Drowning Pool

[Üncle Snake]

DROWNING POOL have officially confirmed the departure of vocalist Jason "Gong" Jones less than two years after officially bringing him into the band. Jones apparently exited the group over the weekend, forcing the cancellation of a June 12 hometown show in Dallas, Texas. DROWNING POOL bassist Stevie Benton wrote in an online posting, "I'm sorry to all of you who were coming out to the Dallas show. It sucked to have to cancel on the hometown but it's for the best."

Manager Paul Bassman told Launch Radio Networks that while DROWNING POOL was "very proud" of the album the band made with Jones, 2004's "Desensitized", the relationship with the vocalist "just didn't work out." Bassman added that DROWNING POOL already has another frontman lined up, with the announcement of his name coming shortly.

Bassman said the new singer was "really good" and someone the band had wanted when they first set out to replace original vocalist Dave Williams nearly two years ago.

Williams was found dead on DROWNING POOL's tour bus in August of 2002 while the group was on the road with that summer's Ozzfest. An autopsy revealed that Williams died from cardiomyopathy, a heart muscle disease for which he was never diagnosed.

A lengthy search led the surviving members to Jones, who had previously tried out for Brazilian metal act SEPULTURA and had worked on various projects with members of WHITE ZOMBIE, FEAR FACTORY and others. His one album with DROWNING POOL, "Desensitized", arrived in April of 2004, with the quartet spending most of the last year touring in support of the record.

DROWNING POOL plans to begin writing its third album in the next few weeks and will start recording as soon as it has enough material, according to Bassman.

[Üncle Snake]

The popular speculation seems to be that the new guy is either Pat Lachman from Damageplan or Ryan McCombs, formerly of Soil. Of course, there is no official word, so it's probably just wishful thinking by fans.

[Üncle Snake]

According to Harddrive Radio, former SOiL lead singer Ryan McCombs has been enlisted as the replacement for DROWNING POOL's Jason 'Gong' Jones, who recently left the band for "personal" reasons. SMNnews.com has also caught wind of news that the band has been dropped from their label, Wind-Up Records. More information on both counts is expected in the near future.

[Üncle Snake]

It seems that rumors that recently surfaced on the nationally syndicated show Harddrive Radio, placing former SOiL vocalist Ryan McCombs as the replacement for the recently departed Jason 'Gong' Jones in DROWNING POOL, are apparently false. There has been no confirmation, however, on the bands status with their label Wind-Up Records, who are believed to be in limbo about keeping the act as a part of their roster.

[Üncle Snake]

SMNnews.com can reveal that former SOiL frontman Ryan McCombs is currently in Dallas, Texas recording demos to determine who will fill the shoes of the recently departed Jason "Gong" Jones in DROWNING POOL. Despite repeated announcements last Fall of McCombs' family commitments and obligations which led to his untimely departure in Chicago based SOiL, it appears that his dramatic change of heart has landed him a slot as one of three candidates gunning for the open spot in DROWNING POOL. More news is expected over the next few weeks.

[Ponyone]

SMNnews.com can exclusively reveal, through sources close to the band, that former SOiL frontman Ryan McCombs is officially DROWNING POOL's new lead singer. McCombs will be "unveiled" on August 25 on the main-stage of OZZFEST 2005 in Dallas, Texas, a city where he has recently been spotted spending a lot of time. The band will perform a full set at the Smirnoff Music Centre.

[Üncle Snake]

SOIL bassist Tim King has slammed the group's former singer, Ryan McCombs, for joining DROWNING POOL after McCombs allegedly deemed the songs on the first DROWNING POOL album "average."

As previously reported, DROWNING POOL are believed to be have recruited McCombs to replace their last vocalist, Jason "Gong" Jones, who left the band in early June.

The revamped DROWNING POOL will be making a one-off appearance at this year's Ozzfest on August 25 at the Smirnoff Music Center in Dallas, Texas. The band will perform on the main stage in front of their hometown crowd in what promises to be the group's debut live appearance with McCombs, who has yet to be officially announced as the band's new lead singer.

