Drowning Pool Biography

Often described by fans as heavy metal catharsis, the rock band Drowning Pool surfaced in Dallas in 2000. Sespite immediate success, the four-piece band endured tragedy with the death of vocalist Dave "Stage" Williams in 2002. The band replaced Williams and continues to deliver Drowning Pool's signature alternative metal to the delight of their fans.Drummer Mike Luce and guitarist C.J. Pierce are the brainchildren of Drowning Pool; the duo moved to Dallas from New Orleans and recruited bassist Stevie Benton where the fledgling band performed merely as an instrumental trio. The Drowning Pool that we know and love today formed when the group met vocalist Dave "Stage" Williams. After two successful demos landed the now-complete band gigs with Sevendust and other industrial metals acts, Drowning Pool signed with Windup Records and began to produce with Jay Baumgardner, known for his work with metal mainstays Papa Roach, Orgy, Godsmack and Coal Chamber. Sinner went double-platinum and secured Drowning Pool a place in the world of metal music as well as with the MTV set, as the band's hit single "Bodies" played on heavy rotation on the network.Drowning Pool followed up their debut album's success with performances at Ozzfest and Wrestlemania but suffered a severe setback when vocalist Williams died in August 2002. The band got back on track in 2004 with the addition of Jason "Gong" Jones as vocalist and the release of their long-awaited sophomore album, Desensitized. The album's single "Step Up" proves that despite the death of Williams, Drowning Pool is still capable of hard metal and further comparisons of Alice in Chains. Jones didn't last long, however, and vocalist Ryan McCombs assumed the vocalist role for 2007's aptly titled album Full Circle.