As Australian fans count down to System Of A Down’s long awaited 2027 return, frontman Serj Tankian has opened up about navigating political differences with drummer John Dolmayan, revealing their relationship remains strong despite years of public disagreement.
Dolmayan’s support for Donald Trump has been well documented over the years, often placing him at odds with Tankian, whose outspoken activism has long been central to both his public identity and System Of A Down’s music.
Speaking with Rolling Stone Italia, Tankian suggested things may not be as black and white as they once were (per Metal Injection):
“First of all, I don’t want to speak for John about his political views; that wouldn’t be fair. I can say that the verb ‘was’ [a Trump supporter] is correct,” Tankian said.
“I can’t say for sure that it still is. I think he, too, got tired of Trump, like many others.”
Despite their differing political beliefs, Tankian said their relationship extends far beyond the band.
“John isn’t just my drummer, he’s also my brother-in-law. So it’s even more complicated. Our children are together all the time. They’re cousins. We see each other at family gatherings.”
Three decades of making music outweighs disagreements
Rather than allowing politics to define their relationship, Tankian says family, culture and three decades of making music together continue to outweigh their disagreements:
“I’m certainly not the only person in the world who has a brother-in-law with different political views… Yet that doesn’t stop us from doing what we truly do: loving each other.”
The comments arrive just weeks after Dolmayan explained why System Of A Down continue to play so few shows, revealing the band’s scarcity is entirely intentional.
That philosophy makes every tour announcement feel like an event, especially for Australian fans, who will finally see the band return for their first headline tour in more than a decade.
System Of A Down Australian Tour 2027
With special guests Faith No More
- Friday, January 22nd – Sydney, Accor Stadium
- Wednesday, January 27th – Melbourne, Marvel Stadium
- Monday, February 1st – Brisbane, Suncorp Stadium
More details and tickets here.
Given the band’s limited touring schedule and the fact they rarely spend extended periods on the road, Tankian’s latest comments serve as another reminder that while System Of A Down may not always agree behind the scenes, the bond that has kept them together for more than 30 years remains intact, and Australian audiences will soon reap the rewards.
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