My interview with @ChrisCuomo on @NewsNation last night.#Israel #Gaza #SaveGazaFromHamas#HamasisISIS #NovaFestivalMassacre#BringThemHome #BringThemHomeNow #NeverAgain #NeverAgainIsNow #Peace #Jewish #Proud #Coexistence #AmYisraelChai pic.twitter.com/ks4oxdqLU7

— David Draiman 🟦🎗️🇮🇱✡️☮️ (@davidmdraiman) February 29, 2024

Original article: Jerusalem Post

Over the last 48 hours over 1,000 people donated to the campaign, money will be used to pay for private security for Matisyahu and his family.

A GoFundMe campaign initiated by Jewish American hard rocker David Draiman, lead singer of Disturbed, to raise $25,000 to provide security for fellow Jewish reggae roots singer Matisyahu, more than reached its goal in only two days.

Earlier this month, two Matisyahu shows were canceled – in Tucson, Arizona, and Santa Fe, New Mexico after the venues said they couldn’t guarantee security due to anti-Israel protests that were planned outside the shows.According to the singer, the issue was actually staff who were unwilling to work at the show. The artist said that he had offered to supplement these staff shortages, but he had been refused.

“They do this because they are either antisemitic or have confused their empathy for the Palestinian people with hatred for someone like me who holds empathy for both Israelis and Palestinians,” Matisyahu said in social media posts at the time. “It truly is a sad day when dialogue with those you disagree with is abandoned for hate-mongering and silencing artistic expression.”

Matisyahu has shown support to Israel since beginning of the war
Last month, Matisyahu visited Israel to show solidarity amid the war. He visited army bases and performed for soldiers.

Draiman, who has also been outspoken in support of Israel – often draping his shoulders in an Israeli flag and displaying a ‘F*** Hamas’ banner at shows on the current Disturbed tour in the US, heard about the cancellations and decided to take action.

He launched the funding campaign, writing: “This is David Draiman of Disturbed, and I’m raising funds to provide security for my friend, Matisyahu, an amazing, peace-loving artist, who is currently dealing with unprecedented levels of antisemitism. Matisyahu and I first met years ago when he performed in Miami Beach and I had my management reach out to him when I heard about his unfortunate show cancellations in Arizona. I couldn’t let that stand. Couldn’t let him and his family continue to be terrorized, so this campaign was started. All funds will be wire transferred to Matisyahu’s management team to pay for a private security detail for him and his family for the remainder of his current tour.”

Over the last 48 hours over 1,000 people donated to the campaign and as of Saturday night, more than $26,000 had been raised, which Draiman said will be used “to pay for private security for him and his family for the duration of his current tour.”

When asked by the Post on Saturday night what he took away from the speedy and generous reaction to his appeal, Draiman said, “we are united against the scourge of antisemitism. Never again is now.”

Thanks for an unforgettable night at EXIT/IN last night Disturbed! 🤘🔥
Some photos Photos by Kristi Potts (the ones without watermarks were uncredited)

More than 400 leaders from the entertainment industry — including KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons, DISTURBED singer David Draiman and Ozzy Osbourne’s wife/manager Sharon Osbourne — have signed an open letter released by the non-profit entertainment industry organization Creative Community For Peace in support of the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) public commitment to include Israel in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest.

The letter comes in response to others who have demanded that Israel be disinvited from the contest. In December, Iceland’s Association Of Composers And Lyricists published a statement saying Israel’s military action in Gaza made its participation incompatible with an event “characterized by joy and optimism”. In Finland, a petition signed by more than 1,400 music industry professionals accused their national broadcaster Yle of double standards, saying it was among the first to demand the ban on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Creative Community For Peace letter highlights Eurovision’s unique ability to unify people from diverse backgrounds and music’s capacity to effect positive change in the world. The letter states that the annual event, with more viewers than the Super Bowl, is a celebration of unity and should not be used as a tool for politics.

Simmons said: “Music unites people from all backgrounds. It’s the one language that everyone can understand. It’s a beautiful thing and a great way to bring people together. Those advocating to exclude an Israeli singer from Eurovision don’t move the needle towards peace, but only further divide the world.”

The statement is the first of its kind — a call from the entertainment industry unequivocally voicing support for Israel’s inclusion in Eurovision.

“We have been shocked and disappointed to see some members of the entertainment community calling for Israel to be banished from the Contest for responding to the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust,” the letter reads. “Under the cover of thousands of rockets fired indiscriminately into civilian populations, Hamas murdered and kidnapped innocent men, women, and children,” it continues.

On Eurovision’s impact, the letter states, “We believe that unifying events such as singing competitions are crucial to help bridge our cultural divides and unite people of all backgrounds through their shared love of music.” The letter concludes: “Those who are calling for Israel’s exclusion are subverting the spirit of the Contest and turning it from a celebration of unity into a tool of politics.”

