U.S.
and Toronto, Canada before wrapping September 26 at Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater in Nampa, Idaho."We're really excited to bring these new guys out and have some fun with them and with the audience," Erna said."It's a double live album.
It sounds great.
It looks great.
Everything is good."GODSMACK will be joined on their tour by STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and DOROTHY as special guests."We've got a strong lineup right now," Sully added."