Drowning Pool

SEPTEMBER '08

Harder Beat Magazine Online

Drowning Pool
Coming full circle

by Travis Tutwiler

Drowning Pool’s Ryan McCombs
Photo: Travis Tutwiler

“High of 98 with a heat index of scorching. It’ll be balls hot,” states Drowning Pool drummer Mike Luce as they prepare to hit the Texas Stage at this year’s Ozzfest. “I think we only get 30 minutes,” singer Ryan McCombs adds. “They say 30 minutes in Dallas, Texas, at the time of day we’re going on (3 PM), it’s gonna be survival mode! I’m sure wherever our stage is; the sun will be right at us. That’s the way it works.”

The band is playing in this year’s one-day only Ozzfest, but it was just three years ago when Luce, CJ Pierce (guitar) and Stevie Benton (bass) played their first show with McCombs at the 2005 Ozzfest in Dallas. Since this was the only date for this year’s show, they’ve added a third stage that will feature Texas bands such as DP, The Destro and Within Chaos.

Today is obviously a big day, but it seems DP has been busy with their latest release – Full Circle. They recently shot a video for the powerful new single “37 Stitches” here in DFW. “We did it in several places around Dallas that we consider home,” states McCombs. “Stevie and CJ actually shot their personal shots in their homes. Mikey did some shots down at Elm Street Tattoo. I did mine at Reno’s Chop Shop in Deep Ellum.” As for the other footage,” McCombs adds, “The live shots were shot on the roof of the Palladium. We were trying to capture a little bit of the places people from Dallas would recognize.”

With the video done, maybe they can take a well-deserved break. “We take September off, kind of, because we’ve got quite the schedule ahead of us. The label’s looking at an early second quarter release next year for the new record,” advises McCombs. “We’ve been writing on the road, been working on it. But that leaves a very small window when you look at the fact that we have September off, but we’re right back on for October and November.”

DP knows exactly who they want to hit the road with for the two-month cycle. “Shaun Morgan (Seether) and I decided that we’re gonna just tell everybody that it’s gonna be us and them in October/November. That way it just has to happen,” says McCombs. “If you just say it enough, it’s got to happen.”

Even with a busy schedule behind them and coming up on the horizon, McCombs wants to make sure Drowning Pool fans know just how much they mean. “As always, from day one, everybody in the business, yourself included, the Harder Beat, we all owe the fans for what we do.

“So just thanks. Helluva Thanks!”

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