Sevendust

Sevendust is an alternative metal band from Atlanta, United States. Formed in 1994, the group begins with bassist Vince Hornsby, drummer Morgan Rose and guitarist John Connolly. After the first demo, vocalist Lajon Witherspoon and guitarist Clint Lowery join the band. The lineup later changes to include Sonny Mayo on guitar, and the group remains active.

Formation and early name changes

The band starts out as Snake Nation, then changes its name to Rumblefish and later Crawlspace before settling on Sevendust. The name change follows a dispute over the Crawlspace name. Under the Crawlspace name, the band releases “My Ruin” on the Mortal Kombat soundtrack album More Kombat through TVT Records in 1996.

Debut album and early success

Sevendust releases its self-titled debut album in 1997. The album is noted for heavy riffs, angry vocals and thrash-influenced drumming, with tracks including “Black” and “Bitch”. It sells 311 copies in its first week, then gains traction through touring and support from TVT, reaching the Billboard 200, remaining there for sixteen weeks and later earning gold certification. “Black” serves as the opening song for nearly every Sevendust concert until 2004. The album also includes “My Ruin”.

Late 1990s and breakthrough records

In 1998, the band performs at Dynamo Open Air and Ozzfest and releases the live compilation Live and Loud, which includes footage from a September 1998 performance at Chicago’s Metro. The second album, Home, follows in 1999 and reaches number 19 on the Billboard 200. It features guest vocals from Skin of Skunk Anansie and Chino Moreno of Deftones. Its singles “Denial” and “Waffle” bring the band further chart success, and “Waffle” is performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. The band also appears at Woodstock 1999.

Animosity and personal loss

Sevendust releases Animosity in 2001. The album goes gold and produces the singles “Praise” and “Angel’s Son”, which reach 15 and 11 respectively on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. “Angel’s Son” is a tribute to Lynn Strait of Snot and also appears on the compilation Strait Up. The band performs an acoustic version of the song on Late Night with David Letterman with Paul Shaffer on keyboards. The group also appears in the film Down to Earth, where a clip of “Waffle” is heard.

After the deaths of several friends, including Drowning Pool singer Dave Williams, and after Lajon Witherspoon’s younger brother is shot and killed in 2002, the band goes on hiatus.

Return, live release and lineup changes

Sevendust returns in 2003 with Seasons, which debuts at number 14 in the US and sells around 68,000 copies in its first week. The album includes the band’s highest-charting single, “Enemy”, which reaches number 10 on the Mainstream Rock chart and becomes the official theme song for WWE Unforgiven 2003. The album also includes “Broken Down” and “Face to Face”. In 2004, the band releases Southside Double-Wide Acoustic Live, a CD/DVD live set that includes a cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt”, dedicated to Johnny Cash.

Clint Lowery leaves during a 2004 tour and is replaced by Sonny Mayo, who has also played with Snot and Amen. Sevendust and TVT Records then part ways. In 2008, Lowery returns to the band in place of Mayo.

Later albums

Sevendust releases fourteen studio albums in total. Later albums include Cold Day Memory, Black Out the Sun, Time Travelers & Bonfires, Kill the Flaw, All I See Is War, Blood & Stone and Truth Killer. The band also reissues its debut as Sevendust: Definitive Edition, which adds five new tracks and a DVD.

Style and live history

The group’s music is identified with alternative metal, hard rock, heavy metal and nu metal. Across its career, Sevendust tours with acts including Korn, Staind, Nonpoint, Reveille, Godsmack, Mudvayne, Mushroomhead, Powerman 5000, Creed, Kid Rock, Machine Head, Limp Bizkit, Disturbed and Metallica. It also performs with Skunk Anansie in Germany and appears with Kid Rock and Ted Nugent for Metallica at the Pontiac Silverdome on New Year’s Eve 1999, as well as on the Tattoo the Earth Tour with Slipknot, Coal Chamber and other bands.