But these days, with socio-economic boundaries more blurred than ever and ready access to news from all slants on the internet, musicians like Daron Malakian from Scars on Broadway and System of a Down are rocking a diverse outlook on the current political climate.

Backstage at Epicenter 2012, Malakian told KROQ’s Rich Rubin that he’s not political in the sense that he wants to “stand up on a pedestal and fight for everybody’s rights,” but that he does think the public should be wary of their perceptions of politicians. Because that’s exactly what they are–politicians. He said that even Obama is a “king” at making people like him; maybe “better than Clinton.”

“Anybody that thinks that Obama was going to come and fix that mess in three or four years is nuts,” said Malakian. “I mean, that by itself–you’ve gotta give him a little more time. I think he’s doing a pretty good job. I ain’t got no beef with Obama. But I’ll tell you this much: he’s a politician like everybody else and he’s a damn good one.”

Although Malakian’s beliefs seem to skew left, the NASCAR-loving Armenian musician said that there’s always “two sides to an argument” and brought up hot button topics like stem-cell research and a rape victim’s choice to have an abortion.

“You can’t really hate people for thinking what they think,” Malakian asserts. “It’s just what they’re raised with.”

In the end, it’s not the never-ending debates of politics that Malakian has a problem with but organized religion being used as a tool of manipulation by politicians. Malakain said that it’s just Christian American politicians that use religion to “get their troops riled up,” but also “dudes like Bin Laden.”

“These dudes are all politicians themselves, you know. They use the simple-minded and the poor and they promise them things and that’s how they rile up their troops–using religion,” said Malakian, passionately. “I just think religion could be a beautiful thing for the individual, but when it becomes organized that’s when religion starts taking a kind of ugly turn.”

SOURCE

“While I have rearranged some of my past rock compositions to be performed as orchestral pieces, such as the Elect the Dead Symphony in 2010, Orca is the first 4-act symphony that I have composed, a mix of early 20th century compositional styles combined with the powerful range of film scoring,” said Tankian in a statement. “I decided to name my symphony Orca because orcas appear to have no parallel outside humans in terms of their cultural faculties. An orca is really a dolphin with much darker tendencies. I see this dichotomy as a great metaphor for humanity.”

The fundraiser for the project will end on October 26, with Tankian hoping to raise $25,000 by then. For a $35 pledge, you’ll receive an email thank you from Tankian, a digital and physical copy of the Orca album, and an autographed Orca score sheet. The incentives become greater the more you pledge, right on up to lunch with Tankian, front-row VIP tickets to the concert in Austria, and personal recognition on stage from Tankian at the end of the performance.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

DONATE NOW!

The Bay Area loves its Deftones and it’s a brave band that stands between their fans and a headlining set. When 8 pm rolled around and Scars took the stage, it was immediately clear who was there for what. The rail was populated side-to-side with the obvious Deftones fans, but right behind them was a mob of rabid Scars on Broadway die-hards singing and moshing along. Further down the rail … what appeared to be SOB’s #1 Fan (tall, white t-shirt, not to be missed) who went nuts throughout the set and hollered to Daron at one point, “you’re my hero.” And the Deftones crowd? They may not have known the words to the songs but they were right there with them too.

Only the second show into the tour, Daron and the band sounded tight as can be; well-rehearsed and keenly focused on the music. They only took a break to address the crowd right before Cute Machines to dedicate the song to the horror on the street outside their tour bus (if you’ve ever been to the Warfield, you’d know exactly what he was talking about). Bottom line: 40 minutes of bad ass rock and roll. Oh, and #1 Fan got a guitar pick personally delivered by Daron himself.
Keep any eye out for Scars when they hit your town and watch out for their next release which will hopefully be as strong as their first.

