Throughout an look on the Man Up God’s Method podcast with host Jody Burkeen, SEVENDUST guitarist Clint Lowery as soon as once more spoke about his current revelation that he has simply accomplished his first tour as a “saved Christian.” Relating to how he got here to be in a relationship with Jesus Christ, Clint mentioned (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I had the understanding of God, however I did simply sufficient to really feel like I wasn’t hellbound. I thought of myself a reasonably respectable particular person earlier in my twenties. After which I began moving into alcohol and medicines, and that took me down the darkest path that I might ever imagined — you recognize, the everyday rock and roll life-style. You go into medication, you go into consuming, all the opposite issues, womanizing and simply various things that simply weren’t aligned. After which deep in my soul and my coronary heart, I knew it was flawed. I simply needed to slot in. I simply needed to exist… And it was virtually a badge of honor to stay in a sinful manner. And there was lots of like ‘attaboys’ that got to you. And in order a youthful man, you are romanced by that. However there was at all times a constant prayer life. A relationship, I would not name it. I might name it extra of a foxhole. I might undergo the motions of prayer as a result of it was the imprint of my being, ‘trigger my mom and my father did it. We at all times prayed at dinners. And so there was a basis there, however there simply wasn’t a relationship.”
Clint continued: “I obtained sober in 2007, and that, that opened up a relationship with what I might known as… As a result of I would not say I used to be church damage, however I simply was very reluctant to hitch or be part of a faith facet of it. Not realizing that the true mission and the true goal is to have a relationship with Jesus Christ as my savior that died for my sins and was resurrected. After I obtained sober, I simply mentioned there is a God idea there. I had Jesus Christ, however I wasn’t absolutely supporting that in a manner the place I might even inform my youngsters early on, enable them to form of, ‘Properly, some individuals consider you die and nothing occurs. Some individuals consider that there is not a God in any respect. Some individuals consider in Buddhas. Lots of people consider in numerous issues.’ And I might simply inform ’em that, and on the time, that is what I believed.
“I had battle with man,” Lowery defined. “I by no means had a battle with God. It was the way in which that I might seen man — and lady — manipulate and use faith with hypocrisy. And I used to be so keen on discovering the holes in all of it. I might see a preacher and simply get a way of, it wasn’t genuine and there was a motive and there was cash. And I used to be simply looking for holes as an alternative of going straight to the Bible, going straight to Jesus. After which I simply had a really cynical lens on the entire world earlier than coming to God. In order that went on. I obtained sober and I had a prayer life that was extra intense and targeted, nevertheless it wasn’t particularly to Jesus. And I used to be sober. Loads of issues in my life improved. I went by way of a divorce, obtained remarried, had two lovely youngsters, however there was a discontent. I might be driving round, and with sobriety and undertaking that, individuals would at all times inform me, ‘So happy with you. Your life’s rotated.’ And I felt that in some regard, however there was a factor about simply my existence that simply felt empty. I held on to resentments, grudges. I judged individuals. I used to be very self-obsessed with health. Self-importance was an enormous factor. And yeah, I wasn’t consuming, yeah, I wasn’t dishonest, yeah, I wasn’t doing the issues I used to be doing after I was consuming. However I wasn’t full. And there have been instances I might be driving round city — and I’ve all these blessings in my life; my youngsters are wholesome and my spouse is wholesome, and all the pieces is sweet — I simply can be… I do not know — ‘unsettled’ is the phrase. After which a pair issues occurred on the well being aspect. I might had a torn meniscus final 12 months, and that changed into a herniated disc in my neck and despatched shock waves down my left arm. And that humbled me when it comes to bodily. I used to be self-diagnosing myself. Then it turned out that my dad had Parkinson’s illness, so I believed I had some hand trembling issues going, various things outdoors of simply the neck, herniated, some totally different odd signs. And it despatched me down the darkest well being spiral I’ve ever gone by way of. And it put me on my knees in a manner the place there was lots of worry of great neurological illness that I believed was mainly strip me down from the core bodily to the place I might don’t have anything however my mind. And in order that few months is after I actually dove into the Bible, to the phrase, as a result of I might seen so many docs and I might seen so many… I’ve talked to all my buddies. I used to be scared. I did not know what to do. I used to be completely satisfied I used to be checking so many packing containers for this illness. So I used to be going by way of the check, they usually had been coming again clear. I used to be going by way of all these various things, after which I simply had nowhere else to go. I knew that one thing was flawed, and I simply went to the Bible and I went to search out my relationship with Christ… However the struggling that I went by way of that and nonetheless form of cope with just a few issues, it has been the most important present that was ever given to me. Even when these issues panned out the way in which that I used to be in worry, it had introduced me to a relationship with Christ that I by no means would have had it not been for that struggling for me. So as soon as I obtained into scripture with that a lot zest, it was, like, ‘I’ve nothing to lose. I would like Christ in my coronary heart.’ And I began seeing issues.”
