interview
By antiGUY

The hard rock scene seemed to be getting a little stagnant; every CD that came across my desk seemed to be the same rehashed nu-metal that’s been filling the airwaves and CD racks for the past couple of years. I had been waiting for something new and exciting and I finally got it a couple months ago when Wind-up sent us an advance copy of Drowning Pool’s debut, “Sinner”. The album kicked ass from start to finish with a killer heavy sound mixed with memorable melodies, this wasn’t just another Roadrunner knock-off band, this was something new and exciting.  It seems the hard rock fans out there agree as “Sinner” has exploded, climbing up the charts, gaining heavy rotation on MTV and the band has been playing to screaming fans all summer at Ozzfest.  I had the opportunity to sit down with C.J. and Stevie backstage at Ozzfest when the tour hit Southern California in June. My first impression of these guys is they would be damn cool to party with; they seem to have a fun-loving and positive attitude; a couple of normal guys who love music and have been lucky enough to make music their career.  A couple of months ago you might not have heard of Drowning Pool, a lot can change in a few months.  These guys deserve all the success they get, so kick back and ease drop on our conversation and get to know the members of Drowning Pool a little better. 

antiGUY for RNW: Do you guys want to introduce yourselves to our readers? 

C.J.: This is C.J. ,I play guitar.

Stevie: This is Stevie, I play bass.
 

RNW: So how is Ozzfest going so far? 

Stevie: Ozzfest is awesome.

C.J.: It’s been amazing dude.

Stevie: the best way to spend your day is out at Ozzfest! 

RNW: I heard you guys got stuck in a mall in St Louis?

Stevie: Yeah (laughs) A little bus difficulty stranded us in the middle of nowhere. 

C.J.: Luckily there was a mall nearby so we got to spend the day going to Hot Topic and what else was in there? We hung out at Chili’s for awhile, hung out at the bar there was nothing else to do all day.

Stevie: Get drunk shopping all day long it was awesome! 

C.J.: I bought stuff I don’t even need, I was loaded so I bought it. 

RNW: With the album sales you guys probably have some money coming your way.

C.J.: I wish! 

(laughs)

Stevie: Everyone else is out shopping on our album sales! 

C.J.: We spent a lot of money. 

RNW: How did you land the Ozzfest gig?

Stevie: Begging, pleading. 

C.J.: I don’t know it was the right place, right time. Everything kind of fell into place. The president of Windup was talking to Sharon [Osbourne] I know they had a lot of people up for it but for some reason she picked us. We are very luck to be here.

Stevie: We thank her very very much if she is listening. 

RNW: How did you guys land the deal with Windup? 

C.J.: Land the deal with Windup? Actually we made our demo and our manager just handed it out to people. Somebody knew somebody and it just fell into their hands. They liked it and the next week they flew us up to New York to do a showcase, it was that simple. There are different ways you can take to get signed but the CD just fell into their hands. Somebody knew somebody who knew somebody. 
 

RNW: Where did your name come from? I hear there is a lurid story behind it. 

Stevie: The name came from my parents were out of town for spring break and I decided to stay behind so I could like party and have my friends over. One of those nights I just brought my girlfriend over, watching TV and I finally got laid! I’d been working on it for months and that movie happened to be on [Clint Eastwood’s The Drowning Pool] and years later I was thinking of a band name and I was like you know; thinking about playing in a band, thinking about getting laid and the two just kind of fell together. 

C.J.: Such a sweet story!

Stevie: It is. I feel sorry for that poor girl, someday someone is going to find her and give her hell about this. 

RNW: What’s her number we’ll call her right now. 

(Laughs… C.J. starts rattling off a bogus phone number. )
 
 

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