David Draiman Shares the Legendary Story of Disturbed

They all formed in 1994 in Chicago, well they got together in '94, I joined them in '96, so before me they were called Brawl, really, yeah, how did you meet the guys? How was that, um, they had an announcement. in a magazine called Illinois Entertainer and it was a bit of a stretch in terms of where exactly they were in their career, sort of extra bait for the potential singer, but it was definitely in line with my tastes. At that time, in terms of Dany and I having common influences and inspirations, um and um, I was a North Side Chicago kid, they were Southside Chicago kids and I walked into the audition and um, they were all dressed like they were members. kidro and feathered hair and frayed acid wash jeans and you know, Converse All Stars with no laces and the tongue hanging out and you know Mikey looked like one of the members of Testament with the long straight black hair, so I walked in and I'm dressed like a wife beater and jean shorts and sandals like total Northside Stoner mode, so there was an immediate clash and um, yeah, they wanted to play a cover and I was like, uh, well, you guys aren't a band covers, right?

Well, you guys have original material, as well as, yes, okay, a PA work, as well as, yes, PA works. I say, well, why don't you play me some of her original material and you know, let me see what I can come up with with her. you are going to sing. I say I don't know yet or I'll think of something and then they started playing one of their pieces of music and that improvisation audition ended up becoming one of the clues about the illness that first day, so there was R chemistry from the beginning, that It's something to do with all of you as a band, two things I noticed about Disturbed is that you've all had the same lineup, for the most part, you know? so I mean no changes have happened you know really and that's a challenge for a band and that speaks volumes about all of you know you look like a tight BN don't look I'm banned it's like a marriage yeah ya you know, and uh.

It's not always easy to maintain, but we have tremendous respect and love for each other and, you know, I think it's that respect in particular that allows us to continue to maintain what we have absolutely maintained. out the door with the sickness and that record knocks me out I listen to that record and I wonder who these guys are you know I'm a little kid you know I said this uh to uh like I was talking to Aaron Lewis recently and I'm like you know that these albums corrupted me as a child. I would do it in a good way, in a good way, you know, but I'm like a little kid, like I get depressed with the illness, you know, like an extreme little kid.

And did you have an idea of ​​what that record would do when, when you put it together, maybe you gave it a test drive? How did you experience that record when once everything was done? Multiple car tests. And you know? just the serial nature of finally hearing the stuff that you've been working on for so long, well recorded and uh together, uh, it was um, to be honest, it's still surreal even to this day. I still have to pinch myself more. that one occasion, yeah, and I think there was a certain point early on that really stood out to you, where you look at the guys at some point and you think this is taken away like this is um, I would have to say when we filmed the music video for Down With The Sickness um and we headlined a radio show on what was then called The World Music Theater in Chicago for a station that was then called q101 um and at that time it was still a rock radio station um.

It was very, very, again, another super surreal moment. I had seen so many bands grow up in that place, and to be on the other side of a completely sold out amphitheater was overwhelming, it really was an incredible moment, that's when everyone looked at each other and went holy it's incredible and it has to be a really great feeling. crazy go this is something you know, I answered an ad in the paper and now we're on MTV and you know, I remember seeing you Guys, I think it was at the Rock Hall of Fame or something, it was one of the times that the I saw it on live television on MTV and I thought these guys looked like you guys in a mall and that's what the crowd was like. moshing and that was when you could still see that stuff on MTV and you know that was when MTV was still MTV yeah, yeah, they don't deserve the M on TV anymore, they like to avoid it, no, I totally agree, it's absolutely a craziness. um, when did you realize, man, that I can sing?

I mean, you're one of the best frontmen in rock, really, in my opinion, your voice is incredibly good, thank you and, um, when did you realize, man, that I have a knack for singing uh I've been singing since that I was a little kid yeah um I was always that kid in the classroom singing on the bus singing um uh I was trained as a Canter, which is someone who leads the Jewish congregation in prayer wow as a young man and um he's really been with me all my life and I always wanted to be a professional musician and you know it's not something that everyone is blessed to be able to totally do well and you know, I think Was this your first experience in a band with Disturbed when you answer that call?

No no. Disturbed is my seventh band oh my god yes yes so you persevere well as I'm sure not only have you heard it but probably seasoned musicians tend to be. quite unstable, and putting together a project of my own was an arduous experience, it was not easy to move forward in that sense, so it was the year I joined Disturbed that I began looking to complete an already existing project. project instead of trying to make my own from scratch and that ended up working out better for me, clearly I mean, it's amazing, one of the things about disrupting that I've always recognized is that you all have one of the most passionate fanbases where disruptive fans travel hard for you guys yeah they do and what do you think the band has that you guys were able to not every band can do this you know Slip, Knot is another band like a really passionate fan base and they disrupt. is one of them too, what do you think it is about the band that you've really been able to connect with people throughout your career?

