Disturbed
| Disturbed | |
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 Disturbed performing at Sweden Rock Festival, 2008.
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Genre(s) | Alternative metal, heavy metal, nu metal, hard rock |
| Years active | 1996 - present |
| Label(s) | Giant, Warner Bros., Reprise |
| Website | www.disturbed1.com |
| Members | |
| David Draiman Dan Donegan John Moyer Mike Wengren |
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| Former members | |
| Steve "Fuzz" Kmak | |
Disturbed is an American rock band from Chicago, Illinois. The group was formed in 1996 when musicians Dan Donegan, Steve "Fuzz" Kmak, and Mike Wengren hired singer David Draiman. Since the band's formation, they have sold over 10 million albums worldwide, and released three consecutive number one albums[1], making them one of the most successful rock bands in recent years.[2] Only six other rock bands have released three number one albums in a row: Van Halen, Pearl Jam, U2, Dave Matthews Band, Staind, and Metallica.
Classified by some as a rock or nu metal band,[1] Disturbed is now regarded by some music critics as hard rock or heavy metal,[3] although others now regard them as alternative metal.[4]. However, the band's genre is still being debated. When asked about die-hard heavy metal fans not finding Disturbed heavy enough, frontman David Draiman stated:
"We probably have too much melody going on or we're not quite as turbulent or caustic. While I really love that type of music, it's not what we try to do. If we have to place things in context, we're more hard rock than heavy metal these days."[5]
Contents |
History
Early days as Brawl
In its early days, Disturbed was known as Brawl, a band whose lineup included guitarist Dan Donegan, drummer Mike Wengren, bassist Steve "Fuzz" Kmak, and vocalist Eric Awalt. Eric Awalt left the band shortly after the recording of a demo tape and the other three members went on advertising for a singer. They posted an ad in the local music publication in Chicago, Illinois, called the "Illinois Entertainer".[6]
David Draiman had answered the ad after going to twenty other auditions that month.[6] As guitarist Dan Donegan commented on Draiman, "You know, out of all the singers, that we had talked to or auditioned, he [Draiman] was the only singer who was ready to go with originals. And that impressed me, just to attempt that". Donegan also went on to say, "I think just to walk in a room with musicians that you don't know and to have the balls to say, 'Let's just, you know, let's just jam'."[6] With regards of Draiman being the new singer for the band, Donegan said, "After a minute or two, he just starts banging out these melodies that were huge. And I'm sitting there...I'm playing my guitar and I'm grinning from ear to ear, trying not to give it away that I like this guy, you know, 'cause I don't want to, you know...[say] 'Yeah, we'll give you a call back. We'll, you know, discuss it.' But I was so psyched. Chill up my spine. I'm like, 'There is something here'." As drummer Mike Wengren commented, "We clicked right off the bat."[6]
Draiman then joined the band in 1996 and he re-named the band Disturbed. When asked in an interview why he decided to name the band Disturbed, Draiman said, "It had been a name I have been contemplating for a band for years. It just seems to symbolize everything we were feeling at the time. The level of conformity that people are forced into was disturbing to us and we were just trying to push the envelope and the name just sorta made sense."[7]
The Sickness
Disturbed started to record several demos and played in live shows. The band eventually signed with Giant Records. In 2000, the band released its debut album, titled The Sickness, which launched the band into stardom. The album peaked at number twenty-nine on the Billboard 200[8] and it has sold over four million copies in the United States since its release[9]. The song "Down with the Sickness", which was used in the film Dawn of the Dead, was championed by radio station WXQR-FM (Rock 105) in North Carolina and placed into "heavy rotation" by program director Brian Rickman. The song was quickly added by radio stations such as WAAF in Boston and KROQ-FM in Los Angeles following its success. The track became very popular and was later used in many film soundtracks, and still is used a great deal to this day.
