Lee Richards, second from left, has joined Dropbox, which has signed to Sully Erna's label, Realign Records.
When and Where: 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Hippodrome in Springfield, Thursday at Mohegan Sun Casino Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
Tickets: $35 for Springfield, $34.50 for Mohegan Sun
Album release: Dropbox's self-titled debut album hits stores Tuesday.
Seven years ago, North Andover native Lee Richards walked away from a platinum opportunity -- make that a multiplantinum opportunity. He played guitar for Godsmack, which at the time had been signed to Universal Records.
Godsmack sold 4 million records with that self-titled first album, moving on to a career that included many more millions in records sales, several Grammy nods and tours with some of the legends of hard rock.
Richards isn't bitter; he has no regrets. As he readies to launch a new band, he is comfortable with the fact he left the band and his friends, lead singer Sully Erna and bassist Robbie Merrill, to spend time with a 6-year-old son he never knew existed.
"I was so close to Robbie and Sully -- I didn't want to hold them back," said 33-year-old Richards. "I had to do the right thing for my kid. ... It was my son, my responsibility was to him more so than myself, or Sully or Robbie."
"He had to leave for his own reasons," said Erna, a Lawrence native who now lives in Windham, N.H. "We never held it against him and he never held it against us when the band started doing well."
The good karma Richards earned from making that decision has put him back in the running to achieve his dream of playing for a band with a chance to make it big. Richards now plays guitar for Dropbox, the first band signed to Erna's new record label, Realign Records, an imprint of Universal.
"I knew this day would come. There are so many guys in the racket that don't make it this far," said Richards, currently touring with Godsmack. "Two years ago, I don't know if it would have happened this quickly. I hoped it would."
Back in 1997, it didn't seem like this sort of career was in his future. After he left Godsmack, Richards took about 11 months off from music, getting to know his son and beginning a family. Eventually he began a new band called Powder Burnt which did well in New England and even got some record-label interest before it broke up.
Through all this, Richards kept in touch with his buddies from Godsmack -- guys he'd known since he was a teenager. With each new milestone and accolade Godsmack earned, Richards felt pride, not like a slighted Pete Best (the original Beatle's drummer, who was replaced by Ringo Starr).
"I was really happy for these guys, that the music we were playing broke and made a hit worldwide," said Richards.
Erna kept Richards in mind when Dropbox approached him with a demo songs two years ago. While Erna listens to dozens of demos, this one struck a chord with him.
"I get so many demos -- I didn't hear a lot of stuff I love," said Erna, who Universal has been trying to tap to find new talent. "This guy's voice was awesome."
But the songs needed some help from a gifted writer.
"I always thought of Lee as an amazing songwriter," said Erna, who brought the band and Richards together. "One day a lot of bulbs went off."
It didn't take much to convince Richards that Dropbox was worth the effort.
"As soon as I heard it (the demo) I picked up from North Andover to New Jersey to write this record," said Richards. "It was a very organic thing. We just wrote what came out of us."Erna helped Dropbox produce its next demo, and took it to Universal. The label encouraged Erna to start his own label and put Dropbox's debut out as its first release. Erna's been focusing on Dropbox, but has big plans for his Realign Records.
"I want to do something great with it. I don't want this to be a heavy metal or a rock label," said Erna. "I am looking for the next Elton John or the next Alanis Morissette."
For 18 months, Richards lived in New Jersey working on songs with the other band members. While preparing for their own album, Richards and Dropbox lead singer John Kosco contributed to "Touche," a track on Godsmack's latest release "The Other Side." While working on that album with Godsmack in Hawaii, Richards got a phone call from producing legend Dave Jerden, who's worked with Alice in Chains, The Offspring and Jane's Addiction.
"I am literally doing cartwheels in the hotel room," said Richards. "He's like the Phil Spector of my generation."
The result of the collaboration (out Tuesday) reveals an album that marries Godsmack's bruising rock with some more mellow undertones.
But the band isn't waiting for the album to make it to stores before they start collecting attention. Dropbox played its first gig at a pre-Grammy party for Playboy magazine. Now the group is touring with Godsmack, packing arenas before their album hits shelves. Already the albums sits at No. 27 on Billboard's Active Rock chart.
"It's amazing, we get the full attention of people at Universal and Realign. It's the first band and everyone wants it to go through the roof," said Richards. "A lot of it has to do with Sully being so great. He has all of these kids frothing at the mouth to get this out."
When "Dropbox" finally hits stores on Tuesday, Richards will be in Hershey, Penn., where he plans to buy at least 20 at the local record store.
"I am going to open and smell every single one of them," he said. "I am a proud dad."
Erna is feeling like a proud papa these days as well, every time Dropbox gets thunderous applause at their concerts.
"Playing in front of Godsmack fans -- that can be brutal," said Erna. "They are not shy about telling you you (stink) if you do."
Already the band is conquering other media. Dropbox's first single "Wishbone" can be heard on Atari's new Transformers videogame, out May 11 in time for the chameleon robots' 20th anniversary.
All this attention might overwhelm some, but Richards says this feels very natural. It's a path he's wanted to take since his grandmother gave him Ozzy Osbourne's "Diary of a Madman" at age 11. He got his first guitar from his mother and father, Lee and Jane Richards, four years later, and never looked back.
"I sold my soul for rock and roll," said Richards with a laugh.
Being a metal head in North Andover wasn't easy growing up, but it set him on the path he travels today.
"North Andover was a pretty snotty town back then, too," said Richards. "I migrated to Methuen and Lawrence, and that is how I met Sully and Robbie and all these guys."
For other local bands who want to make it big, Richards advises them to focus on the songs not necessarily the live performances.
"The industry isn't like it used to be," said Richards, who will be doing some scouting for Realign Records. "In today's market, it's completely about product. They (record labels) need to hear that song they can break on the radio. If you can deliver them that, you are on the way."
Erna would love to expand his label even more, adding Sevendust to the line up, calling them "the most underrated rock band." He also listens to every demo he gets, which bands can send him through Godsmack's Web site, Godsmack.com.
"Great music is something that is heard in the soul, not the ear," said Erna. "We always need great music. If I can contribute to that I'm glad to do it."