System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian has been steadfast as a political activist over the years, and he’s well aware that his beliefs might come at the cost of losing a some fans of his music.
Tankian admitted that he was “okay” with that fact in a new interview with NPR, citing his desire to be an artist rather than just an entertainer.
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“I’m okay with that because an artist isn’t supposed to please everyone,” Tankian said. “An artist is supposed to basically try to receive through the collective consciousness whatever truths that we’re trying to live by, the truths of our times. If we can’t do that as artists, then we’re entertainers. From day one, you have to make that choice: Are you an entertainer only or are you going to be an artist?”
He continued,...
Tankian admitted that he was “okay” with that fact in a new interview with NPR, citing his desire to be an artist rather than just an entertainer.
Get System of a Down Tickets Here
“I’m okay with that because an artist isn’t supposed to please everyone,” Tankian said. “An artist is supposed to basically try to receive through the collective consciousness whatever truths that we’re trying to live by, the truths of our times. If we can’t do that as artists, then we’re entertainers. From day one, you have to make that choice: Are you an entertainer only or are you going to be an artist?”
He continued,...
- 5/20/2024
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
Film and television composer Bear McCreary has unleashed “Incinerator” as the latest single from his recently announced album The Singularity, arriving May 10th. The song features Serj Tankian on vocals, and has a sonic vibe that would fit comfortably in System of a Down’s catalog.
“When I got the music, when I got this song specifically, I was blown away,” stated Tankian. “It’s explosive.”
The song is explosive, indeed, starting out with a blistering guitar riff before Tankian’s soaring trademark vocals take the spotlight. About two minutes into the track, Tankian shifts into a chaotic rapid delivery reminiscent of Soad’s “Chop Suey!”
The tune serves as the album’s leadoff track, with McCreary remarking, “Once I heard Serj’s searing vocals, I knew immediately that ‘Incinerator’ would be the first song on the album, acting like a warning that a massive, aggressive, and emotional journey lay ahead.
“When I got the music, when I got this song specifically, I was blown away,” stated Tankian. “It’s explosive.”
The song is explosive, indeed, starting out with a blistering guitar riff before Tankian’s soaring trademark vocals take the spotlight. About two minutes into the track, Tankian shifts into a chaotic rapid delivery reminiscent of Soad’s “Chop Suey!”
The tune serves as the album’s leadoff track, with McCreary remarking, “Once I heard Serj’s searing vocals, I knew immediately that ‘Incinerator’ would be the first song on the album, acting like a warning that a massive, aggressive, and emotional journey lay ahead.
- 3/22/2024
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
System of a Down singer Serj Tankian and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, together with Gibson CEO Cesar Gueikian, have teamed up for the new benefit single “Deconstruction.” Proceeds will aid the Armenia Fund’s Artsakh Refugee Initiative.
The three artists have recorded the song under the name The Gibson Band, which will feature a rotating cast of musicians that will release music to benefit various philanthropic causes around the world.
Both Tankian and Gueikian are of Armenian descent, with Tankian long championing Armenian causes via his work with System of a Down and as a solo artist.
“It’s a dream come true to have collaborated with my good friend, Cesar Gueikian, and Tony Iommi, who I have collaborated with before,” stated Tankian. “I am happy that we are using our platform to donate the music, my art, and Gibson’s incredibly unique guitar for such a great charity.
The three artists have recorded the song under the name The Gibson Band, which will feature a rotating cast of musicians that will release music to benefit various philanthropic causes around the world.
Both Tankian and Gueikian are of Armenian descent, with Tankian long championing Armenian causes via his work with System of a Down and as a solo artist.
“It’s a dream come true to have collaborated with my good friend, Cesar Gueikian, and Tony Iommi, who I have collaborated with before,” stated Tankian. “I am happy that we are using our platform to donate the music, my art, and Gibson’s incredibly unique guitar for such a great charity.
- 12/8/2023
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, who recorded the song “Patterns” together in 2000, have reunited for a new song that will help raise money for imperiled Armenians.
