System of a Down’s frontman, Serj Tankian, has once again expressed his strong displeasure with Imagine Dragons for their contentious decision to perform in Azerbaijan.
This subject has sparked a notable controversy among music enthusiasts, with Tankian taking a firm stand against what he views as the ethical and humanitarian implications of the band’s actions.
Last month, Tankian made headlines by criticising Imagine Dragons for their decision to go forward with concerts in Israel and Azerbaijan, expressing that he has “zero respect for those guys.”
The controversy concerns Imagine Dragons’ show in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital. Critics argued that this performance could be seen as an endorsement of the country’s authoritarian president, Ilham Aliyev.
Serj Tankian, well-known for his activism and Armenian heritage, took it upon himself to reach out to Imagine Dragons last summer. He sent a personal letter to the band, nudging them to cancel their planned show in Baku.
In this letter, Tankian warned that their performance would “help whitewash the dictatorial regime’s image” and drew attention to reports suggesting that Azerbaijan was preparing for genocide against ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
“I’m confident that you can decipher all the facts for yourselves to decide whether to cancel your concert,” Tankian wrote, emphasising the potential negative impact on the band’s reputation.
Tankian was not alone in his plea. Other notable musicians, including Brian Eno, Thurston Moore, and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, joined the cause. They shared an open letter urging Imagine Dragons to pull out of the Baku gig last August.
“Performing in Baku under these circumstances, regardless of intent, can only help the government of Azerbaijan cover up its crimes,” read a section of their letter.
Despite these pressures and the choir of singers urging them to rethink, Imagine Dragons proceeded with their scheduled performance in Baku.
While speaking with Rolling Stone, Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds defended the band’s decision: “I don’t believe in depriving our fans who want to see us play because of the acts of their leaders and governments. I think that’s a really slippery slope. The second you start to do that, there are corrupt leaders and warmongers all over the world, and where do you draw the line?”
Serj Tankian reacted strongly to Reynolds’ comments. As told to Metal Hammer, he didn’t dice words: “Look, I’m not a judge for people to tell bands where to play, or where not to play… But when there’s a government that’s about to commit ethnic cleansing, when Azerbaijan was starving the 120,000 Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, and not allowing any food or medicine in… you know, as an artist, if I found that out, there is no fucking way I could have gone and played that show. But some artists do. And I don’t know what to say about those artists. I don’t respect them as human beings. Fuck their art; they’re not good human beings, as far as I’m concerned.”
Tankian’s comments didn’t end there. He took to social media to further heighten his stance, directly addressing Reynolds’ comments about not wanting to deny fans. Tankian wrote, “Respectfully, I draw the line at ethnic cleansing and genocide.”
RELATED: Dua Lipa shrugs off criticism of being “too polished to be live”, saying, “I never lip sync”
He criticised Imagine Dragons for performing in a country committed to a nine-month starvation blockade against Nagorno-Karabakh, which was labelled as genocide by former ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo.
Tankian asked whether the band would perform in Nazi Germany and pointed out the inconsistency in supporting Ukraine while ignoring the quandary of Armenians in Artsakh.
This isn’t the first time Tankian has spoken out on such issues. He shared his thoughts with NME and discussed the situation in Palestine and the implications of activism.
He acknowledged the importance of youth voices in championing justice and warned against fringe elements that might hijack pure activism.
Tankian criticised both the Hamas invasion of Israel and the Netanyahu government’s response, labelling the latter as a war crime due to the high number of civilian casualties.
Tankian has always been vocal about his views on political and humanitarian issues. His criticisms of Imagine Dragons stem not from personal hatred but from a deep-seated belief in the importance of ethical integrity and responsibility in the face of human rights abuses.
For Tankian, the decision to perform in Azerbaijan wasn’t just a misstep but a moral deterioration that couldn’t be ignored.
Imagine Dragons have yet to respond directly to Tankian’s latest remarks. However, Reynolds’ previous statements at the Reading Festival hinted at the band’s desire to separate their music from the political web. As they took the stage, Reynolds told the crowd, “Whatever is burdening you, leave it at the door; politics, religion, leave it.”
The situation remains uneasy, with Tankian persisting in advocating for what he sees as moral clarity in the face of human rights abuses.
For many artists, deciding where to perform isn’t just about the music but the message it sends. By choosing to perform in certain countries, artists can inadvertently (or intentionally) lend legitimacy to regimes with questionable human rights records. This is the heart of Tankian’s argument: that artists must consider the broader implications of their actions.
Where do you draw the line? For Tankian, that line is clear: “I draw the line at ethnic cleansing and genocide.”
