Interview: Ryan McCombs of Drowning Pool – Spotlight Report

When life throws a curveball, sometimes it results in an even bigger hit. After a major issue forced CKY to withdraw from the highly anticipated Alien Ant Farm tour, Drowning Pool stepped in to fill the void, adding their hard-hitting anthems and undeniable energy to the lineup. Ahead of their return to Australian shores, we caught up with frontman Ryan McCombs.

Ryan reflected on the journey that brought him back into the fold, the excitement of reconnecting with Australian fans, and the memories of performing at the iconic Soundwave Festival. Also, during our chat, Ryan also shared a humorous story about none other than Ozzy Osbourne.

SR: Well, this was a nice surprise hearing that Drowning Pool were joining the lineup for Alien Ant Farm’s tour of Australia. Were you just as surprised when you heard that you were coming down under, and what are you looking forward to the most?

RM: I am, because since getting back with the band, the demand for us has been awesome. I’m so appreciative of that, but we’ve been so busy in the States that we haven’t really been able to get out to the rest of the world. Other than a festival in Mexico about a month ago, it’s been pretty local. We were planning for 2025 to be the year we’d get out to the other territories that have supported the band for years.

Originally, I wanted to tour Australia during its winter. I don’t like the sun or heat; the first time I went to Australia was for Soundwave, and it was hot. That was a certain level of hell for me. Last year, when I toured with Soil during Australia’s winter, it was perfect—I could walk around in a hoodie and be comfortable.

We were looking at different times of the year, but then the whole CKY/Alien Ant Farm situation came up. A spot opened, and they asked if we wanted to co-headline. We jumped at the chance. It lined up with an opening we had, and Australia was already high on our list for 2025.

It’s happening sooner than expected, though, so we’re playing catch-up. A lot of planning goes into international tours, but we knew we had to jump on the opportunity. We’ve got amazing fans in Australia, and it’s important to reconnect with them.

SR: You know, it’s really hot in Australia at the moment.

RM: That’s my nightmare! The first time I went to Australia, it was summer. Everyone else—band and crew—was out on beaches or the ocean during their day off. I didn’t leave my hotel. The farthest I got was the air-conditioned lobby. I don’t just get sunburn—I break out in hives. Summertime in Australia? That’s terrifying for me.

SR: Are you bringing any family with you to Australia, and will you have any downtime after the tour?

RM: We only have one day off during the whole run. After that, we’re flying straight out to prepare for the Godsmack tour in Europe and the UK. Funny enough, my wife’s first husband, Joel, is Australian, and we’ve become friends. My stepson is always reminding me he’s half-Australian. Joel is actually taking him to Australia later in 2025—just a few months after our tour. It would’ve been cool if he could’ve come to some shows while we were there, but the timing didn’t align.

SR: You’ve been touring non-stop, not just with Drowning Pool but with Soil as well. I saw in another interview that you’re working on new material while on the road. Is there a new album in the works, or will we see more singles like Revolution (The Final Amen)?

RM: Revolution was supposed to come out way before it did. It ended up being the first song we released because it was the first one we actually managed to get fully put together. That wasn’t due to any fault of anyone in the band—it’s just been tough finding time to get into the studio and get things recorded. It’s been like pulling teeth.

Thankfully, the fans have been really understanding. After spending a month and a half away from home, sometimes I just need to get back to England for a few days to sleep in my own bed and spend some time with my wife. That has meant we’ve had very little time to focus on recording. Revolution just happened to be the first track we finished, so we put it out there.

We’ve got shows coming up in December in Texas, and I’ll be staying there for a few days afterward to work on more music. Right now, the guys are laying down the music for tracks we’ve already put together while I’m back in the UK. When I head to Texas for the shows, we’ll record the vocals and finish things up.

The plan is to release another single or two between now and the Godsmack tour, which kicks off in late March next year. Then, in 2025, there will either be a full album or an EP, depending on how much recording we can get done.

Getting back together has completely reignited our creativity. We’ve written so many songs, and I’m so excited about them. When we released Revolution, people were like, “We love this song!” but I couldn’t help thinking, “Wait until you hear this other one, or that one.” Stevie, Mike, and CJ have been on fire, and I can’t wait to get these tracks out there. So, yeah, the plan is to keep releasing singles and aim for a tangible release—whether it’s an album or an EP—sometime in 2025.

SR: Do you think the band is stronger since reuniting?

RM: I think so. I don’t know if “stronger” is the right word, but we’re definitely in a different place in our lives, you know? The phone call that started this all took place back in 2011. It went something like, “Hey man, you seem a little burned out.” “Yeah, I am a little burned out right now.” “Maybe we should take a little time off?” “I agree, we could take a little time off.”

