Words by Dave Martin/Photos by Louise Phillips
Disturbed have embarked on a 25th anniversary tour for their inaugural album, The Sickness. Accompanying them are thrash legends Megadeth, who recently announced their retirement next year. The two groups take to the O2 stage with London being the penultimate leg of the European tour. Having first seen Disturbed in 2001 at Ozzfest (on what would now be an unbelievable lineup), I was eagerly anticipating the show.
The house lights are dimmed, and a video plays on the screen, starting with old footage, then a clock, before more footage of the band and previous shows, finishing with the Sickness album sleeve. There is then a large curtain backlit with white light, the band silhouetted. The sheet rises to reveal David Draiman restrained in a chair like he used to do on stage during the Sickness era. Cheers start as the intro to Voices starts. A large industrial stage set has been erected, and fireworks explode from it during the breakdown, and John Moyer and Dan Donegan move to the front of the extended stage. There is a massive cheer at the end of the song from the supporters of the band. Lights flash blue at the start of the game, and the crowd starts clapping. Draiman moves to the front of the stage, interacting with the audience near the barrier. The backlighting flashes, imitating lightning. “Let me see your motherfucking fists in the air. Let’s go” before the breakdown.
The stage goes orange, and a spotlight appears on Draiman as the tension builds. “My brothers, my sisters, my blood, speak to me,” he says, then launches into stupidity. Vertical flame jets fire into the air during the chorus before Draiman goes down to the barrier and Donegan and Moyer jump in unison. Again the stage goes black before the band launches into their first album’s title track, The Sickness. The crowd sings along, and there is a display of fireworks and pyrotechnics during the breakdown. Next up is Violent Fetish with purple and blue, followed by bright white searchlights. A huge cheer at the end from the crowd, and the stage goes black, a reoccurring transition from the band. Drums start up for Fear, and Draiman calls for everyone to “jump”. Draiman comes to the front of the stage and interacts with the crowd, having previously been flanked by pyrotechnics. Applause from the crowd as again the stage goes dark, but industrial electronic rumblings start before Numb. The arena fills with smoke; mist covers the stage, and permanent flames rise up the industrial scaffolding.
Draiman waves his arm side to side, and the crowd replicates. Next up is Wait. Bassist Moyer comes to the front before moving back to his usual position on stage right. The whole band gathers around the drum kit to finish the song. The drums pound and lights flash following darkness for the track Conflict. Red and white lights flash, and pyrotechnics (fire jets) are released. Moyer’s bass can be heard ringing out as he takes position in the middle of the extended walkway with another deafening cheer from the O2 audience. Draiman addresses the crowd, “25 years of the sickness, look at what we did together, gather yourselves,” then proceeds to cover the Tears for Fears classic, Shout. Donegan sits on the front of the stage, playing in front of the first row of the audience, and the crowd sings along with the chorus.
Green flashing lights mark the start of dropping plates as the crowd claps along. From nowhere a water sound is audible in the darkness, then a graphic before the last track from the Sickness album, Meaning of Life. Thunder sounds and flashes accompany the rain noises, and Draiman’s distinctive laugh pierces the PA. “Come on, Draiman, it’s time,” as Draiman is led out in a prison jumpsuit and manacles to the electric chair at the front of the stage. Special effects mimicking an electrocution with sparks flying from the top of the chair. A light pulse moved across the top of the stage in what appeared to represent a heartbeat on a monitor. As the song starts up, Draiman now stands in the chair with his arms aloft. The rest of the band, also in orange jumpsuits, make their way to the front of the stage to play. Disturbed add the chorus to Ozzy’s Crazy Train in the middle of the song as a fitting tribute to the Prince of Darkness. The song ends with Draiman laughing in the electric chair and pyros lighting up the stage, concluding the first section of the band’s performance.
There then followed a 20-minute interval where videos played and the fans were given the opportunity to sign up for prizes.
The screen rises, and the sheet with backlighting is back. The drum kit is now raised, ready for I Will Not Break. Fireworks fired again, and Moyer joins on the steps of the drum riser. The crowd cheers as Draiman calls, “London, let me see those fists” for 10,000 Fists. Vertical pyros in time with vocals erupt from the industrial rigging with the addition of diagonal pyros to add extra dimension. “Let’s see those fists.” “Shall we take things up a notch?” The crowd put their fists in the air for Bad Man as the inflatable guy rose behind Mike Wengran’s drum kit. The guy starts to move, and pyros continue for the cover of Land of Confusion. Donegan again sits on stage in front of the crowd as they sing along with the chorus. Air raid sirens and searchlights fill the arena before the instruments come in for Indestructible. Additional flames on the rigging start as well as flames on the screens on the structure. “London, let me see those fists” before Donegan starts his solo where he adds some extra from the original recording. The whole stage structure was on fire for the outro of the song.
A piano appears at the front of the stage with smoke billowing from beneath, and there is a bass rumble. A cathedral backdrop appears as the piano is played and Draiman sings his fantastic rendition of Simon and Garfunkel’s Sound of Silence. The crowd gets torch lights out, which adds atmosphere to the auditorium. The piano was lit on fire, and Mike approaches the drums on the small stage and joins in. Several acoustic instruments are being played at the back, accompanying the band. The audience sang along, and there was a huge cheer at the end. Draiman returns to the stage under the spotlight, “Shine some light on these people.” “Oh London, so many memories; we have so many memories,” thanks the crowd for the last 25-30 years. “The world we are living in is a shit show.” “Sometimes darkness can show you the light” requests crowd participation. Hold up your phones and lighters for the light. As the words “the light” are sung, all the crowd lights go up.
Orange lights and flames start for the last song, Inside the Fire. The whole back structure is on fire again as Moyer and Donegan are playing at the front of the T-shaped stage.
Maniacal laugh and chants of ‘Hey!’ to finish. Draiman then introduces the band before the traditional close, “Say our name with us! We are disturbed! We are all disturbed!”
The tour has not been an easy one for the band, marked by some controversy and one cancelled gig on the European leg, but no one can deny the power of the band’s music and stage show. I have been hooked on their music ever since hearing Down with the Sickness a quarter of a decade ago. I can’t wait to see them live again after their self-decided break from touring in the immediate future.
Tracklist: 1. Voices, 2. The Game 3. Stupify, 4. Down With The Sickness, 5. Violence Fetish, 6. Fear, 7. Numb, 8. Want, 9. Conflict, 10. Shout 11. Droppin’ Plates, 12. Meaning of Life
Break
13. I will not break. 14. Ten Thousand Fists, 15. Bad Man, 16. Land of Confusion, 17. Indestructible, 18. The Sound of Silence, 19. The Light, 20. Inside the Fire
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