DROWNING POOL – AN INTERVIEW WITH C. J. PIERCE

Drowning Pool rides again. With the return of lead vocalist Ryan McCombs, the band is poised to makes huge waves in todays music scene. The remaining three members of the band are all founding members. C. J. Pierce (Guitar/Backing Vocals), Mike Luce (Drums) and Stevie Benton (Bass) have been together since the inception of Drowning Pool in 1996. The group has seen a revolving band of lead singers but with the reentry of McCombs, Drowning Pool is once again whole.

Drowning Pool‘s sound transcends definition. They can mash together many styles of music including alt metal, hard rock, post grunge and heavy metal. Their music is brash, brazen and bold. They hit hard but leave room for melodic overtones. Drowning Pool delivers smashing grooves and ruthless intensity. Many of today’s younger metal band tout the band as a major influence. Drowning Pool has released 7 full lengths with the latest being Strike A Nerve (2022, T-Boy Records).

C. J. Pierce sat down with AMP for this really informative interview.

AMP: So what’s the band up to nowadays?

C. J.: I kind of thought that we would remain a three piece when we parted ways with Jasen Moreno at the end of last year but that is his story to tell. We had a bunch of shows coming up including support for Pantera. We really wanted to come out strong, so we decided to contact Ryan and see if he was interested in performing some reunion shows.

It turns out Ryan was good to go. The second he walked into the studio, we just jammed. It was like we didn’t skip a beat. Now, we are currently working on new songs and our set has never been stronger. We are having an awesome time and you can witness that on our fall tour with Saliva.

AMP: This is your second stint with Ryan. How did that come about?

C. J.: Like i said, we had a few shows and we wanted to perform at full strength. Our show with Pantera on May 6th was amazing especially with Ryan doing his thing. I hope we can do more dates with them. Our current flow is spectacular. Hopefully, we can put out a couple of new songs by the end of the year. It’s been cool with Ryan.

AMP: All these questions are really running well together. When can we expect new material?

C. J.: As soon as possible. Every day we are working on new stuff. It’s one of those things. This is art and art takes time. We are doing it the right way and with passion. We just don’t want to kick anything out before it is ready. Our working with Ryan on new material is amazing. We are enjoying this stint and we are truly having fun.

AMP: How would you describe Drowning Pool’s sound?

C. J.: Musically, our drummer Mike Luce and I have been writing material since we were in high school. At its core, probably heavy metal with a little hard rock. We’ve been on a roller coaster ride with singers but the good thing about that is it kind of broadens our style. Every new singer offers a new perspective. It definitely widens our creativity.

AMP: What do you want your fans to take away from your music?

C .J.: I want everybody to know that our music is sincere. We write about life and situations we’ve been in. I do love bands that come out with fantasy lyrics but we definitely write from a real place. It’s good writing with Ryan again because in our 13 year gap, we have all experienced a whole lot of life. Our new thoughts and ideas reflects our personal narratives which adds a new dimension to our music.

AMP: You are currently on an extended tour with some cool bands like Saliva, Adelitas Way and Any Given Sin. How stoked is the band?

C. J.: We have played with Saliva in the past including Wrestlemania 18. Similar to us, they have had lineup changes. It’s great to play with Bobby and everyone again. We’ve always remained friends especially after Wayne (Swinny) passed. Wayne and I were constantly in touch talking about music and the world. I truly counted him as a real friend. Drowning Pool and Saliva have similar styles and came out around the same time. Just like brothers. The entire lineup on this tour is ferocious. Every band is solid and it feels like we are playing with family. There will be fireworks at every performance.

AMP: What’s your favorite song to play live?

C .J.: I can’t lie! I still love playing “Bodies” live. “Bodies” is such an intense song and it brings the beast out of the audience. All our songs are imposing live. We mix up our set every gig, so no two shows are the same.

AMP: If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

C .J.: My head fills up with so many people! The past has to be Jimi Hendrix just because of his musical roots. My dad played bass and sang and Hendrix and Jimmy Page were his favorites. Both artists influenced me immensely. Zeppelin is still a major reason I play music even though we are a metal band. From record to record, Zeppelin constantly changed their aura. It would be cool working with either of them.

AMP: Any particular tour date brings fond memories?

C. J.: I love this question! Small club dates have a place in my heart while the big arena shows are memorable because you can bring the big production. For me, my personal relationship with Dimebag and Vinny leads me to embrace our recent support with Pantera. Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante are killing it. There is this great tribute to Dimebag and Vinny in the middle of their set. This was by far the most special moment of my career.

AMP: On a personal note, what got you into music?

C. J.: I was just around it my whole life. My father played and his band rehearsed in the living room. My parents loved house parties and there was always some band performing. Early on, I played in a Jazz band and then a blues group. It’s always been all things music.

AMP: Drowning Pool has played a bunch of USO shows for the troops. How and why did that happen?

C. J.: We love doing that! And there are more coming up. In 2005, we went to Iraq and Kuwait during the height of the war. It was pretty intense. We could hear bombs going off close by. It was an insane experience. My son was in the Army and even though people have different opinions about military conflicts, these soldiers are away from their families and keeping us safe.

I’m not big on warfare. In fact, I’m kind of a tree loving hippie at heart but you still have to honor our troops who are willing to sacrifice their lives for our safety. Being able to play music for our troops, bringing a rock concert while they are away from home, is one of the most gratifying experiences I’ve ever had. We are going back around Christmas and New Years. It’s a priveledge we cherish.

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