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Downloaded from
YTS.MX
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
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♪ Soft tense music ♪
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[Serj] [sighs] Okay.
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[indistinct background chatter]
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[interviewer] So I wanna begin
with a... with a simple question:
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You've been
pursuing justice all your life,
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you've been singing
about justice all your life.
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Right.
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[interviewer] So, can
music change the world?
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♪♪♪
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[Serj] In 2015, System of a
Down played our first show in
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Armenia.
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We were so excited to
perform for our people.
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[crowd cheering]
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But there was something
that was really gnawing at me.
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I knew that Armenia's government
was corrupt to the core and
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needed to change.
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And the country's biggest square
was filling up with people
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waiting to hear
what we had to say.
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[crowd cheering]
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Before the show
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I had this sense of
calmness that is rare.
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And I just looked at the
guys and it almost felt like we
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were... created
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to play that night.
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We've come a long way, Armenia.
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But there's still a lot
of fucking work to do.
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[crowd cheering]
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I didn't know how long it
would take for the reversal
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of fortunes.
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But I knew that it was coming.
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We are System of a Down,
and it's our responsibility
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to tell you these things and
to rock you at the same time.
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[loud rock music and cheering]
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The Armenian hard rockers
System of a Down are political
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and popular.
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They're a damn good
rock and roll band!
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[man] System of a Down!
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[crowd cheering]
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[male reporter] The
Grammy Award-winning band...
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[female reporter] Sold
nearly 20 million CDs.
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-[female reporter]
Propelled by the powerful band,
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frontman Serj Tankian...
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[male reporter] Serj Tankian
has emerged as a voice of
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justice for the Armenian people.
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My grandfather's a survivor
of the Armenian genocide.
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[male reporter] Calling on the
world to recognize the forgotten
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Armenian genocide of 1915, but
also taking on Armenia's own
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government.
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The people are out there,
tired of a corrupt regime,
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and they want it to change.
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[male reporter] And calling
on his millions of fans...
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[crowd cheering]
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To bring down the system.
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Continue your path of peaceful
resistance and don't fall into
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the traps of provocateurs.
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[crowd chanting]
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♪ Soft unsettling music ♪
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This is our living room,
and, uh, we're surrounded
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by trees and... and
love living amongst them.
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Because of touring, I... I don't
get a lot of time to relax on
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the road, so when I come home,
I like being in a silent place.
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So we've got, uh, a Grammy here.
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"System of a Down..."
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B.Y.O.B, Best Hard
Rock Performance.”
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They used to be downstairs in my
office but that turned into our
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son's room So
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now they hang out here.
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All right.
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So that's the closet.
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Music was always
important to me.
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Um, you know, I listened
to music at home as a kid.
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Let's see what's in here.
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But I've been writing poetry
longer than I've been playing
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music.
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So this is '97.
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January 8, '97.
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So this is... this must be the
year we got signed with System.
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Poetry, to me, was very
important because it was a way
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of reaching the truth
without necessarily,
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uh, reasonable prose.
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I had a habit of writing every
night before I went to sleep.
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That's why a lot of it,
I've converted into lyrics.
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Oh, here's... here's a... here's
an early System song that no
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one's ever heard because
we've never released it.
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It's called "Friik."
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F-R-double I-K.
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So it goes, "What's my problem?"
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Here's my problem.
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My problem is that I'm
too visual to be blind,
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too audiological to be deaf,
too idealogical to be in peace,
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too compassionate to be in
war, too crazy to be sane,
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"too sane to be lazy,
too emotional to be you."
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[laughs]
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It's kind of interesting because
when [ first started music,
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I had no idea of
where I would end up.
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♪ Emotional piano music ♪
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My own family came
here to Los Angeles,
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migrated in 1975.
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You can see some
of the signs, uh,
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written in Armenian.
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You can see a sign that
says "Little Armenia"
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here.
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Where?
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I don't see it.
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Um, trust me,
it's Little Armenia.
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Right in the
middle of Hollywood,
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the Armenian
community had a school,
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a church,
different cafes, bakeries,
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restaurants.
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- Hey!
- [man] Hey!
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- [Serj] How are you, bro?
- [man] Hey, Ser;♪.
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[Serj] You know, it was... it
was a settlement with Armenians
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from all over the world.
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- How's everything?
- Good.
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- Good to see you.
- Very good!
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♪ Traditional Armenian music ♪
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You know, the different foods
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the smells that you'd get
walking on Hollywood Boulevard
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or Fountain
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I mean, look at this.
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It's like heaven.
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Gata.
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Or the yelling on the streets
and... and honking for someone to
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come down.
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All of those are kind of a
really beautiful tapestry in...
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In my mind as a child.
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Mm.
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Wow.
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That's good.
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That looks good, too.
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I'm gonna try the same one.
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[Serj] When my parents came
here, they had zero money and
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they did not
neglect our education.
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From day one, they put
us in Armenian school.
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And within that community, I
made a lot of great friends.
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♪ Soft emotional piano ♪
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After graduating high school,
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I got accepted to Cal
State University Northridge.
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At the time, I didn't really
know what I wanted to do as a
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career, so I
thought I'd do business.
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It's while I was going to
university that I got a small.
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Casio keyboard and started
playing it as a way to kind of
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relieve my senses from
my mind always working,
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whether it was on studies or
what was going on with the rest
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of my life at the time.
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I was always very
rational, very studious,
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very... kind of thinking
and the studying mind.
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But once I started doing music,
I realized that the right side
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of my brain can really take off.
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[random noodling on instruments]
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The first band
that I ever played in,
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uh, was called Forever Young.
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I started playing
keyboards with them.
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♪ Rock riff ♪
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The one and only show
that we ever played was
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at the Armenian Cultural
Center in Hollywood.
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♪♪♪
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It was an interesting start,
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'cause first of all, we were
doing songs in English and in
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Armenian.
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"Cause that really
was our lives as young
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Armenian-Americans
growing up in Los Angeles.
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You know, we were a part of
both cultures simultaneously.
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♪ Rock ballad ♪
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[Serj] So while
in Forever Young,
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we... we were sharing a rehearsal
space with another band,
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ano... uh, a bunch
of friends of ours.
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And at one point, they
brought in a new guitarist,
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and that was Daron Malakian.
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♪ "Waco Jesus" by Forever Young ♪
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The first time we
actually worked together was
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on a song called "Waco Jesus."
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It's a song that we both
co-wrote along with the guys
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from Forever Young.
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♪♪♪
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And it's the first song
I ever recorded as a vocalist.
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And the reason I sang on it was
our singer wasn't around to sing
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and... and I had written
the lyrics already for it.
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♪♪♪
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So after working
on the song with Daron,
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we clicked.
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Dave Hakopyan was our
bassist in both bands,
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so he joined us as our bassist.
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- [man] Is it recording?
- [man] Yeah.
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[Serj] And formed
a band called Soil.
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♪ Why can't you ♪
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♪ Look at me... ♪
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Soil was around
for eight months.
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And it's in Soil that I
started developing my chops.
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I was, like, going for anything.
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[man] Why did you
guys play it so fast,
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man?
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00:10:01,935 --> 00:10:03,454
I was playing music
at nights, but still,
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I wouldn't admit to myself
that that was my calling.
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And after university, uh,
started working with my uncle in
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the jewelry
business in downtown LA.
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You know, uh, doing trade
shows and being on the calls,
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taking orders.
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00:10:18,034 --> 00:10:21,579
And a few years in, I was...
I was really disgruntled.
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I'm like, "This
IS not my vision.
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00:10:23,706 --> 00:10:25,583
This is not my path."
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00:10:26,084 --> 00:10:27,794
After a long day
of work downtown,
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I drove to Long Beach, uh, to
take these Kaplan classes to,
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00:10:31,464 --> 00:10:34,259
uh, learn how to take the
L-SAT, and I realized I had zero
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enthusiasm for the legal field,
even though I thought I could do
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00:10:37,929 --> 00:10:39,139
it, you know?
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00:10:39,389 --> 00:10:44,102
And I remember going once or
twice and it was horrible.
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00:10:45,436 --> 00:10:47,230
I... I... I didn't know
what I was doing there.
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00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:48,231
I was fuckin' depressed.
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00:10:48,481 --> 00:10:50,650
It was really late at
night, raining like crazy,
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00:10:50,900 --> 00:10:52,110
and I had an epiphany, I just
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00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:53,360
I got overwhelmed.
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00:10:53,528 --> 00:10:55,655
My subconscious
literally took over.
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00:10:55,905 --> 00:10:57,657
I slammed on
the... on the brakes.
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00:10:57,907 --> 00:11:01,619
I started hitting my dashboard
and going "I wanna fucking do music.
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00:11:01,870 --> 00:11:03,204
Fuck all this shit."
219
00:11:05,915 --> 00:11:08,251
And from there, my life changed.
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00:11:08,501 --> 00:11:11,254
♪ Ambient drone ♪
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00:11:13,715 --> 00:11:15,508
[man] 603, take two,
common mark. [Clap]
222
00:11:15,758 --> 00:11:17,093
Ouch. [Laughter]
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00:11:17,343 --> 00:11:19,470
I was playing in a band
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00:11:19,721 --> 00:11:23,224
off of Verdugo in Burbank at
Nightingale Studios where Serj
225
00:11:23,474 --> 00:11:25,143
was at, so that's
where I met Serj.
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00:11:25,393 --> 00:11:27,729
I kind of saw him as
a keyboard player.
227
00:11:28,188 --> 00:11:30,332
He was always, like, the elder
and he had businesses and he was
228
00:11:30,356 --> 00:11:31,356
doing other things.
229
00:11:31,524 --> 00:11:33,127
He's always done too
many... a lot of things.
230
00:11:33,151 --> 00:11:33,735
[laughs] I said "too many."
231
00:11:33,985 --> 00:11:35,278
He's always done
a lot of things.
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00:11:35,528 --> 00:11:38,114
♪ Soft piano music ♪
233
00:11:38,364 --> 00:11:41,492
Two weeks later, I get
a call from their bass player,
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00:11:41,743 --> 00:11:43,345
Dave, and he's like, "You know,
I'm not gonna be in the band
235
00:11:43,369 --> 00:11:44,579
anymore.
236
00:11:44,829 --> 00:11:46,949
I don't know if... I think
they want to play with you."
237
00:11:47,582 --> 00:11:49,667
And I'm like, "What do
you mean 'play with me?"
238
00:11:50,126 --> 00:11:52,545
A couple of days... a
couple of weeks passed and
239
00:11:52,795 --> 00:11:54,982
we talked and we said, "We're
gonna do a different band."
240
00:11:55,006 --> 00:11:55,465
We're not doing Soil.
241
00:11:55,715 --> 00:11:56,341
We're not continuing Soil.
242
00:11:56,591 --> 00:11:58,760
Soil is... Soil was what it was.
243
00:11:59,010 --> 00:12:00,490
We're gonna go
somewhere else with me.
244
00:12:00,595 --> 00:12:02,138
"And we'll find a drummer."
245
00:12:02,388 --> 00:12:03,973
So, it was on.
246
00:12:05,225 --> 00:12:07,065
[Serj] Daron's always
been a great songwriter.
247
00:12:07,227 --> 00:12:11,064
I was bringing in the lyrics,
Shavo would bring in a riff or two.
248
00:12:11,314 --> 00:12:14,192
But I can tell you, I remember
the day when John first played
249
00:12:14,442 --> 00:12:15,485
with us.
250
00:12:15,735 --> 00:12:18,738
System of a Down's
sound went from this
251
00:12:18,988 --> 00:12:19,988
to this.
252
00:12:20,031 --> 00:12:21,366
Praise the Lord!
253
00:12:21,616 --> 00:12:23,910
Pass the ammunition!
254
00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:25,995
God wants you to go to war.
255
00:12:26,246 --> 00:12:30,583
♪ "War" by System of a Down ♪
256
00:12:44,264 --> 00:12:45,741
[John] Being that
we're all Armenian,
257
00:12:45,765 --> 00:12:47,350
it is pretty unique, you know?
258
00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:50,228
Um, not too many people
knew what Armenians were,
259
00:12:50,478 --> 00:12:52,522
especially in the
United States at that time.
260
00:12:52,772 --> 00:12:54,774
Uh, there were no
Kardashians yet.
261
00:12:59,195 --> 00:13:01,739
[Beno] It wasn't just
a band playing music.
262
00:13:01,990 --> 00:13:06,202
It was a musical
cause taking the stage.
263
00:13:06,452 --> 00:13:09,831
And Serj came with a
chip on his shoulder.
264
00:13:14,877 --> 00:13:17,755
Once you're onstage, I've
called it the "truth serum" in a
265
00:13:18,006 --> 00:13:20,550
way, because I don't think
about what I'm going to say,
266
00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:22,385
how I'm going to say it.
267
00:13:22,635 --> 00:13:24,804
I just open my
mouth and it comes out.
268
00:13:27,056 --> 00:13:28,433
[crowd cheering]
269
00:13:32,687 --> 00:13:35,231
[crowd cheering]
270
00:13:35,732 --> 00:13:38,359
But all of it comes
from a personal place.
271
00:13:40,445 --> 00:13:44,782
♪ "Bari Aragil" by
Rouben Matevosyan ♪
272
00:13:45,033 --> 00:13:47,201
One of the songs that I
remember from my childhood very
273
00:13:47,452 --> 00:13:50,830
vividly is a song that my
dad used to always sing.
274
00:13:51,247 --> 00:13:53,499
A song called "Bari Aragil."
275
00:14:03,259 --> 00:14:05,386
[Serj] As a kid, I didn't
know what the lyrics meant.
276
00:14:05,636 --> 00:14:10,058
"Bari aragil," uh, literally
translated means "kind stork.”
277
00:14:10,308 --> 00:14:13,853
And the stork is known as
the bird that returns home.
278
00:14:14,103 --> 00:14:18,483
And so, um, it's been used as
a symbolism for Armenians that
279
00:14:18,733 --> 00:14:21,486
want to return home because
most Armenians are diasporan
280
00:14:21,736 --> 00:14:22,945
Armenians.
281
00:14:23,196 --> 00:14:25,823
Most Armenians have lived
outside of the homeland.
282
00:14:26,074 --> 00:14:27,909
♪ Emotional piano music ♪
283
00:14:28,159 --> 00:14:29,887
The reason that the
Armenian community is spread
284
00:14:29,911 --> 00:14:33,331
around the world is
because of the genocide.
285
00:14:33,915 --> 00:14:36,115
During the first World War,
the Ottomans committed their
286
00:14:36,334 --> 00:14:37,919
atrocities, there
was a genocide,
287
00:14:38,169 --> 00:14:39,837
one-and-a-half
million people were killed,
288
00:14:40,088 --> 00:14:41,464
and those that
escaped... you know,
289
00:14:41,714 --> 00:14:44,300
the orphans and whatnot...
Made it all the way to the.
290
00:14:44,550 --> 00:14:47,470
Middle East and
different parts of the world.
291
00:14:50,598 --> 00:14:52,910
When we were at an age where we
could actually understand and
292
00:14:52,934 --> 00:14:55,645
speak about these things, my
grandparents explained to us
293
00:14:55,895 --> 00:14:59,273
their family story and how
they survived the genocide.
