Disturbed had a show in Belgium canceled by the city's mayor. The performance was scheduled to take place this Wednesday, October 15th, at the Forest National, in the Brussels region of Belgium.
Mayor Charles Spapens issued a police order banning the show: “My priority and responsibility is the safety of residents, spectators, protesters, and Forest National staff. Given the unfavorable assessment by the police following a risk evaluation and the location of the venue, it was my duty to make this decision.”
According to the website Loudersound , the cancellation is a response to vocalist David Draiman on the conflict in Gaza, attributed to the fact that David Draiman autographed bombs that were sent to Israel last year. The Disturbed vocalist, who is Jewish, has been an outspoken supporter of Israel.
Disturbed's response after cancellation.
Last Monday, the 13th, the band released a statement on social media , saying that the song "is not about what divides us" and thanking fans for their support. Check out the full statement:
“Music is where all our differences disappear. Music has the power to heal, inspire and unite people; it’s not about what divides us. We have always made it clear that at our shows, EVERYONE is welcome, regardless of their beliefs. Everyone who attends a Disturbed show is accepted and loved. We regret that our fans in Belgium cannot share in this celebration of music.”
Your tickets will be automatically refunded within 30 days to the payment card used at the time of purchase. You do not need to take any further action. We would like to thank you for your understanding and support.
Furthermore, according to Metal Injection , pro-Palestinian groups were already preparing to hold a peaceful protest against the concert.
Previously, he called Roger Waters a "monster" and "anti-Semite to the core," and declared in 2022 that he "doesn't give a damn" if Waters alienated people with his pro-Israel stance. Recently, he criticized Green Day after the band changed the lyrics of the song "Palestine" during their recent Coachella performance.
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