Dolmayan Claims Tankian Hasn’t Wanted System for 'Long Time'

System of a Down began off the twenty first century as one of the promising bands in heavy music, however after happening hiatus following 2005’s Hypnotize album, the group has principally been relegated to touring, apart from releasing two profit songs in 2020. That inconsistency of inactivity has been a bone of competition amongst the group’s members, with drummer John Dolmayan not too long ago inserting a number of the blame on frontman Serj Tankian.

Throughout a latest chat about System of a Down’s present state on the Battleline Podcast, the drummer commented, “Serj [Tankian] hasn’t actually wished to be within the band for a very long time. And fairly frankly, we most likely ought to have parted methods round 2006.”

He continued (as transcribed by Blabbermouth), We tried to get collectively a number of instances to make an album, however there have been sure guidelines set in place that made it tough to take action and keep the integrity of what System of a Down stood for. So we could not actually come collectively and agree. And a part of that’s Serj’s fault, and a part of that’s my fault, and Shavo’s [Odadjian] and Daron’s [Malakian] as properly. However on the finish of the day, in case you have a majority of the band considering a technique and one individual considering the opposite, it is very tough to come back collectively and make music considering that individual is essential. And each member of this band is essential to the general sound of the band. And you may know this by listening to anyone’s aspect initiatives; they’re by no means fairly that good in comparison with System. The truth is, I believe numerous ’em aren’t excellent in any respect. And if you evaluate that to what we do collectively as System, you perceive why the staff issues and having sure skills come collectively and merge matter and that magic factor captured doing that issues.”

Dolmayan went on to reward guitarist and songwriter, Daron Malakian, expressing, “It doesn’t matter what, Daron is likely one of the greatest songwriters I’ve ever seen in my life. What he does with Scars [on Broadway] won’t ever be on the identical degree or league as System. That does not imply Scars is dangerous; it simply means it is not System. ‘Trigger on the finish of the day, he would not have me taking part in drums; he would not have Shavo taking part in bass and bringing in sure riffs and including to Daron’s music, and he would not have Serj bringing his melody and lyrics into the play. So it is all these issues that make us System.”

When requested why he mentioned the band ought to have parted methods round 2006, the drummer explains, “I believe we should always have moved on, and if Serj did not wanna be within the band at the moment, we should always have simply moved on and completed it with any individual else. However that is what occurs if you’re loyal and you actually wanna make it work; you will put up with issues which may be detrimental to the well being of the band or the well being of the state of affairs. Perhaps it might have been higher if we moved on and obtained one other singer for an album or two and continued to make music and introduced Serj again later if he wished to come back again. That most likely would have been higher. However as it’s, I believe we wasted 15, perhaps 20 years of our lives ready.”

Dolmayan then opened up about their present state as a band, typically nonetheless taking part in reside collectively. “After we’re really onstage, it is nice,” mentioned the drummer. “It is simply attending to that time that’s disheartening. We’ve one present booked for subsequent 12 months. One present. That is it.”

Final October, Tankian said in a separate interview that he had cooled on the idea of large scale touring. The vocalist underwent again surgical procedure final 12 months, and he defined, “I’ve obtained sure points that I am getting over which are well being points which are affecting my mobility. I imply, I stroll advantageous and I will do stuff and I might carry out. However the journey of a tour actually, actually impacts me at this level. That and, to be sincere with you, it is not in my artistic purview, you understand? So a present right here and there we have completed and may nonetheless do. However so far as doing a particular factor, it is probably not one thing the place I am at proper now.”

He additionally shared, “If you’re doing a full tour, these first two or three exhibits are actually thrilling, you understand? As a result of you have not toured shortly and also you’re taking part in the units. You are on the market and also you’re transferring round and then you definitely obtained the identical set on the fourth present, fifth present, sixth present. By the tenth present, it is fucking, what’s that film? The Invoice Murray one? Groundhog Day. You recognize, it turns into Groundhog Day. And you continue to have enjoyable as a result of it is a totally different viewers, totally different metropolis and all that, nevertheless it turns into a bit computerized, mechanical, a bit. And to me, that is redundant artistically. Having one present that is in a particular place, completed in a particular approach, is extra fascinating.”

In persevering with Dolmayan’s interview, he revealed that a few of his bandmate would like to be extra lively as a reside band. Whereas stating that he understands Tankian’s well being points, he added, “He simply would not wanna tour as a lot as the remainder of us do. Look, if my spouse advised me that we had been gonna have intercourse every year, I might be divorced. So you work that out for what it’s. I do not assume that is sustainable.”

As for what which means for the band’s future, the drummer feedback, “I do not know if which means we’re simply gonna break up and overlook about it and name it a profession or if we’re gonna transfer ahead with any individual else or if Serj is gonna come round. Finally, the best-case situation for me is Serj comes round and we are able to do, like, 15, 20 exhibits a 12 months. Even that will be sufficient. We would be able to go to locations that we have not gone in a very long time and play in entrance of followers which have by no means seen us play. That is essential to me.”

Dolmayan concludes, “I do not know what’s gonna occur. Even speaking about System sort of bums me out, as a result of I do know what our potential is. And I do know that if we make an album, it will be unbelievable ‘trigger we’ve got songs which were prepared for 5 [or] six years now; we simply must go in and file ’em. And I do not know if that is gonna occur or not. You solely get one shot at life. Make one of the best of it.”

System of a Down launched 5 albums between 1998 and 2005, with Mezmerize and Hypnotize being their final full albums issued, each in 2005. The band’s try to write down and file music for a brand new studio album in 2016 and 2017 stalled out as they conflicted on musical path, however the group did come collectively to file and release the songs “Protect the Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz” in 2020 to lift funds for displaced households affected by the battle in Artsakh and Armenia.