Classic Interviews
Check out the Interviews section of Utopia Records in the media section.
Interviews with:
Zakk Wylde's B.L.S - Chad Szeliga
Sevendust - Lajon Witherspoon
With several million albums sold and a decade-plus career already under their belts, America’s Sevendust recently released new album Cold Day Memory, which features the return of guitarist and key songwriter Clint Lowery. Frontman Lajon Witherspoon was immediately charismatic and approachable in conversation, joking and querying Brendan Crabb about Australian slang when he got the vocalist on the phone to talk about their new album, next year’s Soundwave Festival, burying past issues and more.
Q: Hey Lajon, how are things?
A: Great, we’re in Lafayette, Louisiana, Carnival of Madness tour (alongside Shinedown, Chevelle, Puddle of Mudd and 10 Years) and I found out several days ago that I was going to be talking to Australia and could not wait to get on the phone.
Q: (Laughs) Good to hear. How is the tour going?
A: It’s great. I think it’s been one of the best tours we’ve been on; it’s been a hot summer, we’ve been outside in the amphitheatres and luckily tonight we played Lafayette, inside the Cajundome and it was beautiful, man. The tour I think is something that has been good for us. We play at 5.50 and then we got three bands after us and for the first time in a long time I can actually hang out and not be the headliner, so it’s cool.
Q: Indeed. Now, to my ears Clint’s return to the band seems to have reinvigorated Sevendust. Would you agree with that sentiment?
A: Yeah, definitely. I think we’ve always been passionate and we’ve always been driven, but I feel like Clint was definitely the missing piece of the puzzle to the original sound of Sevendust. We had it and we almost able to display it, but we just had that one piece missing piece. It’s like, “it’s there, but we just can’t frame it yet” (laughs). We can’t put it in the frame yet, because we’ve got to find that piece, it’s somewhere lost. But we know where it’s at (now) and we need to get it to stick in there and then we’ve got the picture framed. I think that’s what came out on Cold Day Memory, if that makes sense to you (laughs).
Q: (Laughs) Understood. Given that he had only recently returned to the fold how much songwriting input did Clint have on this record?
A: Oh, a lot. We all do it together, but just to have him come back and feel like he had really a lot to say and just (wanted) to get it out. To be back with his family, to be back with his brothers, man. I think within himself he had to find something within to make sure… He made a point to make sure that everyone (knew that), “hey, you’re back and you’re bringing it”. And he brought it.
Q: Have you kept in touch with Sonny (Mayo, ex-guitarist) since he left the band?
A: You know what, man, the odd thing about that? I still have not talked to Sonny…I love Sonny. He went back to his original band Snot, so I think things worked out for him. I think it was hard to say goodbye, but I think he understood because this is our original player. Sonny did a great job, we love him and he will be a force, but I personally have
not talked to Sonny. He’s talked to a couple of the guys in the band, but not everyone has. Sometimes things suck in life, right? And maybe that was one of those things, but I think that he’s fine and he went on to do his thing and over that time, since then we’ve kind of lost contact and I hate it. I wish him the best; he’s still my brother and he kicked ass when he was in the band.
Q: Do you think the on-stage chemistry has stepped up again following Clint’s return?
A: Oh, shit yeah, oh yeah. Definitely man, it’s on. It’s just different man, it’s almost like we have to make a point, you know what I mean? Like, it’s not a joke to us – this is what we do, this is our lives and this is serious. We do not take this for granted man, we’ve been very blessed to be here and we worked our asses off and missed out on families, babies growing up and stuff, so you know what man, now that Clint is back in the band we’re doing what we’re doing, it’s really serious. To even still be where we’re at right now, I can’t believe it. So I feel like we not only owe it to ourselves, but owe it to those people that have grown up with us, kept us out here. The only reason that we still have a damn job is because of all the beautiful people that have supported us; which I don’t call fans, I call them family and friends.
Q: Good to hear. Now, Sevendust albums always seem to have come from a very introspective place lyrically, but the new album even more so. Do you feel that’s an accurate assessment?
A: I definitely think so, man. I think everything is more personal on this album, because there were a lot of things had to get out, a lot of things had to be said from everybody, so I guess you’ve got an emotional album. Sad to happy, to mad, I think we touched on every emotion on Cold Day Memory.
Q: A song like ‘Karma’ – is that directed at anyone in particular? (laughs)
A: I think that’s about all of us. That’s funny, man – you like ‘Karma’ too?
Q: I think it’s one of the better tracks on the album actually.
