Domesticated: Drowing Pool talk metal, laundry
It 11.30pm and somewhere in Washington DC, CJ Pierce from Drowning Pool is conducting an interview before he prepares to go onstage. No butterflies for this guitarist “but every now and then you do, if you’re gonna do something on TV or a stadium gig in front of fifty thousand people”.
Pierce has been in the music scene for quite some time, notably as Drowning Pool’s guitarist along with Ryan McCombs (lead vocals), Steve Benton (bass) and Mike Luce (drums). Pierce’s look is atypical, shaved head, tattoos and goatee, you the know skinhead metal man look but the softly spoken ultra polite voice on the other line emanates warmth and sincerity.
This down to earth nature is solidified as Pierce tells me how proud and privileged he feels having Drowning Pool as a headline act. Pierce is uncomplicated as the ethos is “keeping it simple. Life is too short to complain and bitch, so let’s enjoy it while we can”.
Drowning Pool have been touring solid for the last year and a half, incorporating Europe twice and trekking all over The States. Fortunately, Australia is included and Pierce considers this “the coolest thing you can ask for”. It is not the first time down under as they did the Big Day Out in 2002. Pierces notes that it “was the most amazing time making a lot of friends. It’s a beautiful country. I’m excited, we’re all excited!”
Touring has been rock solid but funnily enough the boys have managed to pen enough songs to release two albums. The current album was the “easiest record to make, the longer you do it (recording) the easier it is”. So when and where does Pierce pen the lyrics? “We had a day off yesterday, so I did laundry and wrote music all day long. It’s usually on the day off. The second I get some free time, I try to take advantage of that”. A domesticated man in Metal, that’s novel! What happened to the sex, drugs and Rock n Roll way of life that dominates many in the music world? Drowning Pool may not be known for debauchery but they have felt heartache in the form of the passing away of Vocalist Dave Williams from a rare heart disease a day after ex-Soil vocalist made his live debut with Ozzfest, Dallas 2005.
Doubts aside, Drowning Pool felt obliged to continue. It’s moments like these that test a band and 15 years together has culminated in a heavy throbbing Metal outfit. After many moments, does Pierce have a moment at 3am? “There’s been a lot of times 3 or 6 in the morning when I get an idea and I’ll just write down notes and go back to sleep”. There is no set time for creativity but is the output worth using? “I definitely have days when I look at it and think what the hell was I thinking?” It doesn’t make any sense!” Nevermind, results speak for themselves and Drowning Pool is doing just fine.
