After being signed, Disturbed was offered many high-level producers, but they refused all of them, insisting that they work with Johnny K. This became his big break as a producer.
Alison Chesley plays cello on "Darkness". This is notably the only time a non-band member plays on one of their songs.
Donegan says that for his personal bucket list he wants to one day play with Iron Maiden.
Draiman and Donegan started a their own label, Intoxication Records, in 2003. Its first artist, Art of Dying, was signed in November/December 2009. Currently Draiman is asking new would-be sign-ons to contact him on his Twitter.
Draiman was reportedly kicked out of five boarding schools during his youth, saying that he would purposefully cause as much trouble as possible in order to be able to leave. There's also an unconfirmed rumor about a Rabbi hitting him in his youth, to which he later responded by blowing up the Rabbi's car (keyword is "unconfirmed").
Fuzz took lessons at a local music store called Rossi Music from age 10. At 17 he started giving lessons, saying that a lot can be learned from teaching. He also has apparently taken up piano since leaving Disturbed.
Moyer manages a Texas-based rock band called Dev Electric.
The band's Rock am Ring performance in 2008 reached 85'000 visitors (the largest they've ever played according to Draiman). This performance was eventually released as "Indestructible in Germany".
Wengren plays on the instrumental "A Song For Chi" along with 13 other Heavy Metal musicians in tribute of the coma-ridden Chi Cheng of the Deftones, a project organized by Fieldy from Korn to help Chi's family through their financial difficulties regarding his hospital bills. Mike's part is the drum opening. The song can be downloaded from the official website.
Before that, Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears approved of their cover of "Shout", saying the band took the anger in the song to the next level.
Black Sheep Hit: Hard to think their biggest hit would be a power ballad-y cover of a 60s classic. "Sound of Silence", definitely the song least indicative of their sound, ended up at #42 on the charts!
Chart Displacement: Their signature "Down with the Sickness" technically wasn't their biggest hit at all. "Prayer" peaked at #3 on Alternative radio, and they've scored a dozen #1 hits on Mainstream Rock. One of those #1's, 2015's "The Sound of Silence", is their biggest hit on the Hot 100, peaking at #42.
Commuting on a Bus: John Moyer took on numerous side projects while the band was on hiatus, thus he missed the writing and recording of "Immortalized" and the video for "Sound of Silence" because of all the commitments he had to fulfill. Fortunately that'd all be resolved shortly after and he was back full-time for the writing and recording of "Evolution".
I would like to thank a world that never understood or accepted me, family & friends that never believed in me, lovers who never ceased to torment me, & a God that has one hell of a sense of humor. You have all made me what I am today. Let that weigh heavily on your consciences.
In general the first album dealt heavily with a young and angry David with a Dark and Troubled Past while the later works spent more time on his present difficulties. These themes started to noticeably pile up around Indestructible, then only got worse leading up to Asylum.
One particular incident of note is the nightmares which had been plaguing him for years regarding Inside the Fire. They'd gone away on their own after a time, but started recurring during the Indestructible writing process; he wrote the song in the hopes of finally finding closure.
Creator Couple: Draiman's wife (then-girlfriend) Lena Yada played the creepy, cannibalistic woman in The Animal video. She would later appear on the album cover for Device's debut album.
Development Hell: The supposed video for Warrior was cancelled after months of hype and speculation. Draiman says it didn't turn out like they wanted it.
The video for Prayer was banned from MTV after 9/11, although it depicts an earthquake rather than any kind of attack.
Ads featuring the "The Vengeful One" music video were pulled after the WDBJ shootings, as the music video shows The Guy shooting news anchors.
Doing It for the Art: The band strongly believes that true art should be selfish and that every member has to like the kind of music they're making for it to work (and if they didn't believe it was good, they wouldn't record it). "If it becomes a hit, that's cool too".
Dye Hard: In the early days of the band Donegan's had his hair colored brown, orange, blue and indigo.
Fan Community Nicknames: Fans of Disturbed are called Disturbed1s (pronounced "Disturbed Ones").
In Memoriam: The CD jacket for Immortalized contains several, to Bob Sanders most of all (who Save Our Last Goodbye was written about). In his Thank You section, Moyer pays tribute to Twisted Sister's A.J. Pero, whom he played with several times as a part of the Super Group The Foundry. Suffice it to say that a lot of people can die during a 4-year hiatus.
In the long term, that seems to be what will happen to Kmak. Not to say that playing on The Sickness is a small thing, considering how many valuable songs it had on it; if Disturbed ever manages to surpass it in terms of hits then this will be played straight. If not, completely averted.
Pre-Order Bonus: Those who pre-ordered Indestructible from the band's website got a poster, a VIP for major Disturbed events throughout the year, the song "Run" and the Making-of documentary.
Promoted Fanboy: Getting to play with and ultimately become friends with their heroes in Pantera.
Donegan got to jam "Walk" right next to Dimebag Darrell.
After getting to play on the same kit as Vinnie Paul, Mike was screaming with happiness moments later in the dressing room.
What Could Have Been: Had Donegan stayed in Loudmouth (with their record deal), they would have been looked at as a mere throwback act. As he is now, he's seen as a guitarist who follows the teachings of the 80's but with a modern flavor.
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