Sully Erna

Infobox musical artist
Name = Sully Erna


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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Salvator Paul Erna
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1968|2|7|mf=y
Origin = Lawrence, Massachusetts
Instrument = vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, drums, Piano, keyboards, percussion
Genre = Hard rock Alternative metal heavy metal Post-grunge Alternative rock
Occupation = Musician, Singer-songwriter
Voice_type = Baritone
Years_active = 1991 - present
Label = Universal Records
Associated_acts = Godsmack, Meliah Rage, Strip Mind
URL = [http://www.godsmack.com Official Godsmack website]
Notable_instruments =

Sully Erna (born Salvator Paul Erna February 7 1968 in Lawrence, Massachusetts), is both the vocalist and primary songwriter for the hard rock/heavy metal band, Godsmack. Erna plays the guitar and drums, both on albums and during live shows. He has a daughter named Skylar Brooke Erna and an older sister named Maria. [http://www.thepathswechoose.com/corner.htm),]

Biography

Early life

Sully began playing drums at the age of 3. His father, Salvatore Paul Erna, was a trumpet player and would rehearse in the basement where Sully would go to sleep in the empty guitar case. His great grandfather was a famous composer in Sicily, where every year they honor his birthday and his pictures are hung in a museumFact|date=March 2008. At the age of 11 it was discovered that it was easier for him to listen to something and play it than read sheet music. He stopped taking lessons and sat at home rehearsing to records by Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Motorhead, and AmereImage.

Music career

At 14, Dave Vose became his new instructor. He signed his first record deal in 1993 with a band called Strip Mind. Their debut album "What's in Your Mouth" sold less than 50,000 units. The band self-destructed shortly after. He was also in Meliah Rage (drums on the album "Unfinished Business") and The Fighting Cocks. In Godsmack concerts he plays the bongos and an entire drum set, staging a drumming duel known as "Batalla de los Tambores" with drummer Shannon Larkin. This battle has become a staple of the band's live show. He is also a skilled harmonica player as present on the Godsmack song "Shine Down". It was recently announced that Sully will work on a solo record due out sometime in 2008, and it will stray away from the hard rock sound of Godsmack. Sully wrapped up his acoustic tour with one final show at The House of Blues in Chicago, IL on June 28th.

Religion

Sully Erna is a devout Wiccan.

His book, The Paths We Choose, does mention in a brief passage the key parts of Wicca, but does not go into full detail.

He has announced in several interviews that the type of Wicca he practices is Celtic Wicca.

The Paths We Choose

Erna released a memoir entitled "The Paths We Choose" on his birthday February 7, 2007. The book details his struggles during the first 30 years of his life, up until the time Godsmack landed a record deal. The book sold 100,000 copies in its first month of release, and to date has shifted 300,000 copies worldwide.

Car accident

Godsmack frontman Sully Erna was quite shaken up from the three-car chain-reaction accident in Methuen, Massachusetts he caused when his Hummer H3 rear-ended another car on April 11 2007, resulting in the serious injury of its back-seat passenger. "He's deeply concerned for the girl who was hurt in this unfortunate accident," said his manager, Paul Geary, in reference to 25-year-old Chelmsford resident Lindsay Taylor. "Sully's thankful he got out with a split lip and some aches and pains, but he's traumatized about the girl," according to the April 17, 2007 Boston Herald.

Taylor was initially reported to be in a coma and on life support with critical injuries, was upgraded to serious status after she was flown to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center [ [http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_106115412 Eagle Tribune] ,] and has since returned home. On March 31, 2008, Taylor filed an auto negligence lawsuit against Erna in Federal Court. [http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-madce/case_no-1:2008cv10534/case_id-114767/]

Poker

Sully Erna participated in the 2006 World Series of Poker main event in which he made a brief appearance on the ESPN broadcast of the event; it was mentioned that he was the last of the celebrity entries. He finished in 713th out of 8,773 earning him $17,730. ^{[http://www.pokerpages.com/tournament/result13648.htm]}

Erna also played in the 2007 World Series of Poker main event. After the elimination of Tobey Maguire, Erna was the final celebrity remaining. He placed in 237th out of a field of 6,358, earning $45,422. To complement his placing at the World Series of Poker, he placed 2nd in a preliminary event at Bellagio's 5 Diamond World Poker Classic, where he lost to J.C Tran but earned $307,325 as a consolation. ^{[http://www.cardplayer.com/tournaments/results/13901]}

Sully also competed in the 2007 VH1 Celebrity Rock and Roll Tournament with Ace Frehley, Vinnie Paul, Scott Ian, and Dusty Hill. Erna took second, losing to Scott Ian of Anthrax.

McGee Murder Investigation

Erna was questioned in a murder investigation surrounding the stabbing death on November 20, 2007 of Tyngsboro, Massachusetts native Christine McGee. The police suspect her jealous husband, Jeffrey McGee, was the murderer but both Erna and Gary Hoey were questioned by police as part of the murder probe. Erna and Hoey were reported to have met the woman days before the murder took place. Neither men are suspects at this point. According to Godsmack's manager Paul Geary, Sully had no romantic involvement with McGee. [ [http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1047984 Slay victim met Godsmack frontman - BostonHerald.com ] ]

External links

* [http://www.godsmack.com Official Godsmack website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/acessuck Sully] at MySpace
* [http://www.thepathswechoose.com Official Homepage of Sully's book]
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References