294
00:15:07,740 --> 00:15:10,660
After witnessing the murder of
his father and going blind from
295
00:15:10,910 --> 00:15:13,454
hunger, my grandfather
eventually ended up in an
296
00:15:13,704 --> 00:15:16,082
orphanage in Lebanon.
297
00:15:16,541 --> 00:15:19,168
So I was actually
born in Beirut.
298
00:15:19,544 --> 00:15:23,965
But a civil war in 1975 forced
my family to escape again,
299
00:15:24,215 --> 00:15:26,717
this time, to Los Angeles.
300
00:15:28,261 --> 00:15:31,305
The continued denial of the
genocide by the government of
301
00:15:31,556 --> 00:15:34,559
Turkey has further
fueled this trauma.
302
00:15:42,608 --> 00:15:46,320
And it doesn't help the US
government being a NATO ally for
303
00:15:46,571 --> 00:15:50,908
political expediency or to sell
them more Apache helicopters or
304
00:15:51,159 --> 00:15:52,535
different economic reasons.
305
00:15:52,785 --> 00:15:54,972
[male reporter] Congress has
once again failed to recognize
306
00:15:54,996 --> 00:15:58,207
the Armenian genocide,
presumably fearing repercussions
307
00:15:58,458 --> 00:15:59,458
from Turkey.
308
00:15:59,667 --> 00:16:02,587
A sour note for the
Armenian community.
309
00:16:02,837 --> 00:16:04,380
- [laughing] Hey, wow.
- How are you?
310
00:16:04,630 --> 00:16:07,175
- Such a long time, how are you?
- I know, good seeing you...
311
00:16:07,425 --> 00:16:09,194
In other words, we're
dealing with a country that has
312
00:16:09,218 --> 00:16:11,721
committed genocide that is not
admitting that they've committed
313
00:16:11,971 --> 00:16:12,971
genocide.
314
00:16:13,055 --> 00:16:15,141
And we're treating
them like a close ally.
315
00:16:15,391 --> 00:16:16,934
And that is wrong
in anybody's book.
316
00:16:17,185 --> 00:16:20,146
You guys are the generation to
come up with new ways and new
317
00:16:20,396 --> 00:16:23,566
interesting, uh,
empathetic ways of,
318
00:16:23,816 --> 00:16:27,570
uh, having people understand not
just the Armenian genocide but,
319
00:16:27,820 --> 00:16:29,947
because of our history
and what we've experienced,
320
00:16:30,198 --> 00:16:33,534
having people understand the
scourge of genocide in general.
321
00:16:33,784 --> 00:16:37,955
[cheers and applause]
322
00:16:38,247 --> 00:16:39,749
We have a surprise for you.
323
00:16:39,999 --> 00:16:41,799
- [Serj] Okay.
- And we really hope you like it.
324
00:16:42,001 --> 00:16:43,211
Okay.
325
00:16:43,794 --> 00:16:44,545
Oh, wow.
326
00:16:44,795 --> 00:16:46,422
A musical number.
327
00:16:58,434 --> 00:17:01,437
[Serj] For me, the recognition
of the Armenian genocide has
328
00:17:01,687 --> 00:17:03,814
always been a personal quest.
329
00:17:05,858 --> 00:17:07,068
Amazing, wow.
330
00:17:07,318 --> 00:17:09,195
Before my
grandfather passed away,
331
00:17:09,445 --> 00:17:12,823
I made a promise that I would
do my best to take this issue to
332
00:17:13,074 --> 00:17:16,202
the forefront of
whatever I do in my life.
333
00:17:23,292 --> 00:17:24,460
Wow.
334
00:17:24,710 --> 00:17:27,630
[cheers and applause]
335
00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:29,423
You guys are awesome.
336
00:17:29,924 --> 00:17:31,217
[speaking Armenian]
337
00:17:31,509 --> 00:17:33,094
That was beautiful.
338
00:17:33,761 --> 00:17:35,263
That's awesome, thank you.
339
00:17:35,513 --> 00:17:37,306
♪ Rolicking rock music ♪
340
00:17:37,557 --> 00:17:39,437
[Beno] A lot of the
labels were scared of them.
341
00:17:39,559 --> 00:17:40,643
They didn't get it.
342
00:17:40,893 --> 00:17:43,213
How do you market four Armenian
guys that are not scared to
343
00:17:43,354 --> 00:17:45,856
speak their mind, that can
polarize people by speaking
344
00:17:46,107 --> 00:17:48,107
about the lack of recognition
of Armenian genocide,
345
00:17:48,317 --> 00:17:51,445
about... about
politics, about corruption.
346
00:17:51,696 --> 00:17:53,656
-[Serj]
Free-thinkers are dangerous!
347
00:17:54,865 --> 00:17:56,200
♪ "Mind" by System of a Down ♪
348
00:17:56,450 --> 00:17:57,678
[Beno] And that's one of
the things that people really
349
00:17:57,702 --> 00:17:59,328
latched onto as fans.
350
00:17:59,579 --> 00:18:02,665
And so through time, that
uniqueness became their biggest
351
00:18:02,915 --> 00:18:03,915
power.
352
00:18:03,958 --> 00:18:07,461
♪ Need the ones you love and ♪
353
00:18:07,712 --> 00:18:11,674
♪ Love the ones you bleed... ♪
354
00:18:12,383 --> 00:18:15,678
[Serj] By the time that we
actually played the Viper Room,
355
00:18:15,928 --> 00:18:18,639
our manager mentioned that he'd
love to have Rick Rubin hear our
356
00:18:18,889 --> 00:18:19,640
band.
357
00:18:19,890 --> 00:18:20,890
And we were like, "What?
358
00:18:20,975 --> 00:18:22,852
Rick Rubin might
come to see us play?
359
00:18:23,102 --> 00:18:23,686
Wow."
360
00:18:23,936 --> 00:18:25,771
Like, we were blown away.
361
00:18:26,856 --> 00:18:31,277
From Def Jam to, you know,
Slayer to everything he had
362
00:18:31,527 --> 00:18:33,487
done, the Chili
Peppers and, you know,
363
00:18:33,738 --> 00:18:36,073
it's... we just thought
it would be perfect.
364
00:18:37,325 --> 00:18:41,078
So we started playing,
and we see Rick Rubin walking in
365
00:18:41,329 --> 00:18:43,497
and sitting right there.
366
00:18:44,165 --> 00:18:48,085
♪ It'll be all right ♪
367
00:18:49,754 --> 00:18:54,717
♪ soft mellow music ♪
368
00:19:00,222 --> 00:19:02,725
-[both] Hey!
[laughter]
369
00:19:02,975 --> 00:19:04,161
[Rick] The Viper
Room was packed.
370
00:19:04,185 --> 00:19:06,145
I can remember where I
was sitting in the booth.
371
00:19:06,395 --> 00:19:08,540
Sitting up on the top of the
booth because it was... you
372
00:19:08,564 --> 00:19:10,964
couldn't ♪... everybody was so
wild that you had to be up high
373
00:19:11,150 --> 00:19:12,902
to be able to see anything.
374
00:19:13,152 --> 00:19:15,738
And I remember watching
the show and just laughing.
375
00:19:15,988 --> 00:19:18,616
- [laughs]
- And I... it was so
376
00:19:18,866 --> 00:19:23,120
extreme and different than
anything that I saw before that
377
00:19:23,371 --> 00:19:24,955
the... the only
reaction was to laugh.
378
00:19:25,206 --> 00:19:28,584
What it sounded like to me was
a combination of ancient folk
379
00:19:28,834 --> 00:19:32,546
music mixed with heavy
metal, and I'd never heard that
380
00:19:32,797 --> 00:19:33,797
combination.
381
00:19:34,006 --> 00:19:35,633
And it was thrilling.
382
00:19:35,883 --> 00:19:40,846
♪ Balearic beat ♪
383
00:19:41,263 --> 00:19:44,642
[both] [gibberish]
384
00:19:50,981 --> 00:19:53,818
[Serj] This is
Rick's house's studio.
385
00:19:54,068 --> 00:19:57,446
Look, we've got
machinery, we've got animals...
386
00:19:57,697 --> 00:19:57,988
Molly!
387
00:19:58,239 --> 00:19:58,823
Molly!
388
00:19:59,073 --> 00:20:00,408
[Serj growling]
389
00:20:00,658 --> 00:20:05,037
♪ Heavy metal music ♪
390
00:20:09,709 --> 00:20:12,795
So when the record was ready,
we went on tour with Slayer.
391
00:20:13,045 --> 00:20:14,765
We are in System of a
Down's dressing room.
392
00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:16,799
Serj, the resident terrorist.
393
00:20:17,049 --> 00:20:21,595
And that was like bootcamp, to
learn how to deal with a Slayer
394
00:20:21,846 --> 00:20:23,180
audience.
395
00:20:23,431 --> 00:20:27,810
There was this one show where we
played the first song and no one
396
00:20:28,060 --> 00:20:29,854
reacted to it.
397
00:20:30,771 --> 00:20:33,399
And I think it was Daron's idea
to just play the song again.
398
00:20:33,649 --> 00:20:34,859
We're System of a Down.
399
00:20:35,109 --> 00:20:37,236
And whether you like
us or you hate us...
400
00:20:37,486 --> 00:20:38,779
They're gonna kill us!
401
00:20:39,029 --> 00:20:40,990
I'm like, "I'm so
glad you loved that song.
402
00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:42,600
We're gonna play
it for you again."
403
00:20:42,658 --> 00:20:44,994
We played it again and
we got their respect.
404
00:20:45,244 --> 00:20:48,998
[cheering and loud music]
405
00:20:49,248 --> 00:20:51,834
That experience
basically prepared me
406
00:20:52,084 --> 00:20:53,627
for a touring career.
407
00:20:53,878 --> 00:20:57,631
See, you can play a lampshade
and consider yourself an artist.
408
00:20:57,882 --> 00:21:00,718
If you do it right, it there's
lights going on and off and on
409
00:21:00,968 --> 00:21:02,261
and off and on
410
00:21:02,511 --> 00:21:05,014
[Shavo] I'm so lucky to be
playing music with three of
411
00:21:05,264 --> 00:21:07,266
my best friends in the world.
412
00:21:07,516 --> 00:21:08,809
That's my life, you know?
413
00:21:09,059 --> 00:21:11,079
I don't have to play... 'cause
if I had a 9-to-5 job at a bank
414
00:21:11,103 --> 00:21:13,063
like I used to or
delivering flowers,
415
00:21:13,314 --> 00:21:16,275
I'd still go home at
night and play my guitar.
416
00:21:16,525 --> 00:21:19,236
[Serj] Those first two and a
half years of touring is what
417
00:21:19,487 --> 00:21:22,031
solidified System permanently.
418
00:21:23,365 --> 00:21:27,328
Created that one-on-one
interaction with people that
419
00:21:27,578 --> 00:21:28,913
became the early System fans.
420
00:21:29,163 --> 00:21:30,498
System of a Down, man!
421
00:21:30,748 --> 00:21:31,832
Wooh!
422
00:21:32,082 --> 00:21:34,043
[Serj] They're the ones
that spread the gospel.
423
00:21:34,293 --> 00:21:37,922
We are having our say and we
are having our voice on... on
424
00:21:38,172 --> 00:21:40,212
political issues, but
they're putting it into music,
425
00:21:40,299 --> 00:21:42,927
which is getting out to loads
of people across... across the
426
00:21:43,177 --> 00:21:44,303
world.
427
00:21:44,553 --> 00:21:45,906
♪ Why'd you leave the
keys upon the table? ♪
428
00:21:45,930 --> 00:21:46,555
♪ (You wanted to) ♪
429
00:21:46,806 --> 00:21:47,966
♪ I don't think you trust... ♪
430
00:21:48,182 --> 00:21:49,725
We were writing
our second record,
431
00:21:49,975 --> 00:21:53,270
in the studio
recording the song "Chop Suey."”
432
00:21:53,521 --> 00:21:55,898
So we were writing, you
know, the... the lyrics but that
433
00:21:56,148 --> 00:21:58,901
middle, the
breakdown part, I was stuck.
434
00:21:59,151 --> 00:22:01,529
[Rick] We went to the
library of my house and I said,
435
00:22:01,779 --> 00:22:04,099
"Just pick a book randomly"
and you picked a book randomly,
436
00:22:04,156 --> 00:22:06,784
and I said, "Open it up randomly
and just point to a phrase."
437
00:22:07,034 --> 00:22:10,329
I couldn't believe it when I
put my finger and I read it.
438
00:22:10,621 --> 00:22:13,082
[Rick] The universe is
conspiring on our behalf all the
439
00:22:13,332 --> 00:22:16,293
time if you're... if you're open.
440
00:22:16,544 --> 00:22:19,505
And that ended up being the
first line of the bridge.
441
00:22:19,755 --> 00:22:20,995
"Father, have you forsaken me?
442
00:22:21,048 --> 00:22:22,108
Father, have you forsaken me?"
443
00:22:22,132 --> 00:22:23,551
♪ Father! (Father!) ♪
444
00:22:23,801 --> 00:22:25,719
♪ Father! (Father!) ♪
445
00:22:25,970 --> 00:22:29,348
♪ Father, into your hands,
I commend my spirit ♪
446
00:22:29,598 --> 00:22:34,562
♪ Father, into your hands,
why have you forsaken me? ♪
447
00:22:35,187 --> 00:22:38,607
♪ In your eyes forsaken me ♪
448
00:22:38,858 --> 00:22:42,361
♪ in your thoughts forsaken me ♪
449
00:22:42,611 --> 00:22:45,948
♪ I cry ♪
450
00:22:46,198 --> 00:22:48,993
♪ When angels deserve to die... ♪
451
00:22:49,243 --> 00:22:52,413
[Beno] "Toxicity' was
released September of 2001."
452
00:22:52,663 --> 00:22:55,958
And the day before, we were
gonna have a show in Hollywood
453
00:22:56,208 --> 00:22:57,448
to obviously set up the record.
454
00:22:57,668 --> 00:22:59,128
It was a free show.
455
00:22:59,670 --> 00:23:03,924
And I don't think anyone
knew how big the band was.
456
00:23:05,092 --> 00:23:07,553
[Serj] As were about
to play the show
457
00:23:08,637 --> 00:23:10,277
we're told that there
are too many people.
458
00:23:10,431 --> 00:23:12,975
This was supposed to be a free
concert by the group System of a.
459
00:23:13,225 --> 00:23:15,769
Down, and it did
go downhill fast.
460
00:23:16,020 --> 00:23:17,187
Police on horseback...
461
00:23:17,438 --> 00:23:19,478
The fire marshal won't
let us on the stage to play.
462
00:23:19,690 --> 00:23:21,084
-[female reporter]
Breaking down barricades,
463
00:23:21,108 --> 00:23:23,152
fans tipped over
speakers onstage,
464
00:23:23,402 --> 00:23:25,362
took off running with
expensive equipment,
465
00:23:25,613 --> 00:23:26,822
and vandalized anything...
