Disturbed on Hiatus due to Problems within the Music Industry

In a recent interview with Billboard.com vocalist David Draiman stated that Disturbed's imminent hiatus is not put down due to conflict within the unit, but the music industry itself, in particular the “demise of hard rock and metal”.

After more than a decade together, this July saw Disturbed announce that they will be going on an indefinite hiatus, with the following comment from Draiman putting to rest any circulating rumors of unrest within the band.

Explains David:

"This is really not due to any animosity -- I want to make that very clear. In fact, we just had dinner together last night. Believe me, it's not like we can't work with each other any more or we don't get along. This isn't a bad blood thing, and I don't ever want people to get that impression of it.

"…it's just the right time to step away for awhile… Many of those reasons are personal reasons, and many of those reasons have to do with the state of the music industry in general and the demise of hard rock and metal right now.

"The industry is still in a state of reformation; it is on the verge of collapse, in my opinion. It's a frightening time, and I think after 10 to 12 years straight of touring it's just a good time for Disturbed to go away for awhile and wait for the Phoenix to rise from the ashes."

"I know that Danny [Dan Donegan] has wanted to do some production work on his own, and there's [sic] some bands I've wanted to work with as well. We've had things we've wanted to do as individuals for the past 10, 12 years and we haven't been able to because Disturbed is so all-encompassing. This is going to give all of us an opportunity to just kind of go in different directions, creatively, as people and just see if the opportunities that have been kind of passing us by...are still around and if we feel fulfilled in doing them."

Since their formation in 1996, Disturbed has released five full-length albums, with their latest effort, Asylum, coming out last year through Reprise Records.

Photograph: Joey Lawrence