Editing Sevendust (section)

===Early years and ''Sevendust'' (1994–1998)===

In 1994, bassist Vinnie Hornsby joined drummer Morgan Rose in a band called '''Snake Nation'''. John Connolly, a drummer at the time, joined the group as guitarist. They recorded their first demo, but were displeased with the lead vocals and hired Lajon Witherspoon following a yearlong search. Around the same time, guitarist Lee Banks joined to complete the lineup, and the band renamed themselves '''Rumblefish'''. Shortly after, Banks became dissatisfied with the touring schedule.<ref name="LeeBanks">{{cite web |url=https://www.classicrockhistory.com/history-and-discography-of-sevendust/ |title=History and Discography of Sevendust |last=Backes |first=Aaron |website=Classic Rock History |date=2019 |access-date=January 21, 2023}}</ref> The band subsequently replaced him with Clint Lowery.<ref name="RM200704" />
[[File:Clint Lowery performing in 1998 as Sevendust guitarist.jpg|upright=0.7|thumb|Guitarist Clint Lowery in 1998. Lowery is one of Sevendust's primary songwriters.]]
Rumblefish were forced to rename themselves after discovering another band with the same name. They chose '''Crawlspace''', and released "My Ruin" on the 1996 compilation album ''[[Mortal Kombat: More Kombat]]'' through [[TVT Records]]. However, the band had to change their name again after another group named [[Crawlspace (band)|Crawlspace]] sent notice that they wanted $2,500 in exchange for the naming rights.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} The band members elected to rename themselves '''Sevendust''', inspired by the commercial [[insecticide]] brand "[[Carbaryl|Sevin]] Dust".<ref name="RM200704" />

Sevendust released their [[Sevendust (album)|self-titled debut]], with partial production by former [[Twisted Sister]] guitarist [[Jay Jay French]],<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Connif|title=Starting a rebellion: Jay jay french performs double duty as twisted sister's guitarist and manager|journal=Billboard: The International Newsweekly of Music, Video and Home Entertainment|date=2006|volume=118|page=52}}</ref> on April 15, 1997.<ref name="debut review">
Henderson, Alex. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r259670|pure_url=yes}} "Sevendust" review]. Allmusic</ref> The album featured the song "Black", which became the opening song for nearly every Sevendust concert until 2004.<ref name="amg">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sevendust-mn0000016132/biography |title=Sevendust {{!}} Biography & History |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |last=Dombek |first=Kirk |access-date=September 29, 2018}}</ref> ''Sevendust'' appeared on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], remained there for sixteen weeks and peaked at 165 on April 4, 1998.<ref name="BCH">{{citation |title=Sevendust (Chart History) |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=sevendust|chart=all}} |access-date=April 25, 2010}}</ref> The album went [[RIAA certification|gold]] on May 19, 1999.<ref>{{citation |title=Gold & Platinum |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] |url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Sevendust&artist=Sevendust&perPage=25 |access-date=April 25, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924151606/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 }}</ref>

In 1998, Sevendust performed at [[Dynamo Open Air]] (May 29–31) and [[Ozzfest|Ozzfest 1998]] (July through August). In the same year they released a compilation called ''[[Live & Loud (Sevendust)|Live and Loud]]'' which featured live footage of the band's performance of September 16, 1998, at Chicago's Metro.