Throughout an look on the Man Up God’s Means 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.” Concerning 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-about myself a reasonably respectable particular person earlier in my twenties. After which I began entering into alcohol and medicines, and that took me down the darkest path that I might ever imagined — , the standard rock and roll way of life. You go into medication, you go into ingesting, 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 improper. I simply needed to slot in. I simply needed to exist… And it was virtually a badge of honor to dwell in a sinful manner. And there was plenty of like ‘attaboys’ that got to you. And in order a youthful man, you are romanced by that. However there was all the time a constant prayer life. A relationship, I would not name it. I might name it extra of a foxhole. I’d 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 all the time prayed at dinners. And so there was a basis there, however there simply wasn’t a relationship.”
Clint continued: “I received 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 side 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. Once I received sober, I simply mentioned there is a God idea there. I had Jesus Christ, however I wasn’t totally supporting that in a manner the place I’d even inform my children early on, permit them to type of, ‘Properly, some folks imagine you die and nothing occurs. Some folks imagine that there is not a God in any respect. Some folks imagine in Buddhas. Lots of people imagine in several issues.’ And I’d simply inform ’em that, and on the time, that is what I assumed.
“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 girl — manipulate and use faith with hypocrisy. And I used to be so eager about 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 a substitute 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 received sober and I had a prayer life that was extra intense and targeted, but it surely wasn’t particularly to Jesus. And I used to be sober. Quite a lot of issues in my life improved. I went by a divorce, received remarried, had two lovely youngsters, however there was a discontent. I’d be driving round, and with sobriety and undertaking that, folks would all the time inform me, ‘So pleased 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 folks. I used to be very self-obsessed with health. Self-importance was an enormous factor. And yeah, I wasn’t ingesting, yeah, I wasn’t dishonest, yeah, I wasn’t doing the issues I used to be doing once I was ingesting. However I wasn’t full. And there have been occasions I’d be using round city — and I’ve all these blessings in my life; my youngsters are wholesome and my spouse is wholesome, and all the things is nice — I simply could be… I do not know — ‘unsettled’ is the phrase. After which a pair issues occurred on the well being facet. I might had a torn meniscus final yr, and that become a herniated disc in my neck and despatched shock waves down my left arm. And that humbled me by way of bodily. I used to be self-diagnosing myself. Then it turned out that my dad had Parkinson’s illness, so I assumed I had some hand trembling issues going, various things outdoors of simply the neck, herniated, some completely different odd signs. And it despatched me down the darkest well being spiral I’ve ever gone by. And it put me on my knees in a manner the place there was plenty of concern of great neurological illness that I assumed was mainly strip me down from the core bodily to the place I’d don’t have anything however my mind. And in order that few months is once I actually dove into the Bible, to the phrase, as a result of I might seen so many medical doctors and I might seen so many… I’ve talked to all my mates. 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 bins for this illness. So I used to be going by the check, they usually had been coming again clear. I used to be going by all these various things, after which I simply had nowhere else to go. I knew that one thing was improper, and I simply went to the Bible and I went to seek out my relationship with Christ… However the struggling that I went by that and nonetheless type of take care of a couple of issues, it has been the most important reward that was ever given to me. Even when these issues panned out the way in which that I used to be in concern, 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 received 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.”
Concerning how his relationship with Jesus Chris may have an effect on his songwriting going ahead, Clint mentioned:  ”I have not written any lyrics but. I’ve written plenty of music for the brand new SEVENDUST. And traditionally I write plenty of lyrics and vocals and among the different guys do too. I am actually gonna have a tough time not referring to that a part of my life. I’ve written quite a bit concerning the turbulent components of my life. ‘Trigger it matches the vitality of the music. So in the event you write this heavy, aggressive, minor music, [you] really feel like the subject material ought to be type of aligned with that. So usually you go darkish, and I’ve all the time finished that. And it is humorous as a result of I’ve gotten to the half the place me and Morgan [Rose, SEVENDUST drummer] discuss it quite a bit, the place it is, like, ‘Man, what the heck are we gonna discuss?’ We have already gotten mad at everyone, and I am not mad anymore.
“With each style of music, there’s actually the pioneers and folks which are doing super-creative stuff, and there is folks which are simply type of plagiarizing and stealing and a few secure and a few of it does not transfer me,” Lowery defined. “And so that very same factor goes with worship music. I imagine there’s some actually critical folks which are tapping into their expertise, after which a few of it simply does 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 track proper to like the message — however I really feel there are plenty of artists which are believers, however they do not discuss it of their music. Which is loopy to me, ‘trigger it is, like, man, that is such an enormous half. Earlier than, I used to be very hesitant. I wrote a track known as ‘Until Dying’ [from SEVENDUST‘s 2013 album ‘Black Out The Sun’]. It is most likely the heaviest SEVENDUST track we ever did, but it surely’s mainly about desirous to get proper, desirous to cease sinning and to seek out God. And it does not say that. I used to be all the time fearful about, ‘Properly, if I do that, then there is not any 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 track is gonna be about that, however I do imagine that it might 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 informed ChurchLeaders about how the touring life had modified for him after he received “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 once I’d gotten saved, I’d have a couple of conversations with ’em, however that they had type of pulled again just a little bit from me, which was one other factor. It was like God was taking folks and type of, in my thoughts, shifting them away. Folks I assumed had been gonna keep and speak to me and assist me and all that, everybody type of pulled away ‘trigger there was nothing that anybody might say. So, by 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? In the event you look from the surface, among the messages within the previous songs, they’re not likely aligned with among the beliefs I’ve right now. However I do imagine that there’s a cause that every 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 endurance degree, my kindness degree. 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 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 quite a bit. There could possibly be tensions and there could possibly be all these various things. And I simply attempt to soften by ’em as a lot as doable, and that required eliminating a few of my ego, a few of my fears, being courteous and thoughtful once I might, being quiet once I wanted to be quiet. I need not gossip and take part. You may get unfavorable actually fast on tour. And I simply tried to be a lightweight, I attempted to be just a little bit extra constructive, 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 some bizarre bodily stuff.
