Of all the places you’d expect to hear a real discussion of mental health issues, a freakin’ Disturbed concert wouldn’t be one that came to mind. Yet that’s what happened during the band’s May 4 appearance at Hog Fest, as vocalist David Draiman took a moment out of the show to open up about his and his bandmates’ problems with depression and substance abuse.
In a recently published clip from that show, Draiman can be seen below. In it, he said the following:
“A reason to fight. We all need one. The demons that are known as addiction and depression are very, very real. They are diseases no different than cancer. You can’t see depression. You can’t see addiction. It festers inside. It metastasizes, takes over your body and mind, your soul.
And I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of losing everybody I love to depression and addiction. Every single bandmember on this stage has dealt with those feelings, with those demons. And I miss the friends that we’ve lost. I miss Chester [Bennington, singer of Linkin Park], I miss Scott [Weiland, singer of Stone Temple Pilots] I miss Chris [Cornell, singer/guitarist of Soundgarden.]
And if I can be completely honest with you, a couple months ago, I almost joined them. Addiction and depression can happen to anyone ladies and gentlemen. No one is immune from it no matter how beautiful their life may look from the outside.
No matter how blessed they may seem. It’s out of our control. Now by a show of hands how many of you have dealt with the demons of addiction and depression yourself or know someone that has? Keep ’em up. Now take a look around this arena.
As you can see my friends, you are not alone.”
Distubed have a couple of tour dates left with Theory Of A Deadman before they set off on a number of shows with the likes of Breaking Benjamin and Jinjer. For a full list of upcoming shows, be sure to check those out below.
With Theory Of A Deadman:
05/10 Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place [Tickets]
05/12 Abbotsford, BC – Abbotsford Centre [Tickets]
Disturbed:
06/07 Nickelsdorf, AUT – Nova Rock [Tickets]
06/08 Donnington, UK – Download Festival [Tickets]
06/12 Hamburg, GER – Sporthalle (feat. Asking Alexandria) [Tickets]
06/14 Stockholm, SWE – Grona Lund [Tickets]
06/16 Dessel, BEL – Graspop Metal Meeting [Tickets]
06/17 Landgraaf, NET – Pinkpop Festival [Tickets]
06/18 Esch-sur-Alzette, LUX – Rockhal (feat. I Prevail) [Tickets]
06/21 Wetzikon, SWI – Heavy Load Festival [Tickets]
06/28 Tel Aviv, ISR – Bitan 1 [Tickets]
With Breaking Benjamin & Jinjer:
07/11 Denver, CO – Ball Arena [Tickets]
07/13 Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre [Tickets]
07/15 Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater [Tickets]
07/16 Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre [Tickets]
07/18 Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre [Tickets]
07/20 Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre [Tickets]
07/22 Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre [Tickets]
07/23 Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater [Tickets]
07/25 Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion [Tickets]
07/27 Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion [Tickets]
07/29 Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP [Tickets]
07/31 Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion [Tickets]
08/01 Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre [Tickets]
08/03 West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre [Tickets]
With TBA:
08/05 Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre [Tickets]
With Breaking Benjamin & Jinjer:
08/07 Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek [Tickets]
08/09 Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live [Tickets]
With Jinjer:
08/11 Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center [Tickets]
With Breaking Benjamin & Jinjer:
08/12 Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview [Tickets]
08/15 Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center [Tickets]
With Jinjer:
08/18 Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center [Tickets]
With Breaking Benjamin & Jinjer:
08/19 Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater [Tickets]
08/21 Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion [Tickets]
08/23 Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion [Tickets]
08/26 Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake [Tickets]
08/27 Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center [Tickets]
08/29 Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre [Tickets]
08/30 Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre [Tickets]
09/01 Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre [Tickets]
09/02 Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Centerxvz [Tickets]