Relating to how his relationship with Jesus Chris would possibly have an effect on his songwriting going ahead, Clint mentioned: ”I have never written any lyrics but. I’ve written lots of music for the brand new SEVENDUST. And traditionally I write lots of lyrics and vocals and a few of the different guys do too. I am actually gonna have a tough time not concerning that a part of my life. I’ve written loads concerning the turbulent elements of my life. ‘Trigger it matches the vitality of the music. So for those who write this heavy, aggressive, minor music, [you] really feel like the subject material must be form of aligned with that. So usually you go darkish, and I’ve at all times finished that. And it is humorous as a result of I’ve gotten to the half the place me and Morgan [Rose, SEVENDUST drummer] speak about it loads, the place it is, like, ‘Man, what the heck are we gonna speak about?’ We have already gotten mad at all people, and I am not mad anymore.
“With each style of music, there’s actually the pioneers and folks which can be doing super-creative stuff, and there is individuals which can be simply form of plagiarizing and stealing and a few secure and a few of it would not transfer me,” Lowery defined. “And so that very same factor goes with worship music. I consider there’s some actually critical individuals which can be tapping into their expertise, after which a few of it simply would not transfer me as a lot. And that is okay. I like when somebody is speaking and praising God — I haven’t got to love the music proper to like the message — however I really feel there are lots of artists which can be believers, however they do not speak about it of their music. Which is loopy to me, ‘trigger it is, like, man, that is such a giant half. Earlier than, I used to be very hesitant. I wrote a music known as ‘Until Demise’ [from SEVENDUST‘s 2013 album ‘Black Out The Sun’]. It is in all probability the heaviest SEVENDUST music we ever did, nevertheless it’s mainly about eager to get proper, eager to cease sinning and to search out God. And it would not say that. I used to be at all times anxious about, ‘Properly, if I do that, then there is no turning again, and everybody’s gonna assume I am simply this…’ And I do not care about that anymore. So I really feel like I am completely gonna write about my journey with Christ, how apparent it’s. And I do not assume each music is gonna be about that, however I do consider that it will be a missed alternative to not… If I am gonna write some phrases and never give a few of that to God, then it simply would not really feel proper. And it will be heavy too, man. It ain’t gonna be like we’re gonna lose a step. It’d even be higher. I do not know.”
Two months in the past, Clint instructed ChurchLeaders about how the touring life had modified for him after he obtained “saved”: “I am actually shut with the [other] guys [in SEVENDUST], clearly. We have been collectively so a few years. They knew of all of the well being stuff that was happening. And after I’d gotten saved, I might have just a few conversations with ’em, however that they had form of pulled again a bit bit from me, which was one other factor. It was like God was taking individuals and form of, in my thoughts, shifting them away. Individuals I believed had been gonna keep and discuss to me and assist me and all that, everybody form of pulled away ‘trigger there was nothing that anybody may say. So, by way of that I actually constructed my relationship. Going into it after which speaking to my pastor and speaking about, how am I gonna enter re-enter this world? For those who look from the surface, a few of the messages within the previous songs, they’re probably not aligned with a few of the beliefs I’ve at this time. However I do consider that there’s a purpose that each one of this occurred.
“I do know my guys [in SEVENDUST] are good guys,” Clint continued. “They’re sinners they usually made errors. I used to be one of many worst of ’em. So I simply used the chance to take my relationship, taking that to the tour, taking my attitudes towards others, my persistence stage, my kindness stage. They did not really feel a essential spirit for me, which I am positive at first they had been, like, ‘Man, he is gonna are available in Bible thumping on us’ and all this. And it was the alternative, truly.
