Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Interview With John Dolmayan : From SOAD Fans
From SoadFans :
Couple of months ago, Andrew Lindsay (LookOn) gathered questions from SOADFans members [read the topic on the forum] to make an interview with John Dolmayan drummer of Grammy award winner band, System of a Down.
Here's what John had to say in answering the interview questions:
Like System of a Down/Scars on Broadway drummer John Dolmayan, I don’t have too much to say, so I’ll dispense with the obligatory opening paragraph and let you get on with reading our long-awaited email interview with the man.
Stereokill: As a musician, who are your key influences?JD: My dad has always been a huge influence on me; he introduced me to jazz at an early age and has always supported my choices in life. Other then that, there’s about twenty bands who were my key influences including: The Who, Rush, Led Zeppellin, The Rolling Stones, Billy Idol, Maynard Furgeson, Fishbone, Pink Floyd, The Police, Daft Punk, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Muse, The Beatles and countless others.
Stereokill: It’s been twelve years since you first joined System of a Down. What do you consider high-points in your career so far?JD: There are many, but I’d say that my favorite moment was playing a nearly-cancelled show in Spain, at four in the morning. The stage fell apart due to wind, and it was the ten year anniversary of System of a Down.
Stereokill: With the release of Toxicity in 2001, System became a hugely successful band. How did it feel, for you personally, to experience such growing interest in the band from the public/press?JD: It wasn’t all that noticable for us; it was very much a whirlwind. Looking out from within, we just didn’t feel the impact of what was happening until much later.
Stereokill: Is there a System album that you are particularly proud of?JD: I’m proud of everything we’ve done, but Steal This Album! is my personal favourite.
Stereokill: You crafted a rather gnarly looking skull for your limited edition version of that album. Any reason why?JD: Thought it looked cool, and I cant draw much else.
Stereokill: Out of the many songs you’ve recorded, which are your favourites?JD: “Holy Mountains”, “Nüguns” and “Soldier Side”.
Stereokill: The band recorded Mezmerize/Hypnotize in Rick Rubin’s famed Mansion. Other bands that have recorded there [Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Mars Volta] have claimed that the building is haunted. Did you encounter any spirits when recording there?JD: Sounds like a bunch of bullshit.
Stereokill: Following Daron’s tour cancellation in October, many fans have been in the dark as to whether Scars on Broadway are still together. Can you shed any light on this matter - will Scars ever record/tour again?JD: I’m not sure, but I do miss it.
Stereokill: Have you heard from [Scars frontman and System bandmate] Daron [Malakian]? Can you discuss why he decided to cancel the tour?JD: That's a personal matter, but he’s well.
Stereokill: Scars on Broadway was often portrayed by the media as a band that consisted of only Daron and yourself. Did you consider Franky [Perez], Danny [Shamoun] and Dominic [Cifarelli] “official” members of the band, or “touring” members?JD: I consider them as members, as well as family.
Stereokill: I recall reading that [System bassist] Shavo [Odajian] was originally linked to Scars. Is this true? If so, why did his involvement with the band never come to fruition?JD: That’s a question that would be better directed at Shavo.
Stereokill: What have you been up to since Scars went on hiatus? Have you been involved in any music-based projects?JD: I’ve been playing, but nothing I’m ready to share.
Stereokill: What are your plans for the rest of the year?JD: Working on Torpedo Comics, and playing for personal satisfaction.
Stereokill: How is Torpedo Comics?JD: It’s tough to make a new venture profitable, but I believe in my vision for it and I’m giving it my full attention.
Stereokill: Will you release your “superhero-based” comic one day?JD: I’m working on it now.
Stereokill: What’s your take on the music industry these days?JD: It’s in serious trouble.
Stereokill: Do you think you’ll remain within the industry until you’re old and grey?JD: I’m not in the music industry; I play music.
Stereokill: Are there any up-and-coming bands that you recommend?JD: I’m sure there are tons of bands that are great, but I’m not exactly the pulse of the next great thing. I prefer bands that have at least three albums so I can follow their growth and grow with them.
Stereokill: What are your favourite albums of all time?JD: I can’t answer that.
Stereokill: A hard task, but can you list your top five musical artists of all time?JD: I’d prefer not to try.
