The Mortal Reader: Serj Tankian memoir reflects on past, present and the power of music

Serj Tankian
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Who is this?
Serj Tankian ( TAHN-kee-ən, Western Armenian: Սերժ Թանգեան pronounced [sɛɾʒ tʰɑŋkʰˈjɑn]; born August 21, 1967) is an Armenian-American musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band System of a Down, which was formed in 1994. Tankian has released five albums with System of a Down (System of a Down, Toxicity, Steal This Album!, Mezmerize, Hypnotize) and five solo albums (Elect the Dead, Imperfect Harmonies, Harakiri, Orca, and Elasticity), as well as collaborating with musicians such as rapper Tech N9ne and folk singer Arto Tunçboyacıyan. He also released Elect the Dead Symphony, a live orchestral version of Elect the Dead featuring the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. He is the founder of the record label Serjical Strike Records, and is currently represented by Velvet Hammer Music and Management Group. Tankian is known and regarded as one of the best vocalists in heavy metal, with praise given to his unusual delivery and his wide vocal range. In 2006, he was ranked No. 26 on the Hit Parader list of "Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists". A study conducted by VVN Music found that Tankian possesses a high and diverse vocal range of 4.2 octaves. In 2002, Tankian co-founded the non-profit political activism organization Axis of Justice, alongside guitarist and fellow activist Tom Morello. In 2011, he was awarded the Armenian Prime Minister's Medal for his contributions to the recognition of the Armenian genocide and the advancement of music.
Career
- 1967Born
- Member of System of a Down
- Won Grammy Awards
Trivia
- •Place of birth: Lebanon
- •Citizenship: United States
- •Known as: singer, songwriter, activist, guitarist
- •Genre: alternative metal, nu metal, pop music
- •Plays: voice, keyboard instrument, guitar
What happened recently
System Of A Down’s Serj Tankian lambasts Israel for recognising Armenian genocide amidst Palestinian conflict
“Using our history, our genocide, our pain to their political advantage”: System Of A Down’s Serj Tankian lambasts Israel for recognising Armenian genocide amidst Palestinian conflict
Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian Fired Their Pre-SOAD Bassist for Not Playing 'Angry Enough': 'It's Like Being a Kid and Your Friends Ask You to Stop Coming to the Clubhouse'
Serj Tankian blasts Israel for recognizing Armenian Genocide as they commit their own in Gaza
System Of A Down's Serj Tankian Condemns Israel For Hypocritically Recognizing Armenian Genocide
“I remember them telling me, ‘You don’t play angry’”: Bassist in Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian’s pre-System Of A Down band was fired for not being “angry enough”
SERJ TANKIAN And TOM MORELLO Talk Inspiration For New Collaborative Single 'Adjourn It': 'We Have To Learn How To Stand Up To Fascism In The Right Way'
Tom Morello Unveils New Song “Adjourn It” Featuring Serj Tankian and Roman Morello: Stream
TOM MORELLO announces POWER TO THE PEOPLE fest with SERJ TANKIAN, FOO FIGHTERS and more
TOM MORELLO Announces 'Power To The People' Festival, Featuring FOO FIGHTERS, SERJ TANKIAN, TAYLOR MOMSEN, MATT CAMERON, Others
Tom Morello, Serj Tankian, and Roman Morello Release Single Addressing Immigrant Persecution - 95.9 The RAT
Serj Tankian Hopes New Memoir Puts System of a Down Return Questions to Rest: ‘There’s No Magic Solution There’ (Exclusive)
Serj Tankian Says Collab with System of a Down Drummer John Dolmayan Is 'Like This Connection to the Past' (Exclusive)
Serj Tankian Acknowledges System of a Down Would Be Completely Different If He Left
Serj Tankian opens up on future of System Of A Down's music, "It's gotta feel right"