SEVENDUST star LAJON WITHERSPOON has cleaned up his heavy-drinking, drug-abusing lifestyle in a bid to honour his younger brother, who was killed in a shooting incident.

Witherspoon and his bandmates were famous for their hedonist behaviour - often appearing live with hangovers - but the death of his 20-year-old brother forced the frontman to take stock of his life.

He says, "He was at the wrong place at the wrong time and was shot 10 times. I don't think that's something I'll ever get over. I still cry every day.

"Sometimes I feel like giving up, then I look at my beautiful daughter, and I realise my brother lives through her. I know he's with me, and that makes me work harder to make sure I won't let him down."

Bandmate MORGAN ROSE followed Witherspoon's lead in a bid to clean up the group's image.

He says, "I didn't like throwing up before the show every night because I was too hungover."

17/10/2003 02:19