Disturbed frontman rips 'Idol'

Disturbed is, from left, John Moyer, Dan Donegan, David Draiman and Mike Wengren. (HO)

A week later they’re still making headlines, but ask Disturbed frontman David Draiman what he thinks of the Kris Allen-Adam Lambert mano a mano clash and he’s likely to open a can of whoop ass on your ears.

“Personally I think ‘American Idol’ is an abomination,” he growls down the line from Omaha, Neb. “So many idiots just get up there and embarrass themselves to get a little bit of fame.”

Not that he’s against mainstream success.

After hitting commercial paydirt with their 2000 debut “The Sickness,” follow-ups “Believe” (2002), “Ten Thousand Fists” (2005) and “Indestructible” (2008) all debuted at No. 1 Stateside. Earlier this year, the Chicago-based nu metal act also scored a Grammy nod for their single, “Inside the Fire.”

“Accessibility is the least of our concerns,” he says. “It’s nice to get a Grammy nod, but that’s not a measuring stick for us. The measuring stick will always be the fans.”

In the final lap of a North American tour that wraps up in next Wednesday, Draiman, 36, says Disturbed’s adrenalized mix of serrated guitars and propulsive drums helps give listeners an extra push, but with a twist.

“I’ve always been connected to politics and world events,” he says explaining lyrics that deal with the Middle East (“Enough”), L.A.’s consumer culture (“Haunted”), his ex’s suicide (“Into the Fire”) and their support for America’s military (“Indestructible”).

“I’m a big news junkie,” Draiman says, “and I’ve been a big supporter of the military for years. But it’s hard not to find things to get angry about.”

Which is why he thinks their brand of melodic metal continues to thrive.

“People will always need an aggressive outlet,” he says. “People will always need music with a little more meat to it. I think that especially in difficult times, people need something to vent their frustration.

“It’s kind of hard to do that to stuff that only deals with simplistic sorts of issues and things that people can’t relate to in their day-to-day lives. With all due respect, I doubt your average white kid from in the suburbs can really relate to lot of the stuff in hip-hop and R&B.

“Rock is real. Rock is blood sweat and tears. Rock is the means for catharsis for many people.”

Characteristics, he says, will never jive with reality TV.

“A metalhead could only win ‘American Idol’ disguised as something else,” he says. “Daughtry is as close as it has been, and he’s not even a metalhead.

“I know that’s part of the whole attraction to reality television is that people love to watch other people make fools of themselves, but when all of a sudden, people who are the morons of society become champions in these ridiculous reality television scenarios, it probably makes all of the true (artists), who’ve spent their entire lives trying to hone their craft feel like shit.

“When Joe Schmoe, who has no training, becomes a reality star, realistically how long will that last? Not long. It’s fleeting.”

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