In an interview with The Afternoon Program on 102.9 The Hog radio station in Milwaukee, Disturbed's David Draiman spoke about Sam Smith and Kim Petras performance at the GRAMMYs, saying he "was pretty blown away by Sam Smith's spectacle. That was impressive. That's kind of what certain parts of what we do in our genre have been missing for many bands, and even [Disturbed] at certain points in time."
Draiman continued, saying "That element of danger, that element of, 'Here's my middle finger. I'm putting it right in the camera for all of you, and doing this because I know it's going to get a rise out of everyone. And that's exactly why I'm doing it the way I'm doing it.' And that's rock and roll. Whether people recognize it or not, that is it — that is it. It's impressive to see people push the envelope.
"How much different is that in its own way, and in its own style and flavor and flair, than what Motley Crue has done for years? Or what a band like… Let's go to the real opposite end of the spectrum, a band like GWAR and what they do. It's a show, and they're putting on a show, and they're just figuring out a different way to piss people off and push people's buttons. And he found it. And good on him, man, 'cause [laughs] more people need to be pushing more buttons in a way that pisses more people off. People are almost begging for it at this point."
Smith and Petras' performance ruffled quite a few conservative feathers, who dubbed it "Satanic" among other criticisms that didn't quite make sense. Though I guess we're all supposed to shut up and enjoy the Jesus commercials during the Super Bowl, right?
You can check out the entire interview with David Draiman on The Hog just below. Also below, you can find one of the many tour dates Disturbed has on tap for 2023.
w/ Theory Of A Deadman
4/27 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
4/29 Quebec City, QC Videotron Centre
5/1 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
5/8 Winnipeg, MB Canada Life Centre
5/10 Edmonton, AB Rogers Place
5/12 Abbotsford, BC Abbotsford Centre
w/ Breaking Benjamin & Jinjer
7/11 Denver, CO Ball Arena
7/13 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
7/15 Ridgefield, WA RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
7/16 Auburn, WA White River Amphitheatre
7/18 Wheatland, CA Toyota Amphitheatre
7/20 Irvine, CA FivePoint Amphitheatre
7/22 Phoenix, AZ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
7/23 Albuquerque, NM Isleta Amphitheater
7/25 Dallas, TX Dos Equis Pavilion
7/27 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
7/29 Rogers, AR Walmart AMP
7/31 Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion
8/1 Alpharetta, GA Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
8/3 West Palm Beach, FL iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
8/5 Tampa, FL MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre (Disturbed only)
8/7 Raleigh, NC Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
8/9 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
8/11 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center (no Breaking Benjamin)
8/12 Syracuse, NY St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
8/15 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
8/18 Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center (no Breaking Benjamin)
8/19 Wantagh, NY Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
8/21 Camden, NJ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
8/23 Gilford, NH Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
8/26 Burgettstown, PA The Pavilion at Star Lake
8/27 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
8/29 Maryland Heights, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
8/30 Tinley Park, IL Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
9/1 Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre
9/2 Noblesville, IN Ruoff Music Center