466
00:23:27,072 --> 00:23:28,633
[Shavo] They didn't know
who the riot was about,
467
00:23:28,657 --> 00:23:29,366
what was happening.
468
00:23:29,617 --> 00:23:30,159
Like, what?
469
00:23:30,409 --> 00:23:31,702
This is all about a band?
470
00:23:31,952 --> 00:23:34,455
[male reporter] Like wildfire,
through the crowd and then the
471
00:23:34,705 --> 00:23:35,873
streets of Hollywood...
472
00:23:36,123 --> 00:23:39,585
The newswire circulated
nationwide on the eve of our
473
00:23:39,835 --> 00:23:41,045
record release.
474
00:23:41,420 --> 00:23:43,857
[male reporter] Are System of a
Down fans taking the message of
475
00:23:43,881 --> 00:23:46,383
political rebellion too far?
476
00:23:47,134 --> 00:23:49,261
I mean, who the hell
thought System of a Down,
477
00:23:49,511 --> 00:23:53,682
four Armenian kids, misfits that
came together and made music
478
00:23:53,933 --> 00:23:56,393
that never should
have been popular,
479
00:23:56,644 --> 00:24:00,022
now we're on CNN and
there's a riot because of us?
480
00:24:00,522 --> 00:24:01,815
And that was it, man.
481
00:24:02,066 --> 00:24:04,026
That was the spark.
482
00:24:05,152 --> 00:24:09,448
♪ When angels deserve to die ♪
483
00:24:09,698 --> 00:24:12,868
And then, it was like
two weeks later and [shaps].
484
00:24:15,454 --> 00:24:17,098
[female reporter] It
is beautiful outside,
485
00:24:17,122 --> 00:24:18,999
perfect September day
with lots of sunshine.
486
00:24:19,249 --> 00:24:20,249
Oh, would you look at...
487
00:24:20,334 --> 00:24:21,669
[female reporter] This just in.
488
00:24:21,919 --> 00:24:24,230
You are looking at, obviously, a
very disturbing live shot there.
489
00:24:24,254 --> 00:24:26,048
That is the World Trade
Center and we have...
490
00:24:26,298 --> 00:24:26,882
[female reporter] Oh, my God.
491
00:24:27,132 --> 00:24:28,217
Another plane has just hit.
492
00:24:28,467 --> 00:24:29,653
[female reporter] Oh,
another one just hit!
493
00:24:29,677 --> 00:24:30,877
[female reporter] Oh, my God.
494
00:24:31,095 --> 00:24:32,095
[Serj] It was fucked up.
495
00:24:32,179 --> 00:24:33,239
Like, everything
felt out-of-control.
496
00:24:33,263 --> 00:24:35,641
Everything felt like
there was no one in charge.
497
00:24:35,891 --> 00:24:37,744
I saw smoke coming out and
everybody started running out
498
00:24:37,768 --> 00:24:40,479
and we saw the plane on the
other ♪... side of the building
499
00:24:40,729 --> 00:24:42,958
and there was smoke everywhere
and people were jumping out the
500
00:24:42,982 --> 00:24:44,024
windows... over there!
501
00:24:44,274 --> 00:24:45,693
They're jumping
out the windows
502
00:24:45,943 --> 00:24:48,654
[Serj] I was so depressed by
what was going on that it made
503
00:24:48,904 --> 00:24:51,448
me really look into the causes.
504
00:24:51,699 --> 00:24:54,034
What can cause
something like this?
505
00:24:54,284 --> 00:24:58,455
[echoing] "Understanding
oil, September 13, 2001."
506
00:24:58,706 --> 00:24:59,873
So I wrote an essay...
507
00:25:00,124 --> 00:25:02,876
[echoing] "Why did these people
do this horrific act of violence
508
00:25:03,127 --> 00:25:04,211
and destruction?
509
00:25:04,461 --> 00:25:05,689
To be able to
understand the answer to this,
510
00:25:05,713 --> 00:25:07,715
we must first look at
our US Mid-East policy"
511
00:25:07,965 --> 00:25:12,928
I kind of analyzed what type of
dictators and despots have the
512
00:25:13,220 --> 00:25:16,098
US supported over
the last 50 years.
513
00:25:16,348 --> 00:25:17,909
[echoing] "What everyone fails
to realize is that the bombings"
514
00:25:17,933 --> 00:25:21,145
are a reaction to existing
injustices around the world,
515
00:25:21,395 --> 00:25:23,063
generally unseen to
most Americans...
516
00:25:23,313 --> 00:25:25,583
The wars waged by our government
have landed smack in the middle
517
00:25:25,607 --> 00:25:26,607
"of our living room..."
518
00:25:26,817 --> 00:25:28,777
So I posted it to
the band's website.
519
00:25:29,028 --> 00:25:31,363
And I didn't
think anything of it.
520
00:25:34,324 --> 00:25:36,952
And then all hell broke loose.
521
00:25:38,996 --> 00:25:41,749
[John] Serj, without discussing
it with anybody in the band,
522
00:25:41,999 --> 00:25:44,168
put up something
that was really...
523
00:25:44,418 --> 00:25:46,712
It wasn't... it wasn't untrue.
524
00:25:46,962 --> 00:25:48,815
But you don't go to somebody
that just had a death in the
525
00:25:48,839 --> 00:25:52,134
family and talk about how
shitty that person was to them.
526
00:25:52,384 --> 00:25:54,738
And it certainly didn't
represent the way the rest of us felt.
527
00:25:54,762 --> 00:25:56,305
I was really pissed.
528
00:25:56,555 --> 00:25:57,973
The way it came
off is "Fuck you",
529
00:25:58,223 --> 00:25:59,391
America.
530
00:25:59,641 --> 00:26:01,369
It's your fault that this
happened to your people.”
531
00:26:01,393 --> 00:26:03,103
And that was uncool.
532
00:26:04,563 --> 00:26:06,523
We got banned
everywhere, you know?
533
00:26:06,774 --> 00:26:09,610
For the first month
of our record release.
534
00:26:09,860 --> 00:26:11,820
♪ Melancholic ambient music ♪
535
00:26:12,071 --> 00:26:15,157
Clear Channel sent out a bunch
of titles of songs that they
536
00:26:15,407 --> 00:26:16,992
wanted removed
from the playlists.
537
00:26:17,242 --> 00:26:19,411
One of them was "Chop Suey."
538
00:26:19,661 --> 00:26:21,942
"Trust in my self-righteous
suicide," the... the main lyric
539
00:26:22,081 --> 00:26:23,332
in the chorus.
540
00:26:23,582 --> 00:26:24,976
[Stern on radio] The lead
singer of System of a Down
541
00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:26,585
is gonna call in,
Serj, because
542
00:26:26,835 --> 00:26:28,155
-[Quivers on radio]
Oh, wonderful.
543
00:26:28,212 --> 00:26:29,814
[Stern on radio] He
wants to explain himself.
544
00:26:29,838 --> 00:26:31,274
That he's just a man of peace
and love and he's getting
545
00:26:31,298 --> 00:26:33,008
I remember being
in a hotel room,
546
00:26:33,258 --> 00:26:36,386
having to wake up at 4AM to
get on the Howard Stern Show and
547
00:26:36,637 --> 00:26:38,764
defend my words and...
And... and explain that,
548
00:26:39,014 --> 00:26:40,992
"Look, I'm just trying to
understand what's going on.
549
00:26:41,016 --> 00:26:42,643
Everything I've said is factual.
550
00:26:42,893 --> 00:26:45,187
And... and I'd be
happy to talk about it."
551
00:26:45,437 --> 00:26:47,022
But I also felt scared.
552
00:26:47,272 --> 00:26:49,191
We were getting
personal death threats.
553
00:26:49,441 --> 00:26:51,777
The band pulled me
into a room, sat me down,
554
00:26:52,027 --> 00:26:54,822
and goes, "What the fuck
are you trying to do to us,
555
00:26:55,072 --> 00:26:56,198
get us killed?!"
556
00:26:56,448 --> 00:26:57,768
And I'm like,
"Guys, I'm so sorry,
557
00:26:57,825 --> 00:27:00,244
I'm just... it's...
Honestly, it's the truth!"
558
00:27:00,494 --> 00:27:04,039
Like, I was so naive that I
thought that because it was the
559
00:27:04,289 --> 00:27:06,208
truth, that it
was okay to say it.
560
00:27:06,458 --> 00:27:08,311
[Stern on radio] Did we
deserve to be bombed...?
561
00:27:08,335 --> 00:27:09,753
-[Serj on radio]
Oh, absolutely not.
562
00:27:10,003 --> 00:27:10,587
[Stern] I think people think
that maybe that's what you're
563
00:27:10,838 --> 00:27:12,023
saying, that we
deserved to be bombed.
564
00:27:12,047 --> 00:27:13,316
[Serj] Oh, no,
man, absolutely...
565
00:27:13,340 --> 00:27:14,692
[Quivers on radio] That
we brought it on ourselves.
566
00:27:14,716 --> 00:27:16,319
- [Stern] Right.
- [Serj] No, absolutely not...
567
00:27:16,343 --> 00:27:20,472
When I hung up that phone, I
remember feeling like shit.
568
00:27:20,722 --> 00:27:23,433
I was playing a line
where I was defending myself,
569
00:27:23,684 --> 00:27:26,645
but I couldn't really get
into the main issues and kind of
570
00:27:26,895 --> 00:27:28,605
really fight for my words.
571
00:27:28,856 --> 00:27:30,607
And that made me
feel really bad.
572
00:27:30,858 --> 00:27:32,234
If... I felt constrained.
573
00:27:32,484 --> 00:27:33,735
I felt
574
00:27:33,986 --> 00:27:36,280
I felt like I couldn't say
what I wanted in a well-known
575
00:27:36,530 --> 00:27:36,822
democracy.
576
00:27:37,072 --> 00:27:38,675
[Stern on radio] I don't know
what Serj said. Believe me...
577
00:27:38,699 --> 00:27:40,779
[Quivers on radio] He
wasn't gonna say what he said.
578
00:27:40,868 --> 00:27:42,720
[Stern] Yeah, I don't know...
I don't know what kind of
579
00:27:42,744 --> 00:27:44,305
guy Serj is so, you know, I gave
Serj the opportunity to speak
580
00:27:44,329 --> 00:27:46,623
and... and what the hell, you
make your own conclusions.
581
00:27:46,874 --> 00:27:49,209
[Rick] That's the true
artist's role in society.
582
00:27:49,459 --> 00:27:51,628
That's why we're here.
583
00:27:52,713 --> 00:27:55,257
The things you're talking about
are reflecting what's really
584
00:27:55,507 --> 00:27:56,592
going on.
585
00:27:56,842 --> 00:27:58,844
A lot of people just
don't want to talk about it.
586
00:27:59,136 --> 00:28:02,055
Not talking about it
doesn't make it go away.
587
00:28:02,431 --> 00:28:06,476
So it is... it is our
responsibility to push back.
588
00:28:06,727 --> 00:28:09,646
♪ Soft ambient music ♪
589
00:28:09,897 --> 00:28:11,332
-[female reporter]
Despite controversy,
590
00:28:11,356 --> 00:28:15,068
"Toxicity' has hit number
one on the Billboard 200."
591
00:28:15,319 --> 00:28:17,154
System of a Down has arrived.
592
00:28:17,404 --> 00:28:19,465
System of a Down officially
announced that they're going to
593
00:28:19,489 --> 00:28:21,450
release 'Steal This
Album, a collection of
594
00:28:21,700 --> 00:28:23,035
previously-recorded...
595
00:28:23,285 --> 00:28:25,645
So at the time there was the
whole build up to the Iraq War
596
00:28:25,704 --> 00:28:26,704
movement.
597
00:28:26,788 --> 00:28:29,082
Simply stated,
there is no doubt
598
00:28:29,333 --> 00:28:32,294
that Saddam Hussein now has
weapons of mass destruction.
599
00:28:32,544 --> 00:28:35,297
Alliances with terrorists could
allow the Iraqi regime to attack.
600
00:28:35,547 --> 00:28:37,174
America
601
00:28:37,633 --> 00:28:40,135
without leaving
any fingerprints.
602
00:28:40,385 --> 00:28:42,113
[Serj] I remember having a
meeting with the band and
603
00:28:42,137 --> 00:28:43,513
management.
604
00:28:43,931 --> 00:28:45,909
And they were like, "Okay, well,
we're gonna release this other
605
00:28:45,933 --> 00:28:46,516
record.
606
00:28:46,767 --> 00:28:48,685
You know, we
should pick a single."
607
00:28:48,936 --> 00:28:52,147
And I'm just holding...
Holding my breath going,
608
00:28:52,397 --> 00:28:54,197
"I know everyone's
gonna hate what I say now,"
609
00:28:54,399 --> 00:28:54,775
you know?
610
00:28:55,025 --> 00:28:56,025
Kind of thing.
611
00:28:56,235 --> 00:28:59,696
And I said, "I think we
should make a video for the song."
612
00:28:59,947 --> 00:29:03,784
"'Boom" which talks about
bombing people and the adverse
613
00:29:04,034 --> 00:29:08,997
effects of war, uh, and I think
Michael Moore should direct it.
614
00:29:09,831 --> 00:29:11,166
Let's just make a statement.”
615
00:29:11,416 --> 00:29:12,626
♪ "Boom" by System of a Down ♪
616
00:29:12,876 --> 00:29:14,996
As a Vietnam vet, I do not
believe that war should be
617
00:29:15,045 --> 00:29:16,380
fought in America's name.
618
00:29:16,630 --> 00:29:17,910
It's the most
ridiculous thing
619
00:29:18,006 --> 00:29:20,509
I'm here because my brother is
in the Navy and we want him to
620
00:29:20,759 --> 00:29:21,759
come home alive.
621
00:29:21,802 --> 00:29:23,804
[crowd cheering]
622
00:29:24,054 --> 00:29:27,224
I don't understand why dropping
bombs on children is the best
623
00:29:27,474 --> 00:29:29,935
way to achieve peace.
624
00:29:30,686 --> 00:29:35,399
♪ Why must we ♪
625
00:29:36,233 --> 00:29:41,196
♪ Kill our own kind? ♪
626
00:29:43,448 --> 00:29:46,743
♪ Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! ♪
627
00:29:48,495 --> 00:29:49,538
[Tom] I went to...
628
00:29:49,788 --> 00:29:51,832
I... I think it was an Ozzfest.
629
00:29:52,207 --> 00:29:55,043
I was outraged that there were a
I... it was in San Bernardino and
630
00:29:55,294 --> 00:29:58,338
there were a lot of, like, Nazi
and white power tattoos in the
631
00:29:58,588 --> 00:29:59,798
audience.
632
00:30:00,048 --> 00:30:02,968
And onstage, almost every
band had at least one non-white
633
00:30:03,218 --> 00:30:04,469
member in it.
634
00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:06,447
And I just thought, "That's like
a... that's just... that's not
635
00:30:06,471 --> 00:30:07,471
right.
636
00:30:07,681 --> 00:30:09,200
And somebody needs to do
something about that."
