GODSMACK 'GET UP, GET DOWN' WITH YAMAHA DRUMS

—Sully Erna & Shannon Larkin Sign With Yamaha Drums—

BUENA PARK, CA (November 8, 2002)—Boston-based alt-metal rockers Godsmack have been hitting the concert halls and the silver screen hard with their primordial witches' brew of grunge, metal and punk since their 1997 debut album All Wound Up—which has since sold over three-million copies—thanks to hit singles "Keep Away" and "Whatever." Their self-titled album Godsmack was certified gold in 1999. In January 2002, their album Awake earned the band a Grammy nomination for "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" for the song "Vampires," and since March, has sold two million copies. Their explosive songs have been heard on the soundtracks of smash-hit films Scream III, Any Given Sunday, The Scorpion King and Mission Impossible 2.

Sully Erna

Lead singer Sully Erna, who drummed Godsmack's first two releases (the first album with a Yamaha Recording Custom kit, the second on a Maple Custom kit) and who still enjoys the occasional drum cameo on recent tours and albums, played Yamaha drums long before he was signed officially as a Yamaha Artist. "Yamaha is like the Mercedes Benz of drums," says Erna. "Why bother with anything else?"

Shannon Larkin, long-time friend of Erna, has joined as the band's full-time drummer. Best known for his work with bands such as Wrathchild America, Ugly Kid Joe, Snot/Strait Up, Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osborne, Candlebox, and most recently, Amen, Larkin uses the Yamaha Birch Custom Absolute kit. "With 25 years behind the kit," says Larkin, "I've played every drum on the market, and quite simply—Yamaha rules!"

Shannon Larkin

Godsmack has two U.S. multi-platinum releases, as well as multiple Top 5 rock tracks under their belts. The band's single from The Scorpion King soundtrack, "I Stand Alone," debuted as the #1 Most Added song in Active, Mainstream and Modern Rock radio and has been perched atop the Active and Mainstream rock charts for several weeks. They were also named "#1 Rock Band of the Year" for the last two years by BDS, R&R and Album Network. Godsmack is currently writing songs for their third full-length LP, due out in early 2003 on Republic/Universal Records. A DVD release, Smack This! is currently available.

For more information on Yamaha Drums, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division, Drum Products, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.