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Fighting words: With two Lebanese-born members,
System of a Down is closely touched by the current conflict.
But war has always been a theme of the band's unflinching lyrics
Montreal Gazette, Quebec
July 27, 2006
T'CHA DUNLEVY, The Gazette Published: Thursday, July 27, 2006
Article tools
Though widely referred to as an Armenian-American hard rock group,
System of a Down also has roots in another country, which has been
at the forefront of world news in recent weeks. Two of its members -
singer Serj Tankian and drummer John Dolmayan - were born in Lebanon.
Which made the current conflict in the Middle East an unavoidable
topic when I got Dolmayan on the phone yesterday.
"I think it's great. I'm very happy about things," he said,
without missing a beat, before getting serious. "Obviously it's very
disturbing. But it's nothing new. It's the reason our families left
in the first place. What's happening now is exactly what was happening
25 years ago. Unfortunately, in that region, it's the same thing that
has been happening for the past 2,000 years. It's very disturbing. We
still have family there. It's very difficult to deal with."
Dolmayan also has ties to Montreal. And that's not just a reference to
the legions of loyal fans that have helped make the band's appearances
here so memorable.
"We always have really good shows in Montreal," he said. "Part of the
reason is that we haven't been that many times. My sister was actually
born in Montreal. When my family left Lebanon, we came to Canada for
asylum. My sister was born two or three days after we got there."
That was in 1976, "one of many times the shit hit the fan in Lebanon.
Lebanon never fights with anyone, but it's used as a battleground for
whoever feels like fighting. Unfortunately, it's right in the middle of
(everything).
"It's far-fetched, but if Canada and Mexico went to war, they
would fight in the U.S. That's kind of where Lebanon is, in the
middle between Syria and Israel. Before, there were Jews, Arabs and
Christians and everyone wanted to fight for Jerusalem, they were all
historically from the same tribes. They were practically related, if
you go back far enough. It probably started over a couple of sheep,
and they've been fighting ever since. It's moronic."
War is a recurring theme in System of a Down's music.
The subject is broached from many angles on last year's
Mesmerize/Hypnotize two-CD set (released separately): including money
("Why do they always send the poor?"), machismo (My c--k is much
bigger than yours") and the innocent victims of conflict ("Where do
you expect us to go when the bombs fall?").
Though pointed and unflinching, the band's stance rarely comes off as
heavy-handed. Topics are tackled with defiance, irony and wit. The
trivialization of life in North America also features prominently.
"Hey man, look at me rockin' out/I'm on the radio," Tankian sings.
But while humour plays a part in the music, the grim reality
of world events cannot be ignored. System of a Down's website
(www.systemofadown.com) has a section devoted to global action,
providing links to an array of other sites. At the top of the list
is an entry about the Turkish genocide of Armenians in 1915-23;
an event still officially denied by Turkey.
"After almost 100 years ... Turkey still refuses to accept its role in
this terrible tragedy," Dolmayan said. "Imagine if Germany did that,
and raised its citizens to believe the Holocaust never happened. How
sad would that be to Jews, Gypsies, gays and others?"
When not expounding on weighty topics, Dolmayan is pounding out the
relentless beats that, along with the bass playing of Shavo Odadjian,
provide the bedrock of their band's music.
"I'd say we're one of the tightest rhythm sections out there right
now," he said. "Rhythm is the concrete foundation of the music, so
if that is there, the painting and architecture that are the lyrics,
vocals and guitar melodies can interact the way they want. If you
don't have a tight rhythm section, your band sucks."
The band is rounded out by guitarist, vocalist and principal songwriter
Daron Malakian. Asked what leads System of a Down to make such fervent,
ambitious music, Dolmayan doesn't overthink things.
"This is the path chosen for us by destiny," he said. "We all
gravitated to music for one reason or another ... People call us
Armenian rap-metal, prog rock. In 10 years, they might call us classic
rock. We don't care. We play music for one reason - to satisfy a need
within ourselves.
"Before I knew about war, money or women, I had a passion to play the
drums. It's something that's inherently within us. And that's why I'm
fortunate enough to have you talking to me - because you care about
our band, because people in Montreal care enough to buy a ticket to
our show. We're lucky to be in that position. But whether it was one
person or one million, that passion would be there."
System of a Down performs Wednesday at Jean Drapeau Park, with
Avenged Sevenfold, Hatebreed and others. Tickets cost $54.50. Call
514-790-1245.