What we thought would be two or three months off ended up being 12–13 years. When we finally got back together, we found ourselves in completely different places in our personal lives. That time apart gave us a maturity that we didn’t have back then. In this industry, there’s only so much you can control, especially when you’re on a label. Back then, you had to hand over your work, and they would do whatever they wanted with it.

“…What we thought would be two or three months off ended up being 12–13 years. When we finally got back together, we found ourselves in completely different places in our personal lives…”

Now, we’re in a place where we can hand-pick the people we work with, whether it’s for press, promoters, or other business relationships. These are people we’ve known and worked with over the years, so we trust them. Things that used to stress us out back in the day, business-wise, don’t bother us as much now. We know we’ve got people with the same vision and ethics as us, which makes a huge difference.

Overall, we’re just in a healthier atmosphere. We’ve learned to let go of the stuff we can’t control. You do what you can, and you try not to let the nonsense weigh too much on your mind.

SR: How do you maintain your health with such a grueling tour schedule?

RM: You know, everyone’s really on top of me when it comes to making sure I’m taking care of myself. I don’t know if you’re aware, but I had a stroke about 10 years ago. Ever since, the people around me have been great about making sure I’ve taken my meds and that I’m staying on track.

Over time, I think everyone has started picking up on little signs. For example, they can hear it in my voice if something’s not quite right, even if I’m not fully aware of it myself. If I’m worn out or I’ve forgotten my meds, my speech might get a little off.

We’ve spent so much time together over the past two years since getting back together, and I think everyone’s become really in tune with those little things. They’re always conscious of making sure I’m good—getting enough rest, staying healthy, and doing everything I need to keep performing night after night. Having that kind of support means a lot.

SR: Are there any surprises in store for the Australian setlist? Deep cuts or new material?

RM: You know, the cool thing about Drowning Pool is the depth of our catalog. It’s such a rich discography, and we’ve got material from so many different eras to pull from. For example, last Christmas, we spent the holidays performing for the military. We left on December 23rd and didn’t get back until January 3rd, playing shows on bases in Europe for troops who couldn’t go home for the holidays. It was such a meaningful experience, but what made it even more special was that we did acoustic shows—which was something we’d never done before with this lineup.

We were playing tracks like Love and War—songs we’d never even performed electrically together. The crazy part? We didn’t rehearse beforehand. At our first acoustic show, we were up there playing songs together for the very first time. But that’s just how this band works. We’ve got this dynamic where we’re always on the same page, and it just comes together.

That experience kind of unlocked something for us. We realised, “Hey, we can do this.” Since then, we’ve carried that energy into every tour. We’ve started rotating songs in and out of the setlist, sometimes even adding tracks we’ve never played together before. It’s spontaneous, and if someone says, “Hey, let’s try this song!” we just throw it together real quick and make it happen.

With Drowning Pool ’s discography, we’ve got so much material to pull from—spanning all the different eras. And that’s something I’m very conscious of. I know that every fan has their favorite era. For some, it’s Dave’s era. For others, it might be my time with the band, or an album like Desensitized with Jason Jones, or something from Jason Moreno’s work.

When we put together a setlist, I always want to make sure fans leave having heard something from their favorite era. We don’t just stick to classic Drowning Pool or my era. We try to include songs from all of them, so no matter when you became a fan, you’ll hear something that resonates with you. It’s about honoring the journey of the band and making sure everyone in the audience feels connected to the music that brought them in.

SR: Do you have any funny tour stories to share?

RM: Most of the funniest stories probably wouldn’t make my lawyer happy! But one that stands out is the first time I met Ozzy Osbourne.

We were doing a photoshoot with him, and he was praising our music. He talked about specific riffs and drums—he was genuinely familiar with our work. Then he goes, “The lyrics? Eh, they’re alright.” That was Ozzy’s humor, which I learned to appreciate later!

Touring is like a locker room on wheels—there’s at least one moment every day where someone says or does something so stupid that we’re all crying with laughter.

SR: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever signed for a fan?

RM: A baby. That’s got to be the weirdest. I’ve also tried signing dried pot leaves, which doesn’t work well with a Sharpie.

Early on, I remember playing a show with Great White, and this huge guy had his girlfriend ask me to sign her breast. I was terrified he’d rip my head off, but he was like, “Dude, I’d be honored.”

SR: What message would you like to share with your Australian fans?

RM: Thank you for supporting us over the years. Coming to Australia was high on our list for 2025, and we’re so grateful to Alien Ant Farm for making it happen sooner. Australia is one of those rare things worth the long flight. I can’t wait to reconnect with the amazing fans there.