R.I.P. Dave!!
1972-2002
Drowning Pool...Dave Williams...Two kickass things that will never be the same again.
August 15, 2002
PUBLIC MEMORIAL PLANNED FOR DROWNING POOL SINGER DAVE WILLIAMS ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2002
A public funeral service has been planned for Drowning Pool singer Dave Williams. The event will take place on Sunday, August 18, 2002 at 2:00 P.M. sharp. For those who wish to come early, there will be a viewing at 1PM. At 2PM, the casket will be closed and the service will begin. Various friends and family will pay tribute to Dave during the service, then a private burial will follow.
The Plano Centre, located at 2000 East Spring Creek Parkway in Plano, Texas has been selected as the location. The event is open to all those who wish to pay tribute to the singer.
For those who wish to send flowers:
c/o Turrentine-Jackson Morrow
Hwy 75 @ exit 38
McKinney, TX 75069
Anything other than flowers, send to,
Dave Williams
P.O. Box 1007
McKinney, TX 75070
from drowningpool.com
August 15, 2002 UPDATE
DROWNING POOL MEMBERS OFFER COMMENT
Surviving members C.J. Pierce, Stevie Benton, and Mike Luce shared the following thought:
We lost a band-mate and a best friend today. Dave Williams was one of a kind, and a friend to everyone he met. He was a good man, and a giving person. Not a day went by when he wasn't giving somebody a little present, and touching everyone around him with his passion. He was full of energy until the day he passed, and undeniably full of life. To the end, we were having a great time. We will miss him.
Courtesy of Pantera.com:
8/15/02- Some people say death is just a part of life.... But it becomes a cold reality when it hits one of your own. Dave was a true brother to us. We had the pleasure of knowing him for years before the world knew him as Dave "Stage" Williams from Drowning Pool. We are proud to say that in life he was the same person now as we knew back then. All the success, platinum records, etc never changed him. He was always the same big hearted, fun loving Dave, never a rock star... Just Dave. He loved music and most of all he loved his family, friends and fans. It's impossible to say with words how much fun it was to hang with Dave. He was the full package! His wit, charisma and drive to kick ass will be deeply missed by all.....
Dear Dave.....
With a heart the size of Texas
forever your spirit will shine through
in our loving memories of you
Our heartfelt condolences and love go out to CJ, Mike, & Stevie, our Drowning Pool Brothers, Mr & Mrs Williams, Lorie, and everyone in the Drowning Pool family.
Sincerely,
Vinnie Paul & Dimebag
Thursday, August 15, 2002 - SEVENDUST'S JOHN CONNOLLY SHARES THOUGHTS ON THE PASSING OF DROWNING POOL'S DAVE WILLIAMS
Sevendust guitarist John Connolly shares his thoughts on the passing of his good friend Dave Williams of Drowning Pool. "This might be one of the hardest things I've ever had to do so please bear with me. As close as my wife Lori and I were to Dave, it felt like we were the last two to find out. I just hadn't been checking my voicemails yesterday, but when I did I could tell by the sound in Mike's (Luce) voice it was bad. I don't really know much about what happened exactly, but I do know that the guy it happened to was one of the sweetest eople I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. I'm not sure if there has ever been a person who was loved by so many people. Heart is not even a good enough word to describe Dave. To say he will be missed is a tremendous understatement because he was like the brother I never had. All Dave really wanted to do in this life was to be in a platinum selling band and tour the world, but not because he wanted to be the rock star. He got to hang out with the people he considered his heroes and in turn became one of the best frontmen I've ever seen. Please say a prayer for his family and Mike, CJ and Stevie and anyone else who knew him like I did. Our hearts go out to all of you on the Ozzfest as well. Even though Dave would want the show to go on I'm sure for alot of you it's probably the last thing you want to do. Somewhere out there Dave is probably having a shot with Lynn and he's doing his best Sebastian Bach imitation and you know what..............Lynn's got a smile on his face."
Courtesy of blabbermouth.net
DROWNING POOL Singer Found Dead - Aug. 14, 2002
DROWNING POOL singer Dave Williams was found dead on the band's tour bus Wednesday afternoon (August 14th), according to a spokesperson for the group. He was 30 years old.
The Dallas quartet was on tour with Ozzfest when Williams' body was discovered. Ozzfest had played the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana, on Tuesday.
A cause of death has yet to be determined.
"[Williams] was the sweetest man you'll ever come across in your life," DISTURBED singer David Draiman told MTV Wednesday. "[He] didn't have a bad bone in his body, just very kind-hearted, very good-natured, very genuine, always trying to make everyone around him smile. [He was] always trying to bring some life to the party with his own little dramatic flair.
"Everyone loved him," Draiman continued. "I don't know a single person that has ever met Dave Williams and not just instantly fallen in love with him. He could charm anyone to death. He was a very special guy. It's shocking."
Meanwhile, ANTHRAX posted the following message via their official web site: "Dave was a sweetheart. Dave was really funny. Dave loved metal. Dave was one hell of a nice guy. That's rare. We'll miss ya Dave. Our hearts go out to Dave's family and friends."