“All of us have these little obstacles generally,” Lowery added. “We’re round one another loads. There might be tensions and there might be all these various things. And I simply attempt to soften by way of ’em as a lot as potential, and that required eliminating a few of my ego, a few of my fears, being courteous and thoughtful after I may, being quiet after I wanted to be quiet. I need not gossip and take part. You may get unfavourable actually fast on tour. And I simply tried to be a light-weight, I attempted to be a bit bit extra optimistic, however I by no means tried to face on a cleaning soap field or preach to anyone. However Lajon [Witherspoon, SEVENDUST singer] requested me to guide a few the prayers earlier than the reveals, and that was an honor as a result of I actually felt for him to ask me to try this was him acknowledging that he noticed that I used to be on my journey and by myself time and my very own manner. It was only a actually cool factor. And so nothing actually modified on the market besides my notion of it and the way in which I responded to it. And it made it a greater and extra peaceable tour, regardless of nonetheless going by way of some bizarre bodily stuff.
“Somebody instructed me one time, you’ll be able to’t have fear and worry and religion on the similar time. You may’t be troubled after which be primarily based in religion on the similar time. You must have some give up to it. And, after all, there’s gonna be fears and various things like that, however once they’re overriding. As an alternative of worrying, I may pray. As an alternative of soaking in my very own stuff, I may assist another person and get out of it. I’ve these instruments that the Bible offers us all.”
Elaborating on how his relationship together with his SEVENDUST bandmates developed because of his religion, Clint mentioned: “I do know that it takes time for these issues, ‘trigger everybody can undergo a bit little bit of a pink cloud excessive second after which crash down. I did it in sobriety, and I am cautious of it in my religion journey. I am positive the primary few days they had been simply form of, like, ‘Let’s simply see what pans out.’ I imply, they had been very supportive of something that was gonna give me reduction primarily based on what I used to be going by way of. They usually noticed it work they usually noticed that I had this worry that was all-consuming, simply overwhelming, they usually noticed me not have that. They usually noticed that I give myself to God and Christ. They usually [thought], ‘Properly, that is nice for you.’ After which we went on the market on tour. They had been absolutely supportive. Nobody ever actually acknowledged it verbally. They simply form of gave love and it was cool. And I feel they understood. Like I mentioned, Lajon allowed me to do a few the prayers. And in order that was cool. That was their manner of claiming, ‘Okay, you are in your journey and we respect it.’ And hopefully there’s conversations that may open up. From time to time we would get right into a dialog the place I might check with the Bible, I might check with issues like that. We might have little — not debates, however they’d speak about it in sure methods. And I am, like, ‘Properly, primarily based on what I noticed…’ And I had this data. I had finished just a few programs, I knew a bit bit concerning the Bible’s historical past, the manuscripts, what number of had been preserved, and I had some data lastly. And that felt nice, that I had one thing to face on, when it comes to I’ve religion and because of this.”
Addressing the criticism he has acquired from some SEVENDUST followers for publicly talking about his religion, Clint mentioned: “I am very cautious about being boastful about something, about saying issues in a manner the place it is only for clout. I used to be at all times skeptical about that. I used to be a really cynical particular person earlier than and nonetheless have these tendencies that I work on on daily basis. However I have seen individuals say that. And other people may be actually harsh towards Christianity. I knew that going into this that there have been gonna be those who fall off, there have been gonna be those who go at me fairly laborious, assault. I imply, Jesus Christ was attacked more durable than anybody. Not that I am in any class like that, however simply in Christianity, a few of the downfall has been the human component. There are those who proclaim to be Christian that don’t stay that Christian life. And other people might even see me persevering with with the band and say, ‘Oh, there’s hypocrisy in that.’ And the way in which that I see it’s that I may keep dwelling and keep in my group church and be round some stability and all these issues and simply write worship songs, which is one thing I completely wanna do and I will do. However I feel there’s work to be finished.
“I feel when Head [guitarist Brian Welch] went again to KORN [after publicly embracing Christianity eight years earlier], his template was a type of that I used. I bear in mind pondering, ‘Man, if I ever did that…’ And I truly talked to him a bit bit about it and it was form of the identical manner that I really feel. It is, lik,e there’s work to be finished there. There’s alternatives there. The those who I’ve bumped into — I’ve had prayers in entrance of my bus with individuals. I’ve had individuals which can be so comfortable that I’ve boldly form of come out with it as an alternative of simply preserving it form of ambiguous. And now I can have these superb conversations with individuals. I exploit the music and that scenario as a manner, ‘trigger we are sending like to individuals. It is not like we’re giving some message that’s anti-religion or anti-God or anti-Christian. It’s simply a few of the previous anger, all these songs are there. However there is a spirit of affection within the room. I really feel it with the individuals. It is how I make my livelihood, however I do additionally see it as a chance. Now if I proceed to wish on it and God does need me in a distinct place, then I’ll comply with that. And consider me, I pray about it on daily basis, ‘trigger I used to be scuffling with it. I used to be, like, do I wanna be round that surroundings on a regular basis? And am I simply chasing the cash or the model that’s SEVENDUST? Am I simply staying with that? How dedicated am I to this? And that is the questions that I ask and I pray about on a regular basis. And I really feel like God nonetheless sees me on this position with these guys. And we have had some main non secular moments collectively as a band, as individuals. And I like being round that. And I do — I see it as a chance. And persons are gonna say what they wanna say, and once more, my relationship with Christ is what holds me. And if I paid consideration to all people and what they really feel about it, then that might [end up] being an excessive amount of of a burden to bear and never value it.”