A: That’s one of my favourite songs man, we need to start playing that. I think that we are strong and true believers in karma and especially me personally. I believe in it. You try to live your life right and stay on the path, but sometimes you get off the beaten path and then karma hits you every time and you know it, but god-dang-it, what makes you do it? (laughs) I think this album is definitely true to life, man.
Q: Changing topics, this will be the band’s third tour of Australia. What are your recollections of previous visits?
A: Everything is beautiful. The people are great and everyone is cool. I don’t know if it’s because of something in the water (laughs). I don’t know what the hell is going on in Australia, but when I get there I’m like, “it’s on”. I’m a different man, man (laughs). I don’t know what it is, but I can breathe better, I can see better (laughs), everything is cool.
Q: The calibre of the Soundwave Festival bill you’re playing on in February is exceptional as well.
A: I cannot believe that we are going to be doing that tour. I don’t know what’s going to happen, because I have to watch every band that plays. I hope that this will even build a bigger relationship with everything in Australia. It’s a pleasure to be a part of. Not even just the festival, just to come back over and see you cats again is cool. To be with the likes of Iron Maiden… it’s awesome. We really look forward to doing it and I hope that this is not the only time that we get invited to do this. Even after this festival, to come back and really rock it again on a headlining tour, or opening up for whoever, just to be there will be great.
Q: One of the other bands on the bill is of course DevilDriver. I know some members of Sevendust had a falling out with frontman Dez Fafara during Coal Chamber’s last days (drummer Morgan Rose allegedly wrote the track ‘Enemy’, from 2003’s Seasons about Fafara), but I’m assuming that’s all been settled by now?
A: Oh, man, all that stuff was young, crazy, Morgan was married to Rayna (Foss, ex-Coal Chamber bassist), they got divorced, we grew up man. Dez and I, we hang out with DevilDriver and I think they’re one of the baddest bands as far as bringing it live. You can’t deny it; they drop it like it’s hot. I’m friends with those guys, I can’t wait to see Dez again. That whole silly stuff back in the day… It was crazy, but we went on, we were able to do a song and get our angst out. I think we’ve all grown up, we got kids now and you know what, that was just a page in our lives.
Q: How does the band feel when you perform that song live these days?
A: To be honest with you, I never… I think the press really made that more about that than we did. That song was more just about the fact that someone being just that way anyway. Whether it was meant solely about Dez… You know, the press ran with it and you know, whatever. Dez and I have never had any issues – ever (laughs). It’s always been nothing but, “what’s up? Let’s have a glass of wine, let’s kick the smoke and see what happens”. And I promise you it’s always been that way, brother.
Q: Good to hear. Sevendust are more than ten years into your career and are still successful. What do you think has enabled you to remain a viable band?
A: I think the realness. We’re not rock stars, we’ve been very blessed and everyone out there has made our dreams come true and we still deal with things like everyone else. I feel like music is a magic thing and to be able to take your mind away from when life gets to you, the boss is getting on your damn nerves and not being able to pay the bills, because we deal with the same shit. But you know what? For some reason we’re still here and it’s the music that’s magic and the people, they keep us going. I can’t believe they still buy the tickets to see us, you know what I mean? It’s so crazy in the times that we’re dealing with, but I honestly feel like, for a few hours that you can come out and you’re letting your aggression out; that’s what music does. If you can forget about all the bullshit in the crazy world – from the wars, the killing, to not everybody being on the same page and level-headed – I think that the medium that brings us all together is music, if that makes sense. I love music, man; I just love it all. It’s something that’s always been in my life and growing up with horses in Tennessee and going up to the farm, you had rock ‘n’ roll and country music blasting through the barn. You’d get back to the house and you listen to R&B, so it was always everything and that’s what music to me is, it’s a beautiful thing, it’s a part of life. It’s in my blood – I don’t think you have to have the best voice in the world, as long as you have conviction.
Q: Any famous last words?
A: Australia – look at the view. I say that because from the first time that we went there, staying at the hotel right there on the water, across from the Opera Theatre, a guy was standing outside. All I remember and everyone in the band, we still say it, he just kept screaming at the top of his lungs, “Australia – look at the view!” (laughs) It was beautiful. Man, it’s still imprinted in my brain, that experience from the first time and we just can’t wait to get back to you guys. God bless you and thank you for making us feel at home when we’re so far away.
Sevendust are playing Soundwave 2011 – see soundwavefestival.com for more information. Tickets are on sale now. Cold Day Memory is out now through Stomp Entertainment.
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