Hey guys, this is Anthony Montalbano and Anthony Danko (A squared, as we’re so called) with RedPillMusic.com. We both have followed Drowning Pool for quite some time and are privileged to have spent time to ask the following questions with Ryan McCombs of Drowning Pool. Here is the interview:

Drowning Pool has gone through many emotional and management changes through the years, how has it been working the guys and with Eleven Seven Music?

Working with the guys; Mike, CJ and Stevie has been great. We were friends for so long before I joined the band that it has been a very natural change, personnel wise. Emotionally speaking VERY few bands have gone down the road these guys have so it’s very even keeled out on the road and off of it. We’ve all been there done that so it takes a lot to get us fluster-fuct. Eleven Seven Music has been a breath of fresh air. It’s nice to have so much input on our music and everything that goes into producing an album. They work with the band not around them. Something very rare in this business.

Drowning Pool has been very active with your fight to support the troops. The band has also helped launch thisisforthesoldiers.org as well as titling your headlining tour the same, how has the campaign been and do you feel like you’re making progress?

I really think we are making progress on the matter. We encourage everyone to take a second out of their day log onto thisisforthesoldiers.org and check out what you can do to help take care of our troops when they return home.

People really don’t realize the emotional trauma our troops go through over there, what are some direct messages or stories you would like to say that will open up people’s eyes up, making them realize the full effect and truth behind what is “really” going on?

Impossible to answer that question without writing a book. EVERYONE should go over and see with their own eyes the work being done there. The media back here is such BS. CNN is a total joke PERIOD!!!!!!!!

We believe music, in general, is one of the most powerful mediums for sharing thoughts and feelings. It’s as much as a motivator as it is a form of mood. What are some songs that you feel have had an impact on your life and how?

Aeosmith’s “DREAM ON” has been one of my favorite songs since I was a kid. Says it all.

Overall, the success of Full Circle has been growing, we here at RedPillMusic.com personally love the album and believe it is a very powerful and mature album from Drowning Pool, very different from previous material. One last question from us, if you could personally talk to anyone in history, who would it be and what would you ask them?

EVERY COCKSUCKER THAT HAS EVER WORKED ON CAPITAL HILL. I WOULD ASK THEM WHY NONE OF THEM SEEM TO REMEMBER WHO THEY WORK FOR. AND REMIND THEM THE LOBBIEST ARN’T THE PEOPLE.

We thank Ryan McCombs for taking his time with RedPillMusic.com and wish Drowning Pool the best in their fight for U.S. soldiers and their latest release. If you haven’t already, get out to your local record store and pick up Drowning Pool’s latest release Full Circle or click here to order it now! At the very least go visit thisisforthesoldiers.org

Finch plans on reuniting this Thanksgiving playing their first show on November 23rd at the Glasshouse in Pomona, Califorinia. The band split back in February 2006 on the note that “individual priorities lie in different places.” No updates have been released on any new recordings, or other concert dates, but this is great to see these guys back together. Finch’s 2002, What It Is To Burn is a signature, classic album that any punk rocker should own, hands down. I’m interested to see where they go from here.

In light of the Halloween season, I thought it was only appropriate to update you on the status of Dee Snider’s Van Helsing’s Curse. In 2004, Van Helsing’s Curse released a monumental, frightening, and intense dark album, Occulus Infernum. The album is a Trans-Siberian Orchestra-esque Halloween album, but dark, very dark. After their debut album Van Helsing’s Curse did a few tours promoting Occulus Infernum. Many have inquired on the status of a new tour or new album. Well here it is from Dee Snider himself, an update on Van Helsing’s Curse:

My Dear Tortured Souls,

So many of you have been inquiring as to the touring status of Van Helsing?s Curse for 2007, that I felt it necessary to post this letter.

Sadly, VHC will not be performing live this year. We have the opportunity to begin work on our second CD and feel we must take this time to start what will surely be a massive undertaking. Following up ?Occulus Infernum? will not be an easy task.

