Serj Tankian says System of a Down doesn’t see ‘eye to eye’ on band’s direction

Posted by on December 21, 2017

If you’re a System of a Down fan, you’ve been waiting over ten years for a new album, and according to a new interview with frontman, Serj Tankian, we might have to wait a little longer. At this point, we might see a new Tool album before we see a System of a Down record. In his recent chat with Rolling Stone, Tankian talks about new System of a Down material and how the band is not seeing “eye to eye” but, assures us that the group’s relationship is still intact.

Has System attempted to make an album at all?
We have. We’ve discussed it and we’ve played each other songs, but we still haven’t come eye to eye on how things should be done for us to be able to move forward with it. And that’s where it’s been.

You all seem to be having fun touring though.
That’s the funny thing. When people don’t see a record, they assume the worst about your internal relationship. But the truth is we’re actually better friends – at least I’m better friends with everyone than I’ve ever been. John’s my brother-in-law; he’s in my family. We have a great time together touring. But sometimes putting together a record, and that creative output and how things should be done, is different in four people’s heads and it doesn’t always come together. Fortunate or unfortunate, however you want to call it, that’s the truth. But touring is easy, because you’ve done all these songs. You have fun, you go out and tour, and that’s it.

Tankian has a point, people like to assume the worst but bassist Shavo Odadjian did go on a little Facebook rant a couple years ago about the vocalist. Also in the interview, Tankian is asked about his recent statement about being tired of vocals and how many jumped to the conclusion that System of a Down was a goner.

You must have gotten a real kick then out of the way the Internet picked up the “Screw vocals” story then, as if you were quitting System.
Everyone’s looking for headlines. I hate that. I hate when they take something and they just go with it. If you’re going to print that, at least send us an email asking, “Hey, did you say this?” And I’d say, “I probably did, but it was in this context.” At least check with me. Don’t take an interview that was translated from Russian from five months ago on the set of a film without checking. Everyone’s picking it up and going, “Oh, my God, that means he’s not doing System again?” It’s kind of funny. You want to negate all these things, but then you’re like, “Well, I didn’t start it in the first place.” Why do I have to put out fires every two weeks? I’ve got shit to do. I’m working on music [laughs].

Overall, it’s good to hear that the members of System have a strong relationship and at least have songs written. In related news, Tankian was featured in Revolver’s new mini-documentary.

[via Rolling Stone]

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