Setlist:
Scars On Broadway
World Long Gone
Sickening Wars
Universe
Chemicals
Insane
Dictator
Cute Machines
Kill Each Other/Live Forever
They Say
F*** n Kill
Exploding/Reloading
Stoner Hate

SOURCE

Referencing the ritualistic suicide of the Japanese samurai, ‘Harakiri’ comments on political, social and natural issues, using the ‘Harakiri’ concept to draw parallels with recent and mysterious mass deaths of animals. ‘Harakiri’ boasts must-hear tracks such as ‘Butterfly,’ ‘Figure it Out’ and the title track, ‘Harakiri.’

SOURCE

Former System of a Down vocalist Serj Tankian has urged the government of Armenia to stop the mining project at Teghut, in the country’s northeastern Lori province, arguing that mining is “dangerous and extremely short term solution” to the nation’s economic woes.

In a letter addressed to the Save Teghut civil initiative group, the Armenian American rock star draws comparisons between Armenia and Azerbaijan, saying that the only ally of Azerbaijan, besides Turkey, is oil.

“Armenia doesn’t have an ally in oil. Nor does it need such ecologically destructive, carbon-based allies. What Armenia needs is a carbon neutral, ecologically sustainable, agriculturally diverse future as its ally. True progress and a solution to Armenia’s economic, environmental, and social challenges will be based on a coordinated effort to support environmentally sustainable agriculture,” says Tankian in the letter disseminated by the group. “I would urge Armenia’s government to re-consider its granted license to develop open-pit mines in and around Teghut Forest, which is one of the most biologically diverse forests in Armenia, and refrain from issuing further mining licenses to the detriment of our environment and sustainable development in Armenia.”

It is not the first time that the famous singer, songwriter and musician, who is widely known for his civil advocacy reflected in his compositions, including for his lobbying of the Armenian genocide affirmation, human rights and animal rights, raises his voice of protest against the mining project in Teghut. Tankian also spoke about the issue during his visit to Armenia last year. He also spread a video on YouTube last summer calling for the development of agriculture in the area instead of mining.

Armenian environmentalists, who have campaigned for more than four years against the development of copper and molybdenum fields around the forest in Teghut, recently came up with a new initiative trying to prove that local residents have an alternative to mining in the form of producing ecologically clean agricultural products. First, environmentalists tried to sell honey produced in Teghut. They said their experiment is crowned with success.

Teghut defense group member Lena Nazaryan told ArmeniaNow that they value the involvement of conscious and active people in the campaign.

“We are very happy that Serj Tankian shares our ideas. Just like us he thinks that Teghut’s real, long-term and profitable capital is its clean land and water, which is a prerequisite for the economic development of Armenia. It is wonderful that he is not indifferent to these ideas. What brings known and unknown individuals around the issue of Teghut is their dream to live in a safe country, within a healthy environment and with dignity,” says Nazaryan.

SOURCE

https://www.facebook.com/scarsonbroadway?sk=events

But instead of a candid look at the recording process, the film took a sinister turn when, as 30 Seconds tried to amicably amend their contract with Virgin/EMI, the group was sued for $30-million by the record company. Leto, his brother Shannon (who plays drums) and guitarist Tomo Milicevic, were no longer making an album. They were at war.

“I don’t know why they chose $30-million,” Leto said, after arriving in Toronto for the TIFF premiere of Artifact at the Ryerson Theatre Friday night (it repeats Sunday).

The suit was eventually settled, but the ordeal resulted in a film that is both a searing indictment of a music industry fuelled by greed, and an examination of a band coming together to produce one of their biggest selling albums.

Q: You interview a lot of well-known musicians in the film – Serj Tankian from System of a Down, Chester Bennington from Linkin Park – as well as industry people. How did you select the interviewees for the film?

A: I decided on the people I thought were interesting and could help make an interesting film. I wanted people who had experienced problems with their label. I also wanted industry veterans and people in the record business.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE

SOURCE

Jules Pampena has been unofficially announced as the new drummer for Scars on Broadway. It was posted on the Paiste Cymbals Facebook page. Thanks for the link, Scars Fan!

SOURCE

http://www.scarsonbroadway.com/