Disturbed’s David Draiman Reacts to Being Dissed by Mastodon’s Brent Hinds
Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds recently got in hot lukewarm room temperature some water when he referred to former tourmates Disturbed as “gay ass shit.” Not so much because he dissed Disturbed as because he used a homophobic slur to do it.
Still, drummer Brann Dailor subsequently tried to walk both parts of Hinds’ comments back, or at least demonstrate that the guitarist wasn’t speaking for the entire band:
“This really bums me out. I’m very sorry I hurt your feelings or anyone else’s, that is never my intention. We want our LGBTQ fans to feel safe listening to our music and coming to see us live. We also have no ill will towards Disturbed, they were always super cool to us on the Mayhem tour. I think that interviewer might have caught Brent on a bad day. Sorry for upsetting you or anyone else, we appreciate you and all of our fans very much.”
Now Loudwire has spoken to Disturbed frontman David Draiman about Hinds’ smack-talk, and Draiman is such a mensch about the whole thing that it makes Hinds’ comments feel all the more déclassé:
“You know, I have nothing but the greatest respect and admiration for the Mastodon guys. I have been a fan since day one, I continue to be a fan. I think that there’s just too much mutual respect and admiration. And they knew it — they knew we liked them. We were cool with each other throughout our touring times together. We’re genuine fans.”
Draiman went on:
“It was surprising, to say the least. And you know what Brent? I hope that — just know from my end — I bare no ill will, and if at any given point in time those guys are somewhere and we can break bread or have a drink together, I’m always down. I don’t hold it against them or him or anything. Too often, these things are made more of than they really should be. Everything is trying to pit one musician against another musician. Who knows? Maybe he was having a bad day and maybe it is like what the Mastodon guys said. Who knows? God knows I haven’t had all glorious moments in my past in the press, so everybody’s human and I don’t begrudge anyone. It’s all good.”
I mean, Jesus fucking Christ. I loathe Disturbed, but I don’t think Draiman could have handled that answer any better. Other musicians should study and learn from his response. That’s a class act right there. Years ago I saw Hinds do a shirtless belly flop onto a bar table full of half-drunk glasses, and this is the most embarrassed I’ve ever felt for him. Sheesh.
Draiman recently lent his pipes to Nita Strauss’ single “Dead Inside.”
Mastodon, meanwhile, released a new album, Hushed and Grim, on October 29. The band began a co-headline tour with Opeth last night. Support comes from Zeal & Ardor. Here are the upcoming dates:
Nov 18 – Boston, MA – The Wang Theatre [tickets]
Nov 19 – Albany, NY – Palace Theatre [tickets]
Nov 20 – New York City – Hammerstein Ballroom [tickets]
Nov 21 – Washington, DC – The Anthem [tickets]
Nov 23 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium [tickets]
Nov 24 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern [tickets]
Nov 26 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater [tickets]
Nov 27 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom [tickets]
Nov 28 – Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land [tickets]
Nov 30 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Amphitheatre [tickets]
Dec 01 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium [tickets]
Dec 02 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater [tickets]
Dec 04 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union [tickets]
Dec 05 – Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom [tickets]