Stereokill: If you be could any drum/cymbal piece, which one would you be?JD: I am a drum/cymbal piece already.
Stereokill: Have you ever given drum lessons?JD: A handful.
Stereokill: A lot of fans are curious as to whether you’ve read Switch!, the continuation to the Schnibbel series [fan-fiction about John and Daron's genitalia]?JD: I read some of it - very creative. People have a lot of time on their hands.
Stereokill: I’ve read that you have a sandwich named after you, have you ever tried it?JD: Not yet, is it tasty?
Stereokill: Finally, a question I’m sure you’re tired of hearing, but is there any news regarding the future of System of a Down?JD: System of a Down is dead: I killed all the members for my sandwich.
Couple of months ago, Andrew Lindsay (LookOn) gathered questions from SOADFans members [read the topic on the forum] to make an interview with John Dolmayan drummer of Grammy award winner band, System of a Down.
Here's what John had to say in answering the interview questions:
Like System of a Down/Scars on Broadway drummer John Dolmayan, I don’t have too much to say, so I’ll dispense with the obligatory opening paragraph and let you get on with reading our long-awaited email interview with the man.
Stereokill: As a musician, who are your key influences?JD: My dad has always been a huge influence on me; he introduced me to jazz at an early age and has always supported my choices in life. Other then that, there’s about twenty bands who were my key influences including: The Who, Rush, Led Zeppellin, The Rolling Stones, Billy Idol, Maynard Furgeson, Fishbone, Pink Floyd, The Police, Daft Punk, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Muse, The Beatles and countless others.
Stereokill: It’s been twelve years since you first joined System of a Down. What do you consider high-points in your career so far?JD: There are many, but I’d say that my favorite moment was playing a nearly-cancelled show in Spain, at four in the morning. The stage fell apart due to wind, and it was the ten year anniversary of System of a Down.
Stereokill: With the release of Toxicity in 2001, System became a hugely successful band. How did it feel, for you personally, to experience such growing interest in the band from the public/press?JD: It wasn’t all that noticable for us; it was very much a whirlwind. Looking out from within, we just didn’t feel the impact of what was happening until much later.
Stereokill: Is there a System album that you are particularly proud of?JD: I’m proud of everything we’ve done, but Steal This Album! is my personal favourite.
Stereokill: You crafted a rather gnarly looking skull for your limited edition version of that album. Any reason why?JD: Thought it looked cool, and I cant draw much else.
Stereokill: Out of the many songs you’ve recorded, which are your favourites?JD: “Holy Mountains”, “Nüguns” and “Soldier Side”.
Stereokill: The band recorded Mezmerize/Hypnotize in Rick Rubin’s famed Mansion. Other bands that have recorded there [Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Mars Volta] have claimed that the building is haunted. Did you encounter any spirits when recording there?JD: Sounds like a bunch of bullshit.
Stereokill: Following Daron’s tour cancellation in October, many fans have been in the dark as to whether Scars on Broadway are still together. Can you shed any light on this matter - will Scars ever record/tour again?JD: I’m not sure, but I do miss it.
Stereokill: Have you heard from [Scars frontman and System bandmate] Daron [Malakian]? Can you discuss why he decided to cancel the tour?JD: That's a personal matter, but he’s well.
Stereokill: Scars on Broadway was often portrayed by the media as a band that consisted of only Daron and yourself. Did you consider Franky [Perez], Danny [Shamoun] and Dominic [Cifarelli] “official” members of the band, or “touring” members?JD: I consider them as members, as well as family.
Stereokill: I recall reading that [System bassist] Shavo [Odajian] was originally linked to Scars. Is this true? If so, why did his involvement with the band never come to fruition?JD: That’s a question that would be better directed at Shavo.
Stereokill: What have you been up to since Scars went on hiatus? Have you been involved in any music-based projects?JD: I’ve been playing, but nothing I’m ready to share.
Stereokill: What are your plans for the rest of the year?JD: Working on Torpedo Comics, and playing for personal satisfaction.
Stereokill: How is Torpedo Comics?JD: It’s tough to make a new venture profitable, but I believe in my vision for it and I’m giving it my full attention.
