Godsmack's Shannon Larkin: a true rock and roll survivor
By Thom Copher
Shannon Larkin... you hear the name and immediately think one of the best drummers in all of rock and roll. As Godsmack's drummer since 2003,
Shannon is enjoying the widespread success which he had previously worked toward for most of his life. I can't think of any musician who
deserves it more. Shannon has proved that hard work and persistence... never giving up the dream... does pay off; that and enough talent to fill a
dozen drum thrones. We get a special feeling in out hearts when a friend finds triumph amidst the obstacles, especially when we ourselves have
battled in many of the same trenches. Jerry and The Dead once observed "what a long, strange trip it's been." So, ...
By Thom Copher
Shannon Larkin... you hear the name and immediately think one of the best drummers in all of rock and roll. As Godsmack's drummer since 2003,
Shannon is enjoying the widespread success which he had previously worked toward for most of his life. I can't think of any musician who
deserves it more. Shannon has proved that hard work and persistence... never giving up the dream... does pay off; that and enough talent to fill a
dozen drum thrones. We get a special feeling in out hearts when a friend finds triumph amidst the obstacles, especially when we ourselves have
battled in many of the same trenches. Jerry and The Dead once observed "what a long, strange trip it's been." So, ...
... in the beginning...
I first met Shannon Larkin on a cold Saturday evening in February, 1984. His band,
Wrathchild, was playing the second of a two night engagement at The Omni in
Morgantown, WV. "You've gotta go see these guys" someone had told me; so, as a
musician, I had to check out what all the hubbub was.
Now, I fully expected to see what I'd witnessed a million times: a buncha kids, playing
crappy equipment, who thought that making it past the solo bridge to "Iron Man" was hot
patootie. What I saw absolutely knocked me back several steps - five guys (surrounded
by a wall of amps, a mammoth drum kit, professional lights, et cetera) who had fire in
their eyes and the musicianship to back up the swagger in their step. I was equally
impressed that offstage the band was modest, even humble.
I first met Shannon Larkin on a cold Saturday evening in February, 1984. His band,
Wrathchild, was playing the second of a two night engagement at The Omni in
Morgantown, WV. "You've gotta go see these guys" someone had told me; so, as a
musician, I had to check out what all the hubbub was.
Now, I fully expected to see what I'd witnessed a million times: a buncha kids, playing
crappy equipment, who thought that making it past the solo bridge to "Iron Man" was hot
patootie. What I saw absolutely knocked me back several steps - five guys (surrounded
by a wall of amps, a mammoth drum kit, professional lights, et cetera) who had fire in
their eyes and the musicianship to back up the swagger in their step. I was equally
impressed that offstage the band was modest, even humble.
| Wrathchild (c. '83): (l to r, back): Brad Divens, Kevin Keller, Shannon Larkin, Terry Carter and (front) Jay Abbene |
Shannon was 17 at the time of our meeting, and he played like he'd been behind the drum
This network of influences rolled into one presentation gave Wrathchild a unique and distinct sound. Back then,
WC was primarily a cover band. But, you didn't get the mainstream. They would hit you with AC/DC, Aerosmith
and an up-and-coming group called Motley Crue... the "deeper cuts" from those AOR-type bands... and then turn
WC was primarily a cover band. But, you didn't get the mainstream. They would hit you with AC/DC, Aerosmith
and an up-and-coming group called Motley Crue... the "deeper cuts" from those AOR-type bands... and then turn
| When Kevin Keller (above) left the band, Brad Divens (below) assumed bass and vocal duties. |
kit since birth. He was that good - heck, the whole band was that good! And, as good as they were, they were
equally cool dudes. So, it was rather natural that Wrathchild's camp and the troupe surrounding my band, The
Edge, should bond. It was amazing, given the bandmembers' youth, the knowledge that they had about music - and
I don't mean just playing it. Shannon and guitarist Jay Abbene were both influenced by the rougher edges of the
scene: New York hardcore, European and new wave British metal and punk, especially the Sex Pistols. Terry
Carter, the band's other guitarist, was into a lot of the same stuff that I (an axman, too) was listening to at the time,
like blues, American rock and metal (the present-day's "classic rock") and a couple of guys named Eddie and Randy
(Van Halen and Rhoads, that is). Along with vocalist Brad Divens (a former guitarist with Baltimore's Kix who also
handled road-manager duties) and bassist Kevin Keller, this was one band whose chain didn't contain any weak links.