In a posting on SOIL's official forum, King had the following to say about the reports that McCombs has been named DROWNING POOL's new lead singer:

"It is 100 percent true Ryan is in DROWNING POOL... And the only reason I could give a fuck is because he LIED to YOU (the fans) that he was leaving SOIL to be with his family and be a proper father to his kids. That and the fact that he called the first DROWNING POOL album 'average' and 'sounding like everyone else out there' and didn't buy the album until AFTER [late DROWNING POOL frontman] Dave [Williams] died... plus he NEVER hung out with Dave Williams until 48 hours before he died. He was not close to Dave. Dave BEGGED Ryan to sing 'Bodies' and come out of his slumber in the back lounge of our bus to hang with him and Ryan never did until it was nearly too late. Now he joins DROWNING POOL and will be singing the very songs he hailed as 'average.'

"DROWNING POOL can have him. Good luck. They should have taken AJ Cavalier [current SOIL singer] when they had the chance. Now we have the better singer and the better band.

"And remember this (in the fine words of our tech Willie Gee): IT AIN'T SHIT-TALKING IF IT'S THE TRUTH!!!"

[Üncle Snake]

SOIL bassist Tim King has explained his decision to publicly slam the group's former singer, Ryan McCombs, for joining DROWNING POOL after McCombs allegedly deemed the songs on the first DROWNING POOL album "average."

As previously reported, DROWNING POOL are believed to be have recruited McCombs to replace their last vocalist, Jason "Gong" Jones, who left the band in early June.

The revamped DROWNING POOL will be making a one-off appearance at this year's Ozzfest on August 25 at the Smirnoff Music Center in Dallas, Texas. The band will perform on the main stage in front of their hometown crowd in what promises to be the group's debut live appearance with McCombs, who has yet to be officially announced as the band's new lead singer.

In a posting on SOIL's official forum, King elaborated further on his criticism of McCombs for hooking up with DROWNING POOL after the departure of Jones:

"Listen guys, you ALL know how much I love and respect our fans. I say it all the time and show it all the time. I don't want anyone to feel like they have to choose sides, and you shouldn't, if you dont want to. You loved SOIL for the albums we previously did, and that is why you are here in the first place. I wouldn't take back anything we did on those albums. I am damn proud of them and all we did on them.

"The reason for my [previous] post was because I couldn't hold it in any longer. I have been for years and was willing to never say a word. But [Ryan] joining the band and with the events and real truth of what happened, I couldn't stand by and let the charade go on any further. I loved [late DROWNING POOL frontman] Dave [Williams] as a metal brother and a musician and we got pretty close over the year I knew him. The 'Sinner' record is still one of my favorites to this day as well as the new album ['Desensitized']. I think Jason Gong has an amazing voice as well. But when I hear a certain ex-singer of ours saying how close he was to Dave when he never even knew him properly or liked his album and THEN join that band when he said those shoes were too big to fill and never would do that is just plain wrong, in my opinion. To hear people say how great of a choice Ryan is to join DROWNING POOL because he was so close to Dave made me have to speak my mind because I saw first-hand the events that transpired and proved otherwise. That is the point of my post to set the record straight and voice my opinion on how hypocritical I think it is for him to join DROWNING POOL due to those facts. I would say those same comments about anyone who did that exact same thing.

"I take full responsibility for my words and will not take them back. I meant every single one of them. I feel betrayed by someone I considered a brother at one time and by a band I considered to once be brothers as well. Me and my band got lied to by all of them to our faces and never got the common courtesy of return phone calls. All of you on here speak your opinions. Why shouldn't I be able to to? This is a forum for my band after all, right?

"You guys asked the questions, I gave the answers… good or bad.

"This is all I have to say on the subject and i stand behind my words. Time to finish the new SOIL album and let the music do the talking."

Responding to Tim King's initial post, DROWNING POOL bassist Stevie Benton stated in a posting on DROWNING POOL's official forum, "Comedy. [Tim King] makes me laugh."

[muthagoose]

In a widely anticipated move, former SOIL frontman Ryan McCombs has been officially named the new lead singer of DROWNING POOL.

McCombs made the announcement earlier today live on the Ft. Wayne, Indiana radio station 98.9 The Bear, where he had been co-hosting the morning show all week. Listen to the audio of his announcement at 989TheBear.com (MP3, 8 MB).

McCombs joins DROWNING POOL as the replacement for Jason "Gong" Jones, who left the band in early June.

The revamped DROWNING POOL will be making a one-off appearance at this year's Ozzfest on August 25 at the Smirnoff Music Center in Dallas, Texas. The band will perform on the main stage in front of their hometown crowd in what promises to be the group's debut live appearance with McCombs.

