Lajon Witherspoon (Sevendust)

Lajon Witherspoon is a singer and songwriter and the frontman for Atlanta based rock band Sevendust. The band has been on both the Vans Warped Tour and Ozzfest, as well as touring with Metallica and Godsmack, among others. They will being doing shows with both Mammoth WVH & Alter Bridge as well as Static-X and Dope to support their latest record Truth Killer. We discuss the new record and tour plus, success, Lajon’s voice, meeting Robin Williams and more!

00:00 - Intro
00:55 - New Album Truth Killer
01:30 - Response to Pandemic
02:42 - Growing as Musical Artists
04:00 - Song "I Might Let the Devil Win"
05:20 - Voice Has Gotten Stronger
06:22 - Song "No Revolution" & Sounds
07:35 - Song "Superficial Drug" & Lyrics
08:55 - Sammy Davis Quote
09:30 - Path of Success
10:30 - Tours with Alter Bridge & Static-X
11:55 - Playing Ozzfest & Vans Warped Tour
13:00 - Song "Everything" & Lyrics & Advice
14:45 - Working Together as a Band
16:10 - Family & Kids
17:50 - Getting Back to Normal
18:45 - Static-X Reunion
19:10 - Cool Memorabilia & "Mantiquer"
20:15 - Meeting Robin Williams
21:57 - Charities
22:46 - Outro

Sevendust website:
https://sevendust.com/

KC Pet Project website:
https://kcpetproject.org/

National Down Syndrome website:
https://ndss.org/

Chuck Shute website:
https://chuckshute.com/

Transcript

Chuck Shute: 0:00

Hi, John Witherspoon singer of Sevendust, also known as LJ is my guest today, we have a great interview coming up, we're going to talk about the new record truth killer, which is phenomenal, by the way. And we also discuss LJs thoughts on how the pandemic affected his outlook on life. The upcoming tour with static X OS fest versus Warped Tour meeting Robin Williams and more, it's coming right up. Just a quick note on this one, it is audio only, and the audio breaks up at times. Unfortunately, this is just the cost of doing zoom. So until we get that dream studio, this is what we have to do. So make sure you're subscribed to the show so you can continue to follow us. I'd love to have LJ live in studio at some point. But for now we have audio only and there's still a lot of great stuff in this interview with LJ right well, yeah, it's exciting. So how do you feel about this new album, truth killer?

Lajon Witherspoon: 0:59

I'm excited, man. It's, it's very exciting. Tomorrow's release date, the response seems to be really cool with the songs that we put out. We went out on tour with the altar bridge not too long ago in a two and a half week run and I were able to try the song fence out and man, it was so exciting just to, to try new music and see everyone going nuts and relating to the video and seeing the band. It's just a new energy out there again, you know, everyone's been kind of closed up for so long. It's so good to be back out.

Chuck Shute: 1:28

Yeah, is there so some of the songs like I kind of like hinted Is this about the pandemic? Or is it not because like the song leave hell behind I'm like thinking is that about like the pandemic ending. But then I also heard you say that you kind of liked the pandemic, because you have more time with your family?

Lajon Witherspoon: 1:45

Well, you know, it's kind of both is a double edged sword. With that, you know, of course, the pandemic slowed everything down. And our music definitely reflects on things that happened over the course of the last two years. But the one good thing about the pandemic was we were able to be with our families and rebuild those relationships. I look at like, this summer, for the first time, in a million years, I was able to really spend time with my kids that I've never been able to spend time with, because normally we've been on the road during the summer for how many years? 20 something years. So those things are important, you know what I mean? And I look at life a lot differently as I've gotten older. So I think this whole album reflects on the fact of how we've grown up and that pandemic, the things that we've gone through and and also knowing the energy that we thought we would feel coming back out of the pandemic with these songs, was exciting to you know, imagine what it was going to be like, and it's already happening. So I think we're, hopefully we're on a good page with this.

