An ideological battle simmers between the 2 rock frontmen. IMAGINE DRAGONS carried out in Azerbaijan and Israel, drawing criticism from followers and activists. An American-Armenian singer additionally joined the band SYSTEM OF A DOWN Serj Tankian, who’s himself a political activist within the battle in opposition to social injustice.
IMAGINE DRAGONS refused to cancel their present final yr in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, whereas the regime there was perpetrating what was described because the “second Armenian genocide”. On the time, Tankian requested the band in a letter to not “assist the dictatorial regime enhance its picture” with their live performance and to not carry out there. IMAGINE DRAGONS not solely did they play a live performance in Baku, however in addition they carried out in Tel Aviv. Nonetheless, Israel is accused of oppressing and even apartheid the Palestinians.
Serje Tankian’s final remark in the direction of the band was that he has zero respect for its members. In an announcement on social media, they declare that when the band confirmed their live performance in Baku, the previous prosecutor of the Worldwide Court docket of Justice, Luis Moreno Ocampo, certified the starvation blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh as genocide. “Would they play in Nazi Germany? Why do not they wish to play in Russia? As a result of it isn’t widespread? They help Ukraine, however not the Armenians of Arkhangelsk? I’ve nothing in opposition to the singer or his band. I simply hate artists who’re used to whitewash the picture of genocidal dictatorships.” writes Tankian.
“I do not wish to deprive our followers of the chance to see us play simply due to the actions of their leaders and governments,” the frontman defended himself IMAGINE DRAGONS Dan Reynolds.“There are corrupt leaders and warmongers everywhere in the world, so the place is the road past which one can not go?”
