System Of A Downin suunnalta kuului kummia maanantaina 20. toukokuuta. Basisti Shavo Odadjian nimittäin julkaisi Facebook-sivullaan kommentteja System Of A Downin mahdollisen uuden albumin ja laulaja Serj Tankianin tiimoilta. Ilmeisen ”liikuttuneessa mielentilassa” julkaistut lausunnot näyttivät muun muassa seuraavilta:
”OK… I’ll come clean.. It’s not us. It’s Serj who doesn’t 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 to.”
”Sorry, folks!!! We’re trying to get a new album out, it’s 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 someone we have to beg to be a part of System!! So with that in mind, what do you guys [think] we should do? Just remember, he’s been holding us back for seven years so far. Wanna wait another 4-5 years? Or shall we release a record without Serj? You tell us.”
”I don’t want to make a record without him… but if he’s not down? Should the three 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 who’s just as good, if not better? Plus new System songs and tours???? Please give me your opinion, people!!! Is System better with no singer or someone who is excited to be our new singer?? You decide.,. ’cause I’m 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 three to do? We really want another System record! Wish Serj was down, but if he’s not, then I’m going ahead and making a System record without him!!! I’m furious that he let us down like this, but we gotta do something to keep this great band alive!!! Agreed?”
Eipä kulunut kovinkaan kauan, kun bändin suunnalta saapui virallinen, pahoitteleva tiedote:
”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.”
Samalla kuului siis suuren suuri huokaus muun muassa Jurassic Rockin suunnalta. System Of A Downinhan on määrä esiintyä Mikkelissä sunnuntaina 11.8.
Toisaalta Shavon julkiseksi tuoma asia on ollut käytännössä selvillä jo pitkään. Menneinä vuosina soololevyjä tehtaillut Serj Tankian on pysynyt viime aikoina kiireisenä Orca-sinfonian kanssa ja saapuupa mies Helsingin Hartwall Areenalle 52-henkisen Kyiv Camerata -sinfoniaorkesterin kanssa 29.9. Aiheesta enemmän täällä.
Ensimmäinen Orca-näyte soi tässä alla: