Footage has now surfaced online showing the moment DISTURBED frontman David Draiman was booed during his appearance at the star-studded “Back To The Beginning” farewell concert for BLACK SABBATH and Ozzy Osbourne, held on July 5th at Villa Park in Birmingham.
The newly emerged video confirms earlier reports that Draiman faced an icy reception from the crowd as he took the stage. In the clip, boos and jeers can clearly be heard from various sections of the audience as Draiman walks out to join the night’s rotating all-star tribute lineup curated by Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE). Several attendees can also be seen raising middle fingers and shouting in disapproval before Draiman even begins to sing.
As part of the tribute, Draiman performed Ozzy’s “Shot In The Dark” and BLACK SABBATH’s “Sweet Leaf” alongside a backing band featuring Jake E. Lee, Mike Bordin, and Adam Wakeman, with additional guest appearances from Scott Ian (ANTHRAX), Nuno Bettencourt (EXTREME), and David Ellefson (ex-MEGADETH).
The backlash Draiman received appears to stem not from his musicianship, but from his highly public political stances. Since the start of the Israel–Gaza war in 2023, Draiman has been one of the most vocal pro-Israel figures in the rock world. Controversy intensified following his 2024 visit to Israel, where he posed for photos with IDF soldiers and autographed an artillery shell bearing an expletive-laden message aimed at Hamas — a move that many critics viewed as tone-deaf, especially amid the mounting civilian casualties in the region.
Local outlet Birmingham Live first reported the negative crowd reaction, with journalist Kirsty Bosley noting from the scene: “David Draiman from DISTURBED is now joining them (the supergroup) to huge boos from the crowd. He’s caused controversy with his political opinions online and the crowd are not welcoming.”
Despite the clear hostility from some in attendance, others in the massive 42,000-strong crowd still clapped and sang along once Draiman began performing.
The “Back To The Beginning” concert marked the final live performance for both Ozzy Osbourne and BLACK SABBATH, closing the book on over five decades of heavy metal history in their hometown. The event also featured appearances from METALLICA, SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, and more.
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