Disturbed's David Draiman recently checked in with Taryn Daly of Audacy's 99.9 KISW in Seattle to talk about a wide range of topics. But, in his reflection on the pandemic, and what it meant for the global community, Draiman painted an image of hope on the horizon through his words.
"We were robbed of normalcy for so long [due to the COVID-19 pandemic]," Draiman said. "To feel like things are normalizing once again and to get back to doing what we are really meant to be doing in this life — all of us; not just us [in the band] — is an incredible thing. But now to be able to experience the celebration known as live performance and to feel that circle, [a] symbiotic kind of relationship that you end up having and that energy surge in a whole new way, because it was taken for so long, it's sweeter now. And I think people are even more passionate. They're so pent up. They're ready. And we are too."
That last sentiment is without any doubt, as Disturbed recently announced they are about to hit the road running, with a hella-long stretch of tour dates that kicks off in April. Still, Draiman understands the gravity of his position, and is extremely grateful.
"I think that the human body and human spirit are both incredibly resilient. I think we are traumatized. There's no doubt about it," Draiman said. "From every walk of life and every age range imaginable. I think the kids got hit the hardest during all this. When you are stripped of the things that keep you engaged, that keep you communicating, that keep you challenged, it can do long-term damage sometimes.
"I think that people are gonna take — it may take the rest of their lifetimes to sometimes get back to where they were after, not only what this whole experience did to us psychologically, but what it did to some people fiscally, what it did to them financially. It destroyed families, it destroyed jobs, it destroyed worlds. I mean, the effects were more than just the lives that were taken by the virus. Terrible.
"So it's weird. I feel very, very fortunate that we're still one of the ones that are in a position to go back out there and to do what we do and to keep doing what we love. The music industry as a whole, we lost two-thirds of our workforce. They're gone. They went to do other things, because live events couldn't happen for two to three years. So they had to put food on the table. There are bands like us who did everything that they could for their crew, and we'd do it again, but there are a lot of bands that couldn't. And people had to make a living. And so now, you have a few people left. Now costs are through the roof, now everybody's struggling, and we're still chomping at the bit to get out there. I think the challenge makes it better."
Be sure to check out Disturbed on one of their many tour dates this year around the world. You can find all confirmed dates so far just below.
North America Spring 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
Europe & Israel 2023 w/ Asking Alexandria and I Prevail
6/7 Nickelsdorf, AUT – Nova Rock
6/8 Donnington, UK – Download Festival
6/12 Hamburg, GER – Sporthalle (w/ Asking Alexandria)
6/14 Stockholm, SWE – Grona Lund
6/16 Dessel, BEL – Graspop Metal Meeting
6/17 Landgraaf, NET – Pinkpop Festival
6/18 Esch-sur-Alzette, LUX – Rockhal (w/ I Prevail)
6/21 Wetzikon, SWI – Heavy Load Festival
6/28 Tel Aviv, ISR – Bitan 1
North America Summer 2023 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
