Former Godsmack drummer Shannon Larkin has addressed the debate over whether ex-Dream Theater stickman Mike Mangini is “overqualified” for his new role in Godsmack, coming out firmly in defense of the band’s decision. Mangini joined Godsmack in early June following the abrupt departure of Wade Murff, who left to fill in for Black Veil Brides on their European tour; Mangini made his live debut with the band on June 12 in Riverside, Missouri.
Larkin said during a June 19 livestream on his official YouTube channel (transcribed by Blabbermouth): “The talent level of Mike Mangini being supremely high in the drum world does not mean that Mike Mangini can’t come in and slam a drum like me or John Bonham or whoever plays a simpler style of music. And for what it’s worth, these people that feel this way, prog rock nation or whatever, they probably only heard the songs that everyone hears from Godsmack, and they don’t listen to the rest of the records where we’re not progressive, but we play more intricate metal riffs and songs, like ‘Locked & Loaded’, like ‘Livin’ In Sin’. I mean, I could name songs that aren’t just ‘Keep Away’ and ‘Voodoo’ and ‘Speak’ and ‘Cryin’ Like a Bitch’ or whatever.”
Larkin pushed back on the common fan comparisons — invoking Rod Morgenstein’s tenure with Winger and Terry Bozzio’s time with Missing Persons as precedents for technically elite drummers taking high-profile gigs in simpler-sounding rock bands — and argued that technical ability alone doesn’t determine a drummer’s suitability. “My point is: it’s about feel and vibe,” he said. “You gotta have the talent to get the audition and get in there, but then, for whatever reason, Wade Murff, it didn’t work.” Larkin said he watched video from Murff’s shows and that the tempo push-and-pull between Murff and frontman Sully Erna wasn’t as seamless as the decades of chemistry Erna and Larkin had built. “My boy, my friend Sully Erna is a perfectionist, especially when it comes to drums because he’s so good as a drummer. That dude’s my level.” Larkin also noted that Godsmack performs with no click tracks or backing tracks — making feel and tempo intuition between drummer and frontman especially critical.
On the broader question of critics calling Mangini overqualified, Larkin tied it to a point about humility: “With accomplishment on your instrument also comes these scores of hours, weekly or daily, of practice. And so once you get to the level of a Mike Mangini, you gain humbleness. It just happens with greatness.” He predicted Mangini’s tenure will stick: “It looks like Mike has joined the band. Is that forever? Probably. And I know if anybody can do it, Mike Mangini can do it. He has the beast in him, too, to be a big rock drummer and not have to do a zillion notes or something. So don’t underestimate big Mike. And he’s got a Boston accent, fits in with the guys. He’s an interesting drummer to watch, that’s for sure. He’s quirky. He does some cool, quirky, crazy stuff back there. So he’s a showman.”
Godsmack is currently on tour in North America with support from Stone Temple Pilots and Dorothy. Larkin retired from Godsmack approximately a year and a half ago following the tour in support of the band’s Lighting Up the Sky album. He was joined in that departure by guitarist Tony Rombola; Erna stated both had left “on good terms” to pursue a quieter life away from touring. Larkin had been Godsmack’s drummer since 2002, previously having played with Wrathchild America and Ugly Kid Joe. Godsmack’s live album Live at Mohegan Sun (May 1, 2026, Primary Wave), recorded Oct. 26, 2024 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, documents the final performance of the classic Godsmack lineup of Erna, Rombola, bassist Robbie Merrill and Larkin.