Chuck Shute: 2:42

Yeah, well, it's interesting, because it feels like bands take one of two routes, like when they get as they start growing as a band, like they either just continue doing the same thing like AC DC, or they grow and they start making different kinds of music and different sounds. And I feel like your band has definitely grown when I listen to some of the old stuff compared to this album. I don't think either way, better or worse. But I love this new album to me this like, I think I grew up with the band because I appreciate these new sounds. You know, there's a lot of different things going on with this album.

Lajon Witherspoon: 3:13

Yeah, thank you. You know what, man, I It's so funny when you run into some of those cats that that of course you'd love them still. But they still look the same way that they look in 1997 when we came out, and they didn't understand why we don't look the same. And why is our music changing? Yeah, it's okay for those cats to still be around. And we love them. Where we thank the Lord for all those people that have grown up with us like you that understand that it cannot be the same way every time. Let us grow. We've grown up together things change. We've had kids, we have lives people have been through divorces, people have died. You know, it's like, everything in life kind of kind of guys change in music. I feel well, you know, and, uh, you know, if anyone is able to, you know, paint that portrait, it should be us and as artists, you know.

Chuck Shute: 4:00

Yeah. I mean, I don't know if how specific I can be about some of the songs but like that first song, I might let the devil win. Oh, man, it was like a roller coaster. Like it fooled me. And I was like, Oh, the song and then I don't want to spoil it. But wow, that's a cool fucking song.

Lajon Witherspoon: 4:15

Okay, so let me tell you this. I don't want to spoil anything. But a lot of people, a lot of people well, not a lot. But you know, people are amongst the circle in the industry thought that that might be not the coolest song to release for first single to us. Just to go back to what you said. You've grown up with us. We felt like that song is a mature song. And if anyone would understand it would be the people that have grown up with seven does. And to me at the end of the day, that's probably one of our heavier songs. If you listen to the progression in the way the song is built.

Chuck Shute: 4:45

Yeah, no, it's true. Because it really you appreciate the heaviness. Like I don't want to spoil it but yeah, it's just like the way that you like, I don't know, it's very unusual the way you built. I don't even know I'm not musical. So I don't know how to structure of this Longer, whatever, but people are gonna I think people are gonna really like it. I think that's a good song. Soundtrack or something which you guys have done a lot of that.

Lajon Witherspoon: 5:07

Absolutely. My wife says the same thing right when she heard that. But yeah, that skin is gonna be excited. I can't wait to put that song in the set and see how it goes over live to stay as excited about all this new music, man. Thank you for understanding that. Yeah,

Chuck Shute: 5:21

yeah, it's cool. I love how you have such you have like different. You can sing different styles of the vocals like you could, that one has kind of a r&b flair. But then there's other songs where you're just full on screaming and you can still do all that stuff. Like have you noticed any limitations with your voice as you've gotten older?

Lajon Witherspoon: 5:38

I've noticed that my voice has gotten stronger as I've gotten older Well, you know, just with anything I feel like as an athlete, you know, you you get you get in you're proud I know which necessarily call it but I definitely feel more conditioned when I go in and and that could be to you know, we're working with other writers and, and staying on top of the game and, and being fresh. You know what I mean? In taking a craft you know, you know, taking the craft series when it's time to get to work.

Chuck Shute: 6:05

Yeah, cuz I didn't know it was like a studio magic because his voice is like amazing on this record.

Lajon Witherspoon: 6:11

Thank you very much. Nice studio magic, man. I keep it real.

Chuck Shute: 6:15

Oh, that's awesome, then yeah, I got

Lajon Witherspoon: 6:18

a little fancy sauce on it, but not too much.

Chuck Shute: 6:21

Yeah, well, like the song no revolution, what what is the, there's some very interesting like electronic stuff going on in there. Even make those sounds I don't know what that is.

Lajon Witherspoon: 6:32

So what's fun about us being in the studio, man, you know, the guys have different instruments at their homes. And then once we get in the studio of pre production, there's all kinds of different toys to play with. And it's just like, a laboratory of us to be able to experiment and do different sounds and, and a lot of times some of those sounds don't make it but then sometimes some of the sounds do make it and as always a library or just cool stuff to play around with. And that's something that we were able to have time with on this album.

