DAVID DRAIMAN On DISTURBED: 'The Beast Is Not Dead; It's Just Sleeping For A Little While'

*STORY, VIDEO AND PHOTO COURTESY OF BLABBERMOUTH.NET*

DISTURBED went on an open-ended hiatus in 2011, following the completion of the touring cycle for its 2010 album "Asylum". The band's frontman, David Draiman, has since launched a new project, DEVICE, with former FILTER guitarist Geno Lenardo, while DISTURBED bassist John Moyer branched out recently by joining ADRENALINE MOB, a new group also featuring ex-DREAM THEATER and AVENGED SEVENFOLD drummer Mike Portnoy.

Speaking to Artisan News earlier this month, Draiman stated about DISTURBED's current status: "It's just exactly what it means. I mean, the beast certainly is not dead — it's just sleeping for a little while."

He continued: "Look, myself, Dan [Donegan, guitar], Mike [Wengren, drums] and John [Moyer, bass], we've given our lives to that band, but there's more to us, each individually. John went to go work with ADRENALINE MOB for a little while, and he's got his music school that he's trying to get off the ground. I know Dan and Mike have been enjoying spending time with their families, and I hear whisperings that they have a little thing [new project] going on as well. I think that it's good for each of us to take some time away from something that's been so all-encompassing in every part of our lives for 16 years."

According to Draiman, DISTURBED's decision to take a break was not caused by internal strife and he says that the bandmembers remain in regular contact while pursuing other interest and musical projects.

"We're all on great terms and we continue to have a very, very huge mutual respect and admiration for another; we check in on each other's families," he said. "This was not a hiatus that was brought about by bad blood, this was not a hiatus that was brought about by any sort of legality or for me to decide to start a family or any of the rest of the nonsense that gets thrown out there. All the rest of the guys have families and we've been touring on the road with them the entire damn time. So one has nothing to do with the other."

DISTURBED has not indicated when it plans to return, although all four members say they're likely to come back.