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Interview with Drowning Pool
First off, congratulations on your album release today! Can you tell us more of the significance behind the album title, Full Circle?
C.J. Pierce: There are a lot of references. The main one being that we feel like a family again with Ryan being in the band.
Stevie Benton: The title kept on coming up. It first started when we got Ryan in the band. What finally made us decide on that title was the fifth year anniversary of 9/11, there we were playing ‘Bodies’ in Baghdad for the troops and it was really special for us because after September 2001 our song got banned off the radio with forever put a connection between our song and the nation’s tragedy which you can imagine was something that none of us were too pleased with. So it just felt like things have finally come around for us again, after having our song banned five years later the anniversary there we are because of that song, having the opportunity to play for the troops.
Can you tell me more about the writing and recording process of the album? How long did it take?
Ryan McCombs: For me, it’s awesome. It’s the first time in my career in music that it’s been this easy. Everybody just bounces the ideas off each other and it’s probably the healthiest situation I’ve been in. As far as the band goes, that’s reflected in the writing process, there are no toes to be stepped on, no ones got an ego when it comes to the writing table. So it was easy, probably the easiest catalog of songs I have ever had the privilege of being a part of.
C.J. Pierce: It is also for us like starting over again; we had a very fortunate tour. We wrote a couple of songs, did a couple tours. We did two USO tours before we recorded the record that gave the songs time to grow. A lot of bands get in there once they make the first record and just go in, record, make a record and get out there. They barely have the time to see how the fans react to songs, to pick which ones work, which parts of the songs work or not. So, that was a unique process which I hope we do in the next record which we write some songs just to toy and give it the live test.
How do you feel your sound has changed since Ryan came on board?
Mike Luce: Writing music is easy again with Ryan in the band. The three of us have been together and have written songs for quite awhile. Dave came in and just had that natural spark, like Ryan does as well. For the second record that was missing. It was really the case of pulling teeth with Jason. It took a while to get that record together and out and even still we felt rushed and that it was really only half complete. With this one, we had the time to road test the songs, as we like to call it. Even from the first day he [Ryan] stepped into the rehearsal room, we’ve been banging out songs. It’s back to being a family unit again. It’s killer. It’s cool.
Can you tell our viewers how you got involved with the USO tours?
Mike Luce: We were fortunate to step in when another band was asked and for whatever reason didn’t go, whether they declined or couldn’t make it-- I don’t know. In the beginning it fell in our laps and got lucky enough to go. When we went, it definitely changed every single one of us. When we came back, the first thing we wanted to do was give a piece of ourselves back to the guys and the girls that were telling us “thanks” for coming over. They’ve been there for months with no rest, with no r’n’r and just subconsciously, physically, and mentally beat down everyday out doing what they do. So for them to say thanks to us was humbling beyond words. So we wanted to do a tune and send it off to them. That’s where the relationship with USO started and that’s where the song, ‘Soldiers’ came from. We’ve been back twice and we are going to head back a third time.
C.J. Pierce: We are also hooking up with the IAVA as well, trying to put this bill through Congress to support the troops, so that they can come back.
Is that what you are hoping to accomplish on Capital Hill?
C.J. Pierce: Definitely, this is our friends and family that are going there fighting for peace. They are dedicated, the most dedicated people we’ve ever met.
Ryan McCombs: In our own viewpoint, when we look in the mirror we are just a—you got two Cajuns, a Redneck, and a Hill Billy— its like let the comedy begin! We came home, we wrote ‘Soldiers.’ And like Mike was saying, it was like a tip of the hat, as a thank you back to the ones that we fell in love with— hearing their stories, being around them. ‘Soldiers’ was something to give back, but we have been lucky enough that is has turned into something so much more; it has opened the doors. Through our trips we have gotten involved with the IAVA it has turned into the root of this campaign. It has allowed us to get a voice a little bit louder to get the help that the soldiers need.
Can you tell viewers how they can help in the cause too?
C.J. Pierce: They can go on to “ThisIsForTheSoldiers.org.”
Mike Luce: “ThisIsForTheSoldiers.org,” it’s just really quick and easy. It was put together by the IAVA, USO, and us. It’s a petition that directly will bring to the table just everybody’s concerns for the soldiers’ well being for when the return. It’s for the Lane Evens Bill to be pushed and passed just as soon as it can be, to give the proper funding and the proper care when our troops come home.
We get many unsigned bands coming to our site. What advice do you want to give them about the music industry?
Ryan: Go back to school. (Laughs)
Mike: I can only tell you about the many things that work for us which may or may not work for the next band. The thing that worked for us is constantly putting ourselves out there to play in front and with other bands as often as we could. Even if you have to work a second job on the weekend to pay for gas money and a vehicle to drive down with to go play---that’s what we did.
Stevie: I think that’s one of the things that makes us different from other bands that we were struggling with in the club circuit. A lot of times bands would say that they wouldn’t play unless they got paid two hundred bucks—but we would drive eight hours just to play for one hour for nothing.
Mike: You have to pay your dues.
Ryan: Then you hope you just get really lucky. I’ve played with so many more talented musicians that can play and sing me under the table. It’s that work ethic and the desire to get out there as much you can. Then at the end of the day, it allows that luck factor to play a little bit better in your favor.
Mike: Dedication. Just put yourself out there---anywhere and everywhere.
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