637
00:30:09,224 --> 00:30:10,785
And I had the idea to form an
organization called Axis of.
638
00:30:10,809 --> 00:30:12,060
Justice.
639
00:30:12,311 --> 00:30:13,788
[man] They preach out to a
community and to an audience
640
00:30:13,812 --> 00:30:16,606
[Serj] Tom said, "Look, would
you be interested in... in... in
641
00:30:16,857 --> 00:30:17,357
talking about this?"
642
00:30:17,607 --> 00:30:19,276
And I said, "Fuck yeah."
643
00:30:19,526 --> 00:30:22,612
[Tom] I think the very first
time we met was at an action.
644
00:30:22,863 --> 00:30:27,826
Santa Monica had outlawed
people feeding homeless people,
645
00:30:28,660 --> 00:30:30,054
and we were... in
defiance of this ordinance,
646
00:30:30,078 --> 00:30:32,873
we were going to feed all
the homeless people in sight.
647
00:30:33,123 --> 00:30:34,600
Stewart Copeland goes
over to Travis Barker,
648
00:30:34,624 --> 00:30:36,418
taps him on the
shoulder and goes
649
00:30:36,668 --> 00:30:37,836
- [laughs]
Oh, no way!
650
00:30:38,086 --> 00:30:38,420
No way!
651
00:30:38,670 --> 00:30:39,880
That's awesome!
652
00:30:40,130 --> 00:30:42,674
I had only known Serj as
like sort of the painted sort of
653
00:30:42,924 --> 00:30:46,094
hysterical shaman
of... of Armenian,
654
00:30:46,345 --> 00:30:47,387
you know, death metal.
655
00:30:47,637 --> 00:30:50,432
Uh, and he was the
gentlest soul
656
00:30:50,891 --> 00:30:52,535
maybe in the history
of rock and roll music.
657
00:30:52,559 --> 00:30:54,394
This is the Axis of Justice...
658
00:30:54,644 --> 00:30:55,644
Radio Network.
659
00:30:55,729 --> 00:30:56,313
I'm Tom Morello.
660
00:30:56,563 --> 00:30:57,856
I'm Serj Tankian.
661
00:30:58,106 --> 00:31:00,126
And for the next hour, we are
going to be spinning rebel jams
662
00:31:00,150 --> 00:31:03,111
of various genres and
revealing dangerous truths.
663
00:31:03,362 --> 00:31:04,529
Very dangerous.
664
00:31:04,780 --> 00:31:06,382
[Tom] And that's how we
very much saw ourselves,
665
00:31:06,406 --> 00:31:08,726
as... as being social justice
warriors and really moving the
666
00:31:08,867 --> 00:31:13,038
goalposts for what ideas could
be discussed in popular music.
667
00:31:15,082 --> 00:31:18,460
[Serj] Press gravitated toward
us earlier on because of our
668
00:31:18,710 --> 00:31:21,713
political message, and that's
fine and that's totally cool.
669
00:31:21,963 --> 00:31:23,643
But one of the
reactions that I always got,
670
00:31:23,882 --> 00:31:25,675
especially from
the other guys is,
671
00:31:25,926 --> 00:31:27,469
"They're only
talking about, you know,
672
00:31:27,719 --> 00:31:29,721
our two, three
songs out of the 12."
673
00:31:29,971 --> 00:31:32,516
It takes people like System
of a Down to get the word out.
674
00:31:32,766 --> 00:31:34,206
And I think they do
a good job of it.
675
00:31:34,267 --> 00:31:37,062
Without them, there would be
nobody out there that does that.
676
00:31:37,521 --> 00:31:40,857
We didn't want to, uh,
pigeonhole ourselves as purely a
677
00:31:41,108 --> 00:31:42,401
political band.
678
00:31:42,651 --> 00:31:44,891
And we also didn't want the
politics to be more important
679
00:31:44,986 --> 00:31:46,947
than the music.
680
00:31:48,573 --> 00:31:50,773
Yeah, we had to have some
talks about that and just say,
681
00:31:50,951 --> 00:31:54,913
"Look, let's not alienate
half our audience every night."
682
00:31:55,163 --> 00:31:56,483
[Serj] We've got
Axis of Justice,
683
00:31:56,581 --> 00:31:59,084
we've got Amnesty International,
Darfur Action Committee,
684
00:31:59,334 --> 00:32:01,014
uh, each with their
own booths to pass out,
685
00:32:01,211 --> 00:32:04,131
uh, information about causes
that people wouldn't necessarily
686
00:32:04,381 --> 00:32:05,549
see at a rock event.
687
00:32:05,799 --> 00:32:07,735
[John] But if you know
Serj, he's a... a little bit of a
688
00:32:07,759 --> 00:32:09,094
stubborn guy.
689
00:32:09,344 --> 00:32:12,389
If he thinks he's right, if
the entire world thinks the
690
00:32:12,639 --> 00:32:16,101
opposite, he's still right
in his head and that's that.
691
00:32:18,228 --> 00:32:20,689
[Serj] One thing our band
always did agree upon is,
692
00:32:20,939 --> 00:32:23,733
you know, pursuing recognition
for the Armenian genocide
693
00:32:23,984 --> 00:32:27,154
because all our grandparents
are survivors of the genocide.
694
00:32:27,404 --> 00:32:29,990
Tonight is not just the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian
695
00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:31,324
genocide.
696
00:32:31,575 --> 00:32:32,909
[crowd cheering]
697
00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:35,328
It's also time to break
down all the walls of
698
00:32:35,579 --> 00:32:39,332
hypocrisy around the world
with all genocides known and
699
00:32:39,583 --> 00:32:40,917
unknown
700
00:32:41,168 --> 00:32:43,503
accepted or not accepted...
701
00:32:43,753 --> 00:32:46,715
It's time to make the
Turkish government
702
00:32:48,049 --> 00:32:50,552
pay for their fucking crime!
703
00:32:50,802 --> 00:32:55,515
[crowd cheers]
704
00:32:55,765 --> 00:32:56,975
♪ Ignition ♪
705
00:32:58,602 --> 00:32:59,853
♪ Ignition ♪
706
00:33:00,103 --> 00:33:03,231
I was making a documentary,
um, for British television,
707
00:33:03,482 --> 00:33:05,609
and I had a colleague
at the time who said,
708
00:33:05,859 --> 00:33:09,154
"Hey, do you know
about this Armenian band,
709
00:33:09,404 --> 00:33:10,947
System of a Down?"
710
00:33:11,198 --> 00:33:13,241
And I said, "Well,
sure, but, you know,
711
00:33:13,492 --> 00:33:16,536
I'm working on human
rights, political documentaries.
712
00:33:16,786 --> 00:33:18,146
Why would I be
interested in that?"
713
00:33:18,246 --> 00:33:20,624
♪ A whole race, genocide ♪
714
00:33:20,874 --> 00:33:23,376
♪ Taking away all of our pride ♪
715
00:33:23,627 --> 00:33:26,630
♪ A whole race, genocide ♪
716
00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:29,799
♪ Taken away
(Watch it all fall down) ♪
717
00:33:30,050 --> 00:33:34,596
In 2004, you had a
movement in Congress to get the
718
00:33:34,846 --> 00:33:36,014
genocide recognized.
719
00:33:36,264 --> 00:33:38,558
- All in favor, say "Aye."
- [multiple] Aye.
720
00:33:38,808 --> 00:33:40,477
- Opposed, "nay."
- [multiple] Nay.
721
00:33:40,727 --> 00:33:42,437
The ayes have it.
722
00:33:42,687 --> 00:33:44,167
[Schiff] We're
over a very difficult,
723
00:33:44,314 --> 00:33:45,607
important hurdle.
724
00:33:45,857 --> 00:33:47,710
We haven't had a, uh, victory
in this committee for half a
725
00:33:47,734 --> 00:33:48,443
decade.
726
00:33:48,693 --> 00:33:51,446
But now we're up, uh,
against just as difficult,
727
00:33:51,696 --> 00:33:55,575
uh, opposition in getting it
scheduled for the House floor.
728
00:33:55,825 --> 00:33:57,452
Uh, this committee
received, last night,
729
00:33:57,702 --> 00:33:59,622
a letter from the State
Department opposing these
730
00:33:59,829 --> 00:34:00,997
resolutions.
731
00:34:01,248 --> 00:34:03,625
So we're gonna have to
fight to get this done.
732
00:34:04,459 --> 00:34:05,627
[Serj] Hello?
733
00:34:05,877 --> 00:34:08,421
At one point, I remember
being in Chicago for a show and,
734
00:34:08,672 --> 00:34:12,842
uh, we realized that it's the
hometown of Dennis Hastert,
735
00:34:13,093 --> 00:34:14,693
who at the time was
Speaker of the House.
736
00:34:14,844 --> 00:34:17,472
We found out that it's back
to Dennis Hastert's hands,
737
00:34:17,722 --> 00:34:19,683
the Speaker of the
House, to... you know,
738
00:34:19,933 --> 00:34:22,435
it's... it's under his power to...
Whether he's gonna allow it to
739
00:34:22,686 --> 00:34:23,913
go to a full house vote or not.
740
00:34:23,937 --> 00:34:27,482
And there's all these claims
about him taking hush money from
741
00:34:27,732 --> 00:34:29,109
different Turkish sources.
742
00:34:29,359 --> 00:34:32,028
Yeah, we just decided
to ramp up the process.
743
00:34:32,279 --> 00:34:33,655
[laughs]
744
00:34:33,905 --> 00:34:35,240
Hey, way to keep
it medium-level,
745
00:34:35,490 --> 00:34:36,074
Serj.
746
00:34:36,324 --> 00:34:38,493
You can't deny the truth!
747
00:34:38,743 --> 00:34:40,328
[crowd] You
can't deny the truth!
748
00:34:40,579 --> 00:34:42,289
[man through
megaphone] Recognize it now!
749
00:34:42,539 --> 00:34:44,124
[crowd] Recognize it now!
750
00:34:44,374 --> 00:34:46,694
It just so happens that people
gravitate more towards the
751
00:34:46,876 --> 00:34:48,461
political aspect of the band.
752
00:34:48,712 --> 00:34:49,855
And when it
concerns this, this is,
753
00:34:49,879 --> 00:34:51,548
for us, a personal issue.
754
00:34:51,798 --> 00:34:53,067
- [Serj] How are you?
- I'm fine, nice to see you.
755
00:34:53,091 --> 00:34:54,301
- I'm Serj, how are you?
- Good.
756
00:34:54,551 --> 00:34:56,303
I'm... I'm from the
band System of a Down.
757
00:34:56,553 --> 00:34:58,346
- From where?
- From the band System of a Down.
758
00:34:58,597 --> 00:34:59,306
- Oh, yeah, right.
- Yeah.
759
00:34:59,556 --> 00:35:00,557
Yeah, great, very good.
760
00:35:00,807 --> 00:35:02,076
We came to your office
to give you to a letter.
761
00:35:02,100 --> 00:35:02,726
Oh, excellent.
762
00:35:02,976 --> 00:35:03,976
Yeah.
763
00:35:04,102 --> 00:35:05,102
Did you happen to get it?
764
00:35:05,186 --> 00:35:06,506
Not... I haven't
looked at it yet,
765
00:35:06,605 --> 00:35:07,856
"cause I've been
766
00:35:08,106 --> 00:35:09,458
- I'm sure you're very busy.
- One of those days, yeah, right.
767
00:35:09,482 --> 00:35:10,501
I'll look at it... I do
that usually in the evening.
768
00:35:10,525 --> 00:35:12,587
Well, we've been here meeting
members of Congress and some
769
00:35:12,611 --> 00:35:15,488
senators, talking about the
Armenian genocide resolution...
770
00:35:15,739 --> 00:35:16,739
Okay.
771
00:35:16,948 --> 00:35:18,092
And the importance
to pass it, you know,
772
00:35:18,116 --> 00:35:21,536
regarding our history and
the Armenian community and,
773
00:35:21,786 --> 00:35:24,539
you know, how important it is to
all of us to face a historical
774
00:35:24,789 --> 00:35:28,752
reality and help get
over this with with Turkey.
775
00:35:29,044 --> 00:35:30,712
And everyone's been
very receptive and...
776
00:35:30,962 --> 00:35:31,962
That's good.
777
00:35:32,047 --> 00:35:32,756
It's been going
great and, you know,
778
00:35:33,006 --> 00:35:35,091
we know that it's in
your hands and [inaudible].
779
00:35:35,342 --> 00:35:36,622
I'll take a look
at your letter.
780
00:35:36,843 --> 00:35:37,843
Okay.
781
00:35:37,886 --> 00:35:39,166
- Thank you very much.
- Thank you.
782
00:35:40,972 --> 00:35:43,767
Before System of a
Down came onto the scene,
783
00:35:44,017 --> 00:35:48,730
we had artists who happened to
be Armenian but who did not wear
784
00:35:49,773 --> 00:35:51,691
their Armenian
identity on their sleeves,
785
00:35:51,941 --> 00:35:54,152
like Cher, for example.
786
00:35:55,070 --> 00:35:56,613
And suddenly, you
see these guys,
787
00:35:56,863 --> 00:36:00,950
who are heavy metal rockers,
who are having a huge impact.
788
00:36:01,868 --> 00:36:06,831
I think Armenians in the
diaspora craved somebody to have
789
00:36:08,041 --> 00:36:12,754
the power of celebrity to
get real political change.
790
00:36:14,172 --> 00:36:18,551
♪ Joyful music ♪
791
00:36:21,596 --> 00:36:25,350
[crowd cheering]
792
00:36:26,851 --> 00:36:28,019
- [man] Brains!
- Brains!
793
00:36:28,269 --> 00:36:28,978
Brains!
794
00:36:29,229 --> 00:36:30,456
[Serj] Touring was always fun.
795
00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:31,940
[groaning]
796
00:36:32,190 --> 00:36:35,819
[Serj] Going from city to city
and meeting different people...
797
00:36:36,069 --> 00:36:38,571
[male reporter] System of
a Down is filling stadiums,
798
00:36:38,822 --> 00:36:39,572
sweeping awards...
799
00:36:39,823 --> 00:36:40,156
System of a Down!
800
00:36:40,407 --> 00:36:41,407
System of a Down!
801
00:36:41,616 --> 00:36:42,826
[man] System of a Down!
802
00:36:43,076 --> 00:36:43,827
[crowd cheering]
803
00:36:44,077 --> 00:36:45,429
[male reporter] And
changing the world.
804
00:36:45,453 --> 00:36:47,789
[man] Talk to me a little
bit about your grandfather.
805
00:36:48,039 --> 00:36:53,002
Your grandfather miraculously
somehow survived this holocaust
806
00:36:53,294 --> 00:36:54,294
in
807
00:36:54,462 --> 00:36:55,648
-[male reporter]
Just this year, Canada,
808
00:36:55,672 --> 00:37:00,427
Russia, Argentina, and a dozen
other countries have recognized
809
00:37:00,677 --> 00:37:01,803
the Armenian genocide.
