Let’s be real for a second. Covering The Beatles is a death wish for most bands. It’s basically sacrilege. You either copy it note-for-note and bore everyone to tears, or you change it so much that it loses the soul of the original. But when Godsmack tackled Come Together by Godsmack, they did something different. They didn't try to be Lennon and McCartney. They just sounded like Godsmack.
It’s heavy. It’s gritty. It’s got that specific Boston-bred stomp that Sully Erna has spent decades perfecting.
If you grew up listening to alternative metal in the early 2010s, you probably remember when this dropped. It wasn't a lead single for a massive studio album. Instead, it was the standout track on their 2012 live album, Live & Inspired. The band was coming off the back of The Oracle, and they were at a point where they could pretty much do whatever they wanted. So, they went into the studio with some of their favorite covers—Joe Walsh, Rocky Mountain Way, and yeah, the biggest band in history.
Honestly, the bass line is what saves it. Robbie Merrill’s tone on this track is thick. It’s murky. It takes that iconic, slinky McCartney groove and drags it through a puddle of engine oil.
The Story Behind the Live & Inspired Session
Most people forget that Live & Inspired was a bit of a weird release. It was a double-disc set. The first half was a live show from the Fox Theatre in Detroit—classic, high-energy Godsmack. But the second disc was a four-song EP of covers. Sully Erna has always been vocal about his influences. He’s a guy who grew up on classic rock, not just metal. For him, Come Together by Godsmack wasn't a gimmick; it was a tribute to the songwriting that made him want to play music in the first place.
They recorded these covers at Serenity West Recording in Hollywood. They wanted to capture the "live" feel even in the studio. You can hear it in the way Shannon Larkin hits the drums. There’s no over-polishing here. It sounds like four guys in a room just loud as hell.
The Beatles released the original in 1969 as the opening track to Abbey Road. It was weird, nonsensical, and psychedelic. Godsmack stripped away the LSD and replaced it with adrenaline.
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Some fans hated it. That’s just the nature of the beast when you touch the Fab Four. But for the core Godsmack audience, it was a bridge between the classic rock era and the post-grunge world. It worked because they didn't overthink the "joker is a smoker" lyrics. Sully just delivered them with his signature growl, making the nonsense sound surprisingly menacing.
Why the Arrangement Divides Fans
If you listen to the original, there’s a lot of air in the track. There’s space. Godsmack, however, hates empty space.
Tony Rombola’s guitar work on this version is worth a deep listen. He keeps the core riff intact but adds these little harmonic squeals and a solo that’s much more aggressive than what George Harrison laid down. Harrison’s solo was melodic and bluesy. Rombola’s is a shred-fest that still respects the pentatonic roots. It’s a delicate balance.
Here’s the thing: many "purists" argue that a metal band has no business touching Abbey Road material. They say it lacks the "swing" of the original. Maybe they're right. But music isn't a museum. It's a living thing. When you hear Come Together by Godsmack, you aren't looking for a 1960s hippy vibe. You’re looking for a song to drive fast to. You’re looking for something to blast at the gym.
- The tempo is slightly pushed.
- The vocals are layered in that classic Erna style (lots of doubling).
- The drums are massive—think Bonham meets modern metal.
- The outro jam is pure Godsmack.
It’s fascinating how many younger fans actually heard the Godsmack version before they ever sat down and listened to the full Abbey Road album. That's the power of a well-placed cover. It acts as a gateway drug to the classics.
Comparison: Aerosmith vs. Godsmack vs. The Beatles
We can't talk about this song without mentioning Aerosmith. For a long time, Steven Tyler and the boys owned the "heavy" version of this song. Their 1978 cover for the Sgt. Pepper's movie (which was a disaster, let’s be honest) became a massive hit in its own right.
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Aerosmith kept the swing. They kept the blues.
Come Together by Godsmack is a different animal. While Aerosmith’s version feels like a party, Godsmack’s feels like a protest. There’s a heaviness in the low end that wasn't possible with 1970s recording technology. The frequency response on the Godsmack version is designed to rattle your teeth.
Sully Erna’s vocal approach is also notably different. Steven Tyler used his high-register screams and scatting. Sully stays in that mid-range pocket, focusing on the rhythmic delivery of the words. It turns the song into an anthem of "us vs. them," which fits the Godsmack brand perfectly.
Is it better? No. Is it worse? Not necessarily. It’s just different. It’s for a different mood. If you want to dance, you put on the original. If you want to break something, you put on the Godsmack version.
The Impact on the Band's Legacy
By 2012, Godsmack was already a legacy act in many ways. They had the hits—"Voodoo," "Awake," "I Stand Alone." They didn't need to prove they could write a hit. Covering Come Together by Godsmack was about showing their range.
It allowed them to get onto classic rock radio stations that might have previously found them "too heavy." Suddenly, you had DJs who played Led Zeppelin all day slipping in a Godsmack track. It was a brilliant move for staying relevant in a changing industry.
The band has always struggled with the "nu-metal" label. They hated it. They always saw themselves as a hard rock band in the vein of Alice in Chains or Metallica. This cover was a way to plant their flag in the ground of rock history. They were saying, "We belong in the same conversation as these legends."
How to Listen to This Track Today
If you’re going to dive into this song, don't just find a low-quality rip on YouTube. You need the high-fidelity version to actually hear what the band is doing.
- Check the Low End: Use decent headphones. The way the kick drum locks in with the bass guitar is the highlight of the production.
- Listen to the Textures: Notice the subtle percussion. Sully Erna is a drummer first, and he often adds layers of hand drums or extra cymbals that most people miss.
- The Solo: Don't skip Tony’s solo. It’s one of the few times he really lets loose on a cover song.
The reality is that Come Together by Godsmack remains a staple of their deep catalog. It’s a fan favorite during live sets because everyone knows the words, yet the energy is high enough to keep the mosh pit moving.
It’s rare for a cover to have this kind of staying power. Most covers are forgotten six months after they’re released. But here we are, years later, still talking about it. That’s because Godsmack didn't just play the song. They owned it.
If you want to understand the DNA of modern hard rock, you have to look at how these bands interpret the masters. Godsmack took a masterpiece and gave it a leather jacket and a bad attitude.
Actionable Insights for Rock Fans:
- Explore the "Live & Inspired" EP: Don't stop at "Come Together." Their cover of "Rocky Mountain Way" is equally impressive and shows off a more melodic side of Sully’s voice.
- Analyze the Production: If you're a musician, look at how the band simplified the arrangement to make it heavier. They removed some of the "fluff" to focus on the power chord progression.
- Watch the Live Performances: Search for pro-shot footage of them playing this live. The interaction between Shannon Larkin and the rest of the band during the bridge is a masterclass in stage presence.
- Contextualize the Lyrics: Read the original Beatles lyrics and see how the meaning changes when delivered with a more aggressive tone. It’s a great exercise in how "performance" alters "meaning."
Go back and give it a spin. Even if you're a Beatles purist, you have to admit—it’s got some serious kick. It’s a reminder that rock and roll isn't about following the rules. It’s about taking something old and making it feel dangerous again. That is exactly what Godsmack did.