Technique of a Down’s Serj Tankian has been publicly significant of Envision Dragons quickly immediately after the band stayed silent and did not cancel a scheduled reside efficiency in Azerbaijan prior tumble, but singer Dan Reynolds has now provided his initial opinions on the make any distinction.

Tankian has been vocal about preferred musicians enjoying nations with questionable human legal rights histories remaining noticed as a way to “whitewash” and normalize the countries’ methods. In distinct, he is spoken out about Think about Dragons, who agreed to carry out a present in Azerbaijan, initially crafting them a letter explaining the motives why participating in there would be sending a undesirable notion. That letter was happy with a non-response.

He’s offered that adopted by calling them out in interviews, telling Metallic Hammer final thirty day period, “I really don’t know these men, but who are these people today? I will not comprehend that form of imagining,” in reference to the deficiency of a response and the final selection to go ahead with the present.

Revisiting his argument, he described, “As an artist, if I identified that out, there is no fucking way I could have gone and performed that exhibit. But some artists do. And I never know what to say about all those artists. I do not regard them as human beings. Fuck their art, they are not great human beings, as significantly as I am involved.”

Read by way of A lot extra: How Serj Tankian Feels About Snooze Token + Other Newer Bands

What Dan Reynolds Claimed About Actively playing Azerbaijan

Even even though the band had mostly stayed silent on the Azerbaijan exhibit, Reynolds tackled the topic all through a most recent job interview with Rolling Stone. When asked if he knowledgeable any regrets about taking element in the exhibit (as nicely as a single in Israel), the singer responded, “No. I don’t believe that in depriving our followers who want to see us enjoy mainly because of the functions of their leaders and their governments. I assume that is a genuinely slippery slope. I think the 2nd you start out to do that, there is corrupt leaders and warmongers all about the entire world, and wherever do you draw the line?”

When requested a observe-up concern about Tankian’s common public rebuke and if he had a response, Reynolds integrated, “I consider I just said it. It’s a slippery slope, and I’m never likely to deprive our lovers of enjoying for them.”

At current, Visualize Dragons are generating prepared for the subsequent North American leg of touring.

How Serj Tankian Responded to Dan Reynolds’ Remarks

Immediately immediately after Reynolds feedback in his Rolling Stone interview went neighborhood, Tankian then offered a response on social media. In his placing up, Tankian revisited Reynolds testimonials about depriving followers who want to see them delight in mostly since of the actions of their leaders and governments.

He responded, “Respectfully, I attract the line at ethnic cleaning and genocide. Azerbaijan’s dictatorship with popular guidance was presently into a 9 thirty day period hunger blockade of Nagorno-Karabagh capable as Genocide by former @icc prosecutor @luismorenoocampo when they made the decision to enjoy Baku. Would they play in Nazi Germany? Why really do not they want to perform in Russia? Due to the fact it’s not preferred?”

Tankian continued, “They assist Ukraine but not Armenians of Artsakh? The only ‘slippery slope’ is the farce ethical equivalency at the coronary heart of this hypocritical perspective. I have nothing from this male nor his band. I just dislike artists staying taken benefit of to whitewash Genocidal dictatorships.”