810
00:37:02,053 --> 00:37:04,180
The Armenian genocide is
recognized by a number of
811
00:37:04,431 --> 00:37:06,599
nations in the world
already, and eventually,
812
00:37:06,850 --> 00:37:09,018
the US will have
to do it as well.
813
00:37:09,269 --> 00:37:11,646
[crowd cheering]
814
00:37:11,896 --> 00:37:13,736
Whe... when you do it
for a long period of time,
815
00:37:13,898 --> 00:37:16,693
it... it wears on you, you know?
816
00:37:19,904 --> 00:37:21,823
♪ Soft unsettling music ♪
817
00:37:22,073 --> 00:37:23,408
"Claustrophobia."
818
00:37:26,911 --> 00:37:29,831
Losing sight of the eternal
garden could be devastating at
819
00:37:30,081 --> 00:37:31,207
best.
820
00:37:31,458 --> 00:37:34,711
What drives me insane are the
catastrophic perplexities of
821
00:37:34,961 --> 00:37:37,881
those close souls with whom
I have drunk from the pure
822
00:37:38,131 --> 00:37:39,799
fountain of harmony.
823
00:37:40,049 --> 00:37:41,885
"As long as there is a way..."
824
00:37:43,094 --> 00:37:46,431
The whole concept behind
bands staying together and,
825
00:37:46,681 --> 00:37:49,517
uh, continuing a long
tradition of something is,
826
00:37:49,768 --> 00:37:53,104
uh, I think it's
commercially motivated.
827
00:37:53,354 --> 00:37:56,858
And I don't think anything,
uh, in life and especially art
828
00:37:57,108 --> 00:38:00,862
should be, uh, put in
that much of a format,
829
00:38:01,112 --> 00:38:02,363
you know?
830
00:38:02,614 --> 00:38:03,924
So I personally don't think
bands should exist forever,
831
00:38:03,948 --> 00:38:05,241
to be honest with you.
832
00:38:05,492 --> 00:38:07,744
I'm gonna quit the
band after this interview.
833
00:38:07,994 --> 00:38:09,913
[laughter]
834
00:38:10,205 --> 00:38:12,665
[Serj] The way I think Daron
always saw this band and... and
835
00:38:12,916 --> 00:38:14,918
maybe even the other
guys, I gotta say,
836
00:38:15,168 --> 00:38:17,337
is that we each had a
role, like a sports team,
837
00:38:17,587 --> 00:38:19,756
is... is how it's
been described before.
838
00:38:20,006 --> 00:38:23,092
And that we should each kind
of excel at that role and then
839
00:38:23,343 --> 00:38:26,930
bring the unit
together as a team to score.
840
00:38:27,180 --> 00:38:28,848
Like, if you want
to use sporting,
841
00:38:29,098 --> 00:38:31,059
uh, terminology.
842
00:38:32,519 --> 00:38:34,521
And that's fine if you
think of it that way.
843
00:38:34,771 --> 00:38:36,898
And there's some truth to that.
844
00:38:37,148 --> 00:38:39,068
But I've always thought
as an artist as more than
845
00:38:39,192 --> 00:38:42,278
just... playing a
guitar or, you know,
846
00:38:42,529 --> 00:38:44,409
I'm only supposed to
write lyrics or... you know,
847
00:38:44,531 --> 00:38:47,951
as you grow as an
artist, you have more to give.
848
00:38:48,660 --> 00:38:49,900
And for me, that's what it was.
849
00:38:49,994 --> 00:38:51,871
I felt artistically stifled.
850
00:38:52,121 --> 00:38:54,958
"The enigmatic loss of vision
and its accompanying diverse
851
00:38:55,208 --> 00:38:59,504
avenues of existence
caused this lockdown hysteria.""
852
00:39:01,172 --> 00:39:03,212
I told the guys that, "Look,
after the next record,"
853
00:39:03,424 --> 00:39:05,304
which turned out to be two
records, 'Mesmerize'/
854
00:39:05,343 --> 00:39:07,971
'Hypnotize, ' "I want to do
my own thing, take a hiatus."
855
00:39:08,221 --> 00:39:10,157
[male reporter] The
announcement has sent shockwaves
856
00:39:10,181 --> 00:39:11,891
around the rock world.
857
00:39:12,141 --> 00:39:15,562
With two number one albums
and a Grammy just this year,
858
00:39:15,812 --> 00:39:19,899
System of a Down is
stepping off the stage.
859
00:39:23,987 --> 00:39:28,950
♪ Playing melodica ♪
860
00:39:31,828 --> 00:39:35,748
From the
rainmaker sound to, uh,
861
00:39:35,999 --> 00:39:38,126
a baby Chinese
accordion... [laughs]
862
00:39:38,376 --> 00:39:40,420
Splaying accordiond.
863
00:39:40,670 --> 00:39:43,172
Working on my first solo record,
'Elect the Dead, ' was a lot of
864
00:39:43,423 --> 00:39:45,183
fun, 'cause it was a
whole different process.
865
00:39:45,425 --> 00:39:47,343
Okay, uh, kalimba.
866
00:39:47,594 --> 00:39:48,970
♪ Playing kalimba ♪
867
00:39:49,220 --> 00:39:51,806
I'm making a rock
record without a rock band.
868
00:39:52,056 --> 00:39:55,018
Splaying instrumentdd.
869
00:39:55,268 --> 00:39:57,079
So it... it doesn't sound
great without really being
870
00:39:57,103 --> 00:39:58,438
hooked up.
871
00:39:58,688 --> 00:40:00,374
You throw a little delay pedal
on there and... and some phaser
872
00:40:00,398 --> 00:40:02,150
and stuff and it
sounds phenomenal.
873
00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:03,760
It's great for
composing, really...
874
00:40:03,902 --> 00:40:05,302
Now, I'm writing
every aspect of it.
875
00:40:05,403 --> 00:40:07,572
I'm writing, you know, the
rhythmical patterns for the
876
00:40:07,822 --> 00:40:08,948
drums, the bass lines...
877
00:40:09,198 --> 00:40:10,825
That's the pianos.
878
00:40:12,076 --> 00:40:14,662
So I started with that,
with just the pianos.
879
00:40:14,913 --> 00:40:17,999
♪ Piano riff ♪
880
00:40:18,249 --> 00:40:20,019
And... and most of the
songs are written either on
881
00:40:20,043 --> 00:40:22,253
acoustic guitar or
piano with vocals,
882
00:40:22,503 --> 00:40:23,838
uh, to start with.
883
00:40:24,088 --> 00:40:26,007
And then just building up.
884
00:40:26,925 --> 00:40:28,593
And then brought in the vocals.
885
00:40:28,843 --> 00:40:31,387
♪ Pretentious attention ♪
886
00:40:31,638 --> 00:40:34,057
♪ Dismissive apprehension ♪
887
00:40:34,307 --> 00:40:38,853
♪ Don't waste your
time on coffins today... ♪
888
00:40:39,103 --> 00:40:40,983
And just, you know,
tracking the whole thing and
889
00:40:41,064 --> 00:40:43,504
then bringing live musicians to
replace some of the stuff that
890
00:40:43,733 --> 00:40:45,276
I've performed on.
891
00:40:46,653 --> 00:40:51,240
♪ Don't waste your
time on coffins today... ♪
892
00:40:51,491 --> 00:40:53,034
It's... it's... it's invigorating.
893
00:40:53,284 --> 00:40:54,702
It's emancipating.
894
00:40:54,953 --> 00:40:56,273
♪ Desolate and full of yearning ♪
895
00:40:56,329 --> 00:40:57,664
♪ Dying of anticipation ♪
896
00:40:57,914 --> 00:40:59,207
♪ Choking from intoxication ♪
897
00:40:59,457 --> 00:41:01,057
♪ Don't you see
their bodies burning? ♪
898
00:41:01,167 --> 00:41:04,003
I remember that there was
this one point in the recording
899
00:41:04,253 --> 00:41:08,091
studio by myself, listening
back to some of the tracks.
900
00:41:08,341 --> 00:41:09,821
I was, like,
running around and, like,
901
00:41:09,926 --> 00:41:12,637
really amped into it by myself,
which probably would look
902
00:41:12,887 --> 00:41:14,487
ridiculous if you saw
someone doing that.
903
00:41:14,681 --> 00:41:16,015
Insane.
904
00:41:16,265 --> 00:41:19,060
But that's when I really knew
that the music would connect.
905
00:41:19,310 --> 00:41:23,106
And rock is a unique delivery
mechanism for rebellion.
906
00:41:23,356 --> 00:41:24,876
♪ Don't you see
their bodies burning? ♪
907
00:41:24,941 --> 00:41:26,221
♪ Desolate and full of yearning ♪
908
00:41:26,317 --> 00:41:27,652
♪ Dying of anticipation ♪
909
00:41:27,902 --> 00:41:29,112
♪ Choking from intoxication ♪
910
00:41:29,362 --> 00:41:30,881
♪ Don't you see
their bodies burning? ♪
911
00:41:30,905 --> 00:41:32,323
♪ Desolate and
full of yearning... ♪
912
00:41:32,573 --> 00:41:34,283
"Empty Walls"
actually, you know,
913
00:41:34,534 --> 00:41:38,329
had a lot of radio play and
we made this incredible video.
914
00:41:38,579 --> 00:41:42,875
There was a reenactment of 9/11
with kids and the Abu Ghraib
915
00:41:43,126 --> 00:41:44,126
situation.
916
00:41:44,293 --> 00:41:48,297
♪ Taunt you to see from
behind those empty walls ♪
917
00:41:48,548 --> 00:41:52,343
♪ I want you to
be left behind... ♪
918
00:41:52,593 --> 00:41:54,473
And then, I got an
offer to do something with an
919
00:41:54,512 --> 00:41:56,931
orchestra and I... I
was bewildered by that.
920
00:41:57,181 --> 00:41:59,559
I was like, "Wow, that
could be really interesting."
921
00:42:00,810 --> 00:42:05,273
So, uh, I was able to rearrange
my music from 'Elect the Dead'
922
00:42:05,523 --> 00:42:07,567
and create a
symphonic version of it.
923
00:42:07,817 --> 00:42:09,777
And it turned into
'Elect the Dead' symphony.
924
00:42:10,028 --> 00:42:14,991
♪ I want you to be left
behind those empty walls ♪
925
00:42:17,535 --> 00:42:21,122
♪ Taunt you to see ♪
926
00:42:21,372 --> 00:42:23,916
♪ Left behind those empty walls ♪
927
00:42:24,167 --> 00:42:27,336
♪ Taunt you to seed ♪
928
00:42:27,587 --> 00:42:30,715
♪ From behind those empty walls ♪
929
00:42:30,965 --> 00:42:33,801
♪ From behind
those fucking walls ♪
930
00:42:34,052 --> 00:42:35,386
♪ From behind those... ♪
931
00:42:35,636 --> 00:42:38,036
[male reporter] System of a
Down's frontman Serj Tankian and
932
00:42:38,181 --> 00:42:41,100
his Serjical Strike Records have
hit a little smooth sailing.
933
00:42:41,350 --> 00:42:44,395
So next year, Serj and his label
will release several projects,
934
00:42:44,645 --> 00:42:47,315
including Kittens for Christian
and avant-garde goth art punk
935
00:42:47,565 --> 00:42:48,858
band...
936
00:42:49,108 --> 00:42:49,734
[Serj] We had signed this
amazing band called Fair to.
937
00:42:49,984 --> 00:42:51,319
Midland out of Texas.
938
00:42:51,569 --> 00:42:53,380
Serj says he'll put out five
albums a year and continue to
939
00:42:53,404 --> 00:42:54,947
sign bands that inspire him.
940
00:42:55,198 --> 00:42:56,449
[claps]
941
00:42:56,699 --> 00:42:58,761
And there were a number of
record companies interested,
942
00:42:58,785 --> 00:43:01,996
and through Atlantic, uh, the
head of Atlantic Records at the
943
00:43:02,246 --> 00:43:05,333
time, I got a, you know,
unexpected visit with,
944
00:43:05,583 --> 00:43:08,377
uh, the old, uh,
co-chair, you know,
945
00:43:08,628 --> 00:43:12,215
the old CEO, Ahmet
Ertegun, who was Turkish.
946
00:43:14,258 --> 00:43:16,844
So we sat down and had a great
conversation about music and...
947
00:43:17,095 --> 00:43:19,764
And how much I appreciated the
bands that he had signed like.
948
00:43:20,014 --> 00:43:21,349
Zeppelin and...
And Ray and, like,
949
00:43:21,599 --> 00:43:22,850
all this stuff.
950
00:43:23,101 --> 00:43:25,245
And then, on my way home, I
just... something... there was an
951
00:43:25,269 --> 00:43:29,190
inkling feeling inside of me
that I needed to kind of ex...
952
00:43:29,440 --> 00:43:32,360
Uh, figure out what it
was and I typed his name,
953
00:43:32,610 --> 00:43:35,363
Ahmet Ertegun, and I put the
world "genocide" behind it and.
954
00:43:35,613 --> 00:43:39,784
Googled it, and I realized that
he had paid for a lot of foreign
955
00:43:40,034 --> 00:43:44,914
policy think tanks and trusts
that were encouraging Congress
956
00:43:45,164 --> 00:43:47,792
not to recognize the
Armenian genocide.
957
00:43:48,751 --> 00:43:53,005
He had also paid for chairs at
universities that had encouraged
958
00:43:53,256 --> 00:43:55,424
scholars, uh,
so-called scholars,
959
00:43:55,675 --> 00:43:57,426
uh, that would deny
the Armenian genocide.
960
00:43:57,677 --> 00:43:59,887
Now, this became a
big problem, uh,
961
00:44:00,138 --> 00:44:03,641
for me personally, uh, and
for the band ultimately.
962
00:44:04,851 --> 00:44:07,061
And then, you
know, at that time,
963
00:44:07,311 --> 00:44:11,190
I got news from a very reliable
source that there possibly could
964
00:44:11,440 --> 00:44:16,195
be Turkish intelligence sources
looking at me to assassinate me,
965
00:44:16,445 --> 00:44:19,490
uh, because of my
activism against Dennis Hastert.
966
00:44:19,740 --> 00:44:23,411
Art can be very dangerous,
um, which is why tyrants and
967
00:44:23,661 --> 00:44:27,081
tyrannical states love
to clamp down on artists.
968
00:44:27,331 --> 00:44:29,208
Um, in February...
969
00:44:29,458 --> 00:44:32,628
There are many situations in
life where you don't expect,
970
00:44:32,879 --> 00:44:36,632
you know, something that... that
is political or that is social
971
00:44:36,883 --> 00:44:39,218
to interact with the business
that you do or with the other
972
00:44:39,468 --> 00:44:40,761
work that you do.
973
00:44:41,012 --> 00:44:44,265
And somehow, it pops up and it
challenges your kind of... the...
974
00:44:44,515 --> 00:44:47,268
The narrative of
your moral compass.
975
00:44:48,895 --> 00:44:52,064
In the end, we ended up not
working with Ahmet Ertegun.
976
00:44:53,482 --> 00:44:56,652
I wanted to talk to you about
the latest in terms of genocide
977
00:44:56,903 --> 00:44:58,279
recognition in the US.