Soon after the release of The Sickness, Disturbed released a revamped cover version of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's theme music for WWE, titled "Glass Shatters". Disturbed performed "Glass Shatters" live at WWE New York in September 2000 on the debut episode of MTV Sunday Night HeAt. [10] Disturbed headlined Ozzy Osbourne's Ozzfest tour in 2001 alongside Black Sabbath, Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, Papa Roach, Linkin Park, Black Label Society, and Crazy Town. Afterwards, the band started the Music as a Weapon Tour. The bands Adema, Drowning Pool, Stereomud, and Systematic were featured on the tour alongside Disturbed.
Before joining Marilyn Manson's 2001 European tour, Disturbed's bassist Steve Kmak was unable to play with the band due to a shattered ankle. Kmak injured his ankle by falling out of a fire escape outside Disturbed's rehearsal hall in Chicago a few days before Christmas.[11] He took the fire escape to exit the building while the elevator was being used to move their equipment downstairs. After a successful operation, doctors highly recommended that he skip the tour to avoid more severe damage to his foot. But he did perform with the band on January 11 and 12, 2001 at Disturbed's show in Chicago. A bass player named Marty O'Brian was recruited and filled Kmak's spot until Kmak was able to play again.
Believe
On June 4 2002, Disturbed released a documentary DVD about the band, titled M.O.L., which showed some of the band's more personal moments in the studio and during tours, as well as featuring several music videos and live performances.[12] It also featured a music video for a song that had never previously been on an album, titled "Perfect Insanity", as well as featuring another B-side track titled "A Welcome Burden".
On September 17, 2002, Disturbed released their second studio album titled Believe, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.[13] The music video for "Prayer" was pulled from most TV stations, due to the similarities it had with the September 11, 2001 attacks[14].
David Draiman recorded vocals for a song titled "Forsaken", a track written and produced by Jonathan Davis of the band Korn, released on Queen of the Damned. In 2003, the band once again participated in the Ozzfest tour and started another one of their own tours, titled Music as a Weapon II. The bands Chevelle, Taproot, and Unloco toured with them.[15] During the tour, Disturbed debuted an unreleased track, titled "Dehumanized".[16]
In early 2003, after Disturbed had finished the Music as a Weapon II tour, the band experienced the departure of Kmak, who was fired for "personal differences."[17] He was replaced by John Moyer[18], who is now the current bass player.
Ten Thousand Fists
Disturbed toured with 10 Years and Ill Niño in support of their third album Ten Thousand Fists, released worldwide on September 20 2005, which also debuted at number one in the United States, selling around 238,000 copies.[19] Ten Thousand Fists was certified platinum in the United States on January 5, 2006.[20] The album had several B-side tracks that were not released on the album, but rather on various singles and other albums. The track "Hell" was released on the "Stricken" single. The track "Monster" was originally released as part of an iTunes pre-order package for the first people who pre-ordered Ten Thousand Fists. Afterwards, the track was released on the Ten Thousand Fists Tour Edition, along with the track "Two Worlds". The track "Sickened" was released on the "Land of Confusion" single.
A month after the release of Ten Thousand Fists, Disturbed headlined the Jägermeister Music Tour along with the band Corrosion of Conformity. Disturbed supplied the song "Stricken" for WWE's New Year's Revolution 2006. In April 2006, the band completed an Australian tour supporting Korn and sharing the tour with 10 Years and Hatebreed. In mid 2006, a European tour was scheduled but had been moved twice due to the band's frontman having troubles with his voice.[21]
I had been taking Prevacid for about four years and my body built up a resistance to it, to the point where it wasn't doing anything anymore...I had a night of drinking in London followed by a full day and night of drinking on a day off in Dublin, because what else is there to do in Ireland but drink? That, coupled with a show where I had monitor problems, and I pretty much trashed my voice.[22]
In late 2006, Draiman underwent surgery for a deviated septum which affected his voice. It was successful, and ever since then, Draiman has limited his drinking on the road.[23] Disturbed headlined Ozzfest 2006 along with Ozzy Osbourne, System of a Down, Lacuna Coil, DragonForce, Avenged Sevenfold, and Hatebreed. The band also went on the European tour that had been previously moved twice earlier in 2006. Disturbed headlined another one of their own tours named Music as a Weapon III; the bands Flyleaf, Stone Sour, and Nonpoint toured with them.[24]
Draiman became involved in the music file sharing controversy by publicly speaking out against the RIAA's lawsuits against file sharing individuals, despite the fact his record label is a member of the RIAA.
