Godsmack's Sully Erna On Why He Needs Solo Albums Outlet

(Metal Hammer) Godsmack singer and guitarist Sully Erna says his musical spirit would die if his only outlet was from within the band. He's gearing up for the release of his second solo album Hometown Life on September 30 via BMG. And he reports that having the freedom to explore other genres outside of Godsmack gives balance to his professional life.

Speaking on an upcoming episode of One On One With Mitch Lafon, Erna says: "If I was constantly handcuffed to Godsmack, I think my spirit would just die in music.

"I come from a musical family - I've been playing since I was three-and-a-half years old, my dad's a musician, my great uncle was a famous composer in Italy, so my music bloodline goes quite a way back.

"I was raised with all kinds of different music - Italian music, jazz and blues - I didn't play rock until I was in my teens. It wasn't what I was raised on and how I discovered music. I discovered music through Buddy Rich and bands like that.

"As I got older, it was like, 'Why wouldn't I open that up? Why wouldn't I explore those genres that turned me on and inspired me in the first place to want to be a musician?'" Read more here.