equally cool dudes. So, it was rather natural that Wrathchild's camp and the troupe surrounding my band, The
Edge, should bond. It was amazing, given the bandmembers' youth, the knowledge that they had about music - and
I don't mean just playing it. Shannon and guitarist Jay Abbene were both influenced by the rougher edges of the
scene: New York hardcore, European and new wave British metal and punk, especially the Sex Pistols. Terry
Carter, the band's other guitarist, was into a lot of the same stuff that I (an axman, too) was listening to at the time,
like blues, American rock and metal (the present-day's "classic rock") and a couple of guys named Eddie and Randy
(Van Halen and Rhoads, that is). Along with vocalist Brad Divens (a former guitarist with Baltimore's Kix who also
handled road-manager duties) and bassist Kevin Keller, this was one band whose chain didn't contain any weak links.
around and wallop you with Accept, Motorhead and this band Metallica who were spearheading a whole new
style of metal. Simply put, Shannon and company were a walking encyclopedia of knowledge who turned
many of us on to sounds way before they broke big. That melting pot, of sorts, contributed heavily to their
original material - you just couldn't put your finger on a specific sound. Faves like "London After Midnight,"
"No Deposit, No Return," and "Danger Us" all had a global feel rather than trying to sound "all - L.A.", which
was the rage at the time.
Speaking of the "big break," it was obvious that Wrathchild was ready to bust out, armed with more than
enough original material to propel an album. That's where the band's saga hits some grey matter. It seems that
there also existed an English-glam band called Wrathchild, and they had albums on the racks. The scenario, as
best I can recall, is that our boys had the name first, but the limeys had their name in publication first... or
something like that. The long struggle which ensued saw Kevin's departure and Brad's assuming double-duty
as bassist/vocalist.
style of metal. Simply put, Shannon and company were a walking encyclopedia of knowledge who turned
many of us on to sounds way before they broke big. That melting pot, of sorts, contributed heavily to their
original material - you just couldn't put your finger on a specific sound. Faves like "London After Midnight,"
"No Deposit, No Return," and "Danger Us" all had a global feel rather than trying to sound "all - L.A.", which
was the rage at the time.
Speaking of the "big break," it was obvious that Wrathchild was ready to bust out, armed with more than
enough original material to propel an album. That's where the band's saga hits some grey matter. It seems that
there also existed an English-glam band called Wrathchild, and they had albums on the racks. The scenario, as
best I can recall, is that our boys had the name first, but the limeys had their name in publication first... or
something like that. The long struggle which ensued saw Kevin's departure and Brad's assuming double-duty
as bassist/vocalist.
Shannon and Jay, never ones to let slow times become unproductive ones, formed the side band, Kiddie Porn, with
Shannon handling vocals and drums, Jay on guitar and fellow Martinsburg, WV pal John "Tumor" Fahnestock on
bass. The band's "debut" (which is widely not recognized as an official release) was a casette recorded at Shannon
and Jay's house using a portable player's built-in-mic to capture the sound. It was a tape-trading classic with a
sound as raw and brutal as some of the song titles like "All F**ked Up," "Kill a Prep," "Dug Him Up" and "Kiddie
Porn."
By this time, I had relocated to the D.C. area (thinking that "If it's good enough for Wrathchild, it's good enough for
me") and was playing bass in Skeleton. It was now 1987, and Wrathchild was signed to Atlantic Records awaiting
the legal decision as to which band would get to use the Wrathchild name, either in part or in whole. WC even
briefly changed its name to Militia, but switched back, unwilling to simply buckle under for the sake of moving on.
The smoke didn't clear until two years later when the band's debut, having sat in limbo all that time, was released:
Climbin' the Walls by Wrathchild America.
Shannon handling vocals and drums, Jay on guitar and fellow Martinsburg, WV pal John "Tumor" Fahnestock on
bass. The band's "debut" (which is widely not recognized as an official release) was a casette recorded at Shannon
and Jay's house using a portable player's built-in-mic to capture the sound. It was a tape-trading classic with a
sound as raw and brutal as some of the song titles like "All F**ked Up," "Kill a Prep," "Dug Him Up" and "Kiddie
Porn."
