By Therese McKeon

Shoutweb: Staind opened, that's right. It was such an amazing show and you are such a frontman. How do you explain your powerful stage presence?

Lajon: I don't know. I'm a very shy guy. I believe that the stage is my serenity and I find myself out there. For those 30 or 45 or however many minutes that we're playing, I don't worry about bills or problems that I have. I just can't believe that I'm able to do this. I'm a strong believer in energies. When I'm on stage is when it's the strongest sometimes. I can actually see that and feel it. There is some kind of magic out there where the crowd can feel my energy and I can feel it from them.

Shoutweb: It's funny because I am visualizing your performance at Woodstock 1999. There was a lot of action going on at the other stage but the crowd for your set was just nuts. There were a lot of Canadian flags flying I remember and a whole lot of bottle throwing.

Lajon: I told them all to make a whirlpool, and they did it. It was a beautiful sight, man. I saw the video from it. Then when Red Hot Chili Peppers went on, all hell broke loose. The next thing I know, I was getting pulled off the Chili Peppers stage being told, "Get to the bus as fast as you can! Shit's getting blown up." We heard people screaming and things getting blown up. We were nervous wrecks sitting on the back of the bus. People came on and said, "All hell is breaking loose. Whatever you do, don't get off your bus!" So that was an experience. Whenever you get even a thousand people together, there are bound to be at least two people who are going to be knuckleheads. I still think Woodstock was a beautiful experience and they should definitely do it again. But bring the prices down!

Shoutweb: I agree! I had a blast but I left that stage right before it got ugly.

Lajon: That was a good idea! (laughter)

Shoutweb: Then touring wise, you have the Tattoo The Earth tour, which I call "the S band tour". Every band on the main stage began with the letter "S"!

Lajon: Sepultura, Sevendust, Slipknot, Slayer...

Shoutweb: And (hed)p.e. of course.

Lajon: That was the heaviest fuckin' tour. (Lajon imitates a heavy metal riff) Hatebreed, my boys! There was more fuckin' testosterone on that tour than any tour in the world. It was great.

Shoutweb: Did you get a chance to hang out on that tour?

Lajon: That's all we did was hang out! (laughter) We barbequed and ate outside. It was hot and miserable and we'd sit outside so we were just kickin' it, man. (hed)p.e., Hatebreed, Sevendust, and the Slayer guys and Slipknot guys - we all just hung out every day.

Shoutweb: So the food was pretty good then? You got barbeque?

Lajon: Oh, we cooked that ourselves. We're country boys, girl. We're from Georgia! We bring a barbeque grill and lawn chairs and cook it right outside the bus. Radio out there and everything. That's how we do it.

Shoutweb: What were you listening to?

Lajon: I don't know. It depends upon what type of mood I'm in. I like listening to different stuff like Pink, Erica Bahdu, and then I'll listen to some jazz. Gov't Mule is in there right now. I've been listening to that band From Zero lately. As long as it's convincing then I'm feeling it.

Shoutweb: So after this tour, what happens?

Lajon: We're not really sure. I know we have a lot of radio shows to do. In the next week or so, we should know.

Shoutweb: You're holding out! The songs you've been playing live are great. You told me you're looking at "Praise" as the first single. Is that still the case?

Lajon: That's what we're thinking. It that okay, you think?

Shoutweb: I think so, although "Trust" still holds my heart.

Lajon: Maybe that will be a second or later released single. "Crucified" I would think too.

Shoutweb: The reactions you've been getting live from that song is great.

Lajon: Yes, it's been just incredible. We're so thankful people like it.

Shoutweb: Sevendust has a DVD coming out on September 11th. What can you tell me about that?

Lajon: It's called "Retrospect". It's going to have live footage, and videos that some people have never seen. It has a video we did over in Munich. That will be cool to see. It's got video of us hanging out. On the song "Bender" we have live footage of me and Chino actually laying that song down. It really brings you close to the band I think. It's a treat for everyone who is a Sevendust fan out there. I'm excited about it.

