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Disturbed frontman David Draiman has shed light on the band’s decision to take a hiatus, dismissing any rumours it is to do with controversy surrounding them.
Last week, the metal frontman took to social media to announce that the band would be going on a break after concluding their 25th anniversary ‘The Sickness’ tour.
Draiman wrote: “Not sure when we will be headed back out. We all need a nice long break. Hope to see you when we do.”
The update came amid controversy surrounding him and his pro-Israel stance – which led to the band reportedly having a show in Belgium cancelled, clashing with protesters in Glasgow, butting heads with Kneecap, and disagreeing with Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello.
Given the headlines surrounding the band, some assumed that the hiatus may be related to the singer’s political stance – however, Draiman has now dismissed the rumours and said that it is simply because the members are “tired”.
Taking to X/Twitter, he wrote: “For the Record: 1. Taking a break because we’re TIRED, PERIOD. 2. Any spin by the media is just that…spin. We’re all doing great, and are on great terms. 3. The European tour was the biggest of our career. We played to packed arenas every night. Let’s do it again sometime.”
For the record;
1. Taking a break because we’re TIRED, PERIOD.
2. Any spin by the media is just that…spin. We’re all doing great, and are on great terms.
3. The European tour was the biggest of our career. We played to packed arenas every night. Let’s do it again…
— David Draiman
(@davidmdraiman) November 5, 2025
Draiman has been vocal in his support for Israel for years now. Back in 2019, he hit out at Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and slammed the musician and his “Nazi comrades” for calling others to boycott Israel. In 2022 doubled-down on his stance and said that he “doesn’t give a shit” if he alienated people with his pro-Israel views.
In 2023, he sang the Israeli national anthem at one of Disturbed’s Tel Aviv concerts, and the following year he called Waters a “monster” and “anti-Semitic to his rotten core“.
Also in 2024, the singer divided fans when he was pictured signing artillery shells belonging to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) with messages including “Fuck Hamas”.
Those actions saw Draiman receive criticism from Irish hip-hop trio, Kneecap, who made an X post calling him a “straight up c**t”.
“We don’t care what religion anyone is… or if they’ve one at all. We love all sound c**ts. Smiling and signing bombs to murder kids and other people’s families just makes you a straight up c**t. Simple as. Free Palestine,” they wrote.
We don’t care what religion anyone is…or if they’ve one at all.
We love all sound cunts.
Smiling and signing bombs dropped to murder kids and other people’s families just makes you a straight up cunt.
Simple as.
Free Palestine
https://t.co/QF72cP3PC5 pic.twitter.com/6Hvus2WB7m
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) July 13, 2025
Draiman swiftly responded to Kneecap, telling them to enjoy their “five minutes” in the spotlight and accused them of spreading “hatred”.
The ‘Down With The Sickness’ singer also hit out at Tom Morello for his support of Kneecap, calling his actions “shameful”. The Rage Against The Machine guitarist had described Kneecap as “clearly the Rage Against The Machine of now”, and praised them for “speaking truth to power” in their outspoken support for the people of Palestine and criticism of the Israeli government.
Controversy around Draiman was evident in some of Disturbed’s live shows too. His support for Israel reportedly caused the band’s concert in Belgium in mid-October to be cancelled due to safety risks, and at the end of the month the singer clashed with some people in Glasgow after a protest was held outside their gig there.
A group of people appeared outside the OVO Hydro to protest against Draiman, and even held a free punk show outside the doors (as per Glasgow Times). Before then, pro-Palestine groups called for the Disturbed show to be axed due to the frontman’s actions and comments.
In response to one person who tagged him in a post on Twitter, saying: “Here’s what the real Glasgow thinks of your psychotic genocidal Zionism”, Draiman responded and hit back.
“The ‘real Glasgow’ showed up to the tune of 12,000 strong at OVO,” he wrote. “Hope your Jew hatred kept you guys warm lol. Still praying for peace each and every day. What are you praying for?”
Earlier in the summer, Draiman faced backlash elsewhere in the UK. As he took to the stage to perform at Ozzy Osbourne’s and Black Sabbath’s final live outing, there were a noticeable number of boos heard from the audience.
“Yes, there were a few boos when I walked out, but I came to pay homage to my teachers, my idols, the mighty Black Sabbath, and I wasn’t about to let a few Jew hating morons deter that,” the singer said after the gig.
“I am STILL UNAPOLOGETICALLY A FIERCELY PRO ISRAEL JEW. I will ALWAYS stand up for my people, and I won’t be deterred, intimidated, or shamed out of rocking the asses of the masses. Put that in your pipes and smoke it,” he added.
The post Disturbed’s David Draiman explains hiatus: “Taking a break because we’re TIRED, PERIOD” appeared first on NME.