System of a Down is closely touched by the current conflict.
But war has always been a theme of the band's unflinching lyrics
Montreal Gazette, Quebec
July 27, 2006
T'CHA DUNLEVY, The Gazette Published: Thursday, July 27, 2006
Article tools
Though widely referred to as an Armenian-American hard rock group,
System of a Down also has roots in another country, which has been
at the forefront of world news in recent weeks. Two of its members -
singer Serj Tankian and drummer John Dolmayan - were born in Lebanon.
Which made the current conflict in the Middle East an unavoidable
topic when I got Dolmayan on the phone yesterday.
"I think it's great. I'm very happy about things," he said,
without missing a beat, before getting serious. "Obviously it's very
disturbing. But it's nothing new. It's the reason our families left
in the first place. What's happening now is exactly what was happening
25 years ago. Unfortunately, in that region, it's the same thing that
has been happening for the past 2,000 years. It's very disturbing. We
still have family there. It's very difficult to deal with."
Dolmayan also has ties to Montreal. And that's not just a reference to
the legions of loyal fans that have helped make the band's appearances
here so memorable.
"We always have really good shows in Montreal," he said. "Part of the
reason is that we haven't been that many times. My sister was actually
born in Montreal. When my family left Lebanon, we came to Canada for
asylum. My sister was born two or three days after we got there."
That was in 1976, "one of many times the shit hit the fan in Lebanon.
Lebanon never fights with anyone, but it's used as a battleground for
whoever feels like fighting. Unfortunately, it's right in the middle of
(everything).
"It's far-fetched, but if Canada and Mexico went to war, they
would fight in the U.S. That's kind of where Lebanon is, in the
middle between Syria and Israel. Before, there were Jews, Arabs and
Christians and everyone wanted to fight for Jerusalem, they were all
historically from the same tribes. They were practically related, if
you go back far enough. It probably started over a couple of sheep,
and they've been fighting ever since. It's moronic."
War is a recurring theme in System of a Down's music.
The subject is broached from many angles on last year's
Mesmerize/Hypnotize two-CD set (released separately): including money
("Why do they always send the poor?"), machismo (My c--k is much
bigger than yours") and the innocent victims of conflict ("Where do
you expect us to go when the bombs fall?").
Though pointed and unflinching, the band's stance rarely comes off as
heavy-handed. Topics are tackled with defiance, irony and wit. The
trivialization of life in North America also features prominently.
"Hey man, look at me rockin' out/I'm on the radio," Tankian sings.
But while humour plays a part in the music, the grim reality
of world events cannot be ignored. System of a Down's website
(www.systemofadown.com) has a section devoted to global action,
providing links to an array of other sites. At the top of the list
is an entry about the Turkish genocide of Armenians in 1915-23;
an event still officially denied by Turkey.
"After almost 100 years ... Turkey still refuses to accept its role in
this terrible tragedy," Dolmayan said. "Imagine if Germany did that,
and raised its citizens to believe the Holocaust never happened. How
sad would that be to Jews, Gypsies, gays and others?"
When not expounding on weighty topics, Dolmayan is pounding out the
relentless beats that, along with the bass playing of Shavo Odadjian,
provide the bedrock of their band's music.
"I'd say we're one of the tightest rhythm sections out there right
now," he said. "Rhythm is the concrete foundation of the music, so
if that is there, the painting and architecture that are the lyrics,
vocals and guitar melodies can interact the way they want. If you
don't have a tight rhythm section, your band sucks."
The band is rounded out by guitarist, vocalist and principal songwriter
Daron Malakian. Asked what leads System of a Down to make such fervent,
ambitious music, Dolmayan doesn't overthink things.
"This is the path chosen for us by destiny," he said. "We all
gravitated to music for one reason or another ... People call us
Armenian rap-metal, prog rock. In 10 years, they might call us classic
rock. We don't care. We play music for one reason - to satisfy a need
within ourselves.
"Before I knew about war, money or women, I had a passion to play the
drums. It's something that's inherently within us. And that's why I'm
fortunate enough to have you talking to me - because you care about
our band, because people in Montreal care enough to buy a ticket to
our show. We're lucky to be in that position. But whether it was one
person or one million, that passion would be there."
System of a Down performs Wednesday at Jean Drapeau Park, with
Avenged Sevenfold, Hatebreed and others. Tickets cost $54.50. Call
514-790-1245.