Page 79 - Issue 39

Stevie ray. So that was kind of the stuff
i was into and then godsmack came
along and i kind of stopped doing that.
When i’d be at home or playing with my
friends i’d still play that style. But being
in godsmack, i had to write songs like
that and be in drop tuning and follow
the formula for that and we’ve been
doing that for a long time now. that was
my priority and i focused all of my effort
into that. But with this thing, Shannon
heard me playing and thought it was
good so that turned into writing some
songs and getting a singer and getting
a whole band and now let’s get a record
deal.”
the debut record sounds like
something straight out of an old texas
blues bar. it isn’t surprising to learn
that tony draws a lot of influence from
classic rock and blues bands like Stevie
ray Vaughn, gary moore, and Black
Sabbath. tony also talked about his
deep appreciation for the old Johnny
cash style of writing story songs. the
spirit of that style of songwriting lives
on in all of the songs but one song in
particular, “the devil Plays a Strat,” is a
great example of writing songs with a
clever story. “i don’t write the lyrics, ray
[cerbone] and Shannon kind of split that
up 50/50. But i love the song though
and the story. it’s kind of a charlie
daniels kind of story where a guy goes
into a bar with a Les Paul and goes up
against Lucifer with a Strat.”
godsmack will be taking some time
next year to start writing and recording
a follow-up to 1000hp. Be sure to check
out tony’s new project, apocalypse
Blues revue.

ConneCt: godsmack.com/
theapocalypsebluesrevue.com

ratrodmagazine.com Rat Rod Magazine 79

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