Stereokill: Will you release your “superhero-based” comic one day?JD: I’m working on it now.
Stereokill: What’s your take on the music industry these days?JD: It’s in serious trouble.
Stereokill: Do you think you’ll remain within the industry until you’re old and grey?JD: I’m not in the music industry; I play music.
Stereokill: Are there any up-and-coming bands that you recommend?JD: I’m sure there are tons of bands that are great, but I’m not exactly the pulse of the next great thing. I prefer bands that have at least three albums so I can follow their growth and grow with them.
Stereokill: What are your favourite albums of all time?JD: I can’t answer that.
Stereokill: A hard task, but can you list your top five musical artists of all time?JD: I’d prefer not to try.
Stereokill: If you be could any drum/cymbal piece, which one would you be?JD: I am a drum/cymbal piece already.
Stereokill: Have you ever given drum lessons?JD: A handful.
Stereokill: A lot of fans are curious as to whether you’ve read Switch!, the continuation to the Schnibbel series [fan-fiction about John and Daron's genitalia]?JD: I read some of it - very creative. People have a lot of time on their hands.
Stereokill: I’ve read that you have a sandwich named after you, have you ever tried it?JD: Not yet, is it tasty?
Stereokill: Finally, a question I’m sure you’re tired of hearing, but is there any news regarding the future of System of a Down?JD: System of a Down is dead: I killed all the members for my sandwich.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
System of a Down : News From Serj
From SOAD website :
An Important Message From Serj
Serj Tankian and the Axis of Justice are launching an Armenian Genocide Recognition campaign to commemorate the annual global day of remembrance for victims of the human rights atrocity on April 24th. With the support and participation of some fellow notable activists (Tom Morello, Boots Riley, Congressman Adam Schiff), Serj has put together a video that is posted on YouTube and Myspace that asks President Obama to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide. At the end of the video, viewers are encouraged to call (202) 456-1414 and urge President Obama to stick to his campaign promise to recognize the atrocities that took place during WWI as Genocide.Click here to watch the video and below please read a letter from Serj.
OUR YEARLY BATTLE OVER THE G-WORDEvery year around this time in April a battle is waged in the White House and Congress; a unique battle because it is at its heart over one word, genocide.The roots of this struggle lie in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire in the midst of World War I. The rulers of this Turkish Empire, the Young Turk Party, set in motion a plan to, once and for all, rid their borders of their largest minority, the ancient Christian Armenian population of more than two million spread across the Anatolian landmass. In systematic fashion the Empire¹s armed forces killed over a million subjects, starting with intellectuals and able-bodied men, and then marched the rest to near certain death in the Syrian desert, resulting in the near annihilation of an entire people and the exile of a nation from its home of more than 3,000 years.These atrocities were widely reported at the time and are today one of the world¹s most thoroughly documented mass murders.To this day, against all evidence and in defiance of even the most basic human standards of morality, the Republic of Turkey denies this crime. They have also mastered Orwellian Newspeak by convincing generation after generation of Turkish citizens that the genocide never occurred.They spend millions of dollars each year, hiring expensive lobbying firms, creating university chairs that sponsor genocide deniers, buying into foreign policy think tanks here in the U.S. and around the world while at the same time threatening to close U.S. bases in Turkey, block access to our troops in Iraq, threaten trade, or retaliate against Armenia with blockades and economic pressure. They think that by erasing a word, genocide, they will somehow escape responsibility for the wholesale death and suffering, theft and dispossession they have caused. Turkey can no more evade either the verdict of history or the requirements of justice by imposing a gag-rule on the word genocide, any more than a killer can escape punishment by insisting the word murder does not exist.I'm personally very familiar with the word genocide. All 4 of my grandparents were survivors. In the case of my grandfather, Stepan Haytayan (whose life story is told in the documentary ³Screamers²), Turkish soldiers came to his village, took away his father and all the Armenian men never to be seen again. This was a standard practice by Turkish soldiers, who typically rounded up the men to take them off to ³labor camps² where they were to be executed, leaving the women and children unprotected and subject to forced marches, described by Henry Morgenthau, the U.S. Ambassador at the time, as a ³death warrant to a whole race.