System Of A Down frontman Serj Tankian has shared an early politically charged song by the band, telling fans that if they love both that track and Donald Trump then they are “hypocrites”.
The message is the latest political statement to emerge from within the band, with Tankian and drummer John Dolmayan voicing their opposing views on Trump and the politics of SOAD over the past few weeks.
After previously questioning in a recent interview if certain fans really listened to his and SOAD’s lyrics, Tankian shared the lyrics to the band’s early demo ‘Temper’ on his Instagram in a post yesterday (June 16).
“A very early @systemofadown song that was on one of our demos — lyrics below,” Tankian wrote in the accompanying caption, adding: “If you love this song or play along to it and love Trump, you’re a hypocrite — just a simple fact.”
View this post on InstagramA very early @systemofadown song that was on one of our demos-lyrics below: if you love this song or play along to it and love Trump, you’re a hypocrite-just a simple fact ? "Temper" We want peace with Patriot missiles, Blown to bits are civilian targets, Parade! Laugh! Rejoice! Sing! We’re the victors of…nothing, Spend more money on a war, Your people starving, turned to whores, Slaves of the chosen one paying millions for each bomb, Country without a race , Formed from people you disgrace , White right conservative might , Killers of Kennedy's with no fright , The American way! Freedom cried the marching man, Flags ripped out of their black hands , Beaten! Slain! Tortured! Killed! Their only mistake was being born here , Invade countries just for oil , Send your troops all down to boil , Iraq! Grenada! Nam and Chile! Truman doctrine our own way , Country without a race , Formed from people you disgrace , White right conservative might , Killers of Kennedy's with no fright , The American way! The Government (FBI-CIA) here can suck my balls , Policing the world in overalls , Armed rebellion minority , Disrespected race, color, mind , Crazed loonies all walk the streets , Missing children on milk cartons , Mother selling child for crack , Mr. President check your back , Country without a race , Formed from people you disgrace, White right conservative might , Killers of Kennedy's with no fright , The American way! The American way! The American way!
You can hear System Of A Down’s ‘Temper’, which was recorded before Dolmayan joined the band, below.
Tankian has been a vocal critic of Trump during his time in office, and he recently called on Black Lives Matter protesters to “force the regime to resign”.
Dolmayan, on the other hand, has praised Trump as being the “greatest friend to minorities” and said that he wasn’t in fear of losing his place in the band due to his support for the President.
The drummer spoke about the inter-band tensions within SOAD during an interview over the weekend in which he admitted that the band are “very unlikely to make new music” in the future.