I think we're honest, you know, we wear our hearts on our sleeves, we write music. that connects with people and I think they can tell that we mean it, yeah, you know, people can smell the fake, like there's nothing fake about us, yeah, that's very true and that's what You see with many artists, the ones who really come out ahead. and connect are often the ones that really connect well, a recent and promising Comer who has been exploding jelly. I see I love that guy, man, it's amazing to see this kind of next generation, another thing I love about Disturbed, you've always gone out of your way to support the next generation of rock is very important to you, you appear in songs all over time.

I see that they support the next generation and they know who are some bands that they watch, that they really like and what they think. you know people should pay attention to that they're showing up oh there's so many omg um whether um I love the bad omen guys love uh still and white um I love I Prevail I love Asking Alexandria I love um um the girls of uh plush and the warning and um, I mean, there's so many uh uh trying to see who else I know. I'm forgetting, no, but you're killing it. Falling backwards, um, yeah, there's so many new talents that are so inspiring, inspiring and doing such. "Amazing work.

I love the fact that there's still so much new life and so much growth and so much evolution. Well, you know, these people who are so quick to dismiss rock as dead couldn't be further away, you know ? He couldn't be more wrong, right. I am constantly inspired and delighted to hear the new generation of hard rock and heavy metal bands that have come to fruition. I love all the bands you just mentioned. I think you're absolutely There's something like that, a lot of people are still sleeping, there's this next generation of rock that you're seeing really starting to formulate and you're mentioning I can even tell you really pay attention to things because you're mentioning bands. like plush, you know you're mentioning some bands that are really not only established like Falling Reverse and Motionless and White, but also emerging bands like that and you have bands like Sleep Token and all that, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. dream token dream theory the dream band sure yeah, I mean what's your preparation for a live performance? you know you're someone who's been very consistent throughout your career you don't have your vote your voice has always been very strong uh do you know what you've been able to do to maintain that so often?

It's complex and has gotten more complicated as I've gotten older. um, you know, your vocal cords thicken with age, there's no way around it and it doesn't matter. no matter how much you train, you can't really fight it, um, but um, and I also have very bad acid reflux disease, so I no longer have a valve in the upper part of my esophagus, it's gone, it's completely eroded, so no. I don't eat 4 hours before the series. I don't eat 2 hours before going to bed. I have to avoid spicy foods. Fried foods. I have to take a ridiculous regimen of antacid medications.

Not only in the morning and before. I go to bed, but also after meals. I have to do all kinds of exercises to maintain. My warm-up routine is not as rigorous as you might imagine because I don't want to get too fatigued before training. Make sure I hide more than most human beings do in a day, you know, in a week and inside a single day, so I'm a water addict. I guess you could say well, and, I just keep training, I keep going. working with my vocal coach, who in my opinion is the best in the world, her name is Melissa Cross, oh yeah, and Zen screaming, yeah, yeah, she's amazing, and I'm still learning, you know, I think we all fall into bad ways. habits and We need to continue to hone our craft, that's something Quincy Jones gave me a bunch of years ago when I was at a Spotify event and he was mad at me because I couldn't read the sheet music. as a friend, you know, I'm like, I never learned, man, he's like, it's like it's all in my head, he's like, you need to keep learning, you need to keep, you know, refining your craft, like, sorry, Quincy , I can yet.

I don't read sheet music, but I'm still learning and I'm still trying to refine my craft, that has to be a lot of pressure too, you know, getting on stage and I'm sure you don't know that every time you perform. you feel better you're playing with colds and stuff like that and do you ever get nervous before playing? That's the only time I do it when I'm not feeling good, if I'm feeling good all I'm excited about, yeah, um. You know, I, I, um, if I don't feel good, you know me and azi used to talk about that, it's that there's no uncomfortable feeling scarier than having thousands and thousands of people waiting for you to play that note and you know you're not going to being able to do it, oh man, it's hard, but you know the fans, I think they appreciate the fact that we still make what we do as real as it can be, and there are fluctuations from show to show.

