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.
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,...
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
System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan has not shied away from sharing his political opinions — especially during the months surrounding the 2020 US presidential election and its aftermath.
An outspoken supporter of embattled former US president Donald Trump, Dolmayan took to Instagram on Sunday (October 22nd) to claim that he’s lost “people that I thought were friends” and “hundreds of thousands of fans” because of his beliefs and willingness to espouse them online.
The drummer shared the following statement posted as an image on his account, suggesting that some of his detractors are now seeing the validity of his opinions:
“I lost people that I thought were friends over the last few years primarily due to my unwillingness to accept the narratives they are now questioning the validity of. Not to mention hundreds of thousands of fans who couldn’t handle my opinions here on Instagram. When you endeavor to help those in peril,...
An outspoken supporter of embattled former US president Donald Trump, Dolmayan took to Instagram on Sunday (October 22nd) to claim that he’s lost “people that I thought were friends” and “hundreds of thousands of fans” because of his beliefs and willingness to espouse them online.
The drummer shared the following statement posted as an image on his account, suggesting that some of his detractors are now seeing the validity of his opinions:
“I lost people that I thought were friends over the last few years primarily due to my unwillingness to accept the narratives they are now questioning the validity of. Not to mention hundreds of thousands of fans who couldn’t handle my opinions here on Instagram. When you endeavor to help those in peril,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
The straw-man argument at the center of Truth to Power, a documentary about the art and activism of System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian, is: “Can music change the world?” If you know anything about Tankian — or Fela Kuti, Pete Seeger, Billie Holiday, N.W.A, Ludwig van Beethoven, and on and on — the answer is self-evident. But once filmmaker Garin Hovannisian moves past this question and begins showing how Tankian and his bandmates have improved the status of their ancestral homeland, Armenia, the power of truth starts hitting its marks.
- 2/19/2021
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
It took a war for System of a Down to record new music. After seeing the country of Azerbaijan start a conflict with Armenia in September, the musicians, who are all of Armenian descent, rushed into the studio to record two new songs, “Protect the Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz,” to draw attention to the crisis in their ancestral homeland.
The band will donate proceeds from the songs, which come out Friday, to aid Armenians, and it is soliciting fans to donate to the Armenia Fund, which provides humanitarian relief to the region.
The band will donate proceeds from the songs, which come out Friday, to aid Armenians, and it is soliciting fans to donate to the Armenia Fund, which provides humanitarian relief to the region.
- 11/6/2020
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
The rock band System of a Down and singer Serj Tankian are the subjects of a new documentary called “Truth to Power” that Live Nation Productions is debuting at the Cannes virtual marketplace, Live Nation announced Tuesday.
The film follows the rock band and specifically Tankian’s social justice activism work, including his role in inspiring the peaceful protests as part of the 2018 Velvet Revolution in Tankian’s native Armenia.
“Truth to Power” also includes appearances by System Of a Down band members John Dolmayan and Shavo Odadjian, the band’s manager David “Beno” Benveniste, filmmaker/journalist Carla Garapedian, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, and famed record producer Rick Rubin.
Also Read: 'I Am Not Alone' Trailer: Armenia's 'Velvet Revolution' Starts With a Step in New Documentary (Exclusive Video)
You can check out a teaser trailer for the film above, which shows Tankian on stage saying, “It’s...
The film follows the rock band and specifically Tankian’s social justice activism work, including his role in inspiring the peaceful protests as part of the 2018 Velvet Revolution in Tankian’s native Armenia.
“Truth to Power” also includes appearances by System Of a Down band members John Dolmayan and Shavo Odadjian, the band’s manager David “Beno” Benveniste, filmmaker/journalist Carla Garapedian, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, and famed record producer Rick Rubin.
Also Read: 'I Am Not Alone' Trailer: Armenia's 'Velvet Revolution' Starts With a Step in New Documentary (Exclusive Video)
You can check out a teaser trailer for the film above, which shows Tankian on stage saying, “It’s...
- 6/23/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan unveiled a hard-rock reworking of Radiohead’s “Street Spirit” — featuring a searing guitar solo from Tom Morello — that will appear on his upcoming solo debut, These Grey Men, out February 28th.
“This song in particular is a really touching and moving song,” Dolmayan tells Rolling Stone about why he chose to cover the standout track from The Bends. “I love the morose, in-your-room-and-it’s-raining-outside, it’s cold, and your girlfriend dumped you feeling that this song always gave me.… But when I listened to it,...
“This song in particular is a really touching and moving song,” Dolmayan tells Rolling Stone about why he chose to cover the standout track from The Bends. “I love the morose, in-your-room-and-it’s-raining-outside, it’s cold, and your girlfriend dumped you feeling that this song always gave me.… But when I listened to it,...
- 1/23/2020
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
The members of System of a Down are finally detailing why they haven’t issued any new music since 2005’s Mezmerize and Hypnotize albums after more than a decade of speculation. First, guitarist Daron Malakian – who is promoting an upcoming album by his side project Scars on Broadway – said in an interview that the group had to “beg” frontman Serj Tankian to make those two records since the singer felt like he was “out” at that time. Now the vocalist has posted a lengthy Facebook message that lifts the veil on what has stopped them.
- 7/13/2018
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Detective Comics #1. Amazing Fantasy #15. Captain America #1. All iconic issues that most true comic fans would give their left leg for. In some cases, maybe even the whole left side of their body. But as rare as these books are, only one stands above the pack as the ultimate issue for a collector to lay their hands on. Action Comics #1. While you can’t trade the left half of your body for it, you can apparently pick it up for a cool $1,000,000.
So how did this first appearance of Superman break comic sales records? Monday morning, comic auction website ComicConnect.com posted the a 8.0 graded, non-restored copy of the issue at 10:30 eastern time. Minutes later, the book was reported to a “well known individual” who has chosen to remain private.
John Dolmayan, drummer of System of a Down and owner of Torpedo Comics, once paid $317,000 for a lesser grade issue...
So how did this first appearance of Superman break comic sales records? Monday morning, comic auction website ComicConnect.com posted the a 8.0 graded, non-restored copy of the issue at 10:30 eastern time. Minutes later, the book was reported to a “well known individual” who has chosen to remain private.
John Dolmayan, drummer of System of a Down and owner of Torpedo Comics, once paid $317,000 for a lesser grade issue...
- 2/23/2010
- by John Carle
- The Flickcast
Rock star Alice Cooper has agreed to lend his likeness to an upcoming horror comic book titled The Rufnex. The musician will appear in the book alongside a host of other celebrities, including Lost actor Nestor Carbonell and System Of A Down drummer John Dolmayan. It will be written and illustrated by Miguel A. Insignares. "I am honoured to have such an incredible roster of talent which have agreed to lend their likeness to this project and I am thrilled at the potential of The Rufnex brand across various entertainment media," Insignares said. (more)...
- 10/23/2009
- by By Mark Langshaw
- Digital Spy
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