I know many of you will be greatly disappointed that VHC will not be playing out this year but, if you?re not aware, ?Occulus Infernum? has been reissued on the ?Fangoria Musick? label with the original Alan Clark artwork and two new tracks: John Carpenter?s ?Halloween? and ?Cry Little Sister? from ?The Lost Boys? soundtrack (with yours truly on lead vocals). It makes the perfect ?pumpkin stuffer? this Halloween.

From everyone involved in Van Helsing?s Curse, our sincere apologies for disappointing you this year…we?ll make it up to you in 2008.

Carpe Noctem!
Dee Snider – Widowmaker Productions

Jamie’s Elsewhere has recently signed with Victory Records. They recently released their debut EP earlier this year, Goodbye Rocket Man, St. George Is Under Fire.

In a recent post by Hawthorne Heights, a new tour is coming this fall. Here is the post:

Hey Lovers and Haters! We just wanted to drop you all a line, and officially announce our winter tour. Or WINTOUR… We, Hawthorne Heights, would like to welcome Escape The Fate, Amber Pacific, The AKA’s, and The Secret Handshake to the stage with us in November and December. If you are thinking…”That’s a weird line-up for a tour,” you are exactly right. We wanted a line-up that is not full of 5 bands that sound exactly the same. So at this tour, there is something for everyone…we hope.

We always like to help out other bands who we are friends with, or who we generally like to listen to…so that is how this line-up came together. We are planning alot of special things for this tour, so we would appreciate it if everyone could come and have fun, and keep music positive. Be on the lookout for more tour dates and details in the coming days. Thanks for your support of our band, the other bands, and music in general.

Love JT and Hawthorne Heights

Here are the dates:
Oct 30 2007 5:00P
Cotilion Wichita, Kansas
Oct 31 2007 5:00P
Cains Ballroom Tulsa, Oklahoma
Nov 2 2007 5:00P
Station 4 St Paul, Minnesota
Nov 3 2007 5:00P
The Vic Chicago, Illinois
Nov 4 2007 5:00P
Mr Smalls Millvale, Pennsylvania
Nov 5 2007 5:00P
The Fillmore at Irving Plaza New York, New York
Nov 6 2007 5:00P
Ultra Lounge Orono, Maine
Nov 7 2007 5:00P
The Stone Pony Asbury Park, New Jersey
Nov 8 2007 5:00P
The Chameleon Club Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Nov 9 2007 5:00P
Hampton Beach Casino Hampton Beach, New Hampshire
Nov 10 2007 5:00P
Lupos Providence, Rhode Island
Nov 13 2007 5:00P
House Of Blues North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Nov 16 2007 6:00P
The Moon Tallahassee, Florida
Nov 18 2007 5:00P
Center Stage at The Plex North Charleston, South Carolina
Nov 19 2007 5:00P
Freebird Live Jacksonville, Florida
Nov 20 2007 5:00P
Jannus Landing St Petersburg, Florida
Nov 21 2007 5:00P
House Of Blues Orlando, Florida
Nov 23 2007 6:00P
Majestic Theatre Detriot, Michigan
Nov 24 2007 6:00P
9:30 Club Washington D.C., Washington DC
Nov 25 2007 6:00P
Recher Theatre Towson, Maryland
Nov 26 2007 6:00P
Roxy Theatre Atlanta, Georgia
Nov 27 2007 6:00P
Norva Theatre Norfolk, Virginia
Nov 28 2007 6:00P
Trocadero Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nov 29 2007 6:00P
House of Blues Cleveland, Ohio
Nov 30 2007 6:00P
The Eagles Club Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dec 2 2007 5:00P
House of Blues New Orleans, Louisiana
Dec 3 2007 6:00P
House Of Blues Dallas, Texas
Dec 4 2007 6:00P
Graham Central Station Pharr
Dec 8 2007 7:00P
Sunshine Theatre Albuquerque, New Mexico
Dec 10 2007 6:00P
House of Blues Anaheim, California
Dec 11 2007 6:00P
House of Blues West Hollywood, California
Dec 12 2007 6:30P
House of Blues San Diego, California
Dec 14 2007 5:00P
House Of Blues Las Vegas, Nevada
Dec 15 2007 5:00P
All City Live Reno, Nevada
Dec 16 2007 6:00P
The Fillmore San Francisco, California
Dec 18 2007 5:00P
Crystal Ballroom Portland, Oregon
Dec 19 2007 5:00P
The Showbox Seattle, Washington
Dec 20 2007 6:00P
Big Easy Spokane, Washington
Dec 21 2007 6:00P
Big Easy Boise, Idaho

