Dallas, Texas, nu-metallers Drowning Pool started as the heavy instrumental trio of C.J. Pierce, Mike Luce, and Stevie Benton, but the addition of vocalist Dave Williams saw them go stratospheric. Their intense '01 debut, Sinner, went platinum in just six weeks, but tragedy followed success when their frontman died from an undiagnosed heart condition the following year. Despite this tragic career setback, the band decided to continue, working with vocalists Jason Jones and SOiL frontman Ryan McCombs to pursue an alternative metal sound, which proved to be equally successful.