Serj Tankian Reveals System of a Down Auditioned New Singer After He Requested Out of the Band

Serj Tankian is about to launch his memoir, Down with the System, on Tuesday (Could 14th). In an advance excerpt, the singer reveals that System of a Down auditioned a brand new vocalist after he had requested out of the band.

Previously, Tankian has admitted that he was answerable for the the band’s lengthy hiatus from 2006 to 2011, largely attributable to his want to step away from touring, in addition to his artistic variations with singer-guitarist Daron Malakian.

Tankian has additionally spoken overtly about his power again troubles that make it tough for him to tour, plus he has expressed distaste for the touring life normally. Nonetheless, the passages from his autobiography shed new gentle on how shut he was to leaving the band completely.

In reality, it was Tankian himself who recommended the band discover a new singer in 2017, as he notes within the ebook excerpt shared with Rolling Stone under:

“System is fortunate sufficient to make royalties from promoting music, and that revenue is fairly constant. In the event you outspend that revenue, you’ll be able to at all times refill the coffers with massive checks from touring. Taking part in reside can grow to be a bit like visiting the world’s most beneficiant ATM.

However bear in mind: I’d by no means wished to be somebody who made selections due to cash. I acknowledge it’s an amazing privilege to be ready to not should do precisely that, however I can’t ignore the truth that not making selections based mostly on cash was what had led me to that privilege within the first place. Because it occurred, I used to be fairly good at staying inside my price range anyway, so the monetary lure of touring was by no means going to outweigh all of the negatives. With music, I’ve by no means made compromises and it’s at all times labored out, so why begin now?

Towards the top of 2017, we had a band assembly at [SOAD manager] Beno’s workplace. Once I arrived, I informed everybody that I had an merchandise I wished so as to add to the agenda. We went by the rigamarole of standard enterprise discussions, after which it got here time for my merchandise.

‘So, who’s going to throw me a going-away occasion?’ I requested the group. ‘Do one in every of you guys wish to be the grasp of ceremonies?’ I laughed somewhat, however I used to be critical. ‘Look guys, I’ve been very clear that I’m now not eager about touring each attributable to my again and since it’s simply now not one thing inside my imaginative and prescient.’

‘The factor is, although,’ I continued, ‘I don’t wish to maintain you guys again. That is your dream. That is what you’ve labored in your entire life. You should have this.’ I checked out Daron, Shavo, and John, realizing what I mentioned subsequent would hit onerous.

‘I believe you guys ought to discover a new singer.’

For the longest time, System of a Down was concerning the 4 of us. We’d constructed it up from nothing, we’d been by all of the battles collectively alongside the best way, and if any one in every of us left, it merely wouldn’t be the identical factor anymore. A few years earlier, I’d even tried to codify this with a authorized doc that acknowledged that if somebody left the band for any purpose — aside from, God forbid, dying — that the remaining members couldn’t use the band identify with out him. Everybody else resisted that concept, most likely as a result of they sensed I used to be in search of a approach out of the band on the time, and so they weren’t able to kiss it goodbye. I’d initially been upset that they didn’t see System the identical approach I did, however after some time, I finished being so treasured about it, and simply considered these three guys not as my bandmates however as my shut mates.”

Within the excerpt, Tankian goes on to explain his relationship with every of his bandmates earlier than revealing that they did certainly audition a brand new singer with out him realizing:

“I form of thought they’d forgotten about the entire thought of hiring a brand new singer, however a yr or so later, John, Shavo, and I have been at a fundraiser in Glendale, and this singer I knew bought up and sang this stunning Armenian track. Shavo was sitting subsequent to me on the desk. He leaned over and tapped me on the shoulder.

‘By the best way,’ he nodded towards the singer, ‘we tried this man out as a singer. The one downside was that he couldn’t scream and growl.’

I used to be greatly surprised. Not that that they had been auditioning replacements, however that they’d saved it a secret. ‘Why didn’t you guys ever inform me?’ I whispered. Shavo shrugged. ‘I dunno.’

I turned towards Shavo, now trying straight at him. ‘Pay attention, he’s an excellent singer,’ I mentioned. ‘I can actually take him within the car parking zone proper now and train him the best way to growl. It is best to actually think about him.’

In newer years, I pitched one other buddy to them as a possible alternative that they ought to noticeably think about. However I don’t assume they ever did.”

System of a Down haven’t launched a brand new album since 2005’s Hypnotize, however they did unveil two new singles in 2020. Whereas they now not tour, the band does play occasional one-off reveals, together with final month on the Sick New World competition and this coming August seventeenth at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco with Deftones (choose up tickets right here).

As talked about, Serj Tankian’s memoir, Down with the System, arrives this Tuesday. Pre-orders are obtainable right here.

Picture Gallery: System of a Down and different acts on the 2024 Sick New World Fest (click on to increase and scroll by):