Shannon Larkin

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Shannon Larkin

| image = Godsmack - 2019160161909 2019-06-09 Rock am Ring - 0432 - B70I1399.jpg

| caption = Larkin performing with Godsmack in 2019

| landscape = yes

| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist

| birth_name = James Shannon Larkin

| alias =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|4|24|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

| origin =

| instrument = Drums

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Musician
songwriter
percussionist

}}

| years_active = 1978–present

| past_member_of = {{flatlist|

}}

| website = {{URL|godsmack.com}}

}}

James Shannon Larkin (born April 24, 1967) is an American musician, best known as the former drummer of the rock band Godsmack.{{Cite web|title=Band|url=https://www.godsmack.com/band|access-date=March 4, 2021|website=Godsmack|language=en-US}} He replaced the band's previous drummer Tommy Stewart in June 2002, and played on six of their studio albums: Faceless (2003), IV (2006), The Oracle (2010), 1000hp (2014), When Legends Rise (2018), and Lighting Up the Sky (2023). At the time of his departure from the band in late 2024,{{Cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/godsmack-confirms-split-with-shannon-larkin-and-tony-rombola-their-departure-opens-the-door-for-new-and-exciting-possibilities|title=GODSMACK Confirms Split With SHANNON LARKIN And TONY ROMBOLA: 'Their Departure Opens The Door For New And Exciting Possibilities'|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=April 2, 2025|access-date=April 2, 2025}} Larkin was Godsmack's longest-serving drummer.

Prior to Godsmack, Larkin was a member of Amen, Candlebox, Ugly Kid Joe, and Souls at Zero (formerly Wrathchild America).

Career

Larkin has been playing drums since the age of ten.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

He formed Wrathchild America in 1978, recording two albums for Atlantic Records before being dropped by the label. The group disbanded and later reformed as Souls at Zero, signing with Energy Rekords and releasing an eponymous debut album that was well received by critics. He went on to join Ugly Kid Joe in 1994 replacing their touring drummer who replaced its drummer Mark Davis, recording two albums with the band before its breakup in 1997 and spent a decade with the band following its reform in 2010, recording another two albums before leaving the band in 2021. He recorded two more with Amen before joining Godsmack.

He briefly played with Black Sabbath at one show on July 1, 1997, when regular drummer Mike Bordin was unavailable.{{Cite web |last=Ouellette |first=Mary |date=2012-08-05 |title=Godsmack's Shannon Larkin on Drumming For Black Sabbath: One of the Best Things That Ever Happened To Me |url=https://loudwire.com/godsmacks-shannon-larkin-on-drumming-for-black-sabbath-one-of-the-best-things-that-ever-happened-to-me/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}

He joined Godsmack in 2002, replacing departing drummer Tommy Stewart.{{Cite web|last=Archive-Joe-DAngelo|title=Godsmack Split With Drummer Tommy Stewart|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1455038/godsmack-split-with-drummer-tommy-stewart/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531044339/http://www.mtv.com/news/1455038/godsmack-split-with-drummer-tommy-stewart/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 31, 2021|access-date=March 4, 2021|website=MTV News|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Blabbermouth|date=August 13, 2002|title=GODSMACK's SULLY ERNA Speaks Out On Drummer Switch|url=https://blabbermouth.herokuapp.com/news/godsmack-s-sully-erna-speaks-out-on-drummer-switch/|access-date=March 4, 2021|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET|archive-date=May 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531061614/https://blabbermouth.herokuapp.com/news/godsmack-s-sully-erna-speaks-out-on-drummer-switch/|url-status=dead}} He played on six of their studio albums, Faceless (2003), IV (2006), The Oracle (2010), 1000hp (2014), When Legends Rise (2018), and Lighting Up the Sky (2023), as well as the acoustic EP The Other Side (2004). It was announced on April 2, 2025 that Larkin (along with guitarist Tony Rombola) had left Godsmack.

file:Shannon Larkin godsmack drums.jpg live show in 2008]]

His numerous side projects have included hardcore punk and thrash metal band Kiddie Porn with fellow Wrathchild guitarist Jay Abbene and bassist John "Tumor" Fahnestock, MF Pitbulls with members of Snot, and The Apocalypse Blues Revival with Tony Rombola.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/godsmack-drummer-and-guitarist-form-side-blues-project-blue-cross-band/ |title=GODSMACK Drummer And Guitarist Form Side Blues Project BLUE CROSS BAND |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=July 2, 2014 |access-date=July 5, 2014}}

He has appeared as a session musician on such albums as Strait Up{{Cite web|title=Strait Up - CD (2000, Multimedia)|url=https://www.musik-sammler.de/release/strait-up-cd-815558/|access-date=March 4, 2021|website=Musik-Sammler.de|language=de}} by Snot and Glenn Tipton's Baptizm of Fire.{{Cite web|title=Baptizm Of Fire – Glenn Tipton|url=http://www.glenntipton.co.uk/baptizm-of-fire/|access-date=March 4, 2021|language=en-GB}} He has played for Vanilla Ice, Glassjaw, and Stone Sour.

He was featured on the Behind the Player series.[http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Behind-the-Player-Shannon-Larkin/18753020 "Sheet Music Plus - Behind the Player: Shannon Larkin"] Sheetmusicplus.com. Retrieved on July 10, 2009.

Personal life

Larkin is a koi and turtle enthusiast and keeps multiple koi and turtles at his home.{{cite web |title=Meeting Shannon Larkin's Turtles and Koi! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0j4vBtORxA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/K0j4vBtORxA |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|website=YouTube | date=January 22, 2021 |publisher=Snake Discovery |access-date=January 24, 2021}}{{cbignore}} Larkin has been tattooed by artists all over the world. In addition to a full sleeve on his left arm and tattoos on his right arm, he has "Amen" tattooed across his knuckles and a hand ripping into the skin on his stomach.[http://ywarning01.tripod.com/smackdbysully/id2.html "Shannon Larkin Tattoos"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225120936/http://ywarning01.tripod.com/smackdbysully/id2.html |date=February 25, 2012 }} Tripod.com. Retrieved on July 10, 2009.