This is not rocket science. Instead of spending all this money litigating against kids who are the people they're trying to sell things to in the first place, they have to learn how to effectively use the Internet. For the artists, my ass...I didn't ask them to protect me, and I don't want their protection.[25]
Draiman also told NYRock:
[I'm] Very positive about the internet, Napster. I think it's a tremendous tool for reaching many more people than we ever could without it. When you release music you want it to be heard by people. Artists really want to have their music heard. They want to have their creation heard by people. Nothing is going to do that better than Napster. I can't tell you how many kids have come up to me and said, 'I downloaded a couple of tunes off Napster and I went out and bought the album.' Or they say, 'I want to come see you play.' I don't really make money off of record sales anyway.[26]
Indestructible
Disturbed completed the first leg of their Music as a Weapon III tour in late 2006. Soon after, Draiman stated that there was not going to be a second leg to the tour and that instead the band was going off the road to start working on their fourth album.[27] In July 2007, a new track titled "This Moment" was released on the soundtrack to the movie Transformers.
The band mixed their fourth album, titled Indestructible[28], in Los Angeles, California in late 2007.[29] In an earlier interview, Draiman said that they were going to record 15 songs, but only 12 will be on the album. Draiman said that the track "This Moment" would not appear on the album.[30]
On February 26, 2008, the band released a thirty-second sample of a newly re-recorded version of "Perfect Insanity" on their MySpace profile. The track then appeared on Indestructible. Another track, "Inside the Fire", the first single from Indestructible, was made into a music video and was released on May 2, 2008. On March 7, 2008, "Perfect Insanity" was made available for full download on the band's website, which led to the song receiving some minor radio airplay.[31]
The band played live in Kuwait during a special "Operation Myspace" on March 10, 2008.[32] A condensed one-hour version aired on FX on April 12, 2008. On March 19, 2008, a trailer for Indestructible was posted on the band's YouTube channel.[33] Indestructible's first single, "Inside the Fire" was released for playback on the band's MySpace profile and made available on digital distribution services for purchase on March 25, 2008. The band also toured in the United States in April and May 2008 with the bands Five Finger Death Punch and Art of Dying.[34]
Draiman had a lengthy interview on MTV's Headbangers Blog website where he talked about an ex girlfriend with a heroin addiction when he was around 15-years-old, inspiration for the song "Inside the Fire", serious accidents, bad relationships, touring, and the process of making Indestructible. The music video for "Inside the Fire" was released on May 2, 2008 on the band's official website. Disturbed released their previously free song "Perfect Insanity" on iTunes as a second single on May 6, 2008, and the album Indestructible become available for pre-order for the release date on June 3, 2008.
On May 13, 2008, Harmonix, the developers of the video game Rock Band announced they had reached a deal with Disturbed and Best Buy to offer two tracks from Indestructible for play in Rock Band to those who pre-ordered the CD from Best Buy's website. On June 3, 2008, Harmonix released three tracks from Indestructible - "Indestructible", "Inside the Fire", and "Perfect Insanity". They have been released as singles and as part of 'Disturbed pack 01'.[35]. The promotional code from the preorder can be entered on Disturbed's website and it will grant a free download of "Indestructible" and "Inside the Fire". A Microsoft Code will be received that will give access to "Disturbed pre-order pack" that includes "Indestructible" and "Inside the Fire".
