Drinking in the Drowning Pool

Few bands can claim to have lived through the tragedy and disappointment that Dallas, Texas-based Drowning Pool has suffered.

The band's original vocalist, the charismatic Dave Williams, died from heart disease while touring with Ozzfest in 2002. This came shortly after the band released its platinum-selling breakthrough debut CD, "Sinner," which included the self-titled hit as well as the anthemic "Bodies."

Deciding to pick up the pieces and carry on, the surviving members of Drowning Pool auditioned for a new lead singer, bringing in former tattoo artist Jason "Gong" Jones. The relationship produced the album, "Desensitized," and the hit single, "Step Up."

But Jones wasn't the right man for the job, and he never quite clicked with the band.

"It was kind of one of those things where a guy comes in and auditions and sounds great, but you don't really know the guy that well and you make a record and you're stuck together on a bus every single day," said Drowning Pool bassist Stevie Benton in an interview with the Tribune from Norfolk, Va. "Twenty-four hours a day, up in each other's face and he was just not an easy enough going person for that kind of environment."

Although fans would have to get acquainted with a third vocalist in as many albums, the decision to part with Jones was easy, according to Benton.

"It was not a difficult decision whatsoever. It wasn't even a decision," he said. "Finally, one night, things blew up and that was it. He was gone. We were happy that he was gone. I'm sure he was happy to be gone."

Enter former Soil frontman Ryan McCombs. Not only was his familiar voice a perfect match for the style of music played by Drowning Pool, he was available to take the vacant job, something they originally wanted after Williams passed away.

"After Dave passed, Ryan was the first guy we really wanted but he was in his former band at the time and we didn't want to go in there and cause any kind of trouble with that," Benton explained. "By the time it came around for us to do our third record, he'd been out of (Soil) for awhile, so we were thrilled to have him."

Today's release date of Drowning Pool's third album, "Full Circle," marks the official beginning of an era, one that will include a stop at the Great Falls Civic Center Thursday as part of their "This Is For The Soldiers" tour.

According to Benton, McCombs addition to the band has returned a family-type atmosphere that had been missing since Williams died.

"Dave was awesome live and Ryan's awesome live," he said. "Dave was like a brother to us and Ryan's always been like a brother to us. It's back to the way we like things to be. It was an easy fit for him to come in and join the band."

Ever since "Bodies" was instituted by the U.S. military to interrogate detainees, Drowning Pool has had a relationship with the soldiers who protect the country.

Since "Bodies" was never intended to be an anthem for troops, the band decided to make a proper ode to the U.S. military by recording the song, "Soldiers," on the new record.

"We met tons of military people on the road and they'd tell us how they use the song 'Bodies' to get themselves fired up for their training for their job," explained Benton. "('Bodies') was written years ago and it's about being in a mosh pit at a concert. We thought 'wouldn't it be great if we really wrote a song for the troops and about the troops?' Kind of our tip of the hat to them and give them an anthem if you will."

Because of their strong legion of fans in the military, it didn't take long for Drowning Pool to become acquainted with the USO. They soon found themselves playing shows at U.S. bases in the Persian Gulf and their relationship with the troops continued to grow.

"After meeting so many people over there in the Gulf ... we wanted to do everything we could for these people that had given us so much," Benton said. "That led us to the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America)."

According to Benton, 1.6 million Americans have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and at least a third of them will return home with mental health issues.

"The way things are set up with their medical care, they can't handle that kind of volume. They're just not prepared," Benton said of the military health care system.

The band joined forces with the IAVA to start the This Is For The Soldiers campaign, which is raising awareness of issues for troops as well as money. On the tour that bears the same name, Drowning Pool will donate fifty cents per ticket sale to the IAVA and fifty cents to the USO. The IAVA is also trying to get legislation passed that will provide better mental health coverage for veterans.

While controversy still occasionally pops up from people who find it offensive that "Bodies" was used on prisoners, Benton finds it a bit humorous.

"Is our song really that bad that it's considered torture to play it loud to detainees?" Benton asked. "They're not cutting their arms or slicing their heads off, they're just playing loud music. Kids come to our concerts every night and pay $10 or $15 to hear that."

Thursday night, rock-starved Great Falls residents will be able to pay to hear "Bodies" and a slew of other Drowning Pool hits, something that Benton's excited about.

"Dude, I can't wait. It's gonna be awesome," he said with genuine excitement. "Alright. Montana."