System Of A Down drummer John Dolmayan has stated the band’s hiatus was a “disastrous transfer”.
The group went on a hiatus from 2006 to 2010 and are but to report a full-length follow-up to their ‘Mezmerize’ and ‘Hypnotize’ albums, which got here out in 2005.
Talking in a brand new interview with Richard Allan on Motion Figures, Dolmayan mentioned System Of A Down’s incapability to make a brand new album.
“I by no means needed System to take a hiatus,” he stated. “I feel it was a disastrous transfer for us, as a result of we by no means reached our peak. I nonetheless really feel like now we have a number of music in us. And as massive because the band is – we’re a large draw internationally and right here within the US – I feel we may have been the largest band on this planet. Why not obtain that in case you have the potential?
“So I really feel like, sure, System is a good band. We now have an incredible dwell present and I’m very happy with what now we have achieved. However we obtained to right here [points to a spot on the table]. We may have gotten to right here [points to another spot further away].”
Dolmayan continued: “It doesn’t imply we nonetheless can’t, nevertheless it’s unlikely, as a result of if you happen to can’t put your ego apart – you’ve gotta take that cloak off, your ego, and put it right here – and get in a room and work collectively, and do what’s finest for the band. And if everyone isn’t considering of what’s finest for the band, the band has no selection. The definition of a band is the selflessness. That’s what a society is, isn’t it? We’re all considering, like, collectively we make one thing nice. Alone, we would not even survive.
“So, for me, there’s a number of unhappiness related to it, as a result of [guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian’s solo project] Scars On Broadway is okay, Serj’s solo tasks are high-quality, however they’re nothing in comparison with System. After we stopped, yet one more album, you’re speaking a couple of completely different dialog.”
Serj Tankian (l) and John Dolmayan (r) of System of a Down. CREDIT: Thos Robinson/Getty Photos for AFM
He added: “On the finish of the day, we achieved fairly a bit. So our epitaphs are already written. My youngsters’ youngsters will be capable to say, ‘That was my grandfather, and he was on this band. And look what they did.’ And so they’ll be capable to hearken to that for so long as humanity exists, I suppose.”
“Anytime you don’t attain your potential, it’s a unhappiness,” Dolmayan concluded. “And by the best way, our potential may have been to promote 10 albums. But when that was it, and we reached it, you may stroll away saying, ‘I did every thing I may.’ … That manner you may spend the remainder of your life comfortable. The worst factor is to be 50 years outdated, sitting in a room, doing one thing you’re depressing doing, and figuring out it’s due to you – since you didn’t have the balls to pursue it; you didn’t have the balls to place every thing into it.”
In the meantime, System Of A Down have reached a huge landmark with their ‘Chop Suey!’ music video reaching one billion views.
‘Chop Suey!’ was the breakthrough lead single from the band’s best-selling second album, ‘Toxicity’ (2001). Regardless of being launched almost 20 years in the past, the music video wasn’t uploaded to YouTube till 2009.
