Sam Koltun (Godsmack) | Red Monkey Guitar Straps
Artists Who Play Red Monkey
Sam Koltun of Godsmack
Sam “Bam” Koltun has built his career the old-fashioned way: years of clubs, touring, recording and stepping onto increasingly bigger stages. Today, he stands alongside Sully Erna and Godsmack as part of the band's newest chapter, bringing his aggressive hard-rock guitar style, unmistakable stage presence and a Red Monkey leather guitar strap along for the ride.
The St. Louis-born guitarist began playing at only 10 years old and was already performing in local clubs by the time he was 12. After relocating to Los Angeles, Koltun studied guitar performance at Musicians Institute while continuing to build a working career as a touring musician.
From the Los Angeles Rock Scene to Godsmack
Long before joining Godsmack, Koltun had become a familiar presence in the modern hard-rock world. His résumé includes extensive work with Dorothy, Faster Pussycat, Budderside and other touring and recording projects.
That experience made him especially well suited for one of the more difficult assignments in contemporary rock: stepping into a band with an established guitar sound, decades of history and a catalog known by millions of fans.
Koltun first joined Godsmack on the road in 2025. By 2026, frontman Sully Erna was publicly describing him as part of the band's new lineup, praising his attention to detail, performance and ability to honor the guitar parts that helped define Godsmack while still bringing his own personality to the music.
Sam Koltun's Guitar Style
Koltun's playing lives squarely in the tradition of muscular American hard rock: heavy riffs, blues-based lead work, melodic phrasing and a strong connection between the guitar and the visual energy of the performance.
He has long been associated with Gibson Les Paul-style guitars, and that combination of a substantial solid-body guitar and a full live show places very real demands on a guitar strap. Stability, comfort and dependable construction matter considerably more once a player moves from rehearsals and club stages into lengthy touring sets and arena-scale production.
Sam Koltun and Red Monkey
Red Monkey has spent more than three decades building leather guitar straps for working musicians, touring players and some of rock's most recognizable guitarists. Seeing Sam Koltun wearing Red Monkey onstage continues that tradition with one of the players helping carry modern hard rock forward.
Every Red Monkey guitar strap is built in Los Angeles with the same philosophy that has guided the brand since 1995: make the strap strong enough for the road, comfortable enough for a full set and distinctive enough that it becomes part of the player's stage identity.
Godsmack's Next Chapter
Godsmack entered a significant transition following the departure of longtime guitarist Tony Rombola and drummer Shannon Larkin from the touring lineup. Rather than simply trying to replicate what came before, the band has described its current era as a new chapter.
Koltun's arrival is an important part of that evolution. He brings years of experience playing everything from intimate Los Angeles rooms to major festival and arena stages, while maintaining the weight and precision required by Godsmack's catalog.
For Red Monkey, that makes this one especially fitting: a working guitarist who came up through the clubs, earned his place on the road and is now carrying that experience onto one of hard rock's biggest stages.
Built for the Stage
Explore handcrafted Red Monkey leather guitar straps made in Los Angeles for touring musicians and players who expect their gear to last.
SHOP LEATHER GUITAR STRAPSFollow Sam Koltun
Follow Sam on Instagram at @sambamkoltun and visit Godsmack for current tour and band updates.