I try to get it as close as possible to the way people have fallen in love with the songs, but it's very important for us that we are 100% live, we have some, you know, Mikey plays with a click and we have some electronic elements and others things that are on the track, but the drums and guitar based vocals are always live and always will be, so it was instead of having a keyboard player on stage pressing a key and starting a sample and just standing there and moving head. for all the rest of the time, you know, but yeah, I mean, I'm very proud and I've kicked myself for being one of the last guys that still sings Live and always will, yeah, and your voice I mean, of new, you have such a recognizable voice, you know you mentioned meeting people like Azie Osborne, I know like I do, I just saw the start of Metallica's tour in Jersey this weekend, amazing man, I mean they just don't slow down Well, they don't slow down.

As for the intensity of it, I wish I could play a show a week, I mean, that would be a good thing, yeah, yeah, in a stadium of 70,000 80,000, oh God bless those guys, I mean, not only have they mastered it. the environment and they are not only the biggest bands, if not one of the biggest in the world, you know, rock or genre aside, but they continue to grow and develop and continue to be an inspiration to us and almost everyone else. band that exists really amazing what it's like, you know, let's say the first time you meet Azie Osborne, I know, I'm sure, of course, she had a huge impact on you, what do you think when you're like shit, this is ?

Aussy, it's been, you know, a sea of ​​surreal experiences. I'll never forget the day they first moved us to the main stage at Osfest and you know I had Azie and the Slipnot guys on the side and you know you have. um, Zach and some of the other guys on the other side and they're all watching and they're all wondering who these guys are that suddenly moved here and whatever, and you know, Azie's grinning from ear to ear and giving me the thumbs up. of the devil and you know, jump foreverywhere on stage was amazing, amazing, it never gets old, right, never, yeah, I mean, it's just that's just amazing, I can't imagine it, you know and so do you, you've been with the Metallica guys and you know that It's gotta be cool, they seem like really cool people, they're the best people, I'm sure there's another band that really supports, you know, groups and also like you do, uh, you really know they have ice mine kills on their tour, you also know Mammoth and that's a band I should have mentioned um I love it uh.

Those guys, I also love the theatricality they bring to the show. I think Spencer and those guys are brilliant, they're amazing songwriters, right? One of the things I like to talk to people about is not just music but I'm also into wellness and I like you, I mean you look high, you've been killing it lately. I have a lot of respect for you because, you know, you really have it, you're here to make it, and so could you share it? I always need to exercise and I always need to diet and everything that has worked for you, you know this well, since I told you that I can't eat four hours before the series and I can't eat two hours before I go to bed, like this which the days when my last meal is usually this late dinner that I have, which is around 4:30 and I finish at 5: so it lends itself to intermittent fasting, so I do that sometimes, um.

I'm very careful with my diet because of acid reflux, so I have to avoid fried things. I can't eat very fatty foods. That helps too. It also helps that every night I perform I burn between 500 and 750 performance calories um, but I'm also in the gym 5 days a week, well, um, for at least an hour and a half to two hours and I do muscle confusion, groups of alternating muscles. I do high intensity interval training at least three or four. times a week, I do, when I can't go to a proper gym, I have several different apps that I use on my phone to do calisthenics or isometric exercises in the hotel room, and you know, stress helps, but I have a lot of That, it's stressful being here on the road, oh yeah, yeah, oh yeah, that's what I've heard, it's not as glamorous as people, you know, it has its moments that are right for the other guys, for me, I don't I misunderstand.

I I I My moment is on stage, yeah, um, I live for you know, an hour and a half or two hours when we get there, um, the rest, everything else is a means to an end, um, and it's very, very difficult, um. The other guys, their bodies aren't. On his instrument, you know that Mikey is playing with a broken tool right now. Wow, you probably don't know. If I break something here, it can't be touched. I can't help it, I can't pretend, right? The boys can move on and get drunk every night. Hell yeah, I can't, I can't, um, I'm a monk here, I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't participate in anything.

I watch my caffeine intake, as I told you, I hydrate more than most human beings. I really have to watch my interactions with people to stay healthy. I can't stay after the show because once you've sung for two hours. The worst thing you can do is walk into a room full of people talking and try to talk over them so they can hear you, yeah you know, so to be honest it's very lonely, it's a very isolated and challenging existence to those of us singers. who actually still sings live um but it's a you know it's a uh a sacrifice that I think is worth it because it wouldn't be the same for me it has to be real it has to come from my body it has to be me I have to have that feeling , it's the most thing I'm addicted to doing in life and I would never dare deprive myself or the fans of it, so it's very interesting that you point out the loneliness factor because I hear that frequently from mus. of the vocalists there is a reason why this way of life kills the singers there is a reason uh it it is and loneliness is what the Killer is and so you know be comfortable with yourself and find your routine and find the things of the life. that keeps you balanced and keeps you in a positive state of mind and you know it's very difficult, you know, I won't do it, I won't lie about it, but it's worth it, you know, at least I think so.

