System Of A Down vocalist Serj Tankian has responded to Think about Dragons’ defence of their determination to carry out in Azerbaijan.
Tankian initially wrote to the pop-rock stars final 12 months, forward of their gig in Baku on October 2, hoping to dissuade them from performing within the nation because of the actions of authoritarian president Ilham Aliyev.
The Armenian-American nu metal singer believed that the live performance “would assist whitewash the dictatorial regime’s picture”.
He additionally cited an Related Press report the place a former chief prosecutor of the Worldwide Legal Courtroom mentioned Azerbaijan was making ready for genocide in opposition to ethnic Armenians in its Nagorno-Karabakh area.
After the gig went forward, Tankian told Metal Hammer, “I don’t respect them [Imagine Dragons] as human beings.
“Fuck their artwork, they’re not good human beings, so far as I’m involved.”
Think about Dragons vocalist Dan Reynolds responded to Tankian’s criticism in a latest Rolling Stone characteristic.
“I don’t consider in depriving our followers who need to see us play due to the acts of their leaders and their governments,” the vocalist mentioned.
“I feel that’s a very slippery slope. I feel the second you begin to try this, there’s corrupt leaders and warmongers everywhere in the world, and the place do you draw the road?”
Immediately (July 5), through Instagram, Tankian has issued a counter-statement, persevering with to criticise Think about Dragons for performing in Azerbaijan.
After quoting Reynolds’ rhetorical query, Tankian writes, “Respectfully, I draw the road at ethnic cleaning and genocide.”
He continues: “Azerbaijan’s dictatorship with in style help was already right into a 9 month hunger blockade of Nagorno-Karabagh certified as Genocide by former [International Criminal Court] prosecutor [Luis Moreno Ocampo] after they [Imagine Dragons] determined to play Baku.
“Would they play in Nazi Germany? Why don’t they need to play in Russia? As a result of it’s not in style?
“They help Ukraine however not Armenians of Artsakh? The one ‘slippery slope’ is the farce ethical equivalency on the coronary heart of this hypocritical angle.”
Tankian finishes: “I’ve nothing in opposition to this man nor his band. I simply hate artists being taken benefit of to whitewash Genocidal dictatorships.”
Tankian put out his new memoir, Down With The System, on Could 14 through Hachette Books, whereas Think about Dragons launched new album Loom on June 28 through Interscope.