Lowery turned sober practically 18 years in the past after being arrested on the Hodokvas pageant in Piestany, Slovakia following what was described as a “wild drunken night time” that resulted within the musician trashing his room. On the time, Lowery was on tour with KORN because the latter band’s backing/session guitarist. A day following Lowery‘s arrest, he was launched from police custody after apologizing and paying for the damages. He later launched a press release explaining that he was “being a lil’ rowdy and loud” in his lodge and acknowledging that he “pulled some Rock 101 stuff.” He added that he was “not happy with it in any respect” and claimed that all the episode was “scary sufficient” to the place he knew he would by no means be doing something like that “ever once more.”
When Clint celebrated the seventeenth 12 months of his getting sober final October, he took to his social media to write down: “Fast story….After I obtained sober, the primary week was a blur to say the least. I entered a therapy middle just a few days after getting fired from my employed gun position in KORN. One of many many bottoms I hit that had been enough sufficient to be keen to get sober and keep sober a day at a time. I used to be in a holding sample for just a few days ready to get accepted into the therapy middle and people days had been foggy.
“I’ve at all times had a sobriety date of October twenty fourth. However doing a real intestine examine and making an attempt laborious to recollect the true date (which has at all times bugged me),this being an sincere deal, I’ve to say my true sobriety date is October twenty seventh, 2007 and God keen…I will make it to tomorrow with no drink or drug.
“For years I’ve wrestled with that. Seems like no huge deal, proper? Properly, for me, these lil untruths are usually not good…in any respect. For me and particularly for God. So only some days totally different I am much more grateful getting into one other 12 months with that adjustment within the title of reality to self and a God I must repent to.
“This 12 months has undoubtedly been the toughest in my sobriety coping with life on life’s phrases…however the true miracle is I have never considered taking a drink. That is a God factor…not a me factor. So earlier than you might have any atta boys I give credit score to him. I submit this additionally for the alcoholic on the market making an attempt to get sober. It could actually occur for you if it occurred for me belief me
“I just lately gave my life to Jesus Christ and that has introduced me true consolation by way of the powerful instances. For me. I am not right here to inform anybody learn how to stay their life and I used to be actually one of many individuals who did not like that pushed on me, I simply encourage individuals to open their minds and hearts to him. It helped an previous nation dude discover peace in true chaos and uncertainty.”
SEVENDUST and THREE DAYS GRACE just lately accomplished a North American tour because the help acts for DISTURBED on the latter act’s “The Illness twenty fifth Anniversary Tour”.
SEVENDUST is constant to tour in help of its newest album, “Reality Killer”, which was launched in July 2023 by way of SEVENDUST‘s new label dwelling, Napalm Information.
The follow-up to 2020’s “Blood & Stone”, “Reality Killer” was as soon as once more tracked at Studio Barbarosa in Gotha, Florida with producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette, who has beforehand labored with ALTER BRIDGE and SLASH, amongst others.
“Reality Killer” showcased the unique and present SEVENDUST lineup, comprised of Witherspoon, guitarists Lowery and John Connolly, bassist Vince Hornsby and drummer Morgan Rose.
Final fall, SEVENDUST celebrated the twenty first anniversary of its iconic album “Seasons” on a U.S. tour. “Seasons” is the fourth album from the band’s catalog and exploded on to the steel world when it was launched in October 2003. The album spawned a High 10 Rock single with “Enemy” and the album nearer “Face To Face” is a present staple and fan favourite of SEVENDUST to today.
“Seasons” was, for a time, the band’s final album with Lowery as he left in 2004. Lowery returned to SEVENDUST in March 2008 and has remained with the group ever since.
Photograph credit score: Chuck Brueckmann