Chuck Shute: 7:00

Yeah, that's cool. Yeah. Because I was having this conversation in the day with somebody about how rock really hasn't evolved. And, you know, I was like, trying to find the next sound. And I feel like you guys are definitely evolving. And this sounds like brand new. This doesn't you know, some of the bands like I said that AC DC nothing wrong with that. But, you know, they haven't really changed over the years, you guys are really evolving and making a modern fresh sound, which is exciting, I think.

Lajon Witherspoon: 7:24

Oh, thank you. So, bam, one of my good buddies yesterday, texted me and was like, Hey, man, what do you guys doing? You know, I like this song sufficient to make different sounds. And I was I was just trying to, you know, evolve and catch up, you know, some new people and everything. In the next text I got back is a kid man. I hope you take this as compliment or not. But, uh, the song, I could see like a band, like Maroon Five cover in it. And I was like, Okay, we could take that all the way to the bank, sir.

Chuck Shute: 7:56

Yeah, that would be very fun. That was funny. Yeah, that's a cool song. Superficial drug. I thought. I thought that one had kind of

Lajon Witherspoon: 8:05

vibe. Oh, very cool. No problem with that. That's, that's no problem with that. That's good, too.

Chuck Shute: 8:10

Yeah, that's a cool baseline that so melodic. But talk about the lyrics on that. There's so many great lyrics on this whole record, but the tragedy and my blood, real words hurt the most take your superficial drug. What does that song about exactly?

Lajon Witherspoon: 8:22

Everything just being superficial. You know what you think about? I don't want to get too deep into it. But look at the front cover of the album. And look at the child looking at the TV screen, and there's nothing on it. And you're just being fed, whatever they want you to be, you know, what they want you to see what they want you to believe and just kind of feel like, that's what's going on in the world with everything once you turn that TV on you just listening to what they want you to hear.

Chuck Shute: 8:46

That's so true. Yeah, that's, that's very.

Lajon Witherspoon: 8:50

Yeah, very deep. It all come together.

Chuck Shute: 8:53

Yeah. Do you think about those kinds of things, you posted something really cool on your Instagram. It was a quote from Sammy Davis Jr. About real success is not on the stage, but off the stage as a human being. And how you how you get along with your fellow man. I was like, wow, that's really cool quote. Oh,

Lajon Witherspoon: 9:09

absolutely. I still believe in that man. Because I say the same EP The same people you see coming up, you see coming down. I can never take this life for granted. And I'm amused because it definitely changed my life. And it gives me a life that I never thought I could imagine. It's definitely been a hard one. But it's been a beautiful thing to have nightmares, but it's been a dream come true to.

Chuck Shute: 9:30

Yeah, I'm always so fascinated with people's stories of success. I always like to go like with YouTube. I always go back and check on their oldest videos and then try to find the path like how did they do this like, and your guys's path is interesting, too. I mean, you started out and obviously the band went through some name changes and stuff. And I mean, did you so you didn't think that this would ever happen? I mean, because you did want a career in the music industry. You always

Lajon Witherspoon: 9:53

are in the music industry, but I never thought that 20 Something years later we're getting ready to borth on another tour with the 14th album, had gone to the Grammys and been nominated. Getting ready to go back out on tour signing the new record deal over in Germany. Getting ready to go back overseas and build that relationship again. I mean, it's all it's a great time, man. I mean, I turned 50 last year. So this is a this is a it's a good thing, man. It's it's a beautiful thing. Good music lesson.

Chuck Shute: 10:29

Yeah. Well, so the latest tour, you're going to do dates with Alter Bridge and Mammoth and then another headlining tour with static x, right?

Lajon Witherspoon: 10:39

Yeah, October will be co headlining with joked that against seven, which we haven't played with, for years. So it's gonna be you know, just all the old songs.

Chuck Shute: 10:54

Yeah, you're breaking up a little bit. Yeah, so that tour. So tell me, how did you get on the ultra bridge mammoth tour is that they seek you out of those tours come together, because that's like a great package. Well, we're all

Lajon Witherspoon: 11:10

Ultra rated as we're on the same management. And the fact that we've grown up together, ever since Cree, John colonies best friends with Mark Somani. And also neighbors. And those guys are just family. Those are buddies. Those are people that we hang out when we're off the road. I was recently on vacation with my family. And we were at March Romanies house.

