Seemingly from their inception, System Of A Down have been a politically motivated band. Having championing the recognition of the Armenian genocide, prison reform, criticizing the military industrial complex and other topics, one might expect that they would share a similar outlook on the current political climate.
However, in an era where the political divide has been weaponized, it might surprise you that not every member of the band is on the same page when it comes to the 2020 United States presidential election.
On one hand, you have the frontman Serj Tankian, who seems to have pledged his support to democratic socialist candidate Bernie Sanders. As you can see in the post he shared yesterday, February 25th (he has also shared Sanders content previously as well.):
Meanwhile, on the same day, System Of A Down drummer John Dolmayan made a post condemning some of Sanders‘ proposed platforms. He commented:
“Childcare / free , healthcare / free, university/ free. Fuck it , if everything’s going to be free and it’s all going to come from the rich anyway then why work at all? Why not just live off the work and profits of the rich? I’m a millionaire and so is Bernie but I only have two houses so maybe I can share this hypocrite’s “summer camp”.
Don’t believe the indoctrination, don’t believe Hollywood/ music elites , and don’t believe communism disguised as democratic socialism will do anything but strip you of your freedoms and make everyone equally destitute. Venezuela, China, North Korea , Nazi Germany, Cambodia (Pol Pot) , Italy ( Mussolini ) , etc.
It doesn’t work , it will not work , and it always leads to poverty for the working class. The same elites pushing this agenda will be well taken care of while the rest of the people starve.”
While it’s of course perfectly acceptable for members of the band to hold disparate political beliefs, it is interesting to see them on differing ends of the spectrum. For a band whose output and activist work has notably been of political bent, you’d almost expect them to rally behind the same candidates and causes as a unified front. Then again, perhaps there’s always been a bit of push and pull behind the scenes in that regard.
As has often been reported, the differing opinions on politics aren’t the only disagreements to be found in the band. They remain in a creative and financial impasse in regards to pushing ahead with any new material.
Despite their internal struggles, the group are still friendly enough to get together and tour and you can catch them out on the road this year on the following dates:
05/22 Los Angeles, CA – Banc Of California Stadium (feat. Korn, Faith No More, Helmet, etc.) (tickets)
05/23 Los Angeles, CA – Banc Of California Stadium (feat. Korn, Faith No More, Helmet, etc.) (tickets)
06/03 Amsterdam, NET – Ziggo Dome (tickets)
06/05 Nurburg, GER – Rock am Ring
06/07 Nuremberg, GER – Rock im Park
06/08 Berlin, GER – Waldbuhne (tickets)
06/10 Nickelsdorf, AUT – Nova Rock Festival
06/12 Milan, ITA – I-Days Festival (tickets)
06/14 Donington, UK – Download Festival (tickets)
06/16 Prague, CZE – O2 Arena (tickets)
06/17 Budapest, HUN – Laszlo Papp Sports Arena (tickets)
06/19 Zurich, SWI – Hallenstadion (tickets)
06/21 Clisson, FRA – Hellfest (tickets)
06/23 Stockholm, SWE – Ericsson Globe (tickets)
06/25-27 Seinäjoki, FIN – Provinssirock Festival
06/30 Krakow, POL – Tauron Arena (tickets)
07/01-04 Viveiro, SPA – Resurrection Fest (tickets)
07/02-03 Lisbon, POR – VOA Heavy Rock Festival (tickets)
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