David Draiman

David Draiman

Draiman singing with Disturbed, April 17, 2009
Background information
Birth name David Michael Draiman
Born (1973-03-13) March 13, 1973
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Genres
Occupation(s) Vocalist, music producer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1996–present
Labels Giant, Reprise, Intoxication
Associated acts Disturbed, Device, Trivium, Megadeth
Website www.disturbed1.com

David Michael Draiman (born 13 March 1973) is an American songwriter and the vocalist for the band Disturbed as well as for 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 on 13 March 1973 in Brooklyn, New York, to Miriam and Yehuda "Y. J." Draiman, Israeli Americans.[5] His father is a healthcare administrator, small-business owner, member of the Northridge East Neighborhood Council, among other roles.[6] YJ Draiman is also a candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles in the 2017 Elections.[7] Draiman's brother, Benjamin (performing professionally as Ben Draiman),[8] is an ambient/folk rock musician who lives in Israel and performs in Jerusalem.[9][10] Draiman's grandmother also lives in Israel.[9][11][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.[9] 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.[9] During his freshman year at Wisconsin Institute for Torah Study, he was requested 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]".[9] Of his study at Jewish day schools, Draiman states that he "was a bit resentful"; but, he later prompted his family to commence observing Shabbat and he was trained as a hazan.[9]

Draiman later enrolled at Ida Crown Jewish Academy in Chicago, Illinois, where he graduated from high school in 1991.[9] 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.[9]

After returning to the US, in 1992, Draiman commenced pre-law studies at Loyola University Chicago.[9] 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 taking up 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'".[9] During his university studies, Draiman also worked as a bank teller and in phone sales.[9]

Career

Early career

After graduating from college, Draiman commenced working as an administrative assistant in a healthcare facility.[9] After his first year, he had earned an administrator's licence and commenced running his own healthcare facility.[9] For five years before his joining Disturbed and the band's signing with Giant Records, Draiman was a healthcare administrator.[9]

Disturbed

Main article: Disturbed (band)

Early influences

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".[9]

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".[9]

"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".[9]

Draiman has cited James Hetfield of Metallica, Rob Halford of Judas Priest, and Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden as the three biggest influences on his singing.

Personal life

Draiman is married to former WWE Diva Lena Yada; they have a child, born in 2013.[15]

Discography

Wikiquote has quotations related to: David Draiman
Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Draiman.

For a more comprehensive list, see Disturbed discography

Disturbed
Device
Guest appearances
As Producer

Awards and nominations

Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards

Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2014 David Draiman King Of The Internet Nominated

Loudwire Music Awards

Year Recipient/Nominated work Award Result
2015 David Draiman Best Vocalist Nominated
2015 Rock Titan Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "BLABBERMOUTH.NET – ROB HALFORD, ROBERT PLANT, BON SCOTT, OZZY Are Among 'Heavy Metal's All-Time Top 100 Vocalists'". Roadrunnerrecords.com. 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. ↑ "2017 City and LAUSD Elections". Los Angeles City Ethics Commission. 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  8. ↑ Ouellette, Mary (16 October 2013). "David Draiman's Brother Ben Draiman Performs Disturbed's "Stricken"". Loudwire.
  9. 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.
  10. ↑ "David Draiman's Brother Ben Covers Disturbed's "Sticken"". Blabbermouth.net. 10 October 2013.
  11. ↑ "blabbermouth.net". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  12. ↑ Barnea, Or (January 2, 2011). "Only here it's okay to be Jewish" (in Hebrew). ynet. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  13. ↑ "David Draiman". LinkedIn.
  14. ↑ Ellerbee, Jacob (30 December 2011). "Before They Were Famous". Metal Mentality.
  15. ↑ "Disturbed (band)". David Draiman. 2013-05-07. Retrieved 2013-05-08.

Bibliography

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