Chuck Shute: 11:31

Yeah. And isn't like his cousin on the one of your album that covers?

Lajon Witherspoon: 11:36

Oh, my goodness. Yes. What album is the animosity? Okay with the apple. I hadn't seen him since he's a grown man now. Yeah. But yeah, he was on the front cover of one of our albums a long time ago. We'd never met the kid. Maybe we met him when he was an adult, which was weird. But yeah, it was. That was one thing.

Chuck Shute: 11:54

That's crazy. Well, it's interesting too, is like with the with these band packages and stuff. You guys seem like you're eclectic enough that you played both oz Fest and Warped Tour. That seems pretty rare. Like what talking about the differences? Which one did you like better?

Lajon Witherspoon: 12:09

I love I love all the tours, especially the festivals. It's like a summer vacation. And it's cool to be able to know that you have enough music in your catalogue to cater to both audiences in both festivals, you know, or what, however many different festivals or whatever type tour you need to go on, you cater towards the you know, sometimes you might want to go, you might want to, you know, bang them out and just rip their faces off. But then sometimes it might not be the perfect setting. So we make sure that we go into it knowing what's going on.

Chuck Shute: 12:39

Yeah, and have you done like stripped down shows like acoustic only or like we're just you and stuff like that?

Lajon Witherspoon: 12:45

Oh, absolutely. We went on last we did an acoustic tour a while ago that went over very well. But we look forward to doing that again.

Chuck Shute: 12:52

Yeah, cuz some of these new songs especially I could see that. I mean, they're really just such amazing songs. It'd be interesting to hear them stripped down just with acoustic guitar.

Lajon Witherspoon: 13:02

Oh, absolutely. You definitely hear those. Yeah, like,

Chuck Shute: 13:05

talk about that. Going back to the new album, the song, everything. The lyrics of that one are so interesting to like, what is that one about? Because it's talking about?

Lajon Witherspoon: 13:16

Yeah, I tell you what, I feel like everything should be the anthem for everyone coming out of this, this haze that we've been in, to let everyone know that you can be anything and you can be everything. And it's more of a positive song and outlook on just you know, being the best you can be.

Chuck Shute: 13:32

Well, yeah, but because it's like, Yeah, it's interesting, because it talks about insecurity, like, is that like, from a fictional standpoint? Or do you feel that insecurity because you're so successful?

Lajon Witherspoon: 13:41

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, everyone feels that insecurity every single day, man. But I think that's something that keeps the blood pumping. Because if you get too comfortable, then things are not good. There you go.

Chuck Shute: 13:51

Wow, yeah. What other advice do you have for people like whether they want to be a musician or just anything for success in life? Like, how do you do it because I mean, you've you've obviously had an amazing career.

Lajon Witherspoon: 14:03

Just you know, if anything, for a long time, and you still you still learn, don't ever think that you know, at all. At the beginning, we never really cared about the business aspect of it, because all we wanted to do is be on the road. And that was it. And then we had to learn that we had to be businessmen, business, women, business, whatever you are gender in this industry, you have to kind of keep your hand on that. To stay true to your art, and just have a good time, you know, to just stay focused. And love one another man, you know, don't be divided. You know, that's what I feel. And then also, if you're in a band, split everything equally, don't let somebody come up in the house with a Lamborghini and somebody else riding a bicycle. It never works that way. Everyone comes to the table, but we can't do it without each person. It doesn't sound the same. So that's what the successful thing to I believe.

Chuck Shute: 14:54

That's interesting. Yeah. Because I've heard different takes on that, you know, especially if there's one person who does a majority of the song right mean you guys you so you split the songwriting royalties. Yeah,

Lajon Witherspoon: 15:03

we do we split everything Yeah, man and, and then it'd be foolish for everything to just come from one person's point of view. If I just you know what I mean? Like that would be selfish I would think after we've been in this band together for 30 years. And it was just only me, me me levy when I've grown up with this man beside me when his father passed away. I was there when his mom passed away, when he wasn't able to get to the funeral. You know, if anyone understands each other, it will be us in this in a span. And so that's what's another thing. I feel like that's kept us together. That long as you know, we're brothers, you know, sometimes we don't like each other just like brothers do. But we love each other at the end of the day. And that's a it's a serious bond that's been broken.

