It is disgusting that our band is being used for political purposes: SOAD

The members of System of a Down, the world-renowned rock band, are outraged by reports from certain Armenian media outlets stating that the band profited from their concert on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 2015.

“It is sad how anything can be politicized. How art is discredited for political purposes through misinformation, in other words, fake news. Recently, we noticed certain publications in the Armenian press claiming that we made a profit from the concert in the Republic Square held for the centenary of the Armenian Genocide. Nothing could be further from the truth,” the statement from SOAD reads.

The Armenian government invited us in 2015, and through sponsors, covered the expenses related to stage equipment, organizational costs of the concert, as well as flights and accommodation. No member of SOAD or our professional team earned a penny from our show in 2015. We graciously accepted a similar proposal from the current Armenian government to hold a concert in Yerevan next summer (the date will be announced soon), and our band will not be receiving any money from that. We regret having to make such a statement. It is disgusting that our band is being used for political purposes,” SOAD's statement concludes.