CCFP’s chairman David Renzer and executive director Ari Ingel said: “We join entertainment industry leaders in rejecting the vilification of Israel on the global music stage. After thousands of innocent Israelis were killed, over 360 of them at a music festival as they danced in celebration of life, to see some respond in this fashion is shameful. We hope Eurovision stands firm in the face of this misguided, discriminatory boycott attempt. We want the world to know that the entertainment industry supports the Contest and all this year’s amazing participants, including Israel’s.”

Simmons was born as Chaim Witz in August 1949, at Rambam Hospital in Haifa, Israel, to Jewish immigrants from Hungary. He was the son of Holocaust survivor Flora Klien and a father, Feri Witz, who soon abandoned his family, leaving them penniless prior to emigrating to America in search of a better life.

Draiman, the son of Israelis and the grandson of Holocaust survivors, spends much of his time on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, sharing pro-Israel articles and posts and has often used his fame to speak out against anti-Semitism.

DISTURBED’s song “Never Again”, from 2010’s “Asylum” album, was written about the Holocaust and calls out people who deny it.

Both of Draiman’s maternal grandparents were survivors of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, while many others on his mother’s side were wiped out by the Nazis.

Sharon Osbourne once described herself as “half a Jew”, with the Jewish half coming from her father, the renowned music promoter and manager Don Arden who had represented ELO, THE SMALL FACES and BLACK SABBATH.

“We were brought up in basically a Jewish household,” Sharon told The Jewish Chronicle. “My family, my father’s family, my aunt, my cousins, are all Jewish. And observant Jews who practice and love their religion. So Judaism is the only religion I have, and the only one with which I feel comfortable.”

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The post Travis Kelce Gets “Down with the Sickness” at Super Bowl After-Party, Gets Invited to Disturbed Show appeared first on Consequence.

Social media clips of Travis Kelce partying after the Super Bowl in Las Vegas have been rampant, with the champion tight end cutting it up with girlfriend Taylor Swift and his fellow players in the aftermath of the Kansas City Chiefs’ overtime victory.

One in particular has been making the rounds in heavy metal circles, as it sees the football star getting down to Disturbed’s anthemic “Down with the Sickness” — and impressing the band’s singer David Draiman in the process.

The clip shows Kelce pumping up the crowd from the DJ booth as he appears to shout “Go baby!” during the “ooo ah ah ah” refrain while the metal banger blasts through the speakers.

Draiman re-shared a couple of the Kelce clips and extended an invite over X/Twitter, first writing, “Hey @tkelce, you’re welcome at one of our shows anytime,” and later remarking, “Well done @tkelce … Come and do it live with us?”

Back in November, Draiman defended Taylor Swift at a Disturbed show. When he joked to a female fan, “I know this isn’t Taylor Swift, but we’re doing our best,” some of the crowd booed at the mention of the pop superstar’s name. He then exclaimed, “Shut the fuck up! Taylor Swift kicks fuckin’ ass!”

Disturbed’s 2024 tour already passed through Kansas City in early February, but there are still 10 more dates on the itinerary if Kelce wants to drop in. You can pick up tickets to Disturbed’s upcoming shows here.

Watch the clips of Kelce getting “Down with the Sickness” below, along with one of David Draiman defending Swift.

Well done @tkelce 🤘🏻
Come and do it live with us? @Disturbed @Chiefs #downwiththesickness pic.twitter.com/ENIAYU7QgH

— David Draiman 🟦🎗️🇮🇱✡️☮️ (@davidmdraiman) February 13, 2024

Hey @tkelce, you’re welcome at one of our shows anytime 🤘🏻pic.twitter.com/NpKJlZnV0h

— David Draiman 🟦🎗️🇮🇱✡️☮️ (@davidmdraiman) February 13, 2024

Original Article: msn.com

During their Take Back Your Life 2024 tour stop at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT on Saturday, February 12, rockers Disturbed stopped their performance to address a fan in the crowd who had been holding up a photo for them to see throughout the night.

“What is your story,” Disturbed frontman David Draiman asked as he approached the fan at the stage barrier. “You’ve been holding this picture up to me the entire show. What’s going on?” Fighting back tears, the fan explains: “This is my best friend Mark. I’ve known him since I was 11… He unfortunately lost his life to addiction on January 17th this year. It’ll be a month on Wednesday.”
“It’s definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through,” the fan continues as her emotions get the best of her. Still standing on the barrier, Draiman leans in to comfort her with a hug, and then gets down to floor level to look her in the eye when he says, “Come with me.”

The video then cuts to David and Kaylee on stage, where Draiman introduces her to the arena while giving her a chance to share the name of her late friend, Mark Rivers, with everyone in attendance. After another hug, Kaylee is welcomed to stay on stage as the band performs their single, “The Light,” in honor of Mark. “Breaks my heart,” Draiman says addressing the crowd. “Unfortunately, not everyone gets saved. Not everyone survives the darkness.”

