Disturbed frontman David Draiman encountered a notably cold reception during his appearance at Black Sabbath’s epic “Back To The Beginning” farewell concert on July 5th at Villa Park in Birmingham. As part of a tribute supergroup curated by Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Draiman stepped on stage to perform Ozzy Osbourne’s “Shot In The Dark” and Sabbath’s “Sweet Leaf”—but his arrival sparked an audible wave of disapproval from the crowd.
Reports from Birmingham Live confirmed that Draiman was met with boos and middle fingers from sections of the audience. Local journalist Kirsty Bosley, reporting from the venue, remarked: “David Draiman from Disturbed is now joining them (the supergroup) to huge boos from the crowd. He’s caused controversy with his political opinions online and the crowd are not welcoming.”
Despite the backlash, Draiman pressed on, delivering a powerful rendition of “Shot In The Dark” with support from an all-star backing band featuring Jake E. Lee, Mike Bordin, and Adam Wakeman. Other musicians in the set included Scott Ian (Anthrax), Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme), and David Ellefson (ex-Megadeth).
Much of the negativity surrounding Draiman appears to stem from his outspoken political stances in recent years. A vocal supporter of Israel, Draiman sparked controversy in 2024 when he visited the country, posed for photos with IDF soldiers, and signed an artillery shell with an explicit anti-Hamas message. Critics viewed the act as inflammatory, particularly in light of the devastating civilian impact of the Israel–Gaza conflict.
Draiman has since attempted to clarify his stance, saying he is “pro peace and coexistence between ALL PEOPLE,” though that message hasn’t fully repaired his public image. Just last month, his feature on Plush’s track “Why” also generated mixed reactions online.
He wasn’t the only polarizing figure tied to the Sabbath farewell. The show also included a video message from Marilyn Manson, whose appearance generated its own wave of online backlash.
Despite the controversies, the “Back To The Beginning” concert served as a historic sendoff to the godfathers of heavy metal—and Draiman‘s participation, while divisive, was undeniably a part of that final chapter.
Writer and extreme metal devotee, Ialdagorth has spent over a decade covering the darkest corners of heavy music. A black metal lifer, he spends his free time wandering the Carpathian Mountains, likely humming blast beats to the trees.
