After Belgium show canceled, pro-Israel heavy metal front man David Draiman urges unity
Jewish lead singer of Disturbed says music should bring people together, after anti-Israel activists targeted his planned Brussels performance over his support for the Jewish state
American heavy metal front man David Draiman called for unity at a performance by Disturbed in Amsterdam last week, after the band’s show was banned in neighboring Belgium over his pro-Israel views.
The mayor of Forest, the Brussels municipality where Disturbed had been scheduled to perform, called off the event, claiming that he was concerned about potential protests around the venue.
Draiman, who has been vocal about his Jewish heritage and support for Israel, visited the country earlier this year and posted pictures of himself signing shells intended for use by Israeli forces battling in Gaza.
According to reports, activists cited these pictures as the reason they intended to protest the concert.
Draiman eventually responded to the cancellation on social media, saying that music should be a space where all people are welcome.
“Music is where all our differences fade into the background. Music has the power to heal, to inspire and to bring people together, it’s not about what divides us. We have always made it a point that at our shows ALL are welcome no matter what you believe. Everyone who comes to a Disturbed concert is accepted and loved. We are saddened that our fans in Belgium are not going to be able to share in this celebration of music.”
Draiman also addressed the Belgium cancellation during his show last week in Amsterdam.
Standing onstage, with his Disturbed bandmates by his side, he paused during the concert to make a statement about unity.
“We’re all about no matter who you are, no matter what walk of life you walk, no matter where you come from, no matter how much money is in your pocket, you are welcome at these shows. You understand that?” said Draiman, to roars from the crowd.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a believer or a nonbeliever. It doesn’t matter how you identify. None of those things matter, okay? And all of the noise of this world, all the anger that so many people try and instill in us. All the people in this world who benefit so much from pitting us against each other — we refuse to be defined by those people. The noise of the world doesn’t define us. The conflicts that are going on in this world don’t define us, because in this building, there is no f–king conflict.”
Draiman went on to emphasize that anyone — Chinese or Taiwanese, Indian or Pakistani, Israeli or Palestinian — is welcome at his shows.
He also spoke about celebrating the moment and a “chance at real peace.”
His comments came as Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire in the two-year war in Gaza that was sparked by the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, invasion of southern Israel that killed some 1,200 people and saw another 251 taken hostage.
The deal saw Hamas release the last 20 remaining living hostages last week. Draiman did not mention the hostages in his remarks.
The war has caused widespread destruction in Gaza, displaced much of the population and killed more than 66,000 people according to Hamas. The toll cannot be verified and does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
The October 7 attack and subsequent war sparked allegations of Israeli war crimes and genocide in Gaza, charges Israel vociferously disputes.
In the wake of the war there has been a growing movement to boycott Israel and exclude the country and its ciitizens from international cultural, sporting and academic events.
In recent months this has also spread to those who have voiced support for Israel, including Draiman.
Pro-Palestinian groups have long petitioned musicians, filmmakers and others to boycott Israel or Israelis. Until recently, the campaign had met with middling success, with a handful of artists canceling shows in Israel over the years.
Last week, two concerts in Turkey featuring English singer-songwriter Morrissey were quietly nixed, reportedly over the artist’s support for Israel. The former front man of The Smiths was scheduled to perform in Istanbul and Ankara in December, but activists resurfaced photos of him draped in an Israeli flag during a 2012 concert in Tel Aviv and called for the events to be canceled.
At the Amsterdam show, Draiman asked everyone to take the hand of the person next to them, as he and his bandmates held hands onstage and raised their hands to the sky.
“Look around,” said Draiman. “You see, my friends? Sometimes darkness can show you the light.”