David Draiman is a big fan of Sam Smith's 'Satanic' Grammys performance: "I don’t want anyone ever saying that heavy metal live performances are too extreme for the Grammys"

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Sam Smith's devilishly fun Grammys performance has "set the bar", according to the Disturbed frontman

Sam Smith on stage at the Grammys, and David Draiman
(Image credit: Getty)

Last night's Grammys delivered a host of shocks, surprises and outlandish performances - and one performance in particular has drawn praise from none other than Disturbed’s David Draiman.

Draiman took to Twitter to give a shout out to Sam Smith after the British singer stormed the Grammys with a spectacular, Satanic-themed performance of Unholy, their hit collaboration with Kim Petras.

According to the Disturbed frontman, the OTT performance, which went all in on the flames, cages, devilish red light and dancers in red PVC, “set the bar for everyone”, using it to counter claims that rock and metal performances are too “extreme” for the live TV broadcast.

Wrote Draiman: “Lol, I don’t want anyone ever saying that Hard Rock/Heavy Metal live performances are too “extreme” for the @RecordingAcad telecast… Because @samsmith just set the bar for EVERYONE last night.”

The Disturbed man is no stranger to showing love to pop stars who put on an epic and controversial performance. Last year, he came to the defence of Lil Nas X after right-wing commentator Greg Kelly expressed outrage at the rapper’s similarly ‘Satanic’ three-song performance at the 2022 Grammys.

"News flash Greg Kelly," tweeted Draiman, "artists have been doing things like this for decades. Not sure why it bothers you when Lil Nas X does it. Don’t like it? Don’t watch. You be you Lil Nas X."

Sam Smith’s metal-adjacent set aside, the other big news from this year’s Grammys was that Ozzy Osbourne won the awards for Best Rock Album and Best Rock Song for Patient Number 9 and Degradation Rules respectively. 

Ozzy was unable to attend the ceremony, and his award was collected by the album's producer Andrew Watt and Metallica bassist Robert Trujilo, who played on seven songs on the album and co-wrote the title track. 

Disturbed, meanwhile, have just announced a huge, 36-date North American tour. Titled 'Take Back Your Life', it features support from Theory Of A Deadman, Breaking Benjamin and Jinjer on different dates.

Disturbed North American tour 2023 dates

Apr 27 Montreal, QC Bell Centre +

Apr 29 Quebec City, QC | Videotron Centre +

May 01 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena +

May 08 Winnipeg, MB Canada Life Centre +

May 10 Edmonton, AB Rogers Place +

May 12 Abbotsford, BC Abbotsford Centre +

Jul 11 Denver, CO Ball Arena # ~

Jul 13 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre # ~

Jul 15 Ridgefield, WA RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater # ~

Jul 16 Auburn, WA  White River Amphitheatre # ~

Jul 18 Wheatland, CA Toyota Amphitheatre # ~

Jul 20 Irvine, CA FivePoint Amphitheatre # ~

Jul 22 Phoenix, AZ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre # ~

Jul 23 Albuquerque, NM Isleta Amphitheater # ~

Jul 25 Dallas, TX Dos Equis Pavilion # ~

Jul 27 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion # ~

Jul 29 Rogers, AR Walmart AMP # ~

Jul 31 Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion # ~

Aug 01 Alpharetta, GA Ameris Bank Amphitheatre # ~

Aug 03 West Palm Beach, FL iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre # ~

Aug 05 Tampa, FL MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

Aug 07 Raleigh, NC Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek # ~

Aug 09 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live # ~

Aug 11 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center ~

Aug 12 Syracuse, NY St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview # ~

Aug 15 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center # ~

Aug 18 Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center ~

Aug 19 Wantagh, NY Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater # ~

Aug 21 Camden, NJ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion # ~

Aug 23 Gilford, NH Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion # ~

Aug 26 Burgettstown, PA The Pavilion at Star Lake # ~

Aug 27 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center # ~

Aug 29 Maryland Heights, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre # ~

Aug 30 Tinley Park, IL Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre # ~

Sep 01 Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre # ~

Sep 02 Noblesville, IN Ruoff Music Center # ~

+ Special guest: Theory Of A Deadman 

# Special guest: Breaking Benjamin

~ Special guest: Jinjer

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