Chuck Shute: 15:46

Yeah. How do you stay? I mean, it's nice to have breaks from each other. And I know you've you've all done like solo projects and things like that.

Lajon Witherspoon: 15:53

Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. We love our families and our wives and kids. I can't wait to get home to them. Even if it's a three week tour I get. I can't wait to get back to my house. Yeah, I mean, we've been doing it for so long. But we do love it when we get out there together too. But yeah, we definitely have you know, life change, you know, things change, you know, we have a, you want to make it back to the daughter's first day at school and the kids first day at school, if you can do that you want to try to be here for important things that over the past 20 something years you haven't been able to be a part of. So it's very important. And then I look at it like this, a friend of mine not too long ago, even though you know that your kids turn 18. And they, they get older and they they're adults. But the other day, my friend looked at me at the lake and she said, you know you only you only have 18 summers with them. And I looked at my daughter she was 15 I was like, I never thought about it like that until it was so profoundly put in my face. And that just made things even weirder for me. You know what I mean? Like, wow, that takes time down to even smaller.

Chuck Shute: 16:54

Yeah, I mean, that's that's so true. It's life is short. And especially you see it with your with kids, because they grow they physically like change over 18 years a lot. Oh, man.

Lajon Witherspoon: 17:03

Well think about like this, my kids the pandemic, they come in two years, two years, two and a half years, they're out of school, my little girl and her friend that are back here in the car with us right now. We're in freakin Middle School. And when they went back to school, they're in high school. Now somebody's got to have a car. People got jobs. And it's like the in a blink of an eye what happened? You know, and I'm so proud of them. And they they were handling it better. I feel that some of the adults that are like, Oh my god, this is a big change for these kids. So it's been very amazing, as a father to sit back and watch the change of the world, and the temperature of people in their attitudes to

Chuck Shute: 17:39

Yeah, I mean, so that's interesting that you say the kids yeah, because kids are definitely more resilient. But then you're saying the kids handle it better to some of the adults? Absolutely. Yeah. It's it does seem like that time is just such a weird time. And it's you feel like things are getting back to normal now. I still feel like the world is kind of divided and just kind of messed up, miss.

Lajon Witherspoon: 17:59

Absolutely. But you know, I mean, I do feel like it's getting better again. And we're trying to get it better. But yeah, that division is definitely there. It's just stay aware. Know, the temperature and the spots that you're in something I believe in. And the music is definitely helping. I can see it in the crowd. I can see it when the tour bus pulls up to these venues and people are out there at eight o'clock in the morning. Wanting to be the first ones in line to get inside. So it's just it's a good time for us and I really appreciate you guys supporting the band and the new album and everything of course in the future.

Chuck Shute: 18:31

Yeah, that's gonna be fun. I definitely want to see this tour with with static X. I don't because I don't know if the ultra bridge one is coming to Phoenix. But I know the static x one is within dope two. Oh, yeah. We

Lajon Witherspoon: 18:43

love it. I love being sued. By the way, man. We have a good time there.

Chuck Shute: 18:46

Yeah, it's interesting to static X thing. I was kind of hesitant about this. I was like, I don't know. But then I saw the what they did with the singer in the in the costume. And I was like, Dude, that is one of the coolest costumes I've ever seen for a band.

Lajon Witherspoon: 18:59

Oh, it's amazing. I'm definitely gonna have to get one of those masks for my collection in my house. So they already know that. Go ahead and make an extra one or wherever you gotta go get it. LJ has taken one.

Chuck Shute: 19:10

You have a lot of cool, like, memorabilia and stuff like that.

