Godsmack has revealed its new touring lineup for the band’s 2026 “The Rise of Rock” North American and European tour. Frontman Sully Erna confirmed that St. Louis guitarist Sam Koltun—best known for his work with Dorothy—and seasoned drummer Wade Murff will step in as the new guitar player and drummer, respectively. The news comes shortly after the departures of longtime guitarist Tony Rombola and drummer Shannon Larkin, who retired from the road following the band’s final classic-lineup show in October 2024.
Erna broke the news during a recent interview on TalkShopLive’s The Rock N Roll Channel while discussing the upcoming live album and Blu-ray Live At Mohegan Sun (due May 1, 2026). He described the transition as emotional but forward-looking, emphasizing that there was “no bad blood” with Rombola and Larkin. “They got to that point in their lives where they just didn’t wanna tour at this level anymore,” Erna said. “The road is a lonely place… We gave each other a big hug, and we wished them the best.”
The band wasted no time finding fresh talent. “We have welcomed in a new guitar player named Sam Koltun, who’s amazing,” Erna enthused. “He is actually playing with Dorothy. He came in for an audition and the guy blew our mind. His attention to detail, his performance, his playing really elevated the frontline… It sounds identical. It’s incredible how well he can play the stuff and put his own little flair to things.”
Koltun, a St. Louis native now based in Los Angeles, brings high-profile experience from tours and recordings with Dorothy, Faster Pussycat, Budderside, and others. His seamless fit into Godsmack’s catalog was immediately apparent during auditions.
On drums, Erna introduced Wade Murff for the first time publicly: “Great guy, great player, strong, looks great visually.” Murff, also LA-based, began drumming at age 4 and cites John Bonham, Alex Van Halen, Dave Lombardo, and Vinnie Paul as major influences. He has built a reputation as a first-call touring drummer for acts including Daughtry, Prong, Sebastian Bach, and Orgy.
The refreshed lineup—Sully Erna on vocals/guitar, Robbie Merrill on bass, Sam Koltun on guitar, and Wade Murff on drums—will debut on the massive “The Rise of Rock” tour, which pairs Godsmack with special guests Stone Temple Pilots and Dorothy for most North American dates.
Full 2026 Tour Dates
North America (with Stone Temple Pilots & Dorothy unless noted):
- May 7 – Welcome to Rockville 2026, Daytona Beach, FL
- May 9 – 93.3 WMMR MMRBQ 2026, Camden, NJ
- May 10 – Jiffy Lube Live, Bristow, VA
- May 12 – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater, Virginia Beach, VA
- May 14 – Truliant Amphitheater, Charlotte, NC
- May 16 – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, Raleigh, NC
- May 17 – Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival, Columbus, OH
- May 19 – FirstBank Amphitheater, Franklin, TN
- May 21 – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, Alpharetta, GA
- May 23 – Orion Amphitheater, Huntsville, AL
- May 24 – The Wharf, Orange Beach, AL
- May 27 – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, Irving, TX
- May 29 – Germania Insurance Amphitheater, Austin, TX
- May 30 – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, The Woodlands, TX
- June 12 – Morton Amphitheater, Riverside, MO
- June 14 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, Maryland Heights, MO (St. Louis area)
- June 16 – Acrisure Amphitheater, Grand Rapids, MI
- June 18 – Ruoff Music Center, Noblesville, IN
- June 20 – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, Tinley Park, IL
- June 21 – Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston, MI
- June 23 – The Pavilion at Star Lake, Burgettstown, PA
- June 24 – RBC Amphitheatre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- June 27 – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY
- June 28 – PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ
- June 30 – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview, Syracuse, NY
- July 2 – Xfinity Center, Mansfield, MA
- July 3 – Maine Savings Amphitheater, Bangor, ME
- September 4 – Rocklahoma 2026, Pryor, OK (with additional artists)
- September 6 – Speaking Rock Entertainment Center, El Paso, TX (with Dorothy)
- September 7 – First Financial Credit Union Amphitheater, Albuquerque, NM (with Stone Temple Pilots & Dorothy)
Europe / International Festivals:
- July 23–25 – Hills of Rock Festival, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- July 26 – Novi Hangar Luka Beograd, Belgrade, Serbia
- July 28 – Rockstadt Extreme Fest, Ghimbav, Romania
- August 1 – Tallinn Rock Festival, Tallinn, Estonia
- August 6 – Leyendas del Rock, Villena, Spain
- August 8 – Vagos Metal Fest, Relvinha, Portugal
- August 9–15 – Reload Festival, Sulingen, Germany
- August 13 – Motocultor Festival, Carhaix-Plouguer, France
- August 16 – Dynamo Metal Fest, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Additional late-summer and fall North American dates are expected; check Godsmack.com/tour for the latest updates and ticket information.
Erna wrapped his comments with optimism: “There’s this new breath of life now… It’s exciting.” With Koltun and Murff bringing fresh energy while honoring the band’s catalog note-for-note, Godsmack’s 2026 run promises to deliver the same crushing riffs and arena-filling anthems fans have loved for three decades—only with a renewed spark.
Tickets for most dates are on sale now via Ticketmaster and the band’s official site. The Live At Mohegan Sun double live album and Blu-ray drops May 1 and will serve as a heartfelt farewell to the classic lineup while ushering in this next chapter. Rock is rising again in 2026.
