Tag Archives: David Draiman

SOPA & PIPA: From a metalhead’s perspective

We are right in the heat of talks over and over on the topic of Internet copyright infringement and the full weight of the US government, being thrown down on any entity who wishes to even come close to making it possible for someone to download protected intellectual property without permission from the music / software / entertainment industries.

But here is the big question, from my point of view (a metalhead’s position): How does this all affect me and what are the implications for the future of Heavy Metal under this ruling, should it get passed into full effect?

Right now the focus is on the innocent file-sharers who are not pirates, they face hardships ahead. But there is also some focus on the fact that this is seen as a breach on the freedoms of the citizens of the world. A malign against the WWW generation who wants “free” to be the salient of the day.

I read a few days ago how the government has already leaped into action and seized $millions in what it stated were illegal sales of protected material. From the news it seemed that this was valid and criminals had been brought to justice in that case. So no doubt there is some genuine applications for such an act, to try remove the scourge of thieves who seek to undermine honest companies who bring us our entertainment.

One of the biggest issues I see with the music industry though, is not just so much the piracy or giving away / sharing of licenced material, but the listeners view of value of said music. I heard that there was a recent pole which showed most young people felt that music should be free and they place no financial value on it. Of course this is not true for everyone, but many young people do feel that way, ask them and you find many download music free of charge, which legally should have been paid for. I do agree with David Draiman’s comments, when he said that many fans make up for it through buying merch and attending shows, but he also said that due to the labels taking larger percentages of such revenues now, it would be fair if the artists took a nominal fee for some music downloads and I see that he has a point.

While I also read on another site, how Duff McKagen feels that PIPA (Protect Intellectual Property Act) and SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) are valid methods of preserving the arts and maintaining viability of the entertainment industry. Or at least that is how I understood his view. He felt that the global online community did not come to the rescue of the music business when it saw circa 50% of its business disappear due to illegal downloads. In my opinion, there is some sense to this, but I don’t think that its the responsibility of the general public to look out for the interests of big business. If their copyright is being infringed upon, they can handle it with all their $ and lawyers. But when the rights of the world come into question, our very freedoms, in order to make corporations richer, then that offends me.

Sorry Duff, you’re cool but you;re a rich rock star. Us mere mortals are more worried about freedom of information and less about royalties for artists, many of which actually earn more than most people. For those who are not rich and have to struggle, I feel most of them are likely better artists for it and if they keep at it with determination, they will make it, unless they don’t have the talent in the first place. For me, there are way too many people looking for overnight success, they would rather go on American Idol than work hard on the circuit and earn their chops and fan-base through some sweat and grit. That is why most American Idol winners are one hit wonders.

As a true blue metal fan, I try to be honest, look at the big picture and see where this is going. I have paid for countless concert tickets, albums, T-shirts etc. I buy magazines and DVD’s. I spend a large portion of my disposable income on the Heavy Metal industry, because if people like myself did not do this, there simply would not be an industry and we would lose many of the bands we love, as they would be forced to spend time earning money in another sector. We live in a capitalist monetary society, unless that changes, bands will need an income and so we need to either provide that as the fans and beneficiaries of their trade, or we need to accept the decline of our music and identity.

We have for the first time in a decade, seen the Pop genre outsell the Rock genre in album sales. This is because of such things as illegal file sharing and not because Pop is better or even that its fans buy more music. On the contrary, metal fans in particular tend to buy albums for its art work and collection, where most pop fans stick to downloading singles for the most part.

I pride myself with owning my Metal CD collection, I love the album art, the sleeves with the photo’s and lyrics sheets. I enjoy the purchase and the delivery. I feel good when I walk into a high street store and come out with a new CD. I like when I see a new album come through the post. It’s exciting for me as a fan. Back when I was a kid, CD’s cost way more, double in fact what they do now. I simply do not understand why a true fan would not wish to contribute to the success of their favourite groups and support our scene.

No doubt austerity is not helping, but this is a situation that has been getting worse since before the recession hit. We have to acknowledge that SOPA and PIPA are not the solution, but we do need one.

Artwork: LeetMonkey

Disturbed meal

Ever wondered what David Draiman of Disturbed eats? Me neither.

Want to see an interview with him talking about his diet and exercise? Of course not.

Why am I posting that video then? To troll.

Draiman puts a ring on it

David Draiman, of Disturbed, is hitting that. Yes, really. Her name is Lena Yada and yes, that’s her three times in the photo, it’s not three different girls, you racist.

Anyway, they’ll get married on September 25, in a ‘secret, undisclosed location.’ Because ever paparazzi in the country wants a photo of a relatively unknown guy, right?

But listen, I’ve made fun of David a couple of times, but look at what he’s tapping. Here is what I’m tapping: click.

Congrats, you guys, oh ah ah ah ah.

Make the jump to see a photo of them together, just to realize how shitty your life is.

Disturbed hiatus blamed on disturbed music industry

Music industry, on behalf of everyone at Dose Of Metal, we thank you for this. We feel like winners of the “Make A Wish Foundation,” only we’re not dying of cancer. And if you thought that joke was in poor taste, it’s actually quite tame when you compare it to this:

Three terminally ill cancer patients are talking to each other. Someone asks: “Guys, what would you like your friends and relatives to say about you at your funeral?” — The first guy says “That I was a great, fun-loving guy who loved everyone.” The second guy says “That I was a wonderful husband, wonderful father and great at my job.”  The third guy says “I’d like to hear them say ‘Holy shit, he’s moving!!!'”.

So yeah, Disturbed frontman David “Uhhh-ah-ah-ah-ah” Draiman talked about his band’s hiatus, and apparently it’s the music industry’s fault. So all these years of illegal downloads finally paid off, huh?

“Many of those reasons are have to do with the state of the music industry in general and, you know, the demise of hard rock and heavy metal right now, and I think it’s just a good time for Disturbed, after 10 to 12 years straight of touring, to go away for a little while and kind of wait for the phoenix to rise from the ashes here. […] It’s frightening times right now, and it’s just a good time for us to go away.“

Read full article here.

To be honest, I don’t like Disturbed so I don’t care, but it’s really sad to see what’s popular these days and how awful everything else is doing.

David Draiman might be Jesus

I’m not the most politically correct guy around, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t brag about ‘fixing’ skinheads to the press, much less by including the n-word in the quote.

David Draiman did though, I guess that’s where we differ. He had an interview with ‘The Jerusalem Post‘ and guess what he talked about? Being Jewish and having to fight to defend his heritage.

“When we were playing Southside Chicago clubs, one of the guys who would come to see us was a skinhead, he had a swastika tattoo, the whole nine yards. After he became a die-hard fan, the band was sitting down having drinks after a show and he comes in and starts going on about **censored**  and Jews, and I interrupted him and said, “Dude, I don’t know if you realize this but I’m Jewish.” He responded, “You’re Jewish! This completely changes my whole idea of what a Jew is supposed to be.” And soon after that, he had his swastika removed, and denounced the skinhead culture.“

Read full uncensored interview here.

Am I the only one who sees the subtle similarities to Jesus? Talking to ‘The Jerusalem Post‘ about sitting at a table and a disturbed (hehe) skinhead comes to Draiman and he offers one line and immediately heals the guy. I’m not one for religion, but HOLY SHIT…

Is Draiman HIM? Oh blessed be thy heart almighty Draiman. If only you could have met a certain Austrian bloke a few decades ago…