²The similarity between the treatment of the Armenians and the genocide today in Darfur was pointed out last year by Barack Obama, who noted that, ³tragically, we are witnessing in Sudan many of the same brutal tactics - displacement, starvation, and mass slaughter - that were used by the Ottoman authorities against defenseless Armenians back in 1915.² It¹s no coincidence that Turkey is one of only a handful of nations, along with China, that still sells arms to the genocidal Sudanese regime, or that Ankara is trying to shield its leader, Omar al-Bashir, from an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.Even before international lawyer Raphael Lemkin, a Pole of Jewish heritage, coined the term genocide, it was clear to the world that a systematic plan of race extermination had been executed by the Ottoman Turks. Lemkin¹s motivation in inventing this term and leading the charge for the Genocide Convention was, in great measure, his study of the Armenian Genocide, which he, with great foresight, saw as the blueprint for the coming destruction of Europe¹s Jews by Hitler and the brutal machinery of the Nazi German state.For many years, Turkey has leveraged its NATO membership, its former Cold War role, its lobbying power, and military-industrial alliances to buy, bully, or threaten other nations into silence on the Armenian Genocide. Far too many countries, the U.S. included, have been held hostage to Turkey¹s warnings of retribution, but more and more are standing up to this intimidation. Among these are Canada, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Russia and a growing list that includes 12 NATO allies. Here in the U.S.,41 states have recognized the Armenian Genocide.Today, as we approach April 24th, the global day of remembrance of the Armenian Genocide, we look to both the President and Congress to stand up for what¹s right; to speak against the Armenian Genocide and all genocides at the level of American values, and to never again allow the United States to be dragged down to the level of Turkey¹s threats.
This April, Turkey will again try to block both the White House and Congress from condemning and commemorating this crime, giving itself a vote that it does not deserve in our American democracy. A foreign government, particularly one that so violently suppresses free speech by its own citizens, should never be allowed to dictate U.S. human rights or genocide prevention policy.
We have, sadly, not learned our lesson. Here we are, nine decades after the Armenian Genocide and fully six years into the Darfur Genocide, and the international community has yet to forge a durable, effective response to genocide. Global leaders have proven themselves unwilling to intervene effectively to stop the ongoing slaughter in Sudan, and they¹ve been unable to summon the courage to end Turkey¹s denials. Why? Because, genocide remains a political issue, bartered like a commodity by the great powers, and not a moral imperative that all nations and all peoples must, at all costs, act to prevent.
President Obama is the best-positioned American president in generations to bring about real change to how America and the international community confront mass inhumanity, and our best hope to bring the peoples of the world together to end the cycle of genocide. He has said that, ³America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides.² He¹s right. That¹s the moral leader America and the world need and deserve. In the coming days he has the chance to be just that man.
An Important Message From Serj
Serj Tankian and the Axis of Justice are launching an Armenian Genocide Recognition campaign to commemorate the annual global day of remembrance for victims of the human rights atrocity on April 24th. With the support and participation of some fellow notable activists (Tom Morello, Boots Riley, Congressman Adam Schiff), Serj has put together a video that is posted on YouTube and Myspace that asks President Obama to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide. At the end of the video, viewers are encouraged to call (202) 456-1414 and urge President Obama to stick to his campaign promise to recognize the atrocities that took place during WWI as Genocide.Click here to watch the video and below please read a letter from Serj.
