System Of A Down’s Serj Tankian Has ‘Zero Respect’ For Imagine Dragons After Azerbaijan Show

In a new interview with Metal Hammer, System Of A Down‘s Serj Tankian said he has “zero respect” for Imagine Dragons, because the band ignored his concerns and went on to perform in Azerbaijan.

“I have zero respect for those guys. They’re not good human beings,” Tankian said. “If you are that blind to justice that you will go play a show in a country that’s starving another country, illegally… I don’t know what to say about you as a human being.”

In a letter to Imagine Dragons last summer, Tankian asked them to reconsider playing a show in Baku, arguing that playing there could be viewed as an endorsement of Azerbaijan’s authoritarian President Ilham Aliyerv. He wrote that proceeding with the gig at Baku Olympic Stadium “would help whitewash the dictatorial regime’s image.”

“I really feel that performing in Azerbaijan would have a negative impact on your brand as well,” the singer cautioned in the letter. “I’m confident that you can decipher all the facts for yourselves to decide whether to cancel your concert.”

Tankian told Metal Hammer that he was disappointed and angry about Imagine Dragon’s decision to ignore all entreaties on the issue.

“I don’t know these guys, but who are these people?” he says. “I don’t understand that type of thinking.”