Serj Tankian: “Serjing Out on His Own”

A common, albeit historically dangerous rock and roll career move over the last few decades has been the solo album. When I say solo album, I’m not talking about musicians who have always made their living as a solo artist a la Beck or Trent Reznor, but rather artists who have grown to superstardom as part of huge mainstream bands who then decide that they need to further creatively express themselves through a solo record. The examples over the years have been countless. There’s been John Lennon, Robert Plant, Ozzy Osbourne, Scott Weiland, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello and so many more. Some have turned out to be memorable, others were complete and utter failures both creatively and commercially. Despite the uneven track record of solo albums, rock artists continue to produce them with great frequency. The latest and most prominent artist to go solo is none other than the voice of System of a Down, Serj Tankian. While on an extended break from his band, Serj decided to write and record his debut solo recording titled Elect The Dead and unlike many other solo albums, this one is showing some great promise upon its release.

Over the last six or seven years, System of a Down has been among the biggest and most commercially successful rock acts in the world. The band’s real breakthrough came with the 2001 release of Toxicity, a massively successful record which vaulted them into the upper echelon of rock and metal. System most recently released the double-album (though separately released) Mezmerize/Hypnotize in 2005 and toured like crazy throughout that year and into 2006. After releasing two records six months apart as well as a solid year of touring including headlining Ozzfest, the group felt it was time for a break which began at the end of the summer of 2006. Although some have interpreted this “break” as a sign that System of a Down will break up, the members of the band have repeatedly affirmed that it is only an extended hiatus and the group will eventually get back together.

With System of a Down on hiatus, Tankian has been given the utmost opportunity to pursue his own personal goals and objectives including continuing his work with the activist organization Axis of Justice which he formed with Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello as well as working on his own record label Serjical Strike Records. Although it was never a long term goal of his, Tankian essentially fell into making a solo album last summer. While spending time in his home studio in Los Angeles last summer, Tankian began experimenting by writing traditional type songs on an acoustic guitar and piano with no real goal in mind of producing an album. Little by little, he kept writing and eventually a rock record came out of his trialing.

Elect The Dead, as it is now known, is neither a knock off System of a Down record or a complete musical departure. The album is original and extremely multi-layered, containing psychedelic and classical influences while remaining heavy and true to Tankian’s distinctive vocal and singing style. While the album’s title might hint at a concept, the songs on Elect The Dead touch on ahttp://www.puregrainaudio.com/v2/admin/index.php?event=list
Articles variety of different subject matter including politics, love, pain, vanity and the environment. One truly remarkable element of the record is the fact that Tankian wrote, produced and played all of the instruments on it, with only a bit of drumming help from System drummer John Dolmayan and Brian “Brain” Mantia formerly of Primus.

Rather than just putting out a solo record with no plans to tour, Tankian has fully committed himself to bringing his solo material to a live audience with tour dates booked throughout the rest of the fall season. Serj has recruited a five member band to back him up, comically called The Flying Cunts of Chaos or simply The FCC. To separate his solo material from his career with System of a Down, Tankian has chosen not to play any System material live, strictly keeping to songs off Elect The Dead and other solo songs. Initial reaction to the album has been quite positive and the lead single “Empty Walls” has been a radio hit. The past, the present, and the future all seem to be shining for Serj Tankian upon the release of his debut solo album. Expect to see a different side of Serj, one that fans and non-fans might not have thought possible.  [ END ]