Disturbed's David Draiman Calls Tom Morello's Recent Praise For Kneecap "Shameful"

Disturbed vocalist David Draiman has taken issue with Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello‘s recent praise of the Irish hip-hop outfit Kneecap. In a conversation posted earlier this month with The Strombo Show, Morello cited Kneecap as the band that most exemplify the spirit of Rage Against The Machine in the modern age.

Morello stated the following of Kneecap during that interview:

“[They’re at] at the top of the list, at the top of the list. I mean, they’re clearly the Rage Against The Machine of now, like there’s them, and there’s a gap to the next one.”

He continued:

“What they’re doing in their art is what people could probably stand to do more in their lives: to really speak truth to power. And, you know, Kneecap are not terrorists. What is terroristic is, you know, 20,000 dead Palestinian children. That’s the story. Not, I mean, some Irish rappers who don’t like that that’s happening. [That] should not be the story.”

Kneecap have been outspoken critics of Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza. The band’s Mo Chara was charged with a terror-related offense in the UK after being accused of brandishing a Hezbollah flag during a November 2024 live performance. The band have also made headlines for their claims that Israel has been committing genocide in the ongoing war in Gaza.

The group infamously displayed their condemnation of Israel during their performances at this past April’s ‘Coachella‘ festival, with the controversy that followed leading to them being dropped by Independent Artist Group.

Draiman, himself a fierce advocate for Israel and his Jewish heritage, has publicly taken issue with Morello‘s praise, stating on X this morning, July 12th:

“Shameful. Truly.

Wish I could say I was shocked.

Guess my family doesn’t count, when it comes to my “friend’s” virtue signaling for those who support terror, and incite Jew hatred.”

Draiman has become a polarizing figure in recent years, most notably for signing an Israel Defense Forces artillery shell with an expletive-laden message for Hamas back in 2024. Draiman‘s detractors have frequently decried him over that incident, citing the reported high casualty rates of innocent civilians in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. That controversy also caught up with Draiman at the recent ‘Back To The Beginning‘ live sendoff for Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne earlier this month.

Draiman performed at the event as part of a supergroup configuration that was overseen by Morello himself. However, Draiman received a somewhat chilly reception upon taking the stage, presumably for the divisiveness of his aforementioned past actions and other statements made since on social media.

Morello for his part has been critical of the conflict in Gaza, championing Palestinian aid-related causes and frequently resharing posts via his X account which decry the IDF over the civilian casualties being suffered in Gaza due to the ongoing war.