SEVENDUST Frontman Hasn't Experienced Any Racism In Metal

April 9, 2013

Jonathan Barkan of Bloody Disgusting recently conducted an interview with SEVENDUST singer Lajon Witherspoon. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Bloody Disgusting: I wanted to ask what might be some delicate questions, if you don't mind. Metal is not exactly known for having a great many black or African-American musicians within, although I do see that changing with each day. Do you feel that you or SEVENDUST are viewed or treated differently because you are black?

Lajon: No, not at all! You know, if it is, I don't see it. I have no room for ignorance in my life. I think that we've built a relationship and… not a fan base, but a family base that really doesn't tolerate that. I'm the kind of guy that says, "If you don't like it, don't come," you know what I mean? We're not forcing anything on anyone. I know that that's still there, but I don't have time for that ignorance. We just keep on moving because it can never be the way it was before. Peace! [laughs]

Bloody Disgusting: Have you experienced any kind of racism within the metal world?

Lajon: Well, years and years ago, back in Arizona, there was a little incident where some kids were in a mosh pit and they were moshing to the music and jamming but still throwing up "Heil Hitler" signs. I think they didn't even understand what they were doing. But that was so many years ago and I haven't seen anything like that again. So no, not really.

Bloody Disgusting: There seems to be a growing number of African-Americans and blacks embracing metal and, in turn, the community seems to be embracing them right back. What else do you think can be done to bring down these boundaries, these stigmas?

Lajon: I don't know, man. Just keep playing music? Because music is a healer and as long as people give music a chance… rock, metal, country, whatever… as long as it has conviction, I think it brings people together. This world would be crazy and be an even more messed up place if we didn't have music. That's my own opinion, but god bless music and god bless the artists that play it to the people who listen to it. It makes everything work together and holds all of us together.

Read the entire interview from Bloody Disgusting.

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