978
00:44:58,529 --> 00:45:02,283
Both the Senate and the House
introduced new legislation.
979
00:45:02,533 --> 00:45:05,286
It's not just US
recognition of the genocide,
980
00:45:05,536 --> 00:45:07,246
it's also a matter
of prevention of...
981
00:45:07,496 --> 00:45:10,875
- Right.
- Of just genocides in general.
982
00:45:11,125 --> 00:45:15,129
I want us all to put up
our right arms in protest,
983
00:45:15,379 --> 00:45:16,881
and I want us all to say...
984
00:45:17,131 --> 00:45:21,677
[all] As President, I will
recognize the Armenian genocide!
985
00:45:21,928 --> 00:45:23,512
As President, I
will recognize...
986
00:45:23,763 --> 00:45:25,908
[male reporter] Barack
Obama has joined a long line of.
987
00:45:25,932 --> 00:45:28,684
Presidents who broke their
campaign promise to recognize
988
00:45:28,935 --> 00:45:30,895
the Armenian genocide.
989
00:45:33,189 --> 00:45:37,777
♪ Pensive electronic music ♪
990
00:45:38,361 --> 00:45:41,697
Social media has given
unadulterated access for
991
00:45:41,948 --> 00:45:43,783
artists, uh,
directly to their fanbase,
992
00:45:44,033 --> 00:45:45,493
which didn't exist before.
993
00:45:45,743 --> 00:45:48,204
That's one of the positive
aspects for me about it.
994
00:45:48,579 --> 00:45:50,122
But it also allowed
me, as an activist,
995
00:45:50,373 --> 00:45:51,999
to express myself.
996
00:45:52,250 --> 00:45:54,228
[echoing] "We have a lot to
learn from the Chilean students
997
00:45:54,252 --> 00:45:55,492
protesting here in Santiago"
998
00:45:55,586 --> 00:45:58,923
"I hope the Occupy Wall Street
movement truly turns into a
999
00:45:59,173 --> 00:46:00,424
political force"
1000
00:46:00,675 --> 00:46:01,384
"I support the Global Zero
movement to eliminate all
1001
00:46:01,634 --> 00:46:02,927
nuclear weapons by 2030"
1002
00:46:03,177 --> 00:46:06,347
I was thrilled to see the impact
I was making on so many issues
1003
00:46:06,597 --> 00:46:07,848
across the world.
1004
00:46:08,099 --> 00:46:09,576
[echoing] "I'm appalled by
Obama's closeness to this
1005
00:46:09,600 --> 00:46:11,411
hypocrite named Erdogan,
Turkey's Prime Minister..."
1006
00:46:11,435 --> 00:46:12,746
Of course, there was
the other side of this,
1007
00:46:12,770 --> 00:46:13,770
loo.
1008
00:46:13,813 --> 00:46:15,398
♪ Emotional piano music ♪
1009
00:46:15,648 --> 00:46:17,608
As time went by and
System of a Down didn't make a
1010
00:46:17,775 --> 00:46:21,404
record, there was a, uh,
growing disgruntlement,
1011
00:46:21,654 --> 00:46:24,949
uh, among fans to get
a new System record.
1012
00:46:34,875 --> 00:46:36,377
[laughs]
1013
00:46:36,627 --> 00:46:38,587
I love the fact the
he represents the entire metal
1014
00:46:38,796 --> 00:46:40,423
community, or she.
1015
00:46:48,431 --> 00:46:49,974
♪♪♪
1016
00:46:50,224 --> 00:46:52,435
I don't want to come
across that I know everything
1017
00:46:52,685 --> 00:46:54,645
and... and... and
whatnot, but, you know,
1018
00:46:54,895 --> 00:46:57,857
whatever statement I make is
based on an injustice occurring
1019
00:46:58,107 --> 00:47:00,568
somewhere that I
want to rectify.
1020
00:47:00,818 --> 00:47:03,195
And whether I'm right or wrong
to do it is... is... is another
1021
00:47:03,446 --> 00:47:04,196
factor.
1022
00:47:04,447 --> 00:47:05,197
But I need to do it.
1023
00:47:05,448 --> 00:47:06,782
It's... it's... it's the truth.
1024
00:47:07,033 --> 00:47:08,073
Like, it's gotta come out.
1025
00:47:08,242 --> 00:47:09,285
And same with justice.
1026
00:47:09,535 --> 00:47:12,621
I feel like the
environmental balance that is,
1027
00:47:12,872 --> 00:47:16,792
you know, that we're seeing
in... in... in climate change is,
1028
00:47:17,043 --> 00:47:21,464
uh, also indicative of the human
imbalance that is existing due
1029
00:47:21,714 --> 00:47:24,842
to wars, profits over
people, and all of this stuff.
1030
00:47:25,092 --> 00:47:28,596
We have to change our ways in
every way for us to survive.
1031
00:47:28,846 --> 00:47:29,846
[laughs]
1032
00:47:30,056 --> 00:47:31,658
Uh, both in the
spiritual world and in the
1033
00:47:31,682 --> 00:47:32,682
physical world.
1034
00:47:32,725 --> 00:47:34,435
They're all
mirrors of each other.
1035
00:47:34,685 --> 00:47:35,978
♪ "Harakiri" by Serj Tankian ♪
1036
00:47:36,228 --> 00:47:36,854
[Reagan] We are at war
with the most dangerous enemy
1037
00:47:37,104 --> 00:47:39,023
that has ever faced
mankind in his long climb...
1038
00:47:39,273 --> 00:47:41,251
[Serj] With 'Harakiri, ' I
took on a whole new set of
1039
00:47:41,275 --> 00:47:42,275
political issues.
1040
00:47:42,443 --> 00:47:43,110
[Reagan] There's
no place to escape to.
1041
00:47:43,361 --> 00:47:45,404
This is the last stand on Earth.
1042
00:47:45,654 --> 00:47:48,449
[Serj] From corporate
greed to climate change.
1043
00:47:48,699 --> 00:47:51,827
♪ We're the day birds ♪
1044
00:47:52,078 --> 00:47:55,331
♪ Deciding to fly
against the sky ♪
1045
00:47:55,581 --> 00:47:56,624
♪ Within our dreams... ♪
1046
00:47:56,874 --> 00:48:00,252
But a voice for
justice always needs to evolve.
1047
00:48:00,503 --> 00:48:03,255
So, I began to experiment.
1048
00:48:04,382 --> 00:48:07,093
I did 'Orca, ' which
was my first symphony.
1049
00:48:10,096 --> 00:48:11,847
"I did 'Jazz is
Christ," a jazz record,
1050
00:48:12,098 --> 00:48:14,266
with a bunch of
really amazing musicians.
1051
00:48:14,517 --> 00:48:17,269
♪ Jazz noodling on keys ♪
1052
00:48:17,520 --> 00:48:20,314
I did a musical called
'Prometheus Bound.'
1053
00:48:21,524 --> 00:48:24,568
And I also started
painting for the first time.
1054
00:48:25,694 --> 00:48:27,488
All of my paintings
are musically scored,
1055
00:48:27,738 --> 00:48:28,739
like a film.
1056
00:48:28,989 --> 00:48:30,509
For example, the first
piece that I ever did,
1057
00:48:30,533 --> 00:48:32,386
you can actually read the
music of the first measure.
1058
00:48:32,410 --> 00:48:33,410
And it's a piano piece.
1059
00:48:33,577 --> 00:48:34,930
It's a beautiful,
haunting piano piece.
1060
00:48:34,954 --> 00:48:36,455
And I've always
thought, like films,
1061
00:48:36,705 --> 00:48:38,958
how would one score a
series of paintings?
1062
00:48:39,208 --> 00:48:42,294
So I started [clears throat]
inserting speakers and MP3
1063
00:48:42,545 --> 00:48:44,672
players within the
actual, uh, painting.
1064
00:48:44,922 --> 00:48:47,174
So you've got two
speakers on the sides,
1065
00:48:47,425 --> 00:48:48,717
stereo speakers...
1066
00:48:48,968 --> 00:48:51,554
And I got lost in that world and
it became another new artistic
1067
00:48:51,804 --> 00:48:52,972
expression.
1068
00:48:54,265 --> 00:48:56,410
Doing all this stuff and
coming into my own and feeling
1069
00:48:56,434 --> 00:48:58,936
confident of
myself as a songwriter,
1070
00:48:59,186 --> 00:49:00,688
uh, as a composer...
1071
00:49:00,938 --> 00:49:02,481
That sounds much better.
1072
00:49:02,731 --> 00:49:05,526
Uh, it really kind of changed
the way that I looked at System
1073
00:49:05,776 --> 00:49:09,697
again, to a point where, when
there was that opening for us to
1074
00:49:09,947 --> 00:49:13,701
discuss touring together again,
I was way more open to it and...
1075
00:49:13,951 --> 00:49:16,271
And be like "Okay, well, I've
done all these things and I'm
1076
00:49:16,412 --> 00:49:17,955
gonna continue
doing all these things,
1077
00:49:18,205 --> 00:49:20,016
but if you guys wanna
play some music together,
1078
00:49:20,040 --> 00:49:21,417
I think that
might be really fun."
1079
00:49:21,667 --> 00:49:22,667
Hello.
1080
00:49:22,793 --> 00:49:23,335
Just want to say hi.
1081
00:49:23,586 --> 00:49:24,336
Hi.
1082
00:49:24,587 --> 00:49:26,187
- [Serj] Serj.
- Michael, nice to meet you.
1083
00:49:26,380 --> 00:49:27,380
[giggling]
1084
00:49:27,590 --> 00:49:31,594
[cheering]
1085
00:49:33,804 --> 00:49:35,389
We are [inaudible]!
1086
00:49:35,639 --> 00:49:36,639
We're System of a Down!
1087
00:49:36,849 --> 00:49:37,849
[inaudible]!
1088
00:49:38,017 --> 00:49:39,393
[crowd cheering]
1089
00:49:39,643 --> 00:49:40,936
So I shot everything.
1090
00:49:41,187 --> 00:49:41,729
[man] Whoa.
1091
00:49:41,979 --> 00:49:43,147
[woman] Yo, watch out!
1092
00:49:43,397 --> 00:49:44,607
[laughter]
1093
00:49:44,857 --> 00:49:46,525
[Serj] I strapped a
camera on my head
1094
00:49:46,775 --> 00:49:48,611
I just blinded you with science.
1095
00:49:48,861 --> 00:49:51,572
[man] ♪ She blinded
me with science ♪
1096
00:49:52,239 --> 00:49:53,782
[Serj] I had spy glasses...
1097
00:49:54,200 --> 00:49:55,576
These are skinny mirrors.
1098
00:49:55,826 --> 00:49:57,995
If you are skinny,
you will be skinnier.
1099
00:49:58,245 --> 00:49:58,787
How are you, man?
1100
00:49:59,038 --> 00:50:00,182
- How are you?
- Everything cool?
1101
00:50:00,206 --> 00:50:01,433
- [Serj] Good to see you again.
- Sounds good in the house.
1102
00:50:01,457 --> 00:50:03,751
-[Serj] Great, thank you.
Thanks for everything.
1103
00:50:04,001 --> 00:50:07,004
I... I think the reason that I
wanted to shoot all of that
1104
00:50:07,254 --> 00:50:11,258
was because, irrespective of
feeling confident coming back to
1105
00:50:11,509 --> 00:50:15,596
the System camp, there was still
some lingering insecurities
1106
00:50:15,846 --> 00:50:16,846
and... and fears.
1107
00:50:17,056 --> 00:50:18,056
You fuckin' fuck.
1108
00:50:18,265 --> 00:50:18,807
[laughter]
1109
00:50:19,058 --> 00:50:20,392
[inaudible] over your head.
1110
00:50:20,643 --> 00:50:23,979
[Serj] So I think by having a
camera in the middle to be able
1111
00:50:24,230 --> 00:50:28,275
to look through kind of gave me
the perspective that I needed to
1112
00:50:28,526 --> 00:50:31,862
more comfortably and
unemotionally reconnect with my
1113
00:50:32,112 --> 00:50:33,614
past and with my band.
1114
00:50:33,864 --> 00:50:36,575
[crowd cheering]
1115
00:50:38,869 --> 00:50:40,287
That was a such a great show.
1116
00:50:40,538 --> 00:50:42,581
That felt like a
badass fucking show.
1117
00:50:42,831 --> 00:50:43,831
Woo!
1118
00:50:44,041 --> 00:50:45,521
My girlfriend Ang
was on tour with me.
1119
00:50:45,668 --> 00:50:47,086
Hold on, hold on, hold on.
1120
00:50:48,671 --> 00:50:49,213
Okay, got it.
1121
00:50:49,463 --> 00:50:51,215
[Serj] And George, my manager.
1122
00:50:51,465 --> 00:50:52,865
I tried to come
here two hours late.
1123
00:50:52,925 --> 00:50:54,677
I only got here an
hour late. [Laughter]
1124
00:50:54,927 --> 00:50:55,469
I'm so disappointed.
1125
00:50:55,719 --> 00:50:57,096
You know, it was just like
1126
00:50:57,346 --> 00:50:59,265
w... we just... we were
having so much fun.
1127
00:50:59,515 --> 00:51:03,227
♪ Joyful music ♪
1128
00:51:05,563 --> 00:51:06,814
[inaudible].
1129
00:51:07,064 --> 00:51:08,899
Look at that view of Jordan.
1130
00:51:09,567 --> 00:51:12,903
And I also filmed my family
as we went back to Lebanon.
1131
00:51:16,574 --> 00:51:19,014
We visited the orphanage that
took in my grandfather after the
1132
00:51:19,118 --> 00:51:20,536
genocide.
1133
00:51:22,037 --> 00:51:24,057
We went back to the home we
lived in before moving to Los
1134
00:51:24,081 --> 00:51:25,249
Angeles.
1135
00:51:33,507 --> 00:51:36,468
And I even got to have a concert
there with my dad and sing the
1136
00:51:36,719 --> 00:51:39,054
song he taught me so long ago.
1137
00:52:01,785 --> 00:52:05,748
[cheers and applause]
1138
00:52:14,548 --> 00:52:16,759
The Armenian homeland was
destroyed by the genocide in
1139
00:52:17,009 --> 00:52:18,510
1915.
1140
00:52:18,761 --> 00:52:21,597
But a small part of
Armenia actually did survive.
1141
00:52:21,847 --> 00:52:24,558
After two years of independence,
it became part of the Soviet.
1142
00:52:24,808 --> 00:52:29,772
Union, until finally regaining
its independence in 1991.
1143
00:52:30,981 --> 00:52:35,319
I had been to Armenia in
2005, and at that time,
1144
00:52:35,569 --> 00:52:37,988
I was starting to get
more interested politically.
1145
00:52:38,238 --> 00:52:41,909
♪ Emotional strings ♪
1146
00:52:42,159 --> 00:52:43,577
The more I visited Armenia,
1147
00:52:43,827 --> 00:52:46,014
the more I started to see some
of the injustices occurring in
1148
00:52:46,038 --> 00:52:48,916
Armenia, mostly having to
do with the ruling elite,
1149
00:52:49,166 --> 00:52:52,586
a very corrupt ruling elite,
post-Soviet oligarchic ruling
1150
00:52:52,836 --> 00:52:56,131
elite, that felt that they
could do whatever they like,
1151
00:52:56,382 --> 00:52:58,133
uh, with impunity.
