gary hoey

Grammy-nominated Godsmack frontman Sully Erna and a guitar hero pal partied with a Tyngsboro woman just days before she was allegedly slashed to death by her jealous husband, and both rockers have been questioned as part of the murder probe, the Herald has learned.

Erna, lead singer of the multi-platinum Bay State metal band, recently met Christine McGee and hung out with her and others on at least three occasions in the days leading up to her savage murder last week, according to Erna's manager, Paul Geary.

"She was pretty enamored with the whole thing. She was at his house and couldn't believe she was hanging around Sully," Geary said. "She was kind of like star-struck."

But Geary said Erna was not romantically involved with the 31-year-old McGee, and that the rocker met her through his musician pal Gary Hoey.

Hoey, a world-renowned guitar virtuoso with 13 albums under his belt, and Erna have both been questioned by police investigating the slaying, Geary and Hoey's lawyer, Andrew LaCourse, said.

Neither man is a suspect in the case. A spokesman for Middlesex District Attorney Gerard Leone declined comment.

Prosecutors say Jeffrey McGee, a wannabe rock singer, slashed his estranged wife's throat in front of their 3-year-old son in a Chelmsford apartment Nov. 20. McGee, 36, fled the scene with the toddler and intentionally drove into oncoming traffic, injuring himself and the boy, police say.

McGee, who is being held without bail on murder charges, had a turbulent history with his wife that included a 2003 domestic violence charge, court records show. He also filed for bankruptcy in 2005 after he racked up more than $48,000 in credit card debt and loans, according to filings.

His attorney, Thomas J. Ford, said he had no information on the couple's relationship. Jeffrey McGee's mother hung up on a reporter and Christine McGee's family could not be reached.

According to Geary, Hoey brought McGee to a party at Erna's New Hampshire house just days before the murder. Erna, 39, also met her at a club and a concert.

"He met her a couple of times but Sully didn't have that kind (romantic) of a relationship with her," he said.

Hoey, 47, grew up in Lowell and has toured with fellow guitar heroes Ted Nugent, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Peter Frampton. He's also a music producer and once played the national anthem at a Red Sox [team stats] game.

Erna, a Lawrence native whose band has sold more than 12 million albums, released an autobiography this year that details his legal scrapes, failed relationships, drug use and meteoric rise to fame.

He was also involved in a terrifying three-car pile-up in Chelmsford in April in which his Hummer rear-ended a woman's vehicle, leaving her seriously injured.

Geary said Erna was "freaked out" when he learned of the murder.

"Sully's got his own life, his own girlfriend and his own career," he said. "He doesn't want anyone to believe he was involved in this thing."

Gary Hoey

Fender Stratocaster
Massachusetts born and bred guitarist Gary Hoey often lingered outside Boston's renowned Berklee College of Music when he was fourteen years old, making friends and offering to pay for lessons. Realizing he should devote all of his time to music, Hoey dropped out of high school and began playing Boston's local clubs, teaching guitar to other budding young players as well. He auditioned for the infamous Ozzy Osbourne in 1988, when Osbourne was searching for a replacement for Jake E. Lee. Although the job went to Zakk Wylde, Hoey earned Osbourne's respect and admiration with his guitar playing ability and all-around professional manner

In 1990 he teamed up with singer Joel Ellis, bassist Rex Tennyson, and drummer Frankie Banali to form Heavy Bones. The band released their debut album in 1992 but broke up shortly thereafter.[1]

In 1993, he recorded the successful Animal Instinct album, which included a cover of the Focus hit Hocus Pocus. Not only did the hit rocket into the Billboard Top 5, outpacing all other singles as the most frequently played rock song of the year, but the album went on to reach classic rock notoriety. The successful Endless Summer II soundtrack soon followed. He went on to record an estimated twelve diverse instrumental albums, all electric guitar oriented. His 1996 release, 'Bug Alley', displayed added vocal ability that he has expanded on more recent albums. In the midst of this ride, Hoey undertook long radio station tours, during which he visited over 400 stations coast to coast. He has created music for ESPN's Summer X Games, No Fear, Disney, The San Diego Padres and many others. Hoey continues to tour extensively.