“The key is to let the memories of the people we love live long beyond us,” David continues. “To keep them in our hearts, and to keep their souls radiant wherever they are. All you have to do is just think about them. Keep them in your mind, keep them in your soul, and the people you love are never ever truly gone.”

Finally, Draiman explains, “Sometimes it takes the right song to bring us back to the memory that we so deeply miss. I know I still miss so many of my dearly departed friends, we lost so many of them: Chester [Bennington], Scott [Weiland], Chris [Cornell]. That’s part of the reason why we write the songs that we do. Because life, no matter what the storybooks tell may you, is not f***ing easy. Not everything is sweet. Sometimes we have to look into the darkness in order to dispel the darkness.”

“I have a secret you may not realize,” Draiman says as he walks back to address Kaylee again personally: “Sometimes darkness can show you the light.” Watch the touching clip above.

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A post shared by Disturbed (@disturbed)

During this tour run Disturbed has brough up a lot of fans on stage to share their stories about their battle with Depression. We have heard many stories from many fans and it lets us know we are not alone in our battles. Check out the video below that was posted to their official facebook page.

Original Article: planetradio.co.uk

Country singer and rock music aficionado Carrie Underwood has accepted David Draiman’s open invitation to sing on stage with Disturbed – however, it won’t be at the band’s upcoming Nashville show.

Earlier this week, David Draiman took to social media to invite Carrie Underwood to sing Ann Wilson’s parts on ‘Don’t Tell Me’ at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Saturday 17th February 2024.

Draiman wrote: ‘Who’d like to see @carrieunderwood perform #DontTellMe with @Disturbed in #Nashville 🤘🏻??!! I know I sure as hell would! What do you say? Carrie? Shall we rock? #CarrieUnderwood #Disturbed #DontTellMe.’

Last night, Carrie Underwood responded to Draiman’s plea, and wrote: “Ahhhhh!!! Why am I not in town when you guys are playing here?”

Confirming that she’s up for a Disturbed collaboration, she added: “Our time will come…”

Ahhhhh!!! Why am I not in town when you guys are playing here? 😫 Our time will come… https://t.co/4T7o2RtcY0

— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) February 1, 2024

The emotionally charged ‘Don’t Tell Me’ featuring Heart’s Ann Wilson first appeared on Disturbed’s 2022 album ‘Divisive’, and it marked the first time a guest featured on a studio record by the Chicago band.

A keen rock music fan, Carrie Underwood supported Guns N’ Roses on three dates of their North American tour in August 2023, and she duly injected rock anthems into her setlist.

Alongside rockier versions of her own repertoire, Underwood belted out Motörhead’s seminal song ‘Ace of Spades’, Heart’s ‘Alone’, The Rolling Stones’ ‘Wild Horses’ and Joan Jett’s ‘Bad Reputation.’

Earlier in the summer, she also covered Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘Mama, I’m Coming Home’, which features lyrics penned by Motörhead’s Lemmy, during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show.

Carrie Underwood is good friends with Axl Rose, and she was joined on stage by the Guns N’ Roses rocker at Stagecoach Country Music Festival in April 2022 for renditions of ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ and ‘Paradise City.’

Underwood also united with Guns N’ Roses at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to duet on ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’, and in March 2023 Rose joined Underwood on stage again at the Los Angeles Crypto.com Arena for ‘Welcome to the Jungle.’

There are so many challenges in life that music enables us to overcome

It’s no secret Taylor Swift became even more of a massive superstar over the past year, eliciting passionate opinions from fans and naysayers alike. However, during a recent Disturbed concert, lead singer David Draiman sent a strong message to Swift’s haters—and the entire exchange was caught on camera.

During a Jan. 19 concert in Peoria, Ill., Draiman brought two dads and their 12-year-old daughters onstage for a special moment shared via TikTok.

“So I take it that you came to the Disturbed concert, as opposed to the Taylor Swift concert, means that your parents are raising you on rock and roll,” he said to the girls. “Hey, don’t forget: Taylor Swift still kicks a—.”

When some audience members booed, Draiman proceeded to expertly scold the haters.

“You know what? I will stand up and applaud any pop artist that gets up on stage and sings live and plays a guitar live in front of a whole group of [F-bomb]ing thousands of girls and guys, young fans,” he said.

Draiman continued: “Don’t talk s— about Taylor Swift. She is for real. And she’s making sure that an entire generation of new music fans understand what it means to actually play music live.”

TikTok user @goddesslunalou shared a shorter version of the exchange, captioning the video, “When you go to a @disturbe concert and they’re hyping up @Taylor Swift.”

In the comments, folks showed their support for both Disturbed and Swift. One person wrote, “@Taylor Swift these are the people that take care of your name when you’re not in the room,” along with a heart emoji.

Another TikTok user commented, “and suddenly the Swifties will stan Disturbed with their lives!”

Yet another person declared, “Taylor Swift and Disturbed is the collab I never knew I needed.”

Meanwhile, someone else shared, “Real artists and songwriters know how talented TS is. She is the most prolific songwriter since Springsteen and McCartney.”