System of a Down Bassist Shavo Odadjian Calls Out Singer Serj Tankian

In a series of Facebook posts that went up today (May 20), System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian opened a huge can of worms in a very public way. According to a number of posts on Odadjian’s official fan page — on which the bassist does post regularly — he accuses System vocalist Serj Tankian of holding the band back.

Since System of a Down took a break in 2006, Serj Tankian has embarked on a number of musical ventures. Along with his eponymous band, Tankian has created an orchestral album with his ‘Orca‘ symphony, a jazz-infused record entitled, ‘Jazz-Iz-Christ‘ and a number of collaborations with artists such as Devin Townsend, Device, Buckethead and Wyclef Jean. Musically, Shavo Odadjian has more or less put all his eggs into one basket with System of a Down, although he helped create the band Achozen and has worked with funk legend George Clinton in the past.

The following messages were posted on Shavo’s Facebook fan page earlier today (May 20):

ok….. Ill come clean.. Its not us(meaning Daron,John Or Shavo!! Its Sej, who doesn’ want to do a new album!!!! so please stop harassing us about it!!! We are just waiting for SERJ! Now He might hate me for exposing the truth but i Had too.. Sorry folks!!! we’re trying to get a new album out, its just not passing Serj’s RULES! . Kinda funny, since we started the band and now he’s holding us back!! I think we should should release another album again??? As for me.. I’m ready to release one with someone who wants to be the singer of SYSTEM. not soeome we have to beg to be a part of SYSTEM!! So with that in mind, what do you guys w should do? Just remember, Hes been holding us back for 7 years so far.. wanna wait another $-5 years? or shall we release a record without Serj? u tell us?????

I dont want to make a record without him… but if he’s not down? should the 3 of us just sit and wait?? Not cool!!!!!!!! i want the fans from all over the world including Brazil to tell us what they think.
No System? or System with with a new singer whos just as good if not better? PLUS new System songs and tours???? please give me ur opinion people!!! is SYSTEM better with no singer or someone who is excited to be our new singer?? you decide.. cause im confused!!!

no diss to Serj.. If he wants to be in the band then he’s welcome but if he’s not? what do you expect us 3 to do.?? we really want anorther System Record! wish Serj was down but if hes not, then im going ahead and making a System record without him!!! im furious that he let us down like this, but we gotta do something to keep this great band alive!!! agreed????????

Update: System of a Down have confirmed that the Facebook posts were made by Shavo Odadjian, and have released their own response via the band’s official Facebook page. It reads as follows:

Earlier today, Shavo posted a few statements on his personal Facebook page that do not reflect the sentiments of System Of A Down as a collective band. These were misleading statements that were made during a temporary state of bad judgment on his part alone. To be clear, the full band lineup of Serj, Daron, Shavo and John will be performing all scheduled tour dates. With respect to new SOAD music, although we have not agreed on a timetable for a new album, we all believe that having the four of us do it together is the way to be true to the band and our fans.