Drowning Pool singer found dead

Manassas, Va. The lead singer of the rock band Drowning Pool was found dead Wednesday on the band’s tour bus, police said. The cause of death was being investigated.

Band mates found David Williams, 30, Prince William County police spokeswoman Kim Chinn said. The band had gone into a hotel to check in, and when Williams didn’t follow, they went back to check on him.

Chinn said an autopsy would be performed, though she said it could be days before a cause of death could be determined.

The band had come from Indianapolis the night before with the Ozzfest concert tour, Chinn said.

Steve Karas, a spokesman for the band’s record label, Wind-up Records, said Drowning Pool was scheduled to play today in suburban Washington.

Drowning Pool’s debut album, “Sinner,” has sold 1.2 million copies since its release last June, according to SoundScan.

Stone Cold surrenders

San Antonio The pro wrestling star known as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin surrendered to authorities after a judge issued an arrest warrant for him on a domestic violence complaint.

Steve Williams, 37, was charged with assault with bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor, police spokesman Sgt. Gabe Trevino said. He was free after posting $5,000 bond.

Debra Williams, the wrestler’s wife, called police around 4 a.m. June 15. The officer who arrived at their San Antonio home found the woman at the front of the house crying, and said he saw “a large noticeable welt” just below her right eye.

Singing a different tune

San Juan, Puerto Rico Pop singer Ricky Martin says he and other entertainers have a responsibility to promote peace.

Speaking at a peace conference Tuesday in his Caribbean homeland, Martin blamed the media for desensitizing people toward violence, which drew loud applause from the hundreds in the audience.

“On my recent visit to India … I internalized that we cannot distance ourselves from the dispossessed, which need voices like ours so that the whole world can know their reality via the mass media,” said Martin, known for songs “Livin’ la Vida Loca” and “She Bangs.”

Environmentalists honor singer

Aspen, Colo. A nonprofit environmental group that John Denver founded is raising money for a life-size bronze statue of the singer.

The Windstar Foundation plans to display the statue Oct. 13 to commemorate the five-year anniversary of Denver’s death.

Denver and Aikido master Thomas Crum founded Windstar in 1976 with the purchase of 1,000 acres in Snowmass. The foundation promotes individual action and responsibility to protect the environment.

The memorial was made by Sue DiCicco, illustrator of many children’s books, including Winnie the Pooh. DiCicco also cast 200 bronze reproductions of the statue that are for sale.

Denver died at 53 on Oct. 12, 1997, when his home-built plane crashed off the California coast.