Drummer Shannon Larkin and guitarist Tony Rombola have officially confirmed their departure from Godsmack. Larkin has been in band since 2022 following a stint in Amen and Ugly Kid Joe, and Rombola for almost 30 years, since 1996. The duo was noticeably absent from Godsmack’s current headline tour, which kicked off in March. Speculation began when the tour started with Sam Bam Koltun of Dorothy/Faster Pussycat on guitar and Will Hunt of Evanescence behind the kit. No official statement from Godsmack or frontman Sully Erra has been announced. Larkin shared the following in a now-deleted post:
There’s been lots of speculation about that. First of all, I just want to thank everyone for the outpouring of texts from all my family and friends. I’m okay, Tony’s okay.
We did quit the band last year after lots of talking to Sully and Robbie, and they understood that we didn’t want to tour anymore. That’s the reason. 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 out here happily living our lives. Tony’s turning 60. I’m turning 58. It’s not a physical thing. We just want to be home with everything that we love. 40 years I’ve been touring, 28 years for Rombola. We’re getting a little older so we decided to quit.
It wasn’t a bad thing. I will talk more about it in the future, but it’s all love. We’re brothers for life with Sully and Robby, and we wish Will and Sam all the best. All the fans, keep going – they’re kicking ass. Sully said at the very end, ‘all good things must come to an end.’ 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. We’re already making new music and everybody’s happy.