DROWNING POOL To Perform In Germany And The Persian Gulf On USO/AFE Tour

Originally at http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=56828

The USO, in partnership with Armed Forces Entertainment (AFE), will soon send rock/metal band DROWNING POOL to perform shows for service members stationed in the Persian Gulf and Germany. It will be the second USO tour for the group, which performed for troops in Kuwait in October 2005. The band also will meet and greet troops, sign autographs and pose for pictures. The performance in Germany, co-sponsored by Installation Management Agency-Europe and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, is part of a "Welcome Home" celebration for units from the 28th Transportation Battalion. The troops are returning from their second tour of duty in Iraq after spending 18 months in the area.

DROWNING POOL's most recent album, "Desensitized", was released in April 2004. Standout tracks such as "Step Up" and "Love and War" helped launch the album into the Top 20 on The Billboard's 200 chart.

"Sinner", the band's powerful debut album, was certified platinum within six weeks of its release in June 2001. The first single, "Bodies", peaked at number six on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. A recent poll conducted by Rolling Stone listed the single as the No. 1 song among service men serving in the Persian Gulf region. The group consists of drummer Mike Luce, guitarist C.J. Pierce, bassist Stevie Benton and lead singer Ryan McCombs.

This tour continues the USO tradition of bringing entertainment to service members serving far from home. Celebrities who have recently made trips for the USO include Gary Sinise, Master P, Lil' Romeo, SHINEDOWN, LA MAFIA, Toby Keith and Pryde.

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 former SOIL frontman Ryan McCombs.