Serj Tankian Memoir ‘Down With The System’ Due In May ’24
ICYMI, System Of A Down singer (solo artist, composer, activist, painter, poet, and filmmaker) Serj Tankian has been working on his memoir, “Down With The System”, and publishers Hachette Books recently announced they plan to get it into your hands as of May 14, 2024 (eBook and audio editions too)!
Boom! – I wrote a new book. I had a blast working on this accidentally hatched philosophical memoir as it’s given me the unique opportunity to deep dive into my family history, my own motivations from a young age and lessons I didn’t know I had learned. Pre-Order Is Available… pic.twitter.com/SBMrnAOWNR
— Serj Tankian-#SanctionAzerbaijan (@serjtankian) October 24, 2023
In “Down With The System”, you’ll read how Serj explores his creative journey and his activism and his band’s unlikely rise to fame. Let’s be honest: aggressive metal riffs, odd time signatures, Armenian folk melodies? And the lyrics – avant-garde to socio-political rants.
His band has sold more than 40 million albums and have three LPs that topped Billboard.
Serj’s book goes beyond the music, as you might expect. It’s an immigrant’s tale. Born to Armenian parents in Beirut, Tankian grew up hearing bombs dropping during the country’s civil war, before moving to Los Angeles at the age of seven. It’s in LA where he learns about the brutal genocide of his ancestors.
As you’ll read about in his memoir, Tankian had a promising future in business and law before he decided to make music instead. You’ll read the story of evading glass bottles hurled at him at a cancelled Slayer show, teaming up with Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello to push social justice, arguing with LAPD about the best way to calm rioting fans, and working on music with mega-producer Rick Rubin.
Sounds like it’ll be a page-turner. There’s been public in-band turmoil that’s come to light in the press over the years – will be interesting to get Serj’s take. What’s been your favourite rock read over the years?