[Üncle Snake]

DROWNING POOL have posted a message on their official web site confirming that they have recruited former SOIL frontman Ryan McCombs to replace their last vocalist, Jason "Gong" Jones, who left the band in early June.

Commented Ryan in a statement: "When I walked away from music to be with my family nearly a year ago, my wife told me that if I ever got the chance to do it again with good people like [DROWNING POOL's] CJ, Stevie and Mike she would want me to do it. She could always hear in my voice the love and respect that I have for them by the way I would speak of them. Those close to me have wished for a long time that I would get the opportunity to once again do what I love to do — create music, with people I love being around and in an environment that I could stand to breathe in. DROWNING POOL has given me this opportunity and for them, their fans, Jo and Charlie Williams, and, of course, their son Mr. Dave 'STAGE' Williams, I will do everything and anything I can to make you proud of the name you all worked so hard to build.

"Thanks for the confidence and the acceptance that has been shown already. As soon as I can get through 'Tear Away' without watering up like a little bitch, I'll be ready to rip some shit up out there with y'all..."

[muthagoose]

DROWNING POOL Begins Recording New Album

Dallas, Texas-based metal band DROWNING POOL is rumored to have signed a new deal with Sanctuary Records. However, this has yet to be officially confirmed by either the band or the label.

DROWNING POOL has issued the following update on its current activities:

"As a lot of you may already know, DROWNING POOL is in the studio as we speak, right here in our hometown of Dallas, recording our next record! All is going great and I'm pretty sure things couldn't be going TOO MUCH better than they are at this point! With that said, we wish to have this thing finished up by year's end and have the record on the way to you sometime between late February and mid-April!!!

"Thanks so much for sticking by us and being so patient with us! We can't express enough how much the constant support means to us!!!!"

As previously reported ,a brand-new DROWNING POOL track, entitled "No More", has been posted online on the band's MySpace page. www.myspace.com/drowningpool The song is included on the "Saw III" soundtrack, which was released on Oct. 24 via Warcon Enterprises.

"No More" is the first DROWNING POOL track to be officially released featuring the band's new vocalist, Ryan McCombs, formerly of SOIL.

DROWNING POOL recently parted ways with Wind-Up Records after releasing two albums through the label, each featuring a different lead singer.

DROWNING POOL's original vocalist, Dave Williams, was found dead on the band's tour bus in August of 2002 while the group was on the road with that summer's Ozzfest. An autopsy revealed that Williams died from cardiomyopathy, a heart muscle disease for which he was never diagnosed. His successor, Jason "Gong" Jones, lasted less than two years before he left the band and was replaced by McCombs.

[muthagoose]

DROWNING POOL:
To Team Up With SALIVA For U.S. Tour

DROWNING POOL will team up with SALIVA for a new U.S. tour beginning on October 17 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Also appearing on the bill are TANTRIC and JET BLACK STARE.

Commented DROWNING POOL frontman Ryan McCombs: "We are excited to get back on the road with our friends in SALIVA to bring the 'Full Circle' show to friends and fans across the country one last time before we head into the studio to make a new album."

The dates are as follows:

Oct. 17 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Landing
Oct. 18 - Dayton Beach, FL - Destination Daytona
Oct. 20 - Columbia, SC - Headliners
Oct. 21 - Goose Creek, SC - The Dive
Oct. 22 - Jacksonville, NC - Hooligans
Oct. 24 - Providence, RI - Dunkin' Donuts Center
Oct. 26 - Lorrain, OH - Black River Landing
Oct. 28 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
Oct. 29 - Flint, MI - The Machine Shop
Oct. 30 - Springfield, IL - Illinois State Fairgrounds
Nov. 01 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore
Nov. 02 - Traverse City, MI - Streeters
Nov. 05 - San Antonio, TX - Scout Bar
Nov. 06 - Pharr, TX - Graham Central Station
Nov. 07 - Beaumont, TX - Scout Bar
Nov. 08 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar
Nov. 09 - Corpus Christi, TX - The Pavilion at Concrete Street
Nov. 11 - Lubbock, TX - Wild West
Nov. 22 - Galamis Beach, CA - Galamis Beach

DROWNING POOL has been on the road in support of its third album, "Full Circle", which marks the recording debut of singer Ryan McCombs.