No details have been released on a new record or what label they are with, if any…

Lead singer, Patrick Stump, of Fall Out Boy recently spoke with Billboard.com in regards to a possible new album. Infinity On High is nearly 9 months old and is already platinum, but Patrick said they have “an album worth of material”, but don’t expect a fifth album any time too soon. Stump continued to say “I don’t really feel like we’re done with this one yet, I feel like it’s still in its cycle. There’s a lot of songs on it I’m really proud of. I don’t think we have one really monster hit on this record like “Sugar,” but there are a lot of really strong individual songs. If a song is effective enough it’ll work as a single, and I think we have a lot of effective songs that aren’t necessarily monsters.”

In regards to the new material, Stump says the music is taking them in “some very different directions. There’s lots of really bizarre ideas on there, everything from folk to … actually, I was experimenting with piano phases, like Steve Reich, the composer. There’ll be some weird stuff, but at the end of the day, it’s probably just gonna be a pop record.” Even though they have new material, he also stated “There’s always something that hits me, like a sense of urgency — NOW is the time for an album — and we’re not there yet, I just get this kind of wanderlust of some kind to go back into a studio. It’s always a very defined point.”

Fall Out Boy has recently started touring with Cute Is What We Aim For, Plain White T’s and Gym Class Heroes on the Young Wild Things tour. Patrick Stump has kept busy lately, helping produce Cobra Starship‘s new album as well as working with Gym Class Heroes on their upcoming album. Outside of music he also recently filmed an episode of Law & Order, due to air in February 2008.

Against Me! has posted video montages of ?Americans Abroad? and ?Stop!? on their Youtube channel. These montages highlight footage from the Against Me!?s trips on the road and a camaraderie that can only be formed through a common passion for music. Against Me! teamed up with renowned producer Butch Vig to create a new album full of angst, anarchy and controversial political views, not to mention some insanely talented melodies. Against Me! is getting ready for their headlining tour through the US starting in November.

Against Me!?s new album New Wave is available in stores now.

Watch American Abroad Here

Watch Stop! Here

Against Me! Tour Dates:
———————————–
November 3rd Asbury Park, NJ ? Saints & Sinners Fest
November 4th Austin, TX ? Fun Fun Fun Fest Waterloo Park
November 5th Richmond, VA ? Canal Club
November 6th Atlanta, GA ? Center Stage
November 8th Ft. Lauderdale, FL ? Revolution
November 9th Lake Buena Vista, FL ? House of Blues
November 10th Jacksonville, FL ? Tallyrand Music & Arts Festival at Metropolitan Park
November 12th Norfolk, VA ? Norva Theater
November 13th Washington DC, Washington DC ? 9:30 Club
November 14th Clifton Park, NY ? Northern Lights
November 15th Providence, RI ? Lupo?s
November 16th Philadelphia, PA ? Electric Factory
November 17th New York, NY ? Terminal 5
November 19th Cleveland, OH ? House of Blues
November 20th Pontiac, MI ? Clutch Cargos
November 21st Chicago, IL ? House of Blues
November 22nd Chicago, IL ? Metro
November 23rd Minneapolis, MN ? First Avenue
November 24th Madison, WI ? Majestic Theater
November 25th Sauget, IL ? Pop?s
November 27th Grand Rapids, MI ? Skelletone?s

Pete Mosely of Yellowcard has left for other endeavors.

Here is his farewell:

We wanted to let you know that I have chosen to leave Yellowcard and pursue other endeavors. It has been an honor creating music together and I want to wish them the very best in everything they put their hands to. its been a blessing to have been able to travel the world and perform music. I would like to thank everyone who has supported us through all these years and will continue to support yellowcard.

Thanks,

Peter

Seether‘s latest upcoming release Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces is available for full stream at this link here:

https://www.rock105.net/cc-common/mfeatures/seether2SP/

Make sure to pick up their new album which drops on October 23rd.