Godsmack wants a GRAMMY nod for its concert film Live at Mohegan Sun. The band entered it for Best Music Film, its publicist said. It also put its drum showcase “Battle of the Drums” up for Best Rock Performance and Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella. Frontman Sully Erna gets the arrangement credit.
The film captures the drum duet between Sully Erna and Shannon Larkin. Fans have seen the piece at Godsmack shows since the mid-1990s. A campaign video pairs footage of the duet with older comments from the late Rush drummer Neil Peart and remarks from Modern Drummer, according to Music Industry Weekly.
It started small. Early versions had Sully Erna playing congas next to the band’s drummers. Once Shannon Larkin joined Godsmack, the piece grew to include full drum kits, turning platforms, and harder passages. Sully Erna had spent years as a percussionist before he took the frontman role.
Guitarist Tony Rombola and bassist Robbie Merrill round out the lineup. The band has sold more than 20 million records worldwide and earned four earlier GRAMMY nominations. Over three decades, it has piled up 27 Top 10 singles and 13 No. 1 hits.
The live version of “When Legends Rise” hit the active rock radio charts. No live recording had done that since 2020.
The band will also screen the concert film in an interactive Stagepilot streaming event, where fans can join a question-and-answer session with Sully Erna. The Rise of Rock World Tour has made stops at Welcome to Rockville, Sonic Temple, and Rocklahoma, plus amphitheater dates with Stone Temple Pilots and Dorothy.
The full Live at Mohegan Sun project is out now through Primary Wave on double vinyl, Blu-ray, CD, and streaming. A limited-edition 12-inch picture disc with “Battle of the Drums” and “I Stand Alone” arrives Nov. 27 through the Record Store Day Black Friday event at participating independent stores.
Godsmack plays Mohegan Sun Arena on Oct. 24 as part of the Rise of Rock World Tour. That’s the same venue where the band filmed the movie. Fans can get Live at Mohegan Sun and check out the band’s full touring schedule on the official Godsmack website.
