Biography
Disturbed is an American heavy metal band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1994. The band’s lineup has included guitarist Dan Donegan, drummer Mike Wengren, lead vocalist David Draiman, and bassist John Moyer. Donegan and Wengren have been members since the band’s formation, while Draiman replaced original vocalist Erich Awalt in 1996. Moyer replaced original bassist Steve “Fuzz” Kmak in 2004, although Kmak briefly rejoined the band for a performance in 2025.
The band’s debut album, “The Sickness”, was released in 2000 and became a commercial success, driven by singles such as “Down with the Sickness” and “Stupify”. It was followed by “Believe” (2002), “Ten Thousand Fists” (2005), “Indestructible” (2008), and “Asylum” (2010), all of which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. After the release of “Asylum”, Disturbed entered a hiatus in 2011 during which members pursued side projects. A compilation album, “The Lost Children”, featuring previously unreleased material, was released during this period. The band reunited in 2015 and released “Immortalized” the same year, followed by “Evolution” (2018) and “Divisive” (2022).
Disturbed has sold over 17 million records worldwide. Their albums have received multiple RIAA certifications, including multi-platinum status for “The Sickness”. The band has also achieved numerous top ten placements on the Mainstream Rock chart and received Grammy Award nominations.
Before forming Disturbed, Dan Donegan, Mike Wengren, and Steve Kmak performed in a band called Brawl with vocalist Erich Awalt. After Awalt left, the group recruited David Draiman following auditions in Chicago. The band changed its name to Disturbed in 1996, a name chosen by Draiman to reflect themes of social conformity and psychological tension.
In the late 1990s, the band recorded demo material that included early versions of songs such as “The Game”, “Down with the Sickness”, “Meaning of Life”, “Want”, “Stupify”, and “Droppin’ Plates”. After signing with Giant Records in 1999, Disturbed released “The Sickness” in 2000, which reached number 20 on the Billboard 200 and sold over four million copies in the United States. During touring for the album, bassist Steve Kmak was temporarily replaced by Marty O’Brien due to injury.
Their second album, “Believe”, was released in 2002 and also reached number one on the Billboard 200. The single “Prayer” received limited broadcast due to perceived similarities between its video imagery and the September 11, 2001 attacks. The band also contributed the song “Forsaken” to the soundtrack of “Queen of the Damned”.
In 2003, Disturbed toured on Ozzfest and conducted their own Music as a Weapon II tour with bands including Chevelle, Taproot, and Ünloco. Later that year, Kmak was dismissed and replaced by John Moyer, who debuted during performances featuring early versions of songs later included on “Ten Thousand Fists”.
“Ten Thousand Fists”, released in 2005, debuted at number one and included tracks featuring guitar solos, which the band reintroduced as a stylistic element. The band toured extensively, including appearances at Ozzfest 2006, and released additional material through singles and special editions. Health issues experienced by Draiman led to postponed tours and medical treatment in 2006.
The album “Indestructible” was released in 2008 and became the band’s third consecutive number one album on the Billboard 200. It included singles such as “Inside the Fire”, which received a Grammy nomination. The band supported the album with extensive touring, including the Mayhem Festival and international performances, and released additional live and downloadable content, including tracks integrated into the video game Rock Band.
In 2010, the band released “Asylum”, which also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The band supported the album with touring and festival appearances before announcing a hiatus in 2011. During this period, they released “The Lost Children” compilation and a boxed vinyl set titled “The Collection”.
Disturbed reunited in 2015 and released “Immortalized”, which included the widely known cover of “The Sound of Silence”. Following the release, they resumed touring and issued a live album recorded at Red Rocks in 2016.
In 2018, Disturbed released “Evolution”, which marked a stylistic shift including more acoustic and ballad-oriented material, with singles such as “Are You Ready” and “A Reason to Fight”. Touring continued into 2019 and 2020, including anniversary celebrations for “The Sickness”, though some plans were delayed or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The band released “Divisive” in 2022, which returned to a heavier sound and included singles such as “Hey You” and “Unstoppable”. The album also featured guest vocals by Ann Wilson on “Don’t Tell Me”. The band continued touring into the mid-2020s, including anniversary tours and festival appearances.
In 2025, Disturbed released the single “I Will Not Break” and continued touring in support of their catalog, including celebrations of the 25th anniversary of “The Sickness”. A European tour concluded in late 2025, after which the band announced a break from live performances in 2026.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disturbed_(band)
Studio albums
The Sickness (2000)
Believe (2002)
Ten Thousand Fists (2005)
Indestructible (2008)
Asylum (2010)
Immortalized (2015)
Evolution (2018)
Divisive (2022)
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