Drowning Pool has been rejoined by vocalist Ryan McCombs, who originally sang for the group between 2005 and 2011. The news comes from Metal Edge, to whom members of both Drowning Pool and McCombs' current band Soil commented.
"When I stepped away from music back in 2004, I only got back into the mix because it was with [Drowning Pool members] C.J., Stephen and Mike, and because it was also a way for me to be a small part of keeping their music with Dave [late Drowning Pool vocalist Dave Williams] alive," said McCombs.
"Just being back in the same room together after so many years, gearing up for these shows, was a quick reminder as to why I considered them to be my best friends in the business back in the day. As everyone living life can attest to, sometimes our days can get messy – but in the words of one Dave Williams, 'Everything happens for reasons, I just don't know…' Some of the greatest moments in my career came about as a member of Drowning Pool and I'm really thankful for the opportunity to perform with them once again."
"I'm very happy that Soil and Drowning Pool are in a spot now where we not only co-exist, but are close enough as friends to move forward together," added Drowning Pool drummer Mike Luce. "We support and respect each other enough for us to make sure they can keep doing what they do, and for them to allow us to revisit a bunch of these cool tunes we played a decade-plus ago, with the singer who we viewed as the archetype after Dave passed. We can't wait to get onstage together again and see where this leads."
"It's exciting as hell having Ryan McCombs rocking out with us again," said Drowning Pool guitarist C.J. Pierce. "It's been 13 years since the last time we were in a rehearsal room together, and from the second we hit that first note it was like we never skipped a beat. I've never felt such a connection as musicians, true friends and family as I do with Mike, Stevie and Ryan. I can't wait to share the stage together again."
"Ryan has extensive history with both Soil and Drowning Pool, so when the opportunity arose for him to move forward as the singer of both bands, we knew we could make it work together," said Soil in their own statement. "Both bands aren't kids anymore, and we've all grown as people, mended past hard feelings, and are approaching the 25-year marks. Ryan wants to work. He wants to tour and play as much as possible, and this allows him to do that. As Dave Williams said just days before his passing, 'Anywhere there is electricity for Drowning Pool and Soil to play together, let's do it…'"
Drowning Pool also offered a brief comment on now-former vocalist Jasen Moreno in a Facebook comment, saying "We appreciate everyone asking about Jasen. We can’t speak for him but we believe he was just ready to move on to other things in life. Maybe he will make a statement. Maybe he won’t. Regardless, we wish him the best."
McCombs will make his first appearance back with Drowning Pool on March 17 at Club L.A. in Destin, FL.
