David Draiman (Disturbed) comments on controversy over signing an IDF shell as Roger Waters fires back with strong accusations

Disturbed frontman David Draiman has long supported causes associated with his Jewish ancestry, and he has encountered significant opposition over the years due to his steadfast support of Israel, as per theprp. He has drawn a lot of criticism, particularly for his backing of the Israel Defence Forces during the Israel-Gaza War that erupted in reaction to the vicious attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which was led by Hamas. Draiman was seen signing an IDF artillery shell with the words “Fuck Hamas” during a tour with IDF personnel in Israel near the Gaza border in 2024. It seems that action changed a lot of people’s perceptions on Draiman.

Draiman was questioned about the controversy surrounding the signing and if he would do it again in a recent visit on Billy Corgan’s podcast, “The Magnificent Others With Billy Corgan.” Corgan is the genius behind The Smashing Pumpkins. Draiman began by discussing his Jewish heritage.

I come from a family of Holocaust survivors. 90% of my mother’s side of the family was wiped out by the Nazis. My grandfather was in Dachau. My grandmother was in Auschwitz. My grandmother and my grandfather on my father’s side have been living in the land of Israel since before it was established as a state, since the early 1900s we’ve had family there. My grandmother is Yemenite. Her family immigrated from them. My grandfather’s Polish. He came in from Poland with the rest of his family. Everyone was escaping violence. Everyone was escaping the destruction and the horrors of the Holocaust.

He gave this response when asked why he felt compelled to speak out so strongly against Jewish issues.

I’m not trying to be a tribalist, to be honest. I’m trying to be a humanist. I truly do have compassion for the Palestinian people. Truly, truly do. A lot of what everyone, for the past couple years, since I visited Israel after October 7th to pay my respects and support however I could, and just meet with families of the hostages — I’ve been blessed to actually befriend some of the former hostages over the course of the past couple years. It’s been a very surreal experience. But what everybody loves to pick on is there’s this one wonderful picture of me signing an artillery shell by artillery unit that was on the Gaza border that I went to visit during that stay. And they’re like, ‘Oh, well, you signed the you signed a bomb. The bomb absolutely, definitely killed children or whatever else.’

Draiman responded as follows to Corgan’s observation that Kneecap had expressed such critique of him.

Of course. Of course. And that’s what everybody will go after after me about. But you know, here’s the thing. Believe it or not, contrary to public opinion, Jews are allowed to fight back. And if there is a genocidal organization on your border who is constantly launching rockets day after day, who’s committing the worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust… I have calls from my mother crying to me in her safe room, in her bomb shelter as rockets are coming down. I have friends of mine who barely survived the Nova Music Festival massacre because they decided to hide in a pile of garbage while friends of theirs were being raped around them and mutilated, who barely escaped with their lives, who were shot in the process of escape. You know, people don’t understand there are human beings behind all of this destruction. There are lives. There’s real consequences. This isn’t some movie. This isn’t some storyline.

He responded as follows when Corgan asked if he would sign the artillery shell once more in light of the criticism he has received in the years since.

Billy. I would sign every single piece of military equipment in existence if it meant that Hamas was finally eradicated and that the Palestinian people had a real chance at a real future. Extremism is a cancer for anyone, for any part of society or civilization. And they have been raised to hate and slaughter and lust over the murder of Jews since the day they were born. That’s unfortunate.

There are UN organizations like UNRA who facilitate this hatred, whose schools have teaching material that is pure incitement, that have cartoon characters that glorify the murder of Jews. That whole aspect of society needs to be deradicalized. It’s comparable to what needed to happen to Nazi Germany after World War II. You have an entire group of people who live, breathe, and die for one thing, and that is to to to slaughter Jews. And for anyone to have an issue, They always have an issue when you fight back. It’s never… everyone loves dead Jews. Everyone loves persecuted Jews. Everyone loves to feel bad. But God forbid we actually raise our fist to defend ourselves, then we’re the bad guy. You know, the insinuation that every single piece of military equipment that was used in that conflict killed innocents is absolutely preposterous.

You’re talking about even if you take Hamas’s health ministries numbers at face value, you’re talking about the lowest civilian to combatant ratio in modern warfare history. You’re talking about a war that needed to be waged in an urban environment. In an urban environment where not only is martyrdom glorified, but it’s encouraged and it’s part of the culture. You have Palestinian mothers that dream of their sons one day becoming shahed, becoming martyrs, and and it’s a disgusting way to live life. I wish better for them.

Draiman also freely expressed his dissatisfaction and criticisms of Roger Waters in the same conversation. Draiman has already criticised Waters on several occasions, comparing him to a Nazi for his inflammatory remarks about Israel and other issues. But Waters claims that he was unaware of Draiman until recently. Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, the host of the aforementioned show, discussed Waters with Draiman.

