Disturbed drummer Mike Wengren is knocked out that Vinnie Paul from Pantera has become a fan of Disturbed.
In an interview with Undercover, Mike talked about growing up in the 80s and idolising Pantera. Now Paul is a fan of his. “It's a pretty surreal thing,” Mike tells Undercover. “He was one of my idols, just as a drummer, not by being in the band Pantera. He was a big influence on me. Over the years to have him go from idol to peer and then to friend and then fan has been a pretty cool thing. It is interesting how sometimes things go full circle. It is definitely surreal”.
Disturbed founding member Dan Donegan agrees. “I think one of the most flattering things to us over the years have been getting those compliments from the guys who have been around longer than us,” he says. “We don’t expect it to come from some of the newer bands who feel a little more competitive about it or whatever it may be but we’ve been approached by a lot of old-school guys from the 80s and 90s who have come up and said they were fans of the band. That's a good sense of accomplishment that our idols are taking notice of us now”.
Dan cites acts from the 80s and 90s as his biggest influences. “Alice In Chains and Soundgarden were a big influence on me as well,” he says. “Just as a guitar player I really respected Jerry Cantrell. You learn from everybody. Throughout every decade you pick up a little bit here and there but or biggest passion, the reason we picked up an instrument in the first place is the classic metal bands”.
VIDEO: Disturbed, watch the exclusive Undercover interview with Mike Wengren and Dan Donegan:
