1 Disturbed: The Sickness is the Cure Fri 27 Mar 2009, 17:50
CrowX
Administrator
One of the greatest compliments a band can get is the recommendation and accolades of their peers. Being witness to "the sickness" on the second stage of Ozzfest 2000, Disturbed is building a fan base that includes not only ticketholders but also many of the other acts on the metal festival's bill. Prior to the touting began of the band's performance as one of the best of Ozzfest 2000, Shoutweb caught up with the band in New York City. In the underground caverns of The Bowery Ballroom, lead singer David Draiman gave us a little insight into the Disturbed mind and explained why the sickness is really the cure.
Shoutweb: How did you get added to this bill with Dope?
David: As far as I know, our agent, David Kirby, got us booked on this show. We have a lot of fans in New York that unfortunately we haven’t been able to play in front of. So this is an attempt to give them a little taste of us.
Shoutweb: Actually you guys were supposed to come through here with Danzig in April, right?
David: Actually Danzig’s New York date was cancelled while we were on the tour with them. We dropped off the Danzig tour eventually because unfortunately we had some other opportunities – fortunately for us I should say. We had a chance to play a radio show in San Antonio, Texas with Godsmack and Static-X. You have to take the opportunity when it’s available. We missed the four last days of the tour which was not too terrible but unfortunate nonetheless.
Shoutweb: Danzig is pretty damn heavy.
David: It’s all good. It was good training for the band. We had to get used to what it’s like being the baby band on a tour full of bands that have been around for a while. It was sort of like earning our wings so to speak. It was definitely very good for us.
Shoutweb: Were there any initiation rights or sacrificing of small children? (laughter)
David: No, nothing like that. Just your basic everyday things that you have to deal with unfortunately when you’re starting up – whether or not you get a soundcheck or playing a 25 minute or half hour set or playing to a bunch of crowds that are very narrow-minded. Danzig’s crowd is kind of like a cult following. They only want to hear Danzig. There were a couple of other bands on the bill. There was a band called Six Feet Under, which is a death metal band, which are definitely not us. Then there is another band called Hatebreed, which is a hard core band. So we were kind of like the odd man out. I think we won over a lot of people. I also did see a contingency of our own fans at each of the shows which was good to see.
Shoutweb: I know people who are reading this can’t see you right now but I have to ask about that spike coming out of your chin. Is that permanent?
David: Yes, it’s a double-pierced labret.
Shoutweb: Ouch!
Shoutweb: How did you get added to this bill with Dope?
David: As far as I know, our agent, David Kirby, got us booked on this show. We have a lot of fans in New York that unfortunately we haven’t been able to play in front of. So this is an attempt to give them a little taste of us.
Shoutweb: Actually you guys were supposed to come through here with Danzig in April, right?
David: Actually Danzig’s New York date was cancelled while we were on the tour with them. We dropped off the Danzig tour eventually because unfortunately we had some other opportunities – fortunately for us I should say. We had a chance to play a radio show in San Antonio, Texas with Godsmack and Static-X. You have to take the opportunity when it’s available. We missed the four last days of the tour which was not too terrible but unfortunate nonetheless.
Shoutweb: Danzig is pretty damn heavy.
David: It’s all good. It was good training for the band. We had to get used to what it’s like being the baby band on a tour full of bands that have been around for a while. It was sort of like earning our wings so to speak. It was definitely very good for us.
Shoutweb: Were there any initiation rights or sacrificing of small children? (laughter)
David: No, nothing like that. Just your basic everyday things that you have to deal with unfortunately when you’re starting up – whether or not you get a soundcheck or playing a 25 minute or half hour set or playing to a bunch of crowds that are very narrow-minded. Danzig’s crowd is kind of like a cult following. They only want to hear Danzig. There were a couple of other bands on the bill. There was a band called Six Feet Under, which is a death metal band, which are definitely not us. Then there is another band called Hatebreed, which is a hard core band. So we were kind of like the odd man out. I think we won over a lot of people. I also did see a contingency of our own fans at each of the shows which was good to see.
Shoutweb: I know people who are reading this can’t see you right now but I have to ask about that spike coming out of your chin. Is that permanent?
David: Yes, it’s a double-pierced labret.
Shoutweb: Ouch!