Editing Godsmack (section)

===Formation and ''All Wound Up...'' (1995–1997)===
In February 1995, [[Sully Erna]] decided to start a new band as the lead singer after playing the drums for more than 23 years, including more than two years in the now-defunct band Strip Mind.<ref name="Godsmack biography">{{cite web |url= http://www.godsmack.com/bio/bio.asp |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070930171134/http://www.godsmack.com/bio/bio.asp |archive-date= September 30, 2007 |title=Godsmack – Bio |access-date=October 10, 2007 |publisher=Godsmack.com}}</ref> His new band, The Scam, formed with Erna on vocals, [[Robbie Merrill]] on bass, local guitarist and friend Lee Richards on guitar, and [[Tommy Stewart]] on drums. The Scam quickly changed its name to Godsmack, after recording one demo.<ref name="Rolling Stone with Sully">{{cite magazine|first=Austin|last=Scaggs|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/godsmack/articles/story/5936304/sully_awakes|title=Sully Awakes|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=May 6, 2003|access-date=December 2, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210033805/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/godsmack/articles/story/5936304/sully_awakes|archive-date=December 10, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The newly formed band started playing small bars in their hometown of [[Boston]]. Locally popular songs such as "[[Keep Away (song)|Keep Away]]" and "[[Whatever (Godsmack song)|Whatever]]" soon brought them to the top of the hit charts in the Boston/New England area.<ref name="Godsmack biography"/>

Many people think the band's name stemmed from the [[Godsmack (song)|Alice in Chains song of the same name]], but according to Erna, the band's name came from a small and personal incident. "I was making fun of [our drummer at the time]<ref name=":0" /> who had a cold sore on his lip and the next day I had one myself and somebody said, 'It's a god smack.' The name stuck. We were aware of the Alice In Chains song but didn't really think much about it."<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nyrock.com/interviews/1999/godsmack_int.asp|title=Sully Erna of Godsmack on Karma, Christians and the Law of Three (NY Rock)|publisher=Nyrock.com|date=October 1, 1999|access-date=October 10, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011092214/http://nyrock.com/interviews/1999/godsmack_int.asp|archive-date=October 11, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1996, [[Tony Rombola]] joined as the guitarist after Richards left upon learning he had a six-year-old child and Stewart left due to personal differences.<ref name="Richards leaving stuff">{{cite web|first=Morley|last=Seaver|url=http://www.rocknworld.com/morley/06/Godsmack.shtml|title=MorleyView Interview with Shannon Larkin of Godsmack|publisher=MorleyView|access-date=December 6, 2007}}</ref> In the same year, the band entered New Alliance Studio in Boston to record its debut album, ''[[All Wound Up (album)|All Wound Up...]]''.<ref name="Godsmack biography"/><ref>{{cite web|first=Robert|last=Taylor|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/all-wound-up-mw0001888339|title=All Wound Up Godsmack|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=May 28, 2022}}</ref> The CD was recorded in just three days for $2,600 and was self-released in February 1997 through the band's own record label, E. K. Records Company.<ref name="Godsmack biography"/><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Redmon |first=Jess |date=February 1999 |title=Godsmack Interview |url=http://www.altrockworld.com/interviews/godsmack.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991001192234/http://www.altrockworld.com/interviews/godsmack.html |archive-date=October 1, 1999 |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=Alt Rock World}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Carriere |first=Nicola |date=December 16, 1999 |title=Godsmack Interview |url=http://www.brokensilence.de/interviews/igodsmack1299.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010426123329/http://www.brokensilence.de/interviews/igodsmack1299.htm |archive-date=April 26, 2001 |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=Broken Silence}}</ref> In May 1997, Joe D'Arco joined to replace Stewart on drums.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |date=April 1999 |title=Godsmack is |url=http://xauw.com/godsmack.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990420055448/http://members.xoom.com/xauw/godsmack/ |archive-date=April 20, 1999 |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=The Best I Ever Did}}</ref>

Eventually, Godsmack's CD landed in the hands of Rocko, the night-time DJ for Boston radio station [[WKVB (FM)|WAAF (FM)]]. The radio station put "Keep Away" into heavy rotation and the song rose to the number one spot at the station very quickly.<ref name="Godsmack biography"/> Newbury Comics, a New England record store chain, agreed to sell the CD on consignment. Shortly after the success of "Keep Away", Godsmack went back into the studio and recorded a single titled "Whatever", which became the new local favorite on WAAF (FM).<ref name="Godsmack biography"/><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> In an interview Sully Erna stated, "We had been selling maybe 50 copies a month at the time WAAF picked up the album. All of a sudden we started moving over a thousand records a week. (...) I was doing all this from my bedroom. After years of grinding away, things finally started taking off."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barrystickets.com/concert-tickets/godsmack-tickets.php|title=Godsmack biography – Barrystickets|publisher=barrystickets.com|access-date=January 2, 2008}}</ref> In April 1998, D'Arco was dismissed from the band.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=April 27, 1998 |title=Godsmack News |url=http://xauw.com/godsmack/news.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991114134849/http://members.xoom.com:80/xauw/godsmack/news.html |archive-date=November 14, 1999 |access-date=August 20, 2022 |website=The Best I Ever Did}}</ref> He was replaced by former drummer [[Tommy Stewart]], who returned after expressing a desire to be in the band again.<ref name="Drummer switch">{{cite news |date=August 13, 2002 |title=Godsmack's Sully Erna Speaks out on drummer switch |work=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?Mode=Archive&Date=8/13/2002 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221093400/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?Mode=Archive&Date=8%2F13%2F2002 |archive-date=December 21, 2007}}</ref>