On May 17, 2008, Disturbed played at the rock festival Rock on the Range in Columbus, Ohio. They played on the main stage right before Stone Temple Pilots. Disturbed played their first live online concert on May 29, 2008. The concert was sponsored by Pepsi and DeepRockDrive.[36] They performed in Las Vegas. During the concert, people could send in questions and comments to Disturbed. Disturbed took time in between each song and answered some. Disturbed performed the song "Inside the Fire" at Spike Guys' Choice Awards, which aired on June 22, 2008.
Indestructible was released in the United States on June 3, 2008 and in Australia on June 7, 2008 and became the band's third consecutive #1 debut on the Billboard 200. There is a special "Internet Only" Limited Edition of the album that includes the B-side track "Run", a making-of DVD with instructional videos, wrap-around poster, VIP laminate, access to special Disturbed events, and a special website with exclusive video, rare audio and more.[37] Also, a special edition of the album has been released.
Disturbed has played at both the Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festivals, as well as the Download Festival in June 2008.[38] The band also recently finished touring in support of the "Mayhem Festival" alongside Slipknot, DragonForce, and Mastodon.[39]
They completed a tour of Australia and New Zealand through August and September with supporting acts P.O.D., Alter Bridge, Behind Crimson Eyes (Australia only) and Redline (New Zealand only).[40] The track "Indestructible" was filmed for a music video in June 2008 and it was directed by Noble Jones. It was released on August 20, 2008.
On September 30, 2008, the band released an iTunes-exclusive live album entitled Live & Indestructible, made up of songs from DeepRockDrive and the music video for "Indestructible".[41] Disturbed is also planning to begin their fourth Music as a Weapon tour in March of 2009.[42] The band started a tour of Europe, starting in Manchester on October 4 and finishing on November 2 in Helsinki. Shinedown were the support act for the tour.[43] In November and December 2008, Disturbed toured in the United States with the bands Egypt Central and Art of Dying[44]
Disturbed is planning to begin their fourth Music as a Weapon tour in March 2009.[42] On November 12, 2008, the band announced that the next single from Indestructible will be "The Night".[45] The band also confirmed that a music video for the single will be filmed sometime in January 2009.[46] Draiman also briefly talked about the next album, stating that it's lyrical themes will be as dark as Indestructible's, if not darker. The band also recently confirmed the first two bands for Music as a Weapon IV, Killswitch Engage and Five Finger Death Punch.[47]
Mascot
Disturbed's mascot has been seen in the music video for "Land of Confusion" and has appeared on the covers of two of their albums, Ten Thousand Fists and Indestructible. He has been referred to by lead singer David Draiman as "The Guy" and was originally just a drawing of a face with a large grin, as seen on the back of the The Sickness album and later in the music video for "Stupify". After being just a drawing, "The Guy" has become the official mascot for the band, fully animated by Spawn creator Todd McFarlane.
After the release of Ten Thousand Fists, the "Disturbed Ones" fan club website asked fans to send in ideas to give "The Guy" a name. After the entries were received, a poll was taken. The winning name was "Morbus," Latin for "sickness." However, this name has not been used in any official promotion.
Style and lyrical themes
Disturbed's sound has often been compared to bands such as Metallica, Godsmack, Slipknot, Pantera and AC/DC. On the band's first album The Sickness, their music style was compared to mostly nu metal bands such as Korn. With the release of their second album Believe, the band seemed to have taken on a more mature musical direction. Allmusic reviewer Bradley Torreano described the album as "taking the sort of jump that their heroes in Soundgarden and Pantera made after their respective breakthrough records".[48] He also went on to describing how the title track sounded, "Take the title track, which moves from a brutal chug to a sweeping chorus that suddenly stops in its tracks and turns into a winding riff that recalls the work of vintage James Hetfield".