Shoutweb: I heard it has some of you golfing?

Lajon: Yes, Morgan and Vinnie out on the golf course. And I'm chilling out with some candlelight smoking some weed.

Shoutweb: Ben Grosse is producing this record?

Lajon: Yes, working with Ben Grosse has been an incredible experience. I would love to work with him again. The time limiting that second album made it so that we didn't have time to really do anything. This is a great working time for us. We had time to go back home and get to know our families and ourselves again. It was a good time to write music and think about shit, you know? We got to live with the songs. Overall, this whole session was a blessing. It was laid back and easy. Toby Wright was a great producer and we'd love to work with him again too but, as of right now, Ben Grosse is the man for Sevendust.

Shoutweb: Did you record much of the record in Bearsville?

Lajon: No way! We only did that one song in Bearsville. We just did album and guitars there. Drums and bass were recorded at Three Sound Studios in Atlanta. Vocals and guitars were done at Transcontinental Studios in Orlando, Florida. Then we went to Park Studios. We did a song at Electric Lady. It was incredible just to be in the place. Also, the Mix Room which is Ben's place in California.

Shoutweb: You guys have been all over.

Lajon: We pretty much did a lot with this record.

Shoutweb: Tell me the story about Aaron Lewis coming in to sing on "Follow".

Lajon: Aaron and John came down to play golf and Aaron was out on the golf course with Morgan. He decided to come into the studio and hang out for a little while. So we all went down and we played him the songs. I told him that his voice would sound really, really cool on "Follow". Aaron said, "I don't need to sing on it. It sounds good." He listened to it and he was in the room with everyone and just started singing it. We all said, "Dude! Get in there! What are you sitting out here and singing it for? Get in and record it!" He went in the booth and did it maybe two or three times. It sounded great. That's how we work - no stress. It's all about the music.

Shoutweb: What other tracks are you not playing live that are going to maybe get on the record?

Lajon: We're playing the heavier ones live on this tour like "Tits On A Boar (TOAB)", "Praise", "Trust", "Redefined", and "Crucified". We have lots of other songs. "Beautiful" is a great song. Have you heard "Christmas Day"?

Shoutweb: No, what's that like?

Lajon: "Christmas Day" is about Clint's mother. It's a beautiful song.

Shoutweb: Do you write all the lyrics?

Lajon: Actually, we split stuff up. Different people bring different things to the table. "Damaged" was written by John about a friend of his who committed suicide. In this band, we like to share things equally. We're grown men and we're touring the world. We're writing things about our emotions so it can't be about one person. I think that's why Sevendust has stuck together. There is a lot of respect and love.

Shoutweb: The one thing that you guys have is that soulful-ness about you.

Lajon: I hope so. We're just ourselves and very blessed to be able to do what we love.

Shoutweb: Is this the CD cover artwork with the boy with "Sevendust" over his eyes?

Lajon: Yeah, you like that?

Shoutweb: I love it. What does it mean to you?

Lajon: That's how we feel about the music business. A bunch of vultures in the background and he has trust in something that he can't even see.

Shoutweb: Wow, that's heavy. Did the vultures pluck out his eyes too? (laughter)

Lajon: I don't know. We have to see after the album comes out! (laughter) He might be fuckin' skin and bones!

Shoutweb: He'll be smiling at least. (laughter)

Lajon: He'll be happy! (laughter)

Shoutweb: Do you have any last words for the fans?

Lajon: Yes, I do. It's incredible feeling that we have right now. It feels like a time when everything is new. We can't wait to experience this album with everyone. I honestly feel like we have a relationship with people. It's amazing that we've done two albums and this is our third. That's a lot of shit that people need to know about us. I really feel close to a lot of beautiful people. I just can't wait to share this new record with them.

Shoutweb: Thanks Lajon!

Lajon: No problem, T. I'll call you and let you know what is happening with us.

Check out www.sevendust.com to see where the band is touring near you this Fall. The Sevendust DVD "Retrospect" is due out September 11th. Their highly anticipated release "Animosity" is hits stores November 13th.