By this time, I had relocated to the D.C. area (thinking that "If it's good enough for Wrathchild, it's good enough for
me") and was playing bass in Skeleton. It was now 1987, and Wrathchild was signed to Atlantic Records awaiting
the legal decision as to which band would get to use the Wrathchild name, either in part or in whole. WC even
briefly changed its name to Militia, but switched back, unwilling to simply buckle under for the sake of moving on.
The smoke didn't clear until two years later when the band's debut, having sat in limbo all that time, was released:
Climbin' the Walls by Wrathchild America.
As the story goes, it may have been too little too late. Metallica, along
with Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth had pushed the speed/thrash
sound over the top. Whereas Wrathchild should have been contributors
to that movement, the whole rigamarole made it appear, at a casual
listen, that they were following the gauntlet. Four years elapsed
between the recording of the band's debut and album #2, 3-D.
Wrathchild's maturity was evident as 3-D branched even further into
the players' musical influences. The album had hints of jazz, southern
rock and traditional blues, to name a few. It was heavier and much
more diverse than Climbin' the Walls. By all definitions, 3-D was a
gem. However, the scene was over-saturated by lame metal leftovers
from the 80s and, to complicate matters even more, the grunge
movement was beginning to rear its head. Atlantic (one of the primary
offenders of oversigning said lameness) began dumping bands left and
right, including Wrathchild.
It is truly one of the grossest examples of injustice in the music industry.
with Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth had pushed the speed/thrash
sound over the top. Whereas Wrathchild should have been contributors
to that movement, the whole rigamarole made it appear, at a casual
listen, that they were following the gauntlet. Four years elapsed
between the recording of the band's debut and album #2, 3-D.
Wrathchild's maturity was evident as 3-D branched even further into
the players' musical influences. The album had hints of jazz, southern
rock and traditional blues, to name a few. It was heavier and much
more diverse than Climbin' the Walls. By all definitions, 3-D was a
gem. However, the scene was over-saturated by lame metal leftovers
from the 80s and, to complicate matters even more, the grunge
movement was beginning to rear its head. Atlantic (one of the primary
offenders of oversigning said lameness) began dumping bands left and
right, including Wrathchild.
It is truly one of the grossest examples of injustice in the music industry.
| Climbin' the Walls (1989, above) was shelved for two years amidst legal battles over the band's name. 3-D (below) surfaced in 1991. |
Undaunted, Wrathchild held on.
Shannon, Jay, Terry and Brad
once again redefined their sound,
found a new label and changed
the band's name for the last time.
They resurfaced as Souls at Zero
Shannon, Jay, Terry and Brad
once again redefined their sound,
found a new label and changed
the band's name for the last time.
They resurfaced as Souls at Zero
| Wrathchild's two-fisted guitar punch of Jay Abbene (above) and Terry Carter (below) has been likened to that of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. |
and released a self-titled "debut" in 1993 on the Energy Records label. I, too, had chosen a different route,
returning to West Virginia University where I would earn a second bachelor's degree (magna cum laude this
time as opposed to many-beers-a-chugga the first time around) and, subsequently, my Master's in reading
education. Sad to say, I lost touch with my old friends and comrades for several years.
returning to West Virginia University where I would earn a second bachelor's degree (magna cum laude this
time as opposed to many-beers-a-chugga the first time around) and, subsequently, my Master's in reading
education. Sad to say, I lost touch with my old friends and comrades for several years.
