Hosted by Nelly and Joe (“Jelly”)
Jelly:
David, it’s such a pleasure to have you here today. We’ve been huge fans of Disturbed for years, and your music has always resonated with so many people. But today, we wanted to dive a little deeper into something that’s been on our minds. You’ve had some pretty intense themes in your music videos, especially with the character you’ve referred to as “the Guy.” This character seems to have a lot of anger and frustration toward the media and the powers that be, like bankers and those who control the narrative.
David Draiman:
Thanks for having me, guys. Yeah, “the Guy” is a representation of a lot of frustration—specifically, the things that seem to be corrupting our society. Whether it’s the media, the banks, or those in power who manipulate the truth, it’s all about the anger that a lot of people feel when they see these things happening. It’s cathartic for me and for our fans to express that frustration through music.
Jelly:
I get that. But, David, I’ve been thinking a lot about it. There’s something about “the Guy” that seems like he’s seeking revenge, right? I totally understand the anger, but I was wondering if you could maybe leave room for something else. Something like God’s wrath, you know? The Book of Romans talks about how vengeance belongs to God, and He will repay. What do you think about that? Could there be a shift where we let that higher power take care of the reckoning, instead of having “the Guy” go after it directly?
David Draiman:
You bring up a really interesting point. It’s true that the Bible does say that vengeance belongs to God. And honestly, I’ve always believed that in my personal life. But when it comes to the music, it’s more about the emotional release. “The Guy” is more symbolic of the frustration that people feel when they feel helpless against systems that are so much bigger than them. It’s not necessarily about revenge in the literal sense, but about the emotional expression of that powerlessness. But I get what you’re saying. Maybe there’s a space to focus more on the idea of justice being in God’s hands, rather than the character seeking retribution in his own way.
Jelly:
Yeah, exactly. I think the message could be even more powerful if we allowed that space for God’s justice to play a part in the narrative. You can still express the frustration and the anger, but maybe the message could evolve into something that encourages people to trust that higher power, rather than trying to take matters into their own hands.
David Draiman:
I see what you’re getting at, Jelly. There’s definitely a place for that. The idea that we don’t have to carry the burden of exacting revenge ourselves is a powerful one. Maybe that’s something we can explore more in future work. It’s always about evolving and finding new ways to connect with people and help them channel their emotions. And hey, I’m open to seeing how this idea could work in the context of the music.
Jelly:
I love that. Just think about the power of shifting the narrative, where people aren’t caught up in the cycle of revenge but can focus on something bigger. It could be a message of hope instead of despair.
David Draiman:
You’re right. Hope is what we need more of, especially in times like these. The world is full of chaos and anger, but there’s also a lot of beauty and grace to be found if we look in the right places. Maybe “the Guy” can still be that symbol of frustration, but the story can evolve into something that points toward redemption, not just destruction.
Jelly:
Exactly! And it could really resonate with people on a deeper level. People want to feel heard, but they also want to know there’s something bigger than all of this—something that will bring balance and justice in the end.
David Draiman:
I love that perspective. I’ll definitely be thinking about it more. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me, Jelly. It’s always good to have these kinds of conversations, and who knows? Maybe this will influence the direction of the music moving forward.
Nelly:
And that’s what makes Disturbed such a unique band—your willingness to evolve and challenge yourselves. We’re excited to see where you take things next!
Jelly:
Absolutely. David, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us today. We can’t wait to see how this new perspective might shape the next chapter for you and Disturbed.
David Draiman:
Thanks for having me, guys. It’s been a pleasure. And I appreciate the thought-provoking conversation. Let’s see where it goes from here.
Jelly:
Take care, David! And remember, God’s wrath is the ultimate justice.
David Draiman:
Amen to that.