It's still true at this point, well, you know, I know you've talked about mental health and I have to say you know without going into detail, but you know you gave a speech and that moved me and I think it reached a lot of people and I think that with how vulnerable you were you helped a lot of people see someone as strong as you, a great musician to talk like that and, once again, I know it's not just the physical fitness, it's obvious that you really have I worked on everything, already you know, yeah, we're all works in progress, really, you know, I mean, I'm certainly not the only one out there, there are many out there that are still in a constant struggle and I still do, yeah.

I have my good days and my bad days and you know I worry about my son and how it might be affecting him and you know, but I hope that at the end of the day he knows that his dad is at least being honest, yeah and he is. at least be transparent and uh that it's okay to feel and it's okay to be sad and it's okay to admit that you're sad um it's um none of this is easy you know all the mythology and the fairy tales that were passed down from the uh, you know, the existentialism U from the 80s, uh, it doesn't ring true anymore for people in my position, for sure, and even if you saw a movie like you know, let's say Rockstar, you know uh, what's his name, with uh, Walberg , so yeah, me.

I mean, what you heard from the singer that he was replacing that apparently that movie was modeled after the Judas Priest

story

, it's actually very true, you know, I have to go to sleep, I can't stay up all night partying, no I can live. living this crazy hedonistic lifestyle that represents what people believe exists, you know, they think it's Sodom and Gomorrah, here backstage, you can obviously see it's not all business, it's all technical, it's all preparation and a lot , you know, a lot of work. It's literally like a work environment, yeah, yeah, a lot, so yeah, and that's what I've seen and the more you know, you can see bands your height and similar high level bands that you know work like a machine. goodwill and I imagine that getting to this point it wasn't easy to keep the band together and that's all so impressive.

Another thing I love about disturbance is that every time you do a cover, you make it crazy. the park you had L for confusion and then Sound of Silence um absolutely incredible. The Sound of Silence was like a pop hit, you know, for all of you and it transcended genres, what was that experience like? um, very, uh, surreal too, um, I, I still can't believe how it continues to lend itself to so many different scenarios and situations and has become a memorial anthem for so many people and, you know, it never ceases to amaze me the reach that it has had.

It's really amazing that you and a lot of people would be very hesitant to play something that's so timeless, you know, and that's such a relatable hit, but to be honest, that was part of the reason we pursued it. Start with um I think Paul Simon is one of the most prolific songwriters of all time and uh that song was pure poetry and uh it's a masterpiece in songwriting so we just went into it trying to do the best we could. with her on terms. to do it in its own right and still pay homage to the integrity of the original song itself and, you know, thank God, it's done when it's done right.

I like to ask people. I like to learn from the people I talk to. The experience is good and I know that you have a great experience. What would you say is the best advice you have received in your career? At some point I'm going to have a group, a compilation of musicians. Be patient if there are two things that both. My career and my son have taught me what it means to have more patience, of course, yes, I think that is very important and very wise. What would you say is perhaps the worst advice you have ever received?

On the other hand, we live in the moment man no, no, no, don't live in the moment, live your life to the fullest, yeah, but look a thousand meters ahead, you know, too many people are too obsessed with the moment and don't look first. to jump They just jump right in, you know, and then they end up landing on something they can't get out of, it's so true, what is it, you know, what's one of your favorite moments meeting, maybe an artist that you really idolize. , there is some? At any point in your career have you been

disturbed

or look back and are amazed at what happened.

I remember a download, a bunch of years ago, and uh, we were going to be supporting Metallica in Berlin, later in that career and in a room full of The People, um, and other bands that were much bigger than the ones we were. At that moment, you know, James Hetfield comes up to me and starts talking to me, and I sit down and we talk for a good 20 minutes and everyone around me was like, What did he do to deserve that? And they said, "You know, I just, I was Star Struck beyond words and I was blown away and, uh, you know, I, I'm still grateful for that, it still sticks with me.

James is another guy that's talked about." about their mental health. Health is very vulnerable. I feel like that helps people again when you meet the musicians and James is me. I was thinking about this this weekend when I saw them. I think he has to be one of the most elegant, like most of the well put together. front men, you know you could let it be known that he's someone who doesn't love James Hetfield, it's like he's a master of his craft, um, all those guys are and, uh, he's a continuous source of inspiration, sure, absolutely Good, David.

I don't want to take up too much of your time, you set this up or I contacted you and you made this happen in one day, so I know the audience will appreciate you a lot and you are one. from the greats of rock and we love you here at Rock feed