Though not in body, I remained with the band in spirit. Many reviews claimed that WC/Souls had made a
departure from its thrash foundations, but my observation holds that the Souls at Zero album is no more
dissimilar to 3-D than that disc was to Climbin' the Walls. Times were getting increasingly tough, though, and
Shannon (over much deliberation) left for greener pastures, joining Ugly Kid Joe following 1994's Six-T-Six
EP. These first two releases, while continuing to expand the band's musical boundaries, were thematically
bleak with blunt songs like "Frustration," "Never," "Hardline," "Checkin' Out" and "Grey World" (from SAZ)
and "Don't Ask" and "When the S#!t Hits the Fan" plus a ripping cover of the Bad Brains' "I Against I" on
Six-T-Six which dates back to mid-period Wrathchild live performances. With Jamie Miller sitting in
Shannon's vacated drum spot, Souls had apparently reached the melting point with its final opus, A Taste for
the Perverse. Songs titles "Undecided," "Taken Apart," "My Fault?" and "Inside a Scream" clearly indicated a
band that was discouraged (and that's a kind understatement) with the whole scene. Once again, the musical
departure from its thrash foundations, but my observation holds that the Souls at Zero album is no more
dissimilar to 3-D than that disc was to Climbin' the Walls. Times were getting increasingly tough, though, and
Shannon (over much deliberation) left for greener pastures, joining Ugly Kid Joe following 1994's Six-T-Six
EP. These first two releases, while continuing to expand the band's musical boundaries, were thematically
bleak with blunt songs like "Frustration," "Never," "Hardline," "Checkin' Out" and "Grey World" (from SAZ)
and "Don't Ask" and "When the S#!t Hits the Fan" plus a ripping cover of the Bad Brains' "I Against I" on
Six-T-Six which dates back to mid-period Wrathchild live performances. With Jamie Miller sitting in
Shannon's vacated drum spot, Souls had apparently reached the melting point with its final opus, A Taste for
the Perverse. Songs titles "Undecided," "Taken Apart," "My Fault?" and "Inside a Scream" clearly indicated a
band that was discouraged (and that's a kind understatement) with the whole scene. Once again, the musical
landscape was being populated by a trend which, by and large, was artistically inferior to the grand canvas.
And, just like that, our beloved Wrathchild was no more.
And, just like that, our beloved Wrathchild was no more.
| After Wrathchild, Shannon (forefront) kept busy with the MF Pitbulls (above) , Snot and Amen. He also guested on Vanilla Ice's Hard to Swallow, Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton's solo Baptism by Fire and Stone Sour's song "30/30-150." In 1997, Shannon played a one-of gig with Black Sabbath on the final show of that year's Ozzfest. |
Larkin and life after Wrathchild
My account of bandmembers' whereabouts during the mid-90s and early part of the new
milennium's first decade (1995-2003) depended solely on periodic stops at grocery and convenience
stores' magazine racks. Shannon seemed to be the one Wrath-rocker on the radar. Ugly Kid Joe
continued to enjoy modest sales, with Shannon playing on Menace to Sobriety (1995) and Motel
California (1996), but the band was dropped by Mercury in 1997. From there, he hooked up with
Snot for the band's 1999 Strait Up record and then moved on to the highly-acclaimed project
Amen for three releases (Amen {1999}, We Have Come for Your Parents {2001} and Death
Before Musick {2004}).
Critical acclaim, as Shannon knew all too well, didn't always translate into bankable success.
Twenty-plus years into his career, Shannon Larkin was at a crossroads. The drummer, who had
held his throne with a dignity that would do his heroes (John Bonham of Led Zeppelin and Rush's
Neil Peart) proud, considered a career change.
And then, literally from out of the blue, came the call.
My account of bandmembers' whereabouts during the mid-90s and early part of the new
milennium's first decade (1995-2003) depended solely on periodic stops at grocery and convenience
stores' magazine racks. Shannon seemed to be the one Wrath-rocker on the radar. Ugly Kid Joe
continued to enjoy modest sales, with Shannon playing on Menace to Sobriety (1995) and Motel
California (1996), but the band was dropped by Mercury in 1997. From there, he hooked up with
Snot for the band's 1999 Strait Up record and then moved on to the highly-acclaimed project
Amen for three releases (Amen {1999}, We Have Come for Your Parents {2001} and Death
Before Musick {2004}).
Critical acclaim, as Shannon knew all too well, didn't always translate into bankable success.
Twenty-plus years into his career, Shannon Larkin was at a crossroads. The drummer, who had
held his throne with a dignity that would do his heroes (John Bonham of Led Zeppelin and Rush's
Neil Peart) proud, considered a career change.
And then, literally from out of the blue, came the call.
