GODSMACK Drummer Explains New Album Title

In a recent interview with Live-Metal.net, GODSMACK drummer Shannon Larkin addressed the significance of the title of the band's new, chart-topping album "IV", the band's touring plans and more. Excerpts follow:

Live-Metal.net: "Other than it obviously being the fourth GODSMACK album, is there any significance to the title?"

Shannon Larkin: "Absolutely, man. We have this security guy, a big, tough guy named J.C. He's another Boston guy. And in Boston it's 'fou.' They don't really have the 'r.' It's not 'four,' it's 'fou.' He'd be hanging around backstage and chicks would walk by and he would rate them from one to 10. But if it wasn't a 10, there was no one, two, three, five, six. It was always you were a 10 or a fou. He just pulled the funniest things. Sometimes, he'd just hold up four fingers and wouldn't have to say it anymore and we'd all just bust out laughing. And then the funniest one, this guy walked by with a chick on each arm and he goes, 'Hey, bub, two fous don't make an eight!' So when it came up, it's our fourth full-length record, everybody was like, 'Fou!' And we were like, 'That's it, man.' We're not trying to break any records for originality here. I know that there's 'Led Zeppelin IV', 'Foreigner IV', a million IVs. We just thought it's fitting. The focus should be on the music. We tried to make our album cover very simple. It's just the tribal sign with the album title. We tried to strip everything down on this record. On the 'Faceless' record, we beat that record into the ground, man. I knew every single cymbal I was going to hit and when I was going to hit it by the time I went into the studio. But on this one, man, we made an effort to try not to over-rehearse. We wanted it to be more organic. That's one of the reasons we picked Andy Johns. He's worked with a lot of organic bands."

Live-Metal.net: "What are the band's touring plans for this album? I hear you're not going to be hitting the U.S. until the fall?"

Shannon Larkin: "Yeah, it sucks to leave the country, because a) we don't really sell many records outside of America and we're not as known, so it's like a big step backwards for us, and b) we all have families. We're all in our 30s and we're married with kids. Our families live in America and you go over there and your phone doesn't work and it's really hard to get a hold of your daughter or whatever. So we're gonna get all that taken care of and come back to America in September with a giant co-headliner that I can't mention right now because they told me not to. But it's going to be a great bill, man, and we're looking for a third act for it. In the fall, I guess we're gonna hit the amphitheaters and if the tour goes well, we'll move indoors for the winter tour and the arenas."

Live-Metal.net: "Is it going to be a big stage show with pyro again this time?"

Shannon Larkin: "Yes, from what I understand, we've got a hell of a budget on this one and it will be our biggest show, definitely. We're gonna bring out all the bells and whistles. The pyro and video will definitely be happening more than ever. It shall be our biggest tour."

Read the entire interview at Live-Metal.net.