1152
00:52:59,218 --> 00:53:00,636
There was a
depopulation occurring,
1153
00:53:00,886 --> 00:53:02,947
people were leaving the country,
they were voting with their
1154
00:53:02,971 --> 00:53:04,765
feet, as it's called.
1155
00:53:05,224 --> 00:53:06,504
Because they couldn't find jobs.
1156
00:53:06,600 --> 00:53:09,395
They didn't have, uh,
justice in the courts.
1157
00:53:09,645 --> 00:53:13,357
They weren't able to provide a
great comfort and security and...
1158
00:53:13,607 --> 00:53:15,984
And... and lifestyle
for their children.
1159
00:53:17,986 --> 00:53:19,839
Now, this was taboo in the
Armenian community in the
1160
00:53:19,863 --> 00:53:22,157
diaspora because
diasporan Armenians,
1161
00:53:22,408 --> 00:53:25,244
they didn't really want to talk
about the injustices in Armenia.
1162
00:53:25,494 --> 00:53:28,580
When you're going to Congress
asking for the recognition of
1163
00:53:28,831 --> 00:53:32,418
the genocide, it's not cool
for you to mention that there's
1164
00:53:32,668 --> 00:53:34,896
corruption in Armenia, there's
some bad shit happening in
1165
00:53:34,920 --> 00:53:37,172
Armenia that need to
be resolved as well.
1166
00:53:37,423 --> 00:53:41,593
[crowd shouting and chanting]
1167
00:53:44,430 --> 00:53:49,393
March 1, 2008 is, uh, kind of
indelibly sketched into modern
1168
00:53:50,477 --> 00:53:55,107
Armenian history because there
were 10 deaths at a protest
1169
00:53:55,357 --> 00:53:59,653
protesting the election of
Serzh Sargsyan as President.
1170
00:53:59,903 --> 00:54:02,990
In Armenia, at least nine
people now have died in clashes
1171
00:54:03,240 --> 00:54:05,826
between police and
opposition protesters.
1172
00:54:06,076 --> 00:54:09,621
Outgoing President Robert
Kocharyan has imposed a...
1173
00:54:09,872 --> 00:54:13,292
[Serj] People were dying,
uh, making their voices heard.
1174
00:54:13,542 --> 00:54:16,062
[male reporter] The protesters
accuse the government of rigging
1175
00:54:16,128 --> 00:54:18,464
last month's
presidential election.
1176
00:54:19,506 --> 00:54:21,258
[screaming]
1177
00:54:21,508 --> 00:54:24,636
And I was really, really
heartbroken that... that Armenia
1178
00:54:24,887 --> 00:54:27,222
is going through this
injustice and that,
1179
00:54:27,473 --> 00:54:30,726
you know, this...
This hold on, you know,
1180
00:54:30,976 --> 00:54:34,104
uh, the populace and their
destiny was happening by a
1181
00:54:34,354 --> 00:54:36,732
handful of el...
Elitists, corrupt elitists.
1182
00:54:36,982 --> 00:54:39,109
And so I wrote a public letter.
1183
00:54:54,082 --> 00:54:56,162
So after writing that
public letter to the President,
1184
00:54:56,376 --> 00:54:59,338
I... I didn't expect a
response, a... actually,
1185
00:54:59,588 --> 00:55:01,465
uh, but he did
respond, in public,
1186
00:55:01,715 --> 00:55:02,883
with his own letter.
1187
00:55:23,529 --> 00:55:26,365
2015 was the centennial
of the Armenian genocide.
1188
00:55:26,615 --> 00:55:28,134
[male reporter] Thursday's
vote in the German parliament
1189
00:55:28,158 --> 00:55:30,786
recognizing a genocide of
1.5 million Armenians
1190
00:55:31,036 --> 00:55:32,931
[Serj] Germany officially
recognized the genocide,
1191
00:55:32,955 --> 00:55:35,874
the... the Vatican officially
recognized the genocide.
1192
00:55:43,590 --> 00:55:45,109
[Serj] It was the first time
System of a Down ever played
1193
00:55:45,133 --> 00:55:46,593
in Armenia, as well.
1194
00:55:46,844 --> 00:55:49,721
[crowd cheering]
1195
00:55:53,141 --> 00:55:54,781
Here I was, dealing
with a government that
1196
00:55:54,977 --> 00:55:55,978
was unjust...
1197
00:55:56,228 --> 00:55:59,398
[crowd cheering]
1198
00:56:00,399 --> 00:56:01,984
That I was really
rallying against,
1199
00:56:02,234 --> 00:56:04,111
yet I was also
1200
00:56:04,361 --> 00:56:06,738
spent my whole life fighting
for recognition of the Armenian
1201
00:56:06,989 --> 00:56:08,907
genocide, an external injustice.
1202
00:56:09,157 --> 00:56:13,996
[crowd cheering]
1203
00:56:14,788 --> 00:56:19,751
♪ Singing in Armenian ♪
1204
00:56:20,252 --> 00:56:22,564
You know, I... I stayed up for
two nights thinking about how
1205
00:56:22,588 --> 00:56:24,798
I'm... how am I
gonna deal with this?
1206
00:56:26,133 --> 00:56:28,453
At the time, it just came to
me in the middle of the night,
1207
00:56:28,677 --> 00:56:30,387
and I just said, "You know what?"
1208
00:56:30,637 --> 00:56:32,347
I'm a fucking
musician, I'm an artist.
1209
00:56:32,598 --> 00:56:34,850
I'm gonna say everything I
need to say from my stage,
1210
00:56:35,100 --> 00:56:36,226
from our stage.
1211
00:56:36,476 --> 00:56:38,937
"And the rest can
fall where it may."
1212
00:56:42,024 --> 00:56:44,943
Before the show, we
got together with the guys from.
1213
00:56:45,193 --> 00:56:47,863
System in the lobby of the
hotel we were at before we got
1214
00:56:48,113 --> 00:56:48,780
onstage.
1215
00:56:49,031 --> 00:56:50,049
I'm honored to
be with you guys.
1216
00:56:50,073 --> 00:56:51,073
Me too.
1217
00:56:51,283 --> 00:56:53,368
This... this, like,
even more this time...
1218
00:56:53,619 --> 00:56:55,162
[Serj] And we
hugged each other.
1219
00:56:57,039 --> 00:57:00,000
I had this sense of
calmness that is rare.
1220
00:57:00,292 --> 00:57:03,170
And I just looked at the
guys and it almost felt like we
1221
00:57:03,420 --> 00:57:05,964
were... crealted
1222
00:57:06,214 --> 00:57:08,050
to play that night.
1223
00:57:08,675 --> 00:57:09,819
Now, let's go wait
for 20 more minutes.
1224
00:57:09,843 --> 00:57:11,261
Where are they?
1225
00:57:11,511 --> 00:57:12,822
[Shavo] From day one, we had
songs about being Armenian and
1226
00:57:12,846 --> 00:57:14,056
the whole cause, you know?
1227
00:57:14,306 --> 00:57:15,974
And it was like
one head, two head,
1228
00:57:16,224 --> 00:57:17,224
three head, four head.
1229
00:57:17,309 --> 00:57:18,060
[rolls tongue]
1230
00:57:18,310 --> 00:57:19,621
And a whole
nation got... heard us.
1231
00:57:19,645 --> 00:57:22,040
They're like, "Fuck, they're...
They're... those young boys are...
1232
00:57:22,064 --> 00:57:23,815
Are... are fucking soldiers."
1233
00:57:24,066 --> 00:57:27,402
We were soldiers with a
fucking... with a voice to say
1234
00:57:27,653 --> 00:57:28,278
something.
1235
00:57:28,528 --> 00:57:29,738
[crowd cheering]
1236
00:57:29,988 --> 00:57:32,658
[John] It was as poignant
moment because all the drama of
1237
00:57:32,908 --> 00:57:35,077
the last 20 years,
it just went away.
1238
00:57:35,577 --> 00:57:39,039
And it was just four guys going
onstage and playing for their
1239
00:57:39,289 --> 00:57:40,289
people.
1240
00:57:40,457 --> 00:57:43,418
[crowd cheering]
1241
00:57:44,711 --> 00:57:47,047
♪ Emotional piano music ♪
1242
00:57:47,297 --> 00:57:49,466
[Serj] We played
an amazing show.
1243
00:57:49,967 --> 00:57:52,469
It was raining, it
was really dramatic.
1244
00:57:52,886 --> 00:57:55,305
And the audience
was going crazy.
1245
00:57:56,682 --> 00:57:58,058
And I started talking.
1246
00:57:58,308 --> 00:57:59,893
The truth serum kicked in.
1247
00:58:00,143 --> 00:58:03,021
♪ Ominous guitar riff ♪
1248
00:58:04,106 --> 00:58:06,233
For the last few days
1249
00:58:07,317 --> 00:58:09,736
I haven't been
able to sleep well.
1250
00:58:10,779 --> 00:58:13,448
All I can think about
is my grandparents.
1251
00:58:14,324 --> 00:58:16,118
My grandfather...
1252
00:58:17,452 --> 00:58:19,812
My grandfather was five years
old when he saw his own father
1253
00:58:19,913 --> 00:58:21,248
die.
1254
00:58:23,000 --> 00:58:25,252
He lost his sight from hunger.
1255
00:58:26,420 --> 00:58:31,133
And I spoke about the
hypocrisy of Obama talking about
1256
00:58:31,591 --> 00:58:34,052
recognition of the genocide
as a senator before he became.
1257
00:58:34,302 --> 00:58:37,472
President and not using the word
"genocide" because of Turkish
1258
00:58:37,723 --> 00:58:38,723
pressure.
1259
00:58:38,807 --> 00:58:40,934
So the fact that
the US government
1260
00:58:41,560 --> 00:58:44,146
picks the wrong word to
recognize what we know is
1261
00:58:44,396 --> 00:58:47,774
genocide is not
only appalling to us,
1262
00:58:48,025 --> 00:58:50,318
it's appalling to Americans.
1263
00:58:50,819 --> 00:58:52,505
And then I talked about
the Armenian government.
1264
00:58:52,529 --> 00:58:54,531
We've come a long way, Armenia.
1265
00:58:54,823 --> 00:58:57,075
But there's still a lot
of fucking work to do.
1266
00:58:57,325 --> 00:59:00,287
[crowd cheers]
1267
00:59:00,537 --> 00:59:02,177
It is the responsibility
of the government
1268
00:59:02,205 --> 00:59:04,750
of the Republic of Armenia
1269
00:59:05,000 --> 00:59:09,129
to bring in the principles
of egalitarian civic society.
1270
00:59:09,379 --> 00:59:11,757
[crowd cheers]
1271
00:59:14,760 --> 00:59:17,763
Getting rid of the institutional
injustice abound...
1272
00:59:18,013 --> 00:59:22,517
[crowd cheering]
1273
00:59:22,768 --> 00:59:26,188
And stopping the
depopulation that is occurring.
1274
00:59:26,438 --> 00:59:28,398
[crowd cheers]
1275
00:59:28,648 --> 00:59:30,942
I didn't know long
it would take for the
1276
00:59:31,193 --> 00:59:35,530
reversal of fortunes, but
I knew that it was coming.
1277
00:59:35,781 --> 00:59:40,744
♪ Unsettling electonic music ♪
1278
00:59:44,998 --> 00:59:47,834
In 2017, there were
parliamentary elections.
1279
00:59:48,085 --> 00:59:51,838
I saw that as the last hope for
Armenia to be able to come back
1280
00:59:52,089 --> 00:59:56,343
into progressive democracy
from this oligarchic decline.
1281
00:59:56,593 --> 00:59:57,177
Calm down, man.
1282
00:59:57,427 --> 00:59:58,095
Calm down.
1283
00:59:58,345 --> 00:59:58,762
It's gonna be okay. [Laughs]
1284
00:59:59,012 --> 00:59:59,596
It's gonna be okay.
1285
00:59:59,846 --> 01:00:00,347
You're gonna be fine.
1286
01:00:00,597 --> 01:00:01,723
You're gonna be just fine.
1287
01:00:01,973 --> 01:00:03,576
Just... as long as you
vote, you're gonna be fine.
1288
01:00:03,600 --> 01:00:05,244
As long as you vote,
you're gonna be fine.
1289
01:00:05,268 --> 01:00:06,268
As long as you vote.
1290
01:00:06,478 --> 01:00:07,838
[Serj] Myself and
a number of, uh,
1291
01:00:08,063 --> 01:00:11,191
artist friends, we went under
the coalition called Justice.
1292
01:00:11,441 --> 01:00:12,567
Within Armenia.
1293
01:00:12,818 --> 01:00:13,860
Young people, please vote.
1294
01:00:14,111 --> 01:00:17,072
Don't block these elections,
because this is your only chance
1295
01:00:17,322 --> 01:00:18,031
to make your voice heard.
1296
01:00:18,281 --> 01:00:20,867
Irrespective of corruption,
irrespective of all the
1297
01:00:21,118 --> 01:00:22,327
limitations...
1298
01:00:22,577 --> 01:00:24,430
Some people in... in the
government accused us of being
1299
01:00:24,454 --> 01:00:28,208
foreign spies, and to be
called a foreign spy in my own,
1300
01:00:28,458 --> 01:00:31,670
you know, cultural
homeland, you know?
1301
01:00:31,920 --> 01:00:34,214
And... that really
pissed us all off.
1302
01:00:34,464 --> 01:00:36,067
[singing] ;/ don't
give a fuck about the FBI}
1303
01:00:36,091 --> 01:00:38,218
♪ I don't give a
fuck about the CIA ♪
1304
01:00:38,468 --> 01:00:40,220
♪ I don't give a
fuck about the KGB ♪
1305
01:00:40,470 --> 01:00:42,806
♪ I don't give a
fuck about the FSB ♪
1306
01:00:43,056 --> 01:00:44,808
Okay, so, [inaudible]...
1307
01:00:45,058 --> 01:00:47,060
[laughter and applause]
1308
01:00:47,310 --> 01:00:49,497
We wrote all these statements
encouraging monitors to come to
1309
01:00:49,521 --> 01:00:53,316
Armenia and be eyewitnesses
to what's going on.
1310
01:01:06,329 --> 01:01:08,623
[Serj] I went to at least 12
polling stations around the
1311
01:01:08,874 --> 01:01:10,083
country.
1312
01:01:10,333 --> 01:01:12,836
Some guy's
writing stuff on a car.
1313
01:01:13,295 --> 01:01:16,256
But we realized quickly that the
votes were already bought and
1314
01:01:16,506 --> 01:01:17,632
paid for ahead of time.
1315
01:01:17,883 --> 01:01:20,844
We had a guy who basically
was keeping tabs on the voters,
1316
01:01:21,094 --> 01:01:23,430
sitting right
behind the ballot box.