OUR YEARLY BATTLE OVER THE G-WORDEvery year around this time in April a battle is waged in the White House and Congress; a unique battle because it is at its heart over one word, genocide.The roots of this struggle lie in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire in the midst of World War I. The rulers of this Turkish Empire, the Young Turk Party, set in motion a plan to, once and for all, rid their borders of their largest minority, the ancient Christian Armenian population of more than two million spread across the Anatolian landmass. In systematic fashion the Empire¹s armed forces killed over a million subjects, starting with intellectuals and able-bodied men, and then marched the rest to near certain death in the Syrian desert, resulting in the near annihilation of an entire people and the exile of a nation from its home of more than 3,000 years.These atrocities were widely reported at the time and are today one of the world¹s most thoroughly documented mass murders.To this day, against all evidence and in defiance of even the most basic human standards of morality, the Republic of Turkey denies this crime. They have also mastered Orwellian Newspeak by convincing generation after generation of Turkish citizens that the genocide never occurred.They spend millions of dollars each year, hiring expensive lobbying firms, creating university chairs that sponsor genocide deniers, buying into foreign policy think tanks here in the U.S. and around the world while at the same time threatening to close U.S. bases in Turkey, block access to our troops in Iraq, threaten trade, or retaliate against Armenia with blockades and economic pressure. They think that by erasing a word, genocide, they will somehow escape responsibility for the wholesale death and suffering, theft and dispossession they have caused. Turkey can no more evade either the verdict of history or the requirements of justice by imposing a gag-rule on the word genocide, any more than a killer can escape punishment by insisting the word murder does not exist.I'm personally very familiar with the word genocide. All 4 of my grandparents were survivors. In the case of my grandfather, Stepan Haytayan (whose life story is told in the documentary ³Screamers²), Turkish soldiers came to his village, took away his father and all the Armenian men never to be seen again. This was a standard practice by Turkish soldiers, who typically rounded up the men to take them off to ³labor camps² where they were to be executed, leaving the women and children unprotected and subject to forced marches, described by Henry Morgenthau, the U.S. Ambassador at the time, as a ³death warrant to a whole race.²The similarity between the treatment of the Armenians and the genocide today in Darfur was pointed out last year by Barack Obama, who noted that, ³tragically, we are witnessing in Sudan many of the same brutal tactics - displacement, starvation, and mass slaughter - that were used by the Ottoman authorities against defenseless Armenians back in 1915.² It¹s no coincidence that Turkey is one of only a handful of nations, along with China, that still sells arms to the genocidal Sudanese regime, or that Ankara is trying to shield its leader, Omar al-Bashir, from an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.Even before international lawyer Raphael Lemkin, a Pole of Jewish heritage, coined the term genocide, it was clear to the world that a systematic plan of race extermination had been executed by the Ottoman Turks. Lemkin¹s motivation in inventing this term and leading the charge for the Genocide Convention was, in great measure, his study of the Armenian Genocide, which he, with great foresight, saw as the blueprint for the coming destruction of Europe¹s Jews by Hitler and the brutal machinery of the Nazi German state.For many years, Turkey has leveraged its NATO membership, its former Cold War role, its lobbying power, and military-industrial alliances to buy, bully, or threaten other nations into silence on the Armenian Genocide. Far too many countries, the U.S. included, have been held hostage to Turkey¹s warnings of retribution, but more and more are standing up to this intimidation. Among these are Canada, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Russia and a growing list that includes 12 NATO allies. Here in the U.S.,41 states have recognized the Armenian Genocide.Today, as we approach April 24th, the global day of remembrance of the Armenian Genocide, we look to both the President and Congress to stand up for what¹s right; to speak against the Armenian Genocide and all genocides at the level of American values, and to never again allow the United States to be dragged down to the level of Turkey¹s threats.
This April, Turkey will again try to block both the White House and Congress from condemning and commemorating this crime, giving itself a vote that it does not deserve in our American democracy. A foreign government, particularly one that so violently suppresses free speech by its own citizens, should never be allowed to dictate U.S. human rights or genocide prevention policy.
We have, sadly, not learned our lesson. Here we are, nine decades after the Armenian Genocide and fully six years into the Darfur Genocide, and the international community has yet to forge a durable, effective response to genocide. Global leaders have proven themselves unwilling to intervene effectively to stop the ongoing slaughter in Sudan, and they¹ve been unable to summon the courage to end Turkey¹s denials. Why? Because, genocide remains a political issue, bartered like a commodity by the great powers, and not a moral imperative that all nations and all peoples must, at all costs, act to prevent.
President Obama is the best-positioned American president in generations to bring about real change to how America and the international community confront mass inhumanity, and our best hope to bring the peoples of the world together to end the cycle of genocide. He has said that, ³America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides.² He¹s right. That¹s the moral leader America and the world need and deserve. In the coming days he has the chance to be just that man.
Sorry for not Posting!
Sorry SOAD fans for not posting recently, I have been jumbled up in my other blog, Defenders of the Spiral . Ill be posting on the latest and greatest!
~Isaiah
~Isaiah
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
