Disturbed lead vocalist David Draiman delivered a performance of the United States national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner“, at The Algemeiner’s 12th annual J100 gala. The event took place on Monday, March 9, 2026, at Capitale in New York City.
In addition to his vocal performance, David Draiman was officially honored during the gala. Hosted by conservative commentator and Master of Ceremonies Scott Jennings, the evening gathered global leaders, public figures, and supporters of the Jewish people to focus on solidarity, resolve, and moral clarity.
A prominent activist for the State of Israel, the frontman has consistently used his platform to advocate for dialogue and combat antisemitism. His deep ties to his Jewish heritage include having maternal grandparents who survived the Holoc**st, as well as a father and grandfather who served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). David Draiman himself speaks Hebrew, previously trained to become a cantor, and at one point contemplated becoming a rabbi.
His ongoing activism has been formally recognized in recent years. In 2024, he received a joint award from the Jerusalem Post and the World Zionist Organization for his outstanding contributions to fighting antisemitism, accepting the honor at the Jerusalem Post Annual Conference in New York City. Furthermore, he has been featured in the United States Holocaust Museum’s “Voices On Anti-Semitism” podcast series.
Alongside David Draiman, the Disturbed lineup consists of guitarist and keyboardist Dan Donegan, bassist John Moyer, and drummer Mike Wengren. The band’s discography has addressed these historical subjects directly, most notably with the track “Never Again” from their 2010 studio album, Asylum, which confronts Holocaust denial.
The vocalist’s outspoken stances have occasionally led to public pushback. During a July 2025 appearance at Black Sabbath‘s “Back To The Beginning” farewell show, he received a mixed reaction from the audience due to his vocal support for Israel. Addressing the incident with The Jerusalem Post, he clarified:
“The press exaggerated the boos. There was a bit of it walking out there, but I still had the crowd pumping fists, clapping hands and singing along.”
Additionally, David Draiman has faced online backlash for his activism. On November 30, 2021, he lit a memorial candle at the Western Wall in Jerusalem at the site of a t**ror attack that claimed the life of South African immigrant Eli Kay. In December of that year, the singer reported losing approximately 4,000 social media followers after sharing photos of his “demonstration” at the holy site. Despite the drop in followers, he continues to heavily utilize platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to share pro-Israel content and speak out against antisemitism.
