DISTURBED frontman David Draiman appeared on the latest episode of Billy Corgan’s podcast The Magnificent Others, where the conversation ranged from music and personal history to deeply political topics, including the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Corgan and Draiman spent a significant portion of the discussion examining how artists engage with global issues, particularly the outspoken positions taken by PINK FLOYD co-founder Roger Waters. Corgan reflected on Waters’ personal history and public stance, suggesting that his worldview may be shaped in part by generational trauma connected to World War II and the loss of his father.
“Let’s talk about Roger Waters for a second. I’ve worked a little bit with Roger, so I know him personally… I want to come at it from a slightly different angle because I’m curious if you have any reflection on my observation. My observation is — I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that the defining moment in Roger’s life is his father being killed in World War II. It’s in The Wall; he’s made more than one record about it. He might balk at the word ‘trauma,’ but it seems like that would be very traumatic if it happened to anybody.”
Corgan continued by referencing Waters’ criticism of RADIOHEAD for performing in Israel, as well as his later statements on the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict and his reported estrangement from former bandmates over political disagreements.
He said: “And a few years back, Roger was very critical of RADIOHEAD for playing a gig in Israel. Since then, Roger’s made some very strong statements against Israel, including to the point where he’s now estranged from at least one of his bandmates because they don’t agree with his position…. Let’s say the number [of Palestinians who’ve died in the ongoing conflict with Israel] is the 70,000 or 75,000 that the Gaza Health Ministry claims… It makes sense to me that a man who grew up in the shadow of World War II, lost his daddy in a war, has really suffered the consequence of that pain, that he would be hypersensitive to a scenario like that.”
Draiman largely agreed with Corgan’s framing of Waters’ personal history, but pushed back strongly on his conclusions about Waters’ political positions and long-standing activism.
“I agree…[but] here’s the thing, Billy: I grew up on PINK FLOYD. I loved PINK FLOYD. It was such a massive betrayal, not just to me, but Jews everywhere when he went in the direction that he did,” David said. “And it wasn’t just two years ago; he’s been doing this for a long time. Roger has a penchant for dictators — the worst [people] on planet earth, Roger just cozies right up to them. He has no problem whatsoever.”
Corgan jokingly acknowledged the tension in the conversation, adding, “My attempt at peacemaking failed,” to which Draiman responded bluntly: “Not with that one, dude. He’s just such a hypocrite. He’s not for human rights. He’s for this weird dictator-driven socialist — I don’t even understand what he’s trying to stand for.”
As the discussion continued, Corgan pressed Draiman on whether he would ever be willing to sit down and speak directly with Waters despite their disagreements. Draiman made it clear he is not opposed to dialogue in principle.
“Absolutely,” David responded. “You close off and that’s the end of anything.”
When Corgan followed up by asking whether that would still apply if Waters initiated the conversation, Draiman added a strikingly blunt qualifier: “I’d have to punch him first, but yeah.”
After the podcast aired, Waters responded via his official channels with an open letter addressed to Corgan, in which he completely dismissed Draiman and criticized his behavior.
The statement reads as follows: “Dear Billy How are you? It’s been too long. David Draiman. Someone forwarded me this chap’s appearance on your podcast. I’d never heard of him. Anyway, it turns out he has heard of me. It seems he has a problem with me standing up for human rights, particularly the human rights of my brothers and sisters in Gaza who are being slaughtered in a g*nocide by the armed forces of the N*zi r*cist, pariah state of Israel. You, being the lovely fella you are gave this little piece of s**t a chance to clarify or even modify his position. He did. He is a psychotic r*cist N*zi pig.”
“I’m told, Billy, he writes messages on bombs before the IDF drops them on civilians in Gaza. Enough said. I will continue to work with all my brothers and sisters all over the world in the movement to demand equal human rights for all human beings, irrespective of their religion or ethnicity or nationality. If you, my friend are wondering if I want a conversation with this obnoxious little prick? The answer is non merci Billy, life’s too short, he can inhabit his tiny corner of hell without the benefit of my love and truth.”
“Love
R.
“PS. DISTURBED ?
“Er? Yeah! Just a bit!”
Draiman previously spoke about his “ongoing feud” with Waters in a 2024 chat with Linda Advocate.
He said at the time: “He’s a piece of work, that deluded old freak,” David said. “Antisemitic to his rotten core. Just ask [his PINK FLOYD bandmate] David Gilmour and his wife — they’ll testify to it. He’s been that way for the duration of his life and the duration of his career. It’s nothing new. He’s a coward. He’s a hypocrite. He is a supporter of dictators and dictatorial regimes all over the world. He’s an apologist for Putin and apologist for anybody that’s on the wrong side of history. He’s a deluded wannabe-socialist as well.”
“Everything that he wrote about, everything that he professed to believe in that was so — even a maniac can create some great art, and it’s hard to argue with the level of artistry of, let’s say, a piece of work like [PINK FLOYD‘s] The Wall,” he continued. “But everything that he was trying to convey and express in that piece of art, he has shown himself to be a hypocrite for.
“I was already losing my mind with him years ago when he was flying around a pig in his stadiums with the [Jewish] Star Of David on it. The guy is a bully. And he wouldn’t even dare to engage with me. Because it’s not about logic and reasoning and facts and reality to people like him. It’s all about the narrative. It’s all about their hate-fueled antisemitic, just spite-filled narrative that they continue to fuel this narrative of demonization of our people, of the State of Israel, their inability to accept the fact that we even exist. He’s a monster.”
When the interviewer asked whether Draiman had ever met Waters in person, David replied: “Oh, I’d love to meet him in person. Nothing would make me happier. I’d gladly serve whatever jail time and pay the bail necessary for whatever I could get done within a very limited period of time.”
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