Serj Tankian reveals that System Of A Down even auditioned for a new vocalist

Serj Tankian revealed that the System of a Down he even looked for new vocalists to fill his position in 2018, when he was considering leaving the band. In his memoir, Down With the System: A Memoir (Of Sorts)the singer talked about his decision to ask his bandmates to carry on without him (via NME).

“At the end of 2017, we had a band meeting at the [empresário] Beno. When I arrived, I told everyone that I had a topic I wanted to add to the agenda. We went through the usual business discussions and then it was time for my item,” she wrote.

“‘So who’s going to throw me a going away party?’ I asked the group. ‘Do any of you want to be the master of ceremonies?’ I laughed a little, but I was serious. ‘Look, guys, I’ve made it very clear that I’m no longer interested in touring, both because of my back and because it’s no longer part of my vision.'”

He continued, “‘But here’s the thing,’ I continued, ‘I don’t want to slow you down. This is your dream. This is what you’ve worked your whole lives for. You deserve this.’ I looked at Daron, shavo It is John, knowing that what I said next would have a huge impact. ‘I think you should find a new singer’.”

The group, as Tankian explained, reluctantly. A while later, however, the band reunited at a charity event where he was informed that the other members were looking for a new singer: “I kind of thought they had completely forgotten about hiring a new singer, but about a year later, John, shavo and I were at a benefit in Glendale, and a singer I knew got up and sang a beautiful Armenian song. Shavo was sitting next to me at the table. He leaned over and patted me on the shoulder.”

“‘By the way,’ he pointed to the singer, ‘we tested this guy as a singer. The only problem is he can’t scream and growl’. I was surprised. Not because they were testing replacements, but because they had kept it a secret.”

Tankian was reportedly upset that he was not informed about the tests to be replaced. “‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ I whispered. shavo shrugged. ‘I don’t know.’ I turned to shavo, looking directly at him. ‘Listen, he’s a good singer,’ I said. ‘I can literally take him out to the parking lot right now and teach him how to growl. You should really consider it,'” he added.

Still lead singer of System, Serj stated that, “more recently”, he named a close friend as a potential replacement, but does not believe the band considered the offer seriously.

Apparently, Tankian must remain in the group. The number of shows, on the other hand, has decreased drastically in recent years, and in 2023, for example, the band made a single performance.