The original members of the band, Lajon Witherspoon, John Connolly, Clint Lowery, Vince Hornsby and Morgan Rose, came together in 1994 and worked constantly on their sound for a few years before releasing any material. In 1996 the band released the track “My Ruin” which was featured on videogame soundtrack, “More Kombat”.
The band’s heavy riffs and thrashing drum lines proved popular with fans and, after extensive touring to support the release of their debut album, “Sevendust”, in 1997, the album was finally certified gold despite only getting to 165 on the US Billboard chart.
With a legion of fans in their corner after their extensive touring for the album “Sevendust”, the band released their second studio album “Home” in 1999, which shot to the number 19 spot in the US Billboard chart. Like it’s predecessor, the album was eventually certified gold.
To widen their audience, the band toured extensively worldwide alongside huge bands such as Metallica, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Nonpoint, Kid Rock and Creed. With this exposure the band achieved their biggest success to date in 2003 with the album “Seasons”, which peaked at the number 14 position on the US Billboard chart. The band’s first top 10 single also came from this album, with “Enemy” hitting the number 10 spot on the US Mainstream Rock chart.
It was seven years before Sevendust was able to outdo the success of “Seasons”. In 2010, the band released “Cold Day Memory” which shot to number 12 on the US Billboard chart. The album’s lead single, “Unravelling” also performed well, getting to number seven on the US Mainstream Rock chart.
When asked to describe their genre of music, Sevendust has struggled to define their style. Instead, they explain that their music has evolved through a number of sub genres including nu metal, heavy metal and rock. Sevendust claim their influences as Twisted Sister, Anthrax and Ministry.
Whether a small or big concert hall or festival stage, Sevendust delivers the goods and well at that! The first time I saw 7D, I arrived at a moderate size arena they were playing at just at the tail end of their set. Much to my dismay I also missed an autograph session they held in the lobby after that by a hair's breadth. Since then, however, I saw them rock the afternoon concert stage electric fashion at Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar three years ago. Singer Lajon Witherspoon's voice is nothing short of amazing as his impressive vocal range and style can morph from loud and gravelly to quiet and melodic, making for a great sing-along! Just recently during the end of the first leg of their current tour, they played a more intimate concert, namely an acoustic set at a Knights of Columbus Hall in my home state. It put the music in a whole new perspective and with a catered lunch and open bar, made for a true party atmosphere. Drummer Morgan Rose provided a hypnotic back beat with his bongo drum set and guitarists Clint Lowery and John Connolly along with Vince Hornsby's bass playing created melodies that were nothing short of intricate and infectious. In addition, I was finally able to get closure on a missed meet&greet from four years ago, something I told Witherspoon I had been angling to do since then when I spoke with him after the concert and was gracious about taking a picture with me for posterity as well. A grand day out!