MACHINE HEAD issued the following statement: "MACHINE HEAD would like to extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and fans of Dave Williams. Dave was a friend to us all, one of those guys that you couldn't help but like... he was as nice as they come, and had nothing but respect for anyone and everyone that he met. He will be sorely missed."
SKID ROW posted the following: "Our condolences go out to the family, friends and crew of Dave Williams, lead singer of DROWNING POOL. He was a great guy and an amazing talent, he will be missed by all that knew him."
CHIMAIRA frontman Mark Hunter commented on Williams' passing: "Dave's lyrics for 'Tear Away' couldn't have been farther from the truth. The little time we got to spend with Dave was very memorable. It is not often a band of that size has the time, or the inclination to mingle with smaller bands like us, but Dave went out of his way to make sure we were not only taken care of, but he spent his down time hanging out with us. Dave was one of the coolest and friendliest bright stars we have ever encountered. He will be missed and never forgotten. Our hearts go out to Dave's family and the rest of the DROWNING POOL camp."
SOIL bassist Tim King posted the following: "We just got the news that our friend Dave from the band DROWNING POOL died today. We are in total shock. I just can't believe it. Just a few days ago Dave was up on stage singing 'Halo' with us and we were hanging out together after the Ozzfest shows. Ryan even sang 'Bodies' with DP last night. Tears are filling up in my eyes as I write this. Dave was one of the coolest and most down to earth guys you could ever meet. He was a true friend. We love ya bro!! You will always be in our thoughts and hearts."
On The Tour Bus With Drowning Pool - Dave Williams Speaks Out
By: Don Sill
The Ozzfest may very well be the biggest traveling metal festival in the world. It has become a whose who of metal bands and is a standard for those bands breaking out as well as those who already broke. Many bands join the Ozzfest as virtual unknowns and after the tours run is complete they have become metal superstars, such graduates of Ozzfest include Godsmack, Marilyn Manson, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, and Incubus who have since moved on to their own headlining tours.
Ozzfest is a must see for metalheads world-wide and is a make or break opportunity for those bands who enter the line-up, and this year is no exception. Ozzfest 2002 marks Drowning Pool's second appearance at Ozzfest and their first on the coveted main stage. Already making waves with the success of 'Bodies' the boys are having no problem fitting in with the main stage line-up which includes, Black Label Society, Adema, P.O.D., Rob Zombie, System of a Down & of course, Ozzy.
Although Williams modestly claims that he doesn't understand why the band has become so popular he still gleams at the fact that he's now a part of the Ozzfest history. Williams knows just how important Ozzfest can be and they are more than up for the challenge. I spoke with singer Dave Williams on the tour bus just hours before the band would take the stage and he told me what just Ozzfest means to him.
You guys are graduates of the Ozzfest, moving up from the second stage to the main stage, that must feel pretty good to move up, does it feel like a promotion?
Williams: You can't not help but think of it that way.. I would definitely question ourselves as to why. But, we're not gonna complain about it. Obviously Sharon (Osbourne) thought we needed to be on the main stage and the record is still doing good, so it's like a reward/promotion and we told her that we'll play behind the bathrooms at 8 in the morning, we don't care as long as we can be a part of it.
Is there a different vibe you get from the main stage that you didn't have on the 2nd stage last year.
Williams: Oh yeah.. That's always just the way it is. I think it's more of a challenge on the main stage because by that time of the day people have had a couple and they been out in the hot sun all day and they just wanna sit down and catch their breath so it takes a lot of work to get 'em up and going. It's cool, but when you do it you feel even better.
Do you ever miss the 2nd stage? You know with all the pit action and stuff?
Williams: (with a pause and a smile) Yeah.. Some of my best memories I've had at Ozzfest were just going as a fan and just being in the middle of a parking lot with the sun just kicking my ass and watching 9 guys in jumpsuits and masks just destroy each other and that's pretty cool.
Yeah, you've been to every single Ozzfest either as a fan or a performer.
Williams: I've been to every Ozzfest since it started. To actually be on it is just bizarre, it's a great feeling. I've seen some great bands on Ozzfest..
..And now to be one of those bands has to be an amazing feeling..
Williams: (laughs) Yeah, it'll humble you real fast.. (Laughs) Real fast..
Take me through an average day on Ozzfest.
Williams: We do a lot of press, we do a lot of meet and greets and signings for the fans. Other than that we just hang out and stuff. The camaraderie between the bands is incredible. We know everybody out here and we just go and hang and it's just like a summer camp for rock stars, it's pretty cool.
I heard that you guys brought your dirt bikes with you on this tour and you guys cruise around and cause havoc?
Williams: Yeah.. My bass player and drummer and sound guy have dirt bikes..
Where do they ride them?
Williams: Most places, luckily, have a place to ride, they have trails and stuff.. Look, as long as they don't break anything that's gonna hinder their performance. (laughs)
(Laughs) Yeah, like a wrist or something.. Where's your dirt bike?
Williams: I don't have one.. I just watch.. I ride a bicycle, it's safer..
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