The tune was the brainchild of Cesar Gueikian, CEO of Gibson Brands. Gueikian, an Argentine member of the Armenian diaspora, teamed with Tankian and Iommi on a new song, “Deconstruction,” that’s coming out under the banner of the Gibson Band via Gibson Records as a charity single. The tune is a six-minute descent into psychedelic...
The tune was the brainchild of Cesar Gueikian, CEO of Gibson Brands. Gueikian, an Argentine member of the Armenian diaspora, teamed with Tankian and Iommi on a new song, “Deconstruction,” that’s coming out under the banner of the Gibson Band via Gibson Records as a charity single. The tune is a six-minute descent into psychedelic...
- 12/8/2023
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Shortly after actor-director Michael Goorjian wrote the script for “Amerikatsi,” which is Armenia’s candidate for the international Oscar, he turned to System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian – who is also of Armenian descent – for feedback on the tale of an Armenian-American who repatriates in 1948 to what has become Soviet Armenia.
The Grammy-winning musician and political activist then became an executive producer on the film, which uses an ironic Chaplin-esque tone to depict the dream of the Armenian diaspora to reconnect with their roots.
Goorjian, who wrote and directed the movie, also stars as Charlie, an Armenian immigrant to the U.S. who returns to his homeland, now under Soviet rule, and almost immediately gets thrown into jail. But from his cell, he can see a prison guard’s home. Gradually, his life and that of the Armenian guard and his wife become vicariously entwined.
Goorjian and Tankian spoke...
The Grammy-winning musician and political activist then became an executive producer on the film, which uses an ironic Chaplin-esque tone to depict the dream of the Armenian diaspora to reconnect with their roots.
Goorjian, who wrote and directed the movie, also stars as Charlie, an Armenian immigrant to the U.S. who returns to his homeland, now under Soviet rule, and almost immediately gets thrown into jail. But from his cell, he can see a prison guard’s home. Gradually, his life and that of the Armenian guard and his wife become vicariously entwined.
Goorjian and Tankian spoke...
- 11/23/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Serj Tankian, frontman of hard rock band System of a Down, will release his memoir Down With the System on May 14, 2024 via Hachette Books. The musician described the tome as an “accidentally hatched philosophical memoir.”
“Boom! – I wrote a new book,” Tankian wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I had a blast working on this accidentally hatched philosophical memoir as it’s given me the unique opportunity to deep dive into my family history, my own motivations from a young age and lessons I didn’t know I had learned.”
The...
“Boom! – I wrote a new book,” Tankian wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I had a blast working on this accidentally hatched philosophical memoir as it’s given me the unique opportunity to deep dive into my family history, my own motivations from a young age and lessons I didn’t know I had learned.”
The...
- 10/25/2023
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
Serj Tankian has announced that he has written a memoir titled Down With the System. The autobiography from the System of a Down singer will be released on May 14th, 2024, via Hachette Books (pre-order here).
“Boom! – I wrote a new book,” wrote Tankian on his social media pages. “I had a blast working on this accidentally hatched philosophical memoir as it’s given me the unique opportunity to deep dive into my family history, my own motivations from a young age and lessons I didn’t know I had learned.”
A description of the memoir on Hachette Books’ official website reads as follows:
“In Down With the System, Serj presents readers with a memoir that is far more than just a rock ‘n’ roll fable. It’s an immigrant’s tale, it’s an activist’s awakening, and it’s a spiritual journey from darkness toward light. And all of...
“Boom! – I wrote a new book,” wrote Tankian on his social media pages. “I had a blast working on this accidentally hatched philosophical memoir as it’s given me the unique opportunity to deep dive into my family history, my own motivations from a young age and lessons I didn’t know I had learned.”
A description of the memoir on Hachette Books’ official website reads as follows:
“In Down With the System, Serj presents readers with a memoir that is far more than just a rock ‘n’ roll fable. It’s an immigrant’s tale, it’s an activist’s awakening, and it’s a spiritual journey from darkness toward light. And all of...
- 10/24/2023
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
TikToker Mac Glocky has quickly made a name for himself on the social media platform for re-imagining songs in the style of different bands. System of a Down are one of his go-to’s, and a recent viral clip sees him interpreting The B-52’s classic “Rock Lobster” a la Soad.
