Serj Tankian reveals System Of A Down auditioned a new singer in 2018 after he offered to quit the band

nme.com:

Serj Tankian has revealed that System Of A Down began looking for a new singer in 2018 after he offered to quit the band.In an except of his new memoir Down With the System: A Memoir (Of Sorts) shared with Rolling Stone, Tankian reflected on his disdain for touring, leading to his decision to tell his bandmates in System Of A Down to carry on without him so they could continue living their dream.Tankian detailed in the memoir: “Toward the end of 2017, we had a band meeting at [the band’s manager] Beno’s office.

When I arrived, I told everyone that I had an item I wanted to add to the agenda. We went through the rigamarole of regular business discussions, and then it came time for my item.”“‘So, who’s going to throw me a going-away party?’ I asked the group. ‘Do one of you guys want to be the master of ceremonies?’ I laughed a little, but I was serious. ‘Look guys, I’ve been very clear that I’m no longer interested in touring both due to my back and because it’s just no longer something within my vision.'”“‘The thing is, though,’ I continued, ‘I don’t want to hold you guys back.

This is your dream. This is what you’ve worked for your whole life. You deserve to have this.’ I looked at Daron, Shavo, and John, knowing what I said next would hit hard. ‘I think you guys should find a new singer.'”He carried on, later adding that the band pushed back against the idea and they dropped the topic altogether.

However, some time later, the band would gather at a charity event, where Tankian was informed that the band had begun looking at new singers.“I sort of thought they’d forgotten about the whole idea of hiring a new singer, but a year or so later, John, Shavo, and I were at a fundraiser in Glendale, and this singer I knew got.