So, let’s talk about Roger Waters for a second. I’ve worked a little bit with Roger, so I know him personally… Billy Corgan

I’m sorry. David Draiman

I want to come at it from a slightly different angle because I’m curious if you have any reflection on my observation. My observation is — I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that the defining moment in Roger’s life is his father is killed in World War II. It’s in ‘The Wall‘; he’s made more than one record about it. He might balk at the word ‘trauma,’ but it seems like that would be very traumatic if it happened to anybody.”

And a few years back, Roger was very critical of Radiohead for playing a gig in Israel. Since then, Roger’s made some very strong statements against Israel, including to the point where he’s now estranged from at least one of his bandmates because they don’t agree with his position.

But what I’m asking I guess is sort of a slightly different question and maybe a nicer way to end this, which is, it’s not a stretch for me to understand why someone who went through what Roger‘s been through, for him to look on in horror at the Gaza and civilian population issues. I’ve seen these crazy numbers. Is there an officially recognized number by the state of Israel? Billy Corgan

It’s still being discerned. But let’s go ahead and play the devil’s advocate. Let’s say the number [of Palestinians killed in the Israel-Gaza war] is the 70,000 or 75,000 that the Gaza Health Ministry claims. How many of those were combatants? How many of those died from rockets that were launched by Hamas that ended up hitting their own population David Draiman

I’m not assigning guilt, let’s just say one is too many Billy Corgan

No doubt David Draiman

It makes sense to me that a man who grew up in the shadow of World War II, lost his daddy in a war, has really suffered the consequence of that pain… Billy Corgan

That he would be hypersensitive to a scenario like that? I agree. But then why isn’t he hypersensitive to what’s going on in Iran. Why did he defend the Iranian Regime?… Here’s the thing, Billy: I grew up on Pink Floyd. I loved Pink Floyd. It was such a massive betrayal, not just to me, but Jews everywhere when he went in the direction that he did. And it wasn’t just two years ago; he’s been doing this for a long time. Roger has a penchant for dictators — the worst [motherf*ckers] on planet earth, Roger just cozies right up to them. He has no problem whatsoever. David Draiman

My attemped at peacekmaking failed Billy Corgan

Not with that one, dude. He’s just such a hypocrite. He’s a hypocrite. He’s not for human rights. He’s for this weird dictator-driven socialist — I don’t even understand what he’s trying to stand for. David Draiman

Draiman responded as follows when Corgan asked if he was still receptive to hearing opposing viewpoints that were supported by evidence.

Absolutely. You close off and that’s the end of anything.

So, if Roger Waters called you tomorrow and said, ‘Let’s sit down and talk,’ you’d talk to him? Billy Corgan

I’d have to punch him first, but yeah. [laughs] David Draiman

I thought you were a man of peace… I’m not trying to call you out as much as say that, from my perspective, the price of peace is very high. Billy Corgan

Listen, I’d be willing to sit down and have a conversation with just about anybody — except someone that can no longer be reached. And I’m very, very convinced that Roger Waters can no longer be reached. David Draiman

Draiman’s remarks have subsequently reached Waters, who posted an open letter about the discussion on social media on April 16.

An open letter to William Patrick Corgan:

Dear Billy

How are you? It’s been too long. David Draiman. Someone forwarded me this chap’s appearance on your podcast. I’d never heard of him. Anyway, it turns out he has heard of me. It seems he has a problem with me standing up for human rights, particularly the human rights of my brothers and sisters in Gaza who are being slaughtered in a genocide by the armed forces of the Nazi racist, pariah state of Israel. You, being the lovely fella you are gave this little piece of shit a chance to clarify or even modify his position. He did. He is a psychotic racist Nazi pig.

I’m told, Billy, he writes messages on bombs before the IDF drops them on civilians in Gaza. Enough said. I will continue to work with all my brothers and sisters all over the world in the movement to demand equal human rights for all human beings, irrespective of their religion or ethnicity or nationality. If you, my friend are wondering if I want a conversation with this obnoxious little prick? The answer is non merci Billy, life’s too short, he can inhabit his tiny corner of hell without the benefit of my love and truth.

Love

R.

PS. Disturbed ? Er? Yeah! Just a bit!

To which Draiman replied:

And here I was open to dialogue, even with someone I so deeply disagree with.

Honestly @rogerwaters, this is the reaction I unfortunately expected.

It’s disappointing, but predictable.

Be brave Roger.

Blessed are the peacemakers, right?

I’m always willing to try. We must all continue to try.

Even with you.