Godsmack frontman Sully Erna had decided that his band needed a kick in the big bass drum as
well as in the pants. Erna, an accomplished drummer in his own right, knew Shannon from the
Wrathchild days and offered his old pal the job straight up. I couldn't believe the news that I read
from Metal Edge's pages as I made a magazine stop while shopping at my local Kroger's! I thought
to myself: "If this ain't poetic justice then there is no such thing!"
And the rest, as you all know, is sweet history.
well as in the pants. Erna, an accomplished drummer in his own right, knew Shannon from the
Wrathchild days and offered his old pal the job straight up. I couldn't believe the news that I read
from Metal Edge's pages as I made a magazine stop while shopping at my local Kroger's! I thought
to myself: "If this ain't poetic justice then there is no such thing!"
And the rest, as you all know, is sweet history.
| Godsmack (above): Tony Rombola, Sully Erna, Robbie Merrill and Shannon Larkin. The band's two albums with Shannon both debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top-200 chart. |
Good to see ya, bud
I had the pleasure of seeing Godsmack when the band came to the Big Sandy
Superstore Arena (The Artist's Concert Hall Formerly Known as The Huntington
Civic Center) during the tour in support of Faceless. I was ill prepared to
present my case to the road crew that I actually knew Shannon, so, needless to
say, I watched from afar. But, damn, it was good to see that skinny little guy
getting crazy behind the kit. The next time around, touring for IV during the
summer of '07, Godsmack came to Charleston's Municipal Auditorium. I
decided to take my lunch break by walking down to the venue, since it is less
than a mile from the school where I teach, to see what was going on.
I had the pleasure of seeing Godsmack when the band came to the Big Sandy
Superstore Arena (The Artist's Concert Hall Formerly Known as The Huntington
Civic Center) during the tour in support of Faceless. I was ill prepared to
present my case to the road crew that I actually knew Shannon, so, needless to
say, I watched from afar. But, damn, it was good to see that skinny little guy
getting crazy behind the kit. The next time around, touring for IV during the
summer of '07, Godsmack came to Charleston's Municipal Auditorium. I
decided to take my lunch break by walking down to the venue, since it is less
than a mile from the school where I teach, to see what was going on.
I waited... "He and Sully have gone out," said one of the band's road guys. Repeatedly, for the next hour, he assured me of that fact.
Then I heard... the rumble... and like Fonda and Hopper from "Easy Rider," they appeared, Harleys blazing... my old friend and his bandmate.
Shannon dismounted, wearing full leather gear and looking more like an extra for some "Mad Max" sequel than a musician who was slated to
perform in a few hours. I shouted, "Dude, Shannon." He shouted back, "Thom Copher." At that point all the elements which had lead us on
distinctly different paths disappeared. Once again, as we spent the afternoon catching up on old... old times, it was just a coupla dudes who liked
the same stuff and enjoyed kickin' back and shooting the s#!t! And I thought, "Damn, a Harley!" I had wanted a Harley for years.
I ventured to Bogart's in Cincinnati later that fall to catch my bud doing duty with Tony Rombola (guitar) and Robbie Merrill (bass) from Godsmack,
Whit Crane (vocals) from the UKJ days and Dropbox/former Godsmack (guitarist) Lee Richards, together as Another Animal. As I said before,
Shannon is not one to let slow times become unproductive. So, when Godsmack took a pause, this seemed the perfect outlet for pent up ideas just
as Kiddie Porn was all those years ago.
It was cold that day in Cincinnati. It was cold the whole way across from Cross Lanes, WV. I was glad that I didn't ride my new Harley. I did,
however, give Shannon a CD crammed full of pictures of the two-wheeled beast. He had inspired me, once again, to venture into uncharted
territory. He has since advised me on buying new pipes and other accessories. At least we'll have that to talk about when next our paths cross.
I am, have always been and always will be proud of what my rock and roll brother has accomplished. I'm more proud and deeply honored, in the
greater sense of human existence, to call him a friend.
(Check below the pics for the HMH Exclusive Shannon Larkin Q & A.)
Then I heard... the rumble... and like Fonda and Hopper from "Easy Rider," they appeared, Harleys blazing... my old friend and his bandmate.