“Somebody informed me one time, you may’t have fear and concern and religion on the similar time. You possibly can’t be concerned after which be based mostly in religion on the similar time. It’s a must to have some give up to it. And, after all, there’s gonna be fears and various things like that, however after they’re overriding. As an alternative of worrying, I might pray. As an alternative of soaking in my very own stuff, I might assist another person and get out of it. I’ve these instruments that the Bible provides us all.”
Elaborating on how his relationship together with his SEVENDUST bandmates developed on account of his religion, Clint mentioned: “I do know that it takes time for these issues, ‘trigger everybody can undergo just a little 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 type of, like, ‘Let’s simply see what pans out.’ I imply, they had been very supportive of something that was gonna give me aid based mostly on what I used to be going by. They usually noticed it work they usually noticed that I had this concern 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 totally supportive. Nobody ever actually acknowledged it verbally. They simply type of gave love and it was cool. And I believe 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’d confer with the Bible, I’d confer with issues like that. We might have little — not debates, however they might discuss it in sure methods. And I am, like, ‘Properly, based mostly on what I noticed…’ And I had this information. I had finished a couple of programs, I knew just a little bit concerning the Bible’s historical past, the manuscripts, what number of had been preserved, and I had some information lastly. And that felt nice, that I had one thing to face on, by way of I’ve religion and that is why.”
Addressing the criticism he has obtained 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 all the time skeptical about that. I used to be a really cynical particular person earlier than and nonetheless have these tendencies that I work on every single day. However I have seen folks say that. And folks will be actually harsh towards Christianity. I knew that going into this that there have been gonna be people who fall off, there have been gonna be people who go at me fairly onerous, assault. I imply, Jesus Christ was attacked tougher than anybody. Not that I am in any class like that, however simply in Christianity, among the downfall has been the human aspect. There are people who proclaim to be Christian that don’t dwell that Christian life. And folks may 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 might 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 believe there’s work to be finished.
“I believe when Head [guitarist Brian Welch] went again to KORN [after publicly embracing Christianity eight years earlier], his template was a kind of that I used. I keep in mind pondering, ‘Man, if I ever did that…’ And I truly talked to him just a little bit about it and it was type of the identical manner that I really feel. It is, lik,e there’s work to be finished there. There’s alternatives there. The people who I’ve bumped into — I’ve had prayers in entrance of my bus with folks. I’ve had folks which are so completely satisfied that I’ve boldly type of come out with it as a substitute of simply holding it type of ambiguous. And now I can have these wonderful conversations with folks. I take advantage of the music and that state of affairs as a manner, ‘trigger we are sending like to folks. It is not like we’re giving some message that’s anti-religion or anti-God or anti-Christian. It’s simply among the previous anger, all these songs are there. However there is a spirit of affection within the room. I really feel it with the folks. It is how I make my livelihood, however I do additionally see it as a possibility. Now if I proceed to wish on it and God does need me in a distinct place, then I’ll observe that. And imagine me, I pray about it every single day, ‘trigger I used to be fighting it. I used to be, like, do I wanna be round that atmosphere 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 function with these guys. And we have had some main non secular moments collectively as a band, as folks. And I like being round that. And I do — I see it as a possibility. And individuals are gonna say what they wanna say, and once more, my relationship with Christ is what holds me. And if I paid consideration to everyone and what they really feel about it, then that may [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 an announcement explaining that he was “being a lil’ rowdy and loud” in his resort and acknowledging that he “pulled some Rock 101 stuff.” He added that he was “not pleased with it in any respect” and claimed that your entire 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 yr of his getting sober final October, he took to his social media to jot down: “Fast story….Once I received sober, the primary week was a blur to say the least. I entered a remedy middle a couple of days after getting fired from my employed gun function in KORN. One of many many bottoms I hit that had been enough sufficient to be prepared to get sober and keep sober a day at a time. I used to be in a holding sample for a couple of days ready to get accepted into the remedy middle and people days had been foggy.
“I’ve all the time had a sobriety date of October twenty fourth. However doing a real intestine verify and attempting onerous to recollect the true date (which has all the time bugged me),this being an sincere deal, I’ve to say my true sobriety date is October twenty seventh, 2007 and God prepared…I will make it to tomorrow and not using a 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 completely different I am much more grateful coming into one other yr with that adjustment within the identify of fact to self and a God I have to repent to.
“This yr has undoubtedly been the toughest in my sobriety coping with life on life’s phrases…however the true miracle is I have not considered taking a drink. That is a God factor…not a me factor. So earlier than you may have any atta boys I give credit score to him. I publish this additionally for the alcoholic on the market attempting to get sober. It might probably occur for you if it occurred for me belief me
“I not too long ago gave my life to Jesus Christ and that has introduced me true consolation by the robust occasions. For me. I am not right here to inform anybody the best way to dwell their life and I used to be actually one of many individuals who did not like that pushed on me, I simply encourage folks 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 not too long ago accomplished a North American tour because the assist acts for DISTURBED on the latter act’s “The Illness twenty fifth Anniversary Tour”.
SEVENDUST is continuous to tour in assist of its newest album, “Reality Killer”, which was launched in July 2023 by way of SEVENDUST‘s new label dwelling, Napalm Data.
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 Prime 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.
Picture credit score: Chuck Brueckmann
