Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media, Inc.
Disturbed, who are still thriving in their career, received a special honor during a hometown tour stop in Tinley Park, Illinois. The band, originally from the Chicago area, was presented with the key to the city in recognition of their numerous achievements. Tinley Park, a suburb of Chicago, frequently hosts touring acts during the summer.
Disturbed expressed their deep appreciation for the incredible honor of receiving the key to the city in their hometown. They shared their gratitude on their social media platforms and thanked Mayor Colleen Sullivan, as well as all the trustees and board members, for making this heartfelt moment possible.
Mayor Colleen Sullivan expressed her excitement about the memorable evening when Disturbed was honored in front of their hometown audience in Tinley Park. She conveyed her honor in presenting them with a Key to the City, representing the Village Board and the Village of Tinley Park, on her social media channels.
Disturbed’s journey began in the Chicago music scene, where they initially played in clubs. Guitarist Dan Donegan, drummer Mike Wengren, and original bassist Steve “Fuzz” Kmak were previously part of a band called Brawl. However, a split with their lead singer led them to seek a new frontman. They posted an ad in the Illinois Entertainer newspaper, and David Draiman responded to the audition with some original material, ultimately earning him the role. After Draiman joined the group in 1996, they adopted the name Disturbed.
Despite their success as a major label touring band, Disturbed has always remained connected to their Chicago roots. They began both their 2015 “Immortalized” and 2018 “Evolution” album support tours with performances in Chicago before taking the record to audiences across the country.
Dan Donegan, reflecting on the band’s early days, mentioned in a 2018 Chicago Sun-Times article that he cherished the reminder of their humble beginnings, playing in small venues. Iconic Chicago venues like the Vic, Metro, and House of Blues were once bucket-list destinations for them as a local band, and returning to perform in these intimate settings allowed them to give fans a taste of new Disturbed music while honoring their roots.
Dan Donegan shared that he continues to visit those clubs even when not on tour, emphasizing his ongoing quest for inspiration. He particularly enjoys observing younger bands performing in these clubs and appreciates the passion and energy they bring to their shows, which serves as a nostalgic reminder of his own journey in the early days of playing such venues.