ANSBACH, Germany (May 8, 2013) -- Multi-Platinum hard rock band and two-time USO tour veterans Drowning Pool held their second of three concerts for the U.S. troops in Europe at Storck Barracks, Germany, May 5.
Drowning Pool includes frontman and newest member Jasen Moreno, drummer Mike Luce, guitarist C.J. Pierce and bassist Stevie Benton.
Since 2005 Drowning Pool has performed more than 17 times for more than 20,000 troops in Kuwait, Iraq, Germany, the United Kingdom and the USA. Drowning Pool released their newest album Resilience April 9 with their newest lead singer Moreno. This USO tour is the debut for both album and singer.
Before the performance Drowning Pool took time to sit down and answer some questions:
Q: What influenced you in the beginning to start touring with the USO?
Luce: Honestly, we were given the opportunity by somebody else's inopportunity as they were asked and weren't able do it for whatever reason. And we were the next favorite band, and it was a no-brainer.
Pierce: We always wanted to do stuff with them [the USO] and this was our in.
Luce: We got a little scared like anyone as we are civilians and we were like, "We're going over and what is going to happen and where will you put us?" And I will be honest, I have a fear of flying, but I love flying with the military. I thought it was awesome; it was cool. We were very fortunate to be asked, and it seemed like nobody hesitated when we were.
Q: What is your favorite mode of transportation, what have you been in?
Pierce: My favorite mode was the M1 tank. That was pretty fun; that was a fun ride. In South Korea they had M1 [Abrams tanks], they had Bradleys [M2/M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles] and they took us through one of their little courses, went though rivers and ran over mountains and stuff. It was just awesome.
Luce: We haven't been up in a helicopter, I would have loved to go up in one of these helicopters (AH-64 Apache). I was waiting for someone to even just slightly mention something about that. Just strap me into the cargo bay.
Q: Where would you like to perform for the troops but haven't?
Luce: The one thing I would have liked to have done that showed up on the radar for just a moment but quickly went away was [that] they were going to fly us out to an aircraft carrier and we were going to set up and play on an aircraft carrier.
Benton: That would be awesome. Make that happen, make some calls!
Q: Where has been your favorite place to be, to perform in front of the troops?
Pierce: In front of the troops? I mean they're all great, man. It's hard to pick a favorite.
Luce: They have all been great, but I'd have to say the first one that pops in my mind was like the fifth anniversary of 9/11 at Camp Anaconda in Balad Iraq nicknamed "Mortaritaville." It was crazy, it was pretty cool. You're looking up, and you're playing, and you see red dots across the top of Hussein's track [stadium], and [you're thinking], "What are all those red dots up there?" [You're told] they are snipers. They have their lines of sight overhead to the insurgent lines.
Pierce: The snipers are [up there] so they can look behind the stage because in back of the stage there was a fence. So up there their guns [are] aimed right above your head while you're playing to make sure nobody comes up behind the fence. It's pretty intense, man!
Luce: That whole tour was a trip, but especially that whole base. That whole set-up was just pretty mind-blowing. That's where we had to do the bunker thing. They were talking about -- there were three air raids, you know. We were all sitting around [going] "Ahhhh…!" Crazy.
Q: Where is your next stop after your tours here in Germany?
Pierce: Back to the states for a week or two, and then we start another run. That should go till the end of the summer.
Q: So this is your initial tour for the lead singer and your new album?
Pierce: Yeah, the new record just came out a few weeks ago, and it's kind of cool and different for us because it is the first time ever we released a record and we are actually starting it over here in the UK and Europe [with the USO] for the release. So we really haven't technically toured since its been released in the states yet till we go back. So that's something rare and different but fun.
Q: Do you plan on touring with the USO in the future?
Luce: Absolutely, man!
Pierce: We are happy to be a part of it and will continue to be a part of it. It's easy to get us to play, man. We'll do parties, bar mitzvahs, birthday parties, everyting. Just call us up; we're there. It's not that hard to get Drowning Pool.
Moreno: I want to, because being the new guy I didn't get to experience all that they just talked about, and I want to. So I mean hopefully we can.
Q: How is it being the new guy?
Moreno: It's a lot of pressure. It's so much fun, obviously. I feel extremely fortunate and blessed to be in the position that I'm in. … I went from singing and playing every now and then, to six days a week. And in the studio I think we were pulling 14- and 15-hour days. It was a mind jab for sure, but it's great. It's everything that I wanted, but it's a lot of positive pressure, pressure that will drive you to be better. But, yeah, hopefully we do more USO stuff.
Q: Where haven't you been where you would like to have been to play for the troops?
Benton: Hawaii. We have been to Guantanamo Bay, we've been to Okinawa. I mean we have been everywhere, but just not Hawaii.
Pierce: I gave all our information to [a promoter] and told him, go book it and we'll go. And there is still no Hawaii on the horizon.
Q: Knowing that the troops out there idolize you, how does that make you feel?
Pierce: We idolize them!
Luce: It's such a backwards thing, I mean … we're four lucky jackasses that get to run around and play and follow our bliss -- me playing drums in a band with my friends who write music. So when the guys are strapped to the T with all this stuff heading out to do patrol or what-have-you, and they're like, "Thanks for coming," you feel kind of like (uses hand to show something very small). [I'm thinking,] "You've been here how many months for what, the third time?" We got hit with that a few times over there. It was just… a humbling experience, just to say that doesn't do it justice at all.
Moreno: Honored, dumbfounded.
Luce: its awe inspiring, it really is.
Q: So, what would you like to say to the troops, words of wisdom?
Moreno: Thank you.
Luce: … very much. …In all facets just respect, and thank you.
Pierce: Can't thank you enough, man.
Moreno: Me personally, I don't think I could offer any words of wisdom. It's just gratitude, you know. I think I would ask the question to Soldiers, "What words of wisdom could you give me?" Like Mike [Luce] said, I am just a guy singing some songs in comparison. What wisdom could I offer to one who serves? Thank you.
Drowning Pool finished their concert series in Germany in Stuttgart May 6. Anyone who missed this concert still has opportunity to rock at USAG Ansbach. Korn will be at Katterbach Army Airfield July 2 with opening band Love and Death.
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