New Drowning Pool Singer: I Will Make You Proud

DROWNING POOL have posted a message on their official web site confirming that they have recruited former SOIL frontman Ryan McCombs to replace their last vocalist, Jason "Gong" Jones, who left the band in early June.

Commented Ryan in a statement: "When I walked away from music to be with my family nearly a year ago, my wife told me that if I ever got the chance to do it again with good people like [DROWNING POOL's] CJ, Stevie and Mike she would want me to do it. She could always hear in my voice the love and respect that I have for them by the way I would speak of them. Those close to me have wished for a long time that I would get the opportunity to once again do what I love to do — create music, with people I love being around and in an environment that I could stand to breathe in. DROWNING POOL has given me this opportunity and for them, their fans, Jo and Charlie Williams, and, of course, their son Mr. Dave 'STAGE' Williams, I will do everything and anything I can to make you proud of the name you all worked so hard to build.

"Thanks for the confidence and the acceptance that has been shown already. As soon as I can get through 'Tear Away' without watering up like a little bitch, I'll be ready to rip some shit up out there with y'all..."

Recently on Soil's Web site, bassist Tim King vilified McCombs, saying he will "be singing the very songs he hailed as 'average,' " and capped off his tirade with "Drowning Pool can have him. Now we have the better singer [in A.J. Cavalier] and the better band."

The revamped DROWNING POOL will be making a one-off appearance at this year's Ozzfest on August 25 at the Smirnoff Music Center in Dallas, Texas. The band will perform on the main stage in front of their hometown crowd in what promises to be the group's debut live appearance with McCombs.