David Draiman On Disturbed's Upcoming Downtime: "Taking A Break Because We’re TIRED, PERIOD."

Disturbed vocalist David Draiman has issued a new update clarifying his hit alternative metal band’s plans to take an extended break in 2026. Having just wrapped up the touring cycle celebrating the 25th anniversary of their 5x multi-platinum debut album “The Sickness“, both Draiman and guitarist Dan Donegan have conveyed that the band expect to “take quite a bit of time off next year.”

While Disturbed bathed themselves in nostalgia for their victory lap on the aforementioned album, Draiman has continued to face considerable pushback for his unwavering support of Israel, particularly amid the war in Gaza. That conflict erupted in October of 2023 in response to Hamas attacking Israel, killing nearly 1,200 individuals and taking 251 people hostage.

In 2024, Draiman, himself of Jewish descent, visited with the Israel Defense Force, infamously signing an IDF artillery shell with the phrase “fuck Hamas”. Draiman has found both support and condemnation for his actions in that regard, with his detractors decrying the reported high civilian casualty rate in Israel’s bombing campaigns in Gaza and accusations of genocide. Others have leveled accusations of warmongering against him.

Outside of publicly feuding with several artists and celebrities over the matter, an October 15th, 2025 Disturbed show in Brussels, Belgium was canceled after local authorities voiced security concerns regarding Draiman‘s divisive status. Draiman went on address that latest round of controversy onstage in Amsterdam, NET, offering this speech.

While some have alleged that Disturbed‘s upcoming downtime may in part be related to Draiman‘s controversial status or tensions in the band regarding it, he pushed back against that narrative in a post made on his social media today, November 05th. That post reads as follows:

“For the record;

1. Taking a break because we’re TIRED, PERIOD.
2. Any spin by the media is just that…spin. We’re all doing great, and are on great terms.
3. The European tour was the biggest of our career. We played to packed arenas every night. Let’s do it again sometime”