Lajon Witherspoon: 19:13

Oh, yeah, I consider myself I made this word up. It's called I'm a man tinker. Yeah, you like that? So I have a couple of buddies and we collect a lot of antique cool things. And so there's a few rarities at the house and, and fun things. The wife doesn't let me get into too many creepy things like some of my friends app. But I have I have some several interesting things at home. But I like

Chuck Shute: 19:38

is there anything you can share that you can tell us about? Oh, no,

Lajon Witherspoon: 19:41

no, no. So like something that was something in my bathroom. Downstairs. Down in the Mankato. I have a platinum album that was presented to Ronnie Van Zandt from Leonard Skinner. Oh, wow. Yeah, that's really cool. So when you go in the bathroom down there, people come out they're like, Oh, wow. To watch. And that's also I think I have the rattlesnake one in there with a real route. You know, and that's a cobra. That's Cobra. Why

Chuck Shute: 20:09

yes. Oh, that's so it's

Lajon Witherspoon: 20:12

like it's Koberlein.

Chuck Shute: 20:13

Yeah, you have all this, you have some memorabilia like that. But you also have these, like experiences that, I think, more amazing. Tell me about this. I know we gotta get wrapped wrapped up in a couple of minutes. But it's only about meeting you met Robin Williams on the Letterman Show you guys exchanged numbers. Tell him.

Lajon Witherspoon: 20:30

Wow, that's crazy. We did the David Letterman Show. Yeah. And we were backstage in the green room. And we knew Robin Williams was doing the show. And we met him and he was so cool. And his energy was just over the top. It was so friendly and just welcoming. And I remember admiring his tennis shoes. I never knew anything about this. And even nowadays, I mean, years later, you see pictures, and he's always got a different pair of really cool tennis shoes on if you notice it. Anyway, he was so excited that I liked his tennis shoes. But he was like, oh my god, he was like, I get these made by so and so. And it's like, this is my number. And this is his number. We're gonna get you hooked up. Of course, I never did that, because I never thought I'd had enough money to buy a pair of Robin Williams tennis shoes. But just the fact that he was so friendly and gave me his number and gave me this guy that made the shoes foams number. And we were on the David Letterman Show, as a kid that was to me was just like, well, you know, I've done it, man. You know, you put a fork in me. Yeah. Wow. That's cool.

Chuck Shute: 21:31

That's an amazing story that just having those interactions and like seeing Stevie Wonder the Grammys and all that. I mean, there's so many stories you have

Lajon Witherspoon: 21:38

me and my wife, that was one row, one row behind Stevie Wonder and his family. And I was like, Oh, my God, I could like throw something at him. You wouldn't know it was us. But I could say that I did that. I didn't do it.

Chuck Shute: 21:52

That's cool. Well, yeah. You guys will be on on tour. The new album comes out tomorrow. And then I always end up promoting a charity or like a nonprofit. Is there something that you've been involved with? You want to give a shout out?

Lajon Witherspoon: 22:04

Okay, I want to do to Kc pet project here in Kansas, where we live in and also marked Romanies Indeed, yes. What is it called ndS national? National Down Syndrome?

Chuck Shute: 22:16

Oh, okay. Great. I will put those two links in the show notes. And people can donate if they have a few extra bucks lying around. And definitely get the album. Is there any other like merch, or anything that people can pick up? Like, is there a deluxe version of this vinyl or anything like that?

Lajon Witherspoon: 22:32

Just go to the stuff and they'll tell you all that type stuff. What's going on? With all that craziness, I'm sure there's going to be a lot of new stuff for everyone to pick up. So.

Chuck Shute: 22:42

Okay, well, thanks so much for doing this and good luck out on tour there. My thanks again to John Witherspoon and Sevendust once again, the album is called Truth killer. Trust me when I say I hear a lot of music. And this is one of the best albums of the year. The John's vocals, the guitars, the bass, the drums, the songs, the production. It all sounds great. So stream it, buy it, download it, steal it or do whatever you do to get music and buy a ticket to a show, buy some merch, follow them on social media and help support the band so that rock stays alive. And if you want to support our little show, your likes, comments and shares on YouTube and social media help out a lot. If you want to go that extra mile, give us a rating or review. I'd appreciate that. And also make sure you're subscribed to the show wherever you watch or listen because we have some great guests coming up. And you're gonna want to make sure that you catch those episodes. So thank you for sticking with us. I appreciate you have a great rest of your day and shoot for the moon.