Shannon dismounted, wearing full leather gear and looking more like an extra for some "Mad Max" sequel than a musician who was slated to
perform in a few hours. I shouted, "Dude, Shannon." He shouted back, "Thom Copher." At that point all the elements which had lead us on
distinctly different paths disappeared. Once again, as we spent the afternoon catching up on old... old times, it was just a coupla dudes who liked
the same stuff and enjoyed kickin' back and shooting the s#!t! And I thought, "Damn, a Harley!" I had wanted a Harley for years.
I ventured to Bogart's in Cincinnati later that fall to catch my bud doing duty with Tony Rombola (guitar) and Robbie Merrill (bass) from Godsmack,
Whit Crane (vocals) from the UKJ days and Dropbox/former Godsmack (guitarist) Lee Richards, together as Another Animal. As I said before,
Shannon is not one to let slow times become unproductive. So, when Godsmack took a pause, this seemed the perfect outlet for pent up ideas just
as Kiddie Porn was all those years ago.
It was cold that day in Cincinnati. It was cold the whole way across from Cross Lanes, WV. I was glad that I didn't ride my new Harley. I did,
however, give Shannon a CD crammed full of pictures of the two-wheeled beast. He had inspired me, once again, to venture into uncharted
territory. He has since advised me on buying new pipes and other accessories. At least we'll have that to talk about when next our paths cross.
I am, have always been and always will be proud of what my rock and roll brother has accomplished. I'm more proud and deeply honored, in the
greater sense of human existence, to call him a friend.
(Check below the pics for the HMH Exclusive Shannon Larkin Q & A.)
| Brad Divens has parlayed his musical knowledge into a successful career on the other side of the stage. He has an |
| ongoing production contract with the Finnish rock band HIM. He has also worked as front of house sound engineer for acts such as Linkin Park, Cyndi Lauper, and Slayer. |
| Shannon Larkin continues his musical legacy with Godsmack and Another Animal. Offstage, he rides Harleys and raises his family in Florida. |
| Terry Carter, a.k.a. "T-Bone", continues to make music whenever and wherever a stage will have him. He can usually be found on Florida's west coast making music with his main lady, JoDell. |
| Jay Abbene played a stint with Crowbar before he |
| and his brother, Andy, teamed up with former Toxik drummer Tad Leger for a project called Lucertola. The latest info has it (and this is unofficial) that Jay is a chief mechanic for Mercedes. |
A baker's dozen hot-topic questions for Shannon Larkin, straight from Heavy Metal Hog!!
Heavy Metal Hog: How and when, exactly, did you and Sully become acquainted?
Shannon Larkin: I met Sully at a Wrathchild show in North Carolina, and we hit it off and remained friends throughout the years.
HMH: It's been whispered in the press that Godsmack is no more. Are you, Sully, Tony and Robbie collaborating?
SL: That is a rumour stemming from Another Animal doing our record and Sully doing his solo record. The band is still collaborating and plotting out
when to start writing Godsmack 5.
HMH: It seems that your leaving Wrathchild was very amicable; true? Do you stay in touch with the guys?
SL: I still keep in touch with Jay and Brad, but have lost contact with Terry (although I've heard he is doing great with his country music). They all
understood when I left, as we had gone through so many highs and lows over so many years. They couldn't claim I bailed on them when the going
got tough.
HMH: Big question, here. It's also been rumored that Wrathchild may do a reunion thing. Any truth to that?
SL: No plans for a reunion, as we all have careers that keep us way too busy to think about such a thing. It would be great, though!
HMH: What was your proudest Wrathchild moment?
SL: Signing to Atlantic. That had been our dream and goal since we were teenagers.
HMH: Are you surprised at all that Terry and Brad have taken their respective paths in the music industry?
SL: I would expect nothing less.
HMH: How do you balance life as a musician with your family life?
SL: It's hard. I'm extremely lucky to have found a woman that can deal with my absence and not torture me about it!
HMH: Do you have any plans or have there been offers outside of Godsmack and Another Animal?
SL: My plate is so full! I have done an instructional video that is slated for an '09 release in which I break down my "style" and tell how I acquired it.
HMH: You were born in Chicago but raised in Martinsburg, WV. Do you still think of yourself as a "Mountaineer" and do you get back
to the state often? Related to that: How do you think West Virginia University will fare this ('08) football season?