“This one is cursed,” Glocky warns in the introduction. “This one is definitely cursed.”
More like cursedly accurate. Mac overdubs himself to create the effect of a full band, first opening the song with the iconic “Rock Lobster” riff played through a heavily affected guitar tone, as Soad’s Daron Malakian is wont to do.
From there, Glocky lays down his best Serj Tankian impression, and it’s a good one, nailing all Serj’s dramatic delivery and signature mid-verse vocal exaggerations. Glocky clearly has a lot of fun putting on the impersonation — and he’s well practiced. His channel has multiple Soad re-imaginings,...
“This one is cursed,” Glocky warns in the introduction. “This one is definitely cursed.”
More like cursedly accurate. Mac overdubs himself to create the effect of a full band, first opening the song with the iconic “Rock Lobster” riff played through a heavily affected guitar tone, as Soad’s Daron Malakian is wont to do.
From there, Glocky lays down his best Serj Tankian impression, and it’s a good one, nailing all Serj’s dramatic delivery and signature mid-verse vocal exaggerations. Glocky clearly has a lot of fun putting on the impersonation — and he’s well practiced. His channel has multiple Soad re-imaginings,...
- 10/23/2023
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
Serj Tankian is urging Imagine Dragons to cancel their scheduled show in Azerbaijan due to a “humanitarian catastrophe” being carried out by the country’s regime. After privately reaching out a few months ago, the System of a Down singer is now going public with the letter he sent to the pop-rock band.
Tankian and System of a Down have long spoken out against Azerbaijan, even releasing Soad’s first new songs in 15 years in 2020 to call attention to the country’s “crimes against humanity.”
In a new Instagram post, Tankian details the reasons he’s asking Imagine Dragons to nix the concert, as well as his frustrations in not getting a response:
“Now it has to be said.
A few months ago, it came to my attention that @imaginedragons had planned a show on Sept 2nd in Baku Azerbaijan. I was sure they were unaware that Azerbaijan’s petro-oligarchic...
Tankian and System of a Down have long spoken out against Azerbaijan, even releasing Soad’s first new songs in 15 years in 2020 to call attention to the country’s “crimes against humanity.”
In a new Instagram post, Tankian details the reasons he’s asking Imagine Dragons to nix the concert, as well as his frustrations in not getting a response:
“Now it has to be said.
A few months ago, it came to my attention that @imaginedragons had planned a show on Sept 2nd in Baku Azerbaijan. I was sure they were unaware that Azerbaijan’s petro-oligarchic...
- 8/17/2023
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
Mongolian rockers The Hu have announced that a deluxe version of their 2022 sophomore album, Rumble of Thunder, will arrive on June 30th via Better Noise Music. In advance of its release, the band has unveiled a new version of the track “Black Thunder” featuring vocalist by System of a Down singer Serj Tankian and Bad Wolves vocalist Dl.
The new set, Rumble of Thunder: Deluxe Album, will feature four acoustic renditions and three newly recorded singles featuring guest appearances and English-translated vocals from Tankian and Dl, Alice in Chains’ William DuVall, and solo artist Laura Pergolizzi. Pre-orders for the album on a variety of platforms, both digital and physical, are available now here.
“Black Thunder” (featuring Tankian and Dl), follows the release of the single “This Is Mongol” (featuring DuVall), and offers a “refreshed look at the culturally shaped track with a new perspective.” The song’s original music video...
The new set, Rumble of Thunder: Deluxe Album, will feature four acoustic renditions and three newly recorded singles featuring guest appearances and English-translated vocals from Tankian and Dl, Alice in Chains’ William DuVall, and solo artist Laura Pergolizzi. Pre-orders for the album on a variety of platforms, both digital and physical, are available now here.
“Black Thunder” (featuring Tankian and Dl), follows the release of the single “This Is Mongol” (featuring DuVall), and offers a “refreshed look at the culturally shaped track with a new perspective.” The song’s original music video...
- 3/31/2023
- by Anne Erickson
- Consequence - Music
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