David Draiman

David Draiman
Draiman singing with Disturbed, June 3, 2016
Background information
Birth name David Michael Draiman
Born (1973-03-13) March 13, 1973
Brooklyn, New York
Origin Chicago, Illinois
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Vocalist
  • music producer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1996–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website disturbed1.com

David Michael Draiman (born March 13, 1973) is an American singer who is best known as the lead vocalist of the band Disturbed as well as the band Device. Draiman is known for his distorted voice and percussive singing style. In November 2006, Draiman was voted number 42 on the Hit Parader's "Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time".[1] Draiman has written some of Disturbed's most successful singles, such as "Stupify", "Down with the Sickness", "Indestructible", and "Inside the Fire".

In October 2011, Disturbed entered a hiatus.[2] Draiman announced in the following year that he was working on an industrial rock/metal project with Geno Lenardo, formerly of Filter, which was later named Device.[3][4] In June 2015, Disturbed released their first single since their hiatus, named "The Vengeful One". They produced it over a year before, and along with it announced a new album, Immortalized.

Early life and education

Draiman was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 13, 1973, the son to Miriam and YJ Draiman. His father, a candidate in the 2017 race for mayor of Los Angeles,[5] is a former real estate developer, small-business owner, and elected member of the Northridge East Neighborhood Council, among other roles.[6] Draiman's brother Benjamin[7] is an ambient/folk rock musician who lives in Israel and performs in Jerusalem.[8][9] Draiman's grandmother also lives in Israel.[8][10][11] Draiman's maternal grandparents are both Holocaust survivors; his grandfather transported bodies to the crematorium at Bergen-Belsen, while his grandmother avoided the gas chamber at Auschwitz by crawling to the end of the line.[12]

His parents were observant, religious Jews (dati). They intended for Draiman to receive semikhah, and Draiman frequently spent time in Israel during his early life.[8] Draiman attended five Jewish day schools, including Wisconsin Institute for Torah Study in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Valley Torah High School in Los Angeles, California, where he formed his first band; and Fasman Yeshiva High School in Chicago, Illinois.[8] During his freshman year at Wisconsin Institute for Torah Study he was asked to leave, as he "rebelled against the conformity" and "just wanted to be a normal teenage kid", adding that he "couldn't really stomach the rigorous religious requirements of the life [there]".[8] Of his study at Jewish day schools, Draiman stated that he "was a bit resentful"; but he later encouraged his family to observe Shabbat, and was trained as a hazzan.[8]

Draiman later enrolled at Ida Crown Jewish Academy in Chicago, Illinois, where he graduated from high school in 1991.[8] From there, in 1991–1992, he spent a year after high school studying at the Yeshivas Neveh Zion in Kiryat Ye'arim, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Israel.[8]

After returning to the US in 1992, Draiman commenced pre-law studies at Loyola University Chicago.[8] In 1996, he graduated from the University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government, Philosophy, and Business Administration.[13][14] Initially considering offers to matriculate and study at law school, Draiman realized that although criminal defense law was the only area of law that interested him, he could not "really look at myself in the mirror and say 'I'm going to lie for a living and protect criminals'".[8] During his university studies, Draiman also worked as a bank teller and in phone sales.[8]

Career

Early career and influences

After graduating from college, Draiman worked as an administrative assistant in a healthcare facility.[8] After his first year, he earned an administrator's license and commenced running his own healthcare facility.[8] For five years before joining Disturbed and the band's signing with Giant Records, Draiman was a healthcare administrator.[8]

Draiman said, "the first record I ever bought was Kiss’ Destroyer. And those classic bands like Black Sabbath were my first loves ... I focused on the seminal metal bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden, Pantera and Queensrÿche".[8]

Draiman continues, "But I could also appreciate the hair metal bands – When you hear Whitesnake, you can’t deny their greatness. Then I went in the direction of punk and new wave, groups like the Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Misfits and later The Smiths and The Cure – that was my '80s".[8]

"And then when the grunge revolution happened, it was like a wakeup call. I'll never forget getting my first Nirvana, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains records".[8]

Personal life

Draiman is married to former WWE Diva Lena Yada; they have a son, Samuel Bear Isamu Draiman,[15] born in 2013.[16] In politics, he said "I'm liberal about everything that is issue-based as far as ideology, but I'm also of the opinion of a very small government. I don't agree with the fiscal policies of the Democrats, but I certainly don't agree with the right-wing craziness of the Republicans."[17] Draiman was a supporter of Bernie Sanders against the Donald Trump candidacy.[17]

Discography

For a more comprehensive list, see Disturbed discography

Disturbed

Device

Guest appearances

As Producer

Awards and nominations

Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards

Year Nominee/work Award Result
2014David DraimanKing Of The InternetNominated

Loudwire Music Awards

Year Nominee/work Award Result
2015David DraimanBest VocalistNominated
2015Rock TitanNominated

References

  1. ↑ "BLABBERMOUTH.NET – ROB HALFORD, ROBERT PLANT, BON SCOTT, OZZY Are Among 'Heavy Metal's All-Time Top 100 Vocalists'". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Disturbed's Draiman on Band's Hiatus: 'It's the Right Time to Step Away'".
  3. ↑ "David Draiman Twitter Feed".
  4. ↑ "David Draiman Twitter Feed".
  5. ↑ Kandel, Jason (4 March 2013). "8 Vie for Los Angeles Mayor in Upcoming City Primary". NBC Southern California.
  6. ↑ Melnicoff, Mars (6 April 2011). "YJ Draiman, Dad to Disturbed's Lead Singer: Top 5 Reasons Unknown Underdog 2013 L.A. Mayoral Candidate Is Freaking Interesting". LA Weekly.
  7. ↑ Ouellette, Mary (16 October 2013). "David Draiman's Brother Ben Draiman Performs Disturbed's "Stricken"". Loudwire.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Brinn, Davd (2 January 2011). "The hazan who became disturbed". The Jerusalem Post.
  9. ↑ "David Draiman's Brother Ben Covers Disturbed's "Sticken"". Blabbermouth.net. 10 October 2013.
  10. ↑ "blabbermouth.net". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  11. ↑ Barnea, Or (January 2, 2011). "Only here it's okay to be Jewish" (in Hebrew). ynet. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  12. ↑ "David Draiman — United States Holocaust Memorial Museum". www.ushmm.org.
  13. ↑ "David Draiman". LinkedIn.
  14. ↑ Ellerbee, Jacob (30 December 2011). "Before They Were Famous". Metal Mentality. Archived from the original on 18 January 2014.
  15. ↑ "Disturbed's David Draiman: Still Angry After All These Years". Yahoo.
  16. ↑ "Disturbed (band)". David Draiman. 2013-05-07. Retrieved 2013-05-08.
  17. 1 2 "DISTURBED's DAVID DRAIMAN Throws His Support Behind BERNIE SANDERS". 16 December 2015.

Bibliography

  • Jeff Kitts; Brad Tolinski (2002). Guitar World Presents Nu-Metal: From the Pages of Guitar World Magazine. Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation. ISBN 0-634-03287-9.
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