SL: I have a soft spot in my heart for Martinsburg. My sis still lives there, and I've kept some lifelong friends in the area. As far as the
"Mountaneers", I must say that my father was a Notre Dame graduate, so I was raised on Irish football, nothing more, nothing less...but when I'm
not cheering on the Irish, of course I root for the Mountaneers. I'm not sure how the team looks this year.
HMH: How many Harleys do you own? Do you have a favorite?
SL: I own one. It's an '08 Heritage Softail that I affectionately call "Ramona". I can't ever see myself wanting or needing another bike.
HMH: What are your tips to being a good cyclist?
SL: Use your head. Always be aware of what's around you and pay attention to your balance... balance is everyting.
HMH: We've all had 'em... what is your scariest moment while biking?
SL: I almost ran off a cliff once in Georgia taking turns way too fast!
HMH: Full gear and a helmet... necessary or not?
SL: Helmet and gear are a must, especially if you have kids. I know it's not "cool" or "old school", but to each his own...
Shannon Larkin, you are off the Heavy Metal Hog hotseat! Again, many thanks my Rock and Roll Brother. 'Till we meet again down
the road, ride safe... rock on... and CHEERS!!
Heavy Metal Hog: How and when, exactly, did you and Sully become acquainted?
Shannon Larkin: I met Sully at a Wrathchild show in North Carolina, and we hit it off and remained friends throughout the years.
HMH: It's been whispered in the press that Godsmack is no more. Are you, Sully, Tony and Robbie collaborating?
SL: That is a rumour stemming from Another Animal doing our record and Sully doing his solo record. The band is still collaborating and plotting out
when to start writing Godsmack 5.
HMH: It seems that your leaving Wrathchild was very amicable; true? Do you stay in touch with the guys?
SL: I still keep in touch with Jay and Brad, but have lost contact with Terry (although I've heard he is doing great with his country music). They all
understood when I left, as we had gone through so many highs and lows over so many years. They couldn't claim I bailed on them when the going
got tough.
HMH: Big question, here. It's also been rumored that Wrathchild may do a reunion thing. Any truth to that?
SL: No plans for a reunion, as we all have careers that keep us way too busy to think about such a thing. It would be great, though!
HMH: What was your proudest Wrathchild moment?
SL: Signing to Atlantic. That had been our dream and goal since we were teenagers.
HMH: Are you surprised at all that Terry and Brad have taken their respective paths in the music industry?
SL: I would expect nothing less.
HMH: How do you balance life as a musician with your family life?
SL: It's hard. I'm extremely lucky to have found a woman that can deal with my absence and not torture me about it!
HMH: Do you have any plans or have there been offers outside of Godsmack and Another Animal?
SL: My plate is so full! I have done an instructional video that is slated for an '09 release in which I break down my "style" and tell how I acquired it.
HMH: You were born in Chicago but raised in Martinsburg, WV. Do you still think of yourself as a "Mountaineer" and do you get back
to the state often? Related to that: How do you think West Virginia University will fare this ('08) football season?
SL: I have a soft spot in my heart for Martinsburg. My sis still lives there, and I've kept some lifelong friends in the area. As far as the
"Mountaneers", I must say that my father was a Notre Dame graduate, so I was raised on Irish football, nothing more, nothing less...but when I'm
not cheering on the Irish, of course I root for the Mountaneers. I'm not sure how the team looks this year.
HMH: How many Harleys do you own? Do you have a favorite?
SL: I own one. It's an '08 Heritage Softail that I affectionately call "Ramona". I can't ever see myself wanting or needing another bike.
HMH: What are your tips to being a good cyclist?
SL: Use your head. Always be aware of what's around you and pay attention to your balance... balance is everyting.
HMH: We've all had 'em... what is your scariest moment while biking?
SL: I almost ran off a cliff once in Georgia taking turns way too fast!
HMH: Full gear and a helmet... necessary or not?
SL: Helmet and gear are a must, especially if you have kids. I know it's not "cool" or "old school", but to each his own...
Shannon Larkin, you are off the Heavy Metal Hog hotseat! Again, many thanks my Rock and Roll Brother. 'Till we meet again down
the road, ride safe... rock on... and CHEERS!!
| Thom Copher and Shannon Larkin hangin' out following Godsmack's show in Charleston, WV - Summer, 2007. |