Interview: Drowning Pool announce Fall tour, first new song in 13 years with returning vocalist Ryan McCombs
Written By Neil Shumate, OOTB Publications
Since releasing their timeless single “Bodies” in 2001, Drowning Pool has remained a trademark name in modern rock music. After that song, the band released six full length albums, including their most recent in 2022: Strike A Nerve.
Last year, longtime vocalist Jason Moreno departed the band and SoiL vocalist Ryan McCombs returned to Drowning Pool after being away from the band as their previous vocalist of twelve years.
The band feels renewed and they recently announced the No Authority Tour, a 19-date Sept.-Oct. tour alongside A Killers Confession, Above Snakes, The Failsafe.
Guitarist and backing vocalist CJ Pierce—original member since the band’s 1996 formation—discusses McCombs’ return, new music on the way, longevity, the upcoming tour, and more in this OOTB interview.
With a catalogue of music that dates back to 2001, how does the band decide on a setlist and what songs can fans expect to hear on this upcoming fall tour?
That is a great question. You know having Ryan McCombs back in the band, he is open to any and every song from every record, out of respect to the fans and to the past singers that we’ve worked with. We constantly change our setlist pretty much on the daily, we don’t have a set setlist per se, as much as we have kind of a general guideline per each tour.
Sometimes fans will call out songs from the crowd and we’ll play them, but we definitely like to mix it up and and we pretty much mix it up every night as well. We’re a very organic live band, we go with the flow and vibe of the night, from the fans and venue to venue. We play what we feel that night.
I haven’t asked this question publicly in a while, but it would be nice to know and get the fan’s opinions on what they want to hear, especially with Ryan back, because he does such an amazing job of course singing the Dave Williams’ songs, God rest his soul. And Jason Jones, Jasen Moreno material as well. Ryan is all over it. He’s a powerhouse!
Is the band currently writing or recording any new music with Ryan’s return, since the 2010 self-titled album? If so, how is the process going and when could we expect something to be released?
We do have a lot of new songs in the works. The first single is coming out Sept. 20, the first new song with Ryan in 13 years! We’ve always had a very great song writing relationship with Ryan. When we got together again last year, it was like we didn’t skip a beat. We just started writing material together again instantly. It’s pretty wild. I mean at this point you know all of us have been through a lot of things these last 13 years, there’s a lot of subject matter to write about.
Will Ryan also continue on with SoiL?
Absolutely. Soil is an amazing band. We’ve been fans since day one. We’re all friends and family. We’ve been working together scheduling wise to make sure each band does what they need to do.
It’s been asked a few times if Drowning Pool and Soil would tour together. As a fan, I’m all about that! And Ryan is a powerhouse, but I think after a tour like that we would literally run him into the ground with all the aggressive music that we play. [laughs]
Between tours, what are some of your downtime interests and hobbies?
My whole life it’s always been all things music. No other hobbies or interest. But once Covid hit, it changed the world for everyone. I started doing electrical work again. I have a newfound love for doing that. There is an art to it, especially when it comes to bending pipe and figuring out how to get electricity from point A to point B.
But the main thing between tours is spending time with my family. I’m very fortunate to have an amazing family and wonderful children.
Through the years, what’s been the most challenging thing you’ve faced as a band musically and personally and how did you overcome that?
The biggest challenge hands down for us has been the music business. It’s not show friends... It’s most definitely show business. I’ve seen the music business ruin so many amazingly talented bands.
My sincere advise to all musicians is to try to do as much in-house as you can. Everyone in the band take on a different role to get things done. Surround yourself with a solid team of trusted people.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I can honestly say I didn’t know we would be here at this amazing point in our career. There’s been so many ups and downs.
It’s been so great this last year, we’re having the best time ever on stage again with Ryan. Inspired and on fire about writing new material together. So many ideas are on the plate. It just comes down to the free time for us to put everything together in the jam room.
And to our fans and family, we appreciate you sticking with us and supporting us and our music art over the years. Come out to the show and rock out with us!
Drowning Pool are:
Ryan McCombs-Vocals
CJ Pierce-Guitars
Mike Luce-Drums
Steve Benton-Bass
Follow Drowning Pool
https://m.facebook.com/drowningpool/
https://www.instagram.com/drowningpoolofficial/?hl=en
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCRFHKKNGdaIs9NaULSUuKGw
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