Disturbed frontman David Draiman has taken to Revolvermag to set the record straight regarding his bands upcoming indefinite hiatus and his controversial “demise of hard rock and metal” statements.
Speaking with the magazine on the latter, he offered:
“The state of the music industry is very apparent to everyone. I’m not enlightening anyone by saying that it is in a state of decline. I’m not enlightening anyone by saying it is in a state of reformation and it needs to figure itself out again. It’s just a very difficult time to function as a musician within the music industry when personnel are lost left and right and people you’ve counted on for years are suddenly cast by the wayside.
People are much more concerned with how the company looks on a balance sheet to a potential buyer as opposed to concerning themselves primarily with things like artist development. That’s definitely a factor in why we chose to do this indefinite hiatus now. If things were gangbusters in the industry it would be much more difficult to turn away for a little while and concentrate on other things we’d like to do.
It would be cutting off our nose to spite our face. Where things go with any of us in our own individual projects during this hiatus will determine how long it lasts or if it is, in fact, indefinite.”
Meanwhile, his recent “Cookie Monster Metal” Tweet has gained the attention of at least two of his peers with DevilDriver frontman Dez Fafara quickly taking notice. Speaking via his Twitter Fafara countered:
“Draiman was addressing almost every heavy band on the planet ! ” if I had a white glove I would Slap you!” DEZ”
Rather amusingly Fafara has since taken to retweeting a fake Cookie Monster (someone really takes the time to be a fake Cookie Monster?) account. Meanwhile, when asked by a fan via Twitter if he should turn his back to Disturbed at a show, Lamb Of God frontman D. Randall Blythe offered:
“Oh, who cares? I thought it was actually FUNNY. & yes, I’ve lived in a basement, & yes I do the cookie monster. It’s only music…I mean, the metal/HC/punk scene WILL survive (even once it loses at bit of popularity) just as it ALWAYS has- IN THE UNDERGROUND. Music goes in cycles- @MarkDuaneMorton & I often joke when we’re on a huge tour Enjoy this- we’ll be back in small clubs soon enuf” It’s great to make a living at this, & tour w/bands like Metallica, but we have no illusions about being “stars” or whatever. So once its not as popular, REAL BANDS, bands who do this BECAUSE THEY LOVE IT, will survive, the underground will survive, no prob! remember: “It’s only rock-n-roll but I like it, like it, YES I DO!”
