Serj Tankian, the frontman of System of a Down, has expressed his deep concern and disappointment regarding Imagine Dragons’ choice to go ahead with their planned performance in Baku, Azerbaijan, despite his personal plea for them to reconsider. Tankian, who is well-known for his vocal activism on human rights issues, particularly those involving Azerbaijan’s government under President Ilham Aliyev, had previously cautioned Imagine Dragons about the ethical implications of their show.
Serj Tankian is frustrated with Imagine Dragons
During an interview with Metal Hammer, Tankian conveyed his frustration and emphasized the seriousness of the situation. He strongly criticized Imagine Dragons for performing in a country that has been accused of human rights violations and illegal actions against neighboring territories, as acknowledged by international organizations such as the International Court of Justice, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch.
Tankian’s letter to Imagine Dragons was not intended to boost his own ego, but rather to advocate for positive change and ethical conduct. He expressed his disappointment at what he sees as Imagine Dragons’ disregard for justice and human rights, stating that he has no respect for their decision and questioning their moral integrity.
“If you are that blind to justice that you will go play a show in a country that’s starving another country, illegally, according to the International Court of Justice, according to what Amnesty International is saying, what Human Rights Watch is saying… If you still go and play that country, I don’t know what to say about you as a f*cking human being. I don’t even care about your music. If you’re a bad human being, I don’t give a f*ck. So that’s where I’m at with that. I have zero respect for those guys.”
“It’s not about my ego. I just wanted to make positive change. I wanted those guys to know that what they’re about to do is going to have bad repercussions. I was warning them for their own sake, for their own morality.”
In case you didn’t know, there is also the chance of a System of A Down album releasing this year.
