Watch the full uncut interview HERE: https://thebrinkpodcast.substack.com
In this episode of The Brink, Andrew is joined by David Draiman, frontman of Disturbed, for a deeply personal conversation about October 7th, antisemitism, Israel and why he has refused to remain silent despite the potential cost to his career.
Drawing on his own experiences of antisemitism and his family's history, from grandparents who survived Auschwitz and Dachau to relatives who served in the IDF, Draiman explains why defending the Jewish people has always been central to his identity. He reflects on how October 7th transformed that fight and why the reaction that followed left him deeply concerned about the future of Jews in the West.
Draiman also addresses one of the most controversial moments of his activism: writing “F*ck Hamas\" on an Israeli artillery shell. He explains why he has no regrets, while also speaking candidly about Palestinian suffering, his hopes for coexistence, and his belief that Israelis and Palestinians ultimately deserve a future beyond perpetual war.
Finally, Draiman reflects on the power of music after Disturbed's Hold On to Memories was played at the funeral of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, and on his friendship with Yarden Bibas. He explains why, whatever the professional consequences of speaking out, being able to act according to his conscience matters more than becoming \"the next Metallica.\"
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Chapter
00:00 David Draiman On Speaking Up
02:58 Why October 7th Changed Everything
05:56 Growing Up With Anti-Semitism
09:27 How Jewish Identity Shaped Disturbed
16:16 Jews, Division & Survival
19:43 Hollywood, Music & Israel
25:49 Israel, Gaza & Legitimate Criticism
33:15 Fighting Back Against Anti-Israel Narratives
34:57 Why Celebrities Won’t Debate Him
40:57 “I Wrote F*** Hamas”
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