1317
01:01:23,680 --> 01:01:26,224
[Serj] Right in front
of the eyes of the OSC,
1318
01:01:26,474 --> 01:01:29,895
right in front of the eyes of
the European Council of Nations.
1319
01:01:33,690 --> 01:01:37,068
[Serj] Right in front of
the eyes of all us monitors.
1320
01:01:45,911 --> 01:01:48,914
[Serj] I was so disappointed, I
couldn't even bring myself to go
1321
01:01:49,164 --> 01:01:51,666
speak at the
post-election press conference.
1322
01:01:51,917 --> 01:01:55,670
[speaking in Armenian]
1323
01:01:55,921 --> 01:01:58,757
[female reporter] President
Serzh Sargsyan's ruling party is
1324
01:01:59,007 --> 01:02:01,885
well ahead in Armenia's
landmark election.
1325
01:02:02,135 --> 01:02:04,971
This is the first ballot to
usher in a new parliamentary
1326
01:02:05,222 --> 01:02:07,682
system of government, yet
critics see the change as an
1327
01:02:07,933 --> 01:02:10,352
effort to prolong
his political life.
1328
01:02:10,602 --> 01:02:13,188
And with claims of
voting fraud multiplying...
1329
01:02:13,438 --> 01:02:17,567
[Serj] The Republican Party
of Armenia won a huge majority,
1330
01:02:17,817 --> 01:02:21,571
and so it seemed like Armenia's
progressive democratic future
1331
01:02:21,821 --> 01:02:22,906
was doomed.
1332
01:02:23,156 --> 01:02:26,117
♪ Singing in Armenian ♪
1333
01:02:26,368 --> 01:02:29,204
And I was fucking depressed.
1334
01:02:33,750 --> 01:02:38,713
♪ Singing in Armenian ♪
1335
01:02:44,261 --> 01:02:49,224
♪ soft melancholic music ♪
1336
01:02:55,230 --> 01:02:58,191
Power is always afraid
of... of means that can
1337
01:02:58,441 --> 01:03:01,361
break out of it: Music,
dancing, you know,
1338
01:03:01,611 --> 01:03:04,322
anything that can
move a soul, you know?
1339
01:03:04,572 --> 01:03:06,950
And stir the soul.
1340
01:03:09,077 --> 01:03:12,789
[interviewer] So... can
music change the world?
1341
01:03:15,625 --> 01:03:17,836
Music changes our
intuitive hearts.
1342
01:03:18,086 --> 01:03:20,406
Like, our... our... our... music
changes the way we feel about
1343
01:03:20,630 --> 01:03:22,007
things.
1344
01:03:22,424 --> 01:03:25,176
How we feel about things
can overwhelm our logic.
1345
01:03:25,427 --> 01:03:26,654
-[John] [echoing]
Four Armenian kids.
1346
01:03:26,678 --> 01:03:29,597
And now, we're on CNN and
there's a riot because of us?
1347
01:03:29,848 --> 01:03:32,225
[Serj] And our logic being a
part of the process can change
1348
01:03:32,475 --> 01:03:33,768
the world.
1349
01:03:34,019 --> 01:03:35,663
[Shavo] [echoing] We were
soldiers with a voice to say
1350
01:03:35,687 --> 01:03:37,063
something.
1351
01:03:37,314 --> 01:03:39,458
[Rick] [echoing] That's the
true artist's role in society.
1352
01:03:39,482 --> 01:03:42,569
It is our
responsibility to push back.
1353
01:03:42,819 --> 01:03:45,613
[Serj] But it requires people
realizing that they have the
1354
01:03:45,864 --> 01:03:47,282
power.
1355
01:03:48,450 --> 01:03:50,785
[echoing] Open your
eyes, open your mouths,
1356
01:03:51,036 --> 01:03:53,204
close your hand and make a fist.
1357
01:03:53,455 --> 01:03:55,582
[crowd cheering]
1358
01:03:56,291 --> 01:03:58,043
Down with the system.
1359
01:04:15,477 --> 01:04:17,854
So it's the end
of March and Ang goes,
1360
01:04:18,104 --> 01:04:20,144
"Hey, did you check out
what's going on in Armenia?"
1361
01:04:20,315 --> 01:04:21,691
And she was looking at Facebook.
1362
01:04:36,331 --> 01:04:37,611
[Serj] Nikol
Pashinyan, who was,
1363
01:04:37,707 --> 01:04:40,126
uh, an opposition
member of parliament,
1364
01:04:40,377 --> 01:04:43,254
started a protest walk.
1365
01:04:48,510 --> 01:04:50,845
[Serj] And this little
movement was starting.
1366
01:05:21,334 --> 01:05:23,878
[Serj] What was really unique
about this movement were the
1367
01:05:24,129 --> 01:05:29,092
ethos.
1368
01:05:29,634 --> 01:05:32,137
[Serj] They said that we want
a completely peaceful movement.
1369
01:05:38,726 --> 01:05:40,895
[blast, screaming]
1370
01:05:43,648 --> 01:05:46,109
[shouting]
1371
01:06:03,668 --> 01:06:06,546
[honking and shouting]
1372
01:06:08,047 --> 01:06:10,192
[Serj] The only way to describe
it is decentralized civil
1373
01:06:10,216 --> 01:06:11,217
disobedience.
1374
01:06:11,468 --> 01:06:14,137
[shouting]
1375
01:06:16,806 --> 01:06:17,825
Police would come
and go, "All right",
1376
01:06:17,849 --> 01:06:19,618
you gotta unblock this
intersection,” and they would
1377
01:06:19,642 --> 01:06:21,745
just go on the sidewalk and
the police would walk away and
1378
01:06:21,769 --> 01:06:23,646
they'd jump, the
police would come back
1379
01:06:25,482 --> 01:06:27,001
[Serj] I mean, it
was like Tom and Jerry!
1380
01:06:27,025 --> 01:06:28,526
It was almost funny.
1381
01:06:30,778 --> 01:06:33,740
♪ Dramatic music ♪
1382
01:06:33,990 --> 01:06:37,952
This was an ingenious
way to show the people that they
1383
01:06:38,203 --> 01:06:39,787
owned the country.
1384
01:06:48,087 --> 01:06:50,590
I want to
congratulate you for, so far,
1385
01:06:50,840 --> 01:06:52,960
holding one of the most
successful civil disobendience
1386
01:06:53,092 --> 01:06:55,762
campaigns in all of
Armenian history.
1387
01:06:56,012 --> 01:06:58,452
You've realized this cultural
awakening and decision to pursue
1388
01:06:58,681 --> 01:07:00,975
justice is a basic human right.
1389
01:07:01,226 --> 01:07:04,812
I can see the love in your eyes
and in your hearts like I did
1390
01:07:05,063 --> 01:07:08,775
when we played in 2015 with
System of a Down from the stage.
1391
01:07:12,862 --> 01:07:15,216
[Serj] Finally, the government
of Armenia realizes that there
1392
01:07:15,240 --> 01:07:17,575
is no way around these protests.
1393
01:07:32,840 --> 01:07:34,676
Serzh Sargsyan,
the President, says,
1394
01:07:34,926 --> 01:07:38,221
"Let's talk about what...
What your demands are."
1395
01:07:38,471 --> 01:07:41,224
And Nikol says, "We
only have one demand..."
1396
01:08:03,913 --> 01:08:06,624
[Serj] So at this point, I've
got this horrendous flu from
1397
01:08:06,874 --> 01:08:07,874
hell.
1398
01:08:08,042 --> 01:08:09,144
There's, like, shit
running out of my nose,
1399
01:08:09,168 --> 01:08:10,168
I've got fever.
1400
01:08:10,295 --> 01:08:14,299
But I'm, like, obsessed
just watching this 24/7.
1401
01:08:15,133 --> 01:08:16,551
[Serj] And then suddenly...
1402
01:08:28,146 --> 01:08:30,857
"Serj Tankian, it's time that
you come and join your people."
1403
01:08:31,107 --> 01:08:32,692
And I'm like...
1404
01:08:33,526 --> 01:08:35,069
"Oh, my God." [laughs]
1405
01:08:41,909 --> 01:08:44,078
[crowd cheering]
1406
01:08:52,337 --> 01:08:55,673
[crowd cheering]
1407
01:09:01,554 --> 01:09:05,183
[crowd chanting]
1408
01:09:07,018 --> 01:09:09,395
Next thing you
know, you see priests,
1409
01:09:09,646 --> 01:09:12,732
you see soldiers on the
street with the people,
1410
01:09:12,982 --> 01:09:14,192
walking arm-to-arm.
1411
01:09:14,442 --> 01:09:17,987
[honking and cheering]
1412
01:09:19,238 --> 01:09:22,992
♪ Exciting theme music ♪
1413
01:09:27,830 --> 01:09:31,084
And the announcement comes that
the Prime Minister of Armenia has resigned.
1414
01:09:31,334 --> 01:09:32,710
"Serzh Sargsyan has resigned."
1415
01:09:32,960 --> 01:09:36,339
[cheering]
1416
01:09:38,049 --> 01:09:40,593
[female reporter] An eruption
on the streets of Yerevan as
1417
01:09:40,843 --> 01:09:44,555
tens of thousands of citizens
flood the capital to celebrate
1418
01:09:44,806 --> 01:09:48,559
the miraculous
resignation of Serzh Sargsyan.
1419
01:09:49,060 --> 01:09:51,187
[male reporter] It was a
David versus Goliath battle,
1420
01:09:51,437 --> 01:09:53,606
as peaceful protests
brought down the most powerful
1421
01:09:53,856 --> 01:09:57,777
government in the history
of this post-Soviet nation.
1422
01:09:58,820 --> 01:10:02,949
[cheering]
1423
01:10:03,616 --> 01:10:07,161
♪ Uplifting music ♪
1424
01:10:07,412 --> 01:10:11,457
[cheering]
1425
01:10:36,065 --> 01:10:40,403
[cheering]
1426
01:11:11,476 --> 01:11:13,644
[cheering]
1427
01:11:14,687 --> 01:11:17,023
[honking]
1428
01:11:18,357 --> 01:11:20,902
[Serj] There were so many
people on the street greeting us
1429
01:11:21,152 --> 01:11:22,862
that we couldn't drive.
1430
01:11:24,155 --> 01:11:26,657
[cheering]
1431
01:11:26,908 --> 01:11:29,869
I saw thousands
of people on the street
1432
01:11:30,703 --> 01:11:34,040
with the most joy in their eyes
that I've ever seen in my life.
1433
01:11:34,290 --> 01:11:37,960
[cheering]
1434
01:11:42,507 --> 01:11:44,467
And they were honoring him,
1435
01:11:44,717 --> 01:11:49,680
and me, with traditional
Armenian gata and cognac and
1436
01:11:50,014 --> 01:11:51,724
stuff like that,
you know? [Laughs]
1437
01:11:54,018 --> 01:11:55,853
It's just so surreal, man.
1438
01:11:56,103 --> 01:11:58,314
It's so surreal.
1439
01:12:05,530 --> 01:12:06,530
[beep]
1440
01:12:06,739 --> 01:12:09,742
[cheering and applause]
1441
01:12:15,164 --> 01:12:19,377
[Serj] We, uh, went to have
some tea and... and some dessert.
1442
01:12:19,627 --> 01:12:23,506
He... he's... he's executed
the perfect revolution,
1443
01:12:23,756 --> 01:12:26,517
and I'm asking, "So, wh... how
many of you were there in the beginning?
1444
01:12:26,551 --> 01:12:27,861
And how was it?
How did you plan this?
1445
01:12:27,885 --> 01:12:29,303
Was that planned? Was that...
1446
01:12:29,554 --> 01:12:31,554
Like, he's just, like,
answering them and laughing.
1447
01:12:41,983 --> 01:12:44,819
And at one point, he says,
"Do you realize something?"
1448
01:12:45,069 --> 01:12:50,032
He goes, "You realize
that Anna and I, my wife and I",
1449
01:12:50,825 --> 01:12:53,953
were in the audience in 2015
watching you in System of a.
1450
01:12:54,203 --> 01:12:55,203
"Down."
1451
01:12:57,206 --> 01:12:58,374
Oh, yeah?
1452
01:13:02,086 --> 01:13:05,923
He goes, "I figured, if you
guys can bring 50,000 people",
1453
01:13:06,173 --> 01:13:09,010
we should be able to bring 50...
More... more than 50,000 people
1454
01:13:09,260 --> 01:13:10,511
and do a revolution.""
1455
01:13:10,761 --> 01:13:12,364
He goes, "That made me feel
like this is all possible."
1456
01:13:12,388 --> 01:13:13,848
And I was like...
1457
01:13:14,098 --> 01:13:14,849
[sighs]
1458
01:13:15,099 --> 01:13:17,560
[crowd cheering]
1459
01:13:26,611 --> 01:13:29,864
[cheering]
1460
01:13:47,256 --> 01:13:50,259
[cheering]
1461
01:13:59,101 --> 01:14:02,438
[cheering]
1462
01:14:17,119 --> 01:14:20,623
I'm so proud that I
come from a nation...
1463
01:14:25,252 --> 01:14:30,216
♪ "Bari Aragil"
singing continues ♪
1464
01:14:43,688 --> 01:14:44,855
All right.
1465
01:14:45,106 --> 01:14:48,025
I'm so proud that I come from a
nation that created a peaceful
1466
01:14:48,275 --> 01:14:53,239
revolution that... that was able
to hand people their destiny.
1467
01:14:55,116 --> 01:14:58,452
And it's a lesson to the world
that positive change can occur
1468
01:14:58,703 --> 01:15:00,913
in today's era of division.
1469
01:15:01,330 --> 01:15:04,875
And, uh, all this right-wing
extremism and all this fucking
1470
01:15:05,126 --> 01:15:07,503
shit going on in the
world, there is hope.
1471
01:15:09,380 --> 01:15:14,093
♪ Soft emotional music ♪
1472
01:15:23,019 --> 01:15:25,938
The House voted overwhelmingly
to recognize the century-old
1473
01:15:26,188 --> 01:15:27,948
- mass killings...
- Mass killings of Armenians
1474
01:15:28,190 --> 01:15:29,734
by Ottoman Turks as genocide.
1475
01:15:29,984 --> 01:15:32,144
[Pelosi] As international
observers wrote at the time,
1476
01:15:32,361 --> 01:15:35,364
"It was a campaign of
race extermination."
1477
01:15:35,614 --> 01:15:38,117
One that we, as members of
Congress and as freedom-loving
1478
01:15:38,367 --> 01:15:41,912
people, have a moral
obligation to never forget.
1479
01:15:42,163 --> 01:15:44,307
A moment when the House of
Representatives refused to be
1480
01:15:44,331 --> 01:15:47,376
enlisted in the cause
of genocide denial.
1481
01:15:47,626 --> 01:15:50,546
[male reporter] The non-binding
resolution passed 405 to 11.
1482
01:15:50,796 --> 01:15:52,089
The resolution is adopted.
1483
01:15:52,339 --> 01:15:53,382
[cheering]
1484
01:15:53,632 --> 01:15:58,137
♪ "Electric Yerevan"
by Serj Tankian ♪