When you're drowning in the pool

If you think that the albums make the band, I’m sure you haven’t heard of Drowning Pool. But who honestly has? While their rock heavy cut "Bodies" receives airplay from our local rock stations, we still have a lot to find out about this band, or at least something worthwhile to prevent them from crashing into "just another rap-metal wannabe" wreck.

Over a phone interview with the band’s drummer Mick Luce, he shares why the Drowning Pool may just be the next big thing.

YOUNG STAR MAGAZINE: Hey, Mr. self-professed sinner, when was the last time you went to confession?

Mike Luce: I’ve never been to one, actually!

I’m not shocked, really. Ok then, as the new music delinquents, what sins have you committed in the name of rock and roll?

Well, pretty much instigating the [mosh] pit—which is a positive thing. You know, it’s like you shove somebody up, get ’em down, but you pull him back up again, all in the name of the [mosh] pit. It’s like body-slamming with a whole ’lotta respect!

I understand that two of you guys are from New Orleans, which is like the all-time Goth Mecca. Could you safely dub your music as gothic?

Nah, I wouldn’t say we’re gothic. Although I have a lot of voodoo stuffs tattooed in my body and all, but that’s just a reminder of home. But don’t get me wrong, I respect anyone’s belief and I totally have nothing against it. To each his own, you know!

But you guys are loud, so could you be comfortable if you were leveled in with Marilyn Manson and the other dark broods?

We actually played together back in Ozzfest and I think Marilyn’s kinda cool! We’re neighbors back in New Orleans, with Lenny (Kravitz) and Anne Rice. I totally respect what he does. But I won’t say I could ever be as dark as him. He’s a cool guy and I love him, but we’re pretty much like pre-school sinners compared to him!

You guys have organized religion blacklisted, why is that?

We kinda feel that you don’t really need anybody to get to God. It often goes like, you go to one group saying what’s good for you and check out another saying totally the opposite! It’s a big contradiction! So I guess I don’t need a mediator. I mean, I talk to God and am a pretty good guy, I think. I just hate people telling me that I’m wrong and I’m headed for hell! I’d be like, "Fuck off" and tell them to shove their self-righteous bullshit up their asses!

Your bio never stopped talking about your massive road tours before you got your contracts. How did you get through?

We were together for two years, and we started by booking shows in Dallas to San Antonio, Oklahoma, to tons of other places. We soon earned enough money to buy a van and then we’re playing to as far as New York. That was the time we met Sevendust, which is a big influence to the band, and we started to revamp. Then came Ozzfest and tons of other things! All’s good!

Music, especially hard rock, has been tagged responsible for suicides and in-school terrorism. What’s your take on this?

Personally, the kids who do that have problems to begin with, whether it’s inside his head or parental issues, stuff like that. To blame it on music is plain stupid! I mean, I grew up with Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Alice Cooper and all but I didn’t end up shooting people! I guess people are just blaming everyone save for themselves, when it’s their responsibility all along. I dunno, it’s just so sad, and sometimes sickening!

What we’re your sacrifices to be Drowning Pool?

Hmm, the worse is not being able to see your family. Hardly, if ever! Some of us have kids, some have relationships and pretty much the same happens! But I look at it as a must, you know. We wanted to be a band; that’s all we ever dreamed of. With that in mind, those sacrifices wouldn’t prove to be a negative thing!

How about the pet peeves that go along the celebrity status?

Mike: Celebrity? We ain’t celebrities, we’re just four jack-asses playing music! And we don’t have pet peeves—at all! Like I said, we’re a band and that’s like our total dream, and part of that is living up with noisy, rowdy crowds. Besides, if we don’t have ‘em, that would mean we suck!

Parting shot, in a two-word phrase, describe your debut album "Sinner".

Heavy melodic! Or you know what, that could be translated to ugly pretty! Some things are pretty bad, while others are just awfully good! But, however you put it, it’s a really cool album!