On the band's third album Ten Thousand Fists, the band started to turn from heavy metal to more hard rock, along with the inclusion of guitar solos, the band's songs seemed to have become more complex. With the release of their latest album Indestructible, the band started to show signs of more 80s/90s hard rock and heavy metal. Metaleater reviewer Chris Akin stated that, "If there is growth in the band, it's in the guitars. Dan Donegan takes a much more 80s approach than he has on past recordings".[49] According to frontman David Draiman on the band's home documentary M.O.L., the lyrics that he writes are inspired by life experience, perception, and actual experiences of his own.[6] He also said that he likes to present his ideas by writing his lyrics cryptically.[6]
Band members
Current members
- David Draiman - vocals (1996-present)
- Dan Donegan - guitar (1996-present)
- John Moyer - bass guitar, back-up vocals (2004-present)
- Mike Wengren - drums (1996-present)
Former members
- Steve "Fuzz" Kmak - bass guitar (1996-2003)
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Sickness | Giant Records |
| 2002 | Believe | Reprise Records |
| 2005 | Ten Thousand Fists | |
| 2008 | Indestructible |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "VH1 biography".
- ↑ "Disturbed Success Disturbing To Some".
- ↑ Hiatt, Brian (October 6, 2005). "Disturbed Get Revenge". RollingStone.com. Retrieved on 2006-08-31.
- ↑ Loftus, Johnny. "Ten Thousand Fists Overview". AllMusic.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-10.
- ↑ Magner, Howie (November 24, 2006). "Disturbed See Themselves 'As Being A Three-Decade Spanning Band', which is a big thing to say". UltimateGuitar.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-29.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 M.O.L., (2002), Nathan "Karma" Cox, notes from: booklet. (2002).
- ↑ http://www.concertlivewire.com/interviews/disturbed.htm
- ↑ http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:a9fuxqrkldfe~T5
- ↑ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BLABBERMOUTH.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=101575
- ↑ Stone Cold / Steve Austin Lyrics, Disturbed / Glass Shatters Lyrics
- ↑ "Disturbed, kmak broken ankle".
- ↑ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=3566
- ↑ "Believe debutes #1".
- ↑ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=5261
- ↑ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=16012
- ↑ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=10731
- ↑ "Disturbed about departure of bassist Steve Kmak". on disturbed1.com
- ↑ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=25277
- ↑ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=46114
- ↑ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=46439
- ↑ "Tour gets postponed because of Draiman having trouble with his voice.".
- ↑ "Draiman statement about voice problems". on mtv.com
- ↑ "David Draiman interview 3/16/08".
- ↑ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=59809
- ↑ "Draiman on illegal downloading".
- ↑ Interview from NYRock
- ↑ "No second leg to "Music as a Weapon III" tour".
- ↑ "MTV.com reports about new Disturbed album, Indestructible".
- ↑ Disturbed: New Album In May | News @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com
- ↑ "Disturbed Digs Deep On "Brutal" New Album".
- ↑ http://w2.mediabase.com/mmrweb/AllAccess/Details.asp?sngcde=DISTPI++&format=R3MM
- ↑ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=92805
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k5A2fhANw0 YouTube trailer for Indestructible
- ↑ [http://www.cagerattle.com/2008/06/24/art-of-dying-stream-new-single/[
- ↑ DLC Week of June 3rd Jimmy Buffett/Disturbed - Rock Band - Forums
- ↑ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=97100
- ↑ "David Draiman talks about amount of songs on Indestructible.".
- ↑ "Disturbed confirmed for Download Festival".
- ↑ "Disturbed set new record and finished tour".
- ↑ [V] ::
- ↑ "Disturbed 'Live Indestructible' EP Track Listing Unveiled".
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 "DISTURBED planning new 'Weapon' for March". Blabbermouth.net (2008-09-11). Retrieved on 2008-09-30.
- ↑ [http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/99636-shinedown-announce-uk-tour-support-disturbed.html[
- ↑ [http://www.cagerattle.com/2008/10/03/egypt-central-and-art-of-dying-to-support-disturbed-in-us-canada/[
- ↑ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=108748
- ↑ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=108748
- ↑ http://www.tunelabmusic.com/2008/11/16/five-finger-death-punch-added-to-music-as-a-weapon-tour/
- ↑ "Believe album review".
- ↑ "Indestructible album review".
External links
- Official site
- Disturbed at LyricWiki
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